Ravens beat Bengals as Joe Burrow’s exit makes large impression

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens hosted the Cincinnati Bengals on “Thursday Evening Soccer” in a key AFC North battle.

Sadly, the Ravens misplaced tight finish Mark Andrews to an ankle damage on their first drive and the Bengals misplaced quarterback Joe Burrow to a wrist damage after a second-quarter landing cross. Neither returned.

Baltimore scored three first-half touchdowns and pulled away within the second half for a 34-20 victory. The Bengals drop to 5-5 and stay final within the AFC North. The Ravens sit atop the division at 8-3.

Baltimore Ravens

Battling via a left ankle damage and with out two Professional Bowl teammates on offense, Jackson threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns. At 8-3, the Ravens now will maintain a half-game lead over the winner of Sunday’s recreation between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, each of whom are 6-3.

It was an evening of perseverance for Jackson, who injured his ankle on the finish of the primary quarter and had a pronounced limp at occasions. Baltimore wanted Jackson as a result of the offense was with out left deal with Ronnie Stanley, who was inactive due to a knee damage, and tight finish Mark Andrews, who was dominated out after injuring his left ankle on the opening collection.

This was a bounce-back recreation for the Ravens. After a fourth-quarter collapse in opposition to the Browns on Sunday, Baltimore was in a position to put away the Bengals for its first season sweep of Cincinnati since 2020.

Promising development: Baltimore continues to play its finest in opposition to the most effective. The Ravens improved to 4-1 this season in opposition to groups that entered the sport with a successful report, which is an efficient signal for them going ahead. Getting into Week 11, Baltimore had the hardest remaining schedule, based on ESPN Analytics. The Ravens’ remaining six video games come in opposition to groups which are a mixed 31-23 (.574), together with matchups in December with present division leaders Jacksonville, San Francisco and Miami.

Eye-popping stat: How unlikely was large receiver Nelson Agholor’s 37-yard landing late within the first half? The TD chance was 3.7%, based on NFL Subsequent Gen Stats. A stunned Agholor had a cross deflected by Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt land in his palms on the 29-yard line and outran the Cincinnati protection the remainder of the best way. He capped his third landing of the season with a ahead flip into the top zone.

Silver lining: In a season crammed with accidents, the Ravens may need suffered their most vital one when Professional Bowl tight finish Mark Andrews was dominated out after the opening drive with a probable season-ending ankle damage. With out Andrews, Jackson relied extra on his outdoors targets. Within the first half, Jackson threw landing passes to large receivers Nelson Agholor and Rashod Bateman. This marked the primary time he produced a number of landing passes to large receivers since Week 2 of final season. Jackson had a career-high 206 yards passing when concentrating on large receivers.

Subsequent recreation: at Los Angeles Chargers (8:15 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 26)

Cincinnati Bengals

Coming into Thursday night time’s recreation at M&T Financial institution Stadium, the outcome was going to be the largest factor that impacted Cincinnati’s possibilities of successful the AFC North. However when Burrow doubled over within the second quarter due to a proper wrist damage, that instantly modified.

With Burrow knocked out of the sport, successful the division is not the query going ahead for the Bengals. It is about simply stepping into the playoffs for the third straight season.

Since 2021, Cincinnati has felt assured in its capability to be a postseason contender so long as Burrow is on the sphere. When he jogged off within the second quarter after he could not throw the ball on the sideline, it instantly thrust the remainder of the season into uncertainty.

Backup Jake Browning, who gained the job in coaching camp, might be tasked with main the cost if Burrow is out for an prolonged interval. Since 2020, the Bengals are 2-5 when anybody aside from Burrow has been the beginning quarterback. With him, Cincinnati is 29-21-1. For the Bengals to make the playoffs, they should do one thing they have not carried out since Burrow was drafted with the primary general decide in 2020: achieve success with out him.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Punishing night time. In a recreation the Bengals wanted to win to take care of hopes of successful the AFC North, that turned a secondary storyline after Burrow left the sport and CB Cam Taylor-Britt additionally exited due to a quadriceps damage.

Purchase a breakout efficiency: Tight finish Tanner Hudson has develop into the group’s only receiving possibility on the place. In his first 4 video games of the season, he had 14 catches for 126 yards. When Burrow was within the recreation, he leaned on Hudson for an enormous 21-yard completion on third down. It is the kind of play and belief that exhibits Hudson warrants an even bigger function shifting ahead.

Troubling development: Cincinnati entered the sport thirty first in defensive yards allowed per play. The Bengals continued to surrender massive chunks in opposition to Baltimore. Within the first half alone, the Ravens had six performs of 14 yards or extra, together with a 37-yard landing by Agholor after a missed deal with. That can stay a supply of frustration for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.

Subsequent recreation: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 26)