Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens to Play Thursday Night Shorthanded

With both the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens losing in Week 10, the game this Thursday night is even more important for both of them. They are also both suffering from the same problem we see on many Thursday night games – injured players, and not enough time to get them healthy.

Ravens Lose Multiple Starters in Loss to Cleveland

It looked like cornerback Marlon Humprhrey was lost for the season with yet another of the ruptured Achilles tendons that have been plaguing the NFL. Instead, it has been ruled a strained calf, which has everyone in Baltimore letting out a sigh of relief.

Officially he is listed as day-to-day. But with only three days of rest between games, he is not expected to play.

Left tackle Ronnie Stanley was rolled up on his right knee, and he did not return on Sunday. The only good news for Baltimore on this front is that the injury was not on his left ankle, which has been the cause of many injury absences over the years. He is also day-to-day.

Right guard Kevin Zieltler also went down with a knee injury. But like Stanley’s, it isn’t expected to be too serious. But also like Stanley’s, it could be enough to keep him on the sideline Thursday night.

Bengals Take Injury Hit on Defensive Line

Defensive end Sam Hubbard was on the sideline Sunday against the Browns because of a shoulder injury, and he is expected to miss this Thursday’s game as well. And at the very end of the game on Sunday, the defensive end who bookends with Hubbard, Trey Hendrickson, also went down.

After the play, there was some shoving, and a Texans player fell to the ground and rolled into Hendrickson’s knee. An MRI showed that the knee had been hyperextended, and he is now doubtful to be ready by Thursday. First-round draft pick Myles Murphy will start in Hendrickson’s place if he can’t play.

Wide receiver Tee Higgins missed the game with Cleveland because of a hamstring injury, and he is also expected to miss Thursday night in Baltimore.

Thursday’s Stakes

NFL online bettors still believe that the Bengals are a playoff team, and a potentially dangerous playoff team. They are currently out of the playoffs, but BetUS.com has them at -145 to make the postseason, and +800 to win the AFC. Those are the fifth-shortest conference odds.

They were the preseason favorite to defend their AFC North title, but Bovada.lv has them at just +400 to make that happen now. That puts them behind the Ravens and Browns as division favorites, and just ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Bengals have already lost to the Browns and Ravens, and another loss to Baltimore would all but eliminate them from the division race. The Ravens would own the tiebreaker against them, take a three-game lead in the win column, and Cincinnati would drop to 0-3 against AFC North opponents.

In Week 18, the Bengals host the Browns, and it would be an unusual treat for Ohio online sports bettors to have both of those teams playing a meaningful regular season finale.

For Baltimore, the situation isn’t as dire. They are squarely in the playoffs race, and BetUS.com has them staying there until season’s end. They are -1200 to be in the postseason in January.

It should be an exciting and busy postseason at Maryland online sportsbooks, courtesy of the Ravens. Bovada.lv has them at +550 to win the AFC — the second-shortest odds — and +950 to win the Super Bowl, the fourth-shortest odds.

As for the game on Thursday, BetUS.com has the Ravens as 3.5-point favorites.