NFL Week 11 Best Bets: Cincinnati Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens Picks for Thursday Night Football
We have NFL Week 11 kicking off tonight with what should be a fantastic match-up as Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals take on Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football. It’s been a minute since we’ve seen a match-up this strong in prime-time and the there is a lot riding on it for both teams as supremacy in the AFC North hangs in the balance. But how do we want to bet this game? The Ravens won the first meeting back in Week 2, but they were the underdog, so now the tables have turned and the question remains, will this game be as close as the first? Lets take a look at out best bets, our picks against the spread, the game total and some player props we like.
NFL Thursday Night Football Best Bets: Cincinnati Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens
The Spread: Ravens -3.5
The Ravens are now 6-4 against the spread this season while the Bengals are 4-4-1. However, the Ravens are 1-2 ATS over their last three games while the Bengals are 4-1 ATS over their last five, so with the increased health of Joe Burrow, they’ve obviously been much more competitive and betting them has been fruitful. We know the Bengals struggle against the run and we expect the Ravens to attack in that fashion, but given the offensive line injuries for the Ravens, as well as CB Marlon Humphrey likely missing the game, it seems like we should see another close one between these two teams. If Vegas is going to give me that hook, I’ll happily back the road dog here. Pick: Bengals +3.5 (-110)
The Total: 46
The Ravens have averaged over 40 points per game over their last four and even with some of these injuries, they should still be able to put some points up on the Bengals. On the other side, again, Joe Burrow has proven to be healthy and has been the Swaggy Joe we have all grown to love. No Marlon Humphrey means Ja'Marr Chase could be running wild all over that secondary, so we’ll look for Cincinnati to also score a fair amount. Pick: Over 46 (-110)
Favorite Thursday Night Football Player Props:
- Ja'Marr Chase over 79.5 receiving yards (-115)
- Mark Andrews over 58.5 receiving yards (-115)
- Tyler Boyd over 4.5 receptions (+110)
- Germaine Pratt over 7.5 tackles + assists (-150)
All lines & odds courtesy of BetMGM
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Player News
Ravens signed DT John Jenkins to a one-year contract.
The 35-year-old 13th-year pro slides in as a 1-for-1 Michael Pierce replacement after the former Raven retired in March. Although strictly a two-down player, Jenkins actually played a new career high 606 snaps for the Raiders last season. He probably won’t reach that total in Baltimore, but he should see plenty of work as a run-stopper.
49ers signed K Greg Joseph.
The 30-year-old journeyman spent time with each of the Giants, Commanders and Jets last season. He’ll serve as a veteran, in-house option should third-year pro Jake Moody look shaky this summer after an underwhelming 2024.
49ers signed Brock Purdy to a five-year, $265 million contract extension.
Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Purdy gets $181 million in total guarantees with $165.1 million in the first three new years. He is now under contract through 2030. The 2022 Mr. Irrelevant flashed in a handful of starts as a rookie and immediately proved to be Kyle Shanahan’s next efficiency phenom in 2023 with 4,280 yards and 31 scores. Purdy’s numbers fell in 2024, but he did enough to keep the offense on the tracks despite a rash of injuries, even if the 49ers lumbered to a 6-11 record. Purdy managed 3,864 yards and 20 scores in 15 games and showed an improved ability to work out of structure and under pressure. Though he may not have a truly elite ceiling, Purdy is beginning to beat the system quarterback allegations after just two seasons as the full-time starter. With the league’s easiest schedule on tap for 2025, expect a rebound from Purdy and the entire team this year.
Jets released K Greg Zuerlein.
Defensive end Michael Fletcher was signed in a corresponding move. Zuerlein has kicked for the Jets since 2022. He suffered a knee injury last year and briefly returned before being placed back on injured reserve. Zuerlein appeared in eight games and went a dreadful 9-of-15 on his field goal tries. The 60 percent hit rate was by far the worst of his career. Now 37 years old, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Legatron hang up the cleats for good after being released. If he wants to keep kicking, another team will be more than willing to at least give him a camp battle to win.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said his guess is that the NFL will ban the tush push during next week’s owners’ meeting.
Schefter didn’t cite any sources directly but reiterated the point later in the latest episode of The Adam Schefter Podcast, saying he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the owners voted to outlaw the play. Losing the free touchdown play would undoubtedly hurt Philly’s offense and Jalen Hurts’ fantasy outlook, but it’s hard to imagine a team with Hurts, an elite offensive line, and Saquon Barkley not finding other ways to get in the end zone from a yard out. If the tush push is banned, it would likely just shuffle some of Hurts’ touchdowns to Barkley. Other teams including the Bills have experimented with similar plays, but no one has found as much success as the Eagles. The owners will also be voting on a change to the playoff seeding rules. The proposed change would seed teams based purely on their record instead of each division winner earning a top-four seed. While that may be a more logical way to do things, it’s certainly less fun.
Steelers beat writer Nick Farabaugh reports the team has called the Saints about a possible trade for Chris Olave.
According to Farabaugh, one source described the Steelers’ inquiry as “a due diligence call” while adding that a trade “doesn’t seem likely to happen” at this time. The Steelers trade George Pickens to the Cowboys just over a week ago, and are now looking at DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, and Calvin Austin as their top options in three receiver sets. Of those three, Metcalf is the only receiver with notable NFL success, while Wilson effectively redshirted his rookie season due to injuries. Olave caught 32 passes for 400 yards and one touchdown for the Saints last season, but missed nine games due to multiple concussions he suffered. The four-year receiver posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons during his first two years in the league, and would provide an immediate upgrade to an underwhelming Steelers receiving corps. Farabaugh reports that in addition to a trade being unlikely, that the Saints do “not seem interested in trading Olave” at this time. The Saints picked up Olave’s fifth-year option last month, and will likely look to extend him in the not too distant future.