Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - BURROW vs JACKSON: Bengals vs Ravens THANKSGIVING Night Football, Can Cincinnati SHOCK Baltimore?

Episode Date: November 26, 2025

An elite QB matchup in Joe Burrow's return against Lamar Jackson headlines the Cincinnati Bengals' Thanksgiving showdown in Baltimore. While both quarterbacks are battling injury questions, this was one of the best matchups in football in 2024. James Rapien and Locked On Ravens' Kevin Ostreicher dissect Joe Burrow’s return, the Bengals’ tiny playoff hopes, and the Ravens’ red zone struggles. The conversation breaks down crucial matchups—Bengals’ O-line vs. Ravens’ D-line, coverage plans for Ja’Marr Chase, and how health and turnovers could decide the AFC North’s fate.Join the Locked On Bengals Insider Community! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonbengalsFind and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bengals-daily-podcast-on-the-cincinnati-bengals/id1159723162Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajsGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbG9ja2Vkb25iZW5nYWxz?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwio_sXtj8nuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAgStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-bengalsSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!PelotonLet yourself run, lift, flex, and push forward. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ today at https://www.onepeloton.com.PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals match up in a Thanksgiving night matchup that has plenty of storylines to talk about. Joe Burroughs back. Lamar Jackson still here. One of the best matchups in the league. Locked on NFL crossover. Part of the Locked on podcast network. Your team every day. You are locked on Ravens and Locked on Bengals. Welcome into a crossover Thursday edition of the show. on striker of Locked on Ravens. He is James Rapine of Locked on Bengals. And we are here on the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.

And now the number one sports podcast network. Appreciate everybody for being here and making Locked on Ravens and Locked on Bengals, a part of your day. And of course, thank you out there to all the everydayers, the first time listeners, if you're somewhere in the middle,

thank you as well. Five days a week of Ravens content on Locked on Ravens, five days a week of Bengals content on Locked on Bengals. You want to tell everyone that today's crossover, the Thursday edition of Lockdown Ravens and Lockdown Bengals is presented by prize picks. Dial on the Pricepix app today, News Code Lockdown NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. James Thanksgiving night. It's a it's a prime time matchup.

These two teams had two incredible matchups last season, both of which the Ravens honestly somehow won, have no clue how that happened, but somehow the Ravens pulled him out. Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, as you mentioned there, two really, really, really. really key quarterbacks to their teams and both guys who are dealing with some things right now. And I have to assume the biggest storyline in Cincinnati right now is Joe Burrow. Is there anything else or is it all lies on Joe right now? All eyes on Joe for sure. You know, getting Joe Burrow back, especially if they're going one and eight without him, it doesn't get much bigger than that.

And, you know, there's people in the fan base that are certainly like, why bring him back? They're three and eight. Meanwhile, Joe is like, let's play on Thanksgiving. Let's go to Baltimore. let's go up against Lamar. Let's see, let's go and compete and see how it plays out. And obviously, these two have just gone at it. And it's been a lot of fun over the past few years.

You had the Jamar Chase, Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase basically willing the Bengals last year in Baltimore. That's the game I think of, a third straight year, Thursday night in Baltimore. I guarantee you, I'll guarantee it right now, Kevin. It will not happen next year. It will not be a Thursday night game in Baltimore. There's just no way the NFL schedule. makers do that again. But yeah, this is a huge matchup and Joe Burrow coming back is a huge story.

And I think there are a lot of people that say, all right, well, they don't have a chance. It's three and eight. And fine, I get that and understand it. And they probably don't. But Joe Burrow is one of the best quarterbacks on the planet. And when he's on the field, he matters. He makes them better. And I'm excited to watch him play, even though I do wonder how sharp he is going to be because he hasn't played since mid-September and has been rehabing that toe. And it's just been a long time since we've seen him play football. And I also don't think he can keep that man off the field if he's healthy enough to go out there and play with the competitor that he is. And Lamar Jackson is the same way. And that certainly is

the biggest storyline in Baltimore right now is Lamar Jackson's health because he's been banged up over the course of the season. And it's been three weeks now straight that he's had a new injury on the injury report. His knee injury, then the ankle injury. Now it's a toe injury. He actually opened up a bit about that on Tuesday and said that that toe injury happened in the first quarter. But there's been a lot of vagueness in terms of how these injuries are happening,

even what they are. We don't really know. But it's clear that Lamar hasn't looked like himself over these last couple of weeks. And it certainly has set the offense back. Part of that has to do with the offensive line. And he's getting hit so much. I mean, right now he has a 10% sack percentage, which would be the lowest.

