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Bengals vs. Ravens score, takeaways: Cincinnati beats Baltimore, AFC North rivals to meet again in playoffs

A coin flip won't be needed as the third-seeded Bengals will face the Ravens in Cincinnati next week

In one of the most consequential games of Week 18, the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the division rival Baltimore Ravens 27-16, securing a home game in the first round of the playoffs in the process as a third seed. 

The Ravens sat numerous starters for this contest, while the Bengals played their healthy players in an attempt to both avoid a coin flip to determine home field in a potential playoff rematch between these two teams, and also keep pressure on the Buffalo Bills in the race for the No. 2 seed in the AFC. The results on the field largely reflected the differing strategy, with Cincinnati taking a double-digit lead late in the first quarter and not being seriously threatened for the remaining 46 minutes of the game. 

The Bengals defense picked off undrafted rookie quarterback Anthony Brown twice in the first half, with each of those interceptions leading to a Cincinnati touchdown. Joe Mixon scored from 1 yard out after Tyler Boyd got the Bengals down to the goal line, while Ja'Marr Chase made a leaping snag for a 26-yard score later in the half. Cincinnati also got a defensive score via a Trey Hendrickson strip-sack, which resulted in a Joseph Ossai touchdown when he recovered the ball in the end zone. 

Cincinnati's offense didn't get much going for most of the second half (it had a 67-yard field goal drive but otherwise gained only 15 yards on seven possessions), but the lead the Bengals had built was large enough that it didn't much matter. Three Ravens field goals in the second half were barely enough to put a dent in the deficit, and the Bengals won the game rather comfortably. 

Why the Bengals won

They tried to win the game and the Ravens mostly did not. The Bengals played their starters in this one, while the Ravens played a great number of backups. So, even though their offensive performance actually wasn't all that great (Joe Burrow averaged 5.1 yards per attempt and Joe Mixon gained only 2.5 yards per carry), they were never seriously threatened here. Their defense did an excellent job of making things difficult for Baltimore's third-string quarterback and added a touchdown on a strip-sack, so that was a nice positive. 

Why the Ravens lost

They sat numerous offensive starters, and the deep backups did honestly not put up much of a fight. The game was not as close as the final score. Plus, they turned it over four times. 

Turning point

I was tempted to say, "when the teams announced their inactive lists" but instead we'll go with an actual play from the game. Cincinnati took a 3-0 lead after its first possession of the game, a 17-play, 64-yard drive that ended with Evan McPherson knocking it through the uprights. 

On the first play of the next drive, Anthony Brown tried to find Isaiah Likely coming across the field on a crossing route, but pressure got to him just as he was preparing to throw, so he missed way high and way intercepted by Jessie Bates. Eight plays later, Joe Mixon found his way into the end zone to give the Bengals a two-score lead. 

Baltimore's next drive lasted just three plays, with Brown throwing behind Demarcus Robinson and getting picked off by Von Bell. Three snaps later, this happened ...

Play of the game

On second-and-4 from the Baltimore 26-yard line, Joe Burrow had Tee Higgins wide the heck open for what should have been one of the easiest touchdown connections of his career. Uncharacteristically, Burrow overthrew his man by several years. It didn't matter. On the very next snap, Burrow laid the ball up for Ja'Marr Chase in pretty much the exact same spot on the field, and Chase went out and dunked on Daryl Worley for the score. 

What's next

The Bengals are AFC North champions. Thanks to the Bills' victory over the Patriots, Cincinnati will be the No. 3 seed in the AFC. With this loss, the Ravens are locked into the No. 6 seed. What does that mean? Well, it means the Bengals will host the Ravens next week in the Wild Card Round. Baltimore could get Lamar Jackson (among others) back for that contest, which would make it look quite a bit different than this week's matchup. The Bengals will have to keep an eye on the health of offensive lineman Alex Cappa, who left with what looked like a very uncomfortable leg injury during the second half.

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Live updates
 

That'll do it for the first half, and the Bengals will take a 24-7 lead into the break. They will also get the ball to begin the third quarter. The Bills and Patriots are tied at halftime, so this result could matter a lot.

 
 

Or they can score a defensive touchdown. That works, too.

 

Well that incomplete pass helps Cincinnati a lot. Now the Bengals can have at least one timeout left if they get the ball back here. 

 

Looks like the Bengals will use their timeouts here in an attempt to get the ball back one more time. 

 

Instead it's a checkdown to Samaje Perine for about 4 yards, and Baltimore will get the ball back and another chance to score before the half.

 

Burrow has to convert a third-and-12 here to keep the two-minute drill going.

 

Really nice drive from Anthony Brown and Co., albeit helped by the roughing penalty on Hendrickson. Ends with Kenyan Drake scoring from 4 yards out to cut the lead to 17-7.

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The Patriots just pulled into a tie with the Bills near the end of the first half, so this game could take on some added importance through the rest of this afternoon. 

 

Trey Hendrickson is not thrilled with the roughing call he drew for throwing Anthony Brown to the ground. On the next snap, Brown throws into double-coverage to Isaiah Likely and almost gets picked... but Likely comes down with it instead on a terrific catch.

 

Brown almost got picked off for a third time. Throw had just enough heat on it to get by the LB.

 

Slot WR Tyler Boyd is headed to the locker room to be evaluated for a head injury. The Bengals have been using Trenton Irwin more often in recent weeks but losing Boyd would obviously not be a good thing.

 

Well, the Ravens read that screen pass right away. No room to go anywhere for Ja'Marr Chase as soon as he caught it.

 

Not even close on that fourth-down try for the Ravens. Ran right up the middle into a crowded back and barely got back to the line of scrimmage. Bengals ball again.

 

Hill just limped off the field, too, but I think his shoe just fell off. Looks like some trainers are trying to get it back on for him.

 

Not great news for the Ravens, as Gus Edwards is now being evaluated for a concussion. They already are without Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley, and they sat JK Dobbins and Mark Andrews as well. It's Kenyan Drake and Justice Hill in the backfield.

 

If the Bengals extend this lead any further, we might see the backups in the second half. 

 
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You won't often see Joe Burrow miss a pass that easy, by that much. Tee Higgins was as wide open as he'll ever be in his life and Burrow just threw it too far. But he hit Ja'Marr Chase for a TD on the next snap anyway, so I suppose all's well that ends well.

 

Anthony Brown picked off for the second time in three drives. Pass was a little bit behind Demarcus Robinson. And the Bengals again break out a creative celebration, this time with what appeared to be a group nap, or something?

 

Ravens end the 1Q with a couple of Gus Edwards carries that gain 5 combined yards. It's 10-0 Cincinnati heading into the 2Q.

 

Looks like it was a real coin, not a fake one. Incredible.

 
 
 

Also, Mixon's celebration involved flipping a fake coin and then kicking the coin into the stands, which is pretty awesome.

 

Mixon takes it in from 1 yard out to give the Bengals a two-score lead. Zac Taylor was running down the field to challenge the previous play to Tyler Boyd (he would have lost the challenge), while Mixon got into the end zone. 

 

Burrow is doing a fantastic job of navigating the pocket already. Ravens are getting a good amount of pressure but he's evading the rush and finding a man downfield or taking off to run.

 

Anthony Brown tried to hit a crossing route to Isaiah Likely and, uh, he did not come very close to doing so. Threw it about 10 feet over the receiver's head and Jessie Bates was there waiting for it. Some pressure forced him to throw high.

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Cincinnati drive ends with a 34-yard field goal by Evan McPherson, giving the Bengals a 3-0 lead. 

 

Here's a look at the Burrow scramble from earlier: 
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