Each week we see that Thursday Night Football looks off. It’s typically an ugly game, with teams not fully healthy or prepared.
While this game ultimately saw a lot of points and yardage; tonight’s 35-34 Ravens win over the Cincinnati Bengals was no exception.
It was not a particularly pretty game, but Lamar Jackson and the Ravens found a way to overcome their miscues and beat their AFC North rival for the second time this season.
The Bottomline
With the win, the Ravens improved to 7-3 on the year, and dropped the Bengals to 4-6.
Cincinnati’s road to the post-season is long, and the Ravens now have a mini-bye and can turn their preparation towards the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kyle Hamilton had to leave the game with an ankle injury.
Determining the severity of that injury is the primary immediate concern.
The Ravens defense as a whole continues to collectively underachieve.
There is too much defensive talent, for this group to be this poor.
The players have some responsibility, and accountability with their individual performances.
But the collective underachievement points to coaching.
This is a Super Bowl caliber roster.
The Front Office has to evaluate Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr during this mini bye.
The Front Office wasn’t aggressive about adding defensive talent at the trade deadline (they did trade for Tre’Davious White); so that indicates to me that Ravens GM Eric DeCosta believes in the talent on the roster.
If the talent is good enough, then the coaching is not.
And with the deadline in the rearview, coaching is what can be adjusted at this point.
What Happened Today? What Are The Takeaways?
The Ravens won the coin toss and deferred.
The Bengals immediately went on a 12 play, 70 yard, 5 and 1/2 minute drive for a TD and the 7-0 lead.
On that drive, Cincinnati picked up 3rd and 9, 3rd and 4, and the Ravens (Brandon Stephens) held on 4th and Goal.
Baltimore also burned two timeouts on that opening series, with an unnecessary challenge which failed, and then using a second TO to avoid a potential penalty.
I didn’t love the decision to kickoff.
Clearly the strength of this Ravens team is their offense, and the defense is a liability.
Against a quality Bengals offense, I would have liked to have tried to get a lead right away, vs. giving Cincinnati’s offense the initial opportunity.
That said, the Ravens first drive ended with a quick 3 and out.
The Bengals didn’t score on their 2nd drive, but they did have an 11 play drive, which consumed another 5 minutes.
That drive ended with Joe Burrow incomplete on 4th and 3 from the Ravens 41.
Baltimore would tie the game at 7, with a score on their 2nd drive.
The TD coming with Jackson finding Nelson Agholor in the end zone after rolling right out of the shotgun.
The Ravens and Bengals would each punt twice over the next two four combined series.
Cincinnati would take over from their 27 with 4:02 left in the half.
They put together a 10 play, 73 yard drive for the lead.
This was the drive where Hamilton was hurt.
It was also the drive where it appeared Stephens had come up with an interception in the endzone, but it was overturned when he didn’t get a second foot down.
The Ravens may have put themselves in position for a Field Goal attempt to end the half, if they hadn’t burned their timeouts earlier.
The 3rd Quarter began with the Ravens going 3 and out.
It was another drive with an O-Line penalty, which had the offense playing behind the sticks.
This one was from Daniel Faalele, who I believe had two such penalties.
Ronnie Stanley had one as well.
After the Ravens punted, the Bengals had a 1 play, 67 yard TD drive, when Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for 6.
Down 21-7, the Ravens offense couldn’t do anything on their next possession, going 8 yards on 6 plays and punting again.
Baltimore began to get back into the game on the next Bengals series, when Marlon Humphrey forced a fumble, which was recovered by Roquan Smith.
The Ravens would take over from the Bengals 31.
On 2nd and 9 from the Cincinnati 11, Jackson would scramble back to about the 30, and then work the sideline to set-up 1st and Goal.
Derrick Henry would then cash in for a TD.
The Bengals then had a 8 play, 41 yard drive lapsing from over the last few minutes of the 3rd Quarter into the beginning of the 4th.
