The Baltimore Ravens faced a disappointing defeat against the Cincinnati Bengals, losing 3214 at home on Thanksgiving. The Ravens recorded five turnovers during the game, significantly impacting their performance.
Baltimore’s Turnover Struggles
- The Ravens fumbled the ball four times, three in the first half.
- Isaiah Likely’s fumble led to a Bengals touchback instead of a touchdown.
- Lamar Jackson contributed two critical fumbles, granting Cincinnati prime scoring opportunities.
Despite these errors, the Baltimore defense managed to restrict the Bengals to just six points from those fumbles and allowed only 12 points in the first half. A rushing touchdown from Derrick Henry, however, was not enough to keep the Ravens competitive early in the game.
Offensive Struggles and Missed Opportunities
Throughout the game, the Ravens’ offense struggled to find its rhythm. Jackson had difficulty making accurate throws, and several potential touchdowns were negated by penalties or drops. Notably, Zay Flowers committed an offensive pass interference that nullified a scoring play. Devontez Walker also missed several catchable deep passes.
Baltimore’s Second Half Response
The Ravens finally tried to establish their run game in the third quarter. After a slow start, they managed to score with an 18yard rush from Keaton Mitchell, narrowing Cincinnati’s lead to 1914.
However, Cincinnati quickly responded with another touchdown, extending their lead to 2614, making the Ravens’ comeback increasingly challenging. Baltimore’s opportunities dwindled when Jackson’s thirddown pass was intercepted, leading to a Bengals field goal.
Final Moments and Consequences
While the Ravens’ defense fought back, forcing and recovering a fumble, they could not capitalize on the ensuing possession. A turnover by Flowers sealed their fate as Cincinnati added another field goal, concluding the game at 3214.
- The loss dropped the Ravens’ record to 66.
- They risk falling out of first place in the AFC North.
Looking ahead, the Ravens face a challenging schedule with upcoming games against the Bengals again, two matches with the Steelers, and conflicts against the Packers and Patriots. Kyle Hamilton highlighted the importance of performance in December, noting that playoff hopes could diminish if they do not improve soon.
For the Ravens, the Thanksgiving defeat serves as a stark reminder of their inconsistent play and raises concerns about their playoff viability this season.