ANALYSIS: 3 takeaways from Bengals’ win over Ravens

The victory Sunday was necessary to avoid a potential coin flip for home field in a wild card game, which pits the Bengals against the Ravens in a rematch next weekend. It also allowed the Bengals to properly celebrate their AFC North title that officially was clinched with the league’s decision to call their canceled game against the Bills a “no contest.”

Here are three takeaways from the game…

1. Capping an emotional week

Burrow said the Bengals felt better going into the game knowing Hamlin was doing OK, but it felt “weird” stepping back on the field where six days earlier it wasn’t certain Hamlin would even survive. Being able to celebrate afterward was especially satisfying because of all the challenges the team faced throughout the week emotionally and mentally getting prepared.

“We settled into the game and put that behind us, but pregame was definitely a little weird,” Burrow said., noting the Bengals “needed this one.”

Perhaps that uneasiness in pre-game factored into his up-and-down performance Sunday.

The Bengals didn’t play their best game, especially on offense in the second half, but they “found a way to win” and Burrow and others on the team said they feel ready for the playoffs. They’ve won 12 of 14 games since Burrow told everyone to relax following an 0-2 start, and that eight-game win streak they are on came against the toughest schedule in the league the second half of the season.

“I think last year, we were kind of surprised to be there,” defensive end Sam Hubbard said. “This year, we’ve gone about the season preparing ourselves to play our best football this time around the postseason. So it was a bit of a different mindset. I think that experience in the past will help us.”

Burrow said the adversity the Bengals have faced this year, with some key players going down and others stepping up and the challenges of the past week is something that makes this year’s team uniquely positioned to be successful.

2. Offense struggling late

The Bengals struggled for the second straight game to close out a contest after taking a big lead. They led by as many as 17 points twice in the first half and never were able to put the game away. Cincinnati did the same against New England on Dec. 24, and that game was in doubt late.

Taylor said he’s not worried about that trend going into the playoffs because the Bengals just need to be “more efficient.”

The defense once again bailed them out. Two interceptions put the Bengals in good field position in the first half, and they took advantage both times with touchdowns from Joe Mixon and Ja’Marr Chase. The defense also got a touchdown right before halftime when Trey Hendrickson sacked Brown and forced a fumble, which Joseph Ossai recovered in the end zone. Drue Chrisman’s punt had pinned Baltimore inside the 5-yard line on a day he shined.

“Obviously we couldn’t move the ball in the second half,” wide receiver Tee Higgins said. “Our defense stepped up big and won that game for us, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to come back in here tomorrow and correct what we did wrong and hope we come out next week with the W.”

There were still positives on offense, as Burrow set a franchise record with his 35th passing touchdown of the season (breaking his own record) and Chase crossed 1,000 yards receiving for his second season, but Burrow said he wasn’t making throws he always completes. He completed just 25 of 42 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown.

3. Holding something back

The Ravens sat several key players, including their top two quarterbacks, as they took the opportunity to heal up some injuries for the playoffs, but Cincinnati still needed to use its starters to avoid losing home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Still, Bengals coach Zac Taylor said he held back a bit in the play-calling with the knowledge there was a good chance they would be playing the Ravens again next week. Taking a 17-0 lead in the second quarter and going into halftime up 24-7 helped in that regard, but Cincinnati didn’t purposely take its foot off the gas.

“You don’t want to put it all out there,” Taylor said. “You want to have control of the game early. I though we had decent control. Certainly anything can happen of course in the game, but there’s that balance there.”

Baltimore held Cincinnati to just three points in the second half, but the Bengals defense got three turnovers and was able to get third-down stops in the second half to limit the Ravens to three field goals and prevent the comeback. The Ravens finished with 386 yards of offense, including 286 yards passing for third-string quarterback Anthony Brown, who completed just 19 of 44 passes and had two interceptions and four sacks.

The game next week could look much different. Lamar Jackson hasn’t practiced in weeks so it’s unclear if he will be able to return for the playoffs, but backup Tyler Huntley was held back Sunday so he could heal from the bumps and bruises he suffered last week against Pittsburgh.

Running back J.K. Dobbins, right guard Kevin Zeitler and tight end Mark Andrews were all healthy scratches, and cornerback Marcus Peters (calf) and his backup, Brandon Stephens (illness), also were inactive.

“We’ll see them again next weekend and a lot more will be on the line,” cornerback Mike Hilton said.

STAT OF THE GAME

4: Number of turnovers for the Ravens.

GAME BALL

Ja’Marr Chase: Bengals wide receiver caught eight passes for 86 yards and a touchdown