Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens Match Player Stats: Baltimore’s Defense Freezes Cincinnati in 24-0 Shutout

The Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens match player stats reveal a brutal truth for Cincinnati: Joe Burrow moved the ball, but Baltimore’s defense owned the scoreboard. On a frigid December afternoon at Paycor Stadium, the Ravens turned two critical turnovers into points and handed the Bengals their first home shutout since 2017, winning 24-0 .

The game was decided by situational football. Cincinnati held the ball for over 39 minutes and racked up 298 total yards, yet never crossed the goal line. Baltimore, meanwhile, needed just 150 passing yards from Lamar Jackson and a explosive 100-yard rushing effort from Derrick Henry to build a 14-0 halftime lead . A fourth-quarter pick-six off Burrow sealed the result and eliminated Cincinnati from playoff contention .

Core Match Statistics Overview

The box score tells a story of efficiency versus volume. Baltimore’s offense was explosive and opportunistic, while Cincinnati’s was plodding and mistake-prone in the red zone.

Explosive Plays vs Sustained Drives

The Ravens averaged 6.1 yards per play compared to Cincinnati’s 4.8, despite running 23 fewer offensive snaps . Baltimore’s scoring drives lasted five plays and covered 79 and 80 yards, respectively, highlighting a big-play capacity that the Bengals simply could not match.

The Turnover Margin

Cincinnati’s two interceptions—including the fatal fourth-quarter pick-six—erased any momentum gained from long drives. Baltimore converted its lone takeaway into a defensive touchdown, a 12-point swing in a game where points were at a premium .

Red Zone Futility

The Bengals reached the Baltimore 2-yard line in the fourth quarter but came away with zero points after Kyle Van Noy intercepted Burrow and lateraled to Alohi Gilman for an 85-yard return score . That sequence defined the afternoon: Cincinnati moved the chains but failed to finish.

Period-by-Period Analysis

First Half: The Ravens broke a scoreless tie with two lightning-fast touchdown drives late in the second quarter. Jackson found Rasheen Ali for a 30-yard score with 4:35 left, then hit Zay Flowers in stride for a 28-yard strike with 23 seconds remaining before halftime .

Third Quarter: Cincinnati drove to the Baltimore 32 on its opening possession but turned the ball over on downs. The Ravens responded with a field goal to push the lead to 17-0, effectively putting the game out of reach given the Bengals’ red-zone struggles .

Fourth Quarter: The Bengals’ best drive of the day reached the Baltimore 2-yard line. On third-and-goal from the 7, Burrow’s pass was intercepted by Van Noy, who lateraled to Gilman for the game’s final touchdown with 7:38 remaining .

Cincinnati Bengals Player Statistics

Joe Burrow, QB

Burrow moved the ball between the 20s with regularity, completing passes to eight different targets. However, his two interceptions—including the back-breaking red-zone pick—were the difference in a game where his team dominated possession time .

Ja’Marr Chase, WR

Chase was the lone bright spot for Cincinnati’s offense, consistently beating Baltimore’s secondary for chunk gains. His 132 yards accounted for nearly 60% of Burrow’s passing output, but he was never able to find the end zone .

Chase Brown, RB

Brown contributed 90 scrimmage yards on 20 total touches, but the Bengals’ red-zone failures prevented his between-the-tackles work from translating into points. He averaged a modest 4.1 yards per carry against a disciplined Baltimore front .

Baltimore Ravens Player Statistics

Lamar Jackson, QB

Jackson’s efficiency was the story. He attempted just 12 passes but made them count, averaging 12.5 yards per attempt and throwing two perfectly placed touchdown balls. His lone interception came on a dropped pass that deflected into Jordan Battle’s hands .

Derrick Henry, RB

Henry’s 100-yard day on just 11 carries kept Cincinnati’s defense honest and opened the play-action lanes for Jackson’s two touchdown throws. His 28-yard burst in the first quarter set the tone for Baltimore’s physical approach .

Zay Flowers, WR

Flowers’ 28-yard touchdown catch just before halftime was the dagger that shifted momentum permanently. He averaged over 22 yards per reception and consistently threatened Cincinnati’s secondary vertically .

