Cincinnati Bengals Fall In OT To Baltimore Ravens

Coming a difficult loss to the Miami Dolphins Halloween night following an Andy Dalton safety in overtime the Cincinnati Bengals

Nov 10, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) is congratulated by wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) after catching a 51 yard touchdown pass as time expired against the Baltimore Ravens at M

looked for redemption as they traveled to Baltimore to face the Ravens. They would not get the redemption they sought, instead the Bengals would leave Baltimore losers following an overtime FG 20-17.

In a game that could not have looked any worse for the Bengals, they somehow managed to tie the game after giving up 17 unanswered points.

The first half of the game was possibly the worst half of football this Bengals team has ever played. Multiple three and outs, punts, missed field goal and lack of overall offense doomed the Bengals or so it seemed.

Quarterback Andy Dalton had an awful game going 24-51 for 274 yards, 2 TD and 3 INT. Dalton struggled all day, for once the criticism of his play. Overthrowing, under throwing, missing, getting sacked all mistakes Dalton made today. Yet somehow the TCU product managed to keep Cincinnati in the game with some help of the defense.

Vincent Rey and Vontaze Burfict kept the Bengals in the game all day. Between those two they recorded 27 tackles leading the team. The only criticism is the personal fouls, the Bengals need to cut down on the penalties.

In the second half the Bengals found their way to the end zone. A 32 yard field goal by Mike Nugent in the third quarter put Cincinnati on the board, trailing 17-3 the outcome still looked bleak. That was until an 18 yard pass from Dalton to running back Giovanni Bernard but the Bengals within a touchdown.

Trailing 17-10 Cincinnati got the ball back with 1:28 left in the game. Cincinnati drove to their own 49 yard line. With 2 seconds left Andy Dalton launched a bomb into the end zone, like any hail mary the ball did not connect with the intended receiver. Instead the ball was batted in the air where a waiting AJ Green snagged the ball out of the air for the most unlikely touchdown in Bengals recent history. A Mike Nugent extra point tied the game 17-17 sending it to overtime.

In OT the Bengals won the toss, meaning they received first. Cincinnati started the drive off well. Giovanni Bernard and BenJarvus Green-Ellis were essential in the drive. Until the Bengals reached the Baltimore 33 where the drive stalled. On 4th and 2 head coach Marvin Lewis elected to go for it instead of attempt a 50 yard field goal. Cincinnati would not convert, resulting in a turnover on downs. From there Baltimore drove down field, kicking a field goal to win.

With back to back losses the Bengals now sit at 6-4 with a one game lead in the AFC North. What looked like an easy path to win the division a few weeks ago has now become cloudy. Cincinnati faces the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium next Sunday at 1pm.