Kick-off on the night of Thursday to Friday at 2:15 a.m.
Baltimore Ravens (7-3) – Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)
For three seasons now, the Ravens have led the AFC North at the end of the week 10. Except that during the last two years, Cincinnati came to beat the Baltimore team to win this division. If they want to repeat this performance a third time, the Bengals have no choice but to win on Thursday Night Football. A match which represents almost their last chance.
Joe Burrow scrutinized
A defeat this Thursday would indeed make the end of the season for Zac Taylor’s men very complicated. We thought they had returned to their best level, but this defeat against the Texans last Sunday raises questions. Joe Burrow, again at 100% of his physical capacity, was not good. The quarterback threw two interceptions. Nor was he helped, it is true, by a villain “drop” by Tyler Boyd at the very end of the match which could have won the Bengals. It’s simple, the former LSU pitcher spoke at a press conference about one of the most frustrating defeats of his career.
He will have to raise his level of play again in this final sprint, starting with this trip to Baltimore. Since joining the league, Joe Burrow has only faced Lamar Jackson 4 repeats. He has only beaten the 2019 MPV once. The last time these two teams faced each other, last September, Lamar Jackson’s Ravens rightly won while their quarterback had thrown for 237 yards and 2 TDs. The challenge is therefore to avoid “sweep” for the Bengals who would have a disadvantage in the event of a tie at the end of the season.
Photo: Tiffany Amisse for DNA of Sports in London
An insane schedule for the Ravens
But all is not all rosy for Baltimore. While they were on a series of 4 consecutive successes, the Ravens fell at home to Cleveland. A second defeat at MT&T Bank Stadium (after the one against the Colts) which reduced their lead over the rest of the AFC North to almost nothing. Now they are under pressure from the Steelers and Browns. Especially since the end of the season risks being tense for John Harbaugh’s men.
From here to week 18they still have the reception of the Bengals therefore, but also of the Dolphins (week 17) and the Steelers (week 18)as well as travel to Jacksonville (week 15) and in San Francisco (week 16). Suffice to say that nothing will be easy for the Ravens. It would therefore be a good idea to do the work from home during this Thursday Night Football. A success against Cincinnati would almost put the Bengals out of reach with three more victories and the tie breaker. As the season progresses, the matches become more and more tense and the stakes become more and more important. Starting this Thursday.