Statistical Leaders Summary Table

Why Baltimore Won

### Red-Zone Execution
Baltimore scored on its only red-zone opportunity of the game—a 30-yard touchdown pass to Ali that technically started outside the 20 but finished in the end zone. The Ravens maximized every trip into scoring territory, while Cincinnati went 0-for-2 inside the 20 .

### Turnover Creation
The Ravens forced two interceptions and turned the final one into a defensive touchdown. In a game where the Bengals moved the ball effectively between the 20s, Baltimore’s ability to take the ball away in critical moments proved decisive .

### Explosive Play Advantage
Baltimore generated four plays of 20+ yards, including touchdown passes of 30 and 28 yards. Cincinnati managed just two such plays, and neither came in the red zone. The Ravens’ ability to score from distance compensated for their limited possession time .

Why Cincinnati Lost

### Red-Zone Ineptitude
The Bengals ran 80 offensive plays and gained 298 yards but scored zero points. Reaching the Baltimore 2-yard line and coming away empty was the defining failure of the afternoon. A team that moves the ball that effectively should never be shut out .

### Turnover Timeliness
Burrow’s first interception ended a promising drive in the second quarter. His second—the pick-six—ended any hope of a comeback. The Bengals out-gained Baltimore by 26 yards but lost the turnover battle 2-1, and the margin proved insurmountable .

### Dependence on Chase
Ja’Marr Chase accounted for 132 of Cincinnati’s 225 passing yards. When the Bengals needed a red-zone target, Baltimore’s secondary blanketed him. No other Cincinnati receiver exceeded 37 yards, and the offense lacked a complementary red-zone threat .

Historical Context: Season Series Breakdown

The Bengals won the Thanksgiving meeting in Baltimore behind five forced turnovers and six Evan McPherson field goals . Three weeks later, the Ravens flipped the script with a defensive performance that eliminated their division rival from playoff contention .

Advanced Statistical Insights

The Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens match player stats expose a stark efficiency gap. Baltimore averaged 6.1 yards per play to Cincinnati’s 4.8, despite running 23 fewer snaps. The Ravens’ passing game generated 12.5 yards per attempt, while the Bengals managed just 5.7 .

Cincinnati’s 39:19 time of possession should have produced points. Instead, the Bengals’ 0-for-2 red-zone efficiency and two interceptions rendered their ball control meaningless. Baltimore’s defense allowed just 4.8 yards per play and forced two takeaways, proving that in modern football, efficiency in scoring territory trumps volume between the 20s.

Game Implications & Key Lessons

What This Means for Baltimore:

• The Ravens improved to 7-7 and stayed within a half-game of the AFC North lead, keeping their playoff hopes alive .
• Baltimore’s defense proved it can win a game without elite offensive volume, a critical trait for potential playoff matchups.
• Derrick Henry’s 100-yard effort on 11 carries suggests the Ravens’ rushing attack is peaking at the right time.

What This Means for Cincinnati:

• At 4-10, the Bengals were officially eliminated from playoff contention .
• The shutout exposed structural red-zone issues that must be addressed in the offseason.
• Ja’Marr Chase’s production remains elite, but the offense needs a reliable second red-zone option.

Key Lessons

• Time of possession without scoring is meaningless; red-zone efficiency wins games.
• A quarterback’s efficiency rating (Jackson: 114.6) matters more than volume (Burrow: 58.2 rating on 39 attempts).
• Defensive touchdowns are the ultimate momentum killers in low-scoring games.
• Cold-weather games amplify the value of a power rushing attack like Henry’s.
• Turnover margin remains the most predictive stat in divisional matchups.

Conclusion

The Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens match player stats from this December clash will be remembered for what Baltimore’s defense accomplished, not what Cincinnati’s offense accumulated. The Bengals ran 80 plays, held the ball for nearly 40 minutes, and gained almost 300 yards—and scored zero points. The Ravens needed just 12 completions and 11 carries from Derrick Henry to build a lead they never surrendered. In the end, efficiency beat volume, and red-zone execution beat between-the-20s production. Baltimore kept its playoff hopes alive; Cincinnati’s season ended in a shutout.