The scoreboard read 24-0. It was cold. Brutally cold. In fact, it was the coldest game in the history of the Baltimore Ravens franchise, and yet the heat coming off the Ravens' defense was enough to freeze the Cincinnati Bengals' playoff hopes solid. If you were looking for the latest ravens bengals game score, that’s the number that matters. A donut for Joe Burrow. A career first he definitely didn't want.
NFL rivalries are usually back-and-forth affairs, but this December 14, 2025, matchup at Paycor Stadium felt different. One team was fighting for a third straight AFC North title, while the other was just trying to survive the elements and a suffocating secondary.
The Decisive Blows in Cincinnati
Most games have a rhythm. This one had a sudden, violent shift right before the half. With about a minute left in the second quarter, the game was a tight 7-0 affair. Then Lamar Jackson did Lamar Jackson things. He orchestrated a 5-play, 80-yard drive in just 42 seconds. It culminated in a 28-yard strike to Zay Flowers.
Flowers caught it in the back corner of the end zone. Geno Stone—the former Raven now playing safety for the Bengals—was just a fraction of a second too late. 14-0. The stadium went quiet, save for the shivering Baltimore fans.
Honestly, the Bengals had a chance to get back into it. In the fourth quarter, trailing 17-0, they were knocking on the door inside the Ravens' 10-yard line. It was 4th down. Do or die. Joe Burrow dropped back, looking for a window that wasn't there. Kyle Van Noy dropped into coverage, snatched the ball, and then, in a moment of pure veteran savvy, handed it off to Alohi Gilman. Gilman took it 84 yards to the house.
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Game over.
Breaking Down the Ravens Bengals Game Score
To understand how we got to 24-0, you have to look at the efficiency—or lack thereof—on both sides. Baltimore didn't need a thousand yards. They needed 317 total yards and a defense that forced two turnovers and recorded four sacks.
- Lamar Jackson: 8-of-12 for 150 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT. He didn't have to be a volume passer because the ground game was humming.
- Derrick Henry: 11 carries for 100 yards. He hit the century mark on just 11 touches. That's efficiency.
- Joe Burrow: 225 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT. For the first time in his six-year career as a starter, he was shut out.
The Bengals actually dominated time of possession, holding the ball for over 39 minutes. Think about that. They had the ball for nearly two-thirds of the game and didn't score a single point. It’s the kind of stat that makes offensive coordinators lose sleep. They were 3-of-15 on third down. You can't win like that. Not in the AFC North.
Why This Score Matters for the Playoff Race
This wasn't just another December game. The Ravens (7-7) needed this to keep pace with Pittsburgh. The Bengals, meanwhile, fell to 4-10. It’s a stark contrast to their Thanksgiving meeting just a few weeks prior.
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Remember that one? The ravens bengals game score on Thanksgiving was a completely different story. Cincinnati walked away with a 32-14 win that night, fueled by five Baltimore turnovers. It seems John Harbaugh’s squad took that personally. They went from giving up 32 points to giving up zero.
Defensive Masterclass
Tavius Robinson was the unsung hero. After missing seven games with a foot injury, he came back and looked like he hadn't missed a beat. He sacked Burrow in the first quarter to knock them out of field goal range. He pressured Burrow on the play that led to the pick-six. He finished with three QB hits.
When you have a pass rush that consistent, it makes the secondary's job easy. Burrow was forced to check down constantly. Ja'Marr Chase got his yards—132 of them on 11 catches—but they were "empty" yards. He never found the end zone. The Ravens' "bend but don't break" philosophy was more like "bend until the Bengals break themselves."
Looking Forward
If you're tracking the AFC North, the road ahead is a gauntlet. The Ravens proved they can win in the trenches when the weather turns ugly. They effectively "put the Bengals' playoff hopes on ice," as the local papers put it.
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For Bengals fans, it’s a tough pill to swallow. Watching your franchise QB get shut out at home in a rivalry game is never easy. But that's the nature of this division. It’s physical. It’s unpredictable. And sometimes, it’s zero degrees.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Injury Report: Tavius Robinson’s return changed the Ravens' defensive dynamic entirely. Track his snaps in the coming weeks.
- Red Zone Efficiency: The Bengals moved the ball but failed in the red zone. If you're betting or playing fantasy, look at the Bengals' red zone target share—they need a more reliable "big body" presence when Chase is doubled.
- Derrick Henry's Workload: The Ravens are keeping him fresh. 11 carries for 100 yards is the dream scenario for Baltimore heading into January. Expect his volume to increase as the stakes get higher.
The ravens bengals game score will go down as a defining moment in the 2025 season—a reminder that in the NFL, revenge is a dish best served at sub-zero temperatures.
Now that you've got the full breakdown of the Week 15 shutout, you can check the updated AFC North standings to see how Baltimore's victory narrows the gap with the Steelers.