Baltimore escaped with a 35-34 win over Cincinnati on November 7, 2024, when the Bengals failed a two-point conversion with 38 seconds remaining at M&T Bank Stadium. Lamar Jackson threw for 290 yards and four touchdowns while Joe Burrow countered with 428 yards and four scores in front of 71,439 fans. Ja’Marr Chase caught 11 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns, setting an NFL record with 457 receiving yards against one opponent in a single season. The Ravens rallied from 21-7 down in the third quarter to improve to 7-3, while Cincinnati fell to 4-6.
Table of Contents
Quarterback Battle
| Player | Team | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Rating | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Burrow | CIN | 34/56 | 428 | 4 | 0 | 108.3 | 3 |
| Lamar Jackson | BAL | 25/33 | 290 | 4 | 0 | 141.4 | 0 |
Jackson’s efficiency separated him from Burrow despite throwing 23 fewer passes. The two-time MVP completed over 75 percent of his attempts and avoided sacks completely while Burrow took three and absorbed 13 quarterback hits according to ESPN’s official box score.
Jackson took over in the fourth quarter. Down 14 points, he completed 11 of 13 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns in the final period, picking apart Cincinnati’s exhausted secondary when his team needed it most.
His scramble in the third quarter exemplified his playmaking ability. Facing pressure at the 11-yard line, Jackson backpedaled all the way to the 30 with two Bengals closing in. He escaped right, raced down the sideline barely staying in bounds, and somehow turned a potential 20-yard loss into a 10-yard gain that reached the 1. According to Next Gen Stats, Jackson traveled 58.1 yards on the play with just a 4.0 percent probability of gaining a first down.
“Just trying to make something happen,” Jackson said after the game. “I was going to throw the ball away, but when I turned I had room.”
Burrow respected what he faced that night. “It’s always fun playing against him,” Burrow said postgame. “You know what kind of game it’s going to be. He’s going to make big-time plays, put them in great spots to win the game, and you’ve got to match it. I love playing against him. I love watching him. He’s incredible [at] what he does with the ball in his hands.”
Receiving Performances
| Player | Team | Receptions | Targets | Yards | TDs | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ja’Marr Chase | CIN | 11 | 17 | 264 | 3 | 70 |
| Tylan Wallace | BAL | 3 | 3 | 115 | 1 | 84 |
| Mark Andrews | BAL | 6 | 8 | 68 | 1 | 18 |
| Tanner Hudson | CIN | 6 | 7 | 42 | 1 | 14 |
| Chase Brown | CIN | 9 | 9 | 52 | 0 | 13 |
Why Chase Dominated Baltimore’s Secondary
Chase torched the Ravens for the second time in five weeks, exposing critical flaws in Baltimore’s defensive backfield. His touchdown catches of 67, 70, and 5 yards all came after All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton left with an ankle injury. Without Hamilton patrolling the deep middle, Chase ran free.
The coverage breakdowns were systematic. On his 67-yard score to open the second half, Chase caught a crosser near midfield and outraced cornerback Nate Wiggins and safety Ar’Darius Washington to the end zone. According to Next Gen Stats, Chase hit a top speed of 20.86 mph on the play, the third-fastest he’d run on any play in his career. Neither defender had the angle or speed to catch him.
On his 70-yard bomb in the fourth quarter, Baltimore played Cover 2 with Marcus Williams at deep safety. Williams took a poor angle to the ball, arriving late as Chase made the catch at midfield and sprinted away untouched. Brandon Stephens, starting at corner, got picked on repeatedly throughout the night.
The Ravens tried man coverage, zone coverage, and double teams across two games against Cincinnati that season. None of it worked. Chase’s 457 yards versus Baltimore in 2024 broke Art Powell’s 61-year-old record of 428 yards against a single opponent in one season. Chase’s dominance exposed a defensive unit with personnel problems Baltimore couldn’t solve.
The night’s biggest surprise came from Tylan Wallace. The third-year receiver entered with nine career catches but hauled in three passes for 115 yards. His 84-yard touchdown changed the game. He caught a short crosser, broke Cam Taylor-Britt’s tackle at the line, tiptoed down the left sideline avoiding two more defenders, and sprinted to the end zone. Eight of Wallace’s 12 career receptions have come against Cincinnati.
Ground Attack
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Average | TDs | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick Henry | BAL | 16 | 68 | 4.3 | 1 | 11 |
| Chase Brown | CIN | 13 | 42 | 3.2 | 1 | 7 |
| Lamar Jackson | BAL | 12 | 33 | 2.8 | 0 | 10 |
Henry extended his touchdown streak to 10 consecutive games with his 1-yard plunge that cut the deficit to 21-14. The NFL’s leading rusher ground out 68 tough yards against a Cincinnati front that loaded the box to stop him.
