The Cincinnati Bengals overcame a 13-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 35-13 on Sunday, with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase playing a pivotal role in rallying the team. The victory marked the Bengals' second consecutive win, improving their record to 4-2.
Chase delivers fiery halftime message
Chase, who finished the game with five receptions for 62 yards and one touchdown, revealed he delivered an impassioned locker room speech at halftime after expressing frustration with the team's performance. "I was pretty angry coming into halftime," Chase told reporters. "I didn't like how we played. We had 15 plays, maybe two or three possessions, and it didn't go our way at all." He added, "I came in here screaming, saying, ‘We got to ... somebody got to make a play for us, and somebody got to make something work.'" Chase also addressed quarterback Joe Burrow, who faced early pressure: "[Burrow] was getting too much pressure, and I told our offense, 'We can't look at our defense the whole time. We gotta step this [expletive] up.'"
Burrow leads second-half surge
Quarterback Joe Burrow threw four touchdown passes in the second half, including three to Chase, as the Bengals outscored the Ravens 35-0 after the break. "I think I played really well," Burrow said postgame. "The first half was what it was, and obviously would have liked to have some of those back, but we didn’t turn the ball over. That played a big part." Burrow credited Chase's speech for the team's turnaround, stating, "Ja’Marr went in there, got after everybody a little bit and got everyone fired up. That certainly plays a part." Offensive tackle Amarius Mims echoed Burrow's sentiment, calling Chase's message "really fired us up."
Ravens' Marlon Humphrey faces scrutiny
Baltimore cornerback Marlon Humphrey, a four-time Pro Bowler, faced criticism from fans after remarks about avoiding matchups with Chase. Humphrey said, "It would be cool if I didn’t match up with him so much," before praising Chase. Fans responded on social media, with some calling Humphrey "scared" of facing Chase. Humphrey recorded three tackles and one pass defended in the game, while Bengals receiver Tee Higgins had a standout performance with six catches for 148 yards and one touchdown. The Ravens fell to 4-3 with the loss.
JD Vance celebrates Bengals' win
Vice President JD Vance, a noted Bengals fan, celebrated the team's victory on social media, posting, "Huge win for Cincinnati. It's early, but I think the Bengals are going to make a run. Who Dey!" Vance also shared a moment from a recent visit to the Bengals' training facility, where Chase acknowledged his six-year-old son, Vivek, for wearing Bengals football gloves. "Special shout out to Ja'Marr Chase, an amazing talent, who made my little six-year-old's year by noticing his football gloves," Vance wrote.
Team dynamics and outlook
The Bengals' roller-coaster season continued with their second straight win after a prior two-game losing streak. Chase, who had not previously delivered such a halftime speech, described the moment as "really emotional" but necessary. "I was pissed. I wasn't very emotional," he said. "I think it was needed in the moment." The team's next game is scheduled for Sunday, October 20, against the Denver Broncos in Cincinnati.