Ravens fall to Bengals, 27-16, in regular-season finale, establishing playoff rematch in Cincinnati – The Mercury Information

The one bonus coin flip in Cincinnati Sunday afternoon got here on a mocking celebration from Bengals working again Joe Mixon after a first-half landing.

All dialogue of playoff potentialities this week — and the potential of a coin flip giving the Ravens a house playoff recreation — was rendered moot when the Bengals took an early led and held on for a 27-16 win Sunday. The Ravens (10-7) will return to Cincinnati subsequent week because the No. 6 seed for a second straight matchup with the Bengals (12-4), this time in an AFC wild-card spherical showdown.

After Buffalo Payments security Damar Hamlin collapsed in a daunting second throughout Monday’s recreation in opposition to the Bengals, inflicting the sport to be known as off, the NFL introduced unprecedented guidelines this week to make clear the playoff image. If the Ravens had defeated the Bengals and the 2 groups had been set to play once more within the first spherical of the playoffs, the NFL determined {that a} coin flip would decide home-field benefit.

The Ravens gained the sport’s opening coin flip to find out possession, however that was the final heads-or-tails choice of the day, because the Ravens, who benched a number of key gamers and began their third-string quarterback, couldn’t overcome a first-half deficit in Cincinnati.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson missed his fifth straight recreation with a left knee damage and backup Tyler Huntley was additionally inactive with shoulder and wrist accidents. Different starters, together with tight finish Mark Andrews, working again J.Ok. Dobbins, guard Kevin Zeitler and cornerback Marcus Peters, had been inactive because the Ravens sought to relaxation key gamers forward of the postseason.

The Bengals made it clear this week that they weren’t completely happy that the Ravens would have an opportunity to host a playoff recreation between the 2 groups with a worse successful share. That was emphasised following Cincinnati’s first landing Sunday, when Mixon pulled out a coin, flipped it and kicked it away as a part of his celebration after a rating that made it 10-0.

Undrafted rookie quarterback Anthony Brown made his first profession begin for the Ravens, and the primary half wasn’t form to him. He threw two interceptions and likewise fumbled ultimately zone, which the Bengals recovered for a landing simply earlier than halftime. Brown completed 19-for-44 for 286 yards — probably the most for a Ravens quarterback since Jackson threw for 318 yards in Week 2 in opposition to the Miami Dolphins — and was sacked 4 occasions.

The Bengals scored three touchdowns off these first three turnovers, and their 21 first-half factors off these takeaways had been probably the most by any NFL group this season and probably the most in opposition to the Ravens since 2007.

Baltimore trailed, 24-7, at halftime. Their lone landing got here on a 4-yard run from Kenyan Drake to cap a 76-yard drive.

Within the second half, Ravens rookie linebacker David Ojabo strip-sacked Burrow to arrange a Justin Tucker subject aim that made it 24-10. The Bengals responded with a subject aim of their very own earlier than two extra Tucker kicks finalized the scoring.

The Ravens threatened to flip the script late as Sammy Watkins caught a 47-yard move into Bengals territory. Nonetheless, he fumbled on the play, giving Cincinnati the ball again with an 11-point lead and a pair of:56 to go.

Burrow accomplished 25 of 42 passes for 215 yards and one landing for the Bengals. Inside linebacker Roquan Smith led the Ravens with 16 tackles, together with 12 solo.

Baltimore’s broad receivers didn’t at all times assist Brown out. One among his interceptions bounced off the arms of Demarcus Robinson, who caught simply two of his 9 targets for twenty-four yards, and on one would-be massive play, James Proche stepped out of bounds earlier than reeling in a catch, nullifying the acquire. Ravens broad receivers had been focused 17 occasions however caught 5 of them.

Rookie tight ends had a powerful exhibiting, as Isaiah Possible caught eight of his 13 targets for a game-high 103 yards, and Charlie Kolar caught his first profession passes, tallying 4 grabs on six targets for 49 yards. Watkins had 79 yards on two catches.

The Ravens will quickly be again in Cincinnati for a rematch with the Bengals, and they need to have extra weapons obtainable.

Gamers who rested Sunday, together with the group’s prime pass-catcher, Andrews, are anticipated to be again. However the protection — which was largely at full energy — will search to have a stronger exhibiting in opposition to the Bengals, who’ve now gained eight video games in a row relationship to October.

With subsequent week’s opponent and placement determined, consideration on the Ravens this week will shift much more to availability — significantly at quarterback. Huntley was inactive Sunday after being restricted throughout the week with shoulder and wrist accidents however is anticipated to be prepared after saying on Friday that he’s “received a great probability” to play Sunday’s recreation.

And coach John Harbaugh mentioned Friday that Jackson, the group’s beginning quarterback for the previous 4 seasons and the 2019 NFL Most Useful Participant, remains to be recovering from his knee damage. Jackson’s return would clearly give the Ravens’ offense a carry; since his damage in December, oddsmakers have reduce the Ravens’ probabilities to win the AFC in half.

“We’ll be eager for subsequent week,” Harbaugh mentioned Friday of Jackson probably enjoying within the postseason. “We’ll simply see the place we’re at then.”

This story shall be up to date.

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