After historic collapse vs. Bengals, Ravens face 'identity check' as Lamar Jackson's return remains unclear

The Cincinnati Bengals’ 35-13 comeback win in Baltimore on Sunday, Oct. 25, left the two AFC North rivals heading in opposite directions. Cincinnati (4-2) has a division win and a rolling offense. Baltimore (4-3) has lost two straight division games after leading at halftime and is now last in a division where all four teams have winning records, according to The Associated Press.

AP noted the Ravens are still only a game out of first place. “But last place is last place,” AP wrote.

Jesse Minter: Ravens need an identity check

First-year Ravens coach Jesse Minter called the loss a crossroads moment.

“Right now, I think it’s just a big point in the season for us to determine what type of team we want to be,” Minter said, according to ESPN.

“In every game we’ve proven that we’re good enough to be the type of team that we want to be, and we’ve proven that we’re bad enough to be a not very good team as well,” he added. “Right now, we’re too much of a momentum team.”

The numbers behind the collapse, from ESPN and AP:

• Baltimore was outscored by 35 or more points in a half for the first time in its 31-year history.
• It was the NFL-worst 17th time the Ravens have blown a double-digit lead since 2020, per ESPN.
• ESPN Research said Baltimore is the third team ever to lose by 20 or more after leading by 13 or more at halftime, joining the 1941 Eagles and 1950 Colts.
• The Ravens have started 0-2 in the division for the first time in 19 years, ESPN reported.
• For a second straight week, they were shut out in the second half. A week earlier they lost 13-10 at Cleveland after leading 10-0 at the break.

“It’s a tale of two halves, right?” defensive tackle Calais Campbell said, according to AP. “Once momentum got away from us, I mean, it was like quicksand.”

Running back Derrick Henry said he still believes in the group. “We got knocked down. We know how to get back up,” he told ESPN.

Lamar Jackson’s status

Lamar Jackson missed his third straight game with a high ankle sprain. He returned to practice last week, and AP said logic suggests he should be closer to a return, perhaps next Sunday at Buffalo. Minter was noncommittal: “I think over the next couple days we’ll figure that out.”

Backup Tyler Huntley threw for 298 yards and a touchdown but went 8 of 13 for 62 yards after halftime, with an interception and a fumble, ESPN reported. Baltimore is 7-14 without Jackson since the start of the 2019 season.

Bengals: ‘The Wakeup Call Game’

On the other sideline, Bengals.com said Ja’Marr Chase’s halftime message sparked the turnaround.

“I was pretty angry at how we played,” Chase said. “I told our offense we can’t let our defense stay out there the whole time.”

Joe Burrow went 16 of 18 for 249 yards and four touchdowns in the second half after a six-of-12, 43-yard first half, according to the team. He praised Tee Higgins, who had all 148 of his receiving yards after the break. “He’s been so aggressive and as good as I’ve seen him in contested-catch situations,” Burrow said.

Defensively, the Bengals blitzed more in the second half, and Boye Mafe, who replaced Trey Hendrickson in free agency, had 1.5 sacks, the team said. Hendrickson, facing his old team, hit Burrow twice without a sack. “Credit to them,” Hendrickson said. “They made plays.”

Injury updates

Injuries per AP and ESPN. No timeline for the players hurt Sunday had been given as of early Monday.

Bengals and Ravens standings and schedule

Buffalo is coming off a bye, ESPN noted.

FAQ

Earlier coverage: Bengals storm back to beat Ravens 35-13 as Joe Burrow throws four second-half touchdowns (Oct 25)