3 Keys to a Win vs. Bengals | Baltimore Ravens Final Drive

Happy Thanksgiving and of course happy game day flock. Tonight we’re serving up a divisional battle at Mnt Bank Stadium. The six and five Ravens welcome the 3 and8 Bengals to town in a matchup that could shape the race for the AFC North with Baltimore neck andneck with Pittsburgh for the top spot. And at home the Ravens have had Cincinnati’s number winning the last three at the bank. So, as we gather as a family tonight, here’s my recipe for a Ravens victory. My first key is to start by heating up the run game. The Ravens have had one of the most flavorful rushing attacks in football, and this is a matchup where they can really sink their teeth in. Cincinnati’s run defense has been, well, let’s just say a little undercooked this season. So, this is the perfect time to lean on the King. Derrick Henry found his stride last week with a pair of scores. And when he gets rolling downhill, it’s a long day for whoever’s on the other side. Let him bully and bruise his way between the tackles. Soften that defense. And then here’s my secret ingredient. I’d love to see a Katon Mitchell breakout game tonight. He’s been one cut away from a house call multiple times this season, and I think he could break loose tonight. Staying with the Ravens offense for my next key in the red zone, the Ravens need to finish. The Bengals defense has struggled all year. They’ve given up yards. They’ve given up points. And they’ve had a lot of games where opponents have gone over the 30 point mark. So, opportunities will be there. But the Ravens can’t leave the table hungry. They need touchdowns, not field goals, especially against a Bengals offense that can strike quickly when it finds rhythm. And that ties into another key. Start fast. In a game like this on a short week, there’s not going to be a lot of time to preheat. Baltimore has been saving most of its scoring for after halftime this year, putting up nearly 170 points in the final two frames this season. But on a night like this, it’s okay to eat the dessert early. Jumping out quickly prevents the Bengals from hanging around and it forces their defense to defend the whole menu. And finally, it’s about stuffing the Bengals game plan. Joe Burrow returns tonight and when he’s back, so is that Burrow Chase combo meal we’ve seen in past meetings. Jamar Chase has carved up the Ravens before, so keeping a lid on that duo is absolutely crucial. The good news, this Ravens defense has been playing lights out. During its five-game win streak, they’ve been the best in football in multiple categories. Stingy with touchdowns, suffocating in points allowed, creative around the ball, and opportunistic with takeaways. They’ve been feasting, but tonight they’ll need to deny seconds to that Bengals offense. So, that’s my Thanksgiving spread for a Ravens victory. If the Ravens can cook up all of that, they’ll be in great position to earn another big win at home and stay a top the AFC North, giving fans one more thing to be thankful for. Just a reminder, I’ll be alongside Ravens legend Tory Smith as well as Garrett Downing for Ravens pregame live tonight. You can catch that hour-long live show at Mnt Bank Stadium or on the Ravens YouTube page starting at 7:15 p.m. Enjoy the rest of your Thanksgiving holiday and get in a quick nap because tonight we feast.

Here’s how the Ravens can feast on the Bengals tonight at M&T Bank Stadium.

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