OWINGS MILLS, Md. – To go for two or not – that is the question on Bengals fans’ minds afterwards a crushing loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football.
After Joe Burrow connected with Ja’Marr Chase on what would have been the tying touchdown in the final seconds, Cincinnati opted to try to win it in regulation. Their 2-point conversion failed, effectively ending the game.
Was it the right choice?
Some fans believed the Bengals should have gone to overtime, hoping their offense would get the ball first or their defense could stop the Ravens.
Unlike in the play-offs, both teams do not have to get the ball in extra time during the regular season. If the team that gets the ball first scores, the game ends. In their first meeting, Baltimore got the ball first, giving Cincinnati a chance to score for the win.
But Evan McPherson missed a 53-yard field goal, giving the Ravens the final say.
There’s no guarantee what would have happened if this game had gone to overtime, but we do know that the Ravens scored quite easily on four straight drives to fight back after losing 21-14 in the third quarter.
We also know that just days ago, NFL fans were angry at another team for choosing a PAT over a two-point conversion at the end of their game. Tampa Bay had a chance to put away the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night, but opted to kick a PAT to send the game to overtime. Patrick Mahomes got the ball first and immediately marched down the field to win the game 30-24.
Coach Zac Taylor called the loss “sickening” but never said he had any doubts about going for it.
“I got the game we liked, but it just didn’t work for us,” he said.
Fans online also noticed a lack of calls on that final play. The broadcast stated that the passer should have been called after Burrow was downed, but no flags were thrown.
“Too many games end this way,” said announcer Al Michaels. ‘They just do that. You miss calls. The whole thing. So frustrating for the fans.’