This Thanksgiving Day nightcap features an NFC North clash between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. Cincinnati is looking to keep its slim playoff hopes alive with the return of Joe Burrow after a lengthy absence due to turf toe. At 3-8, this is a must-win for the Bengals, while the Ravens (6-5) have climbed their way back into a tie atop the division with Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati managed just one win during Burrow’s absence, and his return couldn’t come at a more desperate time with their playoff odds hanging in the balance. Last week, the Bengals came up short against the Patriots, 26-20, as Drake Maye set a new career high with 294 passing yards. Between Joe Flacco and Jake Browning, the Bengals managed just 197 yards through the air. Chase Brown rushed for 107 yards, but that was not enough. Maybe Burrow’s comeback will add what the Bengals have missed during his absence?
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Since Lamar Jackson’s return to the roster, the Ravens have gotten back on track and climbed above .500 for the first time this season, beating the New York Jets last week, 23-20. Derrick Henry had two touchdowns, while Jackson had 153 yards passing, but that was more than enough as the defense held the Jets offense to 10 points. This is Baltimore’s first of two games with Cincy in the next couple of weeks.
Bengals-Ravens start time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Location: M&T Bank Stadium | Baltimore, Maryland
TV channel, live stream: NBC, Peacock
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the Bengals and Ravens close out the Thanksgiving Day game slate with an AFC North clash:
Live22 updatesThu, November 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Andy Backstrom
The five-time Pro Bowler just reached another milestone.
Andy Backstrom
A 36-yard Zay Flowers touchdown reception was nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty he was called for late in the second quarter.
Andy Backstrom
Lamar Jackson just pulled off something plenty surely tried to do during a Turkey Bowl game earlier on Thanksgiving. He retreated, stepped up, veered left, came to an abrupt stop and then fired a pass across the field to tight end Isaiah Likely for a gain of 31 yards.
That’s some backyard football from Jackson that he’s known for but hasn’t delivered often recently while he’s battled an array of injuries.
Andy Backstrom
Joe Burrow linked up with Ja’Marr Chase for gains of 43 yards and 15 yards — the first on a go route and the next on an out route — but the Bengals once again failed to end a red-zone trip with a touchdown.
Regardless, the third Evan McPherson field goal of the night, this one a 24-yarder, returned the lead to Cincinnati.
Andy Backstrom
Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase have had to shake off a bit of rust tonight, but their connection is still on full display.
They hooked up for a gain of 43 yards on this second-quarter pass:
Andy Backstrom
The Ravens have fumbled twice tonight. Their latest giveaway occurred right at the doorstep of the Bengals’ end zone.
After catching a pass from Lamar Jackson, Baltimore tight end Isaiah Likely rumbled toward the paint, even hurdling safety Geno Stone.
But before he could cross the goal line, Cincinnati safety Jordan Battle swiped at Likely’s arm and jarred the ball loose.
It went through the back of the end zone for a touchback.
Andy Backstrom
Joe Burrow’s mobility was a concern coming into tonight, his first game since he went down with his toe injury in Week 2.
But he’s looked fine through a quarter and change. On his most recent drive, he rolled right and found go-to receiver Ja’Marr Chase for 13 yards.
Later, he converted a sneak on fourth-and-1 at the Baltimore 32-yard line.
An improvised shovel pass got him 6 yards on the subsequent third down. That set up a 42-yard Evan McPherson field goal.
Andy Backstrom
Jordan Stout is making his case for the Pro Bowl. This past weekend against the Jets, he helped the Ravens flip the field with punts of 74 and 67 yards.
Tonight against the Bengals, he just booted a 61-yarder despite being backed up in his own end zone.
Following the Bengals’ turnover on downs at Baltimore’s 2-yard line, the Ravens couldn’t do anything with the ball.
Stout’s punt, however, gives their defense a good reset.
Andy Backstrom
The Bengals had first-and-goal from the Ravens’ 2-yard line. They came away with 0 points following three Joe Burrow incompletions and a Samaje Perine run that went for no gain.
