In a close AFC North clash on “Thursday Night Football,” the Cincinnati Bengals found themselves trailing 35-34 after a touchdown with just 38 seconds remaining against the Baltimore Ravens.

Rather than opting for a straightforward extra point to tie the game, the Bengals decided to go for a two-point conversion to seize the lead. Unfortunately, the attempt failed as quarterback Joe Burrow’s pass intended for Tanner Hudson was not caught, resulting in a loss for Cincinnati.

In the second half, the Ravens had dominated the scoreboards, outpacing the Bengals 28-20, thanks in part to three touchdown throws from Burrow to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Given their offensive performance—which totaled 470 yards for the game—the Bengals might have chosen to kick for overtime instead.

Why did the Bengals go for two?

Coach Zac Taylor provided insight into the decision to go for the two-point conversion following the defeat.

“Came here to win,” he stated firmly before addressing the next question.

During the broadcast, commentators suggested that Taylor may not have wanted to give Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson a chance to win the game in overtime.

They also pointed out several potential missed penalties during the conversion attempt, including a possible roughing the passer call on Burrow and a defensive holding penalty against tight end Mike Gesicki.

“You’re not gonna get those calls in that situation,” Burrow remarked after the game, adding, “I feel like I’ve never really gotten those calls, so I don’t expect that.”

Burrow further shared his observations regarding the Ravens’ defensive strategy during the conversion attempt.

“They showed us zero pressure, with edge players dropping back. They had two players in the middle. I just threw it a bit too high,” he explained.

This was the second and final encounter of the season between the Bengals and the Ravens; their first matchup had gone into overtime, with the Ravens securing a 41-38 victory.

“They’re a strong team,” Taylor acknowledged. “But we came in expecting to win, and we did everything possible to achieve that. It doesn’t change how proud I am of the effort from everyone on the field, it’s frustrating that we experienced this situation twice.”

The Bengals will next head to the West Coast to face another AFC rival, the Los Angeles Chargers, in Week 11.