With the Ravens completing a season sweep over AFC North rival Cincinnati in a 35-34 win on Thursday night, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Marlon Humphrey’s forced fumble provided the spark, but Lamar Jackson traveling 58.1 yards for a 10-yard scramble on second-and-9 four plays later fully revved the engine. Even when it looks like Jackson’s in trouble, you remember it’s the opposition that always is. A touchdown on that drive was a must.
2. Though fortunate Cam Taylor-Britt didn’t secure what would have been a pick on Baltimore’s final touchdown drive, Jackson has an interception rate of 0.7%, which is roughly half of what it was in his first two MVP seasons. How he takes care of the football remains his most underrated trait.
3. Pro Football Focus credited the pass rush with a season-high 40 pressures as the Bengals attempted 56 passes and a bad offensive line was without its best player in Orlando Brown. Still, it wasn’t coincidence that Travis Jones’ return brought Nnamdi Madubuike’s best game of 2024. Jones makes a difference.
4. With Brandon Stephens struggling, Nate Wiggins seeing more snaps makes sense even if the Ravens continue keeping Humphrey on a pitch count from his October knee injury. That could facilitate potentially using Stephens more at safety, the position Baltimore still envisioned for him as recently as last year.
5. The Bengals lack what it takes to win consistently, but I respected Cincinnati’s aggressiveness, which is necessary trying to keep up with this Ravens offense. That said, the final 2-point play call targeting Tanner Hudson and the unsuccessful third-and-2 and fourth-and-2 deep shots earlier in the fourth quarter were head-scratchers.
6. Per Stats Perform, Joe Burrow owns the only two games in NFL history with 30 completions, 300 passing yards, four touchdown passes, multiple 40-plus-yard touchdown passes, and no more than one interception to result in losses. Both came against Baltimore this year. He has one career win against Jackson. Crazy.
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7. Tylan Wallace used two stiff arms — and Cincinnati’s allergy to sideline tackling — to help double his career receiving yardage in an unforgettable night for someone known for special teams. As Jackson quipped, maybe it was the “Color Rush” uniforms as Wallace’s game-winning punt return last season came while wearing those.
8. A 2-point conversion on the next touchdown made it moot, but Justin Tucker missing a game-tying extra point after Wallace’s touchdown renews concerns about a kicker soon turning 35. This is a thing — to some degree anyway — and it’s the last thing a contender wants on top of defensive concerns.
9. Wallace and Nelson Agholor catching touchdowns a little over a week after the arrival of Diontae Johnson reminds how deep the collection of skill talent is. Johnson playing fewer snaps (five) than he did against Denver (17) was surprising, but nothing is going to be handed to him either.
10. Jordan Stout punted a season-high five times on the first seven possessions before Baltimore scored touchdowns on four straight drives and finished in victory formation. The Bengals did as well against this Ravens offense through nearly three quarters as anyone and still allowed 35 points. How deflating that must be.
11. John Harbaugh defended his opening-drive challenge by citing the cost-benefit and difference defending from the 5-yard line compared to the 2. Valid or not, it didn’t help having to burn another timeout for having too many men on the field moments later. Such mistakes simply cannot continue for this defense.
12. Speaking of miscues, the defense committed three penalties on Cincinnati’s final touchdown drive and easily could have been flagged for more — including on the 2-point conversion stop. The Ravens were obviously happy to win, but it’s not ideal when your offense is starting to get questions about the defensive struggles.
