Cincinnati Bengals Slammed with Another Harsh Schedule: Thanksgiving Clash vs. Ravens Sparks Outrage
The Cincinnati Bengals are once again caught in a frustrating NFL scheduling loop, and it’s starting to feel personal. For the fourth year in a row, they’ve been handed a short-week road game against the Baltimore Ravens—this time, under the bright lights of Thanksgiving night. For Bengals fans, it’s less holiday tradition and more déjà vu, like a Groundhog Day special where the outcome never changes.
Since 2019, the Bengals have struggled in prime-time AFC North road games, holding a bleak 3-13 record. Lamar Jackson, meanwhile, has turned Cincinnati into his personal highlight reel with a 10-1 career record against them. And now, with the 2025 NFL schedule officially out, head coach Zac Taylor isn’t hiding his frustration. This latest matchup marks seven prime-time road games for Cincinnati in just four seasons—while Baltimore has had just one.
NFL VP Mike North attempted to justify the decision, claiming there were drafts of the schedule where the game could’ve been in Cincinnati. However, when the final cut reached the commissioner’s desk, the Thanksgiving game stayed in Baltimore. The reason? TV networks wanted high-stakes drama. NBC, in particular, pushed for a marquee matchup, while ESPN nabbed Eagles-Packers, further unbalancing the prime-time spotlight.
This imbalance doesn’t sit well in Cincinnati. As The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. put it, “It’s not just the challenge of playing in Baltimore—it’s never getting a chance to flip the script.” The Ravens host yet another night game, while their trip to Cincinnati is a low-profile afternoon affair. To Taylor and many others, it feels less like randomness and more like the Bengals drew the short straw—again.
The road ahead is daunting. Cincinnati opens the season against the Browns and Jaguars, with five consecutive games afterward against 2024 playoff teams. The stretch from Weeks 13-15 could make or break the season: Thanksgiving night at Baltimore, a wintry showdown in Buffalo, and a rematch with the Ravens. If the Bengals hope to make another deep playoff run, they’ll need to survive this gauntlet first.
Yet despite the scheduling frustrations, there’s still hope. Three of Cincinnati’s final four games are at home—potentially setting up a strong finish like their 2021 surge. And center Ted Karras? He’s taking it all in stride. “I’ve never played on Thanksgiving. That’ll be fun,” he said. Even quarterback Joe Burrow gets a marquee holiday slot, though his 3-6 record against the Ravens adds tension to the celebration.
The NFL insists it’s coincidence. Bengals fans call it a pattern. Whatever it is, one thing is clear—if Cincinnati wants to change the narrative, they’ll have to do it the hard way. Again.