Bengals' Three-Point Plan to Topple Ravens in AFC North Showdown

As autumn settles over the AFC North, the Cincinnati Bengals are gearing up for a pivotal divisional clash. Following a Week 6 bye that provided rest and extra preparation, the Bengals (3-2) will travel to M&T Bank Stadium to take on the Baltimore Ravens (4-2) on October 25 at 1 p.m. ET.

While it's premature to label this a must-win, the outcome will significantly shape the middle stretch of Cincinnati's 2026 campaign. After this rare daytime meeting with Baltimore—a departure from their recent primetime battles—the Bengals will either remain in the thick of a tightly contested division race or find themselves chasing the Ravens, Steelers, and Browns.

Key Analysis

For Cincinnati to improve to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in divisional play, three critical areas must be addressed. First, the run defense must limit Baltimore's ground attack, led by 32-year-old Derrick Henry, the NFL's fourth-leading rusher, and complemented by the speedy Justice Hill. The Bengals invested heavily in interior lineman Dexter Lawrence II this offseason, but opponents have bypassed the middle and gashed Cincinnati on the perimeter since Week 1 against Tampa Bay.

Second, the Bengals' own rushing offense must find traction. Ranked second-worst in the NFL, the ground game lacks a clear identity. Chase Brown has 246 yards through five games, while Samaje Perine has 110, but Perine's downhill style produced better results against Miami on October 11 (68 yards on 14 carries). Cincinnati may need to ride Perine's productivity to establish balance.

Third, the deep passing game must show up. According to Pro Football Focus, quarterback Joe Burrow is tied for 32nd in the league in 20-plus-yard attempts (17, or just 9% of his throws). The connection with Ja'Marr Chase on a 45-yard touchdown against Miami was promising, but it remains the only reception longer than 29 yards this season. Given that deep shots are a bread-and-butter component of Cincinnati's offense at its best, exploiting favorable one-on-one matchups downfield could be the difference against Baltimore.

The Ravens' quarterback situation remains uncertain, with Lamar Jackson limited in practice on October 22. Even if backup Tyler Huntley—widely regarded as one of the NFL's best backups—starts, Henry could still dominate. However, Cincinnati has held Henry under 100 rushing yards in three of his last five meetings, and the defense must make it four out of six to secure a crucial divisional victory.

Originally reported by yahoo.