Joe Burrow and the Bengals turned a nightmare first half into a runaway win Sunday in Baltimore, erasing a 13-0 deficit and rolling past the Ravens 35-13.
Cincinnati didn’t score before halftime, then came out and ripped off 35 unanswered points. Burrow finished 22-of-30 for 292 yards and four touchdowns, while the Bengals’ defense shook off a rough opening 30 minutes and slammed the door the rest of the way.
Tyler Huntley still put up a career-high 298 passing yards, but it wasn’t enough to slow Cincinnati once the Bengals settled in. The defense sacked him four times, picked him off once in the second half and helped the Bengals get to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the division. The Bengals also became the 10th team in NFL history to be shut out in the first half and score at least 35 points after halftime.
The swing started early in the third quarter. Burrow opened the second half with a 9-play, 66-yard touchdown march and hit Mike Gesicki in the corner of the end zone to cut the lead to 13-7. From there, Cincinnati strung together five straight touchdowns and played its sharpest football of the season.
Burrow was even better after halftime, completing 16 of 18 passes for 249 yards and four touchdowns. Joe Flacco finished the game at quarterback.
It was also another huge day for Tee Higgins, who was quiet in the first half before taking over after the break. He had no catches on one target before halftime, then finished with six receptions for 148 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter.
He also came up with a 44-yard grab on an improvised play with Burrow that helped Cincinnati seize control. Higgins averaged 24.7 yards per catch.
The contrast from one half to the next was stark. Burrow went just 6-of-12 for 43 yards before halftime, and the Bengals punted three times. Two of those drives ended with questionable fourth-and-3 decisions near midfield.
Even with the slow start, Cincinnati stayed close because the Ravens settled for field goals on two long drives. That kept the Bengals within striking distance long enough for Burrow and the offense to flip the game after the break.
There was also a heavy injury toll. Tight end Erick All Jr. left in the third quarter with a right knee injury and did not return.
It’s the same knee where he tore his ACL in his rookie season, which cost him the entire 2025 season. Starting safety Bryan Cook exited in the fourth quarter with a lower leg injury, and veteran Kyle Dugger re-aggravated his quad in the second half and also didn’t return.
The Bengals head back home next, hosting the Titans on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Bengals Have One Awkward Roster Decision Before Ravens Showdown
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That leaves Cincinnati with one of the quieter but still important pregame questions: who gets left out of the active roster picture. A few of the newer and deeper reserves are in the mix as possible scratches, with recent signee Jack Kiser among the names worth watching as the Bengals sort through the final cutdown for this one. Backup offensive line depth is also part of the equation, and with the roster otherwise healthy, those decisions are where the only real pregame suspense seems to be. [Read more 🡒]
Tee Higgins Gives Bengals A Needed Boost Entering Ravens Showdown
Tee Higgins gave the Bengals exactly the sort of midseason lift they needed last week, pushing through an adductor injury and taking the field in the win over the Miami Dolphins. He handled 69.2 percent of the snaps in that game, and his presence mattered for an offense that can look very different when one of its top targets is unavailable.
Heading into Week 7 against Baltimore, Higgins is no longer listed on the injury report and has been a full participant in practice. For Cincinnati, that sets up a healthier receiving corps at an important point in the schedule, with Higgins already up to 27 catches for 423 yards and a touchdown this season as the Bengals prepare for a rivalry game that rarely comes without pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Get A Huge Week 7 Opportunity They Cannot Waste
The Bengals head into Week 7 coming off their bye with a chance to reset their season in one of the AFC Norths most familiar pressure points. A trip to Baltimore on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS is the kind of divisional test that can quickly change the mood around a team, especially one that needed the extra week to regroup and get ready for a stretch that can shape the rest of the fall.
Cincinnati also arrives with some encouraging health news, which matters when the margins in a division game are usually slim. The Ravens are waiting, the stage is set, and the Bengals have an opportunity they can ill afford to let slip if they want to leave October with real momentum. [Read more 🡒]
