The Bengals rallied past the Ravens 35-13 on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore led 13-0 at halftime, then gave up 35 straight points to Joe Burrow and Cincinnati. With Lamar Jackson out for a third straight game, the Ravens fall to 4-3 and 0-2 in the AFC North. The Bengals improve to 4-2.
A Second Half to Forget
For 30 minutes, Baltimore looked in control. The defense kept Burrow off the scoreboard and the offense built a 13 point cushion.
Then the game flipped. Burrow threw all four of his touchdown passes after halftime, finding Mike Gesicki, Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase and Drew Sample. Samaje Perine added a rushing score. Burrow finished 22 of 30 for 292 yards with no interceptions.
Higgins did the most damage, with six catches for 148 yards and a touchdown.
“We’re riding the wave when it’s good, and we’re riding the wave when it’s bad,” head coach Jesse Minter said afterward. He called it “a bad effort by the defense in the second half.”
Huntley Moves the Ball, but Not Enough
Tyler Huntley made his third straight start in place of Jackson and went 23 of 34 for 298 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Zay Flowers was his top target, catching eight passes for 137 yards and a score.
The Bengals defense took over after the break, sacking Huntley four times and shutting Baltimore out in the second half. Demetrius Knight Jr. picked off Huntley.
“We didn’t make the plays we needed to make in the second half, and we have to do that,” Huntley said.
Injury Watch
Linebacker Roquan Smith hyperextended his right knee making a tackle in the fourth quarter. He returned to the game. “I’m alright. I went back out there, so I’m alright,” Smith said.
Offensive lineman Vega Ioane left with a knee injury and did not return. Minter said he had no update on Ioane after the game.
What’s Next
Baltimore heads to Buffalo for a 1 p.m. kickoff Sunday, Nov. 1, on CBS. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Jackson is likely to return against the Bills after missing three games with a high ankle sprain. Minter was less definitive. “I think over the next couple days we’ll figure that out,” he said.
Stay with Fox Sports 1340 AM and 96.9 FM for Ravens coverage all week, including Lamar Jackson’s status heading into Buffalo.
