A much awaited TNF clash between Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens plagued by an unfortunate series of injuries for both sides. Ravens' triumph in this game raises serious questions about Bengals' way forward.
In a highly anticipated clash of the 2023 NFL season, the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals went head-to-head in a battle for supremacy in the AFC North. Despite being touted as the most thrilling "Thursday Night Football" game of the season, the Baltimore Ravens' 34-20 triumph over the Cincinnati Bengals fell short of expectations. The final score took a backseat to the numerous injuries sustained by key players, overshadowing the anticipated excitement of the matchup.
The Ravens faced a setback as tight end Mark Andrews suffered a significant injury during the game against the Bengals. On the seventh play, Andrews sustained an ankle injury after a tackle by Logan Wilson. Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed Andrews is likely out for the season, dealing a major blow to an offense that was gaining momentum. Despite missing the opener, Andrews has been a consistent performer for the Ravens. While the team has seen other receivers excel recently, his absence will necessitate a significant adjustment in their offensive approach moving forward.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's future in the season is uncertain following an unexpected wrist injury. Despite no initial signs of trouble, Burrow's use of a wrist splint raised concerns. However, Burrow did not appear on the Bengals’ injury report this week. During the game, he visibly struggled after a touchdown pass, leading to X-rays and a diagnosis of a wrist sprain. The severity and timeline for his recovery remain unclear, potentially impacting the Bengals' performance as they now hold a 5-5 record after a recent loss.
Jake Browning faced a challenging situation as he took over for Joe Burrow late in the second quarter against the Ravens. Despite limited regular-season experience prior to Thursday, Browning had significant training camp and preseason action due to Burrow's calf injury. While he displayed initial sharpness and orchestrated a field-goal drive and a late TD drive, completing 8-of-14 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown, Browning also faced challenges with sacks and missed opportunities. The Bengals' defense allowing four consecutive scores in the second and third quarters further compounded the difficulty of Browning's position. Prior to his exit, Burrow had a commendable performance, going 11 of 17 for 101 yards, scoring a touchdown without any interceptions.
The Bengals, typically one of the NFL's least-penalized teams, experienced an uncharacteristic surge in penalties during their Week 11 loss. After a track of 41 penalties in nine games, the count went up to 50 after the last clash. Despite the Ravens having as many penalties but for more yards, Cincinnati's infractions, particularly on offense with procedural issues and on defense with five secondary flags, proved costly in the challenging environment. This penalty trend, observed in the previous week's loss to Houston as well, added to the team's struggles, compounding the difficulties they faced, especially with Joe Burrow's injury. With consecutive losses at hand, the journey ahead for Bengals seems very cloudy, with or without Burrow.