Week 2 of the 2018 NFL Season began on "Thursday Night Football," with the Baltimore Ravens visiting division foe Cincinnati. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco threw two interceptions, lost a fumble, and the Ravens defense, so dominant in a huge Week 1 win, was shredded early and often by A.J. Green and Andy Dalton. The 34-23 win for the Bengals, giving them a 2-0 record for the season, in an important division game, gives head coach Marvin Lewis and the Bengals the early advantage in the AFC North.
Dalton threw for 265 yards and four touchdowns, while A.J.
Green hauled in five passes for 69 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Joe Mixon continued to be impressive in his second season, rushing for 84 yards on 21 carries. Flacco threw for 377 yards. Receiver John Brown leading the way with four catches, 92 yards, and one touchdown. Both teams now have ten days to prepare, and rest, for their Week 3 matchups. Cincinnati will be on the road Sunday, September 23, facing the Carolina Panthers. Baltimore will be at home facing the Denver Broncos. Here are five crazy predictions for the 2018 NFL season.
Cincinnati jumps out to quick 14-0 lead
Cincinnati began the game by holding the Ravens to a three and out. On the Ravens' next possession, quarterback Joe Flacco was promptly intercepted at the 12:24 mark of the first quarter by Bengals rookie safety Jessie Bates.
Four plays and 16 yards later, Cincinnati led 7-0 on a four-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver A.J. Green. The ensuing Bengals drive, after a Baltimore punt, saw quarterback Andy Dalton find A.J. Green a second time, connecting on a short pass over the middle. Green turned it into a 32-yard touchdown reception and a 14-0 Bengals lead with 6:33 remaining in the first quarter.
Bengals score on four straight possessions
After forcing Baltimore to punt for the third time in four possessions, Andy Dalton led Cincinnati on a 12-play, 72 yard scoring drive covering nearly six minutes, and extending the Bengals lead to 21-0. Dalton again found A.J. Green, for seven yards, giving him three touchdowns on the night.
Baltimore cracked the scoreboard with 8:20 to play in the half, aided by a pass interference penalty on third-and-five at the Cincinnati eight-yard line. The foul occurred in the end zone, giving Baltimore first-and-goal from the one-yard line. Javorius Allen's one-yard touchdown run made the score 21-7.
Cincinnati responded by scoring a touchdown on their fourth consecutive possession to increase their lead to 28-7. Andy Dalton found wide receiver Tyler Boyd for a 14-yard touchdown, giving Dalton four passing touchdowns on the night. Baltimore would end the first half with a touchdown pass to rookie tight end Mark Andrews, making the halftime score Cincinnati 28, Baltimore 14.
Baltimore draws within five, 28-23
Trailing 28-17, Joe Flacco began the fourth quarter by leading Baltimore on a 12-play, 87-yard drive, capped by a 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Brown. This cut the Bengals lead to five, 28-23. The ensuing two-point conversion, an attempt to draw within a field goal, was unsuccessful. Later, Cincinnati would kick an important field goal, making the score 31-23, though Baltimore still had hope with the one possession score. Joe Flacco was promptly sacked and he fumbled. Cincinnati kicked another field goal with 2:29 remaining in the game. The 34-23 two-possession lead was too much for Baltimore to overcome.
Ravens fans have to be left scratching their heads on Joe Flacco's future. How much time will pass before Baltimore fans are clamoring for rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson to showcase his talents at the next level?