Ravens Insider: 5 things to know for Ravens-Bengals Thanksgiving game

[ExtremeRavens]

The Ravens’ Thanksgiving night game against the Cincinnati Bengals brings an unusual rhythm to the week for players, coaches and fans.

From adjusted holiday plans to a full slate of local football, the prime-time matchup adds a distinctive backdrop to one of the season’s most important AFC North contests.

Baltimore has played on Thanksgiving twice and won both games — a 16-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in 2011 and a 22-20 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013.

“[There is] much to be grateful for, and the opportunity to play on Thanksgiving is something to be grateful for,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said at his Monday press conference. “It’s really an honor to be able to play on Thanksgiving and just to know that everybody’s going to be watching. It is a night game. Most of everybody doesn’t have to get up in the morning, I guess, unless you go shopping. Do people still do Black Friday shopping? … So, we’re looking forward to [playing on Thanksgiving], and obviously, it’s a very respected opponent. What questions do you have?”

Here are 5 Things to Know:

1. Ravens’ holiday plans on hold 

Harbaugh calls Thanksgiving his “favorite holiday,” but the Ravens will postpone celebrations until after Thursday’s divisional matchup.

“We’ll probably do it on Friday,” he said. “Hopefully it’ll be a happy Thanksgiving.”

For several players, this will be their first time competing on the holiday. Wide receiver Zay Flowers said he is embracing the novelty and a special award for the game’s most valuable player.

“I think this will be my first time playing on Thanksgiving,” Flowers said. “You can get the [NBC] Turkey leg, so that’d be exciting. Hopefully somebody gets the Turkey leg; I’m going to go over there with them.”

Some players plan to mark the weekend with teammates. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley said he intends to host a Friendsgiving for the offensive line sometime over the long weekend.

“We’ll host something like that during the break after the game,” he said.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor has not announced his team’s holiday plans.

2. A full day of football

The Ravens will not be the only team drawing local attention on Thanksgiving. Calvert Hall and Loyola Blakefield will meet for the 105th time at 10 a.m. at Towson University, continuing one of the region’s oldest football traditions.

For some fans, the high school rivalry and the Ravens-Bengals game will create an all-day slate. Calvert Hall graduate Mark Maloney plans to watch the Turkey Bowl at home with his two sons — one a recent CHC graduate — before heading to M&T Bank Stadium.

“My whole family is tailgating,” Maloney said. “Our Thanksgiving will be at H1.”

Loyola alum Mike Dieter, whose two sons also attend the school, will be going to the Turkey Bowl at Towson, and then the family will make a 30-minute drive for dinner at a relative’s residence.

“We decided we are going to enjoy the Ravens game from home with family,” he said. “It worked out well because we have friends who wanted our Ravens tickets.”

3. Adjusted routines for fans and the city

The Thanksgiving night kickoff will alter the usual game-day traffic flow. Tailgates are expected to start later in the afternoon, and officials are urging fans to prepare for heavier congestion around the stadium due to holiday travel. Traffic modifications and road closures will begin at 5:20 p.m., including the temporary closure of the Ostend Street Bridge between Sharp and Warner streets.

To assist with game day traffic, a special traffic pattern will be implemented along Warner Street for fans entering and leaving the stadium. Public transit will run on modified holiday schedules, and bus and light rail riders are encouraged to check updated times before traveling downtown.

4. Alternate uniforms and light show

The Ravens will wear their Purple Rising alternate helmets, which debuted in 2024, paired with their all-purple Color Rush uniforms. Fans are encouraged to wear purple for the prime-time AFC North matchup. The first 30,000 fans in attendance will receive a ceramic Purple Rising gravy boat to mark the Thanksgiving holiday.

For the second time this season — the first came during the Week 3 Monday Night Football game against Detroit — the stadium’s wristband system will produce coordinated in-seat light animations, including ravens flying through the crowd and other patterns designed to elevate the game-day atmosphere.

5. Lil Jon to perform
Grammy Award-winning artist Lil Jon will perform from the Bud Light Touchdown Club at halftime. The rapper, producer and DJ rose to prominence as frontman of Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, helping bring Atlanta’s crunk sound to national and international audiences. He has produced hits for Usher, Ciara and Ludacris and collaborated with artists ranging from Pitbull and LMFAO to Ice Cube and DJ Snake. His 2010s anthem “Turn Down for What” cemented his reputation as a cross-genre hitmaker known for high-energy performances.

Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.

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