First place in the AFC North is on the line when the Cincinnati Bengals visit the Baltimore Ravens for a Week 5 Sunday Night Football showdown. The Bengals won the division last year with the help of a season sweep over the Ravens scoring 41 points in each contest. Cincy had lost the previous five matchups with the last three not close. And after dropping the first two games this year the Bengals are riding a two-game winning streak taking down previously unbeaten Miami in the Week 4 Thursday night game giving them additional rest for this key contest. The Ravens are a 3-point favorite looking to end a five-game home losing streak.
The Week 5 Sunday Night Football contest between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens will take place at MT Bank Stadium in Baltimore at 8:20 p.m. ET on October 9, 2022 and will be televised on NBC.
Bengals at Ravens Odds
Cincinnati Bengals +3
Baltimore Ravens -3
Over/Under 48.5
Odds Analysis
The opening line had Baltimore -3.5 with the number whittled down to -3. It’s a standard spread for oddsmakers who consider the game too close to call giving the home team a field goal margin. The Ravens’ home skid hasn’t factored much into the equation since in those five losses they were an underdog three times and a 3-point favorite twice. In other words they had stiff competition losing each time by four points or less. The Bengals won and covered their last two games after dropping their first two as a 7.5-point favorite by a field goal. Cincy is 4-0 against the UNDER this season and has played below the total in each of its last nine games dating back to last season.
Cincinnati Bengals
We haven’t seen the explosive plays from Joe Burrow and the offense that propelled the Bengals to the AFC Championship last season. With a running game that averages less than 90 yards the Bengals have been forced to throw the ball with Burrow putting a decent start together. He’s completed 64.1 percent of his throws for 1,099 yards and eight scores. The offense has been hindered by his four interceptions and they’ve turned the ball over six times. The group has been better the last two weeks scoring 27 points.
While the offense gets most of the headlines based on what happened last season, the defense has been the biggest factor in the two-game winning streak. The group allowed just one touchdown while opponents clicked for seven field goals in those games. The Bengals held the Jets and Dolphins to a combined 32 percent on third down conversions and just 20 percent in the red zone. Cincy played below the closing total in all four games this season and nine in a row overall.
Baltimore Ravens
It’s not so much that the Ravens lost both home games this season rather it’s how they lost them. They led Buffalo 20-3 in the third quarter last week before giving up the final 20 points. The game-winning field goal came after Lamar Jackson was intercepted in the end zone. They also lost to Miami in Week 2 after leading 35-14 into the fourth quarter. We haven’t seen defensive collapses like this from the Ravens under John Harbaugh making the entire situation that much more troubling. The Ravens allow a NFL worst 315.3 yards through the air and rank 30th in total defense.
The good news is that the poor play on that side of the football is unlikely to continue. Jason Pierre-Paul was brought in to help the pass rush and the secondary has talented players. Things could be worse if the club didn’t lead the NFL with 10 takeaways. Jackson has been able to cover for the issues leading the Ravens to an average of nearly 30 points. He’s doing it all once again throwing for nearly 900 yards with 11 touchdowns while rushing for 316 yards and a pair of scores. Jackson’s flummoxed defenses with his dual threat ability his entire career and while the Bengals know what to expect it won’t be easy stopping him.
Bengals at Ravens Prediction
A lot of the same players are in place making it difficult to figure out why the Ravens have struggled to stop opponents. And if they don’t figure it out Burrow and the Bengals will have another big night. I do believe Baltimore will get a handle on the situation and there is payback involved after the Ravens lost both games last year by a combined score of 82-38. Jackson wasn’t his best last year and that will change on Sunday with the Ravens putting an end to their home skid.
Prediction: Baltimore Ravens -3 / UNDER 48.5
