The Baltimore Ravens have completely turned around their fortunes in 2025. They were once a bottom-five team in the NFL, holding a record of 1-5 through seven weeks, but are now entrenched in a tight playoff race.
Baltimore is a game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place in the AFC North and is also a game behind the Jacksonville Jaguars for the last wild card spot in the AFC.
Their best chance to make the playoffs is clearly by winning the AFC North, though, and that race could get a whole lot tougher after the Cincinnati Bengals' latest update regarding star quarterback Joe Burrow.
Joe Burrow update raises stakes for Ravens’ Week 13 clash with Bengals
After a full week of limited practice participation last week, Burrow has logged back-to-back full practices this week. After suffering a Grade 3 turf toe injury in Week 2, it was initially expected that Burrow would not return until December. However, his upgraded status puts him in a prime position to play in the Ravens/Bengals Thanksgiving clash in Week 13.
This news makes Baltimore’s job to win the division a whole lot tougher.
In the Ravens’ final seven regular-season games, they play in four AFC North matchups. They have two against the Bengals and two against the Steelers. They control their own destiny, but Burrow’s return could make their showdowns against the Bengals shootouts.
Sure, Baltimore has had Cincinnati’s number in recent years. They swept them in each of the past two seasons and have won five of their last six battles. Still, it never seems easy for the Ravens. Four out of their five wins during that stretch have been one-score games, and Burrow tends to feast against their defense.
Between the two games in 2024, Burrow threw for a combined 820 yards and nine touchdowns. While it was against a struggling defense last year, and it seems like Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr has already constructed that midseason turnaround in 2025, they will undoubtedly have their hands full with the trio of Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
It will also be a short week, which obviously impacts both teams, but will likely take a more significant toll on the defenses. Yes, the Ravens have what appears to be an easy task in Week 12 against the New York Jets, but New York has a rushing offense that can wear opposing defenses down. It ranks sixth in the NFL, and Orr could have a tough time going up against a dynamic rushing attack and an electric passing attack in five days.
The Bengals still have one of the worst defenses in the league, but Burrow’s impending return should make the Ravens’ upcoming games against them a lot more stressful and competitive.