The Thursday evening clash on the football field featuring the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens, hailed as the season’s most thrilling spectacle,

commenced with an electric and captivating fervor. The Ravens secured a 34-20 victory over the Bengals, but the high hopes didn’t materialize for Cincinnati due to various reasons, including injuries to star players that affected the scoring.

In the second quarter, Bengals’ QB Joe Burrow found himself sidelined following a right-arm injury, and regrettably, his return to the game was not in the cards. Simultaneously, during the initial drive, Ravens’ tight end Mark Andrews faced a setback with a leg injury, rendering him unable to rejoin the field.

Adding to the roster of unfortunate injuries, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (with an impressive record of four catches for 116 yards) exited the game in the fourth quarter, displaying his stellar performance despite grappling with a shoulder ailment.

Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson spent time in the injury tent due to a leg injury after a hit near the Baltimore sideline.

The Ravens took an early lead with a quick touchdown by Gus Edwards in the game’s first four minutes and 58 seconds. Edwards also scored the final touchdown for Baltimore, earning them nine points in the last five games.

While Bengals’ running back Joe Mixon had a good first half, he couldn’t contribute much in the second half after Burrow’s exit.

Lamar Jackson orchestrated a 264-yard passing display, successfully connecting on 16 out of 26 throws. Notably, he delivered a pivotal 37-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor, whose significant impact unfolded, defying his non-primary receiver status.

The Ravens emerged victorious against the Bengals, and Lamar Jackson stood out despite a slow pace after an injury. He covered a distance of 264 yards with 16 completions out of 26 passes, securing two touchdowns.

Securing this victory adds another feather to Jackson’s cap as he boasts an impressive 8-1 record against Cincinnati in the nascent phase of his career.

Prior to kick-off, Jackson’s career rushing yards tallied up to 4,918, cementing his position as the fifth-ranking quarterback in the historical records of the NFL.

He surpassed Randall Cunningham (4,928) to claim the fourth spot in quarterback rushing yards, falling just 10 yards short.

In the opening minutes of the first quarter, Jackson soared past Cunningham’s record, and as the game concluded, he notched an extra 54 rushing yards, propelling his career total to 4,972 yards gained on the ground.

Baltimore’s defense, led by Klayton Michelle, played a crucial role in the game on Thursday night. Michelle showcased his skills with a 21-yard run, while Gus Edwards ran for 62 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Jackson contributed with 54 rushing yards on the ground. The Ravens accumulated 157 rushing yards and secured two rushing touchdowns in the victory, maintaining an average distance of 5.1 yards per game.

Baltimore showcased its ability to control the game with ground gains on Thursday night. Odell Beckham Jr. played his best as a Raven, displaying explosive form.

A remarkable 51-yard catch in the fourth quarter and covering a season-high distance of 116 yards with four catches marked his standout performance.

Nevertheless, Beckham found himself compelled to exit the match during the fourth quarter, succumbing to the constraints of a shoulder injury.

Ravens’ defense, led by Joe Burrow’s right arm injury in the first half, faced challenges from Cincinnati’s attacks. Despite sidelining Burrow twice, the Ravens managed to halt Cincinnati’s onslaught with a touchdown when the star quarterback was on the field.

In the second half, the Ravens’ defense, led by Jake Browning, restricted Bengals’ attacks to a total of 111 yards and prevented them from scoring beyond the fourth quarter when the outcome was already determined.

Baltimore’s defense made a total of five tackles. Linebackers Patrick Queen and Rokwan Smith collaborated for 21 tackles, while safeties Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton combined for 10 tackles and four pass deflections.

Losses:
Injuries altered the course of Thursday’s game.

The Bengals’ stellar quarterback, Joe Burrow, found himself bidding an early adieu in the initial half due to a right arm injury, and regrettably, his return to the field did not materialize.

Bengals’ starting cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt left the game due to a left quad injury.

Mark Andrews, the Ravens’ standout tight end, encountered an injury in the team’s opening drive, compelling him to exit the field shortly afterward.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh expressed concern post-game about Andrews potentially suffering a season-ending injury.

During the closing moments of the fourth quarter, Beckham encountered a setback with a shoulder injury. Simultaneously, Jackson seemed to be nursing a thigh ailment, but he resiliently persevered through the discomfort, ultimately completing the game.

Andrews, Beckham, and Jackson, all fell victim to the hits by Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson.

Wilson defeated Andrews with a controversial hip-drop tackle. Hits on Beckham and Jackson seemed regular after Wilson’s tackle.

Bengals’ Attack:

Burrow is the engine that drives Cincinnati’s attacks to success. Browning attempted to lead the Bengals’ attack, but without Burrow, there was a lack of explosiveness and creativity in the unit.

Without Burrow, who is the stabilizing force for Bengals’ attacks, Mixon’s contribution became the sole consistent source. Mixon concluded his game with 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.