The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals meet on Sunday for the first of their annual pair of clashes, with the second scheduled for New Year's Eve. These division rivals have met 61 times, including one postseason matchup that Cincinnati won. Baltimore leads the series 33-28.

The Ravens have taken five of six meetings across the three seasons before this one. The circumstances surrounding this latest meeting make it particularly intriguing. Lamar Jackson's availability remains in question, and Baltimore needs to get its offense back on track.

No matter who lines up under center, the Ravens cannot afford another 10-point performance if they expect to rob Cincinnati of the chance to leave M&T Bank Stadium with a win. They'd also like to avoid consecutive divisional losses. Here are four matchups to keep in mind as the game approaches.

Joe Burrow vs. Jesse Minter's defensive scheme and unit

Games like this are part of why Jesse Minter is in Baltimore. Joe Burrow is one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. Minter and his staff will have to find ways to contain him twice each season for the foreseeable future. The Ravens have allowed 310.8 yards per game this season, while Cincinnati averages 342.8 yards per contest, presenting a significant challenge for Baltimore's defense.

Ball control could be an important part of the equation. If the Ravens can establish a heavy, successful rushing attack, they can keep Burrow and the Bengals' offense on the sideline while limiting Cincinnati's possessions.

Derrick Henry vs. the Bengals' run defense

Cincinnati allows 123.0 rushing yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry, numbers that should give Derrick Henry and company plenty of reason to be optimistic. Baltimore can exploit those weaknesses, especially if it can consistently create favorable situations on early downs.

The Bengals average about 30:58 in time of possession, so the Ravens can win the battle for control of the game. A productive ground attack would let Baltimore dictate the pace, wear down Cincinnati's defense, and potentially limit Burrow's chances to exploit the Ravens on the other side of the ball.

D.J. Turner vs. Zay Flowers

D.J. Turner anchors Cincinnati's perimeter defense and faces a significant challenge against Zay Flowers. If Jackson plays, Flowers' ability to threaten defenses deep and create separation on intermediate routes could test Turner. Jackson averages 10.1 yards per attempt this season. Tyler Huntley, by contrast, averages six yards per attempt, so timing and tight throwing windows could be the bigger part of the conversation if he plays.

Turner, a 2023 second-round pick, has continued to improve, but Flowers has been productive despite missing Week 2. He ranks ninth in the NFL with 471 receiving yards. According to the official Bengals website, citing Next Gen Stats, Turner matched up with Flowers 21 times across their two meetings last season, allowing one catch for 14 yards on four targets.

Trey Hendrickson and the Ravens' pass rush vs. the Bengals' offensive line

According to Pro Football Focus, Trey Hendrickson has recorded 20 pressures in 2026, ranking 18th among edge defenders despite missing two games. He also has helped generate pressure from Baltimore's defensive front. Nnamdi Madubuike and Tavius Robinson combined for a sack in Week 6, while Roquan Smith, Keyon Martin, Calais Campbell, and Hendrickson all contributed to the Ravens' sack total in Week 5.

That collective effort will matter against Burrow. If Baltimore can consistently disrupt the pocket, the defense can make Cincinnati's passing game less comfortable and give itself a better chance to control the matchup. For Baltimore, the challenge is turning those individual advantages into a complete performance against a division rival that knows how to punish mistakes.

The Ravens need their defense to make life difficult for Burrow, but they also need an offense that can sustain drives and keep Cincinnati's playmakers off the field. With another meeting between these teams coming on New Year's Eve, Sunday's result could carry implications beyond the standings, particularly for a Baltimore team still searching for consistency. Winning those early battles would give the Ravens a foundation to build on, but executing across all three phases will ultimately determine whether they leave Sunday with a victory.