Bengals 35, Ravens 13: Burrow's Four Touchdowns Fuel Historic Second Half
The Cincinnati Bengals erased a 13 point halftime deficit and scored 35 unanswered points to beat the Baltimore Ravens 35 to 13 at M&T Bank Stadium. Joe Burrow threw all four of his touchdown passes after halftime, Cincinnati scored on five straight second half possessions and the defense answered with five straight stops. The result moved the Bengals to 4 and 2 and gave them their first AFC North win of the season. Baltimore fell to 4 and 3 and 0 and 2 inside the division.
Football Nation conclusion: this was not a steady four quarter performance from Cincinnati. It was a stunning correction. Baltimore controlled the first half with 258 yards, an 8 of 11 third down mark and more than 22 minutes of possession. Cincinnati had 59 yards, two first downs and no points. After the break, Burrow became nearly perfect, the protection stabilized and the defense took away Baltimore's finishing chances. That combination turned a difficult road loss into one of the most dramatic halves of the 2026 season.
Baltimore owned the first half
The Ravens opened the scoring when Tyler Huntley found Zay Flowers on a screen that became a 48 yard touchdown. The blocking created the lane, and Flowers supplied the acceleration. Baltimore later added two Tyler Loop field goals to take a 13 to 0 lead into halftime.
The score could have been worse for Cincinnati. Baltimore crossed into scoring territory repeatedly and produced an 18 play, 78 yard drive that consumed 11 minutes, but that possession ended with only a 34 yard field goal. The Ravens had three drives reach inside Cincinnati's 15 yard line and came away with six total points. That failure to turn control into touchdowns left the Bengals one strong quarter from changing the game.
Cincinnati's offense offered almost nothing before halftime. Burrow completed six passes for 43 yards in the first two quarters. The Bengals crossed midfield once and ran only a small number of meaningful snaps. The defense bent, but the ability to keep Baltimore out of the end zone after the opening score preserved a manageable deficit.
Burrow changed the entire game
Cincinnati began the second half with a nine play, 66 yard touchdown drive. Burrow completed all six of his throws, including a third down conversion to Tee Higgins, before finding Mike Gesicki for a six yard touchdown. The possession mattered beyond the seven points because it established that Baltimore could no longer win by simply controlling the clock and protecting its lead.
Burrow then found Higgins for a 13 yard touchdown late in the third quarter, giving Cincinnati its first lead. The Bengals entered the fourth quarter ahead 14 to 13 despite being shut out at halftime. When Baltimore failed on fourth and two from the Cincinnati 12, Burrow and the offense answered with another touchdown drive to make it 21 to 13.
The final numbers captured the transformation. Burrow completed 22 of 30 passes for 292 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. In the second half alone, he went 16 of 18 for 249 yards, four touchdowns and a perfect 158.3 passer rating according to the Ravens' official recap and Next Gen Stats. Cincinnati gained 298 yards, collected 19 first downs and scored 35 points after halftime.
The four touchdown passes went to Gesicki, Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase and Drew Sample. Samaje Perine added the fifth score on the ground. Burrow tied the most touchdown passes he has thrown in one half, and Cincinnati became the 10th team in NFL history to be shut out in the first half and score at least 35 points in the second half.
Higgins supplied the explosive plays
Higgins was the most productive receiver on the field for Cincinnati. He caught six passes for 148 yards and a touchdown, including two catches for 32 yards on the drive that produced the go ahead score. Higgins also surpassed 6,000 career receiving yards. Chase caught five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown, giving Burrow two reliable outside answers once the protection settled.
The tight end touchdowns deserve context. Gesicki caught one pass for six yards, but it was his fifth touchdown of the season and his fourth straight game with a score. Sample caught two passes for 24 yards, including a 16 yard touchdown. Both were useful scoring pieces, but neither produced the target volume that automatically creates a stable fantasy floor.
Cincinnati's defense finished the comeback
The Bengals did not allow a point after halftime. Boye Mafe led a four sack performance with two sacks. Rookie Cashius Howell recorded the first sack of his career, and Dexter Lawrence II added another. The pressure became more effective as Baltimore faced longer passing situations and the Bengals no longer had to defend the full playbook.