mark of his career. He's getting hit on a ton of plays. They've struggled on the interior to block guys with their guards like Daniel Falilele and Injvore he's playing. But somehow still they've won five straight games after starting the year, one in five. And that is, you know, it's been incredible that turnaround. The fact that they were, you know, that Bears game where Lamar didn't play and it was Tyler Huntley, that essentially saved their season and set them up with Lamar coming back to help them out. And their schedule has gotten softer. I mean, earlier in the year, it was you played the bills week one. Then you get to. the lions in week three and the chiefs in week four and you're like all these incredible teams

you're playing then the injuries start to happen you lose of the texans and the rams so you're playing all these great teams but recently it's been like the jets and the browns and the vikings and all these so you're doing what you're supposed to do the defense has gotten back on track after a four start to the year but i think for both teams here james the two biggest storylines are the the health status of their quarterbacks lamar you know he talked about how he's feeling better in some areas. So, you know, it's kind of a wondering situation on both sides of how healthy these two guys actually are. Yeah, I think this game is going to go a really long way. And you could say that about any AFC North game, I guess. But like if Baltimore wins this game, they put

themselves in position to run away with the North. And they'll have one six straight. They have Pittsburgh next week. And you have the long layout. Pittsburgh's playing Buffalo. Like, you'd be in position to grab a hold of it. What Joe Burrow is trying to do is lift the Bengals back up after they've blown some games that they should have won. And you mentioned the Jets. That that game is going to haunt them all year long, especially if they go on a run but come up short. Like they did it last year. They were four and eight. They look up their nine and eight. Well, they blew a game against the Steelers at home that they should have won. There's the game that went down to the wire with the Ravens, of course, multiple.

You know, it's one of those things where the margin for error without Joe Burrow was so thin. And they, outside of a Thursday night against Pittsburgh at home, just could not get it done. And so can Joe be enough and get them to four and eight, get them to where they hoped, they hoped to be where they were last year at four and eight, which is an awful record. We'll see. but I do think that this is just a crazy opportunity for the Ravens to take control of a division that's just sort of been there for the taking for three months and it shouldn't be. It shouldn't be this one open at this point.

And it is because the Steelers and the Ravens are obviously neck and neck. And then you have a team in the Bengals that if they wouldn't have just stubbed their toe like Joe, multiple times over the past few months would be right there as well. Yeah, and I look at all these other divisions across the league right now. Like, oh, look at the NFC West with like the Rams and the 49ers and the Cs and like the AFC West. You got like the Broncos and the Chargers and the Chiefs. And then you look at the AFC North. It's like, what's going on in this division? I mean, this is usually one of the better divisions.

Sometimes one of the best divisions in this league. And it just feels like it's falling off a cliff here this season, you know, whether it be due to poor play, injuries, you know, the whole nine yards there. And I know that there was that rare intro, not only division, but intro Ohio, between the Bengals and the Browns to get Joe Flacco in the building. And with Joe Burrow coming back, I'm curious, James of your analysis on, you know, obviously Joe changes so much for the offense when he's out there. But in your estimation, I think mobility is probably one of them because I've always said

it, Joe has sneaky mobility that I don't think people respect enough when he's fully out there and fully healthy. But how did Joe Flacco hold it down since coming over because he's continuing his AFC North Tor, which I hope does not end with the Steelers? but how did Joe hold it down? And then what does other Joe, Joe, Joe Burrow, how does he help this offense out? No, I hope Joe Flacco continues his AFC North Tor by sticking in Cincinnati. That's where he should be.

He should stay in Cincinnati, given Joe Burroughs injury history, given what the Bengals should do this offseason. I'm getting ahead of myself, but they should definitely be in on Joe Flacco and bringing him back next year. I don't know if he'd be interested because I think he wants to try to start somewhere. We'll see I would try to be Joe Burrough's backup. That being said, yeah, he's exceeded expectations. He put them in position to win some of these games. And that's what's so painful. They should have beat the Jets.

