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DECEMBER 29, 2013
TIME: 1 p.m. Sunday
PLACE: Paul Brown Stadium (Synthetic)
LOCAL RADIO: Play-by-play Dan Hoard and analyst Dave Lapham led by Triple Cast of WLW 700 AM, ESPN AM 1530 and WEBN FM 102.7 on the 25-station Bengals radio network.
NATIONAL RADIO: WestwoodOne Sports with play-by-play Tom McCarthy and analyst Rod Woodson.
TV: CBS broadcast team of play-by-play Jim Nantz and analyst Phil Simms on Cincinnati's Channel 12, Channel 7 in Dayton, Ohio, Channel 27 in Lexington, Ky.
INJURIES
CIN: OUT: Starting CB Terence Newman (knee) didn't practice for the third straight week but looks like he'll be back in time for the playoffs. Backup DT Devon Still (back) didn't work this week after missing last week's game; DOUBTFUL: TE Tyler Eifert (neck) didn't work all week after getting hurt in the first half last Sunday. QUESTIONABLE: Starting TE Jermaine Gresham (hamstring) tried to go at start of practice Friday after missing Tuesday and Thursday, but couldn't go. WLB Vontaze Burfict (concussion) went full Friday after missing Tuesday and Thursday. PROBABLE: Starting LE Carlos Dunlap (illness) didn't work Friday. Starting RT Andre Smith (ankle) after being limited all week; Backup TE Alex Smith (concussion) full go Friday after being limited Thursday. Starting SAM LB James Harrison (concussion) after going full go all week; LB Vinny Rey (ankle) and CB Dre Kirkpatrick (ankle) full go Friday after being limited Thursday.
BAL: DOUBTFUL: Backup CB Asa Jackson (thigh); QUESTIONABLE: RUSH LB Elvis Dumervil (ankle) limited on Friday; Starting C Gino Gradkowski (knee) limited Friday; NT Arthur Jones (concussion) did not practice Friday; RB Ray Rice (thigh) limited Friday; WR Torrey Smith (thigh) limited Friday.
THE SERIES
Ravens lead 20-15; Bengals lead 10-7 in Cincinnati, 7-6 at PBS
NOTEWORTHY
» For the third straight year the Bengals play the Ravens in the season-finale at PBS. Neither team had to win last year's game because both had made the playoffs. The Bengals had to win the 2011 game against the playoff-bound Ravens but in the final seconds of a 24-16 loss they made the playoffs when Kansas City beat Denver.
» A Bengals (10-5) victory and a New England (11-4) loss to Buffalo at home in a 4:25 p.m. games gives Cincinnati the AFC's No. 2 seed and a bye next week in the first round of the playoffs.
» A Bengals loss and Colts (10-5) win at home against Jacksonville would give the Bengals the fourth seed and a home wild card game against the Chiefs (11-4) next weekend.
» If the Patriots and Bengals both win, the Bengals have the No. 3 seed and they would host either Baltimore, San Diego, Miami or Pittsburgh next weekend in a wild card game.
» If the Ravens (8-7) win, they get the sixth and last seed if either Miami (8-7) loses at home against the Jets or San Diego (8-7) loses at home against Kansas City.
» If the Ravens lose they can only make it if Miami, San Diego and Pittsburgh (7-8 at home against Cleveland) all lose.
» A Bengals win on Sunday gives them their first 8-0 record at PBS and first unbeaten mark at home since 1988 at Riverfront Stadium. It would also be the fourth unbeaten home record in franchise history, joining the 1973 team that went 7-0 and the 1982 team that went 4-0 during the strike season of 1982.
» When the Bengals played the Ravens at PBS in 2011 with the playoffs on the line, running back Bernard Scott cut the Ravens lead to 17-10 on a 25-yard TD run late in the third quarter. Scott made his Ravens debut last week with two carries for 11 yards that included a nine-yarder.
» The Bengals face Baltimore's No. 1 punt return team in the league in punter Shawn Powell's second game with the team in the wake of Kevin Huber's injury. During the previous three seasons Ravens safety Jeromy Miles had been one of the top Bengals special teams players until early this season when he was released because of injuries at other positions and he's now doing it for Baltimore. Even though he's played just 11 games for the Ravens, Miles is fourth on the team with seven special teams tackles.
NFL RANKINGS
CIN: 7th in scoring, 10th in offense (21st rushing, 10th passing); 6th in scoring defense, 5th in defense (6th rushing, 6th passing), T-12th in turnover margin at plus-2.
BAL: 26th in scoring, 29th in offense (28th rushing, 19th passing); T-9 in scoring defense, 9th in defense (9th rushing, 11th passing), T-23 in turnover margin at minus-6.
COACHES
CIN: Marvin Lewis 89-85-1 regular season, 0-4 postseason in his 11th season; 11-10 vs. Ravens
BAL: John Harbaugh 71-37 in his sixth season, 7-4 vs. Bengals and Lewis.
WEATHER
The National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio is calling for temperatures in the low 40s under mostly cloudy skies with a 40 percent chance of a light steady rain. Winds out of the south and west at about seven miles per hour. But the model is also showing rain could miss Cincinnati.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
» 51-35-1 - Bengals record at home under Marvin Lewis
» 90 - Wins for Lewis as a head coach with victory over Baltimore
» 92 - Regular-season wins for Bill Walsh
» 95 - Regular season wins for Jon Gruden
» 96 - Regular-season wins for Vince Lombardi
» 15-8 - Bengals QB Andy Dalton's career home record
» 16-7 - Lewis's December home record
» 4-2 - Dalton's December home record
» 34 - Points Bengals are averaging at home this season
» 25.3 - Points per game Ravens allow on road this season
» 26 - Points Bengals need to pass for most under Lewis (421 in 2005)
» 421 - Third-most points in franchise history, scored by both '05 AFC North champs and 1981 AFC champs
» 241 - Points Bengals have scored at home this season
» 249 - Points 1988 Bengals scored at home
» 76 - Receiving yards Bengals WR A.J. Green needs to pass Chad Johnson for club's single-season record
» 90 - Yards per game Green is averaging this season
» 117 - Passing yards Bengals QB Andy Dalton needs to set single-season club record
» 236 - Yards Dalton averages vs. Ravens
» 2 - TD passes Dalton needs to set single-season club record
» 4 - Dalton's career TD passes vs. Ravens
GAME DAY ENTERTAINMENT
» JungleZone: Band – DV8
» Anthem: Cheya Dixon
» Honor Guard: Ohio National Guard
» Halftime: 7th annual Mascots vs. Youth Football game
» Fan Appreciation: Random longtime season ticket holders will be recognized during the game
