Brown’s five thoughts on how the Ravens beat the Bengals again

Ja’Marr Chase (11 catches, 264 yards, three touchdowns) and Burrow (34 of 56, 428 yards, four touchdowns) turned in aerial performances that nearly doomed the Ravens. To secure the victory, the Ravens prevented a two-point conversion attempt by the Bengals in the final minute when Burrow’s pass intended for Tanner Hudson fell incomplete.

Chase is a great player, but some of his catches were just too easy. On his second touchdown, the Ravens let him run free down the middle of the field, and it was almost like a pitch and catch between him and Burrow for a 70-yard touchdown.

The Ravens realize they win despite their pass defense, not because of it. Neither Humphrey nor head coach John Harbaugh glossed over Baltimore’s defensive problems after the game. The Ravens don’t play up to their standards on defense, but they win because their offense carries them. Humphrey said the Ravens did okay in practice, but that didn’t carry over to games.

That has to change for Baltimore to go as far as they hope.

The good news is that the Ravens’ pass rush has improved. They hit Burrow like a piñata all night, racking up 13 quarterback hits to the Bengals’ total. Part of that was due to Orlando Brown Jr. not playing for Cincinnati, but Baltimore took advantage.

Nnamdi Madubuike had three sacks for the first time in his career, raising his season total to five. However, he was not satisfied with the overall result

“That’s just not our standard of defense and we know that,” Madubuike said. “We’re going to find ways to improve and get better in practice and I know the guys in the locker room feel the same way I do and we’ll get there. We just have to get it done one day at a time and just focus on the right things [and] Build the right habits and transfer them to the game.