Previewing the Ravens vs. Bengals AFC North showdown

The Pittsburgh Steelers are on their bye, but there is a huge AFC North showdown fans will be watching intently.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are on their bye week, and the Cleveland Browns have already played in Week 7, beating the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. That leaves just two other teams who call the AFC North home preparing to play in Week 8, the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.

Lucky for fans of the division, those two teams play one another at M&T Bank Stadium this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET. To get fans ready for the game, here is a breakdown of the game. Just so you Steelers fans know, this will be a new weekly feature for the black and gold once they return to play in Week 8.

Teams (Records)

Baltimore Ravens: 5-1 (1st place in AFC North)
Cincinnati Bengals: 4-2 (2nd place in AFC North)

Odds (Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Ravens (-6.5)
OVER/UNDER: 45.5
Moneyline: Bengals +215

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

Last 5 Games

Ravens: 5-0
Bengals: 3-2

Injury Report

Baltimore:
RB Latavius Murray — OUT
WR Sammie Watkins — OUT
G/C Bradley Bozeman — QUESTIONABLE
OT Alejandro Villanueva — QUESTIONABLE
CB Tavon Young — QUESTIONABLE
LB Patrick Queen — QUESTIONABLE

Cincinnati:
CB Jalen Davis — QUESTIONABLE
DT Tyler Shelvin — QUESTIONABLE

News and Notes

This game is for first place in the division. If the Ravens win they further their lead, putting some serious distance between them and the second place Bengals. However, if the Bengals can pull off the upset on the road, they will hold onto first place with the head-to-head tie breaker over the Ravens.

Some view the Ravens as a team who has been extremely lucky throughout their first six weeks of the regular season. The win over the Detroit Lions and Justin Tucker’s NFL record field goal. The prime time collapse by the Indianapolis Colts vs. Baltimore. Nonetheless, teams don’t always win pretty. On the flip side, fans knew the Bengals would be improved in 2021, but not sure how many thought they would be 4-2 after six games.

This game should be fun to watch, and hopefully it delivers. As for Steelers fans, it seems rather obvious they’ll be pulling for Cincinnati to somehow knock the Ravens off their perch, for the time being.

Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they prepare for the Cleveland Browns game on the road in Week 8 of the 2021 regular season.