The air in the AFC North is just different. You’ve felt it if you’ve ever been to a Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens game. It isn’t just about the standings or some corporate marketing campaign. It’s the smell of burnt rubber and cheap beer, the sound of a stadium collectively holding its breath while Lamar Jackson dances on the edge of a breakdown, and the high-wire act that is Joe Burrow’s passing game. Honestly, this is the best rivalry in football right now, and it’s not particularly close.
Forget the "soft" NFL you hear old-timers complain about. When these two teams meet, things get weird. Fast.
The Chaos Theory of Bengals vs. Ravens
Most division games are a grind. They’re defensive struggles that end 13-10. But the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens series has a habit of devolving into absolute madness. Take 2024. People are still talking about that Week 5 shootout where they combined for 740 passing yards. It felt like a video game with the sliders turned up to 100. Then, just when you think you’ve seen the peak, they do it again in November. The Bengals score a late touchdown, go for two to win it, and miss. 35-34, Ravens. It was heartbreaking if you’re from Cincy, but for a neutral fan? It was art.
The rivalry actually started back in 1996. The Ravens were the "new" kids, basically the relocated Browns, which already gave Bengals fans a reason to hate them. Cincinnati won the first-ever meeting 24-21 after being down 21-3 at halftime. That set the tone.
Bad blood. Huge comebacks.
Burrow vs. Jackson: The Real Story
We love to compare them. It’s human nature. You’ve got Lamar, the two-time MVP who plays like he’s controlled by a joystick. Then there's Joe Cool, who looks like he’s playing a different sport sometimes, just picking apart secondaries with a surgical precision that’s almost boring until you realize he’s thrown for 400 yards again.
Lamar owns the regular season. There's no other way to put it. He’s 9-1 as a starter against the Bengals overall and has a 5-1 head-to-head record against Burrow. He makes the Bengals' defense look like they're playing on ice skates.
But Joe has the playoff receipt.
📖 Related: Why it ain't over til it's over is the most misunderstood quote in sports history
The 2022 Wild Card game is the one Ravens fans can’t scrub from their brains. The "Fumble in the Jungle." Tyler Huntley (filling in for an injured Lamar) tried to sneak it in at the one-yard line. Instead, the ball popped out, and Sam Hubbard ran 98 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest fumble return in playoff history. Cincinnati won 24-17. That game basically defines the rivalry: Baltimore dominates the stats, but Cincinnati finds a way to pull a miracle out of thin air when it matters most.
Why the Records Don't Tell the Whole Story
If you just look at the all-time series, Baltimore leads 33-28. That seems close, but it doesn't capture the sheer vitriol. This isn't a "respectful" rivalry like some others. This is the Marvin Lewis years—when the Bengals hired the Ravens' defensive architect to beat them at their own game. It’s Chad Johnson (Ochocinco) putting on a "Future H.O.F." gold jacket after a touchdown in 2007.
It’s also the injury bug. These teams play so hard they basically break each other. In 2023, Burrow's season ended in Baltimore after a wrist injury. In 2025, the Ravens defense finally got their revenge for all those 500-yard games Burrow put up in the past by shutting out the Bengals 24-0 in December.
Key Factors for the Next Matchup
- The Ja'Marr Chase Problem: In late 2024, Chase put up 264 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a single game against Baltimore. The Ravens' secondary has struggled to contain him for years. If he's healthy, Baltimore's defensive coordinator is losing sleep.
- Derrick Henry’s Arrival: Adding "King" Henry to the Ravens' backfield changed the math. Now, the Bengals can't just spy Lamar. They have to deal with a 250-pound locomotive. In 2025, Henry cleared 1,000 yards for the seventh time in his career, and his presence makes the Ravens' play-action game lethal.
- The Kicking Edge: Never bet against Justin Tucker in this series. He has a walk-off field goal against Cincy as recently as October 2024. In a game that is almost always decided by three points or less, the guy with the golden leg is the ultimate trump card.
What to Watch For Moving Forward
The Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens matchup is moving into a new era. We aren't just watching a football game; we’re watching a struggle for the soul of the AFC North. While the Steelers are always "there" and the Browns are... well, the Browns... these two teams represent the elite ceiling of the division.
✨ Don't miss: New Balance DynaSoft Nitrel v5: What Most People Get Wrong About This Hybrid
For the Bengals, it’s about fixing a defense that has historically been "Lamar-bait." For the Ravens, it’s about proving they can close out Joe Burrow when he goes into "God Mode" in the fourth quarter.
If you're betting or just watching for fun, keep an eye on the turnover margin. In the last six meetings, the team that won the turnover battle won the game 100% of the time. It sounds like a cliché, but in a rivalry this tight, one tipped pass or one fumbled snap is the difference between a division title and a long flight home.
To get the most out of the next game, track the "explosive play" count. Baltimore wins when they get 10+ yard runs; Cincinnati wins when they get 20+ yard catches. It’s a clash of styles that makes every snap feel like a ticking time bomb.
📖 Related: Por qué los partidos de Boca Juniors paralizan el país (y dónde verlos hoy)
Your Game Day Strategy
- Watch the line: These games almost always stay within the spread. If the line is more than 4 points, consider the underdog.
- Check the injury report early: Pay specific attention to the Bengals' offensive line and the Ravens' secondary. Those are the pressure points.
- Don't leave early: Whether it's a 98-yard fumble return or a 50-yard Hail Mary (shoutout to Andy Dalton and A.J. Green in 2013), this game is never over until the clock hits zero.
Expect the unexpected. In this rivalry, that's the only thing you can actually count on.