The Ravens ran away from the Broncos, 41-10. Bengals beat Raiders, 41-24.

Which of these AFC North rivals will have the edge when they meet Thursday night at M&T Bank Stadium?

Ravens passing game vs. Bengals passing defense

Lamar Jackson finished with a perfect passer rating for the fourth time in his career against the Broncos, adding to a stellar season in which he led the league in passer rating, yards per attempt and ESPN’s QBR metric for all-around performance. He took just 13 sacks and threw two interceptions in nine games, signs of how on-target he is even when he looks downfield more often than almost any other elite quarterback.

The Bengals tried to fill the box in Cincinnati, and Jackson threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns, keeping the Ravens in the game as their defense failed against a red-hot Joe Burrow. Wide receiver Zay Flowers, who caught seven passes for 111 yards in the 41-38 win, has emerged as the No. 1 target. A clear No. 1 for Jackson in his sophomore season. He eclipsed 100 yards for the fourth time in five games against Denver and put the game into action with a 53-yard catch-and-run touchdown just before halftime.

Jackson torched the offense-happy Broncos without trying to stop Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, who caught two passes between them. They combined for 10 catches in their previous matchup with Cincinnati, so expect them to play a significant role on Thursday night, despite likely being sidelined with a hamstring injury. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman returned to catch a pass in the win over Denver, while Diontae Johnson played a minimal role in his first game as a Raven.

Baltimore’s offensive line stabilized against the Broncos after a tough game in Cleveland and had to keep Bengals edge rushers Trey Hendrickson (11 sacks, 22 quarterback hits) and Sam Hubbard (nine tackles and a sack against the Ravens in Week 5) out of the game. Jackson’s face. Cincinnati saw a decline of 23.2%. How aggressive was defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo after Jackson eased his pressure in the previous meeting? The Bengals’ secondary, with Cam Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner II at cornerback and former Raven Geno Stone at running back, is ready to attack. Cincinnati ranks 26th in third-down defense and 27th in preventing touchdowns in the red zone.

EDGE: Crow

Bengals passing game vs. Ravens passing defense

Burrow lit up the Ravens for 392 yards and five touchdowns and would have another five-touchdown game against the Raiders. He is right behind Jackson near the top of most passing metrics. His worst games came against teams that put pressure on him like the Philadelphia Eagles and Browns. But the Ravens struggled to generate pressure with their four-man offense, especially since defensive tackle Travis Jones hurt his ankle. In previous matchups, Baltimore defensive coordinator Zach Orr couldn’t utilize his predecessor Mike Macdonald’s formula to keep Burrow off balance, and the Ravens couldn’t cover or handle Ja’Marr Chase, who finished with 10 catches on 12 targets for 193 yards. and two scores. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey stepped in front of Chase to make a crucial interception late in that game.

The Bengals are dealing with some serious injuries. Burrow’s No. 2 target, Tee Higgins, missed the Raiders game with a quadriceps injury. He caught nine passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns against the Ravens in Week 5, so his absence — the Bengals will probably keep him out against Las Vegas to save him for Baltimore — would be significant. Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. also missed the Raiders game with a knee injury. If Brown can’t take on his former team, the Ravens will look to hit backup Cody Ford.

The Ravens defended well on third and fourth down and in the red zone against Denver, although rookie quarterback Bo Nix missed a throw Burrow likely would have made. Orr is still looking for the optimal lineup. Safety Marcus Williams returned to play nearly every defensive tackle against the Broncos after a one-week layoff in Cleveland. Safety Eddie Jackson was inactive, and safety Ar’Darius Washington played well. The Ravens need to squeeze more production out of pass rushers Nnamdi Madubuike and Odafe Oweh. Madubuike had his best game of the season in Cincinnati with four tackles and a key sack late in the game. They also need better work from cornerback Brandon Stephens, who had one of the worst games of his career against the Broncos.

EDGE: Bengal

Ravens running game vs. Bengals run defense

The Bengals emphasized stopping Derrick Henry and did so well until he broke off a 51-yard run in overtime. Of course, that’s what makes Henry so dangerous; the job against the NFL’s leading rusher (1,052 yards, 6.3 per carry, 11 touchdowns) was never done until the final whistle blew. Jackson rushed for a season-low three times for a season-low four yards against Denver after he missed two practices with knee and back injuries. He seemed less eager to take off than usual, but there was no need to take any chances with such an efficient passing game. He carried 12 times for 55 yards at Cincinnati and remains the league’s deadliest running back quarterback, averaging six yards per attempt.

The Bengals put eight or nine defenders in the box to prevent the Ravens from running over them in Week 5, and they kept the league’s top line under their usual per-game and per-carry averages. Cincinnati limited its opponents to 4.2 yards per carry, sixth best in the league. Linebackers Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt are good defenders, as are Hendrickson and Hubbard on the edge, where Henry likes to work. But the Bengals’ worst defensive performances came against teams – the Ravens, Eagles and Washington Commanders – who attacked them on the field with multiple threats.

EDGE: Crow

Bengals running game vs. Ravens run defense

The Bengals didn’t run often (26th in attempts) or well (24th in yards per carry). They only gained 71 yards on 23 carries against the Rave, and why would they run when the Burrow filled the sky with fireworks? Sophomore Chase Brown (479 yards, 4.6 per attempt) has replaced Zack Moss as the top option, and he’s outgained the Raiders for 120 yards on 27 carries.

Maybe Bengals coach Zac Taylor will surprise by attacking the Ravens’ injury-plagued defensive line, which missed Jones (ankle), Brent Urban (concussion) and Michael Pierce (injured reserve) against the Broncos. Denver carried 30 times for 122 yards against the league’s best defense. Defensive tackle Chris Wormley did a good job and should likely play against the Bengals given the quick turnaround. Linebacker Roquan Smith still leads the Ravens in tackles, but safety Kyle Hamilton has arguably surpassed him as the team’s most impactful running back in recent weeks. Sophomore quarterback Trenton Simpson had his best game of the season against Denver with nine tackles, two for loss. If the Bengals try to attack on the ground rather than through the air, the Ravens will be fine with that.

EDGE: Crow

Ravens special teams vs. Bengals special teams