Ravens' most alarming stat after Bengals loss has nothing to do with Joe Burrow originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Baltimore Ravens probably wish Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals had ended at halftime. Baltimore controlled the opening two quarters, built a 13-0 lead and appeared positioned to earn an important AFC North victory.
Instead, Joe Burrow and the Bengals completely reversed the game.
Cincinnati scored 35 unanswered points in the second half to defeat Baltimore 35-13, delivering one of the most dramatic turnarounds of Sunday's NFL schedule.
But one statistic makes the Ravens' collapse even more concerning. Baltimore has now been outscored 48-0 in the second halves of its last two games. For a team with playoff expectations, that's a remarkable problem to carry into the second half of the season.
A game that completely changed after halftime
The Ravens couldn't have asked for much more control during the opening two quarters. Baltimore outgained Cincinnati 258-59 in the first half, keeping Burrow and the Bengals from developing any offensive rhythm.
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— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 25, 2026
The problem was the scoreboard.
Despite controlling possession and moving the football, Baltimore managed only 13 points. That left Cincinnati within striking distance when the second half began.
Burrow immediately took advantage. The Bengals opened the third quarter with a nine-play, 66-yard touchdown drive. Burrow completed all six of his passes during the possession before finding tight end Mike Gesicki for a six-yard score.
Cincinnati followed with another touchdown, this time on a pass to Tee Higgins, and suddenly the Bengals led 14-13.
The Ravens never recovered.
Samaje Perine added a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, while Burrow connected with Ja'Marr Chase and Drew Sample for additional scores. Burrow finished with 292 passing yards and four touchdowns, all four scoring passes coming after halftime. Higgins contributed six receptions for 148 yards, providing Cincinnati with another major offensive weapon.
The number Baltimore cannot ignore
Losing a divisional game is frustrating enough. Getting outscored 48-0 after halftime across two consecutive games suggests a problem that extends beyond one difficult afternoon.
Baltimore's defense has struggled to contain opponents after intermission, while its offense hasn't generated enough production to respond. The absence of Lamar Jackson remains an important factor. Jackson missed Sunday's game with an ankle injury, forcing Tyler Huntley into another start.
Huntley threw for 298 yards, but the Ravens couldn't sustain their early offensive success. Baltimore also allowed Cincinnati to take advantage of critical mistakes, including a failed fourth-down attempt and an interception that helped the Bengals put the game away.
The Ravens have now blown double-digit second-half leads in consecutive games.
According to the Associated Press, Baltimore has surrendered 10 double-digit leads since the beginning of the 2022 season.
That history makes Sunday's result particularly difficult to dismiss as an isolated incident.
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An AFC North race that suddenly looks different
Cincinnati improved to 4-2 with the victory, while Baltimore dropped to 4-3. The Bengals didn't simply earn another win. They delivered a major statement against a division rival while demonstrating how dangerous their offense can become when Burrow finds his rhythm.
Baltimore still has time to correct its problems, particularly if Jackson returns and provides the offense with its usual explosive potential. But the Ravens cannot rely on a quarterback's return to fix every issue.
The defense must find ways to make adjustments, protect leads and prevent opponents from taking complete control after halftime.
Sunday's final score was ugly enough.
The larger concern is that Baltimore has now played eight consecutive second-half quarters without scoring a point while allowing 48. That's the kind of statistic that can turn a promising season into a difficult one if it continues.