Cincy Jungle
Joe Burrow has been overcoming adversity his entire football life. Thanksgiving Night will be no different.
Playing in his first game back from sustaining a Grade 3 turf toe injury in Week 2 this season, Burrow will lead the 3-8 Bengals into Baltimore to take on the 6-5 Ravens in prime time. It’s a tall task, but so was taking the 2021 Bengals to Super Bowl LVI while sustaining a league-high 51 sacks in the regular season and 19 more in the Playoffs and the Super Bowl. So, too, was playing at Buffalo in the snow without three starting offensive linemen in the Divisional round of the Playoffs the following season.
Burrow is built to overcome adversity. It probably won’t happen this season, but I still firmly believe that Joe Burrow is eventually going to win a Super Bowl with the Bengals.
With that, let’s take a look at the Baltimore Ravens, keys to the game, and score prediction for Thanksgiving Night.
Stats: 66.7 Cmp%, 1,595 yds, 15 TD, 3 INT; 46 rush, 237 yds, 1 TD
Even though he’s had an adverse season, particularly on the injury front that cost him three games earlier this season, Jackson is still a very dangerous and great player. He’s a two-time MVP for a reason, and his record against the Bengals speaks for itself.
Jackson plays well against the Bengals because he knows these games are big games. The Ravens have won the AFC North the last two seasons, and the Bengals won the AFC North in the two seasons before that.
Plus, Jackson has played well in November and December throughout his career. Since returning, the Ravens are on a five-game winning streak. While he and the Ravens haven’t peaked yet this season, they have surged in November and December before.
1. No. 22: Running Back, Derrick Henry — 6-2, 252 lbs. 10th Season, Alabama
Stats: 197 rush, 871 yds, 9 TD; 13 rec., 98 yds
Henry was held in check in both games against the Bengals last season, except for his long run in overtime that set up the game-winning field goal in Week 5. The Bengals, especially with Lou Anarumo as their defensive coordinator, did a mostly good job of not letting him run right through them, including in the Playoffs in 2021.
While Henry’s numbers this season may not be close to what they were last season, he is still averaging a solid 79.2 rushing yards per game. Preventing him from getting downhill will be a big key for the Bengals’ defense on Thanksgiving Night.
2. No. 89: Tight End, Mark Andrews — 6-5, 250 lbs. 8th Season, Oklahoma
Stats: 33 rec., 285 yds, 5 TD
Andrews has always played well against the Bengals, so he is definitely a player worth watching for in this game. The Bengals have struggled to cover elite tight ends for years,...
