The AFC North is arguably the best division in the NFL as one of only two with all four teams boasting winning records and there is a crunch clash coming up on Sunday as the Baltimore Ravens host the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Ravens lie in a three-way tie for the top but in third behind the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, all with 4-2 records, and go into this game on the back of a 13-10 defeat in Cleveland in a game in which they led 10-0 after the first quarter.
Baltimore was without Lamar Jackson for the second successive game and he remains questionable for Sunday's divisional clash having been involved in limited practice this week following an ankle injury.
The Bengals prop up the AFC North with a 3-2 record, winning their opening two games before snapping a two-game skid with a 31-24 win over the Dolphins in Miami, with the victory margin closed up by two late touchdowns for the hosts.
Baltimore hold the advantage in the recent head to heads having won five of the last six games between the two but the big question is will Lamar Jackson be calling the shots?
Bengals vs. Ravens betting picks & predictions
Bengals -1.5 (-106)
Lamar Jackson's status is seemingly key to this game but there are obvious doubts even if the player himself feels he is "heading in the right direction" and the Bengals have been installed as -118 favorites.
The Ravens struggled offensively after the first quarter against the Browns last week and they are clearly not the same force without Jackson calling the shots.
Tyler Huntley went 24-23 for 201 yards and two TDs in the 30-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons but was limited to 19-31 for 165 yards and one TD last week as the Baltimore offense stuttered.
Even if Baltimore's star quarterback was to suit up, he will surely be limited in his abilities and the Bengals can capitalise, particularly coming in fresh after their bye week.
Joe Burrow threw for four touchdowns against the Dolphins, even if only going 23-32 for 190 yards, but encouraging signs nonetheless as he was finding his targets.
Avoiding a sack for the first time this season will certainly have helped and, while he should expect more pressure, the Bengals have been finding ways to keep drives going, converting 50 per cent of their third downs, a mark bettered only by the undefeated San Francisco 49ers (51.5).
While the Ravens have won five of the last six meetings between the two, including a 24-0 shutout in their most recent clash in Ohio in December, Cincinnati did power to a 32-14 win in last season's trip to M&T Bank Stadium and they can cover just a 1.5 point spread in another W.
Derrick Henry over 83.5 rush yards (-115)
Regardless of who is under center, Derrick Henry will get his work on Sunday, and goes into the game having had the most carries (130) through six weeks, while he ranks fourth with 534 yards and joint-second with seven touchdowns.
Like Baltimore as a team, he did disappoint in the defeat to the Browns with just 58 yards from 17 carries but had passed 100 yards against Atlanta the week before from 24 carries, with his season's best tally of 144 yards coming off the same number of attempts against Indianapolis in Week 1.
The Dolphins had little trouble moving the sticks on the ground against the Bengals, combining for 217 yards despite playing catch-up, with Ollie Gordon II rushing for 88 off 18 carries.
Jackson taking the field would certainly help take some of the defense's focus but Henry is still likely to get plenty of carries in what is expected to be a closely-fought, physical clash and can pass his rush line, particularly with a point to prove after the Cleveland defeat.
Ja'Marr Chase anytime touchdown (+105)
While Henry is a potential TD scorer as well, odds of -210 offer no real value but getting plus-money for Ja'Marr Chase to find the end zone seems like an opportunity not to pass up.
While he will garner plenty of attention from the opposing secondary, that is the case every week, and he still ties for the team lead with four TD receptions, alongside tight end Mike Gesicki.
Chase has caught 27 of 38 targets for 289 yards, and while Tee Higgins has taken 27 of 43 for 423, he has only reached the end zone once and Chase remains Burrow's main man.
He also has an excellent record against the Ravens with an average of 120.4 yards in 10 career regular-season games and - in a similar situation to Henry - just because a defense knows what is coming doesn't mean they are able to stop it.
At +105, Chase looks good value to claim a fifth touchdown of the season.
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Bengals vs. Ravens odds
CIN Bengals | -118 |
BAL Ravens | -102 |
Spread | CIN Bengals -1.5 |
Total | O/U 48.5 |
Bengals vs. Ravens player props
Anytime touchdown
Derrick Henry (BAL Ravens) | -210 |
Chase Brown (CIN Bengals) | -105 |
Ja'Marr Chase (CIN Bengals) | +105 |
Tee Higgins (CIN Bengals) | +140 |
Zay Flowers (BAL Ravens) | +175 |
Lamar Jackson (BAL Ravens) | +220 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
