Thursday Night Preview: Bengals and Baltimore Bang Heads in AFC North Showdown

Whatever TNF lead announcer Al Michaels did to piss off the football gods is apparently forgiven.

After a slug of uninspired Thursday games with few playoff implications comes a divisional matchup bristling with many. Perhaps the two hottest teams in the NFL — before Week 10, anyway — square off, with the Bengals and Joe Burrow visit the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. 

Hey Al…do you still believe in miracles?

Both teams come off tough losses four days ago. But the short turnaround left neither team with the time to lick their wounds — or to recover from them. The Bengals will again be without receiver Tee Higgins, missing his second game with a hamstring issue. Defensive ends Trey Hendrickson (knee) and Sam Hubbard (ankle) are also expected to miss the Thursday’s game.

Baltimore will sit left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee) and inside ‘backer Trenton Simpson (concussion). Pro Bowl starting corner Marlon Humphrey is doubtful.

A healthy Humphrey, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, would likely draw the unsavory assignment of covering Bengals’ star receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who put up 124 yards in the loss to the Texans, including a 66-yard TD catch. If Humphrey does not play, expect Burrow to target his replacement. The Bengals will also look to establish the run, which was a key for the Browns in their upset of Baltimore on Sunday. Cincy RB Joe Mixon has had an underwhelming season thus far and carried only 11 times against the Texans. 

Without Higgins and with a so-so running game, Joe Burrow needs to broaden those shoulders before Thursday’s kickoff. He’s going to have a lot placed on them.

For the Ravens, their offense will look to exploit the absences of Hubbard and Hendrickson. The ground game is a major strength for Baltimore and Cincinnati’s run defense, ranked 30th in the NFL, is already a loose embankment ready to give way. Without their two starting DEs, the Bengals can anticipate a solid dose of Baltimore's rookie spark plug Keaton Mitchell, who posted TD runs of 54 and 39 yards in the last two games. 

Of course, Lamar Jackson remains the key to the Baltimore attack. He threw for 223 yards against a ball-hawking Browns pass defense, serving up two interceptions. The Bengals defense (No. 30 overall) does not present the challenge Cleveland did, so Jackson, tight end Mark Andrews and rookie standout WR Zay Flowers could have impacts evenings.

We think they will. Despite hosting the loss to Cleveland, M&T Bank Stadium is still a formidable place and the Ravens seem to elevate their play at home. Baltimore 27, Cincinnati 20.