The Bengals–Ravens rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens.
The rivalry began in 1996 when the Ravens were created after the Cleveland Browns, with whom the Bengals also share a rivalry, moved to Baltimore. They were placed in the former AFC Central Division, becoming divisional rivals with the Bengals. Both teams were placed in the AFC North during the 2002 NFL realignment. The rivalry gained intensity in as the Bengals hired longtime Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis as head coach.
The Ravens lead the overall series, 33–28. The two teams have met once in the playoffs with the Bengals winning the 2022 AFC Wild Card game.
Notable games November 3, 1996: Bengals 24, Ravens 21 In the first game in the history of the series, the Ravens took a 21–3 lead into halftime. The Bengals scored 21 unanswered 2nd half points to win 24–21. October 19, 2003: Bengals 34, Ravens 26 This was Bengals' head coach Marvin Lewis' first game against the Ravens. Lewis previously served as the Ravens defensive coordinator from 1996 to 2001, including their Super Bowl XXXV title in 2000. December 5, 2004: Bengals 27, Ravens 26 The Bengals overcame a 20–3 fourth quarter deficit to win 27–26. September 10, 2007: Bengals 27, Ravens 20 This season-opening Monday Night Football game was best remembered for a touchdown celebration by Bengals' WR Chad Johnson, who is known for his touchdown celebrations. After a score, he donned a gold jacket, resembling the jackets given to Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, that read "Future H.O.F. 20??" on the back. November 10, 2013: Ravens 20, Bengals 17 The Ravens built a 17–0 lead at halftime before the Bengals rallied to make it 17–10 with two seconds left. In the final play of regulation, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton threw a 49-yard Hail Mary pass. Despite being initially tipped, wide receiver A. J. Green ran toward the ball and caught it to tie the game at 17–17 at the end of regulation. However, the Ravens would win in overtime, 20–17. September 7, 2014: Bengals 23, Ravens 16 Bengals kicker Mike Nugent kicked five field goals in the first half, tying an NFL record for most field goals kicked in a half. December 31, 2017: Bengals 31, Ravens 27 In the final game of the regular season in Baltimore, Bengals QB Andy Dalton threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd in the closing seconds to give the Bengals, finishing at 7-9, an improbable win over the now-9–7 Ravens. This win, combined with a Buffalo Bills win that day, eliminated the Ravens from playoff contention. November 18, 2018: Ravens 24, Bengals 21 Ravens start 2018 first round draft pick Lamar Jackson at quarterback for the first time, he breaks the franchise rushing record for a QB with 117 yards. This marked Marvin Lewis' final game in the series, as he left the Cincinnati franchise at the end of the season. December 26, 2021: Bengals 41, Ravens 21 In 2021, Cincinnati completed a season-sweep over Baltimore with a 41–21 victory at home. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 525 yards in this game, setting a Bengals franchise record. January 15, 2023: Bengals 24, Ravens 17 The first playoff game in the rivalry's history occurred in the 2022 AFC Wild Card Round. Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley fumbled at the goalline, and Sam Hubbard returned it 98 yards for a touchdown. Colloquially known as the "Fumble in the Jungle", it was the longest fumble return in NFL postseason history and the difference in a 24–17 Cincinnati victory. October 6, 2024: Ravens 41, Bengals 38 Ravens overcome fourth quarter deficit of 10 points to force overtime. Ravens win on a Justin Tucker walk-off field goal. Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow combine for 740 passing yards. November 7, 2024: Ravens 35, Bengals 34 Ravens overcome third quarter deficit of 14 points and take a 35–28 lead into the game's final minute. The Bengals scored a touchdown with 38 seconds remaining on a Joe Burrow pass to Ja'Marr Chase, but failed a go-ahead two-point conversion to allow the Ravens to secure a 35–34 win. Chase recorded 264 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the loss.
Season-by-season results
|style="| Bengals 2–0 |style="| Bengals 21–14 |style="| Bengals 24–21 | Bengals 2–0 | The Cleveland Browns relocate to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Ravens.In Baltimore, Bengals overcame a 21–3 point deficit.
| Tie 1–1 |style="| Bengals 16–14 |style="| Ravens 23–10 | Bengals 3–1
|style="| Ravens 2–0 |style="| Ravens 20–13 |style="| Ravens 31–24 | Tie 3–3 | Ravens open Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards (now known as M&T Bank Stadium).
|style="| Ravens 2–0 |style="| Ravens 34–31 |style="| Ravens 22–0 | Ravens 5–3 | Last matchup at the Cinergy Field (previously known as Riverfront Stadium).
| style="| Ravens 2–0 | style="| Ravens 27–7 | style="| Ravens 37–0 | Ravens 7–3 | Bengals open Paul Brown Stadium (now known as Paycor Stadium).In Baltimore, Ravens record their largest victory against the Bengals with a 37–point differential.Starting with their win in Cincinnati, the Ravens went on a 12-game winning streak.Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV.
| Tie 1–1 | style="| Bengals 21–10 | style="| Ravens 16–0 | Ravens 8–4 | Bengals' win ended the Ravens' 12-game winning streak.
