Bengals vs Ravens: 3 Players Who Will Decide This Thanksgiving NFL Clash
Thanksgiving brings one of the most meaningful games on the NFL calendar as the Cincinnati Bengals visit the Baltimore Ravens in a primetime AFC North showdown. With Joe Burrow activated from injured reserve and Lamar Jackson deep in his MVP push, the stakes rise well beyond holiday tradition. This is a game where every possession matters and every mistake is magnified. Three players in particular hold the power to swing the outcome and reshape the playoff conversation. Their influence will define the tone of this holiday clash and reveal who controls the AFC North heading into December.
- Krishna Sagar
- 6 min read
Thanksgiving football always carries emotion, pressure, and a national spotlight, but this year’s Bengals at Ravens matchup delivers something even heavier. The AFC North has grown into one of the most physical and unforgiving divisions in the league, and this holiday meeting arrives at a moment where both teams need clarity. Cincinnati receives a massive lift with Joe Burrow returning to the active roster, while Baltimore continues a season in which Lamar Jackson has elevated his command and efficiency. Both sides understand exactly what is at stake.
The holiday atmosphere adds an extra layer. Teams do not simply play for standings on Thanksgiving. They play for pride, national visibility, and momentum that often shapes the final month of the season. The league’s most competitive divisions rarely allow soft games, and this one carries the emotional weight that defines late November football. Cincinnati fights to reenter the playoff chase. Baltimore fights to maintain its grip on the AFC North. This matchup feels like a postseason preview.
The Bengals approach this game with urgency. Their offense has lacked rhythm without Burrow, and their defense has been forced into long stretches on the field. They cannot afford a slow start or wasted drives. Baltimore enters with confidence but not comfort. Their defense has been disciplined, and their offensive balance has created one of the most stable identities in the league. The challenge is maintaining that consistency against a familiar and motivated opponent.
Three players hold the keys to this holiday showdown. Their strengths, decisions, and ability to perform under Thanksgiving spotlight will decide the direction of this prime time duel. These are the players whose fingerprints will shape the game.
1. Joe Burrow and Cincinnati’s Offensive Stability
Joe Burrow’s return brings renewed purpose to the Bengals, but Week 13 demands more than emotional lift. Cincinnati needs precision and rhythm, especially early in the game. Burrow must reestablish timing with his receivers, control the middle of the field, and avoid forcing deep throws into Baltimore’s layered coverage. A steady start prevents the Bengals from chasing points and keeps the offense in sustainable situations.
Burrow’s pre snap intelligence becomes a major factor. Baltimore specializes in hiding its intentions with rotation and shifting pressure looks. Burrow must trust his reads and avoid being baited into high risk decisions. His ability to identify favorable matchups and move the ball methodically keeps the Ravens defense honest. Quick throws, strong pocket management, and calculated aggression define the path to early momentum.
The third down situations fall heavily on Burrow’s shoulders. Cincinnati’s offense thrives when he extends drives with accurate throws to the sideline or anticipatory timing routes over the middle. When Burrow converts third downs, the Bengals control pace and create pressure on the opposing defense. Those extended drives help Cincinnati’s own defense stay fresh, something that becomes crucial in physically demanding divisional games.
Burrow’s influence goes beyond the stat sheet. His presence changes the confidence level of the entire roster. Receivers run sharper routes. Offensive linemen communicate more clearly. Defensive players benefit from improved field position. The Bengals need Burrow to provide stability, composure, and a sense of control. On Thanksgiving night, his return becomes more than a storyline. It becomes the foundation for Cincinnati’s hopes.
2. Lamar Jackson and Baltimore’s Multi Level Threat
Lamar Jackson enters Thanksgiving with complete command of the Ravens offense. His decision making has reached a new level, and his ability to balance structure with creativity gives the Ravens one of the NFL’s most difficult attacks to defend. Against Cincinnati, Jackson must blend patience with controlled aggression. This game demands strategy, intelligence, and poise more than improvisational highlight plays.
Jackson’s improvement within the pocket has transformed Baltimore’s passing game. He reads coverage with greater anticipation and understands exactly when to attack intermediate windows. Cincinnati will challenge him by dropping defenders into hybrid zones and disguising middle field rotations. Jackson must resist the urge to force throws and instead identify the soft spots that develop late in the play.
The ground element remains central to Baltimore’s identity. Jackson’s presence holds defenders in conflict, opening lanes for the running backs and creating misdirection opportunities. Cincinnati’s defense has struggled at times with discipline in run fits, and Jackson’s command of read concepts is designed to exploit that. If he keeps the Bengals defense off balance, Baltimore gains a clear advantage in time of possession and field position.
Emotionally and culturally, Jackson sets the tone for the Ravens. His calm energy, improved leadership, and growing maturity influence the entire unit. Thanksgiving games are often decided by how quarterbacks handle the national stage and the intensity of the moment. Jackson has embraced the responsibility. If he plays within structure and keeps Baltimore on schedule, the Ravens remain in control.
3. Ja Marr Chase and the Game Breaking Dimension
Ja Marr Chase enters Thanksgiving as the most explosive player on the field. His chemistry with Joe Burrow has defined Cincinnati’s offensive identity for years, and his ability to create separation against tight coverage will determine how the Bengals attack Baltimore. The Ravens secondary will challenge him with physical play and bracket coverage, but Chase thrives in contested situations and thrives even more in moments where timing and trust matter.
Baltimore will attempt to remove Chase from the game by forcing Burrow to look elsewhere. That plan only succeeds if Chase fails to win early matchups. If he gains leverage on intermediate routes or beats press coverage, Baltimore must adjust its coverage shell, which creates space for other receivers and underneath concepts. Chase does not need a dozen touches. He needs a few decisive ones.
Chase’s influence extends beyond receptions. Defenses tilt their structure toward him pre snap. Safeties lean to his side. Cornerbacks play with shaded leverage. Linebackers adjust their angles. His presence changes the geometry of the defense even when the ball is not thrown his way. Cincinnati benefits from that attention on every snap.
Thanksgiving games often turn on a single explosive play. Chase is the player most capable of providing that moment. Whether it is a deep shot, a sideline conversion, or a catch and run in space, he has the ability to change the emotional and tactical direction of the game instantly. Cincinnati’s hopes of an upset rely heavily on Chase delivering when the moment arrives.
Bengals vs Ravens on Thanksgiving brings tradition, pressure, and playoff implications into one spotlight. Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Ja Marr Chase carry the influence that will shape the outcome of this primetime rivalry. Each brings unique strengths and responsibilities that fit the rhythm of this AFC North battle. Cincinnati seeks revival. Baltimore seeks confirmation. Thanksgiving night will reveal whether experience, structure, or explosiveness defines this clash. These three players hold the power to decide it