In a vibrant encounter on Thursday night, the [Cincinnati Bengals](/nfl/team/_/name/cin/cincinnati-bengals) demonstrated how much they had missed their star quarterback, Joe Burrow, during the last nine games.
Burrow, recovered from a toe injury that required surgery, returned to the field with an outstanding performance against the [Baltimore Ravens](/nfl/team/_/name/bal/baltimore-ravens), leading the Bengals to a 32-14 victory at M&T Bank Stadium.
Burrow’s Triumphant Return
The quarterback proved his worth by throwing two touchdown passes, culminating a long and arduous rehabilitation process that began in September. “There’s no better feeling than that: working hard for a long time and having it pay off,” Burrow stated.
Burrow completed 24 of 46 passes for 261 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions, propelling the Bengals (4-8) to break a four-game losing streak and secure their first victory over Baltimore (6-6) since the 2022 postseason.
The game did not start in the best way for Cincinnati’s offense, which had difficulty converting their first four red zone incursions into touchdowns. However, the connection with Ja’Marr Chase was key, who accumulated 100 yards before the end of the third quarter.
In the second half, I felt much more comfortable and started putting the balls where I wanted them.
A crucial moment arrived when Burrow connected with tight end Tanner Hudson, who made a spectacular one-handed catch in the corner of the end zone, extending the lead to 19-7.
Another highlight was Burrow’s pass to Andrei Iosivas, who caught the ball in stride for a touchdown. “I put it in a good spot and he was ready for the play. That was good,” Burrow commented on the pass.
Burrow played with a plate in his left shoe, putting his operated toe to the test throughout the game. He had eight throws on the move, with six completions for 55 yards and a touchdown when moving at 8 miles per hour or more.
After the game, Burrow reflected on the recovery process, highlighting the effort and support received. “It hasn’t been easy for me for six years from many different angles, but I’ve worked very hard to put myself in a position to be back there,” Burrow stated. “And a lot of people around me have done the same. I’m proud to be back.”
