The Cincinnati Bengals are scoring a lot of points but wasted several chances to beat the Baltimore Ravens.
Winning Sunday’s exciting game would have given them their second straight victory and an early lead in the AFC North. Instead, the Bengals (1-4) fell short again against Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and are left to think about a season that may be slipping away.
Cincinnati fans were hopeful when Evan McPherson, known as “Money Mac” for his kicking skills, came out to attempt a 53-yard field goal that could have won the game in overtime. However, a bad snap from holder Ryan Rehkow led to McPherson missing the kick wide left.
The Ravens took control, and on the next play, Derrick Henry, who had been mostly held in check by the Bengals, charged 51 yards to the Cincinnati 6-yard line, setting up a 24-yard game-winning field goal for Justin Tucker.
Tucker had also kicked a 56-yarder to tie the game in regulation after Joe Burrow threw his only interception. The Bengals then went three-and-out, which sent the game into overtime.
This was a tough loss for Burrow, who threw for 392 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, and for a defense that thought it had managed to contain the tricky Jackson just enough.
“I’m sick to my stomach for our guys in there,” said Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor. “They fought. I’m proud of them, but we’ve got to find a way to win. We can’t keep coming up one play short, and that’s really what the game came down to.”
Burrow was clear about the challenges ahead for the Bengals.
“We’re not a championship-level team right now,” he said. “I’d like to think we’ll come back and improve throughout the season to get to that point, but right now, we are not.”
