Zac Taylor openly explains his decision for two-point conversion against Ravens

The Cincinnati Bengals had a chance to tie the game with an extra point or take the lead with a two-point conversion with 38 seconds left in the game against their AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor went for two and a chance to take the lead. But tight end Tanner Hudson couldn’t intercept a pass from quarterback Joe Burrow and Cincinnati ended up losing 35-34 Thursday Night Football.

Taylor abruptly explained his decision when speaking to reporters shortly after the loss at M&T Bank Stadium.

“Came here to win,” he said.

Very easy.

Three days earlier, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced a nearly identical situation Monday Night Football. Playing on the road at Arrowhead Stadium, Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles opted to kick the game-winning extra point rather than attempt a two-point conversion to take the lead with 27 seconds left. Tampa Bay never saw the football again as Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes won the coin toss and led a game-winning drive in overtime.

While the Buccaneers lost in overtime on Monday night, the Bengals lost in regulation time on Thursday night. And this loss hurts even more for Cincinnati, which had to beat Baltimore in two games after losing by three points in overtime in early October.

“We have to find a way to finish these games,” Taylor said. “We had a chance, we went down there, made two and it just didn’t work out for us. This team will continue to put us in good positions and there will come a point in the season when that changes.”

The Bengals (4-6) now prepare for a matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday before a bye in Week 12.