The Dissection: Brown’s Five Opinions on What the Ravens Did Correctly on Thursday Night
On Thursday Night Football, the Ravens found their groove again while playing under the lights and in all black.
The Ravens (8-3) defeated the Cincinnati Bengals (5-5) 34-20 in primetime, satisfying their need for a comeback victory. Now, they can kick back and enjoy their first-place standing in the competitive AFC North this weekend.
It was the ideal remedy for the Ravens, who were still bitter after their devastating Week 10 loss to Cleveland. After four days, Baltimore resumed its progress.
My views on a significant win for the Ravens, who will celebrate Thanksgiving and then play host to the Los Angeles Chargers on November 26:
This Win Feels Bigger Than Most
The Ravens will enter Week 12 leading the AFC North and will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC if the Chiefs (7-2) lose to the Eagles on Monday Night Football.
Losing a second straight home game against a division rival would have been deflating for the Ravens, and this game had a playoff-type atmosphere. The blackout crowd at M&T Bank Stadium responded with thunderous noise, and the Ravens fed off the energy.
“Our fans were loud,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said. “They (the Bengals) had to take delay of games, they had a tough time communicating out there, they couldn’t get lined up numerous times as a result. Our fans were there, it was fun, it was a great environment to be in. It was really just an amazing night.”
This win re-established the Ravens as the team to beat in the division, after Baltimore looked vulnerable Sunday losing a 14-point fourth quarter lead against the Browns. Meanwhile, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow didn’t return after leaving the game in the second quarter with a wrist injury and seemed to be in serious pain. There are key turning points in every season, and this felt like one. Baltimore’s playoff and division title chances are trending up.
The Injury to Mark Andrews Creates a Vast Hole
Although Mark Andrews has never missed more than three games in a season, Harbaugh stated that the Pro Bowl tight end’s first-quarter ankle injury is probably going to be fatal.
When Andrews failed to stand up right away following a 9-yard reception, Lamar Jackson knew the injury was serious.
“I think I saw it,” Jackson remarked. “My hope was that he would stand up. He was merely lying there, his expression bewildered. Oh no. That boy is mine.”
