Lamar Jackson tossed two touchdown passes as the Baltimore Ravens earned a 24-0 victory over the host Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon to claim their first shutout in seven seasons.
On an 11-degree Ohio day, Jackson completed 8 of 12 passes for 150 yards with touchdown passes to Rasheen Ali and Zay Flowers as the Ravens (7-7) split their season series with the Bengals (4-10).
The Ravens moved within a half-game of the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers, who host the Miami Dolphins on Monday night.
Derrick Henry rushed for 100 yards on 11 carries. Flowers had three receptions for 68 yards during the coldest game in the Ravens’ history.
The shutout was Baltimore’s first since blanking the Tennessee Titans 21-0 on Oct. 14, 2018 – and the Ravens earned it as the Bengals held possession for 39:19.
Joe Burrow was 25 of 39 for 225 yards and two interceptions for the Bengals, who lost for the sixth time in seven games and fell to 2-5 at home. Ja’Marr Chase had 10 receptions for 132 yards.
After a scoreless first quarter, Baltimore forced the game’s first turnover. Marlon Humphrey’s second interception of the year came on a fluttering pass that tipped off Chase’s hands and he returned it 21 yards.
Baltimore’s third drive was initially its best, but the promising series ended after 25 yards when Jackson’s pass was dropped by Flowers and grabbed by Jordan Battle for the safety’s fourth pick.
Jackson’s 32-yard pass to DeAndre Hopkins led to the quarterback’s 30-yard pass to Ali for the running back’s first NFL touchdown with 4:35 left in the first half.
The five-play, 79-yard scoring drive led to another brisk touchdown drive to end the half. Jackson capped a five-play, 80-yard sprint when he found Flowers in stride with 23 seconds left for a 28-yard strike and a 14-0 halftime cushion.
Following a third-quarter turnover on downs by the home squad, the Ravens’ Tyler Loop booted a 27-yard field goal at 9:05 for a three-score advantage.
The Bengals got as close as the Baltimore 2-yard line in the fourth quarter. But on third-and-goal from the 7, Kyle Van Noy intercepted Burrow and returned it for 11 yards before handing it to Alohi Gilman to take it the final 84 yards for the game’s last score with 7:38 remaining.
