Cincinnati Bengals Have a Clear Problem to Fix

The Cincinnati Bengals erased a 13-point halftime deficit to beat the Baltimore Ravens, 35-13, on October 25 and move to 4-2. Cincinnati scored 35 unanswered points after halftime, a response that showed the ceiling of its offense and defense, but it also left a clear condition for the next stretch of the season: The Bengals cannot keep waiting until halftime to play their best football. The Week 7 comeback made Cincinnati the 10th team in NFL history to be shut out in the first half before scoring at least 35 points in the second.

Shotgun Gave Cincinnati the Answer

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow completed 22 of 30 passes for 292 yards and four touchdowns, while wide receiver Tee Higgins had six catches for 148 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Mike Gesicki opened the second-half scoring before Higgins put Cincinnati ahead late in the third quarter, and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase added a fourth-quarter touchdown. The Bengals’ four-touchdown half came after an offense that had been shut out through two quarters.

The second-half plan centered on letting Burrow operate from shotgun and distribute to Cincinnati’s best targets rather than forcing an under-center running approach against Baltimore’s pressure. Lucky said on The Sit Down Morning Show that the adjustment put the offense back in its preferred structure, forcing the Ravens to account for Higgins and Chase outside and creating room for the rest of the attack.

The Bengals Defense is Elite

The Cincinnati defense held Baltimore to 13 first-half points despite the offense’s scoreless start, then shut out the Ravens over the final two quarters. Defensive end Boye Mafe had two sacks, rookie defensive end Cashius Howell added his first career sack, and Cincinnati forced a turnover on downs to open the fourth quarter. The official game recap credited the defense with multiple sacks for a sixth straight game.

The slow starts are things that could be detrimental down the stretch when you face more game teams.

Malik Wright

The 35-point outburst supplied the response Cincinnati needed after falling behind on the road against a division opponent. Malik Wright said the victory showed that the Bengals could respond to adversity, but he argued that stronger opponents will make a 13-0 deficit harder to overcome. The formula from Baltimore is straightforward: protect Burrow, use shotgun to stress coverage, and let the passing game dictate the terms early rather than needing a halftime reset.

The Bengals return home to face the Tennessee Titans on November 1 before traveling to play the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9. Cincinnati’s schedule gives the offense an immediate chance to prove that its Baltimore finish can become its weekly standard.