OTL: Burrow Returns Just in Time for Another Battle with Jackson

A Thanksgiving Dessert

There’s no better day in the NFL than thanksgiving, and Baltimore fans will finally receive the treat of another Thanksgiving prime time game, our first since 2013, after Covid ruined such plans back in 2020. Thursday night presents a multitude of intriguing storylines, as the Bengals come to town looking to play spoiler to a Ravens team struggling on offense, despite winning five straight games. Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow put on all-time performances in two absolute classics last season, and have the opportunity to produce the same under the bright lights.

Can Jackson and the Ravens break out of their slump against the league’s worst defense, or will Burrow and company derail Baltimore’s plans at the postseason?

Light, Camera, Jackson

If there’s two things Jackson is great at, it’s battling the Bengals and playing on prime time. He holds a 10-1 record against the Bengals, to go along with 2,472 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 778 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. It’s been the lone divisional opponent Lamar has had continued success against, winning his last five starts a row, totaling 13 touchdowns and a single interception over that stretch.

2025, however, has provided a bit of a different Jackson than fans are accustomed to seeing. Since his Week 4 injury against the Chiefs, Jackson has struggled to truly get into a rhythm, totaling two or more touchdowns in just one contest, and finishing with no touchdowns in two out of the four starts since returning. The Ravens and Jackson have been given a golden opportunity this week, as Cincinnati enters Week 12 as the 32nd ranked defense in the league as well as against the pass specifically. The Bengals are allowing 423.7 yards of total offense, 259.8 passing yards per game, and 32.7 points per game, all league lows.

Getting back into a rhythm offensively is beyond critical to the Ravens’ chances and hopes of making a deep postseason run, and it starts with keeping pressure of Lamar. Jackson has been sacked 24 times this season through eight games, one more than all of the 2024 season (23). Jackson is averaging the highest sack percentage of his career, taking a sack on 26.4% of pressured drop backs, according to Next Gen Stats. It’s a recipe for disaster, with Jackson averaging the lowest scrambles and designed runs of his career as well, likely due to lingering injuries.

Thursday nights contest will be a true test for the Ravens offense, in their attempts to turn around what’s been a underwhelming month of football.

Giving Burrow a Proper Welcome Back

It’s been a long road back for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow following his turf toe injury suffered in Week 2. The Bengals quarterback has suffered season ending or derailing injuries in three out of his six total seasons in the league. There’s no question, when healthy, Burrow is one of the league’s best quarterbacks. Burrow has certainly had the Ravens number over the last few meetings between the two teams. In nine starts against the Ravens, Burrow has totaled 2,699 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions, but has dropped the last four in a row. In two electric matchups last season, Burrow put up an eye-popping 820 yards, 9 touchdowns, and just one interception. Getting back into his normal groove won’t be easy for Burrow, as the Bengals will play without one of their key weapons, Tee Higgins, who’s been ruled out with a concussion. The Bengals offensive line has been around league average in terms of QB pressure allowed this season. Getting after the quarterback, which the Ravens have improved on, seems like the most logical plan of success against a quarterback returning from an 11-week hiatus.

We’ve seen Burrow torch the Ravens defense in the past, but will the 2x Comeback Player of the Year have some thick rust to knock off?

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