For all intents and purposes the playoffs start on New Year’s Day 2012 in Cincinnati for the Ravens and in order for them to advance beyond the first round, given the team’s ongoing struggles on the road, John Harbaugh & Co. more than likely need a win at Paul Brown Stadium.

And that won’t be easy!

Consider the following in recent meets with the Bengals:

·         The Ravens have lost 5 of their last 6 games in Cincinnati, the only win being a game started by QB Ryan Fitzpatrick who up to that point had only 1 career victory.

·         Since 2005 the Ravens have averaged 14.5 points per game in Cincinnati while yielding 15.8 points per game. During those 5 road losses @ Cincinnati since ‘05 the Ravens have averaged just 10.6 points per game while yielding 18.4 points per game.

·         Offensively the Ravens have averaged 299 yards per game in the Queen City since 2005. To put it in perspective, this average would currently rank 29th in the league.

·         During their last two visits to Paul Brown Stadium the Ravens have scored a total of 17 points.

·         Joe Flacco has a career QB rating in Cincinnati of 58.3 and 33.1 over his last 2 starts there.

When the Bengals visited M&T Bank Stadium earlier this year, a game won by the Ravens 31-24, the Bengals racked up 483 net yards of offense and that was without star rookie WR AJ Green. Oh, and let’s not forget a very favorable call overturning a Jermaine Gresham touchdown that probably would have forced overtime and who knows what else.

And now there’s the issue of mounting Ravens injuries and a struggling defense.

The Ravens are built to stop the run and force teams to become one dimensional. But during the last two games teams are averaging 131 yards on the ground and 4.2 yards per carry. That could influence defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano to deploy more resources to stop Cedric Benson and free up AJ Green, Jerome Simpson and Jermaine Gresham to see more one-on-one coverage. And let’s not forget that Simpson in 2 career games against the Ravens has averaged 10 catches for 137 yards. Jimmy Smith and Chris Carr might look very inviting to Andy Dalton.

The Bengals survival this season may rest on this game. The playoff implications are huge.

And as in any playoff game to win, teams have to bring their A game for 60 minutes.

Recent history suggests that the Ravens don’t do that in Cincinnati.

On Sunday we’ll find out if they will be contenders or pretenders in the 2012 postseason dance.