For the second time in two games against division rivals the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday blew a big lead, losing 35-34 in the NFL.
Cincinnati were on the cusp of reaching .500 following an 0-3 start, but those hopes vanished as quickly as their 14-point lead in the third quarter.
It is a frustrating pattern that has put the struggling team in danger of missing the playoffs, despite the outstanding play of Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.
Photo: AFP
In their previous game against Baltimore last month, the Bengals (4-6) frittered away a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter before losing 41-38 in overtime.
On Thursday, Cincinnati led 21-7 before running back Chase Brown had the ball stripped and lost a fumble that Baltimore recovered at the Cincy 31.
Five plays later, the Ravens (7-3) scored a touchdown to ignite their comeback.
Photo: AFP
“We gave them seven points right there with the fumble,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “It kind of went back and forth from there.”
When the teams got done trading touchdowns, the Ravens were one point better after Cincinnati failed on a two-point conversion with 38 seconds remaining.
Burrow went 34 for 56 for 428 yards and four touchdowns, three of them to Chase, who racked up 264 yards receiving on 11 catches and scored on plays of 67, 70 and 5 yards.
In two games against Baltimore, Burrow has thrown for 820 yards and nine TDs. Chase has amassed 457 yards and five touchdowns.
“It’s crazy,” Chase said. “I would never in a million years expect me to play this well and he [Burrow] play this well and still have the record like this.”
Chase has a knack for getting open against the Ravens and Burrow usually gets him the ball, but with the outcome hanging in the balance, Burrow’s throw on the two-point conversion whistled past the lesser-known Tanner Hudson.
Asked if he was open on the play, Chase replied: “Yeah, I’m always open.”
“It sucks losing to those guys, but if we keep playing and win, we’ll be where we want to be,” he added.
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