Zac Taylor said all it would take is one win for the Cincinnati Bengals to get momentum for a late-season run.
Taylor’s squad will have the opportunity to prove their coach right after playing their most complete game of the season, a 32-14 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.
Franchise quarterback Joe Burrow completed 24 of 46 for 261 yards and a pair of second-half touchdowns. But it was the defense’s performance that helped the Bengals snap a three-game skid and win for the first time in five weeks.
Al Golden’s much-maligned defense not only allowed a season-low 14 points, but it also forced five turnovers.
The Bengals entered last in total defense (415.8 yards per game) and against the run (156 yards per game). They gave up only 346 yards, held Derrick Henry to 60 rushing yards, and kept the Ravens to 3 of 10 on third downs.
“We kept them guessing. When you have pressure in your face, it’s hard to make your throws and go through your progressions. I just felt like we kept (Lamar Jackson) on his toes,” cornerback Dax Hill said.
Special teams also picked up the slack when Evan McPherson became the third player in franchise history with at least six field goals in a game.
Burrow completed 7 of 12 for 83 yards and a touchdown when facing pressure. He was 16 of 27 for 203 yards when he had more than 2.5 seconds to throw. The sixth-year QB missed nine games because of a turf toe injury.
