Ravens Lineman Claims Cold Was Secret Weapon Behind Shocking Shutdown of Joe Burrow and Bengals

It’s been a rough patch for the Cincinnati Bengals lately, and honestly, the air around Paul Brown Stadium feels heavier than usual. Just days after star quarterback Joe Burrow voiced some unsettling thoughts about his own passion for the game, the Bengals found themselves blanked by their AFC North nemesis, the Baltimore Ravens. Burrow’s performance? Let’s just say it was a far cry from his usual sharp self — his weakest outing this season, no less — and to add salt to the wound, that defeat officially knocked Cincinnati out of playoff contention. For a squad that had Super Bowl dreams, this feels like a gut punch. The Ravens, sensing the internal strife, didn’t hesitate to throw some shade, with defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones quipping it was “too cold” for the Bengals — a jab that stings given Cincinnati’s history of braving Midwest winters. As the Bengals’ season spirals to 4-10, holding a modest draft pick, Baltimore’s resurgence to 7-7 rekindles hopes of a postseason push. It’s a tale of two teams on very different slopes, each with stories to tell as the NFL season rolls on. LEARN MORE

The Cincinnati Bengals are going through some things. Days after quarterback Joe Burrow made some worrisome comments about whether he still enjoys playing football, the team was shut out by the division-rival Baltimore Ravens.

Burrow, in particular, did not play well in the loss, putting up his worst statistical game of the season. To make matters even worse, the loss eliminated Burrow and the Bengals from the playoffs, a brutal outcome for a team that came into the year with Super Bowl aspirations.

The Ravens must have sensed some frustration and disarray from Cincinnati during the contest, because Ravens defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones felt comfortable enough to lob some trash talk at the team following the win.

After the victory, Jones said it was “too cold for” the Bengals, per the Ravens’ official site.

“It was too cold for them,” he said. “We didn’t really discuss the fact they had zero points. I think we just wanted to attack.”

While that might sound harmless to some, it’s quite the insult when talking about a team that plays its games in the Midwest during the winter. The Bengals are plenty familiar with cold weather games late in the season. The team even played in one in Week 14, when Burrow and Josh Allen battled it out in a snowstorm.

Burrow put up strong numbers in that contest, though two late interceptions eventually sunk the Bengals.

He wasn’t nearly as effective in Week 15. Against the Ravens, Burrow went 25-of-39, with 225 passing yards and two interceptions. His second interception, in particular, was not typical for Burrow, who sped up with a pass rusher in his face to throw an uncharacteristic pass straight to a defender.

After the contest, Burrow took the blame for the loss, saying, “There’s not a team in the NFL that would have won the game today if I was the quarterback.”

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The loss dropped Cincinnati to 4-10 on the season. The team currently holds the No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Ravens, meanwhile, have plenty of reason to celebrate the win. After starting the year 1-5, Baltimore has improved to 7-7 and is back in the hunt for a playoff spot. Given the team’s recent run, the Ravens have plenty of reasons to feel good about their position, especially after shutting out a quarterback who has played extremely well against them in the past.