The Baltimore Ravens find themselves outside the playoff picture with four games remaining and a razor-thin margin for error.
“We’re 6-7. The urgency becomes a little more urgent,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “There’s no excuses that are to be made at this point.”
After losing consecutive games to AFC North rivals Cincinnati and Pittsburgh following a five-game winning streak, the Ravens are still on the playoff math.
Should the Ravens win out, beginning with Sunday’s rematch against the Bengals in Cincinnati, they would leapfrog Pittsburgh for the division title.
Still, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh knows the team’s nonexistent wiggle room demands focus under pressure.
“To say we control our own destiny, that’s only if we win,” Harbaugh said. “You have to win to control your destiny, so that’s what we have to do. It’s been that way the last two weeks and we haven’t been able to pull off a win. … We need to go win; that’s it.”
Cincinnati defeated host Baltimore 32-14 on Nov. 27 as Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (261 passing yards, two touchdowns) outdueled counterpart Lamar Jackson (246 yards, one interception).
Jackson passed for a touchdown and ran for another in Week 14 at Pittsburgh, while Derrick Henry rushed for 94 yards and helped the Ravens to a 217-34 edge in yards on the ground. But Baltimore still lost 27-22 as the Steelers seized control of the North.
Cincinnati (4-9) would be eliminated from postseason contention with a loss.
The Bengals’ bid to keep their fleeting playoff hopes alive might find them without wide receiver Tee Higgins, who was a limited participant in practice Wednesday while remaining in concussion protocol. Higgins reported concussion-like symptoms after shining during a narrow Week 14 loss in Buffalo, gaining 92 yards on six receptions with a pair of touchdowns.
Playing in his second game since returning from turf toe surgery — the Ravens are aware of what happened in the first — Burrow passed for 284 yards and four touchdowns, but also threw a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions.
Burrow said the Bengals are amped up and eager to regroup.
“Since I’ve been back, everybody’s been great. The energy bringers are bringing energy, and I think that’s been positive,” he said. “We’ve had good practices, and we’ve been competitive.”
Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson underwent season-ending core muscle surgery this week, but the team has navigated life without the All-Pro since a Week 8 loss to the New York Jets in a season rife with injuries.
“Really want to win this game, to get ourselves a little bit of momentum before the next one,” Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said. “But every season is a challenge in some ways, even when your record is flipped from what it is now, there’s still challenges and diversity you’re going to face. And our guys are here for this one.”
Baltimore will aim to limit Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase, who had seven receptions for 110 yards in the previous matchup. Chidobe Awuzie (shoulder), who joined fellow cornerbacks Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey as primary Chase defenders in that game, did not practice Wednesday.
