Ravens vs Bengals Wild Card Week: The Bengals Have Won Each of Their Last Eight Games on Their Ability to Stop the Run

• The 6th seeded Baltimore Ravens’ QB Lamar Jackson (knee) is questionable

• The 3rd seeded Cincinnati Bengals are on an eight game winning streak

• Watch Ravens vs Bengals live on Sunday, January 15, 2023, at 8:15 PM ET on NBC

Ravens vs Bengals Wild Card Week Odds

Ravens vs Bengals Wild Card Week Picks

POINT SPREAD: Cincinnati Bengals -8.5 (-108) at WynnBet

POINTS TOTAL: Under 40.5 (-112) at Unibet

SPECIAL: Total Touchdowns U4.5 (-137) at BetRivers

The final game of the NFL’s Wild Card Sunday triple-header is an AFC North battle between the conference’s 6th-seeded Baltimore Ravens and the third-seeded Cincinnati Bengals, the third matchup between these two divisional rivals this season (they are both 1-1 so far), with Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (knee) most likely not playing and his backup Tyler Huntley (shoulder) questionable to play.

That could leave Ravens’ quarterbacking duties to third-string backup QB Anthony Brown, a rookie who is 0-1 in the games he has started this season after completing just 44.9% of his passes for 302 yards and two turnovers, now facing a 23rd-ranked Bengals pass defense that has allowed opponents to throw for almost 230 yards per game along with 30 team sacks.  

The Bengals have won each of their last eight games on their ability to stop the run (ranked 7th against the rush) which is the Ravens’ specialty, their backfield filled with tough runners (J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Kenyon Drake) who split carries and stay fresh throughout the game, though the loss of QB Jackson as a scrambler makes Baltimore less effective on the ground.

POINTS TOTAL: Under 40.5 (-112) at Unibet

These two teams just played in Week 18 when the Bengals took care of the Ravens by a score of 27-16, with Baltimore looking like it was missing QB Jackson under center after backup Brown completed just 19 of his 44 attempts (43%) for no TDs and two INTs, the perfect occasion for Cincy’s defensive line to go QB hunting featuring DEs Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson.

Watch for the tight ends of both teams who are soft-handed playmakers that can act as check-down receivers or run midfield routes and catch balls on the run, the Ravens with Mark Andrews who is 6’ 5” and 256 pounds so far with 73 receptions for 847 yards and 5 TDs and the Bengals with Hayden Hurst who is 6’ 4” and 260 pounds now with 52 catches for 414 yards and 2 scores.

The sportsbooks tell us that each of the Bengals' last eight postseason games have gone under the total points line, so that is what we like here for this Wild Card wager assuming Jackson won’t play since without him that offense has trouble winning, the team 2-3 in the five games he has missed due to injury with his up-in-the-air contract situation keeping him from rushing back.

SPECIAL: Total Touchdowns U4.5 (-137) at BetRivers

Another way to gamble on this Wild Card Weekend AFC North matchup is with this special from BetRivers where the bettor must guess how many total touchdowns will be scored in this game.

A bet on the over – meaning 5 or more TDs are scored – pays winners $106 on a $100 wager plus the bet while a bet on the under – meaning 4 TDs or less – pays $100 for a winning $137 wager plus the original investment.

The Bengals’ offense averages 23 points per game while the Ravens’ offense generates 20.6 points per week, so expect them to put plenty of points on the scoreboard, with Cincy playmakers like WRs Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd in sync with QB Joe Burrow, whereas it could be the Ravens running backs including J.K. Dobbins who become their scorers in this game.

Last week when these two teams played, Ravens QB Brown was sacked 4 times which helped lead to his two interceptions, a young player who might not connect well with his playmaking receivers just yet, his deep threat Sammy Watkins with just two catches last week of four targets, another reason we are taking the under for this Wild Card special in a game the Bengals should win.

How to Watch Ravens vs Bengals

• What: Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals

• Where: Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH

• When: Sunday, January 15, 2023, at 8:15 PM ET

• How: NBC