The Baltimore Ravens may be believed to have an easier schedule in 2026, but they have plenty of games that every NFL fan will be tuning in for. There are a number of tough matchups that they’ve drawn in the AFC alone.
Among the top matchups and some of the biggest games of the year for the Ravens is undoubtedly their divisional clashes against the Cincinnati Bengals. One of which takes place on primetime. Every time Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow square off, you’re going to want to sit down to watch.
One Bengals voice is very confident in his team in those games against the Ravens. Matt Fitzgerald, the site expert for FanSided’s Bengals site, Stripe Hype, has them circled in red. And he dropped a bold prediction about how they will go down in 2026. Fitzgerald wrote:
“The Bengals are coming off a bye in Week 6 at Baltimore, whereas the Ravens play the Browns' hard-nosed defense the week prior in Cleveland. That's a big edge. So, too, is the fact that the Ravens play the Browns *again* in Week 16…Given Henry's advanced football age and mileage, and the fact that Jackson looked like a shell of himself as a runner when he was banged up last year, this is a big deal. Thus, I believe the Bengals will sweep the Ravens this year.”
Talk about a lot of confidence.
Cincinnati Bengals expert might be a bit too confident in Baltimore Ravens matchups
Hey, I understand having confidence in your team. The reasoning behind his prediction makes a ton of sense, too. It’s never easy for an offense to go up against a ferocious Cleveland Browns defense one week, and then turn around and have to match the Cincinnati Bengals’ high-powered offense point-for-point the next week. And that’s not even including the fact that first-year head coach Jesse Minter could have trouble in his introduction to AFC North rivalries.
However, you could still say calling a sweep is a bit overconfident. I mean, the same team shut out Burrow at home in Week 15 last year…with a defense that is miles worse than what they’ve rebuilt this offseason. Like, an absolutely horrendous defense. Jackson and Henry are also showing no signs of slowing down.
For Jackson, yes, he was hampered by injuries last year. But he powered through that at the end of last season. He proved that even when his legs are less of a factor, he’s as dangerous as any quarterback in the league with his arm. With a much-improved guard duo in John Simpson and Vega Ioane blocking up front, too, Jackson should get right back to dominance in 2026.
As for Henry, it feels like every offseason we say age is going to catch up to him. And if it finally takes effect this year, then it’d certainly open the door for a Cincinnati sweep. It’s just not happening, though. Henry's utterly insane workout regimen allows him to continue to produce high-end results, and he gets way better deeper into the year. It’s actually opposing defenses that falter against Henry in the late stages. No one wants to tackle a 6-foot-3, 252-pound runaway train moving at full speed. It’s a terrifying sight to see.
It really shouldn’t be surprising to see Fitzgerald so confident in his prediction, but with such a heated rivalry that always seems to produce close results, you can never be too sure. Unlike 2025, this Ravens team is no slouch.
Add us as a preferred source on Google