Ravens start rookie QB Brown, resting Dobbins

CINCINNATI — The Ravens will have a different look on offense in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Bengals.

The Ravens will start undrafted rookie Anthony Brown at quarterback and rest four starters: running back J.K. Dobbins, tight end Mark Andrews, guard Kevin Zeitler and cornerback Marcus Peters.

Lamar Jackson (knee) had been ruled out for the fifth straight game, and backup Tyler Huntley is inactive with tendinitis in his right shoulder after starting the past four games.

Brown becomes the third undrafted rookie to start for the Ravens, joining Huntley and Anthony Wright. Brown took the first-team reps in practice this past week.

Baltimore (10-6), which has already clinched a playoff spot, can’t win the AFC North but still has a chance to host a postseason game next week as a result of how the NFL handled the unbalanced schedule created by the cancellation of the Bills-Bengals game after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin‘s cardiac arrest.

If the Ravens beat the Bengals (11-4) on Sunday and then face them in the wild-card round, a coin flip will determine whether the game will be played in Baltimore or Cincinnati. Baltimore, which is currently the No. 6 seed in the AFC, can move up to the No. 5 seed if it beats Cincinnati and the Los Angeles Chargers lose to the Denver Broncos.

The Baltimore offense has struggled mightily in Jackson’s absence. In four games without Jackson, the Ravens have averaged 12.3 points per game (second worst in the league), totaling an NFL-low three touchdowns.

The Ravens have an added challenge without Dobbins. Since coming off injured reserve four games ago, Dobbins has led the NFL in rushing with 397 yards. He has acknowledged that he is not at full strength and hasn’t regained his breakaway speed after missing all of last season with a torn ACL, LCL and meniscus in his left knee.

Without Dobbins, Baltimore will rely more on Gus Edwards, who carried the ball three times for 2 yards last week. Coach John Harbaugh said last week that there is “really no excuse” for Edwards’ reduced role.

The Ravens, who are nine-point underdogs, are 3-36 (.077) outright when being underdogs by seven or more points, according to ESPN Stats & Information — the worst record of any team since the 1970 merger.