Ravens Have No Answer For Burrow and the Bengals

Sunday’s week seven matchup between the Ravens and Bengals held great importance in terms of positioning in the AFC north. The Ravens came into Sunday’s game holding on to first place ahead of the visiting Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals would snap the Ravens five game win streak against them in week seven, winning in dominating fashion 41-17.

A week after shutting down Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense, the Ravens defense looked to be hitting their stride, but Sunday showed once again the huge issues this defense still has. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had his way with the Ravens secondary moving the ball at will completing 60 percent of his passes while going over 400 yards. Sunday was the third time this season that the Ravens defense has allowed over 400 yards through the air.

The Bengals got the scoring going with a 52-yard field goal by kicker Evan McPherson, on their second drive of the first quarter. The Ravens would struggle on offense for the entire duration of the first quarter failing to score, a common theme for the Ravens offense so far this season.

The Ravens would finally get on the scoreboard with a 45-yard Justin Tucker field goal early in the second quarter.

Midway through the second quarter after a Ravens punt, the Bengals began their drive on their own 20 yard line. After a Burrow nine yard pass to Tyler Boyd, Burrow found his tight end C.J. Uzomah, who beat Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, wide open down the middle of the field for a 55-yard touchdown. His first of two long touchdowns on the day.

The Ravens however would respond with a touchdown drive of their own on their following offensive possession. Lamar Jackson effectively used his arm and his legs to move the Ravens down to the Bengals one yard line. After a Bengals timeout Ravens running back Devonta Freeman found the end zone to cap off a much needed 10 play 75 yard scoring drive.

Tied at 10 late in the second quarter the Ravens defense looked to keep it that way going into halftime. But Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and his standout rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase had other plans. Burrow would target Chase three times, including a 26-yard catch down to the Ravens 19 yard line. After a Burrow incomplete pass the Bengals would kick a last second field goal to take a 13-10 lead into halftime.

Chase, who had been shut down for much of the first half, would have three catches for 45 yards on the Bengals final drive of the first half. A sign of things to come for him in the second half.

After a less then stellar first half, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense wasted little time trying to flip the momentum of the this game in the Ravens favor. On the second play of the third quarter Jackson found rookie receiver Rashod Bateman for 35 yards down to the Bengals 39 yard line. On the following play Jackson dropped back and found Marquise Brown for a spectacular catch in which Brown barely got two feet down in the back of the end zone for the 39-yard touchdown. The Ravens would take a 17-13 lead early in the third quarter, but it would be all Bengals after that as Ravens would fail to score for the remainder of the game.

On the Bengals first drive of the second half, Burrow would again find his tight end Uzomah for a 32-yard touchdown, his second of the the game, to retake the lead. Uzomah would finish Sunday with three catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns.

Following a Ravens punt, the Bengals would waste no time finding the end zone again. This time it would be Ja’Marr Chase. At the Bengals own 18 yard line, Burrow found Chase on a quick slant. Chase caught the ball and broke three tackles on his way to an 82-yard touchdown. The rookie first round receiver out of LSU was practically unguardable in the second half, finishing Sunday with a game high 8 catches for 201 yards.

The Ravens would once again punt on their following possession. The Bengals offense returned to the field looking to put a stamp on this game. Burrow passed his way down the field converting two third downs to keep the drive alive. After a Tyus Bowser sack on first down and an incomplete pass on second down, the Bengals faced third and long from the Ravens 16 yard line. Burrow received the snap and was immediately hurried by the Ravens blitz. Burrow threw off his back foot into double coverage, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey was in great position to ward off Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase for the interception, the only positive play on the day for the Ravens defense.

Down by 10 going into the fourth quarter, the Ravens turned to Jackson in hopes of another heroic comeback. On first down from their own 35 yard line, Jackson scrambled for 39-yard to the Bengals 26 yard line, however the run would not stand. Ravens tackle Alejandro Villanueva was called for a hold setting the Ravens back to their own 25 yard line. Jackson found Marquise Brown for 13-yards but following three straight incompletions would fail to convert on fourth down.

The Bengals would take over at the Ravens 38 yard line. Following two Joe Mixon runs and a 7-yard run by Samaje Perine. The Bengals faced a second down from the Ravens 21 yard line, Burrow handed the ball off the running back Joe Mixon who went 21 yards almost untouched for the Bengals touchdown.

Now down 34-17, with nine minutes to go in the game the Ravens needed to make something happen to stay alive. Jackson found Ty’Son Williams for 13-yards then used his legs to scramble three plays later for five yards. The Ravens once again faced a fourth down, this time to decide the game. The Ravens Sunday would then be summed up following a false start by tackle Tyre Phillips, who replaced and injured Patrick Mekari. As well as a false start by Marquise Brown moved the Ravens from a fourth and five to now a fourth and long. Jackson would pass short to Ty’Son Williams coming out of the backfield. Williams turned up field but was pushed out of bounds after a gain of only 11 yards, giving the ball back to the Bengals, and all but giving them the win.

With just under eight minutes remaining in the game, the Bengals looked to run the ball to finish off the game and come out of Baltimore with a big division win. But the Bengals were not done scoring. On second down from the Ravens 46 yard line, Samaje Perine finished off his day with a 46-yard touchdown run untouched up the middle. The touchdown would finish off a dominate performance by the Bengals as the stunned the Ravens in Baltimore, to take control of first place in the AFC north.

The Ravens enter the bye week second in the AFC north at 5-2. The Ravens return to action in two weeks to face the Minnesota Vikings at M&T Bank stadium, the final home game of a four game home stand.

Game Notes:

Rashod Batemon had three catches for 80 yards in his second career game.

Lamar Jackson accounted for 88 of the Ravens 115 yards rushing.

The Ravens were out gained on Sunday 520-393.

Sunday was the seventh time in Ravens history they have allowed 41 or more points at home.

The Ravens have allowed 2,073 passing yards through seven games, worst mark in franchise history.