While it was chilly in Cincinnati, the Baltimore Ravens were red hot throughout their 24-0 win that eliminated the Bengals from playoff contention. The win also evened Baltimore's record at 7-7 while keeping them within striking distance of the first-place Steelers in the AFC North standings.
After a slow start, Baltimore's offense scored the game's first points on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to running back Rasheen Ali that was set up by Jackson's 32-yard completion to veteran DeAndre Hopkins. The Ravens took a 14-0 halftime lead after Jackson threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers, who also jump-started the drive with a 26-yard reception.
Baltimore tacked on a field goal in the third quarter before putting the game on ice when Kyle Van Noy picked off Joe Burrow before handing the ball to safety Alohi Gilman, who raced 85 yards to paydirt.
Cincinnati -- less than a month after scoring 32 points against Baltimore on Thanksgiving Day -- was held scoreless despite having four drives inside Baltimore's 35-yard-line. Two of those drives were on the Bengals' first two drives of the game, but Cincinnati came up empty on both possessions. A common theme was Baltimore's ability to pressure Burrow, who was sacked three times and hit numerous other times.
Jackson attempted just 12 passes, while Derrick Henry rumbled for 83 of his 100 yards in the second half. Cincinnati's offense was led by Ja'Marr Chase, who overcame a slow start to catch 10 of 16 targets for 132 yards.
Baltimore's pick-six is one of the best defensive plays you'll ever see. It started when Tavius Robinson (who ended the Bengals' first drive with a sack) forced Burrow into a hurried throw that was snared in by Van Noy, who ran several yards before handing the ball Gilman, who raced to the end zone while taking Cincinnati's postseason hopes with him.
While it entered the game with just 18 sacks on the season, Baltimore's defense hounded Burrow all afternoon. The Ravens' pass rush has been bolstered by the return of Robinson, who was recently activated after being sidelined for two months with a broken foot.
After being outgained 48-9 in the opening quarter, Jackson and the rest of the Ravens' offense throughly outplayed Cincinnati's offense in the final three frames Jackson didn't throw much, but he nonetheless completed several key passes that included his dime to Flowers just before halftime.
With the win, Jackson is now 5-0 in games played in Cincinnati with 17 touchdowns and three interceptions in those games.
After Cincinnati started the second half with a turnover on downs, Baltimore embarked on a third consecutive scoring drive that included consecutive runs of 29 and 24 yards by Henry, who picked up his fourth 100-yard game of the season.
Less than four years after their surprising Super Bowl run, the Bengals are 4-10 and have been knocked out of postseason contention 11 days before Christmas. This will be the third straight year the Bengals will be at home when the AFC playoffs begins.
Cincinnati's lack of success has been a source of frustration for Burrow, who didn't mask his feelings during his weekly press conference ahead of Sunday's game. On Sunday, Burrow appeared defeated once the Bengals fell hopelessly behind. He exchanged words with center Ted Karras after he ran for just two yards on a third-and-8 play late in the third quarter with Cincinnati trailing 17-0.
Cincinnati's offense entered the game shorthanded with the absence of Tee Higgins, who is in the concussion protocol. Higgins' absence was compounded by a myriad of self-inflicted wounds that included several timely drops that included multiple ones by Chase.
If there was a positive from Cincinnati's standpoint, it was the play of several of the team's young defenders. Rookie Demetrius Knight Jr. and former first-round pick Myles Murphy each had two sacks of Jackson, while third-year safety Jordan Battle had a team-high eight tackles in addition to a pick of Jackson.
Baltimore is now a half-game behind the Steelers in the AFC North standings. The Ravens -- who control their destiny in terms of the postseason -- will be tied for first place in the North if the Steelers fall to the visiting Dolphins on Monday night.
This was a beautiful game if you're a Ravens fan and an absolute nightmare if you're a Bengals fan.
