CINCINNATI — Kickoff is approaching for the Cincinnati Bengals playoff game with the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
If the Bengals win, they will play the No. 2 seed Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York next weekend in Orchard Park, New York in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
If the Ravens win, they will play the No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
>>Bengals-Ravens playoff matchup set; Teams play for 3rd time this season
This marks the third time the teams will play each other this season.
The Ravens beat the Bengals, 19-17, on October 9 at M&T Stadium in Baltimore while Cincinnati defeated Baltimore, 27-16, Sunday in the regular season finale to secure a home playoff game.
Cincinnati comes into this game for the most part healthy. They will be without guard Alex Cappa who suffered an ankle injury against the Ravens Sunday, according to the team’s injury report.
Wide receiver Tee Higgins has been battling an illness this week and did not practice Wednesday but was a full participant in the Bengals’ practices on Thursday and Friday.
Cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday due to a groin injury but was a full go in Friday’s practice for the team.
>>Ravens QB Lamar Jackson officially ruled out for Sunday’s playoff game against Bengals
The Ravens will be without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson for Sunday’s game, the team announced in their injury report Friday. He suffered a knee injury against Denver on December 4 and has not played or practiced since.
Baltimore will also be without cornerback Brandon Stephens due to illness and wide receiver Tylan Wallace due to a hamstring injury.
Back-up quarterback Tyler Huntley is questionable as he deals with tendonitis in his throwing right shoulder and a wrist injury. He was a full participant in Friday’s practice, the team announced Friday.
>>‘I’m really excited;’ Fans and businesses ready for Bengals playoff game against Ravens
Cincinnati’s last appearance in the NFL playoffs was in 2021 when they went all the way to the Super Bowl.
The Bengals defeated the Las Vegas Raiders, 26-19, in the AFC Wild Card in Cincinnati. They beat the No. 1 seed Tennessee, 19-16, in Nashville, Tennessee in the AFC Division Playoffs and knocked off the No. 2 seed Kansas City in the AFC Championship game, 27-24 in overtime, in Kansas City, Missouri. The Bengals fell to the Los Angeles Rams, 23-20, in Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles.
Baltimore’s last playoff appearance came in 2020. They beat the Tennessee Titans, 20-13, in Nashville in the AFC Wild Card. They lost to the Buffalo Bills, 17-3, in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
As for uniforms, the Bengals will wear their orange helmets with the black jerseys and white pants while the Ravens will wear their white jerseys with black pants.
>>‘It’s do or die;’ Bengals QB Joe Burrow prepares for 5th postseason start Sunday
The Bengals and Ravens will play Sunday night at 8:15 p.m. at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, the winner will advance to the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
News Center 7 will have coverage of the Bengals and Ravens leading up to the game.
This includes the Orange Zone Sunday morning, January 15, at 11:30 a.m. with News Center 7′s Brandon Lewis providing live coverage from Paycor Stadium.