Thursday Night Football in Baltimore – a key divisional matchup and a chance to get the season back on track and build on their win from last week. This was a big one for the Bengals. The season through 9 weeks had been inconsistent, and winning on the road against a tough divisional opponent would have been a statement. Things started off nicely, but in usual fashion, began to slip away in the 2nd half.
Cincinnati got the ball to start the game, and they got to work. A 26 yard pass to Ja’Marr Chase on 3rd & 9 really got the drive going. Later, Andrei Iosivas caught a 19 yarder on 3rd & 4 to again keep the chains moving. The Bengals had 1st & goal from the 5, but quickly ended up with 4th & goal from the 2. Pressure caused a scrambling Joe Burrow to miss an open Chase Brown. However, a penalty gave them a new set of downs. On 1st down, Brown punched it in from a yard out. 7-0 Bengals.
The Bengals forced a punt and got the ball back. They were driving, but the Ravens defence eventually got them to 4th & 3 at the Baltimore 41. Cincinnati kept the offence out there, but questionably took a deep shot to Burton, resulting in an incompletion.
With good field position after the turnover on downs, the Ravens offence looked a lot better than they did on their first drive. Lamar Jackson found Mark Andrews for 17 yards, and later Zay Flowers for 11. They continued to pick up some modest gains as they went down the field. On 1st & goal from the 6, Jackson found Agholor for the TD. 7-7.
After some nothing drives from both sides, the Bengals went on another long one before the half. Burrow completed passes to his TE’s, Hudson and Gesicki. Ja’Marr Chase and Chase Brown also picked up some chunk yardage, as they progressed down the field. Burrow found Jermaine Burton for 11 on 3rd & 5 to move the chains and set them up with 1st & goal at the 3. From there, Burrow found Hudson for the TD. 14-7 Bengals at the half.
After forcing a Ravens punt to start the half, the Bengals wasted no time adding to their lead. In fact, one play was all they needed. It was a 67 yard catch and run by Ja’Marr Chase, putting the Bengals up 21-7.
Later in the 3rd quarter, Chase Brown coughed up the ball at his own 30, and the Ravens recovered, giving them a much needed lifeline. Just five plays later, they punched it in, via a Henry 1 yard run. 21-14 Bengals.
After a Bengals punt, the Ravens quickly put more points on the board. It was a 92 yard drive, with the TD coming on an 84 yard catch and run by Wallace. He tiptoed down the sideline, and somehow, no Bengal defender was able to push him out. Tucker missed the extra point, which preserved the Bengals lead, 21-20.
Another deep shot on 4th & short resulted in another turnover on downs for the Bengals. And again, the Ravens made them pay. Mark Andrews made a couple of chunk plays on the drive, including his 18 yard TD. Jackson ran it in for the 2 point conversion, giving the Ravens their first lead of the game, 28-21.
Joe Burrow and the Bengals responded with their second one play drive of the game. The first was a 67 yarder to Chase. This one was to Chase again, for 70 yards. It was a deep shot over the top, and it tied the game at 28.
The Ravens, however, again were able to answer. Early in the drive, Cam Taylor-Britt appeared to have an interception. However, video replay revealed that the ball hit the ground. Baltimore proceeded to go down the field, with guys like Bateman and Flowers making some big plays. On 3rd & goal from the 5, Jackson found Bateman for the TD. 35-28 Ravens.
The Bengals, with 1:11 left on the clock, were in need of a TD. But they quickly found themselves facing 4th & 10. On 4th, Burrow found Iosivas right at the line to gain to keep the drive going. This after a missed face mask all a couple of plays earlier. They eventually made their way down the field, with a 21 yard completion to Chase being one of the highlights. Now facing 3rd & 3 from the 5 yard line, Burrow found Chase in the end zone for his 3rd TD of the game.
Zac Taylor elected to go for 2 points to take the lead. However, the pass, intended for Hudson, fell incomplete. Holding on Gesicki and a facemask on Burrow both went uncalled on the play, handing a 35-34 win to the Ravens.
The Bengals fall to 4-6, and will take on the Chargers next week on Sunday Night Football.
Modified Thumbnail Image Via: All-Pro Reels (CC)