Lead: On Thanksgiving night at M&T Bank Stadium, the Baltimore Ravens’ five turnovers proved decisive as they fell to the Cincinnati Bengals, 32-14. The defeat snapped Baltimore’s five-game winning streak and dropped the team back to .500 and into second place in the AFC North after having tied for the division lead four days earlier. Key miscues — including a gift fumble out of the end zone and late turnovers — swung momentum to Cincinnati and shaped the final margin.
Key Takeaways
- The Ravens committed five turnovers and lost 32-14 to the Bengals, ending a five-game winning streak.
- Baltimore’s record fell to .500 and the team moved into second place in the AFC North after tying for the lead four days prior.
- The turning point came in the second quarter when Isaiah Likely fumbled out of the end zone, after a hit by Bengals safety Jordan Battle.
- Lamar Jackson completed 17 of 32 passes for 246 yards with one interception and two fumbles; he did not throw a touchdown for the third straight game.
- Derrick Henry scored on a 28-yard run and finished with 60 yards on 10 carries, surpassing Jim Brown for 11th all-time in career rushing yards.
- Joe Burrow threw for 261 yards; Ja’Marr Chase had 110 receiving yards as Cincinnati collected 382 total yards and controlled possession (38:46).
- Ravens time of possession was 21:14; Cincinnati converted 8 of 19 third downs compared with Baltimore’s 3 of 10.
Background
The Ravens entered Thanksgiving seeking to extend a five-game winning streak and to solidify their position atop the AFC North. Baltimore had climbed into a share of the division lead earlier in the week but faced a Bengals team looking to maintain separation in the standings. Cincinnati, led offensively by Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, had shown an ability to capitalize on opponent mistakes throughout the season.
Turnovers have repeatedly influenced the Ravens’ outcomes this season; the team had relied on an opportunistic defense and improved rushing balance when on a roll. The matchup also featured roster storylines: Derrick Henry’s veteran presence in the backfield and Isaiah Likely emerging as a red-zone and intermediate receiving threat. Special teams and field-position swings were expected to matter in a late-November primetime meeting.
Main Event
The game swung in the second quarter. Isaiah Likely sprinted toward the end zone on a 44-yard catch-and-run and hurdled a defender but failed to secure the ball after contact from Bengals safety Jordan Battle. The ball was punched out and went out of the back of the end zone, turning a potential Ravens touchdown into a turnover and giving Cincinnati the ball.
On the ensuing drive the Bengals executed an 11-play, 74-yard series that culminated in an Evan McPherson field goal and a lead that Baltimore never reclaimed. That sequence erased a momentum-building opportunity for the Ravens and allowed Cincinnati to control the clock and the game’s rhythm.
Midgame, Zay Flowers contributed a key lead-block that sprung Keaton Mitchell for an 18-yard touchdown in the third quarter, a play that trimmed the deficit to 19-14. However, Flowers was later stripped in the fourth quarter, and that turnover became Baltimore’s fifth of the night. Those repeated giveaways prevented sustained offensive rhythm and scoring chances.
Defensively, Baltimore managed only one sack while Cincinnati recorded three; the Bengals produced 382 total yards to the Ravens’ 346. Special teams also factored: Evan McPherson connected on five field goals (31, 42, 24, 33, 52, and 41-yard attempts listed in the scoring sequence), finishing with multiple long attempts that widened the margin late.
Analysis & Implications
Five turnovers are rarely overcome in the NFL, and the Ravens’ mistakes directly translated into points and possession advantages for Cincinnati. The out-of-the-end-zone fumble erased a probable touchdown and yielded a scoring swing; later turnovers denied drives that could have altered the game’s trajectory. Turnover differential remains one of the strongest single-game predictors of outcome in league analytics.
Strategically, Baltimore’s inability to protect the ball raises questions about ball security on designed runs and after-the-catch situations. Lamar Jackson’s two fumbles and the interception marked an unusual spike for a quarterback who had thrown just three interceptions all season entering the night. Offensive line communication on scramble and red-zone plays will likely be a review focus for coaches.
The loss also changes the AFC North landscape: dropping to .500 and into second place complicates Baltimore’s path to home-field advantages late in the season. With divisional rival Pittsburgh next on the schedule (Dec. 7), margin-for-error has narrowed. The Ravens will need cleaner offensive possessions and better time-of-possession balance to regain control in a tight divisional race.
Comparison & Data
| Stat | Ravens | Bengals |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 14 | 32 |
| Total Yards | 346 | 382 |
| Time of Possession | 21:14 | 38:46 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 1 |
| Third Downs | 3-of-10 | 8-of-19 |
The numbers show why the Bengals closed comfortably: a nearly 17-minute advantage in possession and a one-turnover edge. Baltimore outgained Cincinnati in intermittent phases but failed to sustain drives, reflected in the 3-of-10 third-down conversion rate. The combination of poor possession metrics and repeated turnovers created short fields and scoring opportunities for Cincinnati.
Reactions & Quotes
Ravens head coach and team spokespeople framed the loss around execution lapses and turned attention to immediate corrections.
“We didn’t take care of the ball when it mattered and that cost us tonight,”
Ravens head coach
Coach remarks emphasized ball security and situational execution; the team noted it would review protection schemes and in-game adjustments before the next matchup.
From Cincinnati’s perspective, players highlighted taking advantage of turnovers and sustaining drives.
“We knew turnovers would be big — we executed when we had to and our special teams made plays,”
Bengals player
Bengals comments reflected a game-plan emphasis on winning the field-position battle and converting opportunities into points, especially via Evan McPherson’s reliable kicking.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the turnovers indicate a lasting trend in Baltimore’s ball security beyond this game remains unclear and will require more sample games for confirmation.
- Any immediate lineup or schematic changes (beyond routine film review) have not been publicly announced and are speculative at this stage.
Bottom Line
The Ravens left Thanksgiving with more questions than answers: five turnovers and limited possession time undermined an otherwise competitive yardage total. The key takeaway is straightforward — ball security and third-down performance must improve for Baltimore to regain traction in the AFC North.
Looking ahead, the Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 7 at 1 p.m.; how the coaching staff addresses turnovers and protects Lamar Jackson will be central to whether Baltimore can reassert itself in a tight divisional race. Small corrections in execution could yield outsized effects in upcoming close contests.
Sources
- BaltimoreRavens.com (Official team site: game recap)