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Bengals 24 Ravens 17
With the score 17-17 with 11:39 left in the game, Logan Wilson knocked the ball loose on a goal line dive/reach by Ravens QB Tyler Huntley. Sam Hubbard scooped it up and rumbled 98 yards for a TD. It is the longest fumble return for TD in NFL postseason history. Three plays earlier, Jessie Bates had come up with a huuuuuuuge hustle/chase down touchdown saving tackle of Huntley at the two-yard line on his 35-yard run.
The Bengals defense made it stand up, posting a heart stopping 24-17 win Sunday night at Paycor. The final play of the game was a Huntley 27-yard pass to the end zone on 4th and 20 that was tipped on a jump ball of bodies and fell to turf in the end zone as time expired.
That's a franchise record nine consecutive wins and postseason wins in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history.
Next up: Bengals at Bills, Sunday, 3pm. The Bills open as a 3.5 point favorite with a total of 51.
Momentum moment (1): The Bengals ran 22 of the first 27 plays of the game and were on the verge of going up 10-0 pending the Evan McPherson PAT. He missed it. The Ravens marched 17 plays for a TD. The Bengals fumbled. Jonah Williams got hurt. Ravens marched 9 plays and kicked a FG. Baltimore ran 25 of the final 33 plays of the half, out gaining the Bengals 137-127 to lead 10-9 at the half.
Momentum moment (2): The defense forced a three and out to start the 3rd quarter and the offense rolled 12 plays/83 yards to regain the lead on a 1-yard Burrow sneak. They converted the two-point conversion (Burrow to Higgins) to lead 17-10. Burrow was 6-for-6 on the drive.
Momentum moment (3): After the Bengals took the 17-10 lead, the Ravens bolted for 5 play/80 yard TD answer thanks to a 27-yard screen to JK Dobbins and a broken play 41-yard TD pass from Tyler Huntley to Demarcus Robinson to tie the game.
Offense
Fast start: They marched 14 plays/54 yards but settled for a 39-yard FG on the opening drive. They marched 10 plays/60 yards for a Burrow 7-yard TD pass to Ja'Marr Chase on their second drive. It was 9-0 early in 2nd quarter.
2nd half not much: They managed an opening 3rd quarter TD drive and that was it. 127 1st half yards, 107 2nd half yards. They went 83 yards for the score to start the 3rd quarter and had just 24 yards the rest of the game.
Burrow: 23-32-209, TD, 0 INT, 4 sacks, QB rating 99.6. He was taking what he was given early. But under heavy pressure and sacked three times in the first half.
3rd and working: Burrow converted 3rd and 6-7-8-10-9.
TOP: They had the ball for 12:41 in the 1st quarter.....running 22 plays to the Ravens 5.
Running in place: 18 carries, 51 yards (2.8), Mixon 11-39 (3.5).
Chasin' catches: Chase had six targets/six catches for 52 yards/TD on the first two drive. Total: 9-84 yards, TD on 12 targets.
Disaster sequence: Hayden Hurst fumbled and Jonah Williams was injured (left knee) on the same 2nd quarter play. Williams was done, replaced by Jackson Carman. Carman took snaps at left tackle for the first time in the NFL. He was called for a big hold with 4:27 left to wipe out a nice Mixon run.
Defense
They continue to just make plays. Big plays at big moments. One year to the day that Germaine Pratt's interception sealed the playoff win over the Raiders, Hubbard wins this one with a scoop and score.
Opportunistic: That's TD's in each of the last two weeks after not recording one this season (Ossai/Ravens).
Chunks, dimes, screens and misses: The Ravens had some big gains helped by missed tackles. JK Dobbins a 27-yard screen. Huntley 41-yards to a wide open Demarcus Robinson. Huntley 25 yards to Andrews. Huntley made some throws I don't think many/any expected.
Pick it! Akeem Davis-Gaither intercepted Huntley on the Ravens opening possession. The interception was turned into a TD by the offense.
Matriculating: The Ravens went 17 plays/75 yards/10:03 for a TD to cut the Bengals lead to 9-7. Last time an opponent drove 17 plays vs Bengals?
Huntley: 17-29-226, 2 TD, 1 INT, 2 sacks, QB rating 92.0. He scooped up the ball after it was snapped over his head and completed a 19-yard pass to Mark Andrews. He later raced 35 yards.
Rise up: The defense rose up and forced FG to end the half after a 9 play/40 yard drive followed the Hurst fumble. They forced an opening drive three and out to start the 3rd quarter.
Tackle machines: Wilson 10, Bates 9, 8 Pratt.
Motor man: Mike Hilton was a heat seeking missile all night, including a tackle for loss and a sack.
Swat man: DJ Reader has his 5th pass defensed of the season.
Tag team: Facing 3rd down and 10 with 4:45 left, Wilson pressured and BJ Hill sacked Huntley to force a punt.
Ravens scored 17 points. Previous 6 games without Lamar had scored 10-16-3-17-13-16. ....average of 10.8.
Special Teams
The Ravens were called for roughing Drue Chrisman to extended a drive with 8:45 left in the game. They should have been called again on the next punt.
Evan McPherson, who was 14 for 14 on postseason FG a year ago, kicked a 39-yard to cap the opening drive.
McPherson missed another PAT....his 5th of the season.
Davis-Gaither had two special teams tackles.
Dax Hill was called for a penalty on a late punt when he ran out of bounds on his own and returned to the field of play. He was called for a defensive facemask earlier.
Miscellaneous
Chippy and chirpy: Ravens CB Marcus Peters drew a taunting penalty in the 1st quarter. He also appeared to throw a punch at Joe Mixon on the bottom of the pile.
Burrow passed Ken Anderson for most career postseason completions (111) in franchise history. He also set the franchise record for postseason wins by a QB (4)...Boomer (3)....Kenny (20.
Zac Taylor becomes the winningest postseason coach in franchise history (4).
That's three starting OL knocked out by injury the last four weeks.
Dinged: Joseph Ossai left with his arm dangling by the side after tracking down Huntley.