Bengals Best Ravens in Burrow’s Return

Joe Burrow made a triumphant return to the Cincinnati Bengals, leading the team to a 32-14 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving night. This win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Bengals.

While the Bengals now stand at 4-8 for the season, the Ravens dropped to 6-6 after entering the game on a five-game winning streak. Fans in Cincinnati have been eagerly anticipating Burrow’s return, and it seems the wait was worthwhile. He took some time to get rolling, but once he synced with his receivers, the Bengals’ vintage offensive style shone through in Baltimore.

Interestingly, the game’s opening drive saw Derrick Henry scoring a 28-yard touchdown for the Ravens. However, the first half was dominated by field goals. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, criticized for not showcasing enough explosiveness, struggled, fumbling three times before halftime. One significant incident involved Jackson getting sacked near the goal line, allowing the Bengals to recover at their 2-yard line. Though the Ravens’ defense tightened up and forced turnovers, Burrow’s team capitalized whenever possible.

One pivotal moment came with a pass to tight end Isaiah Likely, who ran for 43 yards but fumbled just before reaching the end zone—the ball then rolled out, resulting in a touchback for the Bengals. They managed to take a 9-7 lead thanks to Evan McPherson’s third field goal of the night. It seemed like that would be the score at halftime, but Jackson’s fumble on their next drive allowed Cincinnati to kick another field goal just before the quarter ended.

In the second half, Cincinnati’s offense began to heat up. Burrow engineered a 10-play, 61-yard drive, concluding with a touchdown run by tight end Tanner Hudson, widening the gap for the Bengals. Despite back-and-forth plays, the Ravens managed to close the gap briefly with an 18-yard touchdown to Keaton Mitchell, making it a 19-14 game.

As the game progressed, Andre Iosivas, who had been quiet until then, caught a deep pass from Burrow for a crucial 29-yard touchdown, pushing the Bengals further ahead. The Bengals defense, statistically the least effective in the league, faced mounting pressure as time ticked down, and Jackson’s team still wasn’t out of it.

However, possession issues plagued Baltimore. An interception from Jackson to Mark Andrews at the Cincinnati 8-yard line and a turnover on downs contributed to their struggles, resulting in a score of 29-14. A moment of hope arose when Samaje Perine fumbled at the Baltimore 12-yard line, but the Ravens suddenly found themselves fighting for their lives again when Zay Flowers fumbled near midfield shortly after.

Ultimately, McPherson capped the night by making his sixth field goal, sealing a much-needed victory for Cincinnati. In his return, Burrow completed 24-of-46 passes for 261 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Ja’Marr Chase caught seven passes for 110 yards, while Chase Brown added seven receptions for 35 yards and contributed 78 rushing yards.

Meanwhile, Jackson wrapped up the game by completing 17-of-32 passes for 246 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception. He rushed for 27 yards on six attempts, while Derrick Henry finished with 60 rushing yards. Despite the loss, the Ravens’ Rikley led in receiving with 95 yards from five catches.