Overwhelming Majority of Pundits Pick Predict a Happy Thanksgiving for Ravens
The Ravens are riding a five-game winning streak heading into their Thanksgiving night matchup against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, who have lost four straight games and seven of their past eight.
The AFC North rivals are trending in opposite directions, but the Bengals are hoping the return of quarterback Joe Burrow will bring about a reversal of fortune.
Burrow is back after having been sidelined since suffering a turf toe injury in Week 2. While making the playoffs is a long shot for the Bengals (3-8), Burrow and his teammates would love nothing more than to play spoiler and ruin the Ravens’ Thanksgiving.
The Ravens (6-5), who are tied for first place with the Steelers, can keep the division lead with a win over the Bengals before hosting Pittsburgh in Week 14.
Baltimore has won the past four meetings with the Bengals, and Lamar Jackson is 10-1 as a starter against them, including 6-1 head-to-head against Burrow.
An overwhelming majority of pundits we sampled (57 of 61) picked the Ravens to keep rolling and beat the Bengals.
Here's what pundits are saying about the game:
This should be a get-right game for the Ravens offense.
The Baltimore Sun’s Josh Tolentino: "Slow starts have served as the offense's bugaboo, but Cincinnati's 32nd-ranked defense should represent a much-needed get-right spot for coordinator Todd Monken and quarterback Lamar Jackson."
Bleacher Report’s Ian Hanford: "Lamar Jackson and the offense have struggled since the QB returned from injury, but if they're going to get right, then this is the spot for it. The Bengals have been gashed on the ground all year, and if Baltimore can do anything, it can still run the ball right at you."
The 33rd Team’s Steve Palazzolo: "This is one of those on-paper matchups Baltimore should dominate. They did last year against the Bengals defense. They ran the ball, they threw the ball, they put up a lot of points against Cincinnati. They should be able to do that again."
The Ravens are a bad matchup overall for the Bengals.
ESPN’s Pamela Maldonado: "The Ravens can expose every Cincinnati flaw without resistance. The Bengals can't sustain drives, protect or stop the run. Their losses follow the same script: get pushed off the field early, fall behind in possessions and never catch up. Baltimore lives in that kind of environment, controlling pace, winning on the ground and the defense tightening inside the 20. Cincinnati hasn't shown it can survive a physical, efficient offense, or handle a defense that compresses space."
The Ravens should win, but Burrow gives the Bengals a chance.
NFL.com’s Dan Parr: "The Ravens should know they can't take their foot off the gas even after five consecutive wins. Not with the division race neck and neck. A Burrow-led upset should not shock anyone, though."
CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco: "Joe Burrow is back at quarterback for the Bengals, which makes them a dynamic offense again. The Ravens offense has been stuck in neutral after Lamar Jackson has come back from his hamstring injury. Baltimore just hasn't clicked yet. The Ravens will get the offense going some here, but Burrow will keep it close."
Burrow will lead the Bengals to an upset.
The Baltimore Sun’s Tim Schwartz: "The Burrow-Ja'Marr Chase connection has had some of its best performances against the Ravens, and I expect Burrow to pick up where he left off."
Keaton Mitchell could be an X-factor.
The Baltimore Banner’s Brandon Weigel: "How will Joe Burrow play after so much time on the shelf with a toe injury? Will a hobbled Lamar Jackson look even more out of sync on a short week? The best way for the Ravens to mitigate these factors is to play keep-away with long, plodding offensive drives featuring a healthy dose of Derrick Henry and, yes, speedster Keaton Mitchell. I expect Mitchell will eclipse his season-high total of six carries."
Expect TE Mark Andrews to have a big game.
Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman: "Even though he's been quiet for most of the year, I think this should be a game where Mark Andrews could have a big one because the Bengals just really have not shown that they can cover tight ends at all this year."
ESPN’s Seth Walder: "Bold prediction: Ravens tight end Mark Andrews will record at least 50 receiving yards for just the second time this season. Twenty-seven percent of targets against the Bengals' defense have gone to opposing tight ends, the highest rate in the league."
| Source | Prediction | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN | 9 of 10 panelists pick Ravens | |
| USA Today | 6 of 6 panelists pick Ravens | |
| NFL Network | 9 of 10 panelists pick Ravens | |
| Sporting News | Ravens 31, Bengals 24 | “The Bengals are getting Joe Burrow (toe) and Ja'Marr Chase (suspension) back here, but might be shorthanded again with Tee Higgins in concussion protocol. Baltimore's defense has enough holes vs. pass and run with its injuries to keep Cincy hanging around until the fourth quarter, when Derrick Henry's running helps slam the door shut.” — Vinnie Iyer |
| CBS Sports | 8 of 8 panelists pick Ravens | “Joe Burrow is back at quarterback for the Bengals, which makes them a dynamic offense again. The Ravens offense has been stuck in neutral after Lamar Jackson has come back from his hamstring injury. Baltimore just hasn't clicked yet. The Ravens will get the offense going some here, but Burrow will keep it close.” — Pete Prisco |
| Sports Illustrated | 6 of 6 panelists pick Ravens | |
| Baltimore Sun | 4 of 6 panelists pick Ravens | “Expect Baltimore to be able to move the ball well and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (who have combined for some epic performances) to keep Cincinnati in it, but the Ravens hang on for a sixth straight win.” – Brian Wacker |
| Baltimore Banner | 7 of 7 panelists pick Ravens | “It’s going to be a tense night at M&T Bank Stadium as the Ravens try to hold on to first place against an opponent with nothing to lose. Their defense will get enough stops, and they’ll hit a few explosive plays to pull it out, but this won’t be the complete performance we’ve been looking for.” – Childs Walker |
| NFL.com | 5 of 5 panelists pick Ravens | “If the Ravens come out flat, Burrow and Co. might take the momentum and never look back. But I can't overlook Baltimore ranking fourth in QB pressure rate over the past two weeks, and while the Bengals get Ja’Marr Chase back from suspension, they'll be without No. 2 receiver Tee Higgins, who was ruled out with a concussion early in the week. I'll give the edge to the home team.” — Dan Parr |
| Pro Football Talk | 2 of 2 panelists pick Ravens | “Joe Burrow is back. It likely won’t be enough.”— Mike Florio |
Bengals Reportedly Didn't Arrive at Team Hotel Until After Midnight Due to Hours-Long Flight Delay
The Bengals' trip to Baltimore got off to a rough start. Their flight was delayed for more than five hours Wednesday night, according to Charlie Clifford, sports director of WWLT, Cincinnati's NBC affiliate.
The team didn't arrive at its hotel in Baltimore until 12:30 a.m.
The flight was originally scheduled to leave CVG Airport for Baltimore at 5 p.m. but didn't take off until 10:32 p.m. Sources told Clifford the Bengals had to switch planes, from their charter plane to a smaller, commercial plane. It's not clear what led to the delay.
Sports Illustrated Predicts Kyle Hamilton, Jordan Stout Will Make All-Pro First Team
With the season two-thirds of the way over, Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame made his All-Pro predictions. He had safety Kyle Hamilton and punter Jordan Stout making the first team.
"Hamilton is the gold standard at the position," Verderame wrote. "He's played 10 games and has six passes defensed, five tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and a sack. Nobody is more versatile while also capable of man coverage, evidenced by his 86.6 coverage grade by PFF, first in the league.
"Stout has been the NFL's best all season. The Ravens are rolling with five consecutive wins, and Stout is doing his part, averaging a league-high 46.2 net yards per punt."
If Verderame's predictions prove accurate, it would be Hamilton's third All-Pro nod and second first-team selection, and Stout's first All-Pro honor.