They had a real shot against the bears. They were in position at Lambo five days after trading for Flacco. If they get a stop on third and eight, he gets the ball back with the chance to go win the game. So they've had chances and opportunities, and they blew those games. And he started six games for them. They could have easily been three and three in those six. and that's with the defense playing really poorly, even with that said,

like it's just one play here or there that goes their way, one more completion, one more turnover, one more this or that. So he's been a really, really good. In the past couple of weeks,

he's come back down to Earth a little bit. It's okay. When you look at what he's done, he did his part, and it obviously wasn't enough for the Bengals to win more than one game with him, but that's a lot to do with the defense. That's a lot to do with everything around Joe Flacco.

than Flacco himself. As far as Burrow, it was wild, Kevin. Like, this is how good Flacco's played a couple weeks ago when they activated Burrow. People in town were like, it's not going to make a difference. Fans were like, it's not going to make a difference. And I had to shoot that down right away because it's Joe freaking Burrow. Like, he always makes a difference. But I see where people were coming from because the offense was that good for a couple of weeks.

And they still lost anyway. And so this defense, they showed signs of life on Sunday against the Patriots. that needs to continue, of course, against a hobbled Lamar Jackson, against a Ravens offense that has just had its way with this defense in recent years. Yeah, and the Ravens defense certainly let down the Ravens' offense earlier in the season, especially that week one game against the bills, which they blew and, you know, a bunch of other games. They've found their stride recently and it's kind of been the opposite for the offense,

where they have kind of lost their mojo again, but Lamar's injury and other things as well. But I always love the respect that Joe and Lamar have for one another. Joe had some really nice comments on Lamar. Lamar, you know, has talked about Joe and the respect those do have for each other. It's really cool to see and they'll match up on Thanksgiving night. Coming up in the second part of the show, we will talk about some other matchups to watch on both the Ravens offense

first Bengals defense and then of course Bengals' offense versus Ravens defense. Let me sure to stay tuned. We have so much coming your way here on this crossover Thursday edition of both locked on Ravens and Locked on Bengals. First, the show is brought to you. by Fandul. The NBA is back and there's no better place to get in on the action than Fandle, the official sports betting partner of the NBA.

Even if you miss the start of the game or want to ride the hot hand, Fendl has live bets on everything from who will score next to fourth quarter comeback. Suppose you can even combine your live bets into the same game parlay. For a shot at a bigger payout, it keeps every game exciting, especially when your team's making that late push. And for me in the NBA, I'm a big Denver Nuggets guy. And right now they've started off pretty strong over on Fandul,

their championship odds actually are plus 700. The only team ahead of them in that regard is the Oklahoma City Thunder at plus 155, the defending champions there. So I like what Denver did this off season, I think they have a really good shot. And I like that number a lot over on Fandall. Right now Fandall's giving new customers, $300 and bonus bets when your first $5 a dollar bet wins.

So I had to Fandle.com to sign up and play your game with Fandle, the official sports betting partner of the MBA. Moving along? I'm on Locked on Ravens and Locked on Bengals. Kevin Ostriker and James Rapine, still talking with you here on a Thanksgiving edition of the show. So happy Thanksgiving. And of course,

we're so thankful to everybody who tunes in to both Lockedon Ravens and James, for you on Locked on Bengals, the communities that all these shows have on the Locked on podcast network. It's been absolutely incredible. So do you have a Thanksgiving? Is there like a side you love or maybe a hot Thanksgiving food take that you have? Oh.

A hot Thanksgiving food. No, I mean, I sort of prefer ham over turkey in general. Like, I'll eat plenty of turkey anyway. Like, by the time some people are listening and or watching this, I'll be probably stuffed of turkey. So it's not like I have to go that route. But no, like I like it all. I don't crave it.

I think it's one of those things. I don't crave like Thanksgiving. I don't think about it in the middle of May. But when it's here and made, I'm all in, baby. I think that's the way it is. obviously the pie is probably what I crave the most pecan pie, pumpkin pie, the two pies I would go with. Yeah.

Pumpkin, I'm an apple pie guy. I like apple. You like the apple crumble, the traditional apple, which one you? I've gotten into the apple crumble recently. The crumble is good. Yeah. Because that's also me with gravy. Like, I wasn't a huge gravy person early.

Like I didn't really like it. But now I've learned to appreciate a little bit more. I'm into some gravy now. Yeah. A good gravy. maybe is that's tough to beat. Hey, and I'll tell you, one of these teams, Star is going to be eating some turkey legs after this game.

