BALTIMORE – Quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase delivered two of the most memorable performances in Bengals history Thursday night at M&T Bank Stadium. However, despite Burrow’s 428 yards and Chase’s three touchdowns, the Ravens secured a 35-34 victory by stopping a two-point conversion with 38 seconds remaining.
The Bengals suffered a close loss to the Ravens, 35-34, after narrowly falling short on a two-point conversion with 38 seconds left .Despite Joe Burrow’s impressive 428 passing yards and four touchdowns, including a late five-yard pass to Ja’Marr Chase, who scored his NFL-leading tenth touchdown, turnovers proved costly. Missed opportunities also played a significant role in the loss. Head coach Zac Taylor was aggressive throughout. He opted for fourth-down plays over long field goals and made a risky decision to go for a two-point conversion in the final minutes. However, the Ravens capitalized on a Bengals fumble in the third quarter, scoring four straight touchdowns and sealing the win.
TALE OF TWO Ds:
The Bengals defense shined in the first half, limiting the Ravens to just 102 yards. They also held Lamar Jackson to 71 passing yards, which led to a 14-7 halftime advantage. Slot cornerback Mike Hilton highlighted the half by tackling Diontae Johnson inbounds, preventing a last-second field goal attempt. However, the second half told a different story. The Ravens amassed over 300 yards as Jackson showcased his MVP form, avoiding sacks and finishing with a 141 passer rating. His 84-yard touchdown pass to Tylan Wallace, who dodged multiple tackles, proved crucial in the Ravens’ comeback. Despite solid efforts from Bengals defenders like Cam Taylor-Britt, missed tackles proved costly. A lack of turnovers also contributed to the Bengals’ loss.
CHASE AGAIN I:
Ja’Marr Chase delivered another explosive play against the Ravens. He scored a 67-yard catch-and-run touchdown on the Bengals’ first snap of the second half. Burrow expertly stepped up in the pocket and connected with Chase across the middle. Chase then sprinted down the sideline untouched, outrunning Ravens defenders for a 21-7 lead. This marked Chase’s 11th career touchdown of 60+ yards, setting a Bengals record and continuing his dominance in long-distance scores. It was a familiar field for Chase’s highlight plays. He had an 82-yard touchdown here in 2021 and a recent 70-yarder against the Ravens in Cincinnati.
CHASE AGAIN II:
Chase and Burrow struck back with a 70-yard touchdown, tying the game at 28 just 13 seconds later. Burrow found Chase on a post route against a quarters defense, resulting in Chase’s 12th career 60+ yard touchdown, tying him with Homer Jones for the NFL record. Reflecting on the season’s close games, Chase emphasized the need to find ways to finish strong.
