BALTIMORE — The Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens delivered a thrilling Thursday Night Football showdown, marked by standout performances from Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, controversial officiating, and a heart-wrenching finish.
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Burrow and Chase Light Up the Ravens’ Defense
Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase put on a show against the Baltimore Ravens, linking up for crucial plays throughout the game. Burrow finished with 428 yards and four touchdowns on 34-of-56 passing, while Chase recorded one of his best performances with 11 catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Despite their stellar efforts, the Bengals fell 35-34 after a failed 2-point conversion with 38 seconds left.
“They are the best duo in the league right now, and they show it every week,” said Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton. “We just feel like we have to hold up our end, and things could be a lot different. But, it just hasn’t gone our way this season.”
The Turning Point: Bengals’ Turnover and Ravens’ Comeback
The Bengals led 21-7 midway through the third quarter when Raves cornerback Marlon Humphrey caused a game-changing turnover. Humphrey stripped the ball from Benga running back Chase Brown, and the Raens recovered, leading to a 21-0 run that gave them the lead in the fourth quarter.
“It’s crazy to say that,” Chase said. “I would never, in a million years, expect me to play this well and he play this well and we still have a record like this.”
Burrow and Chase Keep the Bengals Competitive
Burrow and Chase did everything possible to keep the Bengals in contention. After the Ravens went ahead, Burrow immediately responded with a 70-yard touchdown pass to Chase, tying the score at 28. When the Ravens regained the lead with 1:49 left and Cincinnati needed a touchdown, Burrow found Chase for a 5-yard touchdown pass in the final minute.
“We knew what situation we were in,” Burrow said. “We had our opportunity. We got down there, went for two, and it just didn’t work out for us. This team is going to continue to put us in good positions, and there’s going to be a point in the season where that turns.”
Controversial Officiating and the Two-Point Conversion
The game’s controversial moment came during the Bengals’ final drive. Joe Burrow’s 428-yard passing performance was marred by missed calls on what could have been the go-ahead two-point try. Defensive holding and a forcible contact to Burrow’s head were not called, drawing criticism from analysts like Terry McAulay and Al Michaels.
“All too often, officials shove the flags deeper into their pockets in moments like that,” said Michaels. “But the rules are still the rules, and when the rules are broken, it shouldn’t matter whether the foul occurred in the last minute of a game or the first.”
Zac Taylor on Two-Point Try: ‘We Came Here to Win’
Bengals coach Zac Taylor elected to go for the win with a two-point conversion instead of a game-tying extra point. Burrow’s pass to Tanner Hudson flew wide, and the fell short. Taylor defended his aggressive decision, stating, “We came here to win. We had our opportunity. We got down there, went for two, and it just didn’t work out for us. This team is going to continue to put us in good positions, and there’s going to be a point in the season where that turns.”
Ravens Hold Off Bengals for Thrilling Win
The Ravens scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions, including three Lamar Jackson touchdown passes, to secure a 35-34 win. Jackson finished the game with 290 passing yards and four touchdowns, sealing a hard-fought victory for Baltimore.
Marlon Humphrey’s forced fumble in the third quarter was a pivotal moment. “We lost the turnover battle 1-0,” said coach Zac Taylor. “I think that was big. It was 21-7 at that point when we gave them seven points right there on the fumble, they had the big play, and then it kind of went back-and-forth from there.”
Post-Game Analysis: Highlights and Players’ Reactions
Chase deferred the question of whether Thursday night was his best performance, but coach Zac Taylor praised both Burrow and Chase for their exceptional play. “I thought Ja’Marr stepped up in a major way,” Taylor said. “Anytime we could find ways to get him the ball, I thought Joe did a great job of that. And Ja’Marr finished a lot of those plays for us. I thought they played excellent.”
Burrow also praised Chase’s performance, saying, “Ja’Marr is a special player. He’s got a lot of speed, a lot of quickness, and he’s got great hands. He’s a guy that we can count on to make plays for us.”
Next Steps for the Bengals and Ravens
The Bengals (4-6) will face the Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) on “Sunday Night Football,” while the Ravens (7-3) will take on the AFC North leader Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) next Sunday. Both matchups could have significant AFC playoff implications.
“We’re going to keep fighting,” said Burrow. “We’re going to keep playing for each other, and we’re going to try to win as many games as we can.”
Christian McCaffrey’s Return to the 49ers
In other NFL news, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan announced that star running back Christian McCaffrey will make his season debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. McCaffrey has been on injured reserve since September 14 due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis.
“He’s been awesome these last two days,” Shanahan said. “You never know [about] a setback or anything, but these two days have been great, and I expect to see him out there.”
McCaffrey’s return to practice has offered a notable boost for the 4-4 49ers, according to coaches and teammates.
“It’s been awesome,” quarterback Brock Purdy said. “Just what he brings to the table and really just firing everybody else up around. All of us coming off the bye week and feeling good and fresh and then you get 2-3 next to you in the backfield, it’s been awesome. Looks great moving around and he’s trending in the right direction. So, we’re excited to see what happens.”
Additional Resources:
- NFL Official Website:Â www.nfl.com
- ESPN NFL Coverage:Â www.espn.com/nfl
- NFL Network:Â www.nfl.com/network
- Joe Burrow’s NFL Profile:Â www.nfl.com/players/joe-burrow
- Ja’Marr Chase’s NFL Profile:Â www.nfl.com/players/jamarr-chase
- Lamar Jackson’s NFL Profile:Â www.nfl.com/players/lamar-jackson
- NFL Stats and Standings:Â www.nfl.com/stats
Social Media:
- Follow on Twitter:Â @Bengals
- Follow on Twitter:Â @Ravens
- Follow the NFL on Twitter:Â @NFL
- Follow Joe Burrow on Twitter:Â @JoeyB
- Follow Ja’Marr Chase on Twitter:Â @Real10jayy__