The Baltimore Ravens head to Cincinnati for a critical Week 5 showdown against the Bengals in a series they lead 30-27. Their last meeting, a 34-20 Ravens win, saw both teams lose key players—Mark Andrews for Baltimore and Joe Burrow for Cincinnati. With Burrow back and the Bengals desperate to get out of a rough start, this game is shaping up to be another hard-fought AFC North battle.
For the Ravens, it’s a chance to get above .500 and extend their win streak to three games. Baltimore's ground game has been on fire, and they’ll look to keep it rolling against a Bengals defense that struggles against the run. Meanwhile, Cincinnati, coming off their first win, needs another to avoid dropping to 1-4, which would put them in a deep hole.
The stakes are huge. This is the first divisional game for both teams, and a win would give the Ravens a major boost in the AFC North. For the Bengals, a loss could all but derail their season, as 1-4 is tough to recover from in this division.
Key matchups to watch include the Ravens’ dominant rushing attack against a shaky Bengals run defense, and whether Joe Burrow can break out of his slump against Baltimore’s secondary. If the Ravens keep him in check, it could be another long day for Cincinnati.
Announcers for Ravens vs. Bengals
- Network: CBS
- Play-by-play: Kevin Harlan
- Color commentary: Trent Green
- Sideline reporter: Melanie Collins
Referees for Ravens vs. Bengals
Bill Vinovich Head Referee (Crew Chief)
The head referee for Ravens vs. Bengals in Week 5 will be Bill Vinovich, who's in his 16th season as a referee, after starting as a side judge in 2001.
Funny enough, Vinovich's first game he ever reffed featured the Ravens. It was all the way back in 2004, and the Ravens traveled to Cleveland to take on the Browns. They ultimately fell to the Browns 20-3, but the game was called fairly with six penalties a piece.
Last week, Vinovich and his crew officiated the Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings game. Laundry was thrown all over the field throughout the afternoon, with 15 combined penalties for 123 yards. Baltimore has been a heavily penalized team this season, so chances are yellow flags could be prevelant in today's tilt.
Here is the rest of the crew that will be calling the game with Vinovich:
- Umpire: Scott Walker
- Down Judge: Dale Keller
- Line Judge: Tripp Sutter
- Field Judge: Aaron Santi
- Side Judge: Jimmy Buchanan
- Back Judge: Todd Prukop
Time & Channel for Ravens vs. Bengals
- Home: Cincinnati Bengals (1-3)
- Road: Baltimore Ravens (2-2)
- Venue: Paycor Stadium — Cincinnati, OH
- Date: October 6, 2024
- Time: 1:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. Central, 10:00 a.m. Pacific)
- Last matchup: Week 4 2022 (20-23 Ravens loss)
For cable subscribers, finding the Ravens vs. Bengals game will be straightforward. Locally, viewers in Baltimore can watch the game on CBS, WJZ Ch. 13 (Baltimore), and WUSA Ch. 9 (Washington). The commentary team features Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, and Melanie Collins.