Ravens finally found 'formula' vs. Bengals claims analyst

Adam Schultz

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Ravens finally found 'formula' vs. Bengals claims analyst image

© Katie Stratman

The Baltimore Ravens kept their season alive against the Cincinnati Bengals as they produced perhaps their most complete game of the season in a 24-0 win.

Led by a stout defensive showing, the offense did what it had to do as Lamar Jackson was 8 of 12 for 150 yards and two touchdowns, while Derrick Henry finally rushed for over 100 yards in what was a game the Ravens simply had to have.

Now at 7-7, and their AFC North hopes well and truly alive, the Ravens will look ahead to the final three weeks of the season with confidence that they can punch their playoff ticket.

And for NFL.com's Eric Edholm, he thinks the Ravens have finally found their formula.

"That classic Baltimore formula -- a healthy run game combined with an active defense -- is the formula the Ravens have been seeking all season, and they found it in a must-have game against a Bengals team that thumped them on Thanksgiving," Edholm writes. "It wasn’t the crispest offensive showing, but it was good enough in a game the defense dominated."

More: Ravens get stunning grade after pitching Bengals shutout

Ravens clinging to playoff hope

Ravens fans are thinking that if there are football gods, the Pittsburgh Steelers would lose to the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, as that would leave both teams at 7-7 heading into Week 16.

Also, Baltimore and Pittsburgh face each other in Week 18, which has the potential to be for all the marbles, so a Steelers loss would be huge.

Given the 1-5 start, the Ravens are in a position where they don't totally control their own playoff destiny, but at least with the win over the Bengals, they've given themselves a shot at playoff football.

And the formula they discovered in Cincinnati might just be the tonic moving forward.

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News Correspondent