Bengals Lose Pivotal Game 41 -38 to Ravens in OT

Date: Monday October 7, 2024

Writer: Anthony Iles

Sunday was a classic AFC North battle coming down to the wire. Sometimes these games are low scoring but not yesterday. The Ravens and Bengals offenses both displayed how they can score quickly or sustain long drives and get TDs. Defenses showed flashes of stopping drives but for the most part both offenses dictated the game. The Bengals effectively stopped the run until the second to last play in OT. They forced the Ravens to pass most of the game.

Ravens QB Jackson went 26/42 for 348 yards & 4 TDs along with 55 rushing yards. Bengals QB Burrow went 30/39 for 392 yards & 5 TDs 1 INT along with 1 rushing yard. Chase had 10 catches 193 yards 2 TDs & Higgins had 9 catches 83 yards 2 TDs.

The defense failed to make key stops in the 4th quarter. Additionally, a costly INT by Burrow allowed the Ravens to tie the game at the end of regulation. In OT, the Ravens won the toss. Jackson had a costly fumble. The Bengals got into field goal range to win the game. However, a botched placement of the ball cost McPherson to miss the kick left. The Ravens got the ball. They advanced into field goal range. Tucker nailed the kick to win a thriller in Cincinnati.

Bengals drop to 1-4 and all 3 losses combine to 15 points they have lost by. This illustrates the importance of making key plays at the end of games. Securing those plays can shift a record from 1-4 to 4-1. If the defense can clean up some things as they get healthy, and they match what the offense is doing, the Bengals can become a very dangerous team. They can make a run. It is going to be a tall task but if any team can do it this Bengals team can. It will be one game at a time and one win at a time.

Bengals “BYE” Week is week 12. They have 7 games to get on track. They aim to possibly be 8 – 4 or 7 – 5. This record would put them back into the playoff hunt. Bengals play Giants, Browns, Eagles, Raiders, Ravens, and Chargers before the BYE week. Bengals have a chance to be 5 – 4 before playing the Ravens. If they can do this and then beat the Ravens in Baltimore, the Bengals could be 6 – 4. They would then have the split with Ravens matchups this season.

This Bengals season is not what people expected but each season has its journey. Can the Bengals climb out of this and get back into playoff contention? I think so. I believe they can. Time for them to close out the 4th quarters and get some Ws.

Who Dey!!