Home » Sports » NFL » Cincinnati Bengals

Former Bengals player makes bold statement about Cincinnati’s showdown with Ravens and the numbers back him up

Plenty of eyes will be on the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday when they take on the Baltimore Ravens. Former Bengals wide receiver and current ESPN analyst Andrew Hawkins thinks the matchup carries even more weight than that.

By John Sheeran · A to Z Sports

Published: Friday, 23 October 2026 at 2:36 PM

Key Things to Know

ESPN analyst Andrew Hawkins claimed Sunday's Bengals versus Ravens showdown will ultimately decide the AFC North.
Data from Ben Baldwin indicates a Cincinnati victory increases their playoff odds to 78%, while a loss drops them to 49%.
Hawkins highlighted that Cincinnati's three victories this season came against opponents with a combined 3-14 record.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver and ESPN analyst Andrew Hawkins stated that the Bengals' upcoming matchup against the Baltimore Ravens will decide the AFC North. Speaking on ESPN's Get Up, Hawkins pointed out that Cincinnati's three victories came against teams with a combined 3-14 record, highlighting the need for a win over a playoff contender.

Writer John Sheeran noted that data supports Hawkins' claim, as Ben Baldwin's projections show Cincinnati's playoff odds would rise to 78% with a win or drop to 49% with a loss. A defeat would also drop Cincinnati to 0-2 in division play, significantly hurting their chances to secure their first division title since 2022.

Read the full article on A to Z Sports