Baltimore Ravens stage thrilling comeback to edge Cincinnati Bengals in AFC North showdown

The Baltimore Ravens pulled off a dramatic 35-34 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night at M&T Bank Stadium, erasing a 14-point third-quarter deficit with four consecutive touchdowns. In a classic AFC North battle, the Ravens stifled a late two-point conversion attempt by the Bengals to secure the win.

The teams were meeting for the second time in a month, following a high-scoring, overtime thriller in Week 5, where the Ravens prevailed 41-38. This game was no less exciting, with both offenses dominating the action. Lamar Jackson, fresh off a perfect passer rating performance in a 41-10 victory over Denver, continued his stellar play, throwing for 290 yards and four touchdowns. His performance kept him firmly in the race for a third MVP award.

Despite a promising start, the Bengals found themselves trailing as the game progressed. They built a 21-7 lead in the third quarter, powered by a sensational performance from quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Burrow passed for 428 yards and four touchdowns, while Chase was unstoppable, finishing with 11 catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Chase’s performance made him the first player in NFL history to record multiple 250-plus yard receiving games, each with at least two touchdowns.

Cincinnati’s momentum seemed to be enough for them to close out the game. However, after Burrow connected with Chase for a 5-yard touchdown to bring the Bengals within one point, the Bengals went for a two-point conversion with just 38 seconds left. The attempt, however, was unsuccessful. Burrow’s pass sailed over tight end Tanner Hudson, and the Ravens defense held firm.

Controversy followed, as some believed the Bengals were denied a potential penalty on the play. Burrow had been hit on the facemask by a Ravens defender, and there was a possible defensive holding that went uncalled. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor voiced frustration after the game, saying, “We had an opportunity, we went down there, went for two, and it just didn’t work out for us.”

Chase’s 67-yard touchdown earlier in the game had given the Bengals a 21-7 advantage, marking his 11th career touchdown of 60-plus yards—a franchise record. The Bengals appeared in control, but the Ravens’ defense made a critical play to turn the tide. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey forced a fumble from Bengals running back Chase Brown, and the Ravens recovered the ball on Cincinnati’s 31-yard line.

From there, Jackson and running back Derrick Henry led the Ravens on a quick comeback. On a 2nd-and-9 at the Bengals’ 11-yard line, Jackson scrambled out of the pocket, evading defenders and sprinting for a 10-yard gain. The next play saw Henry plunge into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown, cutting the Bengals’ lead to 21-14.

Baltimore wasn’t done. On their next possession, Jackson connected with Tylan Wallace for an 84-yard touchdown, though kicker Justin Tucker’s missed extra point left the Ravens still trailing, 21-20. Momentum shifted further in Baltimore’s favor when Jackson found Mark Andrews for an 18-yard touchdown, and then converted the ensuing two-point attempt to give the Ravens a 28-21 lead.

Cincinnati responded quickly, with Burrow hitting Chase for a 70-yard touchdown to tie the game at 28 with 5:37 left. But Jackson, undeterred, orchestrated another quick drive, capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman, putting the Ravens ahead 35-28 with just under two minutes remaining.

Bateman, who was on the receiving end of the game-winning touchdown, had high praise for Jackson after the game. “He’s a leader,” Bateman said. “He’s been doing it week in and week out. Lamar is Lamar, and I think that’s all I can say about Lamar.”

In the end, the Bengals’ final attempt to tie the game fell short, and the Ravens held on for the win. The victory pushed Baltimore’s lead in the AFC North to 7-3, while Cincinnati dropped to 4-6 on the season. The win also gave the Ravens a 32-27 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams.

Thursday night’s game showcased the thrilling, back-and-forth nature of AFC North football. It was a game filled with big plays, explosive offenses, and a nail-biting finish that left fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.