A desperate Baltimore Ravens squad travels to face the Cincinnati Bengals in a pivotal AFC North rematch on Sunday, December 14, 2025, with the Ravens clinging to fading playoff hopes and the Bengals playing spoiler after a shocking Thanksgiving upset. This Week 15 clash revives bad blood from November 27, when Cincinnati dominated Baltimore 32-14 at M&T Bank Stadium, exposing the Ravens’ offensive woes. Lamar Jackson seeks redemption against Joe Burrow’s Bengals, who boast the NFL’s top passing attack (3208 yds, 1st) but a porous defense (413 pts allowed, 32nd). Baltimore’s ground game (1858 rush yds, 3rd) could exploit Cincy’s run defense woes (156 ypg allowed, 31st), but the Ravens’ 27th-ranked passing (2617 yds) faces a Bengals secondary that’s opportunistic (12 INTs). Win probabilities: Ravens 56.5% (per models), but this feels like a trap game for the visitors.
Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET (12:00 PM CT).
Broadcast: NBC: Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta, Aditi Kinkhabwala
Streaming on NFL+ ($6.99/mo) and Paramount+ (Essential plan). Pregame analysis starts at 12:00 PM ET on NFL Network.
Venue Location: Paycor Stadium, 1 Paycor Stadium Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (39°05’57″N 84°31’11″W). This 65,515-seat riverfront fortress—opened in 2021 as the Bengals’ new home—delivers a raucous atmosphere along the Ohio River, with premium club seats and a massive video board. Accessible via I-71/I-75 (exit 1E) or Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG, 15-min drive). Parking at adjacent lots ($25-40); hotels like the 21c Museum Hotel (1-mile walk) offer game packages.
Weather Updates
A crisp winter chill descends on the Queen City, favoring run-heavy schemes and defensive battles without extreme wind interference. Game-time forecast: 18°F with clear skies (0% precipitation) and light northwest winds at 7 mph (gusts to 10 mph), yielding wind chills around 10-12°F. Humidity at 65%, UV index low (2/11). Impacts: Minimal passing disruption (winds <10 mph historically boost rushing +12% per NFL data), but cold could limit deep shots—expect a ground-and-pound affair. Bengals’ home cold-weather record: 4-3 in <20°F games; Ravens 5-2 on road in similar conditions.
Injury Report
Injuries mount for both sides, thinning pass-catching groups and edges, but QBs Jackson and Burrow are full-go. Updates as of Thursday, December 11 (via NFL.com; Friday reports pending).
Baltimore Ravens:
Limited: TE Mark Andrews (glute—new addition, top red-zone threat; 45 rec, 5 TD), WR Rashod Bateman (ankle—key deep option; 38 rec, 512 yds), CB Nate Wiggins (foot—rookie starter; Q for Sunday).
Full: QB Lamar Jackson (NIR-rest; expected 100%), CB Chidobe Awuzie (shoulder—vital vs. Chase), RB Keaton Mitchell (knee—day-to-day after 76 yds last week), OLB Tavius Robinson (foot, IRDR—edge depth), S Ar’Darius Washington (Achilles, IRDR—secondary rotation).
Out: None new; monitor Andrews/Bateman for receiving corps hit (team ranks 19th in pass yds without them).
Impact: OL stable, but pass catchers’ absence boosts TE Isaiah Likely/FG reliance; secondary holds if Awuzie plays.
Cincinnati Bengals:
DNP: S PJ Jules (ankle—special teams ace; out for Week 15), DE Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis—IR placement Thursday; season-ending surgery, 8 sacks lost).
Limited: WR Tee Higgins (concussion—2nd straight limited; protocol exit key for WR duo with Chase; 42 rec, 612 yds).
Full: LB Shaka Heyward (fibula—coverage LB), DE Joseph Ossai (shin—pass rush depth), DE Shemar Stewart (knee—rookie return boosts front).
Out: None major beyond Hendrickson; DE Cam Sample (oblique) questionable.
Impact: Pass rush weakened sans Hendrickson (team 28th in sacks); Higgins’ status swings WR production—Burrow thrives with him (68% comp.).
No COVID/PED issues; both teams held full Thursday practices.
Player Matchups
This rematch boils down to explosive QBs and ground control, with trenches deciding a high-scoring potential. Key X-factors:
QB Lamar Jackson (BAL) vs. Bengals Pass Rush (Sam Hubbard/Joseph Ossai): Jackson (3,456 pass yds, 24 TD/8 INT; 612 rush yds) flopped last meeting (0 TD, 3 TO) but rebounded vs. PIT (1 TD pass/rush). Ossai (5 sacks) exploits BAL’s 19th-ranked sack rate (6.8%); expect designed runs if pressure mounts.
