It’s been a few years now, but we’ve decided to bring it back, Griffin got sick of Glenn mentioning this segment “that we used to do” so the guys revived it entirely. On Tuesdays following Sunday’s game, we will sit down and map out the Five Plays That Told The Story Of Sunday’s Game.
It’s as simple as it sounds, if the Ravens lose, we’ll pick the five plays that we perceived embodied the loss, not all necessarily scoring plays, sometimes no scoring plays. And of course on the inverse, when the Ravens win, the five plays that most embodied the win.
The Ravens found a way to hold on for a narrow 35-34 victory over the Bengals on Thursday Night Football and with lots of key plays happening throughout the second half comeback, Griffin and Glenn will both count down in sequential order of the five plays they believed to tell the story of last week’s game.
Glenn’s Five Plays That Told The Story of Sunday’s Game:
5. 1st & 10 at BAL 34 (0:39 – 3rd) (Shotgun) J. Burrow sacked at BLT 40 for -6 yards (N. Madubuike)
While they had two plays to try to make up for it (and didn’t), this was the play that drove the Bengals out of field goal range and forced the final punt of the game for either team. It was a critical stop after finally getting momentum.
4. 4th & 2 at BAL 34 (9:29 – 4th) (Shotgun) J. Burrow pass incomplete deep left to J. Burton
And this was the last stop of any sort in the game. The three points they eschewed (an understandable decision) proved significant and Ja’Marr Chase was coming open on the play but the throw went elsewhere.
3. 2nd & 9 at CIN 11 (5:10 – 3rd) (Shotgun) L. Jackson scrambles right end to CIN 1 for 10 yards (G. Pratt, G. Stone)
Has the official write-up of a play ever failed to describe the play any worse than this?
2. 3rd & 2 at BAL 16 (13:30 – 4th) Tylan Wallace 84 yard pass from Lamar Jackson (Justin Tucker PAT failed)
Speaking of which, how does the write-up of a play not include the word “touchdown?” I realize it isn’t germane to the topic but you know what happened here so I feel like I can pick this nit.
1. 2nd & 5 at CIN 27 (7:05 – 3rd) (Shotgun) C. Brown left guard to CIN 31 for 4 yards (M. Humphrey), touched at CIN 30, RECOVERED by BLT-R. Smith at CIN 31
The defense was the story of the game. Just like we’ve been saying.
Griffin’s Five Plays That Told The Story of Sunday’s Game:
5. 3rd & 2 at BAL 16 (13:30 – 4th) Tylan Wallace 84 Yd pass from Lamar Jackson (Justin Tucker PAT failed)
Obviously a massive play, I couldn’t have it higher because the missed extra point didn’t officially tie the game and they were still trailing, but a pivotal point in the game no doubt. Just the impressiveness of somehow not stepping out of bounds up the sideline. Ridiculous.
4. 3rd & Goal at CIN 5 (1:49 – 4th) (Shotgun) L.Jackson pass short left to R.Bateman for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. J.Tucker extra point is GOOD
It proved to be the game-winning touchdown, and adding in the level of difficulty too, five yards out, third down, rolling to his left (even though Lamar makes it look easy), and the perfect touch of the flutter throw to Bateman flying across the EZ. Crazy.
3. 2nd & 9 at CIN 11 (5:10 – 3rd) (Shotgun) L.Jackson scrambles right end to CIN 1 for 10 yards (G.Pratt, G.Stone).
The scheduled “Lamar Jackson” play of the week. He covered 60 freaking yards on a gain of 10, and still wasn’t satisfied.
2. 1st & 10 at BAL 34 (0:39 – 3rd) (Shotgun) J.Burrow sacked at BLT 40 for -6 yards (N. Madubuike).
I emphasized the play on Friday, and stand by it. Pushed the Bengals out of field goal range, forced them to have to throw incompletions on 2nd and 3rd and long, and punt… Helps set up two plays later: Tylan Wallace.
1. 2nd & 5 at CIN 27 (7:05 – 3rd) (Shotgun) C.Brown left guard to CIN 31 for 4 yards (M.Humphrey). FUMBLES (M.Humphrey), RECOVERED by BLT-R.Smith at CIN 31.
Cannot be understated how monumental this play was. The offense had done NOTHING since the second drive of the game, this game them a short field, Lamar does his thing and evidently triggered the whole second half surge because they scored a TD every time they touched the ball the rest of the way. Play of the game.
There you have it, our five plays telling the story of last week’s TNF win over the Bengals. You can listen as Glenn and Griffin break it down by clicking play below:
Glenn and Griffin also recapped the weekend in the GCR Picks Contest on Monday, you check out the updated standings (with Glenn still at the bottom) here as well as listen as the boys recap the weekend as well:
Photo credit: Shawn Hubbard/Baltimore Ravens