| style="| Ravens 2–0 | style="| Ravens 27–23 | style="| Ravens 38–27 | Ravens 10–4
| Tie 1–1 | style="| Bengals 34–26 | style="| Ravens 31–13 | Ravens 11–5 | Bengals hire former Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis as their head coach.
| Tie 1–1 | style="| Ravens 23–9 | style="| Bengals 27–26 | Ravens 12–6 | In Baltimore, Bengals overcame a 20–3 fourth quarter deficit.
| style="| Bengals 2–0 | style="| Bengals 42–29 | style="| Bengals 21–9 | Ravens 12–8 | In Cincinnati, Bengals score their most points in a game against the Ravens.
| Tie 1–1 | style="| Bengals 13–7 | style="| Ravens 26–20 | Ravens 13–9
| style="| Bengals 2–0 | style="| Bengals 27–20 | style="| Bengals 21–7 | Ravens 13–11
| style="| Ravens 2–0 | style="| Ravens 34–3 | style="| Ravens 17–10 | Ravens 15–11 | Ravens draft QB Joe Flacco and hire John Harbaugh as their head coach.
| style="| Bengals 2–0 | style="| Bengals 17–7 | style="| Bengals 17–14 | Ravens 15–13 | Bengals win all of their division games for the first time in franchise history.
| Tie 1–1 | style="| Bengals 15–10 | style="| Ravens 13–7 | Ravens 16–14
| style="| Ravens 2–0 | style="| Ravens 24–16 | style="| Ravens 31–24 | Ravens 18–14 | Ravens win all of their division games and sweep the AFC North for the first time in franchise history.
| Tie 1–1 | style="| Bengals 23–17 | style="| Ravens 44–13 | Ravens 19–15 | Both teams finish with 10–6 records, but the Ravens clinch the AFC North based on a better divisional record than the Bengals.Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII.
| Tie 1–1 | style="| Bengals 34–17 | style="| Ravens 20–17 () | Ravens 20–16 | First overtime meeting in the series.
| style="| Bengals 2–0 | style="| Bengals 27–24 | style="| Bengals 23–16 | Ravens 20–18 | In Baltimore, Bengals K Mike Nugent kicks five field goals in the first half, tying the NFL record for most field goals made in a half.
| style="| Bengals 2–0 | style="| Bengals 24–16 | style="| Bengals 28–24 | Tie 20–20
| Tie 1–1 | style="| Bengals 27–10 | style="| Ravens 19–14 | Tie 21–21
| Tie 1–1 | style="| Ravens 20–0 | style="| Bengals 31–27 | Tie 22–22 | Bengals' win eliminated the Ravens from playoff contention.
| Tie 1–1 | style="| Bengals 34–23 | style="| Ravens 24–21 | Tie 23–23 | Ravens draft QB Lamar Jackson, who makes his first NFL start in Baltimore.
| style="|Ravens 2–0 | style="| Ravens 49–13 | style="| Ravens 23–17 | Ravens 25–23 | In Cincinnati, Ravens score their most points in a game against the Bengals.
|style="| Ravens 2–0 |style="| Ravens 38–3 |style="| Ravens 27–3 | Ravens 27–23 | In Cincinnati, Ravens finished with 404 rushing yards, setting a franchise record for their most rushing yards in a game and fourth-most rushing yards in a game in NFL history.
|style="| Bengals 2–0 |style="| Bengals 41–21 |style="| Bengals 41–17 | Ravens 27–25 | In Baltimore, Bengals record their largest victory against the Ravens with a 24–point differential.In Cincinnati, Bengals' QB Joe Burrow throws for 525 yards, setting a franchise record for their most passing yards in a game.and fourth-most passing yards in a game in NFL history.Bengals lose Super Bowl LVI.
| Tie 1–1 |style="| Bengals 27–16 |style="| Ravens 19–17 | Ravens 28–26 | |- style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;" | 2022 Playoffs |style="| Bengals 1–0 |style="| Bengals 24–17 | | Ravens 28–27 | AFC Wild Card.In the fourth quarter, Ravens' QB Tyler Huntley lost possession of the ball while attempting a QB sneak at the Bengals' 1-yard line. The fumble was picked up and returned 98 yards by Bengals' DE Sam Hubbard, resulting in the game-winning touchdown.
|style="| Ravens 2–0 |style="| Ravens 27–24 |style="| Ravens 34–20 | Ravens 30–27 | In Baltimore, Bengals QB Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in the game.
|style="| Ravens 2–0 |style="| Ravens 41–38 () |style="| Ravens 35–34 | Ravens 32–27 | In Baltimore, Bengals score a late touchdown but fail the two-point conversion, resulting in a Ravens' win.
| Tie 1–1 | style="| Ravens 24–0 | style="| Bengals 32–14 | Ravens 33–28 | Game in Baltimore was played on Thanksgiving. In Cincinnati, Baltimore's win eliminated the Bengals from playoff contention.
| December 31 | October 25 | Ravens 33–28
| Regular Season |style="| Ravens 33–27 | Bengals 17–13 | Ravens 20–10
| Postseason games |style="| Bengals 1–0 | Bengals 1–0 | no games | AFC Wild Card: 2022 |- | Regular and postseason | style="| Ravens 33–28 | Bengals 18–13 | Ravens 20–10
See also List of NFL rivalries AFC North
References