By Jeff Zrebiec, Paul Dehner Jr. and Amos Morale III
In another classic duel between two of the NFL’s top passers, Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens erased a 14-point deficit and shut down Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals’ last-minute two-point conversion attempt to win a 35-34 thriller on “Thursday Night Football.”
The visiting Bengals (4-5) led 21-7 in the third quarter as Burrow found star receiver Ja’Marr Chase repeatedly en route to a historic performance. However, a forced fumble by Marlon Humphrey on the Bengals’ next drive kickstarted a Ravens (7-3) stretch of 21 unanswered points as Jackson settled into his MVP-form groove.
Jackson threw three of his four touchdowns on consecutive fourth-quarter drives to put Baltimore out of reach, although Burrow’s four-touchdown night of his own never let the Bengals get far behind.
In the final minute, Cincinnati had a chance to take the lead after Burrow connected with Chase for a third touchdown. However, the Bengals’ two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete.
Humphrey’s strip changed the game
The Ravens trailed 21-7. Their top-ranked offense had been serenaded with boos after its last loss ended with another punt. Burrow seemed primed to lead another long Bengals drive. That’s when Humphrey stripped running back Chase Brown and Smith recovered it. The Ravens turned the turnover in Bengals territory into a touchdown.
That was the start of four straight touchdown drives for the Ravens that gave them the lead. The Ravens haven’t made a ton of plays defensively, but Humphrey’s forced fumble was one of the biggest of the year. It completely changed the game. — Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens beat writer
Jackson was at his best when it mattered most
It was a slow start for the Ravens offense. By midway through the third quarter, they had already punted more than they had all year. But Jackson got going and added another chapter to a potential MVP season.
Jackson completed 25-of-33 passing attempts for 290 yards and four touchdowns. He picked up a few big first downs with his legs. Burrow was again brilliant, but Jackson’s heroics in the fourth quarter led Baltimore to the win. — Zrebiec
Bengals beat themselves, again
The Bengals only have themselves to blame. They did everything right through three quarters to put themselves in position to not just win, but run away with the signature moment of their season. Instead, they penned the signature meltdown of their season.
It’s not just that the Bengals lost, it was nearly all self-inflicted. Brown’s fumble, the three missed tackles on Tylan Wallace’s 84-yard touchdown and throwing incomplete deep balls on third-and-2 and fourth-and-2 in Baltimore territory. Then one more defensive breakdown on the game-winning Ravens touchdown drive.
These were avoidable mistakes and they compiled to turn the game on the head and potentially sink their season. The Bengals continued the theme of finding heartbreaking, nearly impossible ways to lose big games. — Paul Dehner Jr., Bengals beat writer
Cincy defense flashes potential
The Bengals defense looked to have a game they could finally build on in what’s been a largely disastrous season against quality opponents. But when the team needed them most, they reverted to the worst of their tendencies. After forcing five punts, four three and outs and only allowing seven points midway through the third quarter they allowed four consecutive touchdown drives. They suddenly failed to get pressure, tackle effectively or cover in space, all issues they cleaned up through the early portion of the game. — Dehner
Required reading
- NFL Coach of the Year, MVP and biggest surprises (and disappointments) at midseason
- 2025 NFL mock draft: How many QBs crack the top 10? Is Travis Hunter worth the No. 1 pick?
- NFL midseason predictions for every team: Kirk Cousins wins comeback award; NFC East champ is …?
- NFL’s over/under all-stars: Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley among best to bet on so far
(Photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
