Joe Burrow didn’t show much emotion when the Cincinnati Bengals failed on their two-point conversion attempt in the final minute of Thursday night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
After Burrow threw a touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase with 38 seconds left to cut Baltimore’s lead to 35-34, the Bengals kept the offense on the field for a two-point try to take the lead. Burrow’s pass to Tanner Hudson fell incomplete, allowing Baltimore to hold on, albeit with some controversy.
Replays showed two possible penalties could have been called on Baltimore. Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki was held along the goal line while trying to follow his route. And after Burrow threw the pass to Hudson, defensive tackle Travis Jones hit him in the mask in a way that normally draws a penalty. That flag was not thrown either.
Burrow had every right to be frustrated, but he told reporters after the game that he doesn’t expect to get those calls.
“I just navigated it a little bit,” Burrow said of his shot on the failed two-point attempt. via Bengals. “We knew what situation we were in. Most of the time you don’t get those calls in that situation.”
Burrow has a history of not receiving those flags in the past, which was part of the reason he reacted the way he did.
“I feel like I’ve never gotten those calls, so I don’t expect that,” Burrow said. “I feel like there was a couple that was close, but I really wasn’t expecting it.”
All Burrow could think about was the opportunity the Bengals missed. Cincinnati fell to 4-6 on the season, four games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the loss column for the division lead and three games behind the Ravens, who swept Cincinnati.
The Bengals can forget about winning the AFC North, but they still have a chance to make the postseason. The 4-6 start remains frustrating, given the seasons Burrow and Chase are having.
“This has been frustrating,” Burrow said. “You look at how we’re playing and you look at Trey Hendrickson and how he’s playing. Yeah, it’s a tough pill to swallow. We’ve had our opportunities. It’s tough when you feel like you’re playing well enough to win.” and you are not. “There is always more to do.”
