Breakdown of Baltimore Ravens Schedule

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Oct 26, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) reacts after catching a pass for a touchdown but called back due to a penalty during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Bengals defeated the Ravens 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Week 17: Cincinnati Bengals – Jan. 3, 2015 (1 p.m.)

2014 Record: 10-5-1
Head-to-Head Record: 20-18
Last Meeting: Ravens 27 – Bengals 24 (Oct. 26, 2014)

The Ravens will close out the regular season at Cincinnati for the fourth time in five years, and this game has all the makings to be the deciding contest for the AFC North crown.

A lot like the home game, the Ravens defense’ couldn’t hold onto a late lead in Cincy in 2014. The Ravens fought back from an 11-point deficit by forcing two Andy Dalton turnovers in the fourth quarter and had a 24-20 lead with 3:59 to go.

Dalton responded with a 10-play, 80-yard drive, scoring on a 1-yard sneak with 57 seconds left. The win gave the Bengals their first sweep of the Ravens since 2009 and sole possession of first place in the AFC North after eight weeks.

If the Ravens hope to make the playoffs for the eleventh time in 16 seasons, they will most likely need this win. It won’t be an easy task, but the Ravens are certainly capable of making another trip to the postseason.

It is easy to speculate now, but we know how things will change as the season comes to fruition. If you want a prediction on the Ravens record, an 11-5 record with an AFC North title is certainly possible. Of all the teams in the AFC North, the Ravens are the most complete team and that should get them into the playoffs once again.

The Ravens are 26 days from the Sept. 13 matchup against the Broncos when the games matter. Let’s hope they enter the regular season healthy and come out firing out the gates.

Next: Injuries at Wide Receiver Hurting Development of Ravens Offense

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