CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals will host the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium to conclude the 2022-23 regular season Sunday afternoon.
It is the Bengals’ first game since Monday night’s cancellation of their game against Buffalo Bills following the collapse of Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
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Hamlin has been at University of Cincinnati Medical Center since Monday. Doctors say he suffered cardiac arrest on the field and needed both CPR and defibrillation by team doctors.
The Bills said Saturday Hamlin is making continued progress in his recovery but remains in critical condition, in a post on the team’s social media account.
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The Bengals game with the Bills has been officially canceled and will not be made, according to the NFL.
Cincinnati has now clinched the AFC North Division title for the second straight season, first time in franchise history they’ve won back-to-back division titles. There are implications on who could host a possible playoff game between the Bengals and Ravens, according to a proposed plan by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The plan was approved by 25 of the league’s owners, one more than the required 24 needed for approval.
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If the Ravens beat the Bengals, and the results of other games force a Wild Card Game matchup between the teams, the location of the game will not automatically go to the Bengals as the division winner. Rather the game’s location will be decided by a coin flip.
If Baltimore defeats Cincinnati Sunday, it will have defeated Cincinnati, a divisional opponent, twice but will not be able to host a playoff game because Cincinnati will have a higher winning percentage for a 16-game schedule than Baltimore will for a 17-game schedule.
If Cincinnati wins the Week 18 game or if Baltimore and Cincinnati are not scheduled to play one another in the Wild Card round, the game sites would be determined by the regular scheduling procedures.
The simple solution for the Bengals and their fans: Win on Sunday.
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The Bengals cannot clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC, which means a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Las Vegas Raiders Saturday and have clinched the No. 1 seed.
The Bills can clinch the No. 2 seed in the AFC with a win over the New England Patriots on Sunday.
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As for the Bengals and Ravens, Baltimore will be without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson for the fifth straight game due to a knee injury, coach John Harbaugh announced Friday.
“He won’t be playing in this game, and we’re hopeful for next week,” he said. “We’ll see where we’re at then.”
Ravens backup Tyler Huntley is dealing with wrist and shoulder injuries and has been listed as questionable after being limited in practices this week, according to the Raven’s injury report.
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The Bengals go into Sunday’s game relatively healthy with only two players on their injury report.
Defensive end Sam Hubbard has been battling calf injury but was a full participant in practice on both Thursday and Friday.
Cornerback Eli Apple is listed as questionable with a neck injury but was a full participant in Friday’s practice.
Kickoff between Cincinnati and Baltimore is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Paycor Stadium.
The game will be televised on Channel 7.
Coverage begins with the Orange Zone starting at 11:30 a.m. with John Bedell and Larry Hansgen.
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