So we're going to see who it is, whether it's Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow, whoever it is going to get that turkey leg or maybe they'll throw a turducking out there. I don't know if they're going to do that for the night game this year. But we'll have to see. We'll have to see. I'm not sure. But, you know,

speaking of matchups, you know, we could honestly probably be like a Thanksgiving food bracket, do matchups one by one. But in terms of these two teams, I'll let you start off with a matchup. You're really curious about whether it's, you know, Bengals offense, Bengals defense, Ravens' defense, Ravens defense.

What do you think? Well, for me, it's Joe Burrow against this entire Ravens defense. And then who has whose number early? Can they get pressure on him? Will the Bengals be able to run the ball like they've done in recent weeks with Chase Brown to take some pressure off of Joe? Will the Bengals just say, you know what? We're going to drop back.

We're going to pass Jamar Chase. is here. We're without T. Higgins. It doesn't matter. We're going to be the normal. The team we saw last year on Thanksgiving or on Thursday night football in Baltimore, where it was literally the Joe and Jamar show. I wonder, I think that's such a key because I can't in good conscience look at this Bengals defense and say, all right, well, they're going to slow down Lamar Jackson. They're going to slow down Mark Andrews. They're going to slow down Isaiah likely.

I assume likely he's playing. But like they've been awful against tight ends. the Bengals have, just awful. And so this has gotten tight-end city written all over it. And Lamar Jackson has just been dominant against the Bengals. So I look at it and I'm like, all right, well, how do you compete in this game? You compete because of Joe Burrow. And so I think the game is really going to be decided. Will it be competitive and go down to the wire like these matchups have or will it not,

how Joe Burrow, how this offense is able to score and move the ball against this Ravens defense? Yeah, Lamar certainly likes playing the Bengals. He's had a lot of success like you mentioned. And, you know, I'm going to stick so far with what you're saying about the Ravens defense. But Jamar Chase has to be the number one priority for this Ravens defense, especially with No T. Higgins. And wasn't there a stat James? He hasn't played in Baltimore for like the majority of his career.

Like he's missed a lot of, he's missed a lot of, he's missed a lot of Ravens games. I know that. And so it's been interesting because like you mentioned, Joe and Jamar, show, them kind of willing, and, you know, regardless of who else is out there. And you have guys like Yosey Vash, who's really, really good, in my opinion, I think he's really coming on. Tinsley's been a guy that has made some noise. Like, there are others besides Jamar Chase, but Jamar Chase is the guy who have to focus on.

Jamar's stats against the Ravens. He loves it. He's seven receptions on 11 targets, 120 yards per game and a full touchdown for a game. He's had obviously the 200-yard games, which, you know, speaking of that Thursday, like 264, and three touchdowns, which is just unbelievable. So cloud coverage, bracket coverage, there are three corners on him at once, like whatever you have to do to stop Jamar Chase,

because you can live with a Yosivash beating you or a Tinsley or, you know, you get one of the tight ends or running backs involved out of the backfield. Okay, you live with it. But you know Jamar Chase is going to make impact plays. You know the ability that he has, in my opinion. So whether it's Nate Wiggins or Jhobio Wuzier, who's had a really good year,

I know he's a guy in Cincinnati. you're very familiar with as well. He should not be in Baltimore. I'll just say it now. He should not be in Baltimore. This is not hindsight. I was like, go get him.

He's free. The Titans are paying him. And when the Raven signed him, I was, oh my gosh, because I just knew, I knew Cheetos mentality. Like he was going to bounce back.

He was coming off of the knee and got paid a lot in Tennessee. Expectations are much different when you're making league minimum. And he's played well for Baltimore. Good for him. He's earned himself a nice payday, especially because that was the thing. I 100% agree with you.

It's like Tennessee's paying them. Nothing to lose there in terms of where he goes. In terms of a big contract, he can sign for a minimum and then rebuild his value. He certainly has done that. And so I'm sure we're going to see some Jamar Chase for Shadoby, Wuzier matchups, Nate Wiggins as well. We're going to have those opportunities for those guys in Baltimore. So I think that's a really big one.

