The Bengals play their second game on Thanksgiving Thursday, as they travel to Baltimore to take on their divisional rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore has won five straight games after starting the season 1-5. They now are tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers atop the AFC North.
The Ravens have played twice on Thanksgiving, both at home, and are 2-0, beating the Steelers in 2013 and the 49ers in 2011. They are one of three teams in NFL history to be unbeaten in multiple Thanksgiving appearances, joining the Houston Texans (2-0) and the Pottsville Maroons (3-0).
Ravens Offense
After starting the season with a -50 point differential over the first six games, Baltimore has a +64 point differential since Week 8. However, the Ravens have outgained their opponents twice in the last five games.
QB Lamar Jackson has started eight of 11 games this season, missing three games with a hamstring injury. He's been efficient when on the field, throwing 15 touchdowns to three interceptions. Jackson completed 13-of-23 for 153 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions in the team's Week 12 win over the New York Jets. Jackson now has consecutive starts with zero touchdowns for the second time in his career after throwing no touchdowns and two interceptions in a 23-16 win over the Browns in Week 11. The former MVP has also not cleared 200 yards passing in three consecutive games.
Jackson has run the ball less than any point in his career to this point in the season, averaging 5.75 carries per game. He's also averaging 5.2 yards per carry, the lowest since his rookie season. Jackson has also been limited in practice each of the last two weeks with knee and ankle injuries.
"[I have the] utmost confidence in Lamar Jackson; I always will," Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said after Week 12. "He's my guy; he's our guy; he's our quarterback. Lamar is doing what he needs to do. He is winning football games. It's not always pretty… The pretty games will be there. They'll be there for Lamar Jackson; you can bet on that. But I'm proud of him right now. I'm really proud of him and the way he's fighting to win football games."
While they haven't been explosive through the air, RB Derrick Henry continues to lead the ground attack. Henry scored two touchdowns in Week 12, becoming the third player in NFL history with at least two rushing touchdowns in 30 career games, joining LaDainian Tomlinson and Emmitt Smith. Henry also moved into 12th on the all-time rushing yards list in Week 12, surpassing Marcus Allen, Edgerrin James and Marshall Faulk. Henry has averaged 86 yards per game and scored five touchdowns during the team's five-game winning streak.
Zay Flowers leads the Baltimore receiving unit with 58 receptions on 77 targets for 761 yards this season. Flowers have 12 receptions of 20+ yards this season, tied for seventh in the NFL. Veteran tight end Mark Andrews leads the team and is tied for 15th in the NFL with five receiving touchdowns. Andrews needs three receptions Thursday to pass Derrick Mason for the most receptions in Ravens franchise history.
Ravens Defense
The Ravens haven't allowed more than 19 points in their five-game winning streak, allowing 13.4 points per contest. Their streak of five straight games scoring 20+ points on offense and allowing less than 20 on defense is the longest in franchise history and the longest in the NFL since the 49ers in 2023.
Baltimore has forced a turnover in six straight games, including two last week in the victory over the Jets. The defense has forced 13 total turnovers on the year, ranking middle of the pack in the the league. The Ravens have forced 10 fumbles, tied for the sixth most in the NFL, recovering six of them, tied for seventh.
The Ravens have the fourth-fewest sacks in the NFL, getting to the opposing quarterback 18 times this season. The team acquired LB Dre'Mont Jones from the Titans at the trade deadline, and he made an impact Sunday, notching 1.5 sacks in his home debut. Rookie edge rusher Mike Green has also begun to come on as the season continues. The Marshall product has eight pressures in his two healthy games, more than he had over the first nine weeks of the season, per Jonas Shaffer of the Baltimore Banner.
On the back end, Baltimore leads the NFL in passer rating allowed since Week 6 (69.8). Safety Kyle Hamilton leads all safeties in PFF defensive grade with an 88.7 grade. Hamilton's 86.6 PFF coverage grade also leads all safeties in the NFL, and his 10 QB pressures ranks second among defensive backs. In coverage, Hamilton has not allowed a touchdown since Week 1 against the Bills. The safety did leave Week 12 with an ankle injury, but Harbaugh said Hamilton will have a chance to play Thursday. Former Bengal Chidobe Awuzie leads the cornerback room with a 78.6 PFF coverage grade and has allowed 17 receptions on 33 targets with five pass breakups on the year.
Ravens punter Jordan Stout is coming off one of the best days from a specialist in franchise history. The fourth-year player tied the Ravens record for longest punt with a 74-yarder and had the sixth-best average yards per punt in NFL history (61.5 yards on four punts). Baltimore also has a new kicker this year, drafting Tyler Loop in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Loop is 22-of-24 this season and hasn't missed inside of 50 yards.
View the best photos from Bengals-Ravens matchups of years past
DE Sam Hubbard runs into the endzone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sunday, January 15 2023.
FILE - In this Dec 31, 2017, file photo, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) reacts as he scores the winning touchdown as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr (24) lies on the ground during the second half of an NFL football game in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
CB Cam Taylor-Britt breaks up a deep pass against the Ravens in Baltimore, Thursday, November 16, 2023.
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates completing the catch during the third quarter of the Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sunday, January 15 2023.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) leaps over Baltimore Ravens defensive back Chuck Clark, below, during the first half of NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) gestures after rushing for a first down during a wild-card playoff NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase and former RB Joe Mixon celebrate a touchdown against the Ravens in Baltimore, Thursday, November 16, 2023.
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Kroft (81) pulls in a touchdown pass under pressure from Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Kamalei Correa (51) during the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Reggie Kelly, left, dives trying to pick up some extra yardage as he is chased down by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott, right, during the first half of their football game in Baltimore Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006..(AP Photo/Chris Gardner)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches the ball for a touchdown against Baltimore Ravens safety Ar'Darius Washington (29) in the second half during an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs with the ball against Baltimore Ravens safety Chuck Clark (36) and cornerback Marlon Humphrey during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) catches a touchdown pass against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr (39) during the first half of NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (1) hurdles over Baltimore Raven Daryl Worley (29) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cincinnati Bengals' Tyler Boyd (83) does a flip in front of Baltimore Ravens' Daryl Worley following a touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
QB Joe Burrow escapes pressure and looks to throw against the Ravens at Paycor Stadium.
Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis, right, is stopped by Cincinnati Bengals safety Dexter Jackson (28) in an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 13-7, shutting out the Ravens until the final minutes of the game. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson celebrates a play against the Ravens at Paycor Stadium
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, left, gets tangled with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross as Ross makes a touchdown catch in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Cody Core (16) runs the ball against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Kyle Arrington (24) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) tries to stay inbounds as Baltimore Ravens safety Ar'Darius Washington (29) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (22) covers Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
WR Tee Higgins makes a catch against the Ravens at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, September 17, 2023.
DE Sam Hubbard runs into the endzone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sunday, January 15 2023.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins celebrates his second touchdown of the game during Cincinnati's Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, October 6, 2024.
Bengals TE Erick All Jr. hurdles a defender during Cincinnati's Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, October 6, 2024.
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase catches a long touchdown during Cincinnati's Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, October 6, 2024.
TE Tanner Hudson hurdles a defender during the Bengals primetime Week 10 game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, November 7, 2024.
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates a 70-yard touchdown during the Bengals primetime Week 10 game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, November 7, 2024.
CB Cam Taylor-Britt breaks up a pass during the Bengals primetime Week 10 game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, November 7, 2024.
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