TNF Special - Bengals @ Ravens: Week 10 Preview

Finally, a game where you weren't even a little concerned about the outcome in the fourth quarter. The Bengals cruised to a blow-out win over the Raiders on Sunday and they even did it without Tee Higgins who missed his second straight game with a quadriceps injury.

Joe Cool tied a career high with five touchdowns, Mike Gesicki caught two of those and had a 100 yards receiving, even the running game caught fire with Chase Brown who managed to turn in the first 100+ yard rushing performance for a Bengals runner this season. All in all, it feels like the Bengals are clicking on all cylinders and just in time, they get to open Week 10 with a trip to Baltimore.

Since the shoot out loss to the Ravens, Cincy has won three of four games, the only loss to the resurgent Eagles. With a win, the Bengals put themselves firmly back into the race for a playoff spot. A loss and they are in real danger of staying home for a second straight year.

Cincinnati (4-5) @ Baltimore (6-3)

Kickoff - 8:15p Prime Video

Line - Baltimore -6 O/u 52.5

Series - Baltimore leads 31-27

Last meeting - Baltimore 41-38/OT on October 6, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH

Trade Deadline News

The AFC North was a busy bunch ahead of Tuesday's Trade Deadline with every team making at least one deal. Starting in Pittsburgh, the Steelers snagged WR Mike Williams from the Jets for a fifth-round pick and DE Preston Smith from Green Bay for a seventh rounder. While the Williams deal solidifies the receiving corps with Williams joining George Pickens and Van Jefferson, the Smith trade gives the Steelers someone to place opposite T.J. Watt and replace Larry Ogunjobi (a DT) who is currently listed as their starting LDE.

The Browns made a move and a big one trading DE Za'Darius Smith to the Lions for a 5th and a 6th round pick. While it weakens the pass rush for the season, this year was a wash anyhow. Getting a a pair of extra pick on the third day of the draft give you some flexibility to move up or take a flyer on someone late. The Lions, on the other hand, replace Aidan Hutchinson who was lost when he broke his leg against the Cowboys last month.

The Ravens also made a pair of deals, adding former Steeler Dionte Johnson last week from the Panthers who were trading anyone not nailed down prior to the deadline as well as making a deal for Tre'Davious White (and a 2027 7th rounder) from the Rams late on Tuesday that netted LA a 2026 seventh-round pick.

Finishing up with the Bengals, they made a single deal early on Tuesday bringing RB Kahlil Herbert on board from Chicago in exchange for a seventh round pick in next April's draft. The move was made following the neck injury to Zack Moss late last week in practice. The Bears and Bengals have similar run game schemes so the learning curve may not be quite as steep for Herbert as some other players who have been traded.

Perhaps the biggest move the Bengals made was NOT making a move as Tee Higgins would have netted a very solid return, likely a second round pick. Instead the Bengals chose to hold onto Higgins, possibly because they still believe that a long-term deal can be reached or perhaps because they believe that the trade market may be stronger come the off-season. In either case, Higgins remains a Bengal for the time being.

Bits and baubles

Bengals - Joe Burrow is three touchdown passes from 120 for his career in only (on Thur) 62 games. With 8 games left in the season, Ja'Marr Chase has matched last season's TD number of 7 and is on pace for his second double-digit TD season. Trey Hendrickson currently leads the NFL in sacks with 11.

Ravens - Despite having the top scoring offense in the NFL, the Ravens have the 23rd best scoring defense and the worst passing defense in the NFL. Derrick Henry is on pace to lead the NFL in rushing for the third time in his career with 1052 (going into TNF), over 100 yards more than Saquon Barkley who is number two.

Injury Report

Bengals

Erick All - TE - OUT/IR (ACL)

Zack Moss - RB - OUT/IR (Neck)

Orlando Brown Jr. - OT - Questionable (Knee)

Charlie Jones - WR - Questionable (Groin)

Tee Higgins - WR - Questionable (Quadriceps)

Geno Stone - S - Questionable (Shin)

Ravens

Jalyn Armour-Davis - CB - Questionable

Brent Urban - DE - Questionable

Isaiah Likely - TE - Questionable (Hamstring)

Lamar Jackson - QB - Questionable (Knee)

Adisa Issac - LB - Questionable

Travis Jones - DT - Questionable

Fantasy Advice

Keep an eye on Tee Higgins' status (Quadriceps), if he misses another game that will probably affect Ja'Marr Chase and the coverage he'll face (Chase is STILL a WR1 even against double coverage). If Higgins is out Mike Gesicki could be in for another big week. Khalil Herbert was acquired from Chicago on Tuesday to replace the injured Zack Moss. He's been useful for Chicago the last few years, mostly as a runner, and isn't the receiver Moss was, but we'll see, as he hasn't see much use in Chicago this season.

Look for Zay Flowers to keep his hot streak (that just got hotter) after Sunday's 5 catch, 127 yard, 2 TD performance. Flowers has gone over 100 yards in three of the last four games with only the Tampa game where he was injured early as a bust. Temper your expectations with new acquisition Dionte Johnson and maybe expect something like what happened with DeAndre Hopkins in KC where he had a learning week and then was turned loose, that could change if Isaiah Likely (Hamstring) misses this game.

Prediction

Ravens 38-34