Last Updated on December 30, 2010 12:57 am by Anthony Rome
Bengals vs. Ravens Preview
Baltimore, MD – The Baltimore Ravens will be making a third consecutive trip to the playoffs, but need help to win the AFC North and earn a first-round bye.
A Week 2 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals is the major reason why the team isn’t in control of its playoff fate.
The Ravens look to avenge that defeat and head into the postseason riding a four-game winning streak Sunday when they host the Bengals, who could be playing their final game under coach Marvin Lewis.
According to latest NFL odds, oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOABL.com have made the Ravens 9.5-point spread favorites for Sunday’s game against the Bengals. Current NFL Public Betting Information shows that 60% of more than 3,659 bets for this game have been placed on the Ravens –9.5.
Baltimore (11-4) is tied atop the North with Pittsburgh, but the Steelers own the tiebreaker because of a better record in the division. Pittsburgh’s only division loss came to the Ravens on Oct. 3, while Baltimore fell to the Steelers on Dec. 5 and lost 15-10 in Cincinnati on Sept. 19.
For the Ravens to secure the No. 2 seed and avoid opening the playoffs on the road as a wild card, they must beat the Bengals (4-11) and have Pittsburgh lose to 5-10 Cleveland. The Steelers, however, have won 13 of the last 14 meetings with the Browns.
“We’re very pleased with the 11 wins and pleased with the opportunity to compete in the playoffs,” Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. “But the regular season is not over. There’s still something to be accomplished. We’re going to take a run at it and see what happens.”
Although Pittsburgh losing to the Browns seems unlikely, Harbaugh is still planning on playing his starters. He also isn’t planning on changing his strategy of removing starters regardless of what happens in the game at Cleveland set to kick off at the same time.
Harbaugh wants his team entering the playoffs with momentum and the proper mindset.
Linebacker and emotional leader Ray Lewis also wants the Ravens to give it their all, especially against a Bengals team that has won three straight in the series.
“The only thing you can ask for in this business is to get in the dance,” said Lewis, selected to his 11th Pro Bowl on Tuesday. “Now we have to take care of our business against Cincinnati, a team that beat us earlier in the year, a team in our division.”
Joe Flacco had one of the worst games of his career in September against the Bengals, passing for just 154 yards while throwing four interceptions for a quarterback rating of 23.8. He has been much sharper since then, tossing 20 TD passes to just three picks in his last 10 games for a QB rating of 107.4.
Flacco’s struggles at Cincinnati minimized a solid performance from the Ravens’ defense, as Carson Palmer threw for 167 yards, Cedric Benson rushed for 78 yards on 23 attempts and the Bengals settled for five field goals from Mike Nugent.
Baltimore, 6-1 at home, is coming off another strong defensive showing, intercepting three passes and limiting bruising running back Peyton Hillis to 35 yards on 12 carries last Sunday.
The Bengals, 1-6 on the road, come in playing some of their best football, but it might not be enough to save Lewis’ job.
After tying a club record by losing 10 straight games, Cincinnati has won its last two. If the Bengals drop the finale, however, they’ll finish with their most losses since the 2002 team went 2-14 under Dick LeBeau.
Lewis was then hired and has had limited success with only two winning seasons. He declined an extension last season, and it’s looking unlikely he’ll be back.
“My focus is really the Baltimore Ravens, and we’ll cross that bridge when it comes to that time,” Lewis said. “I don’t think much about it.”
Although this year has been a major disappointment for a Bengals team that won the North last season, Lewis can’t be blamed entirely. The wide receiver tandem of Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco has been a disappointment, and Palmer had his best outing of the season in last Sunday’s 34-20 win over San Diego, when both star receivers sat out.
Palmer passed 269 yards and four touchdowns for a career-best passer rating of 157.2. Jerome Simpson had a career-high six catches for 124 yards, Andre Caldwell had four catches for 87 yards, and Jermaine Gresham had four for 56 yards and a touchdown.
“They ran great routes and made big plays,” Palmer said.
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