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...
Bengals Have One Awkward Roster Decision Before Ravens Showdown
The Bengals head into their showdown with the Ravens in unusually good shape on the injury front, with no one carrying an injury designation into game day. Baltimore, meanwhile, will again be without Lamar Jackson, who is set to miss a third straight game with an ankle sprain, leaving Tyler Huntley to handle the quarterback duties in a matchup that still carries plenty of AFC North weight.
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 🡒]