OTL: Sparked by Ed Reed, Defense Pitches First Shutout in 7 Years

The Baltimore Ravens pitched a shutout in Cincinnati, and it felt like a Ravens game of old. This was easily Zach Orr’s best day at the office of defensive coordinator. Joe Burrow was picked off twice, the second pick halting a 16-play drive that could have given the Bengals life, late in the third quarter. The Bengals went 3-for-15 on third downs. Like I said, Orr had nothing to be upset about.

Jamison Hensley of ESPN reports that a visit from Ed Reed sparked the Ravens defense this week:

Inspired by a visit from Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed, the Baltimore Ravens recorded their first shutout in seven years by beating the Cincinnati Bengals 24-0 on Sunday.

Reed dropped by Friday’s practice unannounced and spoke to the players about brotherhood. His message was: You need to be close off the field to be close on it.

Two days later, the Ravens produced their first shutout since 2018, when they blanked the Titans in Tennessee.

“It’s always great to hear from a Ravens legend,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “Maybe we need a Raven to come back every week if we’re going to practice like that and play like that.

This has to warm the heart of anyone who loves the lore of the purple and black. One of the things that has been missing in the last several years was the homed in concept of what Ravens football was all about. Reed is a paragon of what the Ravens way is, if a Ravens way truly exists. The Ravens might want to find a way to get Reed’s contributions more often because the defense hasn’t looked this sharp in a while. The defense, which started the season abysmally, has been strong in the second half of the season. In Paycor Stadium though, they were dominant. The spirit of Reed lives on, and defense still means something in Baltimore.

Humphrey also said that DC Zach Orr challenged the defense last night. Implored unit to start playing together.
Humphrey also brought up Ed Reed’s presence in building this week. Said Reed gave several talks, including one that the snacks needed to be taken out of meeting rooms

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) December 14, 2025

Like I said, Orr has nothing to complain about today. This game combined with Reed’s influence could serve as a positive building block for this team. The Ravens still have a viable shot at making the postseason; they will take every building block they can get.

Frank Platko of Baltimore Beatdown gave out grades to the Ravens after their 24-0 win. One group that received an A from Platko was the Edge Rushers:

The Ravens’ defense had their best pass-rushing performance of the season and the much-maligned edge rusher group led the way. In his return from a foot injury, Tavius Robinson made an immediate impact with a sack, two quarterback hits, and tackle for loss. Rookie Mike Green got on the board in all three of these categories as well. Dre’Mont Jones was not able to get home on Burrow but wreaked havoc in the pocket with a game-high five quarterback hits. Jones played with a physical tenacity and edge that the Ravens have been lacking. Kyle Van Noy had quarterback hit on Burrow as well and also made one of the key plays of the game. In the fourth quarter, Van Noy dropped into coverage and intercepted a pass attempt at Baltimore’s own seven-yard line. Van Noy handed the ball off to Alohi Gilman after picking it off, which led to an 84-yard touchdown return.

Some of this has to do with the Bengals doing a bad job up front. There were a couple less-than-interrupted paths to go get Joe Burrow. That being said, the Ravens saw the best game from their outside linebackers and edge rushers in this bout with the Bengals. If the Ravens can get this amount of pressure on a regular basis it will be a huge deal. When the Ravens play the New England Patriots, they have to attack Drake Maye. When the Ravens battle the Green Bay Packers they absolutely must attack Jordan Love. And of course when they see Pittsburgh again, they have to get after Aaron Rodgers much better than they did last week. There is nothing but big games left on the Ravens schedule, which means the pass rush department has never been more important. I’d also credit Dre’Mont Jones with giving an extra edge to the defense. He’s the kind of player that ruffles some feathers but you’re glad he’s on your side. When we talk about feeling more attuned with the dominant defenses of Ravens’ past, Jones bringing ferocity is a part of this.

Sources: The belief is that Ravens LB Teddye Buchanan, the team’s second-leading tackler, tore his ACL during Sunday’s win over the Bengals. Buchanan will undergo additional testing today to confirm the injury. pic.twitter.com/fswROGg53f

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 15, 2025

The bad news on Sunday was what happened to Teddye Buchanan. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the rookie linebacker has torn his ACL. Buchanan has quietly had an incredibly surprising season; as Schefter’s tweet says, he is the second leading tackler on the Baltimore Ravens. One thing that Buchanan does particularly well is relying on good football instincts. He always seems to quickly get to the football. Honestly, he’s the most instinctual rookie the Ravens have had since they had Zach Orr as a player. The Ravens will need to lean more on Trenton Simpson.

Ravens are still in the playoff hunt.

Bengals are eliminated.

Chiefs are eliminated.

Lamar playing like himself again.

Defensive shutout.

What a day.

GOODNIGHT. pic.twitter.com/11hPsmoJWK

— Ravens Nation ð™‡ð™„ð™‘𙀠(@RavenNationLIVE) December 15, 2025

I don’t think most Ravens fans came into Sunday with high expectations. It is hard to believe in this version of the Ravens because you never know what kind of football they will play on any given day. It is safe to say that the Ravens had a better day than they expected to have. The tweet above pretty much sums this up. Can the Bengals make the playoffs? No! Can the Kansas City Chiefs make the playoffs? No! And on top of that the Ravens got a shutout and Lamar Jackson played like Lamar Jackson. It was a good day. Happy Monday.

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