Does Baltimore Have Enough Fight Left to Escape Cincinnati with a Season-Saving Win?
The final four weeks of the NFL regular season are bound to be chaotic, with teams battling for playoff spots and seeding. The 2025-26 campaign has been one of the more wide-open seasons in recent memory, as no clear dominant team has emerged from either conference. Entering Week 15, the Baltimore Ravens, 6-7, and Cincinnati Bengals, 4-9, are preparing for their encore matchup in the second divisional meeting of the year, with the first having taken place less than two weeks ago on Thanksgiving night. Both teams are coming off heartbreaking losses, with the Bengals blowing a double-digit lead on the road against the Buffalo Bills after Joe Burrow’s fourth-quarter pick-six flipped the momentum. Meanwhile, the Ravens suffered an even more dramatic and controversial defeat against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, with several questionable calls sparking local and national debate about what truly constitutes a catch in the end zone following Isaiah Likely’s overturned touchdown. As a result, both squads find themselves clinging to their dwindling playoff hopes, knowing another loss would all but eliminate them from postseason contention. With so much at stake, their showdown at Paycor Stadium is poised to deliver high-intensity football as Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow lead their teams into a must-win battle.
In Baltimore, this season has been anything but smooth for the two-time MVP and his team. The Ravens started the year 1-5 while dealing with injuries on both sides of the ball, but they fought their way back into contention with five straight wins to get themselves off the mat. However, consecutive divisional home losses to the Bengals and Steelers have placed them back in a precarious position entering Week 15. Their defeat to Pittsburgh, a 27-22 setback, was especially costly, as it squandered an opportunity for Baltimore to strengthen its chances of winning the AFC North. As a result, this week’s meeting with Cincinnati carries enormous weight for the Ravens’ remaining playoff hopes, as a victory in the Jungle would temporarily keep them afloat entering their final three games. One of those remaining matchups is a rematch at Acrisure Stadium in Week 18, which could still have division-title implications if Baltimore remains in contention. Yet for that scenario to matter at all, the Ravens must first handle their business this Sunday.
Baltimore will also need a special performance from Lamar Jackson, who may have to put on his Superman cape to lift the Ravens to a season-saving win. With Cincinnati’s explosive offense almost certain to put points on the board, Jackson’s playmaking ability, both through the air and on the ground, will be crucial. However, how successful he can be will depend heavily on the performance of Baltimore’s offensive line, particularly at the guard positions. Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees have both struggled for much of the season, allowing frequent pressure up the middle that has led to Jackson being hit, hurried, and sacked at a far higher rate than a year ago. If the interior offensive line cannot stabilize this week, it may limit Jackson’s ability to create big plays and could once again expose the Ravens to drive-killing negative plays. Conversely, if the line holds together, Jackson has shown countless times that he is capable of carrying Baltimore in high-pressure moments, and he may need to do so again.
The Ravens will also be seeking revenge after their Thanksgiving night embarrassment, a game in which they committed five turnovers against a Bengals defense that has struggled for much of the season. If Baltimore hopes to come out on top, it will need to continue establishing their running game, which found success last week behind Derrick Henry’s 94 yards against Pittsburgh. The Ravens out-rushed the Steelers 217-34, thanks to strong performances from Henry and Keaton Mitchell, though Mitchell’s availability remains uncertain after suffering a knee injury on a 55-yard run. Improving the ground attack will be crucial against Cincinnati’s defense, which out-rushed Baltimore 128-123 in the first meeting and currently ranks as the worst run defense in the NFL, allowing an average of 155.5 yards per game. If the Ravens can control the tempo and dominate on the ground, it will set up the play-action game, keep Jackson upright, and significantly increase their chances of securing a vital road win.
On the defensive side, Baltimore’s unit has gradually recovered from its rough start to the season, aided significantly by in-season additions Alohi Gilman and Dre’Mont Jones. They will need to be much sharper this time around against Cincinnati’s explosive offense, which is led by Joe Burrow and his dynamic receiving duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Ravens had no answer for Burrow during the Thanksgiving matchup, his first start since recovering from a turf toe injury, as the Bengals torched the secondary after cornerback Nate Wiggins exited with an injury. Cincinnati finished with 254 passing yards in that contest, and Chase led the way with seven catches for 110 yards. With Higgins back in the lineup after missing the first meeting due to a concussion, the challenge becomes even tougher for second-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Baltimore will need to craft a game plan capable of limiting a receiving corps that has consistently given them problems in recent years, often resulting in shootout-style games. If the Ravens’ defense can find any level of success and quiet the home crowd early, they will position themselves well to escape Cincinnati with a win. Regardless, Sunday’s matchup between two desperate teams is set to draw plenty of attention as both fight to keep their fading playoff hopes alive, with Baltimore holding the more realistic path to a postseason berth, making this week’s showdown all the more critical.