Brown’s fumble changed everything. Marlon Humphrey stripped the ball in the third quarter with the Bengals up 21-7, and Roquan Smith recovered to give Baltimore excellent field position. Five plays later, Henry scored. The turnover sparked the entire Ravens comeback.
Defensive Impact
| Player | Team | Position | Tackles | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roquan Smith | BAL | LB | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Germaine Pratt | CIN | LB | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nnamdi Madubuike | BAL | DT | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Logan Wilson | CIN | LB | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Madubuike destroyed Cincinnati’s interior offensive line. The defensive tackle entered the game with just two sacks through nine contests but exploded for three against center Ted Karras and guards Cordell Volson and Alex Cappa. His third sack stopped a Bengals drive in the fourth quarter when Cincinnati threatened to extend their lead. Smith led all defenders with 12 tackles and recovered the fumble that shifted momentum. He covered sideline to sideline, making plays in run defense and dropping into coverage when needed.
Cincinnati’s defense controlled the game for three quarters, forcing four three-and-outs and limiting Baltimore to 102 yards in the first half. The defense collapsed in the fourth quarter, giving up three touchdown drives of 65-plus yards each as the Bengals couldn’t contain Jackson or stop explosive plays in critical moments.
Team Statistics
| Category | Bengals | Ravens |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 470 | 389 |
| First Downs | 27 | 20 |
| Third Down % | 50% (8/16) | 58% (7/12) |
| Time of Possession | 31:35 | 28:25 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Penalties | 3-23 | 11-81 |
Cincinnati dominated nearly every statistical category but lost, 35-34. The Bengals outgained Baltimore by 81 yards, controlled the ball for over three minutes longer, and committed just three penalties compared to Baltimore’s 11. But Brown’s fumble represented the game’s only turnover, and it came at the worst possible moment with Cincinnati up 14.
Baltimore posted 231 of their 389 total yards in the fourth quarter alone, flipping a sluggish offensive performance into an explosive finish.
Baltimore’s Fourth Quarter Execution
The Ravens generated just 158 yards through three quarters, trailing 21-7 and looking lifeless. Then Jackson took over.
Baltimore scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions to close the game. Each drive covered at least 65 yards, and three of them went for 70 or more. The Ravens attacked vertically down the field with explosive plays rather than methodical drives.
Wallace’s 84-yard sprint nearly covered the field’s length, breaking Cincinnati’s resistance. The play changed the complexion of the entire game in seconds. Jackson’s placement on the short crosser gave Wallace room to operate, and the receiver did the rest.
On the drive that gave Baltimore the lead, Jackson converted two third downs before finding Andrews on third-and-10 from the 18. The touchdown pass required perfect timing and placement, threading the ball past coverage into Andrews’ catch radius in the back corner of the end zone. Jackson’s two-point conversion run put the Ravens ahead for the first time all night.
When Chase tied the game at 28 with his 70-yard score, Baltimore responded immediately. The offense drove 70 yards in 11 plays, mixing runs from Henry with short passes underneath the coverage. Jackson found Bateman on the go-ahead touchdown with 1:49 remaining, completing his fourth-quarter masterpiece.
The 11-for-13, 197-yard, three-touchdown quarter ranks among Jackson’s best 15-minute stretches. He made every throw, avoided every sack, and converted every critical third down in crunch time.
Plays That Decided Thursday Night Football
Third Quarter, 4:12 remaining: Jackson’s Impossible Scramble
Trailing 21-7, Baltimore faced third-and-11 from the Cincinnati 11. Jackson dropped back into a collapsing pocket as defensive end B.J. Hill came free from the right side. Jackson retreated all the way to the 30-yard line with two Bengals closing in fast. Just when a 20-yard sack seemed certain, he cut right and exploded toward the sideline.
He outraced both defenders down the right boundary, his feet barely staying in bounds as he fought for every inch. The M&T Bank Stadium crowd roared as he reached the 1-yard line. Henry punched it in on the next play. The deficit was suddenly 21-14, and Baltimore had life.
Fourth Quarter, 13:30 remaining: Wallace’s 84-Yard House Call
Jackson found Wallace on a short crossing route near the line of scrimmage with Baltimore trailing 21-14. Taylor-Britt came up to make the tackle and had Wallace wrapped up. But Wallace broke through the arm tackle, spun free, and accelerated down the left sideline. Two more Bengals defenders had angles to push him out of bounds. Wallace tiptoed along the white stripe, maintaining perfect balance as he avoided contact. Then he was gone, sprinting to the end zone untouched.
The crowd exploded. Tucker missed the extra point, but Baltimore trailed just 21-20, and the momentum had completely flipped.
Fourth Quarter, 5:50 remaining: Andrews Gives Baltimore the Lead
On third-and-10 from the Cincinnati 18, Jackson faced pressure but stood tall in the pocket. He floated a perfectly placed ball toward the back corner of the end zone where Andrews ran a fade route. The tight end went up, secured the catch with a defender draped on him, and came down in bounds for the touchdown. Jackson then ran in the two-point conversion himself, putting Baltimore ahead 28-21 for their first lead of the night. The Ravens sideline erupted.
