BREAKING: Joe Burrow sends strong message ahead of Bengals matchup vs. Ravens

The Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) are coming off their first win of the season, but their Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens (2-2) is also a must-win, since they are currently in last place in the AFC North.

In recent years, quarterback Joe Burrow has lost the last two games and four of the seven overall in this series.

That is why he understands that in order to defeat the Ravens, he and the Bengals must play as near to perfection as possible.

“You’ve got to be aggressive out of the gate,” Burrow told NFL.com’s Nick Shook. “You can’t let the game come to you since your resources will be so limited. I’m going to have to play almost perfectly. That’s how I’m prepared, so this is a fantastic chance.”

Like Cincinnati, Baltimore had a sluggish start to the season, but the Ravens are gaining momentum, coming off consecutive victories where they’ve totaled 63 points.

A major factor has been the outstanding performances of two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry, who have combined for 788 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in the first four weeks.

Burrow is aware that the Bengals’ offense needs to keep pace to avoid falling behind.

“We have to. Otherwise, they’ll just control the clock and run the ball,” Burrow said. “We know how well they run it, so we need to start strong and create as many opportunities as possible.”

Fortunately for Cincinnati, they’ve had no trouble scoring lately, putting up 25, 33, and 34 points over the last three games.

To remain contenders for the AFC North title and the playoffs, the Bengals must find a way to win this divisional matchup at home.