Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 384 yards last week, averaging over eight yards per pass. (Getty)
The Baltimore Ravens fell to 0-2 on the season for the first time since John Harbaugh became head coach after giving up a late-game drive to the Oakland Raiders last week.
The Cincinnati Bengals, on the other hand, are riding back-to-back victories after an impressive showing against the San Diego Chargers in week two. Although the Bengals offense was shaky at times, including two fumbles by running back Jeremy Hill, who was pulled from the game, the squad’s defense stepped up when it mattered most and held strong in the waning moments of the AFC matchup.
Now, the two divisional rivals will square off on Sunday afternoon, looking to jockey for standings position. As an added bonus, it’s also the Ravens home opener which, after two disappointing game to open the season, may be a bit of a comfort for the squad. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET. Here’s everything you need to know about the betting information from OddsShark.com:
Game Info
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton threw three touchdowns last week, without an interception, en route to a victory over the San Diego Chargers. (Getty)
Line: Baltiomre (-2.5)
Moneyline: Cincinnati +1.5, Baltimore -1.5
Over/Under: 44
What to Watch For
Baltimore Ravens TE Crockett Gilmore had a productive half last week with a pair of touchdowns against the Oakland Raiders. (Getty)
The Baltimore Ravens defense apparently missed the memo that they were playing in a football game on Sunday afternoon last week.
It’s been 17 years since the Ravens didn’t have either Ray Lewis, Ed Reed or Terrell Suggs on the field and the team didn’t do much to establish any confidence without their leaders, allowing the Oakland Raiders to score on seven of their 10 drives en route to a 37-33 loss.
Baltimore looked nothing short of lost in week two. Prior to Sunday’s victory, the Raiders were the only NFL team who hadn’t scored over 36 points since 2011. But in week two, Oakland’s offense looked dominant.
That, of course, does not bode well for this week.
Suggs, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in week one, will not be back on the field. There will be no de facto leader. That puts the pressure on Baltimore to find some sort of defensive identity before squaring off against the Bengals and Andy Dalton, who hasn’t thrown an interception yet this year.