Ravens Will Be Challenged to Hold Off Bengals in AFC North
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals sit atop the AFC North at 8-4.
However, the Ravens own the tiebreaker after beating Cincinnati 19-17 in Week 5.
The teams have a showdown in the regular-season finale that could decide the division.
In Week 13, Lamar Jackson suffered a knee injury in the Ravens 10-9 win over the Denver Broncos (3-9). Jackson's status moving forward will be much clearer in the coming days but the injury will not end his season.
Meanwhile, the Bengals picked up a signature 27-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs (9-3).
Cincinnati might be playing its best football of the season and the Bengals have a formidable offense and getting key stops on the defensive end.
Baltimore is struggling to score points, especially inside the red zone over recent weeks. The defense had a bounce-back game against Denver after giving up a late, game-winning touchdown to the Jaguars the previous week.
"It’s game to game," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "There are no big narratives; the big narrative questions, they’re irrelevant. What matters is the next game and trying to find a way to win it.”
The Ravens have an easier remaining schedule. But they cannot slip as they did against Jacksonville in Week 12.
Baltimore plays just one team with a winning record the rest of the way.
Here is Baltimore's remaining schedule:
WEEK 14 at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-7)
WEEK 15 at Cleveland Browns (5-7)
WEEK 16 vs. Atlanta Falcons (5-8)
WEEK 17 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-7)
WEEK 18 at Cincinnati Bengals (8-4)
The Bengals play two teams with winning records. The matchup against the Bills in Week 17 could decide home-field advantage for the playoffs.
Here is the Bengals remaining schedule:
WEEK 14 vs. Cleveland Browns (5-7)
WEEK 15 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)
WEEK 16 at New England Patriots (6-6)
WEEK 17 vs. Buffalo Bills (9-3)
WEEK 18 vs. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
