The Baltimore Ravens will have two of their most important offensive weapons available Sunday when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals, as Ray Rice and Torrey Smith are both expected to play despite thigh injuries, Ian Rapoport is reporting.
Rice is listed as questionable, and was also listed as questionable with the same thigh injury in Week 16. He played in that game, carrying the ball 11 times for 40 yards. The sixth-year player out of Rutgers has had by far the worst season of his career, with just 645 yards on the season and a minuscule 3.1 yards per carry.
Smith is having a career year, as the third-year receiver out of Maryland has career highs in receptions (62), yards (1,101) and yards per catch (17.8). He has not yet missed a game in his career.
The Ravens cannot catch Cincinnati at the top of the AFC North, and they will need help around the league to make the Wild Card spot. Beating the Bengals would help their cause, as they would then need either a Dolphins win and a Chargers loss or a Dolphins loss and a Chargers win or draw to clinch a playoff spot. With a loss, Baltimore would need the Dolphins, Chargers and Steelers all to lose.
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