CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals put in a strong effort but ultimately fell short against the Baltimore Ravens, losing a nail-biting game by a score of 35-34 on Thursday night. With a chance to bring their record to 5-5, the Bengals were looking for redemption after their earlier overtime defeat to the Ravens on October 6. However, their struggles against high-caliber teams continued, and they now find themselves at 4-6 for the season. All of their victories so far have come against teams with losing records.
Despite Cincinnati’s promising offensive duo of Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase showcasing their talents, the Bengals were unable to capitalize on opportunities in crucial moments. Burrow, who insists they are capable of making a playoff run, now faces an uphill battle as the team continues to miss chances to secure wins in close contests. Their defense, tasked with containing Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, fell short yet again.
In a dramatic finish, Burrow threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Chase, pulling the Bengals within one point with just 38 seconds remaining. However, an attempt at a two-point conversion for the win failed when Burrow’s pass to tight end Tanner Hudson went unnoticed by the officials for a potential defensive holding and facemask penalty against him. Cornerback Mike Hilton expressed the team’s frustration, acknowledging they had opportunities to seal the game but ultimately couldn’t follow through.
Burrow’s performance was commendable, with the quarterback enduring heavy pressure throughout the game. He completed 34 of 56 passes for a season-high 428 yards and four touchdowns, three of which connected with Chase. Over the last two games, he has thrown for nine touchdowns, showcasing his talent and determination.
However, the Bengals’ defense struggled significantly, particularly in the closing moments of the game. While they managed to contain Ravens running back Derrick Henry to 68 yards, Jackson proved difficult to handle, throwing for 290 yards and four touchdowns, adding another 33 yards on the ground. Cincinnati’s lack of a consistent pass rush allowed Jackson to find open receivers, as they ceded four consecutive touchdown drives that ultimately decided the game. Additionally, with Orlando Brown Jr. sidelined due to injury, the offensive line struggled to provide Burrow with the necessary protection.
Chase emerged as the standout player of the night despite the team’s loss, recording 11 catches for a whopping 264 yards and three touchdowns. Reflecting on the game, he remarked, “I would never in a million years expect me to play this well and (Burrow) to play this well and still have a record like this.”
The coaching decisions were also under scrutiny, particularly late in the game. Leading 21-20 in the fourth quarter and facing a critical fourth down at the Ravens’ 34-yard line, the choice to attempt deep passes rather than securing the first down raised eyebrows. Following their last touchdown, Coach Zac Taylor opted to go for a two-point conversion to win rather than kick the extra point and potentially play into overtime.
Injury concerns continued for the Bengals as wide receiver Tee Higgins was sidelined due to a quad injury, marking his third missed game.
A significant statistic from the matchup highlighted the offensive struggles faced by the teams, with the Bengals amassing 912 yards of offense in their two encounters with the Ravens, reflecting the heart-wrenching nature of their one-point losses.
Looking ahead, the Bengals will have a brief reprieve following Thursday’s game, allowing them a few additional days to prepare for their upcoming contest against the Los Angeles Chargers on November 17. They will then enjoy a bye week before facing the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 1.