Another one that I'm curious about is, you know, especially how the Bengals defend the deep part of the field. The Ravens haven't gotten that going a lot this year. you know, especially when it comes to getting those 30, 40 yards shots down the field. And so the Bengals deep part of the field, and that's secondary because we know, I mean, the Bengals defense has been a big topic of a conversation, a big concern point, last in the league in scoring, last in the league in yards. I mean, it's been tough.

And another former Rayfin who actually had a pick six on Sunday is Gino Stone. How has Gino played over in Cincinnati? I mean, I know last year, if I'm not mistaken, was kind of rough. Gino is it gotten better for him this season. I know this is the last year of his deal. And what does that back end look like, especially now that there's no more came Taylor Britt, but there are other guys I think like DJ Turner, I think,'s played really well this year. DJ Turner has played well. And he's been a guy that's came on and feels like he's a piece of the present and future. And so that's been huge for this team. I would describe Gino Stone is extremely underwhelming, really from the

jump of when they signed him. And that's continued. I mean, he was really good last week. That was his best game as a bangle. But overall, if you're watching on YouTube, by the way, I had to get my laptop charge. I was trying to yank it out of my bag as we're recording here. So that's what I was doing. But I was really pleased with what I saw from Gino Stone last week. Because the criticism, and I've been one of his loudest critics was really loud. And from the jump, from the very first play. You just saw the effort, the intensity. And so my question now is, all right, well, road game, got to have it game, former team, what do I see? Do I see the same guy? And so I'm curious to see how he responds. Dax Hill moved to outside corner last week, got called for a

couple of penalties. I think he's a really good player. I think Bengals fans are a little more iffy. We'll see how he does. I would put him, they need to figure out this tight end situation. I would be willing to put him on tight ends a bit and not just exclusively wide receivers. And whether it's Daxil or DJ Ivy or someone, just because the Bengals linebackers have really struggled while guarding tight ends really all season long, but certainly over the past few weeks. Yeah. It's going to be interesting because, you know, Isaiah likely hasn't had a wonderful season this year. You know, it's kind of been overwhelming, especially in a contract year. He had a foot injury, suffered in training camp and coming.

I know stuff like that's pretty tough to come back from. And then, of course, Lamar missed a month. So he was playing with Cooper Rush, which was a disaster. And then Tyler Huntley was a little better. But, you know, he hasn't really had a lot of time this season to establish more chemistry with Lamar. Even a guy like Rashad Bateman who was, you know, John Harbaugh said he was a full participant. And, you know, we're kind of, we're going to wait to see on Thursday today, whether he's going to be active in play. But Rashad Bateman also has kind of struggled this season in terms of stats.

But the impact, I mean, Zay Flowers has been like the guy in that offense in terms of target share, yards, touchdowns, etc. Like, that's the guy. It's not Jamar Chase, obviously, but, you know, it's kind of like that. He's getting all the love from Lamar Jackson. He spread the ball out a little bit more over the course of the last couple of the week, getting the tight ends a little bit more involved. Mark Andrews has had his moments.

But, you know, like last week against the Jets, there were also a lot of drops from the receivers. And, you know, with Lamar already struggling and being banged up and the O'Line doing what it's doing in Baltimore, it's a, that's a recipe for disaster. Luckily, they got it going in the second half adjustments. We're fine. but Lamar's taken a lot of hits this year and have contributed to his injuries

particularly on that O line. And I know with Cincinnati James not having Ray Hendrickson in this game, who has had his moments against the Ravens over the course of his Bengals tenure, who on that D-line is now taken on bigger roles? Does anybody stepped up? Have you seen anything there?

Because, you know, anybody in Baltimore will tell you that the offensive line is the number one concern point right now for this team because Lamar Jackson, you know, you hate to use the term, but happy feet, it seems like Lamar's getting that a little bit back there because I'm not sure he fully trusts a lot. Miles Murphy has had a couple of big weeks and was really disruptive two weeks ago against the

Steelers. Last week, I thought he had some nice flashes. It's got to continue. It's very Gino Stone-like where, and it's different because you're talking about a first-round pick, not just a free agent signing, but a first-round pick, it's year three. It feels like the light bulb might have turned on. It needs to turn on. They desperately need that to stay on.

and need this to be really an eight-game stretch the past two weeks and then the final six games of this regular season. As a, oh, man, Miles Murphy is that kind of player. He is who we thought he is. It just took him two and a half years to get there. And it might. He hasn't had a ton of snaps just crossed the 1,000 snap threshold in his NFL career. And so that's a guy that I would look at and say, all right, number 99 has to be disruptive. of, I would say on the interior, Chris Jenkins and McKinley Jackson have flashed a little bit.

