Ravens Face Bengals in AFC North Clash Amidst Lamar Jackson's Injury

The Baltimore Ravens are set to host the Cincinnati Bengals in an AFC North matchup on Sunday, with the Ravens listed as 1.5-point favorites. The game takes on added significance as the Ravens announced Saturday that starting quarterback Lamar Jackson has been ruled out due to an ankle injury. Jackson had been limited in practice throughout the week, leading to speculation about his availability.

Tyler Huntley is expected to start in Jackson's place. While Huntley has demonstrated an ability to manage the team, his passing limitations are noted when compared to Jackson's capabilities.

The Bengals enter the contest coming off a bye week. This will be their fourth road game in six matchups, having secured wins against the Texans and Dolphins and a narrow loss to the Steelers in previous away games.

Defensively, the Bengals have been effective at generating pressure without needing to blitz, ranking fourth in pressure percentage and tied for fourth in sacks. However, their run defense has struggled, allowing 5.0 yards per carry, the second-most in the NFL, and averaging 123 rushing yards allowed per game, which ranks 24th. This vulnerability could be exploited by Ravens running back Derrick Henry, who leads the league in rush attempts and is fourth in rushing yards.

On the offensive side, the Bengals are led by quarterback Joe Burrow. He will face a Ravens pass defense known for its blitzing and ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks. The Ravens' defense ranks highly in blitz percentage, but their effectiveness against the run could be a concern. Burrow's performance against the blitz has been less consistent this season compared to when facing a standard rush.

Despite the absence of Lamar Jackson, the Ravens have shown competitiveness. The betting prediction favors Baltimore to win outright at home, citing their advantage in the running game.