In the aftermath of a crushing 41-38 overtime defeat to the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow sat in silence, his arms crossed and one leg draped over the other, trying to process the bitter taste of disappointment. Despite leading for most of the game, the Bengals watched their advantage slip away, ultimately succumbing to Justin Tucker’s 24-yard field goal.
As Burrow reflected on the loss, he couldn’t hide his frustration. A team that began the season with lofty title aspirations now finds itself stuck in neutral. “We’re not a championship-caliber team right now,” Burrow admitted. “We’re not even close. I believe we can improve and get to that point, but right now, we’re falling short.”
The Bengals’ offense, which scored 30 points for the third consecutive game, seemed to do everything right. Burrow threw for a career-high five touchdowns, and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase hauled in 10 catches for 193 yards and two scores. Yet, it wasn’t enough to overcome the porous defense, which allowed more than 38 points for the second straight game.
Chase echoed Burrow’s sentiments, lamenting the team’s inability to close out games. “It’s frustrating because we’re putting up 30 points and still losing,” Chase said. “That’s what we want to do as an offense – take over the game and put the ball in our hands. We didn’t do that today.”
The overtime period only added to the disappointment. After recovering a fumble, the Bengals had a chance to win the game, but instead opted for a conservative approach, running the ball three straight times before attempting a 53-yard field goal. The kick sailed wide left, and the Ravens escaped with the victory.
Coach Zac Taylor defended the team’s strategy, citing a desire to avoid a sack or holding penalty in that situation. However, the decision only fueled the sense of disappointment and frustration that permeated the locker room.
As the Bengals try to rebound from their 1-4 start, they face long odds. Only 5.6% of teams that have begun the season with a 1-4 record have gone on to reach the postseason. But Burrow remains defiant, refusing to sugarcoat the team’s struggles. “I know exactly how we’re 1-4,” he said. “We’re not making plays at the end of the game to win it.”
Despite the setback, Taylor still believes in his team’s potential. “People can write us off if they want to,” he said. “But I’m not going to give up on this team.”
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