The Cincinnati Bengals avoided putting their home field fate in a coin flip defeating the Baltimore Ravens 27-16 in Week 18 to win the AFC North title. Now, the rivals will be back at it as one of the Super Wild Card Weekend matchups.
The Ravens and Bengals are the featured game on Sunday, getting the prime time slot. Playing in prime time is nothing new to these teams as their first matchup this season came on Sunday Night Football in Week 5. The Ravens won that game 19-17.
These are usually hard-fought, physical games between the AFC North rivals and we should expect nothing less this weekend. Taking some luster away from the game is the fact that former MVP, Lamar Jackson, is trending in the wrong direction.
What can we expect when the Ravens and Bengals take the field Sunday night? Here are five bold predictions for the AFC North rivalry.
5. Joe Burrow Has a Monster Game
The Ravens have found some success in slowing down Joe Burrow in their two matchups this season. He threw for 432 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, which would give the impression that Baltimore may have figured something out when it comes to slowing down the Bengals’ passing attack.
Having familiarity from playing two times a season will certainly give them some edges, but whatever edge they believe they have found will not be present on Sunday night. Burrow is going to have a big game, picking apart a Ravens defense that has been playing at a high level since Roquan Smith was inserted into the middle of it.
However, there is only so much that a middle linebacker can do to impact the opposing passing game. Burrow is going to throw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns in the game, putting the Ravens in a big hole.
