BALTIMORE – After yet another frustrating narrow loss, Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson expressed his frustration by gently hitting his head against the metal locker in the visiting team’s locker room at M&T Bank Stadium.

This scene perfectly illustrated the mood of Hudson and his teammates following a game that made their journey to the playoffs feel even more challenging, as Joe Burrow noted.

“Yeah,” Burrow said regarding the challenges of the 2024 season, “this one has been frustrating.”

The Bengals found themselves just 2 yards away from evening their record to 5-5 and securing a critical win over a strong division rival on the road.

However, Burrow’s pass to Hudson for what could have been a game-winning two-point conversion with just 42 seconds left went awry, leading to a 35-34 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in “Thursday Night Football.” The loss overshadowed an exceptional performance by Ja’Marr Chase, who lit up the Ravens’ weakened secondary with 11 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Burrow finished the night completing 34 of 56 passes for 428 yards and four touchdowns.

Sadly, the Bengals’ defense couldn’t maintain the momentum they had in the first half and allowed Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to score four consecutive touchdowns, flipping a 21-7 Bengals lead into a heartbreaking defeat. A critical fumble by running back Chase Brown contributed to the Ravens’ score, highlighting issues beyond just Burrow and Chase.

Head Coach Zak Taylor was aggressive throughout the game, opting to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line, leading to a penalty that allowed the Bengals to score. However, they ended up 2-for-4 on fourth downs, with key opportunities missed as Burrow attempted deep shots to Jermaine Burton.

“We need to figure out how to finish these games,” Taylor remarked. “We had a chance. We got deep in their territory, went for two, but it didn’t work out.”

Aiming to bounce back from a 1-4 record to reach 5-5 should have been a strong turnaround, but sitting at 4-6 has made it hard to forget that rocky start.

“We have a solid team, but our record doesn’t reflect that yet. There’s still time, and we’ll stay in the fight until the end,” Taylor said. “This one stings because we felt we really let it slip away.”

In three of their defeats, the Bengals showed they could compete with the top teams in the conference, suffering losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Ravens by a mere five points combined.

“Losing to those teams is tough,” Chase commented.

He added, “We just need to learn how to finish. Each loss could have ended differently if we had.”

Out of all their losses, the only one that wasn’t a close call was a 37-17 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles on October 27.

“If you look at our losses, they’re mostly one-possession games except for that Eagles matchup,” stated cornerback Mike Hilton. “It’s certainly frustrating.”

The Bengals players weren’t willing to excuse their performance by citing missed penalties, like the one on tight end Mike Gesicki or the hit on Burrow’s helmet on their two-point attempt. They again faced challenges without left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and wide receiver Tee Higgins. Nevertheless, with Burrow and Chase, the Bengals maintain one of the league’s most dynamic offenses, showcasing their potential with explosive big plays.

“They’re elite – the best, really,” Gesicki noted. “It’s amazing how open Chase gets all the time.”

Burrow endured numerous hits throughout the game, being sacked three times due to a heavy number of dropbacks.

The Bengals converted 8 of 16 on third down, entering the game with the NFL’s third-best conversion rate, and both teams scored touchdowns whenever they entered the red zone.

While the Bengals’ defense managed to control the Ravens’ run game, they failed to apply sufficient pressure on Jackson after forcing five punts early in the game. Cam Taylor-Britt nearly made a key interception with about five minutes left in the game after tying the score at 28, but he couldn’t secure the catch. Cincinnati ultimately lost the turnover battle.

“We had the chance to win but failed to close it out,” Hilton reflected. “It’s one of those tough losses.”

“We need to make crucial plays, either forcing turnovers or get off the field during critical moments.”

Since Burrow joined the team in 2020, they were known for winning tight games during their strong seasons, but he now questions whether the same determination is present in this year’s squad.

“In previous years, we’ve capitalized on our chances,” he lamented. “This year, we haven’t. Our guys need to step up and make plays to finish these games.”

The Bengals’ next game is again in prime time, facing the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday. They will then have a bye in Week 12 before concluding the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers (twice), Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and Denver Broncos.

Taylor has been insistently supportive of his team.

Burrow believes their performance should have been better than a 4-6 record, and his teammates share his sentiment. They’re all aware that their current standings are crucial as the season progresses.

“Your record ultimately reflects who you are,” Burrow stated. “Right now, we are a 4-6 football team. It’s definitely going to be challenging to turn this around. But I truly appreciate the players we have in the locker room, as well as our coaching staff.”

What’s particularly concerning for the Bengals is that both Chase and Burrow are performing at such high levels yet still have a record below .500.

“Yeah, it’s wild to think about,” Chase acknowledged. “I never would have guessed that I’d be playing this well, along with Burrow, and still be dealing with a record like this.”

This is precisely the kind of disappointing season that the Bengals were hoping to avoid in 2024. Unfortunately, this is the situation they must face for the next 10 days.