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Happy Thursday football fans! I don't know about you, but watching Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson play football really fires me up. That might be in part due to Jackson's high honor of being my fantasy team's starting quarterback, or just because he's electric and the Ravens look poised to make a deep run. Regardless, the Bengals have not had their dream season to date, but are hoping to build on last week's win against the Raiders that saw QB Joe Burrow dazzle. Let's take a quick look at what we're working with tonight before kickoff.
By Ryan Galloway | November 7, 2024
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The Ravens, leading the division at 6-3, look to secure a sweep over the Bengals after defeating them 41-38 earlier in the season. Baltimore, driven by their ground game led by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, ranks first in rushing yards per game (191.9) and is scoring an impressive 31.4 points per game. This offensive firepower contrasts with Cincinnati's 27th-ranked run defense, which has struggled to contain opponents on the ground
Despite a very slow start (see loss to Patriots at home), the Bengals have steadied the ship and are coming off a big win over the Raiders, with Joe Burrow in top form, throwing five touchdowns for the second time this season. However, they’ve had challenges on the road, particularly in prime time—Cincinnati has lost 14 consecutive road night games. The Bengals’ passing offense, which ranks seventh in the league, will need to perform at its best to keep pace with Baltimore, especially given the Ravens' stout defense, which allows only 15.7 points per game
For the Bengals to pull off a win, slowing down Baltimore's ground game will be key, while the Ravens aim to keep their defensive pressure high and disrupt Burrow’s passing rhythm. The Ravens are slightly favored (-6), but divisional rivalries can often produce close and unpredictable outcomes. Burrow will have to carry over from last week's performance, which may prove difficult against the Ravens defense coupled with a short week. Bengals OT Orlando Brown has been declared out for the game, which stacks things against Cincinnati even further. Baltimore -6 looks good here.
I like the Ravens by a couple of scores tonight. I think the Ravens take this one 41-24.