Either way, this game meant a lot for both teams. For the Ravens, they continue to control their own destiny in terms of winning the AFC North. For the Bengals, it means their dreams of a miraculous playoff push have come to an end three weeks prematurely.
One of the best plays you'll ever see (unless you're a Bengals fan).
Burrow under pressure, throws it right to Kyle Van Noy, who give it to safety Alhoi Gilman, who races 85 yards to pay dirt. It's now 24-0 Ravens, who are on their way to evening their record to 7-7. Bengals are less than eight minutes from being officially eliminated from playoff contention.
That's the Bengals fourth drive inside the Ravens' 35-yard line that ended with no points.
With their season on the line, Bengals are in four down territory. He hits Chase for 27 yards on fourth-and-7. Bengals now past midfield.
Samaje Perine and Amarius Mims have gotten hurt on the Bengals' current drive. Mims currently having issues getting off the field. He's being helped my multiple trainers.
Ravens added a FG to their lead in the second half. Bengals will start the fourth quarter with the ball in their own territory.
Really, the next 15 minutes is Cincinnati's season. Either they rally and keep their season alive, or they lose and are eliminated from postseason contention.
Young defenders Myles Murphy and Demetrius Knight sack Jackson to force a Ravens punt after Baltimore had gotten past midfield. Give a lot of credit to the Bengals defense for not giving up despite the current situation.
The Bengals did appear to suffer an injury on that drive to rookie Kris Jenkins, who needed help getting off the field.
One of the few times in Burrow's career that I've heard him and the offense get booed as they ran off the field on that last drive. Burrow ended the drive with a short run that was well short of the sticks. Once again, he was quickly rushed out of the pocket as a result of Baltimore's pass rush.
Baltimore nearly took a 21-0 lead, by Flowers was unable to come down with a pass from Jackson in the end zone that was a tad too high.
They salvage a drive with a short FG that makes it a 17-0 game with 9:57 left in the third. The drive was the byproduct of two big runs by Henry, who is now two yards shy of 1,100 for the season. Jackson has thrown just 10 passes so far.
After a quiet first half, Henry rips off runs of 29 and 24 yards immediately following Baltimore's turnover on downs. He's now up to 70 yards on just eight carries.
Burrow throws a very low percentage pass for TE Mike Gesicki on fourth-and-4 from their own 32. Burrow hasn't received good protection today; he's had to take off outside the pocket numerous times today. This is against a Ravens defense that ended the game with less than 20 sacks.
Baltimore can essentially put the game away on this drive. Hard to fathom the Bengals overcoming a three possession deficit.
Score: Ravens 14-0
First downs: 9-9
Total yards: Ravens 193-112 (was Bengals 148-9 after the first quarter)
Third down: Ravens 2-4, Bengals 1-6
Red zone: Both teams 0-0
TOP: Bengals 18:21
Jackson: 7-9, 136 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 1 sack, 26 yards on 2 carries
Burrow: 8-16, 71 yards, 1 INT, 2 sacks
Ravens: 68 yards on 12 carries
Henry: 17 yards on 6 carries
Bengals: 63 yards on 14 carries
Chase: 4 catches on 8 targets for 40 yards
Jackson throws an absolute dime to Flowers that makes it a 14-0 game just before halftime. Jackson has been absolute money on the last two drives.
A 26-yard completion to Flowers and a 14-yard run by Jackson has given the Ravens a first down just outside the Bengals' 40-yard-line. DJ Turner just dropped a sure pick after the ball bounced off Andrews' hands.
Jones hit Burrow after the ball had been released, but the officials either see the hit or didn't consider it late. Either way, the Bengals had to punt, and the Ravens get one last chance to add to their 7-0 lead before halftime.
Jackson hits RB Rasheen Ali on a short pass that he takes 32 yards to the house. Ali wasn't touched on a well-executed play by the offense and Jackson, who helped set up the score with a 14-yard run and a 32-yard completion to DeAndre Hopkins.
