CINCINNATI — With several starters sitting and their most important player still sidelined by injury, the Ravens lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, 27-16, in their regular-season finale Sunday.

The defeat sealed the Ravens’ playoff fate. After two straight losses to end the season, they’ll face the Bengals again in the wild-card round next weekend in a rare rematch. Here’s what else you need to know from Paycor Stadium:

What happened

With Lamar Jackson (knee) and Tyler Huntley (shoulder/wrist) inactive, the Ravens needed a clean game from third-string quarterback Anthony Brown to have a chance of securing the AFC’s No. 5 seed or getting a home playoff game next weekend. They instead got three first-half turnovers — two interceptions and an end-zone fumble — that the Bengals turned into three touchdowns. The Ravens finished with four turnovers overall, negating their advantage in yardage (386-257).

What’s next

The sixth-seeded Ravens will head back to Cincinnati to take on the third-seeded Bengals for the third time this season in next weekend’s wild-card round. (Game times are expected to be announced later Sunday.) All eyes will be on the status of Jackson, who hasn’t played or practiced since suffering a Week 13 knee injury. Coach John Harbaugh said Friday that he was hopeful Jackson would return for the playoffs.

Participation report

Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins, tight end Mark Andrews, right guard Kevin Zeitler and cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Brandon Stephens, all of whom have dealt with midseason injuries or recent illness, sat out Sunday’s game along with the Ravens’ top two quarterbacks. Running back Gus Edwards left the game in the second quarter with a possible head injury and did not return.

Pivotal moment

The Ravens trailed 17-7 late in the second quarter when they took possession at their 5-yard line with 47 seconds remaining and three timeouts available. After forcing a Bengals timeout with a run, the Ravens had Brown drop back on consecutive plays. The results: a clock-stopping incompletion and a strip-sack by Cincinnati defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Defensive end Joseph Ossai recovered the ball in the end zone, extending the Bengals’ lead to 24-7.

Highlights

Ravens rookie tight end Isaiah Likely had 8 catches on 13 targets for 103 yards, all career highs, none better than a jump ball he brought down over Bengals cornerback Eli Apple along the left sideline for a 28-yard gain.

Fellow rookie David Ojabo, meanwhile, flashed on defense. The second-round pick, making just his second career appearance, had a strip sack on Burrow early in the third quarter. The Ravens recovered the ball at Cincinnati’s 9 but settled for a field goal.

Lowlights

Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson did Brown no favors on his second interception. After running a crossing pattern, he bobbled a pass thrown slightly behind him. The ball ended up in Mike Hilton’s hands, and the Bengals cornerback returned it to the Ravens’ 32. Three plays later, Burrow found wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase for a 26-yard touchdown that left the Ravens in a 17-0 hole. Robinson finished with 2 catch on 9 targets for 24 yards.

Bad blood?

Big hits and trash talk were littered throughout Sunday’s game. Not long after Ravens rookie safety Kyle Hamilton slammed Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase into the ground on a second-quarter tackle, Hendrickson was flagged for putting all of his body weight into a hit on Brown, drawing a roughing-the-passer penalty. Tyler Linderbaum and Hamilton had words for Cincinnati players as they left the field at halftime. In the fourth quarter, the game was stopped briefly after Bengals guard Jackson Carman drove outside linebacker Tyus Bowser into the Ravens’ sideline. Carman needed an escort to leave the situation.

jonas.shaffer@thebaltimorebanner.com