The AFC North is basically a meat grinder. Honestly, if you aren't bruised, battered, or questioning your life choices by December, you probably aren't playing in this division. The Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals rivalry has always been a bit different than the Ravens-Steelers bloodbath, though. It’s faster. It’s more explosive. It’s often about who has the ball last and which superstar quarterback—Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow—is feeling more like a magician that day.
But 2025? Man, it was a weird one. If you looked at the standings in mid-January 2026, you'd see a playoff picture that looks like a glitch in the Matrix. The Ravens, despite all that talent, missed out. The Bengals, even with Burrow returning, couldn't climb out of the basement.
The Thanksgiving Disaster and the Zero-Point Revenge
You’ve probably heard the saying that styles make fights. In the NFL, divisional familiarity breeds a specific kind of contempt. On Thanksgiving night 2025, the Bengals didn't just beat the Ravens; they embarrassed them. A 32-14 blowout. Baltimore turned the ball over five times. Five! Jackson looked human, and the Ravens' offensive line resembled a revolving door.
Joe Burrow, who had been sidelined for 10 weeks with a toe injury, walked into M&T Bank Stadium and played like he never left. He went 24 of 46 for 261 yards. Not world-beating numbers, but enough to let Ja'Marr Chase do Ja'Marr Chase things (7 catches, 110 yards).
Then came the rematch on December 14.
✨ Don't miss: Simona Halep and the Reality of Tennis Player Breast Reduction
Ravens fans were terrified. Most pundits—35 out of 60, to be exact—picked Cincinnati to sweep the season series. Instead, the Ravens delivered a 24-0 shutout. It was the first time Joe Burrow had been shut out in his entire six-year career. Imagine that. A guy that talented, with those weapons, putting up a big fat zero on the scoreboard.
Lamar Jackson didn't have to be a superhero. He just had to be efficient. He threw two touchdowns, but the story was a 95-yard pick-six by Kyle Van Noy and Alohi Gilman that basically turned the lights out at Paycor Stadium.
Lamar Jackson vs Joe Burrow: The Tale of the Tape
People love to argue about these two. It's the ultimate "who would you rather have" debate. Honestly, the stats tell a story of two completely different philosophies.
- Lamar Jackson: He’s a nightmare for defensive coordinators because he breaks the math of the game. Even in a "down" 2025 where he dealt with a hamstring injury, he still put up 23 total touchdowns in 13 games. Historically, he has dominated this rivalry. Before the 2025 split, Jackson was 9-1 as a starter against Cincy.
- Joe Burrow: He’s the surgeon. When his wrist is right and his pocket is clean, he’s arguably the most accurate passer in the league. He holds the Bengals' franchise record for winning percentage (.565) and is closing in on Andy Dalton’s career TD record.
The weirdest part of the Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals head-to-head is how often injuries have robbed us of the matchup. In 2024, they combined for over 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns in two games. In 2025, we got a rusty Burrow in one game and a dominant Ravens defense in the other. We’re still waiting for that one "Instant Classic" where both are at 100% for 60 minutes.
🔗 Read more: NFL Pick 'em Predictions: Why You're Probably Overthinking the Divisional Round
Why Both Teams Are Watching the Playoffs from the Couch
It feels wrong, doesn't it? A postseason without Lamar or Burrow?
The Ravens finished 8-9. They lost a winner-take-all Week 18 game to the Steelers, 26-24. Derrick Henry was a beast—rushing for 1,595 yards and 16 scores at age 31—but the secondary was a sieve. They allowed the 7th most passing yards in the league. You can't do that in a division with Burrow and (now) Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati ended at 6-11. The 0-3 start and Burrow’s mid-season injury were just too much to overcome. By the time they played the Ravens in December, they were already mathematically eliminated.
What Went Wrong for Baltimore?
- Injuries (Again): Jackson missed a chunk of time with a hamstring issue.
- Turnovers: The Thanksgiving game was the perfect example. You can't give Joe Burrow five extra possessions.
- The Secondary: Chidobe Awuzie (a former Bengal) played well, but Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey struggled with consistency against elite WRs.
What Went Wrong for Cincinnati?
- Defensive Regression: They finished with the worst-ranked defense in football at one point late in the season.
- No Run Game: Beyond Chase Brown, there wasn't much to keep defenses honest.
- Trey Hendrickson’s Injury: Losing your best pass rusher for the season is a death sentence.
Looking Ahead to 2026: The Stakes Have Changed
The 2026 schedule is already out. The Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals matchups are going to be high-pressure cookers. John Harbaugh is under fire. Zac Taylor is looking at a roster that might lose Tee Higgins.
💡 You might also like: Why the Marlins Won World Series Titles Twice and Then Disappeared
The Ravens need to fix their offensive line. Jackson was rushed and harried for much of 2025. When he has time, he’s an MVP. When he doesn't, he tries to do too much and the fumbles start piling up.
Cincinnati has the 10th pick in the draft. They need a tackle. They need a pass rusher to help Hendrickson. Most importantly, they need Joe Burrow to stay on the field for 17 games.
Actionable Takeaways for the Offseason
If you're a fan trying to make sense of where these two powerhouses stand, here is what you need to watch over the next few months:
- Monitor the Ravens' Salary Cap: They have huge decisions to make on the defensive interior. Travis Jones got an extension, but Nnamdi Madubuike's future is a question mark. If they lose that push up the middle, Burrow will pick them apart.
- Watch the Bengals' Draft Strategy: If they don't go offensive line or defensive line in the first two rounds, expect more of the same. They cannot continue to let Burrow take the hits he took in 2025.
- Keep an Eye on the Coaching Carousel: Todd Monken (Ravens OC) is always a head coaching candidate. If Baltimore loses him, Jackson has to learn a third system in four years. That’s never good for a quarterback’s rhythm.
The rivalry is far from dead, but 2025 was a wake-up call. The kings of the North got dethroned by a guy named Aaron Rodgers and a gritty Steelers team. If the Ravens and Bengals want back in, they have to stop beating each other up and start fixing their own houses.
To stay ahead of the next season, you should track the NFL scouting combine results specifically for AFC North defensive back prospects, as both teams are clearly looking to beef up their secondaries to handle the high-volume passing attacks of their rivals.