The 34 to 11 win over Detroit last week was the Bengals largest margin of victory since 2017. It was a game where the defense pitched a shutout through nearly three and a half quarters, and the offense was clicking in a balanced attack. Cincinnati will need that type of balance this Sunday against a 5-1 Baltimore team as the winner will take sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Here are five things to know heading into this Week 7 matchup:
1. Fast and Furious
Quarterback Joe Burrow continues to reach accomplishments only the best to come before him have attained. By throwing for 271 yards against the Lions, Burrow surpassed 4,000 career passing yards becoming the seventh Bengal to reach that feat. Additionally, Burrow was the fastest to the 4,000 passing yardage mark, doing so in just 16 games. It took Carson Palmer and Jeff Blake 18 games before they reached that number. When it comes to pass attempts to 4,000 passing yards, Burrow was the third fastest in team history. Boomer Esiason only needed 538 pass attempts, as Blake threw 547 times, and Burrow hit 4,000 in 553 attempts.
2. Good Company
Burrow threw touchdown passes last week against Detroit, joining Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino as the only first or second year players to throw two or more touchdowns in each of the first six games to start a season. Marino tossed multiple touchdown passes in his team's first 10 games during the 1984 season.
Burrow is currently leading the league in touchdown passes that have traveled 30 or more air yards this season with four. All four of those have gone to rookie Ja'Marr Chase.
3. Halftime Adjustments
As the Bengals coin toss luck continued into another game, so did their second half scoring. The Bengals have scored on their first offensive possession of the second half in five of the six games this season. The 27 points they've tallied in those games is second in the NFL only to the Los Angeles Rams who have scored 30.
Check out some of the best images of the Bengals-Ravens series games in Baltimore.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson, center, runs into the end zone for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) reacts as he scores the winning touchdown as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr (24) lies on the ground during the second half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. The Bengals defeated the Ravens 31-27. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals free safety Reggie Nelson tackles Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) n the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson, top, tries to jump over Baltimore Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister during the fourth quarter Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005, in Baltimore. The Bengals won 21-9. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner)
Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson makes a move with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Brian Simmons (56) breaks up a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Greg DeLong, right, in the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 26, 1999, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Dave Hammond)
Cincinnati Bengals' Leon Hall (29) tackles Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals placekicker Shayne Graham, left, kicks the game-winning field goal as the Baltimore Ravens line jumps to try to block it in the final seconds of the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, in Baltimore, Md. The Bengals won 27-26. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Chinedum Ndukwe (41) celebrates with teammate Dhani Jones (57) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)
Cincinnati Bengals fullback Cliff Groce(46) rushes to get a first down on third and one in the third quarter on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2000, at PSI Net Stadium in Baltimore.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andre Caldwell, left, catches the game-winning touchdown pass in front of Baltimore Ravens cornerback Chris Carr (25) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, in Baltimore. The Bengals won 17-14. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws a pass while being pressured by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Antwan Odom (98) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson is pulled down by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb during the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) runs with the ball as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters (24) and cornerback Jimmy Smith (22) defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones wraps up Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith during the second half of a NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Baltimore Ravens safety Corey Harris (45) battles Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ron Dugans (81) during the fourth quarter of a game on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2001, at PSINet Stadium in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko, right, tackles Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice in the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson, right, pulls in a pass behind Baltimore Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister, left, in the fourth quarter in Baltimore Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004. The Bengals won. 27-26. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner)
4. Run Stuffers
The Bengals' defense is tied for fourth in the AFC with 14 sacks. Pass rusher Trey Hendrickson has accounted for 5.5 of those sacks, which is tied for ninth most in the league. The defense has also prioritized stopping the run. Cincinnati is fifth best in the conference in rushing yards allowed, and the 32 first downs by rushing given up this season is sixth fewest in the league.
5. Winning The Margins
Since 2010, 14 of the 22 meetings between the Bengals and Ravens have resulted in one score games. The turnover battle will be key. The team who has won the turnover margin is 34-5, and when the margin is even, Cincinnati holds the edge leading the series 7-4.