RB Derrick Henry (BAL) vs. Bengals Front 7 (B.J. Hill/Jeff Gunter): Henry (1,212 rush yds, 12 TD; 3rd in NFL) gashed CIN for 78 yds last time—Bengals allow 156 rush ypg (31st). BAL’s 3rd-ranked rush (1858 yds) vs. CIN’s 32nd run D (no Hendrickson hurts).
WR Ja’Marr Chase (CIN) vs. Ravens CBs (Marlon Humphrey/Chidobe Awuzie): Chase (91 rec, 1,015 yds, 9 TD; 4th in NFL) torched BAL for 110 yds last outing (career 119.1 ypg vs. Ravens). Awuzie’s return (if full) neutralizes; Humphrey’s hip limits coverage.
TE Isaiah Likely (BAL) vs. Bengals LBs (Germaine Pratt/Logan Wilson): Andrews’ glute elevates Likely (28 rec, 412 yds); mismatches in flats vs. CIN’s 25th-ranked TE coverage (58 pts allowed).
QB Joe Burrow (CIN) vs. Ravens Pass Rush (Kyle Van Noy/Jadeveon Clowney): Burrow (3,208 pass yds, 25 TD/10 INT; 1st in NFL) shredded BAL for 284 yds/4 TD last time. Ravens’ 12th-ranked pass D (198 ypg) pressures well (28 sacks), but Burrow’s 0 sacks last week.
Bengals Offense Edge: Chase Brown (678 rush yds, 6 TD) vs. ILB Roquan Smith—Brown’s 113 scrimmage yds last meeting tests BAL’s 13th run D.
Team Records
| Team | Record | Division | Playoff Odds | Key Stats |
| Ravens | 6-7 (.462) | 2nd AFC North | 28% | 23.9 PPG (13th), 31.0 OPP PPG (24th), 324.1 TOT YPG (10th) |
| Bengals | 4-9 (.308) | 3rd AFC North | <1% | 24.2 PPG (12th), 31.8 OPP PPG (28th), 343.6 TOT YPG (7th) |
Ravens: One game behind PIT (7-6); must-win for wild card. Bengals: Eliminated, but 4-1 vs. BAL last 5.
Recent Form
Baltimore Ravens (3-2 in last 5): Inconsistent offense (19th overall) meets elite rush D (107.7 ypg allowed, 13th), but passing woes persist (3 TO last 2 games).
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 7 | vs PIT | L 22-27 | Jackson 1 TD pass/rush; 217 rush yds, but overturned TD seals loss. |
| Nov 27 | vs CIN | L 14-32 | 3 TO; Henry 78 yds, but D allows 382 yds. |
| Nov 23 | vs NYJ | W 23-10 | Balanced attack; D holds Rodgers to 198 pass yds. |
| Nov 16 | @ CLE | W 23-16 | Jackson 251 pass yds; 38.5% 3rd-down conv. |
| Nov 9 | @ MIN | W 27-19 | 40% 3rd-down; D forces 2 TO. |
Cincinnati Bengals (1-4 in last 5): Burrow’s return sparked offense (25 TD), but D hemorrhages points (32nd scoring).
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 7 | @ BUF | L 34-39 | Burrow 284 yds/4 TD, 2 INT; Brown 2 TD, but D allows 416 yds. |
| Nov 27 | @ BAL | W 32-14 | Burrow 284 yds/4 TD; Chase 110 yds. |
| Nov 23 | vs NE | L 20-26 | Burrow 307 yds/2 TD; 23.1% 3rd-down. |
| Nov 16 | @ PIT | L 12-34 | 46.7% 3rd-down; D yields 343 yds. |
| Nov 2 | vs CHI | L 42-47 | Burrow 495 yds/5 TD; high-scoring loss. |
Series History
The Ravens hold a narrow 32-28 edge all-time (60 meetings, including 1 playoff), but Bengals are 8-12 in last 20 and 4-1 in last 5 (avg. score: CIN 24.6-20.2 BAL). Cincy’s playoff win: 2022 Wild Card (19-17). Recent trend: High-scoring (O 7/10), with Bengals 3-2 home vs. BAL. Ravens 20-2 SU in Dec. vs. CIN, but ATS 1-4 last 5 rivalry games.
Betting Trends
CIN 6-7 ATS season (5-5 as dogs) vs. BAL’s 4-9 ATS (2-3 road). Ravens 1-4 ATS last 5 vs. CIN; series O 7/10. X sentiment: 65% pro-Ravens post-injury clarity, but Bengals ML nibbles from Cincy faithful.
