Ben Baby, ESPN Staff Writer
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow sat at his locker for a number of minutes, arms folded, one leg crossed over the opposite, assessing the aftermath of Sunday's 41-38 additional time loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
For a lot of the day, the Bengals led and appeared poised to open play within the AFC North with a victory — their second straight. But on a number of events, Cincinnati noticed that lead slip away earlier than the Ravens ultimately sealed the cope with Justin Tucker's 24-yard area objective.
As Burrow mirrored on the result, one factor was evident: After the fourth loss in 5 video games to begin the season, Burrow mentioned it was irritating {that a} group that began the yr with title aspirations is nowhere shut.
“We're not a championship-level team right now,” Burrow mentioned. “We're not. I like to think that we'll come back and improve throughout the season to get to that point, but right now we are not and we have to get better.”
It appeared like there was little extra the offense may do after one other productive outing. Cincinnati scored 30 factors for the third straight sport. Burrow threw for a career-high 5 touchdowns on 30-of-39 passing for 5 touchdowns, although he did additionally throw a pricey interception within the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had 10 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns.
But it was not sufficient. The protection allowed greater than 38 factors for the second straight sport. After Cincinnati led 38-28 with 8:54 left in regulation, the Ravens scored 13 unanswered factors.
For Chase, that amplified the frustration felt after Sunday's loss.
“I think that's what's causing us to be mad, for the most part,” Chase mentioned at his locker after the sport. “Just putting up 30 points and losing right there.
“That's what we wish to do as an offense — put up 30 factors and take over the sport. Put the ball in our fingers final drive and take over. That's what we wish, and we did not do it.”
Chase and fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins lamented the lack of aggressiveness during a wacky overtime period. Baltimore won the toss to start the extra period and was driving down the field for a potential game-winning touchdown. However, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson fumbled a snap while in the shotgun, and Cincinnati linebacker Germaine Pratt recovered the ball and took it to Baltimore's 38-yard line.
Cincinnati ran the ball on three straight plays to set up a field goal attempt for kicker Evan McPherson. Since he was drafted in 2021, McPherson has hit nine game-tying or go-ahead field goals in the last two minutes of regulation or in overtime, according to ESPN Research. But a poor hold by rookie punter Ryan Rehkow played a role in the 53-yarder that missed wide left.
When asked about the conservative approach on that drive, Bengals coach Zac Taylor said he didn't want to risk a sack or holding penalty in that situation. He said that there was a pass called on that series of plays but that Burrow did a good job of checking into a run play that was more favorable given the defensive look.
“When you are in area objective vary and also you imagine in your kicker, it actually is so simple as that,” Taylor said.
But instead of back-to-back victories, the Bengals are now trying to overcome the odds to reach the postseason. According to ESPN Research, only 5.6% of teams that have started the year with a 1-4 record in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) have reached the postseason. The 2020 Washington Commanders were the most recent team to accomplish the feat.
Burrow said there were no illusions about where the Bengals find themselves after their fourth loss of the year by just a combined 15 points.
“I do know precisely how we are 1-4,” Burrow said. “We're not making performs at the top of the sport to go and win it. Definitely not in disbelief. I do know precisely what's occurring.”
Despite what Burrow said postgame about the team not being a championship-level squad, Taylor said he still believes in that. Cincinnati went to the Super Bowl in the 2021 season, losing to the Los Angeles Rams, and reached the AFC Championship Game the following year before losing in a rematch to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Taylor said there is still a lot of belief that the team can rebound despite what happened on Sunday against Baltimore.
“People can write us off in the event that they actually wish to,” Taylor said. “I'm not dumb sufficient to try this.”
