I’m still optimistic about the 2024 Cincinnati Bengals. For as brutal as Thursday night’s 35-34 loss to the Baltimore Ravens was, one thing was confirmed that still makes me believe the Bengals will rattle off wins in their next six games to get to 10-6. Joe Burrow in November and December is great.
Joe Burrow’s performance on Thursday night won’t get a lot of attention because the Bengals lost, but it should. Burrow was 34/56 for 428 yards and four touchdowns… with no Tee Higgins, Zach Moss, Orlando Brown Jr., Erick All Jr., getting sacked three times and the Ravens delivering what could have been two knockout punches with touchdowns. Despite all the adversity and shortcomings he was battling, Joe Burrow had answers. He was the most resilient player on the field Thursday night.
When the Ravens took their first lead with 5:50 to play in the fourth quarter, I thought the Bengals would fold. Then again, I shouldn’t doubt Joe Burrow. On the Bengals first play down 28-21, Burrow went right for the home run play by hitting Ja’Marr Chase for a game-tying 70- yard touchdown. After the Ravens scored to go up 35-28, I didn’t know if Burrow was going to be able to lead the Bengals down the field for a game-tying touchdown. He not only did, but he converted a 4th&10 and 3rd&3 on the drive. Not only that, but the Ravens defense was literally in his face the entire drive.
Even though the Bengals didn’t get the two-point conversion, I still come away from this game feeling even better about Joe Burrow. I also come away from this game still optimistic about the Bengals.
Thursday night was another game where Lamar Jackson validated his greatness. In a game where he was dormant for two-and-a-half quarters, Jackson exploded out of nowhere to throw touchdowns on four consecutive drives. His nine-yard run where he ran 58.1 yards just to get the first down is a play that, yes, is maddening. But it’s also one where you have to tip your cap, or shake your head, and give him credit for being the most athletic player in the NFL right now. After that run, he was almost automatic as a passer. MVP’s make great plays in marquee games. That’s what Jackson did on Thursday night.
Jackson is maddeningly amazing. So is the Ravens offense. That’s what stood out to me on Thursday night. It wasn’t that the Bengals defense was bad in the second half, after Chase Brown’s fumble completely altered the momentum of the game. It was that the Ravens, as they have done to so many teams since their 0-2 start, are just so good, so talented, so fast offensively.
Prior to Thursday night, the Bengals defense was getting better. Did they feast on bad offenses? Sure. But you still have to do your job against those bad offenses, which the Bengals defense did. This defense has too many good, or at least solid, players to be a totally inept defense. We saw them hold the Chiefs offense in check for much of the game in Week 2.
What Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase are doing right now is ridiculous. Those two players almost willed the Bengals to a win in Baltimore in a game they had no business winning… yet outplayed the Ravens in. Oh yes. The stats show the Bengals outplayed the Ravens on Thursday night. Pull up a chair, and I’ll tell you the numbers.
For starters, the Bengals outgained the Ravens 470-389 in total yards. They had 27 first downs to the Ravens 20. The Bengals had only three penalties for 23 yards to the Ravens 11 for 81 yards. They had over three minutes more time of possession than the Ravens. The Bengals were 8/16 on third down.
With Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase on offense and Trey Hendrickson on defense, the Playoffs are still possible. Joe Burrow is locked in right now. His resiliency in the fourth quarter last night was incredible. The fact that the Bengals have 10 days until they play the Chargers is an advantage.
In the two full seasons he has stayed healthy, Burrow has led the Bengals to at least the AFC Championship game. He’s been so good this season that he’s nearly overcome a Bengals defense that has taken a considerable step back this season. But aside from the Ravens twice this season, and one bad half against Philadelphia, the defense has gotten a little better as the season has gone on. Last night was about how good Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are, not how bad the Bengals defense was in the second half.
I have wondered ever since Joe Burrow got hurt in Baltimore last year how that game would have played out if he had played the whole game. Thursday night’s game, I believe, was a good indicator of how it would have played out. If Burrow had played all of 2023, I believe the Bengals would have made the Playoffs. They were only one game away from the Playoffs despite not having Burrow for the last seven regular-season games.
Given that, and knowing how good Burrow is in November and December, I believe the Bengals can run the table and make the Playoffs at 11-6. The schedule breaks in their favor now, with just one game in the next 24 days. I saw enough from Joe Burrow, and Ja’Marr Chase, Thursday night to believe this team is still capable of making the Playoffs. The Ravens are a bad matchup for the Bengals, and they’ve already played them twice.
This is as low and devastating a loss as it can get for the Bengals. But a defense with Trey Hendrickson, Mike Hilton, Logan Wilson and B.J. Hill is solid enough not to at least somewhat turn this season around. And with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase on offense having unbelievable seasons, the Playoffs are still possible. To quote Aaron Rodgers, I think the Bengals can run the table. I think the Bengals can win their next six games and get to 10-6 after Week 17. On Playoff Predictor, that would have the Bengals as the No. 5 seed through 17 weeks. In my Playoff Predictor picks, I would have the Bengals playing at Houston in the Wild Card round of the Playoffs with an 11-6 record. That’s a winnable game, and if the Bengals win that game, my Playoff Predictor simulator would have them play at Kansas City in the Divisional round. I believe the Bengals will beat the Chiefs. Needless to say, I still think the Bengals can play in the AFC Championship.
But any Bengals fan, despite the Ravens being a bad matchup for the Bengals, would love the opportunity to play Baltimore a third time, especially given Joe Burrow’s 3-1 road playoff record and the Ravens’ struggles at home in the Playoffs.
The Bengals will still make the Playoffs. With Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow’s record in November and December, I’m not doubting the Bengals.
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