On Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, 2025, Joe Burrow returned from a nine-game absence and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens 32-14 in Cincinnati. Burrow completed a high-volume first half and finished with 261 passing yards, two touchdown passes and no interceptions as Cincinnati built a second-half margin. The Bengals’ defense created five turnovers and provided the decisive edge, while kicker Evan McPherson supplied four first-half field goals that kept Cincinnati ahead despite red-zone issues. The result lifts the Bengals to 4-8 overall and 3-0 in games Burrow has started this season; the Ravens fall to 6-6.
Key takeaways
- Joe Burrow returned after missing nine games with a toe injury and threw for 261 yards, two TDs and zero interceptions.
- Cincinnati won 32-14, capitalizing on five turnovers forced by its defense; Evan McPherson kicked four field goals in the first half.
- The Bengals were 0-for-4 in the red zone before the third quarter but scored 17 second-half points on their first three possessions.
- Cincinnati improved in this outing despite entering the game with the worst first-11 games by DVOA in NFL history.
- Individual defensive impact plays included a forced fumble by Jordan Battle on Isaiah Likely, two sacks (including a strip) by Joseph Ossai and a tipped pass by Myles Murphy that led to an interception.
- Lamar Jackson committed three turnovers on the night and the Ravens went multiple drives without scoring, exposing persistent offensive-line and rushing issues.
- With the win the Bengals maintain an outside playoff window — they remain two games back of Baltimore and face a difficult schedule ahead, including a game at Buffalo.
Background
The Bengals entered Thanksgiving amid questions about their health and consistency. Joe Burrow had not started since Week 2 because of a toe injury; Cincinnati’s offense had struggled at times without him, and the defense had produced historically poor early-season results by DVOA metrics. Expectations for a bounce-back were tempered by an 0-for-4 red-zone performance in previous outings and a defense that had forced only 10 turnovers all season before this game.
The Ravens came into the matchup at 6-5, having recovered from a 1-5 start with a five-game winning streak, but that stretch had left little room for error in a tight AFC North. Baltimore’s offense — dependent on Lamar Jackson’s mobility and the run game — had shown signs of strain, and protecting field position and limiting turnovers were priorities against a Bengals unit that can score quickly when Burrow is on the field.
Main event
Burrow was hardly eased into action; he averaged a very high pass count in the first half (32 attempts) and used that volume to reestablish rhythm. Timing in tight spaces remained an issue early, especially inside the red zone where Cincinnati settled for field goals on multiple trips, but Burrow connected on two third-quarter touchdown passes — a 14-yard strike to Tanner Hudson and a later scoring throw to Andrei Iosivas — that turned the tide.
Defensively, the Bengals produced a string of game-changing plays. Jordan Battle hustled to strip Isaiah Likely near the goal line, Joseph Ossai notched two sacks including a strip-sack, and Myles Murphy forced a tipped pass that resulted in an interception by Demetrius Knight Jr. Those turnovers and field-position swings erased most of Baltimore’s offensive momentum and converted into points or short fields for Cincinnati.
Evan McPherson’s four first-half field goals kept Cincinnati in front while the offense struggled to finish drives early. After halftime the Bengals converted more consistently, scoring on their first three second-half possessions and limiting punts to just two for the night. Cincinnati’s balance of turnover creation and red-zone corrections after halftime put the game out of reach.
Analysis & Implications
Burrow’s return instantly altered Cincinnati’s ceiling. The quarterback displayed command of the offense in rhythm-based passing situations; even when off-script he showed willingness to move in the pocket and buy time. The limitations inside the red zone — 2 of 12 passing for 18 yards and one TD in close quarters — show there is still work to do on timing and play design near the goal line, but the improved scoring after halftime suggests coaching adjustments and execution can follow quickly.
For the defense, five forced turnovers represent an outlier relative to the unit’s season-long production, yet the specific plays indicate growing situational awareness and effort. Players who have struggled earlier in the year made high-effort, high-impact plays Sunday, which could signal development rather than random variance. Whether that improvement is sustainable will depend on depth, matchups and how much of the performance was a product of Lamar Jackson’s off-night.
The Ravens’ offensive problems appear structural rather than isolated to this contest. Jackson lost the ball three times and missed several open targets, while the rushing attack and line play failed to establish consistent lanes. Baltimore’s margin for error is thin because of the 1-5 start; team officials will likely prioritize ball security and quarterback protection schemes in upcoming weeks if the Ravens hope to avoid slipping further in the AFC race.
Comparison & data
| Team | Final | Turnovers | Red zone (1H) | Notable sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 32 | +5 forced | 0-for-4 | Joseph Ossai 2 (incl. strip) |
| Baltimore Ravens | 14 | -3 committed | multiple scoreless drives | Pressure on Jackson; several sacks |
The table highlights the contrast: Cincinnati turned takeaways into points while Baltimore failed to convert drives. The Bengals’ four first-half field goals bridged the gap created by red-zone inefficiency; without those kicks the scoreboard picture would have been more precarious. Historically, forcing five turnovers in a single game markedly increases win probability — a return to form for Cincy in a stat category that had been dormant.
Reactions & quotes
“When Burrow is playing, the energy and belief level rise for this club.”
Paul Dehner Jr., Bengals reporter
“Maybe the tide is finally turning for the Cincinnati defense.”
Paul Dehner Jr., analysis
“Jackson looks like a shell of himself and has to recover quickly; turnovers became the central story tonight.”
Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens beat writer
Each quoted observation places emphasis on different causes of the result: Burrow’s presence for Cincinnati, defensive improvement, and the Ravens’ offensive decline. Reporters noted how turnovers and field-position swings became the decisive margin, rather than sustained, long drives from either offense.
Unconfirmed
- The original reports mentioned differing opponents for the Steelers’ upcoming game, creating uncertainty about which result most helps Cincinnati’s standings; that detail requires verification.
- It is not yet clear how much of the Bengals’ defensive breakout was due to Baltimore’s specific struggles versus true, sustained improvement across the roster.
Bottom line
The Bengals’ 32-14 victory on Thanksgiving combined a timely offensive return from Joe Burrow with an opportunistic defensive performance. Burrow’s presence restored passing efficiency and competitive confidence, while five forced turnovers produced the decisive field-position swings and points that secured the win.
For Cincinnati the win reopens a narrow path toward postseason relevance, but the team still faces an uphill schedule and must address red-zone execution to sustain momentum. For the Ravens, the loss underscores lingering offensive vulnerabilities — particularly ball security and line play — that must be corrected quickly if Baltimore hopes to maintain its playoff bid.