The Cincinnati Bengals are rolling into Baltimore this week for their second AFC North clash of the season, and man, does it feel like a wild card already. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has missed two straight games with an ankle sprain, including their recent 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns. You gotta wonder what’s going on with this guy, especially after the team seemed optimistic he’d be good to go for that Browns game, but obviously, that didn’t happen.
Jackson’s Ankle and What It Means for Baltimore’s Offense
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter isn’t giving us much, just saying, “It’s day-by-day, I would say,” last Friday. He added that decisions are “really what every decision’s always going to be about” when it comes to Jackson’s best interest. But here’s the kicker: Jackson’s whole game is built on being a dual-threat, right? Running and passing, that’s his superpower. If he’s not 100 percent as a runner, it makes life a whole lot easier for opposing defenses. And with the Bengals coming to town, every eye will be glued to that injury report. Without Jackson at full strength, this Ravens offense is a completely different beast, and the Bengals’ defense could feast.
Bengals on the Hunt and a Division Up for Grabs
The Bengals aren’t without their own injury concerns, with Trey Hendrickson still working through something. But even with that, he played a solid game against a rookie left tackle in Cleveland, even snagging a sack. Now he’s set to rekindle his rivalry with Orlando Brown Jr., a guy he used to face in practice back when Brown was with the Chiefs. This is an actual game, not practice, so you know the intensity is gonna be dialed up. Early predictions for the Bengals vs. Ravens Week 7 matchup have the Ravens as slight home favorites, just 3 to 3.5 points, with a wild total points line set at 50.5. Oddsmakers are expecting a shootout, and Jackson’s health could absolutely flip that script. The AFC North? It’s wide open. While the other teams sit at 4-2, our Bengals are right there at 3-2. Those two losses hurt, but the division is just begging for a team to catch fire.
Outside of the AFC North drama, some other news is floating around the league. Giants running back Cam Skattebo went without a single touch in a loss to the Saints, just a week after a critical overtime fumble. Ravens’ coach John Harbaugh even ranted about not purposefully punishing Skattebo, but you have to wonder where this is headed for the Giants. And speaking of Harbaugh, he apparently said there’s no Giants QB decision made yet after J.J. McCarthy replaced Jameis Winston against the Saints. Meanwhile, the Jaguars are eyeing a full 2028 home slate in Jacksonville, a move that could end their annual Wembley game run. They dumped a ton of cash into renovations, so it makes sense they want to maximize revenue at home, but it’ll be interesting to see how their UK fanbase reacts.
This week, all eyes are on Baltimore. The Bengals have a massive opportunity to make a statement in a division that’s begging for a leader. Get ready for a dogfight, because this one feels like it could set the tone for the rest of the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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