The AFC North rivalry between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens consistently features elite quarterback play, explosive offenses, and playoff implications. Recent meetings have centered around quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson, with both producing high-level passing performances while leading two of the NFL’s most productive offenses.
Key Statistics
| Category | Cincinnati Bengals | Baltimore Ravens |
|---|---|---|
| League | NFL (AFC North) | NFL (AFC North) |
| First Meeting | 1996 | 1996 |
| Division | AFC North | AFC North |
| Primary QB (Current Era) | Joe Burrow | Lamar Jackson |
| Super Bowl Titles | 0 | 2 |
| NFL Championships | 0 | 2 |
| Most Valuable Player (Current QB) | None | Lamar Jackson (Multiple MVP awards) |
| Recent Rivalry Theme | Elite passing offense | Dual-threat offense |
| Typical Matchup Style | High-scoring divisional games | Balanced passing and rushing attack |
Career Overview
The Bengals entered the NFL in 1968 and have developed into one of the AFC’s strongest passing teams under Joe Burrow. Cincinnati has reached multiple AFC Championship Games during Burrow’s tenure and appeared in Super Bowl LVI.
The Ravens joined the NFL in 1996 and have built one of the league’s most successful modern franchises. Baltimore has won two Super Bowls while consistently fielding elite defenses. Since Lamar Jackson became the starting quarterback, the Ravens have become one of the NFL’s most efficient rushing offenses while maintaining strong passing efficiency.
Career Statistics
Joe Burrow (Career)
| Category | Total* |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 77 |
| Passing Yards | 20,810 |
| Passing TDs | 157 |
| Interceptions | 51 |
| Completion Percentage | 68.5% |
| Passer Rating | 101.1 |
Lamar Jackson (Career)
| Category | Total* |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 116 |
| Passing Yards | 22,608 |
| Passing TDs | 187 |
| Interceptions | 56 |
| Completion Percentage | 64.8% |
| Passer Rating | 102.2 |
| Rushing Yards | 6,522 |
| Rushing TDs | 35 |
*Career totals reflect data available through the referenced databases at the time of publication.
Season-by-Season Stats
Joe Burrow
| Season | Status |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Starter (Rookie season) |
| 2021 | AFC Champion |
| 2022 | AFC Championship appearance |
| 2023 | Injury-shortened season |
| 2024 | Full starting season |
| 2025 | Active |
Detailed season tables containing every passing statistic are available from official NFL statistical records. Complete verified season-by-season numerical tables beyond publicly available summaries could not be independently verified here.
Lamar Jackson
| Season | Status |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Rookie |
| 2019 | NFL MVP |
| 2020 | Playoff victory |
| 2021 | Injured late season |
| 2022 | Pro Bowl level season |
| 2023 | MVP-caliber season |
| 2024 | Elite statistical season |
| 2025 | Active |
Records
Cincinnati Bengals
- AFC Champions (1981, 1988, 2021)
- Multiple division championships
- Super Bowl appearances:
- XVI
- XXIII
- LVI
Baltimore Ravens
- Super Bowl XXXV Champions
- Super Bowl XLVII Champions
- Multiple AFC North titles
- Numerous top-ranked defensive seasons
- Consistent playoff appearances
Joe Burrow
- Fastest Bengal to numerous franchise passing milestones
- Multiple 4,000+ passing-yard seasons
- Franchise postseason passing records
Lamar Jackson
- First unanimous NFL MVP quarterback after Tom Brady
- NFL single-season quarterback rushing record (2019)
- Multiple NFL MVP awards
- Highest career rushing production among quarterbacks
Awards and Honors
Joe Burrow
| Award | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Pro Bowl | Multiple selections |
| NFL Comeback Player of the Year | Winner |
| AFC Champion | Yes |
| Super Bowl Starter | Yes |
Lamar Jackson
| Award | Achievement |
|---|---|
| NFL MVP | Multiple-time winner |
| First-Team All-Pro | Multiple selections |
| Pro Bowl | Multiple selections |
| NFL Passing Touchdown Leader | Yes |
Performance Trends
Bengals
- Passing offense has become increasingly efficient under Joe Burrow.
- Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have formed one of the NFL’s strongest receiving groups.
- Cincinnati regularly ranks among league leaders in passing attempts and passing yards during healthy Burrow seasons.
Ravens
- Baltimore remains one of the NFL’s most productive rushing teams.
- Lamar Jackson combines efficient passing with elite rushing production.
- Offensive efficiency has improved significantly in recent seasons while maintaining a top-tier ground attack.
Historical Context
The Bengals–Ravens rivalry is one of the NFL’s most competitive divisional matchups. Baltimore traditionally relied on dominant defenses during the Ray Lewis and Ed Reed era, while Cincinnati’s recent identity has shifted toward an explosive passing attack led by Burrow.
Jackson’s rushing production is historically unique among NFL quarterbacks, while Burrow’s completion percentage and passing efficiency compare favorably with many modern elite quarterbacks.
Head-to-Head Statistics
Bengals vs Ravens Team Comparison
| Category | Bengals | Ravens |
|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl Titles | 0 | 2 |
| Home Stadium | Paycor Stadium | M&T Bank Stadium |
| Division | AFC North | AFC North |
| Current Franchise Style | Pass-heavy | Balanced with elite rushing |
Joe Burrow vs Lamar Jackson
| Category | Joe Burrow | Lamar Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Head-to-Head Starts | 9 | 9 |
| Passing Yards | 2,445 | 2,146 |
| Passing TDs | 18 | 18 |
| Interceptions | 7 | 4 |
| Completion % | 63.6% | 60.8% |
| Passer Rating | 94.0 | 100.5 |
In games where both quarterbacks have started, Lamar Jackson has held the edge in wins while both have produced identical passing touchdown totals.
Recent Form
Recent Bengals–Ravens meetings have produced several of the NFL’s highest-scoring divisional contests, featuring standout performances from Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Baltimore’s offensive playmakers. Both offenses have consistently exceeded 30 points in several recent matchups, highlighting the rivalry’s offensive intensity.
Statistical Highlights
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Joe Burrow career completion percentage | 68.5% |
| Joe Burrow career passing TDs | 157 |
| Lamar Jackson career passing TDs | 187 |
| Lamar Jackson career rushing yards | 6,522 |
| Burrow vs Jackson head-to-head passing TDs | 18 each |
| Ravens Super Bowl championships | 2 |
| Bengals Super Bowl championships | 0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has won more Bengals vs Ravens games?
Historically, the Ravens have won more meetings in the rivalry.
Who has better career passing statistics?
Joe Burrow owns the higher career completion percentage, while Lamar Jackson has more career passing touchdowns and adds exceptional rushing production.
How many times have Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson faced each other?
They have started against one another nine times in regular-season matchups according to the referenced Stathead comparison.
Which quarterback has more rushing production?
Lamar Jackson is the NFL’s most prolific rushing quarterback, with more than 6,500 career rushing yards.
Are Bengals vs Ravens games usually high scoring?
Many recent meetings have featured prolific offensive performances, although scoring varies by season and game conditions.
Sources and References
The statistics and historical information in this article were verified using official and widely recognized football data sources where available:
- NFL official statistics database
- Pro Football Reference
- Stathead Football
- Cincinnati Bengals official team records
- Baltimore Ravens official team records
- NFL Record & Fact Book
Where complete verified numerical data was unavailable for a requested table, this article explicitly identifies those limitations rather than presenting unverified statistics.
