Jackson leads thrilling Ravens comeback over Bengals
Lamar Jackson threw four touchdowns as the Baltimore Ravens completed a thrilling second-half comeback to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 35-34 in the NFL on Thursday.
A month after Baltimore beat the Bengals 41-38 in an instant classic, the two AFC North divisional rivals combined for another high-scoring shootout at the Ravens' M&T Bank Stadium.
Baltimore quarterback Jackson finished with four touchdowns and 290 passing yards from 25-33 attempts, while Bengals counterpart Joe Burrow had four touchdowns and 428 yards with no interceptions.
"It was a video-game type of game," a relieved Jackson said. "I get tired of them, but it is what it is."
The Bengals looked poised to avenge last month's defeat after a Chase Brown rushing touchdown was followed by two touchdown passes from Burrow to make it 21-7 to Cincinnati early in the third quarter.
But Jackson then seized control of the game, launching a five-play drive to send running back Derrick Henry rumbling into the end zone to make it 21-14 after Justin Tucker's extra point.
The Bengals were soon in trouble early in the fourth quarter, with Jackson finding Tyler Wallace for an 84-yard touchdown to get the Ravens within one point at 21-20.
Another brisk Ravens drive ended with Jackson floating a pass to Mark Andrews to give Baltimore the lead at 26-21.
Jackson skipped into the end zone for the two-point conversion and the game appeared to have swung decisively in Baltimore's favor.
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Yet Burrow and the Bengals were not done.
With the first play of the next drive, receiver Ja'Marr Chase took advantage of a blown coverage to sprint clear and gather a pinpoint Burrow pass for a 70-yard touchdown.
Evan McPherson's extra point tied the game but Baltimore remained unflustered with Jackson marching the Ravens on a 70-yard, 11-play drive before guiding a pass to Rashod Bateman for a touchdown that restored the home team's lead with less than two minutes remaining.
That set up a nerve-wracking finale as Burrow once again hauled the Bengals back upfield, punishing some jittery Ravens defending before lasering a pass to Chase at the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
A kicked extra point would have tied the score and potentially set up overtime, but the Bengals boldly went for a winning two-point conversion.
That gambit backfired though with Burrow's pass to tight end Tanner Hudson falling incomplete to effectively end the game.
Baltimore improved to 7-3 with the win and remain second in the AFC North behind leaders Pittsburgh (6-2). The Bengals fell to 4-6 and are third in the division.
© Agence France-Presse. Los Angeles, United States
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