Iosivas unable to catch a deep thrown downfield by Burrow, who didn't see Chase open on third down as he settled for a short check down.
Receivers on both teams having issues catching the ball today. It's extremely cold, but there's not much wind, so this is a surprise.
Baltimore's ensuing drive ends with Jackson being picked off by Jordan Battle, another young Bengals defender who is continuing to make strides.
The Ravens had gotten into Bengals territory with some nice runs by Keaton Mitchell, but Cincinnati ended the drive moments later while making up for Burrow's pick moments earlier.
Like Burrow's pick, Jackson's INT was the byproduct of a tipped pass after Zay Flowers couldn't hold onto the ball.
Burrow's pass for Chase is picked off by Marlon Humphrey, thus ending the Bengals' second potential scoring drive. The pass was a tad high, but it's still one that Chase should have caught.
After connecting on their initial pass, Burrow and Chase haven't been on the same page today. They were 1-3 on that drive with the only completion being a two-yard gain on a crossing route.
Cincinnati goes for it on fourth-and-2 from Baltimore's 49, and it pays off after Van Noy jumped offside before the snap. Bengals get another first down on the next play with a run by Chase Brown. Cincinnati is in FG range for a second time in as many possessions.
The score is tied, but the Bengals dominated the first quarter, out-gaining the Ravens 48-9 and picking up four first downs to Baltimore's one.
Bengals enjoyed solid offensive balance in the first quarter, with four passes for 28 yards and seven runs for 21 more. Ja'Marr Chase with just one catch, though, on two targets after his drop led to the Bengals getting no points on their first drive.
Cincinnati's defense has come to play today, especially rookie Demetrius Knight, who picked up his first career sack after dropping Jackson on second down.
Bengals' second drive will start on their 43 with the first quarter coming to a close.
Tavius Robinson drops Burrow for a loss of 15 which knocks the Bengals out of FG range. But the drive initially stalled when Ja'Marr Chase dropped a pass on second-and-4 which would have given the Bengals a first down in the red zone.
Robinson was just activated yesterday after missing the last seven games with a foot injury. Making his presence felt early in this game.
Burrow hits his first two passes for 29 yards, including an 18-yard completion to Ja'Marr Chase on first-and-18.
Bengals cross midfield with a short run by Samaje Perine.
After picking up the game's initial first down, the Ravens have to punt after Jackson is sacked by former Bengals first round pick Myles Murphy on third down. Baltimore fed Derrick Henry on that drive with mixed results. Henry had 11 yards on four carries. Jackson completed just one pass, a four-yarder to Mark Andrews.
Bengals defensive lineman B.J. Hill injured on the game's first play. He's been replaced by rookie Kris Jenkins.
Lamar Jackson is rocking with two gloves today, but is not wearing long sleeves despite it being 11 degrees outside. There isn't much wind, so passing the ball may not be as difficult as initially thought.
The Bengals are 5-0 in the five coldest games in franchise history entering today. They're 8-2 lifetime in games played when it's 20 degrees or colder.
The coldest game in Bengals history was the 1981 AFC Championship, aka the Freezer Bowl. The Bengals recorded a 27-7 win over the Chargers in -9 degree weather and a -59 wind chill.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow rewarding some of the fans who are braving the cold. This is Burrow's third game back after missing nine games with turf toe. He's played well in his first two games back, throwing six touchdowns and just two picks. His picks, however, contributed to the Bengals' losing a 39-34 decision last week in Buffalo.
Lamar Jackson has a 4-0 record in Cincinnati with 15 touchdowns and just one interception. The last time he was in Cincinnati (Week 5 of the 2024 season), he threw four touchdowns while gaining 403 all-purpose yards as Baltimore won a 41-38 game in overtime.
As previously announced, Tee Higgins will not play as he is in the concussion protocol. With Higgins out, expect more targets for Andrei Iosivas, Mitchell Tinsley and TE Noah Fant. I'd also expect RB Chase Brown to continue to make an impact in the passing game.
