Ravens vs Bengals Week 16 Picks and Preview: Will Lamar Jackson Start in Key AFC North Duel?

(Photo : Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) DENVER, COLORADO - Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs the ball for a first down during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on December 19, 2021 in Denver, Colorado.

Supremacy in the AFC North will be at stake in Week 16 as division leaders Cincinnati host the Baltimore Ravens in a pivotal showdown at Paul Brown Stadium. Who will emerge victorious in this key divisional matchup? Here's a breakdown of the Ravens vs Bengals game.

Baltimore Ravens installed as +2.5 underdogs

Baltimore's losing woes show no sign of ending as the Ravens crashed to their third consecutive defeat with a gut-wrenching 31-30 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 15. The Ravens' gamble to go for the win with a late two-point try backfired for the second time in three games as they dropped down to second place in the AFC North.

That sets the stage for their epic showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16. Both teams share similar 8-6 records with the winner this Sunday set to grab the division lead with two games left to play.

The main question now for the Ravens is: who will be their starting quarterback for that crunch clash? Lamar Jackson missed a game due to injury for the first time in his career in Week 15, sitting out Sunday's game against Green Bay because of a sprained right ankle.

Tyler Huntley made a good account of himself in Jackson's absence, completing 28 of 40 passes for 215 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also did some damage on the ground, running for 73 yards and a couple of scores on 13 carries.

Huntley made history with that performance as he became the first Ravens QB to pass for two touchdowns and run for two touchdowns in the same game. It will be hard to deny Jackson the football, though, if he wants to start against Cincinnati. He has an incredible 37-12 record in his NFL career for a winning percentage of .755.

Cincinnati Bengals enter Week 16 as -2.5 favorites

The Cincinnati Bengals finally snapped their two-game losing skid on Sunday with a nerve-wracking 15-10 victory over the Denver Broncos. It was a big win for the Bengals, who moved to the top of the AFC North standings with just three games remaining this season.

For the Bengals to preserve that division lead in Week 16, they will need to get a much-improved showing from Joe Burrow. He completed just 15 of 22 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown in the win against Denver. The Bengals racked up just 249 total yards in Week 15.

Burrow will look to get his game going against the Ravens, a team he torched back in Week 7. Burrow completed 23 of 38 passes for 416 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in Cincinnati's 41-17 victory over Baltimore.

Ja'Marr Chase was also unstoppable in that game, catching eight passes for 201 yards, breaking Speedy Thomas' franchise rookie record of 177 receiving yards. Burrow and Chase will fancy their chances against a Baltimore side that is second-worst in the NFL in passing defense, allowing 264.9 yards per game through the air this season.