Ravens Win OT Thriller In Cincinnati; Returning Home To Host DC In Week 6

Trailing 38-28, with 8:54 left in the 4th Quarter, the Baltimore Ravens were able to come back and win 41-38 in OT.

With the win, the Ravens improved to 3-2 on the year, and dropped Cincinnati to 1-4 (and 0-3 at home).

The emotions of this game seesawed, and the outcome easily could have been different; but the Ravens found a way.

The Ravens will return home to face Jayden Daniels and a Commanders team who suddenly look like they’re going to factor in the NFC East race.

The Bottomline

If the story from the Week 2 loss vs. Las Vegas was that the Ravens found a way to lose, than the story from this Week 5 game at Cincinnati is that the Ravens found a way to win.

After starting this year 0-2, there were some National pundits talking about the Ravens being in risk of starting 0-5.
Instead, the Ravens have rolled off a 3 game winning streak to climb up over .500, and reestablish themselves as a Super Bowl contender.

What Happened Today? What Are The Takeaways?

What didn’t happen today?

Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow combined for 740 yards, and 9 TD’s.

Burrow and the Bengals were hot offensively.
Burrow would finish 30 for 39, for 392 yards, and 5 TD’s.
It was a near perfect day for him until Marlon Humphrey picked him in the 4th.

Cincinnati was leading 38-35, and had the ball at the Ravens 33 with 3:05 left in regulation when Humphrey came up with the interception.
Jackson and the Ravens offense got to the Bengals 38, and Justin Tucker hit from 56 yards to tie the game.

Prior to Tucker’s kick, I was openly asking at our message board, would Coach Harbaugh give Tucker the opportunity or attempt to go for it on 4th and 6?
Great answer from Tucker after his early season troubles,

Prior to Tucker’s tying FG, the Ravens had used their 3rd Timeout with 1:43 left.
After the kickoff, this allowed Cincinnati to take over on offense with 1:35 left, and in possession of their timeouts.

The Ravens defense was able to rally, starting with a Nnadmi Madubuike sack on 1st down.
The Bengals would punt with 9 seconds left, setting up Overtime.

The Ravens started on offense in OT, and reached the Cincinnati 39, when Jackson fumbled the snap from Tyler Linderbaum.
Cincinnati was then in position to win with a FG, but their attempt was off with a botched snap and hold.

This gave the Ravens new life, taking over from their own 43.
Derrick Henry immediately rushed for a 51 yard gallop to the left, setting up 1st and Goal.
Tucker would end the game with a 24 yard chip shot.

Other Notes?

• The win today is going to be rightfully celebrated, but the outcome today could have easily been different. Burrow lit the Ravens up. Ja’Marr Chase finished with 10 catches for 193 yards and 2 scores. The participants in our game thread were lamenting another week where the Ravens Secondary was getting torched for big gains. A Secondary that includes the individual talents of Kyle Hamilton, Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Marcus Williams, and Brandon Stephens should be much better than this. That makes you think there are issues with the Coaching. Is Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr in over his head? The 32 year old former LB (and 2016 2nd Team All-Pro) has long been well regarded.  He’s said to be very well liked. Making the jump from Inside Linebackers Coach to DC was always going to be an adjustment, with an expected learning curve. Was that the right decision with a team with Championship aspirations?
• 3 sacks for the Ravens today, including one from 2nd year LB Tavius Robinson.
• Big day for the Ravens TE’s.  Charlie Kolar had 3 catches for 64 yards and a score. Mark Andrews had 4 catches for 55 yards.  Isaiah Likely had 2 TD’s on his 3 receptions.
• Rashod Bateman had a season high 8 targets, catching 4 balls for 58 yards and a score.  Zay Flowers had 7 receptions for 111 yards.
• The Ravens pulled within 3 at 38-35, when Jackson recovered his own fumble and found Likely in the back of the end zone.  Nobody but him makes that play. Jackson had a huge game, 348 yards passing, 4 TD’s, and another 55 yards rushing.  For me the only real blemish was the OT fumble, where it looked like Jackson was distracted by an expiring play clock.
• Another tough day for the O-Line, at least the right side.  Just too many players where the Ravens were pushed back. ESPN’s scroll says the Ravens are one of three teams which have shown interest in Las Vegas WR Davante Adams. Could Adams help? Sure. But If the Ravens were going to pull a significant trade, I’d suggest another lineman would be a higher priority. Another missed game for LG Andrew Vorhees.
• Going back to the Defense, it feels to me that they have been beat more on miscommunication, vs. being overwhelmed physically.
• On this week’s episode of ‘Refs Watch’, we’d look to point your attention to the Roughing the Passer penalty Maduibuke got for touching Burrow, along with the facemask penalty which was not called the Bengals Germain Pratt as he covered Andrews late in the 4th.
• Both teams averaged 6.8 yards per play. The Ravens were 10 of 15 on 3rd down, Cincinnati was 8 of 14. 175 yards rushing for the Ravens, with Henry finishing with 15 carries for 92 yards after his 51 yard OT run.

Hosting Washington 

The Commanders will be riding a 4 game winning streak into Baltimore, after beating Cleveland 34-13 today.

Daniels was 14 of 25 vs. the Browns, and has been extremely accurate through his first 5 games.
Daniels also had 82 yards rushing on 11 attempts, his long going for 34 yards.

Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, and Brian Robinson combined for 20 carries, 129 yards, and 3 TD’s today.

Terry McLaurin had 112 yards on 8 attempts, today being his second game this year with 100 or more yards.
Dyami Brown had 2 catches for 57 yards, and a score.

Washington sacked the Browns 7 times today.
LB Frankie Luvu had 2.5 sacks, and LB Bobby Wagner had 1.5.

ESPN’s Match-Up Predictor gives the Ravens a 64.4% chance of winning.