BALTIMORE (AP) 鈥� The Baltimore Ravens’ five-game winning streak came to an inglorious end Thursday night, and they’ve got only themselves to blame after an uncharacteristic, mistake-prone performance against the struggling Cincinnati Bengals.
Baltimore (6-6) lost four fumbles, including two by Lamar Jackson, who also threw an interception The Ravens were also flagged for seven penalties, most notably a pivotal pass-interference call on a third-down play that led to a Bengals touchdown for a 19-7 third-quarter lead.
The Ravens’ first loss since Oct. 12 dropped them out of a first-place tie with Pittsburgh in the AFC North. The defeat was especially painful because it came in front of a national television audience against a team that had won only once since Sept. 14.
鈥淲hen you turn the ball over as much as we did tonight, that鈥檚 the story of the game,鈥� coach John Harbaugh said. 鈥淵ou just can鈥檛 do it if you want to win.鈥�
Joe Burrow returned after a nine-game injury absence to guide the Cincinnati offense. The veteran quarterback threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns, but he really wasn’t the main reason why the Bengals (4-8) won.
No, this game was essentially given away by Baltimore. The mistakes began when tight end just short of the goal line on 44-yard pass play. Had he gone one step farther before the ball was dislodged, Baltimore would have been up 14-6 in the second quarter.
Instead, the ball rolled out of the end zone and the Bengals took over after the touchback.
The next two fumbles were by Jackson, who just doesn’t look like a two-time NFL MVP after battling a myriad of injuries (hamstring, toe, ankle, knee) over the past few weeks. The star quarterback was then picked off in the third quarter before Zay Flowers ended the Ravens’ turnover-fest by losing a fumble late in the game.
鈥淚鈥檝e just got to be consistent,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淭wo fumbles and an interception. Can鈥檛 have them.鈥�
Jackson went 17 of 32 for 246 yards. He ran for 27 yards, but most of those half-dozen jaunts appeared out of necessity rather than by design.
Is Jackson playing hurt? He and the Ravens insist that’s not the case.
鈥淗e鈥檚 fully healthy to play. Absolutely. That鈥檚 why he鈥檚 playing,鈥� Harbaugh said.
Jackson said, 鈥淚鈥檝e got to make those throws. I don鈥檛 miss them in practice, I shouldn鈥檛 miss them in games.鈥�
While this loss should sting for a while, the Ravens have a chance to erase the memory when they host the division-leading Steelers on Dec. 7 before facing the Bengals on the road the following week.
鈥淓verything we want to accomplish is still in front of us,鈥� Harbaugh said. 鈥淓very game stands alone. This one we鈥檒l put behind us.鈥�
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