Final score predictions for Ravens vs. Bengals in Week 15

The Cincinnati Bengals enter the Week 15 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens as slight underdogs at Paycor Stadium.

It’s the second meeting in just 17 days for the fierce AFC North rivals. The Bengals remain ever-so-slightly alive in the playoff race at 4-9, while the Ravens hope to keep a division crown within reach at 6-7.

For the Bengals, a path to the postseason exists because that AFC North is so miserable this year. It’s tiny, yet there: Joe Burrow’s team needs to win out and get some help.

But a loss to the Ravens would put an end to things.

Two weeks ago now, Burrow stormed back earlier than expected from injury on Thanksgiving and delivered that memorable win over the Ravens in Baltimore. In the 32-14 beatdown, the defense appeared to have new life while he threw for two scores.

But last week again Buffalo on the road, the Bengals blew a healthy lead courtesy of a pair of critical Burrow interceptions.

It was a good illustration of how razor thin the margin of error for the Bengals is once again. The team just couldn’t cobble together wins without Burrow this year and now he needs to play perfect ball again for them to have even the slightest of chances.

Whether the Bengals can actually complete the season sweep of the Ravens is a tough call. Baltimore has lost two in a row, sure, but they were both AFC North bouts. Prior to that, they’d won five in a row after a bye week.

Lamar Jackson has accounted for 2,060 passing yards and 16 touchdowns against five interceptions over 10 games. Derrick Henry is up over 1,000 yards again on a 4.6 per-carry average with 10 scores.

Jackson, though, has battled injuries over the last few weeks and routinely doesn’t get a full week of practice now. That could be an x-factor in the freezing temperatures.

This one might come down to game script. If the Bengals can run the ball well and somebody like Ja’Marr Chase can make a big play early, it lessens the chances Henry can start pounding the ball in a negative wind chill and take over the game.

Just two games ago, it felt unlikely that the Bengals could win without Trey Hendrickson and Tee Higgins. They did anyway. Now they have to do it again. Let’s say the Burrow return boost propelled the team last time. This time? The threat of outright elimination.

Prediction: Bengals 27, Ravens 20

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Final score predictions for Ravens vs. Bengals in Week 15

Final score predictions for Ravens vs. Bengals in Week 15

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