Joe Burrow’s return to the Cincinnati Bengals was a success, as the veteran quarterback led his team to a 32-14 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving night. This win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Bengals, who improved their record to 4-8, while the Ravens, despite a five-game winning streak entering the game, fell to 6-6.
The Bengals’ fans have been waiting for Burrow to return to form as their franchise quarterback, and the wait was worth it. Although Burrow took some time to get going, he eventually found his rhythm with his receivers, unlocking the vintage Bengals offense. The game was initially a field goal affair, with a key moment coming from Derrick Henry’s 28-yard touchdown run on the Ravens’ opening drive.
The Ravens, however, struggled with maintaining possession, resulting in three first-half fumbles. One of the most critical turnovers came when Lamar Jackson was sacked near the goal line, allowing the Bengals to recover the ball on the two-yard line. The Ravens’ defense managed to pick up the slack, forcing a turnover on downs, but the Bengals’ momentum continued after a key fumble by tight end Isaiah Likely just before breaking the plane for a potential touchdown.