Fourth Quarter, 5:37 remaining: Chase Answers in One Play
Burrow took the shotgun on the very next snap from scrimmage and surveyed Baltimore’s Cover 2 shell. He pump-faked, then launched a bomb down the middle of the field. Chase tracked the ball at midfield with Williams trailing badly, his poor angle to the ball costing him dearly. Chase made the catch in stride and outraced the secondary for a 70-yard touchdown. Tie game at 28.
Fourth Quarter, 1:49 remaining: Bateman’s Go-Ahead Score
Baltimore drove 70 yards in 11 plays, converting two critical third downs. On second-and-goal from the 5, Jackson rolled right and found Bateman breaking open in the front corner of the end zone. The receiver hauled in the 5-yard touchdown pass, giving the Ravens a 35-28 lead with just 1:49 on the clock.
Final 38 Seconds: The Two-Point Decision
Burrow engineered a quick drive down the field and hit Chase for a 5-yard touchdown with 38 seconds left. Instead of kicking the extra point to force overtime, head coach Zac Taylor immediately signaled for a two-point try. Burrow took the snap and looked for Hudson cutting across the formation. The pass sailed high and incomplete. Baltimore recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
“We had our opportunity,” Taylor said after the game. “We got down there, went for two and just didn’t work out for us.”
Injury Impact on the Game
Baltimore lost All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton to a sprained ankle late in the first half. Hamilton slipped and twisted his ankle awkwardly on a play late in the second quarter and did not return. His absence showed up immediately.
On Cincinnati’s first offensive snap of the third quarter, Chase caught a crosser and raced 67 yards for a touchdown through the middle of Baltimore’s secondary. Marcus Williams and Ar’Darius Washington couldn’t replace Hamilton’s range and instincts as the Bengals repeatedly attacked the middle of the field where the All-Pro safety normally patrols.
Cincinnati played without wide receiver Tee Higgins, who sat out with a quad injury. The absence of their WR2 put extra pressure on Chase, who responded with the best receiving performance in the NFL through 10 weeks of the 2024 season.
AFC North Rivalry Continues
Baltimore swept Cincinnati in 2024, winning 41-38 in overtime during Week 5 before taking this 35-34 thriller. The two games combined for 148 points, the highest-scoring two-game series in the history of this rivalry. Both contests came down to the final possession.
Jackson improved to 10-1 in his career as a starter against the Bengals and 6-1 head-to-head versus Burrow. Despite Burrow’s ability to post huge passing numbers in these matchups, he struggled to translate individual success into victories. The Ravens led the all-time series 32-27 after this win.
“Every time we play Baltimore it’s a dog fight,” Chase said postgame. “The game’s always close to the end.”
Special Teams
| Player | Team | FG Made/Att | XP Made/Att | Long | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Tucker | BAL | 0/0 | 3/4 | N/A | 3 |
| Evan McPherson | CIN | 0/0 | 4/4 | N/A | 4 |
Tucker’s missed extra point after Wallace’s touchdown nearly cost Baltimore the game. Instead of tying at 21, the Ravens trailed 21-20. One point in a game decided by one point. Neither kicker attempted a field goal as both offenses found the end zone on every scoring drive, combining to go 7-for-7 in the red zone.
Game Impact on 2024 Season
The win pushed Baltimore to 7-3, keeping them chasing the AFC North title. Cincinnati dropped to 4-6, facing a difficult path to the postseason. Baltimore swept the season series, giving them the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bengals.
Chase’s performance across two games highlighted critical problems in Baltimore’s secondary. Without Hamilton healthy and playing at an All-Pro level, the Ravens defense struggled to contain elite receivers. For Cincinnati, the formula was clear. When Burrow and Chase connected at this level, they could beat anyone. But the Bengals defense couldn’t stop Jackson in critical moments, costing them both meetings by a combined three points.
Thursday Night Stats Breakdown
Chase’s 264 yards set the single-game high for any NFL receiver through 10 weeks of 2024. His 457 yards versus Baltimore that season broke a record that stood for 61 years, topping Art Powell’s 428 yards against the Houston Oilers in 1963. Jackson’s 11-for-13, 197-yard, three-touchdown fourth quarter reinforced his status as one of the league’s most dangerous players in crunch time.
Both quarterbacks threw for over 290 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Both teams scored on seven drives. The difference came down to Brown’s fumble and Taylor’s decision to go for two rather than force overtime.
For fans searching for complete stats from this AFC North divisional matchup, these numbers capture everything that happened on Thursday Night Football at M&T Bank Stadium. The official Ravens game recap provides additional details, while more NFL analysis and game breakdowns can be found at The Sportie.