Ravens 52% cover prob (EV +7%); BAL 3-2 SU last 5 road, Henry’s edge vs. CIN’s 31st run D. Fade Bengals’ D without Hendrickson.
RAVENS NOTES:
• QB LAMAR JACKSON passed for 219 yards & had 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) in Week 14. Is tied 5th-most games (20) with TD pass & rush TD in 1st 8 seasons in SB era. Aims for his 3rd in row with 210+ pass yards. Has 250+ pass yards & 2+ TD passes in 3 of his past 4 starts vs. Cin. Passed for 246 yards & rushed for 27 yards in Week 13 meeting. • RB DERRICK HENRY had 102 scrimmage yards (94 rush, 8 rec.) last week. Became 4th player all-time with 1,000+ rush yards & 10+ rush TDs in 7 career seasons. Has 100+ scrimmage yards in 3 of his past 4. Aims for his 5th in row vs. Cin. with rush TD. Had 104 scrimmage yards (60 rush, 44 rec.) & rush TD in Week 13 meeting. • RB KEATON MITCHELL rushed for 76 yards in Week 14. Had rush TD in Week 13 meeting. • WR ZAY FLOWERS had 8 catches for 124 yards last week. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with 80+ scrimmage yards. • TE ISAIAH LIKELY had 1st TD catch of season in Week 14. Had 5 catches for 95 yards in Week 13 meeting. • LB ROQUAN SMITH led team with 10 tackles & TFL last week. Has 100+ tackles in 8 consecutive seasons, 3rd-longest active streak. Aims for his 4th in row overall with 10+ tackles & 4th in row on road with PD. Has 10+ tackles in 5 of his past 6 vs. Cin., incl. 11 tackles in Week 13 meeting. • LB KYLE VAN NOY had PD in Week 14. Has TFL in 2 of his past 3 on road. • LB MIKE GREEN (rookie) had 4 tackles & TFL last week. Has TFL in 2 of his past 3. Had 5 tackles in Week 13 meeting. • LB TEDDYE BUCHANAN (rookie) had 5th-career TFL in Week 14. Had 6 tackles in Week 13 meeting. • CB MARLON HUMPHREY had 4 tackles & 3 PD last week. Had 9 tackles & sack in Week 13 meeting.
BENGALS NOTES:
• QB JOE BURROW completed 25 of 36 atts. (69.4 pct.) for 284 yards & 4 TDs vs. 2 INTs with 106.7 rating in Week 14. Surpassed Dak Prescott (26) for 3rdmost games ever with 3+ TD passes in 1st 6 seasons. Has 250+ pass yards & 2 TD passes in 4 of his past 5 games at home. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Bal. with 250+ pass yards & 2 TD passes. Passed for 261 yards & 2 TDs in Week 13 meeting. • RB CHASE BROWN had rush TD & TD catch last week. Has 100+ scrimmage yards in 6 of his past 7. Has TD in 2 of his past 3 vs. Bal. Had 113 scrimmage yards (78 rush, 35 rec.) in Week 13 meeting. • WR JA’MARR CHASE had 52 scrimmage yards (44 rec., 8 rush) in Week 14. Became 4th player all-time with 1,000+ rec. yards & 5+ rec. TDs in each of 1st 5 seasons. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Cin. with 7+ catches & 110+ rec. yards. • WR TEE HIGGINS had 6 catches for 92 yards & 2 TDs last week. Has TD catch in 5 of his past 6 overall & 9 of his past 10 at home. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Bal. with 8+ receptions, 80+ rec. yards & 2+ rec. TDs. • TE MIKE GESICKI had 6 catches for 86 yards & TD in Week 14. • DE JOSEPH OSSAI had 5 tackles, TFL & FF last week. Has TFL in 4 of his past 5. Had 2 sacks & FF in Week 13 meeting. • DE B.J. HILL had 3 tackles & sack in Week 14. • S GENO STONE led team with 9 tackles & had 2 TFL & sack last week. Spent 1st 4 seasons (2020-23) with Bal. Has 5+ tackles in each of his 6 games at home this season. • S JORDAN BATTLE had 8 tackles & PD in Week 14. Has 6+ tackles in 5 of his past 6. Had 8 tackles & FF in Week 13 meeting. • CB DJ TURNER had 4 tackles, FF & PD last week. Leads NFL with 17 PD in 2025. • CB DAX HILL had 5 tackles & PD in Week 14. Aims for his 5th in row with PD. Had 6 tackles & 2 PD in Week 13 meeting.
Game Odds
Baltimore Ravens – 2.5
Cincinnati Bengals 51.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, December 13, 2025
