The Ravens had a 13-0 cushion, the ball moved, and M&T Bank Stadium had every reason to think Baltimore might have enough to hang around with Cincinnati. Instead, the game swung on a call that will be talked about a long time.
After building that first-half lead while controlling possession, Baltimore’s offense kept coming up just short of the end zone, settling for field goals on two long drives. The defense also did its job early, keeping Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins under wraps before the break. But once the second half started, the Bengals found a groove fast, scoring on each of their first two possessions.
Baltimore answered with another push of its own, driving deep enough to get inside striking distance. Then came the moment that changed the afternoon.
A third-down stop left the Ravens facing fourth-and-two just outside the 10-yard line. The kind of spot where going for it often feels routine.
But with Baltimore down one, a field goal would have given the Ravens the lead, even if only briefly.
Jesse Minter chose aggression over the points. He kept the offense on the field. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley went looking for a target, but the play fell apart, with two receivers colliding on the mesh concept and the throw missing anyway.
“A total disaster from Jesse Minter and then Declan Doyle. A total disaster that was, to not kick the field goal and take the lead on the Bengals again, and have that 4th & 2 go like that. Josh Cuevas contacted there, no call 🎥 @sluggahjells https://t.co/A26Pmic2Vd”
Cincinnati took full advantage from there. The Bengals scored on the next drive, then added two more touchdowns in the quarter to flip the game completely and bury Baltimore’s early momentum.
That fourth-down miss wasn’t the only reason the Ravens lost, but it was the turning point. By the time the game got away from them, the damage was done. Baltimore’s second-half defense couldn’t slow the bleeding, and a promising afternoon turned into a 35-13 Bengals win.
With Josh Allen and the Bills coming next and Lamar Jackson’s health still in question, the road ahead could get even rougher for Baltimore in 2026.
In Other News...
Ravens Need Tyler Huntley To Hold Up In Their Toughest Spot Yet
Tyler Huntley is set to take the Ravens offense into another division test in Week 7, with Lamar Jackson still sidelined by the high ankle sprain that has kept him out for two straight games. Against a Bengals defense that has been a sturdy run unit, Baltimore will need Huntley to keep the offense on schedule and avoid putting the game in a position where every snap feels heavier than it should.
The matchup also brings a few layers beyond the quarterback spot, with Baltimore eyeing how it can attack Cincinnati while managing the other side of the ball. Trey Hendrickson is in line for his first game against the Bengals since leaving the team, adding another edge to a matchup that already asks plenty of the Ravens as they try to navigate a tricky road in the AFC North. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens O Line Has Another Injury Concern Fans Will Hate
The Ravens offensive line took another hit in Week 7 when rookie guard Vega Ioane went down with a knee injury, adding to a season-long run of up-front concerns. Ioane has been a key player for Baltimore, and losing him in the middle of a game only adds more pressure to a unit that has already had to shuffle through injury trouble.
Ioane exited during the Ravens third drive and was replaced by Emery Jones Jr., leaving Baltimore to adjust on the fly again. His status to return was listed as questionable, and for a team that has already spent plenty of time managing its line depth, this was the kind of scare fans did not want to see. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Face A Brutal AFC North Test Without Their Biggest Edge
Week 7 brings a tougher kind of AFC North pressure for Baltimore, and the conversation around it has centered on how the Ravens will handle Cincinnati without the usual safety net at quarterback. Analysts have spent the lead-up weighing the matchup from every angle, from the Ravens defensive approach to the challenge of staying on schedule against a division opponent that can make any mistake feel much larger.
Tyler Huntley is the name drawing the most attention in the absence of Lamar Jackson, because the way Baltimore moves the ball figures to shape everything else around the game. On the other side, Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins make for a formidable test, which is why the discussion has leaned so heavily toward matchups, impact players and whether Baltimore can survive a difficult road through one of the leagues most demanding divisions. [Read more 🡒]