Burrow’s second-half surge powers comeback
Joe Burrow orchestrated one of the most dominant half-long performances of the early season, throwing four second-half touchdown passes as the Cincinnati Bengals erased a 13-0 halftime deficit and produced a 35-13 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Burrow completed 16 of 18 passes for 249 yards in the second half and finished 22-for-30 for 292 yards overall. The Bengals mounted five touchdown drives in the final two quarters, turning a scoreless first half into a 35-point outburst that left the Ravens unable to respond.
Cincinnati’s scoring began in the second half with a touchdown pass to Mike Gesicki. Burrow later connected on a touchdown to Tee Higgins, and the Bengals never looked back.
Ja'Marr Chase jumpstarts the locker room at halftime
Joe Burrow credited Ja'Marr Chase with changing the tone at halftime. “We executed in the second half,” Burrow told CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson after the game. “Ja'Marr went in there and got after everybody a little bit.”
Chase contributed on the field as well, finishing with five catches for 62 yards and hauling in one of Burrow’s four second-half touchdown throws. Tee Higgins paced the receiving corps with six catches for 148 yards and a touchdown, while Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample also caught scoring passes and Samaje Perine added a rushing touchdown as Cincinnati completed its comeback.
The combination of Burrow’s accuracy, Cleveland’s ability to sustain drives and the receiving trio’s playmaking turned what looked like a difficult road outing into a decisive second-half statement.
Ravens’ second-half collapse and wider context
The Baltimore Ravens, who led 13-0 at halftime, were shut out in the second half as Cincinnati scored 35 unanswered points. The rout was compounded by injury issues at quarterback: Lamar Jackson’s latest injury left Baltimore without its QB1 during the game.
The 35-point swing highlighted the contrast between Baltimore’s early lead and its inability to find answers once Cincinnati’s offense found its rhythm; the Ravens surrendered 35 consecutive points to Cincinnati in the second half.
Sunday’s result showcased the Bengals’ resilience and offensive depth. After a frustrating, scoreless first half, Cincinnati flipped the script with efficient passing, timely runs and multiple contributors in the receiving game. Burrow’s near-perfect passing in the third and fourth quarters, combined with the halftime spark from Ja'Marr Chase, produced a comeback that erased a two-score deficit and flipped momentum entirely.
For the Bengals, the victory emphasized a capacity to adjust and sustain high-level offense late in games. For the Ravens, the loss was a reminder of how quickly a lead can evaporate when an opponent finds efficiency and explosive plays in succession.
Sunday’s game will be remembered most for the sweep of second-half momentum — a 35-0 run that turned a cold opening into a decisive road victory for Cincinnati, and a sobering second-half reversal for Baltimore.