Cincinnati had a golden opportunity to reclaim the lead after defensive end Joseph Ossai chased Lamar Jackson for a strip-sack, and Cedric Johnson corralled the recovery that gave the Bengals such a short field.
Andy Backstrom
Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey helped seal the deal this past weekend against the New York Jets by ripping the ball from running back Breece Hall to prevent a fourth-quarter touchdown that would have made it a one-score game.
He’s already made an impact play tonight against the Bengals.
Here, he blitzed to sack Joe Burrow for a loss of seven yards, foiling Cincinnati’s second drive.
Andy Backstrom
Joe Burrow is taking off the cleat in between drives and putting on a sneaker instead because of how uncomfortable the carbon fiber plate is, according to NBC’s Melissa Stark.
Andy Backstrom
Lamar Jackson is feasting on a struggling Bengals defense. He’s been in need of a get-right game, and his first drive signaled that one might be on the way.
Jackson kicked things off by firing a 17-yard, play-action strike over the middle to tight end Charlie Kolar. Later, he stepped up and scrambled without hesitation for an 11-yard gain.
But a toss to running back Derrick Henry got the Ravens in the end zone. Henry followed a collection of blocks and raced 28 yards for a touchdown that gave Baltimore a 7-3 lead.
Andy Backstrom
Joe Burrow’s game-opening completion streak stopped at four. His Bengals came to a screeching halt in the red zone, where he couldn’t connect with wideouts Mitch Tinsley and Ja’Marr Chase.
Cincinnati had to settle for a 31-yard field goal attempt, which Evan McPherson drilled to give the visiting Bengals a 3-0 lead at M&T Bank Stadium.
Andy Backstrom
Joe Burrow has completed his first three passes in his return from his turf toe injury. The first one went to wideout Mitch Tinsley, and the latest went to tight end Drew Sample, who picked up 14 yards.
So far, so good for the two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Here’s what Burrow said pregame about coming back to play for the 3-8 Bengals tonight:
Kate Magdziuk
Get your TVs set! The Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens are kicking off from M&T Bank Stadium at 8:20 p.m. ET, airing live on NBC, Peacock and NFL+ to close out the Thanksgiving Day game slate!
Joel Smyth
Baltimore’s passing attack desperately needs a bounce-back spot and is set up for one on Thursday night. Cincinnati is allowing the most passing yards per game this season, but more importantly, has been historically bad versus TEs. Lamar Jackson and his TE duo can take advantage in Baltimore. Mark Andrews has a TD in four of his last five complete games versus the division rival Bengals. Isaiah Likely, who hasn’t had a double-digit performance this season, had two touchdowns in his one matchup versus the Bengals last season.
The Ravens hold the second-highest rate of 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TE) in the NFL. So far this season, the Bengals are last by 15 yards per game in TE receiving yards allowed, but what’s much worse is allowing 13 TDs to tight ends on the year … the next worst is seven. Jackson has not been himself lately, with only one TD over the last three games. If it’s anything like last year versus Cincinnati (four passing TDs in each game), the Ravens’ TE duo, along with Jackson himself, are set up to feast.
Read more on the other nine fantasy football storylines that will define Week 13.
Thu, November 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM PST
Thu, November 27, 2025 at 4:20 PM PST
It’s been a year of injuries for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
First, it was a hamstring injury that held him out for three games (plus the bye week in between).
Then, in Week 11, it was a knee.
Then, in Week 12, it was an ankle.
This week, it was a toe injury. He was held out of practice on Monday before returning to a “full participant” designation for both Tuesday and Wednesday.
Despite having gone 4-0 since his return from the hamstring injury, Jackson’s health does seem to have been a limiting factor in recent weeks.
After going 18-of-23 for 204 yards and four touchdowns in his return from the hamstring injury, Jackson’s hit a bit of a slump, averaging just 174 passing yards per game with just 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions in that span. He’s completed just 57.1% of passes in that span and totaled just 57 rushing yards, averaging 2.9 yards per carry.
Thu, November 27, 2025 at 4:02 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Can Joe Burrow do the unthinkable and rally Cincinnati from 3-8 to the playoffs?
No matter what, he’ll need a win over the Ravens to start