The Ravens did enough in the first half to establish control. They failed in nearly every important area after halftime.
Baltimore led Cincinnati 13-0, outgained the Bengals 258-59 and held possession for 22:20 before the break. The final score was still a decisive 35-13 defeat.
Three failures explain the reversal.
The offense did not finish drives. Baltimore went 0-for-3 in the red zone and 0-for-2 on fourth down. Two extended first-half possessions produced field goals, leaving the Bengals within reach.
The defense could not end possessions. Cincinnati opened the second half with five consecutive touchdown drives. Burrow threw for 249 yards and four touchdowns after halftime.
The rushing game provided little support. Henry gained 45 yards on 17
carries, and Baltimore averaged 3.1 yards per rush.
Lamar Jackson’s absence matters, but it does not explain missed tackles, 10 penalties or the defense’s inability to respond once Cincinnati adjusted. Baltimore’s first-half performance demonstrated its potential. The second half demonstrated how far it remains from dependable execution.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Instant analysis of Ravens’ 35-13 loss to Bengals
