After Slow Start, Bengals, Ravens Look to Pull Ahead in AFC North

Lamar Jackson (8) of the Baltimore Ravens looks to throw a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter of the game in Baltimore on Nov. 16, 2023. Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals were expected to battle for the AFC North title with two of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League.

While neither has gotten off to an ideal start, they can get their seasons fully on track in their Week 5 clash in the division opener at Paycor Stadium on Oct. 6.

Since 2006, the Bengals or Ravens have won 11 of 18 AFC North titles.

“We’ve gone [to Cincinnati],” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said at his Sept. 30 press conference. “It’s a tough environment to play in. It’s a very different environment, and [the Bengals] are just a very competitive team, and they’ve got a lot of great players. Anything can happen.”

Cincinnati started the season with three straight losses to the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, and upstart Washington Commanders. The Bengals got back on track last week with a 34–24 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

The Bengals are tied for last place in the AFC North with the Cleveland Browns, who are also 1–3. The Pittsburgh Steelers are in first place at 3–1, followed by the Ravens at 2–2.

However, the key is to win the division games, and the Bengals will have that opportunity against the Ravens.

Cincinnati is led by quarterback Joe Burrow, who is having a solid season despite the team’s losing record. Burrow has thrown for 978 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception for a 105.9 rating over four games. He is one of six quarterbacks in the NFL to have completed at least 70 percent of his pass attempts.

Burrow’s goal against the Ravens? Perfection.

“Their corners are very well coached,” Burrow said about the Ravens after practice on Oct. 2. “They’re going to keep everything in front. I feel like they hold their shell, and they‘ll mix in a single high coverage here and there, but that’s not who they are. You’ll get a couple of those a game, and when you do see that and when you do get an aggressive defensive call, you really do have to take advantage of it.”

Lamar Jackson No. 8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the ball against Maxx Crosby No. 98 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md., on Sept. 15, 2024. Rob Carr/Getty Images

Burrow has two of the NFL’s best wide receivers on the Bengals’ roster—Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who is back in the lineup after dealing with an early hamstring injury. Chase leads the team with 19 receptions for 300 yards with three touchdowns.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh is worried about all of the Bengals’ offensive playmakers, including tight end Mike Gesicki and running backs Zack Moss and Chase Brown.

“They have really great skill. ... They always have,” Harbaugh said at his Oct. 2 media briefing. “They have a great scheme, they have great receivers, and it doesn’t even stop with those two guys. Those two guys are top-shelf-type wide receivers, but I think they have great depth in their receiving corps. ... It’s a well-rounded offense.”

After starting the season with two straight losses, the Ravens have been rolling over the past two weeks with victories over the Dallas Cowboys and previously undefeated Buffalo Bills.

The Ravens are led by quarterback Lamar Jackson, the reigning NFL MVP. Jackson has thrown for 858 yards with five touchdowns and one interception over four games. He is also second on the team with 308 yards rushing with another two scores.

Baltimore has the league’s No. 1 offense, averaging 429.5 yards per game.

The addition of running back Derrick Henry this offseason has been a huge boost. Last week in a 35–10 victory over Buffalo, Henry ran for 199 yards on 24 carries with a touchdown. He also caught a touchdown pass.

Entering the game against the Bengals, Henry leads the NFL with 480 yards rushing and has scored at least a touchdown in every game this season. At age 30, Henry has not shown any signs of slowing down, and that could be trouble for the Bengals, who allow 145.5 yards rushing per game—tied for 25th in the NFL.

“I’m sure it’s different for every single person, but there’s a lot of things about Derrick that make him unique—talent is one of them for sure, and work ethic is another one for sure,” Harbaugh said at a Sept. 30 press conference following the win against the Bills. “He’s just a very tough human being.

“Really, the proof is in the results, and you kind of go by what you see. So, when we were evaluating the possibility of bringing him in here, I just think we looked at how he’s been playing. And to see that continue on obviously is great, but we did expect him to play this way, and we’re excited about it.”