Baltimore Beatdown
The Baltimore Ravens will take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving night. Both teams have a lot riding on this game, as the Ravens look to maintain their newfound lead in the AFC North while the Bengals hope to salvage their season in Joe Burrow’s return. The staff of Baltimore Beatdown gives their bold predictions for the divisional showdown.
Many are predicting a Thanksgiving shootout in Baltimore, so I’ll go against the grain and predict a relatively low-scoring contest. Sure, the Bengals’ bottom-ranked defense may offer a get-right game for the Ravens’ offense, but can they turn things around in such a short week? Baltimore‘s defense will handle Joe Burrow‘s return smoothly, but their turnover streak will be broken. Special teams will have another strong day when kicking and punting, but their return units will be less successful. LaJontay Wester will set up the offense to score with a long punt return, but otherwise, average field position keeps the Ravens from putting up many points. Ja’Marr Chase will come back from his suspension with a vengeance and be fed targets by Burrow. Chase’s impact will wane as the game goes on until a big fourth-quarter touchdown forces Jackson to get points on his last drive. He does, via a game-winning Tyler Loop field goal. 20-17 Ravens. – Nikhil Mehta
The Ravens have gotten by recently, playing good defense since their turnaround and allowing a struggling offense to try and figure things out each game. That won’t work this week. Whether it’s Joe Flacco or Joe Burrow, the Bengals offense is a high-flying machine and will be the first stumbling block for the newly imagined Ravens’ defense. Burrow airs the ball out all night with Ja’Marr Chase continuing to terrorize the Ravens as he has most of his career. More importantly, the Bengals run Chase Brown all over the field. The run game has been a struggle area for the Ravens’ defense, but teams have often abandoned it when playing them. The Bengals don’t, as Brown runs for over 150 yards and controls the game.
Meanwhile, instead of a shootout like we’ve become accustomed to, the Ravens’ offense continues their own struggles, despite playing the worst defense in the NFL. Lamar Jackson still looks slightly off as he simply can’t will the offense forward. Derrick Henry and the run game can’t get it going once more. The Ravens lose 27-17, having a 10-day break to once again try to reinvent this team on the fly. – Zach Canter
The Ravens finally figure some things out offensively against the league’s worst defense. Although they’re on short rest and in a two-game offensive lull, an advantageous matchup and high-stakes primetime environment at home will work in their favor. Derrick Henry has an efficient 100-yard performance, while Lamar Jackson throws multiple touchdown passes — including one to Zay Flowers for just the second time this season. Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ offense will put up points and put Baltimore’s defensive improvements...
