- WHERE: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore)
- WHEN: 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime Video, NFL+
If the first matchup was any indication, Bengals-Ravens could make for a Thursday night banger.
The Bengals led the Ravens three separate times in the second half of their Week 5 meeting in Baltimore, but Lamar Jackson led five scoring drives in the final 25 minutes of regulation and overtime to deliver a thrilling comeback win for the Ravens.
This game is as good a QB matchup as you can hope for. Jackson is currently outpacing his numbers from his MVP campaign in 2023, and Burrow is on a terrific track as well with a 20-4 TD-INT ratio, completing more than 70% of his passes.
It was the Week 11 meeting in Baltimore last year where the Bengals fell back to .500 and lost Burrow to a season-ending wrist injury, effectively closing the door on the postseason. Sitting at 4-5 currently, Cincinnati is in third place in the AFC North and ninth in the AFC standings, and a loss -- with several tough opponents remaining -- could be a deathblow to their playoff chances.
Both teams were active at the trade deadline, too. The Ravens added wide receiver Diontae Johnson and cornerback Tre'Davious White , and the typically passive Bengals traded for running back Khalil Herbert from the Bears. How much all those new players contribute Thursday is highly speculative, but it’s at least clear that both teams enter this meeting with a win-now mentality.
Here are four things to watch for when the Bengals visit the Ravens on Thursday night on Prime Video and NFL+:
1) Bengals D must hold up far better this game. Even with a setback against the Eagles in Week 8, the Bengals defense has shown improvement on the whole over how it fared earlier in the season. Notably, the unit seemed to bottom out in the first loss to the Ravens prior to the recent revival. In that game, Bengals coordinator Lou Anarumo blitzed relentlessly and it cost them. Jackson tore up Cincinnati when it went cover-0 (on nearly a quarter of his dropbacks!), completing seven of 11 passes for 68 yards and three TDs. Of course, Jackson also had success when the Bengals didn’t blitz. The only minor successes they had in that game was using two-high safety shells, but it wasn’t enough. The Bengals didn’t have slot CB Mike Hilton in the first matchup; he’s back, which could make a difference. And since the last meeting, Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson has been on a tear, with eight of his 11 NFL-best sacks coming in that span. Sam Hubbard and Logan Wilson also have picked up their play. Henry, who ran for 92 yards and a TD the first time around, will be a load to handle again. But the biggest worry might be on the back end. Can the Bengals cover all the Ravens’ pass-game weapons -- and deal with Jackson as a scrambler -- for 60 minutes?
2) How much more can Diontae Johnson add? Johnson was quiet in his Ravens debut last week, playing 16 snaps and not being targeted in the blowout win over Denver. Expect to see more of Johnson in the mix going forward, but the Ravens already have a strong nucleus with Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor, along with running back Derrick Henry and a strong group of tight ends. In the first meeting with the Bengals, Jackson had success throwing to just about everyone. But the Ravens’ TE production that day was eye-opening. Isaiah Likely caught two TD passes, including arguably the play of the year from Jackson, when he recovered a fumbled snap and hit Likely for a massive fourth-quarter TD. Charlie Kolar and Mark Andrews each had big catches over the middle of 25-plus yards, combining for seven catches, 119 receiving yards and a touchdown. Each of them had at least one catch of over 25 yards. But Johnson did sting the Bengals back in Week 4 with the Panthers, catching seven passes for 83 yards and a TD. He did most of his work against Cam Taylor-Britt; Johnson had less success when the Bengals’ D.J. Turner covered him. With Likely out for Thursday due to a hamstring injury, Johnson could see a larger role.
3) Bengals’ run game could be in tough shape. The Bengals offense still runs through Burrow and the passing game, and WR Tee Higgins is doubtful to play due to a quad injury that sidelined him the past two weeks. The status of LT Orlando Brown (knee/fibula), is also in doubt and he's questionable for TNF. Either way, Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and the slew of passing-game weapons remain Cincy's bread and butter. The Ravens had few answers for Chase and Higgins last time around, as they combined for 19 catches, 276 yards and four TDs. Burrow’s late INT was costly, but he was otherwise nuclear against Baltimore’s defense. The question is whether the Bengals can forge anything resembling a run game. Zack Moss (neck) is done for the year. Chase Brown hopes to play through a rib injury. The Bengals also lost rookie TE Erick All Jr., one of their key run blockers. The trade for Khalil Herbert helps, but can he step right in after Tuesday's trade? Brown has been one of their third-down backs but hasn’t always fared well in pass pro. That’s not Herbert’s specialty either, so they might have to use him as a change-of-pace runner. The good news is he has fresh legs, having touched the ball 10 times in six games for Chicago. The Ravens are likely to dare the Bengals to run the ball, offering light boxes and multiple deep safeties. Will the Bengals oblige?
4) Ravens defense also must answer the bell. The Ravens traded for Rams CB Tre’Davious White, although it remains to be seen whether he can jump right into the mix for this game and help, considering he won’t have much time to assimilate and hasn’t played since Week 4. The move underscored the struggles and health issues in the Baltimore secondary. That group struggled against Cincinnati in Week 5 and has had other tough games, although strong outings against the Bills earlier in the season and this past Sunday against the Broncos offer hope that this unit can jell. Brandon Stephens had his hands full, as did Marlon Humphrey, but Baltimore’s safeties also were a big reason for the defensive breakdowns in Week 5. Even Kyle Hamilton, the unit’s standout, had a critical mistake with a penalty on a two-point play; he hasn’t had the season he did in 2023 and could stand to make some game-changing plays on Thursday. The Ravens had slightly more success in the first meeting when they didn’t blitz, so getting home with four rushers and maintaining coverage on the back end might be critical. If the Ravens want to consider themselves among the NFL elites, they need to play defense closer to the level they did in 2023.
