NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Joe Burrow’s return to the Cincinnati Bengals couldn’t have gone better, as he helped his team earn a victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving night, 32-14, to end a four-game losing streak.
The Bengals improved to 4-8 on the season, while the Ravens, winners of five straight games heading into their home game Thursday night, fell to 6-6 on the year.
Bengals fans have been very patiently awaiting the return of their franchise quarterback under center, and the wait has been worth it. It took Burrow a little while to get going, but once he found his rhythm with all of his receivers, the vintage Bengals offense came out in Baltimore.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on November 27, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
It was a field goal affair in the first half, despite Derrick Henry’s 28-yard touchdown run on the Ravens’ opening drive. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, who were criticized for looking slow and not too explosive despite the winning streak, struggled to run the football that night, leading to three fumbles in the first half.
Jackson arrived on the team’s second drive, when he was sacked near the goal line and the Bengals recovered him at the two-yard line. The Ravens defense, however, took over, forcing a turnover on downs despite excellent field position from Burrow and company.
The one that really hurt the Ravens, however, came on a pass to tight end Isaiah Likely, who raced 43 yards and looked like he was about to bulldoze his way into the end zone to take a 14-6 lead. But he fumbled the ball just before snapping the plane, and it went out of the end zone.
BENGALS TEAM FLIGHT DELAYED MORE THAN 5 HOURS BEFORE AFC NORTH BATTLE AGAINST RAVENS
The result? No points and a touchback for the Bengals to take over, where they would eventually take a 9-7 lead after Evan McPherson made his third field goal of the night.
It looked like a 9-7 lead would be the score at halftime, but on the very first play of the Ravens’ next drive, Jackson was unable to keep the ball in his hand after beginning his throwing motion, allowing the Bengals to not only recover the fumble, but also score a field goal with 10 seconds left in the quarter.
The second half was when the Bengals started to get going offensively, and that happened on their first drive when Burrow went 10 plays and 61 yards, finding tight end Tanner Hudson for a 14-yard touchdown to start building the lead on the scoreboard.
Jackson and the Ravens responded, however, when Keaton Mitchell found a seam and scored an 18-yard touchdown to make it a 19-14 game. But the typical AFC North battle between these two rivals means you never get too comfortable, even after a big score.
Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on November 27, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Andre Iosivas, who was quiet in this game at that point, caught a deep pass from Burrow for a 29-yard touchdown that proved crucial as the Ravens began to pressure early in the fourth quarter.
The Bengals defense, however, was statistically the worst in the NFL in terms of yards allowed (415.8 per game) and points (32.7) heading into this game. That meant the Ravens were certainly no slouches with 15 minutes remaining.
But again, retaining the ball was a major problem. Jackson threw an interception at the Cincinnati eight-yard line on a pass intended for Mark Andrews. Then they turned the ball over on downs with eight minutes left in the quarter, the score now 29-14.
There was some hope, however, when Bengals running back Samaje Perine fumbled on what should have been the game-clinching play at the Baltimore 12-yard line. But the Ravens returned the favor five plays later, as Zay Flowers fumbled near midfield as the Ravens desperately tried to get down the field to make it a one-score game.
Bundle FOX One and FOX Nation to stream the entire FOX Nation library, plus live FOX News, Sports and Entertainment at our lowest price of the year. Offer ends January 4, 2026. (Fox One; Fox Nation)
McPherson would make his sixth field goal of the night and earn a well-deserved victory for this Bengals team.
When Burrow returned, he was 24 of 46 for 261 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, while Chase had 110 yards on seven catches. Chase Brown added 78 yards rushing while catching seven passes for 35 yards.
For the Ravens, Jackson was just 17 of 32 for 246 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He also had six carries for 27 yards. Henry finished with 60 yards rushing, while Likely led the way through the air with 95 yards on five catches.
