The Cincinnati Bengals face the Baltimore Ravens in NFL Week 13 at M&T Bank Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NBC/Channel 5 (WLWT-TV).
Cincinnati (3-8) is coming off a 26-20 loss to the New England Patriots that extended the Bengals’ losing streak to four games. Baltimore (6-5) is coming off a 23-10 win over the New York Jets. The Ravens are currently tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC North lead.
Here are three keys for the Bengals to get a win:
Continue the defensive turnaround
The Bengals lost to the Patriots 26-20 in Week 12, but the defense showed improvement in the loss as they kept Cincinnati in the game and gave up less than 30 points for the first time in five games.
Cincinnati forced one interception and held New England quarterback Drake Maye to one touchdown pass in addition to making three goal line stands against the Patriots offense.
Despite a better than usual performance from the defense, the offense was unable to score enough points to pull out the win.
Feature Ja’Marr Chase against Ravens
Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has produced some memorable highlights against the Ravens in his career and will need to do so again if the Bengals will have a chance on Thanksgiving night.
Chase has 58 catches for 962 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games against the divisional rivals and is coming off a one-week suspension for spitting on Steelers safety Jalen Ramsey.
With fellow star receiver Tee Higgins designated as out due to a concussion suffered in the Week 12 loss to the Patriots, Chase could be leaned on even more in the Bengals’ offense.
Throw caution to the wind
Sitting at 3-8, there’s slim-to-no chance the Bengals can run the table and have everyone else lose the right games to get them in the playoffs. So, might as well open the whole playbook and empty all the ammunition to score points.
The hook-and-lateral plays the past couple weeks are a good start, but the Bengals need to get even more creative. While they’re at it, might as well throw in a couple onside kicks or fake punts to create extra possessions for the offense and maybe sneak out a primetime win over the Ravens.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Keys to how Joe Burrow can lift the Bengals past rival Ravens
Reporting by Jason Hoffman, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