They need more there for sure. We'll see. The Bengals pass rush hasn't been good. They were better against the run against the Patriots, had multiple nice goal line stands. They need to be stingy that way and stubborn, even if they're going to give up points and yards, make it tough on opponents. It hasn't always been that way this year. So we'll see. It's a tough challenge against Baltimore.

Can I actually flip this conversation to the Ravens D-Lyline? versus the Bengals O line. Let's do it. Because I think that it's a, because the Bengals, correct me up from wrong, James, the Bengals O line has been a huge issue in recent seasons, but this year it's been better in a lot of different aspects, right? And so with the Ravens D line, I'll throw out a step for you. Mike Green now has two and a half sacks for the Ravens.

He is their new sack leader. That just happened in week 12. Their old sack leader was Nameda Bke with two, who hasn't played since week two. So it's been a huge problem. It's gotten a lot better, though. They brought in Draymont Jones. Mike Green has started to flash. Travis Jones on the interior.

But that match what to me is really intriguing. Do you feel the same way? For sure, because this Bengals offensive front obviously needs to protect Joe Burrow. Joe Burrow might not be able to move like normal Joe Burrow. He'll move better than Joe Flacco. But you don't want him to have to move. You want to be able to him to sit in the pocket, throw darts, hand the ball off to Chase Brown, make quick reads, get the ball out of his hand because of what he's coming back.

from. And so this Bengals offensive front, I think, is playing much better now than they were early in the season. Landau Brown Jr. played well the other day. Dalton Reisner, it really stepped up at right guard and I thought had a really good game. And you look at it and Dylan Fairchild coming along as a rookie at left guard, it's starting to come together. Amarius Mims last year's first round pick is just been really steady at right tackle. So we'll see Ted Carris is a very steady center. Can they hold I will say this. If Mike Green gets a sack or a pressure or anything, Bengals fans are going to be like,

see, I told you I wanted Mike Green the whole time. And I get it. He got off to a slow start, but Bengals fans will certainly be paying a close attention to that. Yeah, it's funny. Week three,

Matt Derry and I had a crossover and he said to say, Detroit fans wanted Mike Green more than anything in that draft. That was the guy that they had circled. And it felt like that. Obviously, Shamar Stewart, he's done for the year, right? Shmar Stewart's done.

He's on injured reserve. I don't know if he's on injured reserve. done for the year. He's, he's, he will not play in either Ravens matchup. Okay. Yeah. Baltimore doesn't have to worry about him. Mike Reins, he's definitely a lot of the rookies, honestly, for Baltimore have been a lot better recently. And that's just, again, got some guys start slow. They're rookies. They're still learning. And then as the year goes on, they come along. So really excited for a lot of these young players on both teams to hopefully show what they have and come up in the final part of the show.

We'll talk about how each team can pick up a win in this game, some keys to victory. So be sure to stay tuned plenty coming your way on Locked on Ravens. and Locked on Bengals. Locked on Ravens, Locked on Bengals, Kevin Alstrekker, James Rupin, we're still rocking out with you on this Thanksgiving edition of the show. I want to remind everyone again

that this episode is presented by Price Picks now, the Price Picks app today. News called Lockdown and I thought to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. All right, James, keys to victory.

What do you think the Bengals have to do to pull off a win in Baltimore? And I'll actually go a step further than what you said in the first part of the show. I'm going to say, not only will there not be a Thursday night, Ravens Bengals matchup in Baltimore. The Bengals are going to get one primetime game

against Baltimore next season in Cincinnati. I think that's almost a guarantee in my mind. So what do you think for this prime time game that Bengals have to do to pull it off? Yeah, first things first. I think they're going to have to score 30 plus. I think this offense is going to have to play well. They're going to have to be efficient, effective,

put pressure on Baltimore to do the same thing. And especially early on, getting points on the board, settling in, not looking up in it being 10-0 and the crowd's going, crazy look m&T bank stadium i've been there for primetime games if you don't get off to a good start the environment just continues to to get bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger and that's just tough in joe borough's first game back he's not going to be overwhelmed he'll be calm cool and collected but that's just not where you want to be so offense scoring 30 plus i think that's important to

