Sunday Night Football Preview: Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals

The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals will face off in a pivotal AFC North showdown on Sunday Night Football in Week 5. The Bengals dominated the Ravens in both of their matchups last year, outscoring Baltimore 82-37. The Ravens will hope quarterback Lamar Jackson's rediscovered MVP form will make up the difference. They're 3-point favorites to get their revenge and take an early lead in the division.

Primetime at the Bank 😈

Stat of the Week | @PapaJohnsBal pic.twitter.com/aTdoBsg48n
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 6, 2022

The Ravens offense had been all but unstoppable through three weeks, scoring a league-leading 33 points per game. They found their match in the Buffalo Bills this past Sunday. Quarterback Lamar Jackson had his roughest outing of the season, throwing for a mere 134 net passing yards and a pair of interceptions in the 23-20 loss, including a devastating goal-line pick on the offense's final drive. He'll hope to get back on track to the level of play that won him the AFC's Offensive Player of the Month in September.

Once a perennial defensive powerhouse, the Ravens have been anything but since 2021. The team hoped a list of injuries a mile-long was to blame for last year's struggles, but the ugly play has followed them into 2022. After ranking 25th in yards allowed in 2021, the Ravens rank 30th this year through four weeks and have surrendered 17+ point comebacks in two of the past three weeks.

Yeah...@JoeyB's 525-yard game is one of our favorites too 😏

🔜 #CINvsBAL on NBC pic.twitter.com/Lc2MiIOjgf
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 3, 2022

Meanwhile, the Bengals offense will seek to continue the momentum it has built following a pair of season-opening losses. Quarterback Joe Burrow has led the team to consecutive wins with his 562 passing yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions over the past two weeks, and he loves playing Baltimore. He combined for a preposterous 941 yards and seven touchdown passes in their two 2021 contests.

As for the Bengals defense, they've looked fierce in the opening four weeks of the season. The team ranks eighth in points allowed and has forced the seventh-most turnovers in the league. Their 3.8 yards per rush allowed should serve them well against the Ravens; Lamar Jackson sports a deadly 8.5 yards per attempt average on his 37 carries.

The Cincinnati Bengals visit the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5 on Sunday Night Football.