A first look at the Cincinnati Bengals’ regular season opener Sunday afternoon against the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium at 1 p.m.

The Cincinnati Bengals open a season at Paul Brown Stadium for the first time this decade against the team in which they ended last year, the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals won the 2016 season finale 27-10.

The Bengals are hoping to get back to the playoffs this season after missing the postseason for the first time since 2010. The Ravens are in a similar position, having not reached the playoffs in two years and just once since 2012.

Ravens players of note on offense

Joe Flacco, QB

The quarterback is an easy way to go for a player to watch on any team, but in this case the 32-year-old signal caller is especially important to keep an eye on because he just started practicing in the week leading up to this game. Heading into his 10th season under center in Baltimore, Flacco took snaps and threw for the first time since June after injuring his back. One would think a veteran of his status wouldn’t need a ton of practice time to get sharp, but the Ravens haven’t exactly been a healthy unit as a team so having him just get back on the field bears watching.

Ronnie Stanley, LT

The No. 6 overall pick last year played in 12 games for the Ravens, but has his preseason and training shortened due to injury as well. He returned to practice shortly before Flacco did after missing two weeks of work. Stanley would have been a player in the spotlight for the opener anyway as the Bengals look to be adding younger, more dynamic edge rushers to his side in rookies Carl Lawson and Jordan Willis.

Danny Woodhead, RB

The 32-year-old running back was one of the Ravens’ key additions in the offseason to bolster the offense and, lo and behold, he was yet another of the walking wounded in training camp. The nine-year veteran is expected to add some flexibility out of the backfield after missing all but two games a year ago in San Diego due to injury. In 2015, his last full season, he caught 80 passes and ran for another 336 yards.

Ravens of note on defense

Terrell Suggs, LB

Yup, he’s still there. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft turns 35 in October but he’s back for his 15th season with the Ravens. He played in 15 games a year ago after it looked like his career might be over due to injury in 2014, and he still registered eight sacks. One never knows when Father Time will punch the clock on a player until he does, so we’ll see if Suggs still has enough left pretty quickly.

Tony Jefferson, S

Jefferson was one of the Ravens’ big moves on defense, as he signed a 4-year, $36 million deal to leave Arizona. Jefferson, 25, brings some much-needed youth to Baltimore and some big play ability as he forced six fumbles and intercepted two passes in his four years in Arizona. He also has a nose for the QB, with five career sacks coming on blitzes. As the Bengals offense tries to get going early, the 5-foot-11, 213-pound Jefferson might find himself across from Tyler Eifert in key situations.

Jimmy Smith, CB

When it’s a divisional game, there are always familiar faces and matchups, and Smith brings that for Bengals wideout A.J. Green. Smith was the No. 27 overall pick in the 2011 draft and the two have squared up against one another for six years. This will mark the start of their seventh. Smith didn’t have an interception last year for just the second time in his career, but has eight total and remains someone Bengals QB Andy Dalton has to mind.

Quick facts

TV: 1 p.m.: CBS broadcast with Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Adam Archuleta (analyst) and Emily Collins (sideline).

Radio: WCKY-AM (1530) and WEBN-FM (102.7).

Line: Bengals +3

Last season: The Bengals finished 6-9-1 and the Ravens finished 8-8.

Key numbers

21

The all-time series between the rivals stands at 21-21.

14-7

The home team usually gets it done, too, as each enjoys this mark in their respective stadiums.

8, 24

Season-ending ranks in scoring defense and offense for the 2016 Bengals.

9, 21

Season-ending ranks in scoring defense and offense for the 2016 Ravens.

Connections