A Historic Second Half Collapse
The Baltimore Ravens suffered a tough 35-13 defeat against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Baltimore started strong and led 13-0 at halftime. However, things fell apart completely in the second half. The Bengals scored touchdowns on five of six drives after the break, outscoring Baltimore by 35 points. This marked the worst half in team history and the first time in 31 years that the franchise was outscored by that margin in a single half.
Coach Jesse Minter spoke about the team after the match. He stated that the group is at a big point in the season to determine what type of team they want to be. Minter added that the team has proven they can be good enough, but also bad enough to lose games in this manner. Baltimore fell to a 4-3 record and dropped into last place in the AFC North.
Troubling Trends and Missing Players
The Ravens played their third straight game without quarterback Lamar Jackson, who missed out due to a high ankle sprain. Without Jackson, the team started 0-2 in the division for the first time in 19 years. Quarterback Tyler Huntley took over but managed only 62 passing yards in the second half, alongside an interception and a fumble.
Failing to close out games has become a familiar problem. This was the 17th time since 2020 that Baltimore blew a double-digit lead, which leads the NFL. Minter noted that the team is too much of a momentum group right now, riding the wave when things are good and sinking when things turn bad. Safety Kyle Hamilton previously described similar losses as Groundhog Day after a defeat against the Cleveland Browns the week prior.
Looking Ahead to Buffalo
Discipline and execution hurt the Ravens on both sides of the ball on Sunday. The offense committed five pre-snap penalties, while the defense failed to record any sacks or turnovers in the second half. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow completed 16 of 18 passes for 249 yards and four touchdowns after halftime.
Despite the frustration, players remain hopeful. Running back Derrick Henry said he still believes in the group and that they know how to get back up. Wide receiver Zay Flowers mentioned that last season had an up-and-down run and the team still reached the playoffs. Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley pointed out that the team needs to stop looking at the scoreboard and focus on their jobs. Baltimore will face the Buffalo Bills next, and the team will evaluate Jackson over the coming days to see if he can return.
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