Demetrius Knight Jr. intercepted Huntley midway through the fourth quarter, Cincinnati's only takeaway of the afternoon. The turnover came after the Bengals had already seized control, but it ended Baltimore's remaining comeback path. Huntley finished 23 of 34 for a career high 298 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. He added 12 rushing yards but was sacked four times.
The strongest counterargument to Cincinnati's dominance is the full game yardage. Baltimore still finished with 359 total yards to Cincinnati's 357 and held the ball for 35 minutes. That is why the final score should be understood as a tale of two halves, not evidence that the Ravens were outplayed on every snap. Cincinnati was simply overwhelming when the outcome was decided.
Why Baltimore collapsed
Baltimore's offense lost its early efficiency. After going 8 of 11 on third down in the first half, the Ravens could not sustain drives once Cincinnati created pressure and tightened near the goal line. The failed fourth and two from the Bengals' 12 on the first play of the fourth quarter was the clearest turning point. Baltimore trailed by one and had a chance to reclaim the lead. Instead, the empty possession was followed by a Cincinnati touchdown.
Penalties also added stress. Baltimore committed 10 penalties for 57 yards, including four false starts and five first half penalties before the snap. Cincinnati committed one penalty for 15 yards. Derrick Henry never found a reliable runway, finishing with 45 yards on 17 carries. Flowers was the exception, catching eight passes for 137 yards and the first quarter touchdown.
Lamar Jackson had missed three games, and the Ravens' official recap identified a potential Week 8 return against Buffalo as the next quarterback checkpoint. Huntley produced enough yards to keep the offense functional, but Baltimore needs Jackson's creation ability if the run game and red zone offense remain this inefficient.
Fantasy football consequences
The following guidance uses half point PPR scoring. Burrow remains an automatic QB1 after producing 292 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. Higgins returns to strong WR1 consideration after his 148 yard breakout, while Chase remains an automatic start even when Higgins leads the target results. Gesicki remains a touchdown dependent tight end because the scoring streak is valuable but the one catch workload is fragile.
Chase Brown handled 11 carries for 39 yards and caught four passes for 19 yards. His 15 touches preserve RB2 and flex value, but Perine's rushing touchdown is a warning that goal line work may not be exclusive. Perine had only four carries for 16 yards, so he is a touchdown driven reserve rather than a standalone fantasy starter.
Flowers' eight catches, 137 yards and touchdown support high end WR2 treatment even if Jackson returns. Henry remains a weekly start because 17 carries show the role is intact, but 45 yards against Cincinnati reinforces the need for touchdown equity. Huntley can return to waiver wires in standard one quarterback leagues if Jackson practices fully. If Jackson remains out, Huntley's 298 passing yards keep him in the matchup streamer conversation.
Standings and next checkpoints
Cincinnati improved to 4 and 2 and earned its first AFC North victory. The Bengals return home to face Tennessee in Week 8. The priority is proving the second half protection and defensive pressure can carry forward without requiring another dramatic halftime correction.
Baltimore dropped to 4 and 3 and 0 and 2 in the AFC North. The Ravens visit Buffalo in Week 8. Jackson's practice status is the most important checkpoint, followed by the offense's red zone plan and the line's response after 10 penalties and four sacks. The defense also must explain how it allowed five straight touchdown drives after yielding only 59 first half yards.
Verified game facts
Final score: Cincinnati 35, Baltimore 13. Quarter scoring: Cincinnati 0, 0, 14, 21; Baltimore 7, 6, 0, 0. Venue: M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Total net yards: Cincinnati 357, Baltimore 359. Penalties: Cincinnati one for 15 yards, Baltimore 10 for 57 yards. Time of possession: Cincinnati 25 minutes, Baltimore 35 minutes. Facts checked October 25, 2026 at 5:03 PM CDT. Final full game third down and red zone rates were not included because the official public extracts used for this recap did not provide both teams' complete rates.
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