When you think AFC North, you think defenses like The Steel Curtain, Myles Garrett and the Browns, and the big bad Baltimore defense with Ray Lewis of yesteryear. However, the year is 2024, and these AFC North powers have lost sight of the defense their ancestors played.

Now, we get to see these delicious colored uniforms take moonshots over each others’ defenses in what is surely to be a back-and-forth affair. On paper, this game is way too good to be featured on Thursday Night Football. I go back to the Jaguars and Titans in their putrid color rush uniforms or when the Colts and Broncos went into overtime without scoring a touchdown when I think of Thursday Night Football. I hope this one lives up to the hype. 

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (-6), O/U 52.5

The Bengals took the Ravens to overtime when they played this game in Cincinnati, and they need this game to remain alive in the AFC playoff picture. Every time I start leaning toward one side or total in this game, I hit a roadblock that causes me to turn around. The Ravens are hurt on offense, and the defense has been suboptimal against the passing game. Joe Burrow is throwing for a million yards and touchdowns in this recent stretch to get the Bengals back into contention. So that’s scaring me away from the Ravens and the Under. 

On the other hand, the Bengals are terrible against the run, and if the Ravens get an early lead, they could hand it off to Derrick Henry and sit on the ball until time runs out. That is what is preventing me from taking the Bengals and the over. So, let’s get a little funky with this handicap.

Lamar Jackson is having his best season as a pro despite already having two MVP seasons on his record. However, he’s already beaten Josh Allen and the Bills and is way ahead of Patrick Mahomes statistically. If he puts away the Bengals with a huge stat line in a primetime spot with the entire world watching, he’s going to separate himself from the pack in the MVP race. I think it’s a good time to buy this price before we see a drop.

Pick: Lamar Jackson MVP (+300 or better)

Something to Sweat in the Game

The handicap you’ll hear just about anywhere is that Bengals TE Mike Gesicki showed out for the Bengals in Tee Higgins’ absence last week. The Ravens are also susceptible to letting up yards to TEs in the middle of the field. However, his price last week was 36.5 receiving yards, and the market has caught up big time by making it 50.5 yards this week.

So instead I’m taking a long shot. The Bengals went out and got RB Khalil Herbert from the Bears at the deadline with Zack Moss hitting the IR. He won’t be fully utilized yet, but they’re dying to take some of the work away from incumbent RB Chase Brown to keep him healthy. Since Herbert is coming off the street for this game, his Anytime Touchdown price is a little inflated, and running back is one of the positions that can step into an offense and have an immediate impact.

Pick: Khalil Herbert Anytime Touchdown