The Cincinnati Bengals got five touchdown passes from Joe Burrow and yet still came up short in a 41-38 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Over the course of another bitter AFC North game between these rivals, Joe Burrow continued his hot streak while leading the offense to 30-plus points in a third consecutive game.
The defense, however, continued its spotty play and helped the Ravens stay in it throughout the contest, making even a 10-point lead feel shaky.
Here’s a look at some quick notes and numbers to know.
Quick Thoughts
- Bengals defense got bullied down the field on Baltimore’s opening drive. To its credit, though, it forced a three-and-out later in the quarter.
- That defense lost Dax Hill to injury — he was almost strangely ruled out right away by the team.
- Tee Higgins opened the scoring for the Bengals early in the second quarter. After a brutal start, that scoring drive was 10 plays with six first downs.
- Sam Hubbard continued his “own the Ravens in weird ways” by registering Derrick Henry’s safety, which made it 14-9. Nice play by Hubbard, although a strange one for the Ravens to just not block him.
- Master class in coaching and execution near the end of the half. Good timeout usage by Zac Taylor gave Joe Burrow enough time to hit Ja’Marr Chase for a 41-yard touchdown, then a two-point conversion to steal a lead going into the half.
- Rookie Amarius Mims needed a cart to leave the field after an injury in the third quarter, which is about as worst-case scenario as it gets.
- Bengals swapped out Vonn Bell for Jordan Battle with a 10-point lead and the entire unit looked lost, letting the Ravens score far too quickly.
- Speaking of too quickly, Chase took a basic screen 70-yard for a score on the very next play.
JA'MARR CHASE 70-YARD TD.
FIVE TOUCHDOWN PASSES FOR JOE BURROW.
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- Lou Anarumo kept sending pressure with another 10-point lead and Lamar Jackson just kept torching it.
- Stunningly bad interception from Burrow on a basic slant to Chase while trying to protect a lead, as contact is fine within five yards of the line.
- To the defense’s credit, after Burrow’s pick, it limited the Ravens to a field goal, making it 38-all.
- The Bengals were once again struggling on defense…until Jackson made a stunningly bad mistake of his own, bobbling a snap and fumbling, which Germaine Pratt recovered in field goal range.
- Bad play calls from Taylor, settling for a 53-yard field goal doomed this one in overtime at the end.
Key Stat
469: Total yards for the Ravens. All of Cincinnati’s offensive stats look good, so here’s one that speaks to how bad the defense was again. Most games, it’s near-impossible to win with a defense playing like that.
Game Balls
DE Sam Hubbard: Hubbard had the safety, but he also just generally stuffed the stat sheet and was productive on a day his line finally got some guys back.
QB Joe Burrow: Burrow was on fire most of the day, especially standing tall against pressure, taking some big hits and delivering strikes anyway, leading to his five touchdown passes.
WR Ja’Marr Chase: 10 catches, 193 yards, two touchdowns. What else is there to say at this point?
Top Takeaway
September nap is over…but it might be too late: The Bengals are awake now, which is nice. And 1-4 is indeed a world-ending problem. If they can clean up the defense just a little more, this is the type of offense that can drag it kicking and screaming to wins, but the hole might be too deep.
