Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow expressed frustration over the 2025 NFL schedule, particularly that his team must travel again for a prime-time divisional game against the Baltimore Ravens. Isaiah Likely, the Ravens’ tight end, dismissed Burrow’s complaint, predicting another intense and hostile atmosphere at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium when the teams face off on Thanksgiving night.
Rare Third Consecutive Thursday Night Divisional Clash
Next season will mark the third year in a row that the Bengals go on the road for a Thursday night showdown with the Ravens. According to Sports Illustrated, this is only the third instance in NFL history where a team faces a divisional rival on Thursday night prime time games for three consecutive years. The Bengals also played a Sunday night game at M&T Bank Stadium in 2022, continuing the pattern of high-profile matchups at Baltimore.
Likely’s Remarks About Bengals’ Home Field
On the show Up & Adams, Isaiah Likely responded directly to Burrow’s desire to have the game played in Cincinnati.
“I seen the little clip of Joe saying that he wants the game in Cincinnati out there on prime time,”
Likely said.
“I mean — I don’t even know what their stadium is called. I just know when you come to The Bank, in prime time television, that’s just somewhere nobody else wants to be.”
Ravens Hold Advantage in Prime-Time Home Games
The Ravens have dominated their recent prime-time home contests against the Bengals, winning each of the last three meetings. In 2022, Baltimore narrowly defeated Cincinnati 19-17 on Sunday night. The Ravens followed that with a two-touchdown victory on Thursday night in 2023 and continued the streak with a close 35-34 win the following year. Overall, Baltimore currently maintains a four-game winning streak in the rivalry, their last loss being the 2023 Wild Card playoff game held in Cincinnati during prime time.
Atmosphere at M&T Bank Stadium Electrifies Players and Fans
Likely described the M&T Bank Stadium environment as one of the most electric in the NFL during prime-time games.
“If you’ve ever been to The Bank on a Monday night, Thursday night when the crowd’s rocking, they start the game off, everything goes pitch black, you see the purple lights go out, you know the crowd is about to be rocking,”
he said.
“I feel like the Bengals always just happen to have those type of games where you come to The Bank, you see the purple lights going and the fans are ready. I mean, they know it’s a divisional game. They know it’s the Bengals. They don’t like us; we don’t like them. We love the atmosphere. We love playing at The Bank because now we get to just tee off and have fun, have the crowd on our side, as well.”
Likely’s Best Performances Have Come Against Bengals
Isaiah Likely has delivered some of the standout moments of his career against Cincinnati’s defense. He achieved a personal best with two touchdowns in last season’s overtime win at Cincinnati. Additionally, in his rookie year, Likely recorded eight catches for 103 yards during the Wild Card game, marking a career high at that time despite the Ravens’ loss.
What’s Next for Bengals and Ravens Rivalry
The ongoing prime-time clashes between these divisional rivals highlight the intensity and competitive nature of the AFC North matchups. With Baltimore’s sustained success at home in front of passionate crowds, the Bengals will face a challenging atmosphere in 2025’s Thanksgiving night game. Isaiah Likely’s confident remarks reinforce Baltimore’s home-field edge, suggesting that the M&T Bank Stadium environment will continue to play a key role in this rivalry’s future contests.