The return of Joe Burrow to the Cincinnati Bengals seemed to energize the entire team as they beat the Baltimore Ravens 32-14. The Ravens drop to 6-6, while this win brings the Bengals to 4-8 and two and a half games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place.
Recap of the Bengals’ 32-14 Win
The Bengals started off the game slowly on offense. While driving into the red zone multiple times in the first half, including being 1st and goal from the 2-yard line, the Bengals were unable to get the ball into the end zone. Evan McPherson kicked four field goals in the first half, and the Bengals went into halftime up 12-7.
The second half was a different story for the Bengals. The Bengals came out and scored points on their next three possessions, two of which were passing touchdowns for Burrow, and took a 29-14 lead in the fourth quarter. Burrow ended up throwing for 261 yards and two touchdowns. In comparison, Chase Brown had 113 total yards on the day, and Ja’Marr Chase had 110 receiving yards as well.
The real story of the day was the Bengals’ defense. They forced five turnovers on the day. The Bengals forced four fumbles on the day, and Demetrius Knight intercepted a tipped pass in the red zone in the early minutes of the fourth quarter. That interception happened while Baltimore was driving to make it a one-score game again. Instead, the Bengals drove down and kicked a field goal to go up 15.
The Bengals’ defensive line made things difficult for Lamar Jackson all game. Myles Murphy, Joseph Ossai, and co. were putting pressure on Lamar, causing him to have to move. Multiple times, the pressure caused a turnover, notably when Ossai hit Lamar. He fumbles the ball into Cedric Johnson’s waiting arms. Murphy also tipped the pass that Knight picked off in the fourth.
This is the first game, possibly all seasons, that the offense and defense seemed to play complementary football and play well at the same time. Can the Bengals keep this up next week when they go to Buffalo to play the Bills? They will have to if they want any chance of making the playoffs.
Is It Too Little – Too Late for the Bengals?
Bengals fans are feeling good after their win tonight. Not only did they get to watch Burrow play football again, but they also beat their bitter rival, the Ravens. While tonight was a great game for the Bengals, probably the best all-around game they have played all year, is it just too late in the season for it to matter?
The Bengals currently sit two games behind the Ravens and 2.5 games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place in the AFC North. The Bengals still have challenging games against the Bills and the Ravens again the next two weeks before they play the Dolphins, Cardinals, and Browns to finish the season. If the Bengals want any shot at the playoffs, they will have to win out.
The Ravens and Steelers still have both of their games against each other left. Pittsburgh still plays the Bills, Dolphins, Lions, and Browns, along with the two Ravens games to close out their season. Meanwhile, the Ravens play the Steelers twice, along with the Patriots, Packers, and Bengals again. Neither has an easy schedule left, but both are good enough to win each of their games.
Multiple scenarios would have to happen for the Bengals to make the playoffs, and they all start with the Bengals winning out. After that, they need help from multiple teams, especially against the Steelers, whom they don’t play again. It’s exciting to watch good football, and it’s exciting to watch Burrow again, but all of this might just be too little too late for the Bengals this season.
