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Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals: PFM Team Comparison

The Baltimore Ravens hold a slight overall advantage over the Cincinnati Bengals in the current PFM ratings. Baltimore separates itself through the stronger defense and the bigger big-play threat.

Current PFM Team Scores

Slight edgeBAL

Baltimore Ravens

81.2PFM Team Score#15 NFL
CIN

Cincinnati Bengals

79.5PFM Team Score#16 NFL
Swap Teams Clear Comparison
PFM JUDGMENT

Why PFM Rates the Baltimore Ravens Higher

Defense is one of the clearest reasons the Baltimore Ravens sit higher. The unit gives the offense more chances to recover from a bad drive. Cincinnati's strongest counterargument is QB Stability. Quarterback is where the Cincinnati Bengals have their cleanest advantage. With Joe Burrow, the offense has a better floor when the first answer stops working.

Baltimore also brings the bigger big-play threat. Baltimore adds the clearer long-term football direction. The Baltimore Ravens still deserves the higher PFM rating.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Baltimore vs. Cincinnati Across the Core Pillars

The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.

BALBaltimore Ravens
CINCincinnati Bengals
Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Baltimore Ravens 85.8, Cincinnati Bengals 88.5, edge CIN +2.7; Offense: Baltimore Ravens 86.0, Cincinnati Bengals 84.8, edge BAL +1.2; Defense: Baltimore Ravens 81.7, Cincinnati Bengals 74.2, edge BAL +7.5; Coaching Direction: Baltimore Ravens 71.3, Cincinnati Bengals 73.8, edge CIN +2.5; Roster Depth: Baltimore Ravens 81.3, Cincinnati Bengals 80.3, edge BAL +1.0. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team at a time.
Hover or tap a team to focus that profile. Use Show Both to bring the overlay back.
THE COUNTERARGUMENT

Cincinnati Bengals’ Best Argument

The Cincinnati Bengals ask fewer questions at quarterback because Joe Burrow sets the floor of the offense. That stability matters when a game moves away from the opening script. The QB Stability advantage is a real point in Cincinnati's favor, but it does not outweigh the rest of the higher-rated team’s advantages. The problem for Cincinnati is that Baltimore counters with the stronger defense and the bigger big-play threat.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

BAL81.2
Baltimore Ravens 81.2
CIN79.5
Cincinnati Bengals 79.5
Slight Baltimore Ravens edge

Overall NFL Rank

BAL#15
Baltimore Ravens #15
CIN#16
Cincinnati Bengals #16
Baltimore Ravens ranks higher

QB Stability

BAL85.8
Baltimore Ravens 85.8
CIN88.5
Cincinnati Bengals 88.5
Clear Cincinnati Bengals edge

Roster Strength

BAL81.3
Baltimore Ravens 81.3
CIN80.3
Cincinnati Bengals 80.3
Slight Baltimore Ravens edge

Coaching Direction

BAL71.3
Baltimore Ravens 71.3
CIN73.8
Cincinnati Bengals 73.8
Clear Cincinnati Bengals edge

Recent Performance

BAL77.3
Baltimore Ravens 77.3
CIN70.8
Cincinnati Bengals 70.8
Clear Baltimore Ravens edge

Offense

BAL86.0
Baltimore Ravens 86.0
CIN84.8
Cincinnati Bengals 84.8
Slight Baltimore Ravens edge

Defense

BAL81.7
Baltimore Ravens 81.7
CIN74.2
Cincinnati Bengals 74.2
Clear Baltimore Ravens edge

Franchise Direction

BAL78.7
Baltimore Ravens 78.7
CIN74.7
Cincinnati Bengals 74.7
Clear Baltimore Ravens edge

Explosiveness

BAL87.6
Baltimore Ravens 87.6
CIN81.3
Cincinnati Bengals 81.3
Clear Baltimore Ravens edge

Conference Rank

BAL#8
Baltimore Ravens #8
CIN#9
Cincinnati Bengals #9
Baltimore Ravens ranks higher

Division Rank

BAL#1
Baltimore Ravens #1
CIN#2
Cincinnati Bengals #2
Baltimore Ravens ranks higher

Outlook

BALPlayoff ContenderCINIn the Playoff Mix
Stronger outlook: Baltimore Ravens
TEAM CONSTRUCTION

How These Teams Are Built Differently

Baltimore Ravens

Strongest Rating
Explosiveness
Category Edge
Defense
Biggest Matchup Concern
QB Stability

Baltimore's clearest category edge is Defense. The Baltimore Ravens own the stronger defense against the Cincinnati Bengals. More dependable stops give the offense better field position and keep one bad drive from controlling the day. The biggest problem in this matchup is QB Stability, where Cincinnati owns the clearer advantage.

Cincinnati Bengals

Strongest Rating
QB Stability
Category Edge
QB Stability
Biggest Matchup Concern
Defense

Cincinnati's clearest category edge is QB Stability. Quarterback is the clearest separator. Joe Burrow gives Cincinnati more certainty than the Baltimore Ravens have at the position. The biggest problem in this matchup is Defense, where Baltimore owns the clearer advantage.

SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

Baltimore Ravens

Remaining schedule rank: #29

Toughest stretch: Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers

Strongest opponents: Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans

Next five difficulty: 74.7

View Baltimore Ravens Road Ahead

Cincinnati Bengals

Remaining schedule rank: #30

Toughest stretch: Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars

Strongest opponents: Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars

Next five difficulty: 79.9

View Cincinnati Bengals Road Ahead

Baltimore has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 29. The strongest opponents include Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, and Houston Texans. Cincinnati gains one meaningful schedule advantage, while Baltimore still owns the stronger football advantages elsewhere.

View the complete all-32 Road Ahead

Ratings and Schedule Freshness

PFM ratings updated September 8, 2026. Schedule data updated September 10, 2026.

How to Read This Comparison

PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.

PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.

See the complete PFM NFL Team Rankings and methodology.

PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams