Week 5 is a bit early for a playoff recreation, but it surely certain felt that method when the Baltimore Ravens squared off in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals in what turned out to be an impressive quarterbacks’ duel and 41-38 additional time win for Baltimore.
Week 5 can also be a bit early for a referendum recreation, but it surely certain felt that method for Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
Week 5 is positively a bit early for crowning the landing go of the yr, however Lamar Jackson could have pulled it off for the Baltimore Ravens.
Jackson appeared to have made a catastrophic additional time mistake, fumbling away a snap, however Cincinnati missed a profitable discipline aim try, and Derrick Henry made the Bengals pay on the very subsequent play with a 51-yard dash that arrange Baltimore’s walkoff discipline aim.
The moment-classic showdown started as a typical AFC North rock struggle, however the second half changed into an Olympic dash. The groups mixed for an astounding six straight touchdowns to start out the second half, then settled issues with a chaotic back-and-forth additional time.
The sport started with a little bit of historical past. On the Ravens’ first collection, Henry rumbled into the top zone for his one hundredth profession landing; he’s solely the twenty seventh participant in NFL historical past to hit triple digits in touchdowns. Jackson later discovered Rashod Bateman to take a 14-7 lead halfway by the second quarter.
However then the 2024 Bengals started to look extra just like the Bengals of yore — or the Tigers of Burrow’s faculty days at LSU. Cincinnati halted Henry ultimately zone for a security, then ran off one other 15 unanswered factors to take a 24-14 lead.
Burrow, who has successfully addressed all lingering damage considerations, delivered two highlight-reel passes in that run, beginning with a 41-yard landing go to Ja’Marr Chase:
He later discovered Andrei Iosivas in double protection with a pinpoint rainbow that arrange Burrow’s third landing go, and second to Tee Higgins:
Additionally within the combine: an odd play the place the officers wouldn’t let Cincinnati snap the ball … then dinged the Bengals for a delay-of-game penalty as a result of they didn’t snap the ball.
The second half was a flat-out dash, with the primary six mixed possessions ending in touchdowns, none smoother than Jackson’s good disaster-to-glory landing go with lower than six minutes remaining within the recreation:
Burrow’s interception late within the fourth quarter ended the nothing-but-touchdowns second-half run on the worst attainable time for Cincinnati. Luckily for the Bengals, Jackson and the Ravens weren’t in a position to flip that into one other landing; they managed to wrangle a 56-yard discipline aim from Justin Tucker to tie the sport at 38-38.
Then got here additional time, and Jackson’s essential mistake. In Cincinnati territory and driving, the Ravens appeared primed to nail down a game-winning landing. However Jackson fumbled the snap, and Cincinnati performed conservatively to arrange a discipline aim … that Evan McPherson missed after a botched maintain.
On the very subsequent play, Henry stomped for 51 yards, organising Tucker’s winner.
The loss spoiled what had been an impressive day for Burrow. He threw for 392 yards and a career-high 5 touchdowns, however that fourth-quarter interception when the Bengals led by 3 allowed the Ravens to power additional time. Jackson, in the meantime, was 26 of 42 for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns, and the missed discipline aim meant his additional time fumble did not find yourself costing Baltimore the sport. Henry carried the ball 15 yards for 92 yards.
Cincinnati is now in a world of hassle, at 1-4 and taking a look at an enormous mountain to climb to get again into the playoff hunt. Baltimore, in the meantime, has resolved all considerations after its 0-2 begin, with three straight wins and an offensive assault that is clearly working to (close to) perfection.
Trying forward, the Ravens have the Battle of I-95 subsequent week, dealing with off in opposition to Washington, adopted by highway video games in opposition to Tampa Bay and Cleveland. Cincinnati, in the meantime, can have highway video games in opposition to the Giants and Cleveland earlier than welcoming within the Eagles. By then, the identification of each of those groups will probably be quite a bit clearer, for higher or worse.