That series ended in a punt. On that drive, Nnamdi Madubuike had a big sack along the sideline.
The Ravens took over from their 8.
Facing 3rd and 2 at their own 16 yard line, Jackson would connect with Tylan Wallace on the sideline. Wallace stayed in-bounds, and scampered down the sidelines for the 84 yard score.
Baltimore would have tied the game at 21, but Justin Tucker’s yips continued and he shanked the would-be extra point.
Cincinnati had an 8 play, 34 yard drive which reached the Ravens 34 yard line with 9:29 left in the 4th.
The Bengals elected to not take the 51 yard FG attempt, and instead went incomplete on 4th and 2.
Baltimore then went 65 yards over 7 plays, with Jackson finding Mark Andrews for an 18 yard TD on 3rd and 9.
The Ravens would go for the 2 point conversion, which Jackson converted easily.
This had the Ravens leading 28-21 with 5:50 left in the 4th.
The Bengals would need just 1 play to tie the game, when Burrow and Chase had another 70 yard TD connection.
With the game tied at 28, the Ravens took over from their 30 with 5:37 on the clock.
On 3rd and 6 from their own 34, Jackson found Rashod Bateman for an important 12 yard gain.
That was followed by a 19 yard gain from Zay Flowers to the Bengals 35.
The Ravens were milking the clock, with Jackson and Bateman again connecting, this time for 15 yards, setting up 1st and Goal from the Bengals 8.
After the 2 minute warning, the Ravens would score on 3rd and Goal, with Jackson extending the play and finding Bateman.
Burrow and the Bengals began their last drive at their 30, with 1:45 left.
On 4th and 10 with 1:36 left, Burrow had a 10 yard gain to keep the drive going.
A face mask penalty on Humphrey, and a roughing the passer penalty on Broderick Washington helped put Cincinnati in scoring position.
Chase caught his 3rd TD of the game on 3rd and 3 from the Ravens 5 yard line in the back of the end zone.
With 38 seconds left on the clock, the Bengals elected to go for a 2 point conversion and the possible lead.
The Ravens seemingly got away with multiple penalties and the conversion failed.
Other Notes?
- Burrow had 4 TD’s tonight after his 5 TD’s vs. the Ravens in Cincinnati; and the Ravens managed to win both games.
- Chase had 11 catches, 264 yards and 3 TD’s tonight after 10 catches, 192 yards and 2 TD’s vs. the Ravens in Cincinnati; and the Ravens managed to win both games.
- Burrow and Chase are great players, and they are going to make plays; but letting Chase destroy you like that is insane. Especially with Tee Higgins out. Make someone else make a play.
- Jackson was 25 of 33 for 280 yards, and 4 TD’s. He was the MVP favorite entering tonight, and the odds only improved after this performance.
- Trey Hendrickson had 4 sacks last week, and 11 on the season, but didn’t get a sack tonight against Stanley.
- Madubuike had 3 sacks.
- As we mentioned above, too many drives where the Ravens were playing behind the sticks.
- The Amazon crew (Richard Sherman, Tony Gonzalez, Andrew Whitworth, Ryan Fitzpatrick) were quick to point to Henry having just 16 carries.
- Keaton Mitchell was activated. He had a 30 yard Kick Return. Awesome to see him back.
- 115 yards on 3 receptions for Wallace, including the 84 yard score. Huge night.
- Diontae Johnson had his first Ravens reception, and he also fell down on another opportunity.
- The Bengals were 8 of 16 on 3rd down, and the Ravens were 7 of 12.
- The Ravens finished with 11 penalties for 81 yards.
- Andrews had 6 catches for 68 yards and a TD, Bateman had 6 catches for 54 yards and a TD.
Next Up? A Mini-Bye, Followed By A Trip To Pittsburgh Nov. 17th
The 7-3 Ravens, are 3-2 on the road.
They’ll next travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers.
Pittsburgh is currently 6-2, 3-1 at home.
The Steelers are facing the Commanders in DC Sunday.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.