Ravens Drop 35-13 to Bengals After Halftime Collapse
Baltimore led 13-0 at halftime but allowed five consecutive touchdowns from Cincinnati, dropping to 4-3 and facing questions about Lamar Jackson's return.
By Kaito Sokolov ·
The Baltimore Ravens surrendered a 13-0 halftime lead to the Cincinnati Bengals, finishing a 35-13 defeat that lowered their record to 4-3.
Baltimore controlled the first half at M&T Bank Stadium, holding the ball for 22 minutes and 20 seconds of the initial 30-minute period. Quarterback Tyler Huntley completed passes for 215 yards, including 120 to wide receiver Zay Flowers. Flowers opened the scoring with a 48-yard catch-and-run. The Ravens added two short field goals to establish the advantage.
Inefficiency kept the Bengals within striking distance. Baltimore went 0-for-3 in the red zone and 0-for-2 on fourth down. The team accumulated 10 penalties totaling 57 yards, according to Ravens Wire. These mistakes prevented Baltimore from extending its lead further.
Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense dominated the second half. Burrow threw touchdown passes to tight end Mike Gesicki and wide receiver Tee Higgins. Higgins’ 13-yard score gave Cincinnati a 14-13 lead. Running back Samaje Perine added a touchdown after a Ravens turnover on downs. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase ran for a 2-yard score. Burrow completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Drew Sample following a Huntley interception. Cincinnati scored on five straight possessions, per NBC Sports’ ProFootballTalk.
The Associated Press noted that the Ravens have been outscored by 70 points after halftime this season. This marks Baltimore’s second consecutive loss in the AFC North, following a defeat at Cleveland on October 18. It is also the third game in a row played without Lamar Jackson.
First-year head coach Jesse Minter acknowledged the team’s reliance on momentum. “We’re riding the wave when it’s good, and we’re riding the wave when it’s bad,” Minter said in his postgame news conference. He added that the team is currently too dependent on momentum, a pattern evident when Cincinnati’s first second-half touchdown shifted the game’s outcome.
Lamar Jackson, who suffered an ankle injury in the October 4 win over Tennessee, remains questionable for the next game. He was a limited practice participant last week and was declared inactive for Sunday. Minter stated the team expects to determine Jackson’s status over the next few days. Jackson is in the fourth year of a five-year, $260 million contract that runs through 2027. The team and player did not agree on an extension before the season began.
Rookie right guard Vega Ioane left the first half with a knee injury and was ruled out. Linebacker Roquan Smith exited early in the fourth quarter with a knee issue but returned to the game. Baltimore visits the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, November 1. The team then hosts the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, November 5, at 8:15 p.m.
