Week 10 started off with a bang as the Baltimore Ravens escaped with a 35-34 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on “Thursday Night Football.” The Ravens and Bengals traded touchdowns during an epic prime-time shootout in Baltimore.
Yet, an entertaining game was overshadowed by a controversial decision as the Bengals went for the win with a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati didn’t want to leave their fate in the hands of the Ravens, and the NFL world had differing opinions on the bold decision.
Bengals-Ravens Shootout Overshadowed by Controversial Decision
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor kept his scorching hot offense on the field for a two-point conversion attempt to take the lead with 38 seconds remaining in the game. Joe Burrow dropped back, and his pass to Tanner Hudson fell incomplete.
While the Ravens celebrated a game-winning stop, many questioned whether the Bengals should have kicked the extra point and likely sent the game into overtime.
The Bengals go for two.. @Ravens get the stop! pic.twitter.com/EoIhYCfQVQ
— NFL (@NFL) November 8, 2024
While many questioned Taylor’s decision to go for two, the broadcast crew for “Thursday Night Football” was critical of the missed penalties on the biggest play of the game.
Former NFL official and rules analyst Terry McAulay believed the referees could have called defensive holding and roughing the passer against the Ravens.
Terry McAulay felt the Ravens got away with 2 penalties on the game-deciding 2-point attempt.
"It was clearly defensive holding…and that does look like forceable contact to the head of the quarterback," McAulay.
"Too many games end this way. They just do," Al Michaels. pic.twitter.com/Pl7WqjdWr6
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 8, 2024
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles was heavily criticized for settling for an extra point and going into overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9. Mina Kimes of ESPN offered a hilarious take on the irony of those who criticized Bowles for kicking an extra point and are now upset at Taylor for being aggressive.
NFL Twitter when Todd Bowles doesn’t go for 2 and fails: 🤬
NFL Twitter when Zac Taylor goes for 2 and fails: 🤬
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) November 8, 2024
Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was on fire against the Ravens, as he had 11 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns in Week 10. However, Taylor confusingly didn’t draw up a play for Chase on the biggest play of the game.
Joel Smyth criticized Taylor for opting to instead draw up plays for rookie wide receiver Jermaine Burton and tight end Tanner Hudson in critical moments, including Cincinnati’s two-point conversion attempt.
Only Zac Taylor draws it up for Jermaine Burton and Taylor Hudson every 4th down play when Ja’Marr Chase has 264 yards pic.twitter.com/XQAoF0ezLN
— Joel Smyth (@fantasysmyth) November 8, 2024
During Taylor’s postgame press conference, Cincinnati’s head coach was asked about his decision to go for the lead with a two-point conversion attempt.
“We came here to win,” Taylor said. While many will continue to question Taylor’s decision, it’s hard to fault his reasoning given the success of Baltimore’s offense on Thursday night.
#Bengals coach Zac Taylor on the decision to go for two:
"We came here to win." pic.twitter.com/IGLgoEOzpQ
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) November 8, 2024
Taylor attempted to break the trend of teams becoming cowards in close-game situations, which we witnessed last week. David Bearman of Pro Football Network highlighted that four teams scored a touchdown while down seven points in the final two minutes of a game in Week 9.
All four teams settled for an extra point to tie the game, and all four teams eventually lost. Taylor tried to be aggressive and go for two in Week 10, although he ultimately lost as well.
This week, Seattle, Miami, New England and TB all scored a TD down 7 in final 2 minutes.
None went for 2.
All 4 lost.
— David Bearman (@DavidBearmanPFN) November 5, 2024
Tim McManus of ESPN believes Taylor made the right decision to go for two and the lead against the Ravens. McManus also pointed out that the Bengals caught a tough break due to the two missed penalties on the two-point conversion attempt.
Similar to many others, McManus also questioned Cincinnati’s play call, considering that Chase wasn’t targeted on the biggest play of the game in Week 10.
Right decision to go for 2. Tough break on non-call. And maybe target Chase?
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) November 8, 2024
Thursday night’s disappointing loss wasn’t the first time Taylor has fallen short in close-game situations. According to Common Bengals W on X (formerly Twitter), the Bengals are now 9-21 in games decided by three points or less during Taylor’s tenure as head coach.
While many will point to the missed calls as to why Thursday night’s two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, close-game failures seem to be commonplace in Cincinnati.
The Bengals are now 9 for 30 under Zac Taylor in games decided by three points or less.
He's also 0-6 in those situations in the preseason. Many will say that doesn't count but that number is hard to ignore.
— Common Bengals W by Sean Ross Sapp (@CommonBengalsW) November 8, 2024