The Bengals are in must-win territory to keep their slim playoff chances alive in 2025. Their next test is against their divisional foe, the Baltimore Ravens, and the lights couldn’t be brighter with Joe Burrow’s return.
To get the lay of the land ahead of the Thanksgiving Night matchup, we tapped the knowledge of a number of contributors over at SB Nation’s Baltimore Beatdown.
1.) AC: In short, what has been the biggest difference between the way the Ravens started this season to their recent surge? I’m sure there are a number of factors, including Lamar Jackson being in and out of the lineup…
BB: The biggest difference between the start of the season and now is the improved play of the defense. The unit was flailing for several weeks, but really turned things around after the bye week. This could be chalked up to facing easier opponents, but the improvements are undeniable when you compare the beginning of the season to now.
Acquiring Alohi Gilman via trade allowed Kyle Hamilton to move closer to the line of scrimmage, where he is one of the NFL’s biggest game wreckers. The trade for Dre’Mont Jones also greatly improved the pass rush, alongside improved play from rookie Mike Green, who is starting to really show his potential now.
The next biggest factor for the team’s turnaround would be health. The Ravens were ravaged by injuries early on this season, and while Lamar Jackson is still clearly hampered at the moment, and Nnamdi Madubuike is still out for the year, the team is relatively healthy at the moment. (Dustin Cox)
2.) AC: Some things I’ve read this week include the Ravens potentially tinkering with their guard spots, in an effort to boost protection and ensure Jackson doesn’t take more hits while potentially not being 100% healthy. Any truth to those potential moves?
BB: It’s no secret that the Ravens’ offensive line play has been bad, and their guards are both clear weaknesses. Head coach John Harbaugh recently mentioned the potential to include Emery Jones Jr. in the rotation, and the Ravens have rotated offensive linemen during games in the past. They did it for multiple spots for a couple years and most recently did it with Roger Rosengarten last year at right tackle to ease him in.
3.) AC: I’m curious as to your thoughts on the AFC North and the Conference, as a whole, and where you see the Ravens eventually fitting in this year. No one in the conference, especially the usual powerhouses, seems dominant, and things look, overall, up for grabs—even the Bengals are technically mathematically alive, though their chances are extremely slim.
BB: How many times have we said, ‘The Chiefs look beatable this year,’ only for them to return to their winning ways in the playoffs? To say that this year could be different is to fall into the exact same trap. So no, I’m not necessarily buying the idea that the conference is up for grabs.
Time and time again, quarterbacks are the great equalizer, which is why the Bills, Ravens, and Chiefs are hard teams to write off despite their records. Other AFC teams that want to make the Super Bowl will likely have to beat at least two of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes. Good luck with that!
Now, am I confident in the Ravens doing that? No, but they may only have to beat one of those two, plus, say, Daniel Jones and Bo Nix. That feels doable. (Nikhil Mehta)
4.) AC: What are the overall sentiments from the Ravens’ side of things with Joe Burrow returning this Thursday Night? Confident in Baltimore, regardless? Does it throw a wrench into the Ravens’ preparations? Joe Flacco returning to play in Baltimore would have been a neat storyline, but obviously, the Bengals need to try whatever they can to attempt to win out.
BB: The Ravens have been preparing for Burrow to start, so this does not throw a wrench into their plans. I’m not sure how differently a defense would play Burrow vs. Flacco, anyway. Cincinnati’s bottom-ranked defense is not just a reason to be confident in Baltimore’s offense, but hopeful that they can have a much-needed get-right game.
Fans are also optimistic about the defensive improvements, but view this matchup as a legitimate test for Zach Orr. With Higgins out and a less-mobile Burrow, he should have a handle on this matchup. But if he lets Chase run wild, as he did last year in both games, it raises serious questions about his ability to hold up against talented quarterbacks and offenses. (Nikhil Mehta)
5.) AC: How do you see this one playing out? Cincinnati is seven-point underdogs per FanDuel, even with Burrow returning, but they’ll be without Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson…
BB: Given recent history, there will never be a game where Ravens fans can feel confident with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase on the other sideline. However, right no,w the lack of confidence is more due to the offense than the defense. I have no doubts that Burrow and Chase will wreak havoc as they usually do, but I do have doubts that the Ravens offense can keep up in its current state. Even with the injuries to Higgins and Hendrickson and the dire state of the Bengals’ defense, I still think this game is very much in the air. (Mark Myers)
Our thanks to the many great contributors over at Baltimore Beatdown for the chat. Go check out the other side of the conversation here.
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