The 5-4 Bengals entered their Thursday night primetime matchup against the Ravens with the chance to pull within half a game of the top spot in the AFC North. The game was exciting early on, with the Ravens offence rolling, and then the Bengals answering. But in the end, that stuff ended up taking a back seat, with key injuries on both sides becoming the major story.
It was a rough start for the Bengals defence, allowing Lamar Jackson to complete his first 2 passes for 14 and 33 yards respectively. The open gaps in various parts of the field were reminiscent of the issues that plagued the defence against the Texans less than a week ago. Ravens TE Mark Andrews caught a pass to take the ball inside the Cincinnati 5, but sustained an injury that is now feared to be season ending. The Ravens, continuing on without Andrews, found the endzone a couple of plays later, via a Gus Edwards 3 yard run. 7-0 Baltimore.
The Bengals answered with a 50 yard field goal, but later on, McPherson would miss his second attempt. Still, the Bengals kept going, and were able to take the lead in the 2nd quarter. It was a long drive that took over 7 minutes off the clock. The TE’s highlighted the drive, with Hudson making a catch for 21 yards, and Sample later adding one for 13. The drive ended with a 4 yard TD pass from Burrow to Joe Mixon. 10-7 Bengals.
Though a TD is usually good news, this play was bitter sweet. Joe Burrow was in pain immediately after letting the pass go, and was looking at his hand after the play. It appears as though he injured it just before that, during a tackle in which he landed on his right hand. He was eventually ruled out with what was deemed a wrist injury, and early word was a sprain.
The lead was short lived, as the Ravens would add 2 TD’s before the half. Cincinnati’s defence was picked apart on both of them. The first ended with a 37 yard TD catch by Agholor off a tipped pass. Shortly after, the Ravens went 80 yards in 1:07, capping the drive off with a 10 yard strike from Jackson to Bateman. Burrow’s injury, and then 2 quick TD’s allowed, were deflating, after the Bengals had finally seemed to be gaining momentum. The Ravens took a 21-10 lead into the half.
With some help from the run game, and a big pass interference call, Jake Browning was able to lead the offence on a field goal drive to open the half. He did complete a 14 yarder to Trenton Irwin, but also seemed to just chuck up a couple of prayers when looking deep. McPherson’s field goal was from 26 yards out, making the score 21-13 Ravens.
Baltimore would add 2 more field goals, taking a 27-13 lead into the 4th quarter. Cincinnati’s offence continuously failed to produce, and with time running out, the Ravens put the nail in the coffin. It was another TD drive, with yet another big play given up. This time, a 51 yard reception by Odell Beckham Jr. A short time later, Gus Edwards finished off the drive from 3 yards out.
The game was over by now, but Zac Taylor decided to give the offence some more reps in garbage time. Baltimore was playing a bit softer, and Browning had a bit more room to throw the ball. After a 19 yard scramble on 4th & 3, Browning found Tanner Hudson for another 19 yard pickup. Jake Browning added 13 more yards on the ground, and then found Ja’Marr Chase in the endzone from 2 yards out a couple of plays later for his first career TD pass. This made the score 34-20, which is how it ended.
The Bengals fall to 5-5 on the year, and will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at home next week.
UPDATE: On Friday, tests revealed a torn ligament in Burrow’s wrist that will require surgery. He is likely out for the rest of the season. Jake Browning will be bumped up to the starting spot, for the moment, and AJ McCarron will move up to the number 2 spot.
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