The Las Vegas Raiders (10-7, 5-3 away) clash with the Cincinnati Bengals (10-7, 5-4 home) to kick off Wild Card Weekend and the NFL postseason.
Las Vegas punched their ticket to the playoffs with a game-winning field goal in overtime last week, and the Bengals return to the postseason for the first time since 2015. Cincinnati defeated the Raiders, 32-13, in their only meeting during the regular season.
Saturday’s kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. EST at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. Cincinnati is a 5.5-point favorite, and the over-under total is at 48.5 points.
What to Know – Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders ended the regular season with four-straight victories to return to the postseason for the first time since 2016 and just the second time since 2002. Interim head coach Rich Bisaccia became the first interim leader to guide his team to the postseason since Bruce Arians and the Indianapolis Colts in 2012.
Las Vegas averaged 22.0 points and 377.9 total yards of offense during the season. On defense, the Raiders held opponents to 25.8 points and 349.4 yards of offense.
Veteran quarterback Derek Carr threw for 4,804 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Josh Jacobs scored nine touchdowns on the ground and rushed for 872 yards. Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow posted career-highs in numerous receiving categories, catching 103 passes for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns.
Las Vegas went 8-9 against the spread this season with a 4-4 mark away from Sin City. The Raiders are 0-5 ATS over their last five games against Cincinnati.
What to Know – Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati returns to the postseason after a six-year hiatus and aims to win its first playoff tilt since 1991. The Bengals won the AFC North for the fifth time in franchise history.
Offensively, the Bengals ranked 7th in the league scoring 27.1 points per game behind 361.5 yards of total offense. Cincinnati’s defense surrendered 22.1 points and 367.1 yards of offense to opposing teams.
Joe Burrow bounced back from his injury-shortened rookie season to throw for 4,611 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Joe Mixon rushed 292 times to the tune of 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns, all career-bests. Rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase erupted for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns, including a new NFL record for most receiving yards in a game by a rookie.
Cincinnati was 10-7 ATS and 4-5 on its home turf. The Bengals finished the season with a 4-1 mark ATS over their final five games.
The Pick is In
Saturday’s contest will be a dog fight between two teams that performed well down the stretch. This will be a dog fight early on, but the Burrow and the Bengals’ offense will prove too much in the second half.
Las Vegas is coming off an emotional victory Sunday night to get here, while the Bengals were able to rest many of their key players last week. Give us the Bengals by a touchdown and their first playoff victory in over 30 years.
Betting Pick: Cincinnati Bengals -5.5
