The Cincinnati Bengals got a massive showing from Joe Burrow and the offense during the Week 5 encounter with the Baltimore Ravens.
Yet, the bad defense continued and some iffy play calls from Zac Taylor in overtime doomed the Bengals to a 41-38 loss.
Here is a look at some quick takeaways coming out of the Week 5 AFC North clash.
Offense is elite
That’s three straight games with 30-plus points for the Bengals. Burrow looks about as comfortable as it gets behind the best line play he’s ever had and the results speak for themselves. Even without a big day from the running game and constantly under pressure from a blitz-happy defense, Burrow ripped five touchdown passes with 372 yards and Ja’Marr Chase popped off for 10 catches, 193 yards and two touchdowns.
Defense missed key names
Obvious, sure. But how about the return of former first-rounder Myles Murphy and his big impact on the game in all facets? Getting B.J. Hill back in the middle helped too, but Murphy was a super-obvious boon to the edge rotation. It didn’t save the entire unit’s poor play, but it helped get a few more stops than past weeks.
Injuries: Time to panic
While lots of good happened on Sunday, two major injury mishaps are major causes for concern. One was losing starting cornerback Dax Hill to an injury. The former safety and first-rounder who won the starting job this summer is a key piece, especially with Cam Taylor-Britt so hot and cold over the last two weeks. The other was first-round rookie Amarius Mims needing a cart to leave the field, for obvious reasons. There’s no viable backup with Trent Brown already out. Mims returned late, but who knows?
Dynamic swap
In past years, it was the defense making some key turnovers and remaining steady that led to deep playoff runs. This year, the script has flipped and it’s all about the offense. Burrow looks perhaps the best he’s ever played, his line is good and his weapons are healthy. With how wild the AFC North is, it’s not 100 percent over, but 1-4 is brutal.
