With three games to go in the regular season, the Bengals and Ravens find themselves tied atop the AFC North. The winner of Sunday's game will take sole possession of first place as the playoff race in the AFC is tightening week by week.
Here are five things to know ahead of Sunday's Week 16 AFC North showdown with the Baltimore Ravens:
1. Show Me The Money
Any given Sunday you might witness Evan McPherson leg out a 50-yard field goal with ease, as the rookie has become the ultimate kicking weapon for the Bengals. In just 14 career games, the 21-year old has already cemented his place in the record books, as he now holds the longest field goal in Bengals history after sinking a 58-yarder last week in Denver. McPherson has hit the most field goals of 50 or more yards in the NFL this season with nine and is one shy of tying the NFL record for most in a single season. Meaning if McPherson is good from beyond 50 two more times over the next three weeks, he will become the first player ever in NFL history to connect on 11 50-yard field goals in a single season.
2. Air Burrow
Joe Burrow is once again looking to join an exclusive list of quarterbacks. Burrow can become the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 300 or more yards in 10 or more games in their first two seasons in the league, joining Dan Marino, Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes. He also has the opportunity to become only the third Bengals quarterback ever to pass for 4,000 yards in a single season. Burrow needs 360 yards to join Andy Dalton (2013, 2015) and Carson Palmer (2006, 2007).
Burrow is also aiming for a third consecutive game with zero interceptions and a passer rating over 100, along with a third straight game at home with 300 or more passing yards. The Bengals signal-caller leads all AFC quarterbacks with a 100.7 QB rating and has posted at least a 95 rating against every AFC North opponent so far this season. Back in Week 7, Burrow threw for a career-high 416 yards and tossed three touchdowns while posting a QB rating of 113.5 in the Bengals 41-17 win over the Ravens.
Take a look at the Bengals players that were selected for the 2022 Pro Bowl.
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (1), right, celebrates his touchdown with Joe Mixon (28) during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) dives into the endzone for a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson points after recording a sack of Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers on Sunday, October 10, 2021.
Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase flexes after helping the Bengals record a first down against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, September 30, 2021.
Bengals running back Joe Mixon points forward after rushing for a first down against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 12, 2021.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals' Trey Hendrickson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates after touchdown reception against during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) rushed for a career high 165 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson chases down Lions quarterback Jared Goff at Ford Field in Detroit.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs past Minnesota Vikings defensive back Bashaud Breeland (21) after making a catch and takes it in for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Mixon (28) runs out of a tackle bySan Francisco 49ers' Azeez Al-Shaair during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson rushes the passer against the Denver Broncos.
Ja'Marr Chase tip toes the back of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown reception against the 49ers.
Running back Joe Mixon catches a screen pass down the sideline during the 3rd quarter at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) reacts against the Denver Broncos in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec 19, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates a touchdown in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (Ryan Meyer via AP)
Running back Joe Mixon flexes after rushing for a big gain against the Green Bay Packers defense.
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson rushes the passer in Cincinnati's Week 3 game against the Steelers.
Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase hauls in a pass good for a 44-yard gain against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) runs for a touchdown avoiding Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell (99) in the second half during an NFL Professional Football Game Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John McCoy)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) tackles Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during the second half an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase breaks away from Green Bay Packers defenders in a game on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Running back Joe Mixon tries to split a pair of defenders rushing the football against the Denver Broncos.
Cincinnati Bengals' Trey Hendrickson, second from right, tackles New York Jets quarterback Mike White during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021 in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) hands off to running back Joe Mixon (28) during the first quarter of the Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears.
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson celebrates after recording a sack in the first quarter against the 49ers.
Receiver Ja'Marr Chase makes a fantastic catch for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson points after recording his second sack of the game against the Detroit Lions.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs away from Pittsburgh Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds (34) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
3. By The Book
Zac Taylor's squad has proven to be a disciplined team on the field in 2021. The Bengals have incurred the fewest amount of penalties (58) and penalty yardage (481) in the league this season. The next team with the fewest amount of penalties in the NFL is Indianapolis who has committed 64. And when you look on the flip side, they've drawn the sixth most penalties (96) against opposing teams.
4. Bengal Bowlers
Three Bengals will be representing Cincinnati at the 2022 pro bowl in Las Vegas, as Ja'Marr Chase, Joe Mixon and Trey Hendrickson were all elected to their first career pro bowl.
Chase leads the Bengals in receptions (61), receiving yards (1,038), and receiving touchdowns (10) while leading all NFL rookies in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Mixon has the second-most rushing yards in the NFL this season (1,094) and is third in rushing touchdowns (12). Hendrickson has recorded the fifth-most sacks in the league (13) and holds the longest active streak in the NFL with at least a half-sack (10 games).
Chase has been named a starter and becomes the sixth Bengals rookie, and first since 2011 (A.J. Green and Andy Dalton) to be honored with a pro bowl selection in their first season. Chase is also one of just four rookies voted to this year's Pro Bowl, joining Los Angeles Chargers tackle Rashawn Slater as the two first-year players on the AFC team.
5. Brooms Out For Baltimore
The Bengals have an opportunity this weekend to put their stamp on the AFC North. With a win on Sunday, it would be the first time since 2015 the Bengals sweep the season series against the Ravens. It would also mark the first time since 2009 Cincinnati will have swept both Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the same season.
When both Baltimore and Cincinnati bring in a winning record, the Bengals hold the recent edge having won the last five games. They have also played well in the colder temperatures. Cincinnati has won the last four December meetings against Baltimore, and are 15-10 all-time at home when facing the Ravens.
