We all knew the importance of Thursday night’s clash under the lights for both the Ravens and the Bengals. A win for the Ravens would see them solidify their hold in the AFC North. While the Bengals had to win to keep their doors open for playoffs. However, they couldn’t manage to get over the line. Falling to a defeat by just one point in Baltimore.

This got the Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaking up about the controversial calls on Joe Burrow, “I just got to keep fighting for some of that stuff. Because you don’t want to lose him on a (hit) that’s well after the play is over.” With the Bengals looking for a 2-point conversion, the Ravens got away with a defensive holding and a hit to the helmet that could have injured the Bengals QB.

It was Ravens’ LB Roquan Smith who made contact with Burrow’s facemask after he had already passed it to TE Tanner Hudson. Within the same play itself, Hudson was wrapped around by Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington. Although it looked like a clear defensive holding, the referees didn’t call for a roughing of the passer penalty. Instead, it ended up being an incomplete pass that confirmed the Bengals’ defeat on the night.

Seeing those calls not getting picked up by the referees’ former football official Terry McAulay said, “It was clearly defensive holding…and that does look like forcible contact to the head of Burrow.” Even the fans were upset about the Bengals not getting anything out of those plays, “The NFL is too big to have this level of incompetence.” There was another fan who could have been a Ravens fan but still called out the controversial decisions, “I like the Ravens, but that blow to Burrow’s head was obvious.”

Well, Joe Burrow himself bashed the referees’ decision on the final offensive play that confirmed the Ravens win on Thursday, “Most of the time, you don’t get that penalty in that situation. You don’t expect to get those things anymore.” Amid the controversial roughing calls, Zac Taylor also found himself criticized for his decision to go for a two-point conversion.

Fans call out Taylor’s final play call as Joe Burrow leaves Baltimore empty-handed

With 30 seconds remaining on the clock, Ja’Marr Chase had just scored a TD to make it 35-34 in Baltimore. Now, the Bengals had two options on their hand: either go for a kick and tie the game to play in overtime. Or go in for a 2-point conversion and grab the victory with the last play on the night. However, thanks to poor officiating, the Bengals weren’t able to do so as the Ravens came out victorious. Although most fans bashed the referees’ decision, they didn’t forget Taylor’s call either, “Chase has 300 yards and 3 TDs and you run a play for Tanner Hudson????? Lmao Zac Taylor has to be top 3 worst coaches in the entire league.”

Chase was simply brilliant on the night as he finished with 11 catches for 264 yards and 3 TDs. But for some reason, Taylor wanted the pass to be made towards Tanner Hudson. “Zac Taylor must go! The play calling 3&2, 4th&2 horrible. Going for 2 right move but really we go to Hudson #incredible,” another fan added. Amid such criticism from fans, Taylor stood by his decision, “We had our opportunity. We got down there, went for two, and it just didn’t work out for us. This team is going to continue to put us in good positions. There’s going to be a point in the season where that turns. We will respond the right way from this game.”

After this loss to the Ravens, the Bengals’ path to playoffs grows thinner as they remain 3rd in the AFC North. Their next two games against the Steelers and the Chargers are must-win for them. Otherwise, they could kiss their season goodbye while ruing the missed opportunities on Thursday.