you're going to have to find a way to disrupt lamar jackson get him off of his and i get it people are talking about the past couple of weeks and he's nicked up and all of those things. I can't consider any of that because anytime I see Lamar Jackson going up against stripes, this man just turns into the MVP. In an MVP player, he obviously led them. I mean, the touchdown last year that he threw, I believe it was on fourth down. He just, it was third down after a stop, just so effortless in the red zone. And it was the game winning touchdown to Rashad Bateman, I believe it was. Like he just makes it look effortless. You cannot let Lamar get in that zone. Whatever that zone is, he cannot get there. Obviously,

other teams have that formula at times. The Bengals just haven't. And then number three, the turnovers. This Bengals defense, when they've won games, they've only won three games. When they've won games, they've forced turnovers. They've given the ball back and gotten the ball to their offense and advantageous spots on the road, division rival, a team in Baltimore who can really grab a strangle hold on the AFC North, I think that's going to be huge. So a lot of eyes on the defense, but Joe Burrow and company, they're going to have to put up 30 plus, I think, if the Bengals are going to win. Yeah. And for the Ravens, I like what you said, because for Baltimore, you said that touchdown to Rashab Bateman effortless in the Red Zone. The Red Zone is

anything but effortless for the Ravens this season. Because last year, they were the number one Red Zone offense in the lead. They converted on 74.2% of their Red Zone opportunities for touchdowns, which was unbelievable. This year, they have fallen all the way down to 30th at 46.3%. They have not been able to convert those opportunities into touchdowns. Tyler Loop, who's now the Ravens kicker for Justin Tucker, he's been great at just, you know, chipping those balls in, you know, kicking field goals from the, you know, four-yard lines, three-yard line.

But the Ravens have not been able to convert in the red zone. So number one, you have to be able to convert because this Bengals offense, as I mentioned earlier, they played like the Jets offense, which is not great, the Browns offense, which, you know, they had two rookies, including Sheter Sanders, playing his first ever NFL snaps with no preparation. You know, you have the Vikings offense. We've seen how that's gone in recent weeks. This Bengals offense, regardless of no C. Higgins, etc., night and day better than what you faced over the last handful of weeks.

So the Ravens' offense is going to have to respond to that because while the Ravens' defense has done a great job of keeping the Ravens' offense attached and, you know, the Ravens' offense eventually gets it. I think, yeah, the Red Zone is huge. And I think the Ravens also have to get off to a fast start. I think it could come down to which team starts off better. It could be could determine who wins this game. So those are two keys for me. And then finally being able to convert in short yardage situations.

The Ravens and the stats back it up. They've been better on third and longs and they have been on third and shorts. And that's not the Ravens identity. I mean, I trust them to pick up 15 yards more than I trust them to pick up five yards. I mean, that's just how it's been for them this season. And the Ravens, it's been their identity. It's okay. We're just going to throw in our heavy.

personnel, you have to match it. We're going to blow you off the ball, open up these huge rushing lanes, and you're not going to be able to stop it. And while the Ravens have been more balanced under Todd Monk, and this is year three, they haven't been able to run the ball effectively because the offensive line has struggled there, the pass blocking. While the tackles were great last week, it's that interior that's really struggled for them.

So being able to protect your quarterback, open up those rushing lanes. It all starts up front for both an offense and defense, and it really could just come down to whose trench play is better, who can protect their quarterback better. and get those opportunities to where we know that Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson, if they have a clean pocket, they're impossible to stop. When you blitz them and you don't get that pressure, they're impossible to stop. They both work really well there.

So offensive line play is a massive, massive key for me. But James, I appreciate you for giving the Bengals insight. And I hope I did my part, given the Ravens Insight here. The Ravens and the Bengals, they will match up in a huge Thanksgiving night matchup. So we'll have everything for you here in terms of the game. post game, we'll have more content for you over the course of the rest of the week. And of course, next week as well as this is a huge game between these two. So be sure to stay tuned for everything we have coming on Lockdown Ravens and Locked on Bengals.

And of course, here for you five days a week plus more on both Lockdown Ravens and Lockdown Bengals. So for James Rapine, I'm Kevin Ostrach for signing off. We'll see you right back here soon on Lockdown Ravens and Lockdown Bengals.