As he prepared for the Bengals last week, Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale declared that it was too early to put a Pro Football Hall Fame gold jacket on Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow.
But after he racked up his second straight career passing day against the Ravens with a blistering team-record 525 yards Sunday at a Paul Brown Stadium jammed with 63,922 fans drenched in holiday spirt and division title fervor, Burrow and his mates are on the verge being fitted for an AFC North championship ball cap with the 41-21 victory over the Ravens. And Burrow was on the verge of throwing for the most yards in the Super Bowl era, falling two yards shy of Warren Moon's 527 in 1990 that was tied by Houston's Matt Schaub in 2012. He twice passed Boomer Esiason on Sunday. First, he broke the Bengals record Esiason set on Oct. 7, 1990 in an overtime win Los Angeles over the Rams and the 522 he threw as Cardinal in 1996 for the third most until Sunday. Norm van Brocklin's 554 set 70 years ago is the record.
In his second year Burrow (37 of 46 with a career-high four TD passes) completed the 9-6 Bengals' first season sweep of the Ravens and Steelers in a dozen years with the biggest passing day in the NFL this season. It's also the second sweep this century to decisively break the tie atop the division with the 8-7 Ravens with two games left. And it comes in a game the Bengals posted their fifth most prolific yards of all time with 575, the most since Esiason lowered the boom in LA.
View the best game action photos from the Bengals hosting the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16 of the 2021 NFL season.
Defensive lineman Trey Hendrickson tackles Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson for a loss.
Wide receiver Tee Higgins points the ball forward for a first down against the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium.
Wide receiver Tyler Boyd is surrounded by teammates following a 68-yard touchdown reception against the Baltimore Ravens.
Running back Joe Mixon celebrates after rushing for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) looks to the sidelines during the fist half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) reacts after a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Kicker Evan McPherson is greeted by teammates after he converted a 30-yard field goal against the Baltimore Ravens.
Cincinnati Bengals' Tee Higgins (85) makes a catch during the fist half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Defensive end Sam Hubbard jumps out into pass coverage against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16.
Running back Joe Mixon points forward after a 19-yard rush against the Baltimore Ravens.
Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Mixon (28) runs against Baltimore Ravens' Anthony Averett (23) during the fist half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Mixon (28) celebrates after a touchdown run during the fist half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Wide receiver Tyler Boyd makes a reception in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens.
Running back Joe Mixon celebrates with receiver Tyler Boyd in the end zone to put the Bengals ahead 17-7 against the Ravens.
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Mixon (28) celebrates a touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Quarterback Joe Burrow passes the football against the Baltimore Ravens in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium.
Defensive lineman Trey Hendrickson does the grave digger dance after tackling Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson for a loss.
WR Tee Higgins twists to make a leaping catch against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Defensive end Sam Hubbard pumps up the crowd as he is introduced before the Week 16 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium.
Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton flexes on the field at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cincinnati Bengals' Tyler Boyd (83) does a flip in front of Baltimore Ravens' Daryl Worley following a touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (1) reacts after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) dives into the end zone for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in the first half during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Cincinnati Bengals' Tee Higgins celebrates a touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) flips into the end zone for a touchdown in the first half during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Mixon (28) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) watches a replay during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
WR Tee Higgins leaps high between two Ravens defenders for a 56-yard catch in the second quarter at Paul Brown Stadium during the 2021 NFL Season.
Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton puts his hands out in a Week 16 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Cincinnati Bengals' Tee Higgins (85) makes a touchdown catch against Baltimore Ravens' Kevon Seymour (38) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Running back Samaje Perine celebrates with teammates after making a tackle on special teams against the Baltimore Ravens.
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cincinnati Bengals' Tee Higgins (85) reacts after a first down during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson (15) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals' Germaine Pratt (57) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Vonn Bell celebrates with teammates in the end zone after recording an interception of Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson.
Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow celebrates as he leaves the field following an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
A fan cheers during the second half of an NFL football between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens , Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) takes a video with fans after a 41-21 win over the Baltimore Ravens after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah (87) takes a photo with fans after a 41-21 win over the Baltimore Ravens after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass in the second half during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) hugs Joe Mixon (28) following a catch by Mixon during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) celebrates a tackle against the Baltimore Ravens in the second half during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
The Bengals defense had a surprising tussle with Ravens emergency quarterback Josh Johnson (304 yards), but Trey Hendrickson got his 14th sack that broke Carlos Dunlap's club record, Vonn Bell picked off Johnson's last throw and B.J. Hill's fourth-and-one stop set up rookie kicker Evan McPherson's bid for an NFL record tying 10th field goal from 50 yards. It went wide right, stopping the Bengals' skein that saw them score on the game's first seven possessions with 5:15 left in the game.
Martindale tried a little bit of everything but his decimated secondary and depleted pass rush couldn't keep pace with Burrow's numerous weapons. Wide receiver Tee Higgins had a career high 194 yards on 12 catches and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase added 125 in his first 100-yarder since he romped for 201 in the bookend 41-17 win in Baltimore back on Oct. 24.
After the Ravens cut the lead to 24-14 with 1:38 left in the half Burrow proceeded to continue his assault with the help of Higgins' massive wingspan. On third down Burrow heaved a 52-yard jump ball and Higgins ripped it out of the hands of two DBs and his orange gloves cradling the ball helped it survive replay inside the Baltimore 10.
That gave Burrow eight throws of at least 50 yards this season, second only to the Rams' Matthew Stafford.
Then on back-to-back snaps (one was an interception in the end zone), Chase drew back-to-back penalties to set up Burrow's third touchdown pass of the half when Higgins out leveraged cornerback Kevon Seymour to the outside for the one-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left.
That left Burrow a smoking 18 of 21 for 299 yards in the half for a perfect 158.3 passer rating. He became the first quarterback since Tom Brady to throw for that many yards in a half and the first Bengal to do it since Carson Palmer did it in a 2010 loss in Atlanta.
And Higgins already had a monstrous 129 yards on seven catches for his fourth 100-yard game in the last five weeks.
The Bengals went up 10-7 when Bengals head coach Zac Taylor matched Ravens head coach John Harbaugh's aggressiveness and went for it on fourth-and-one and was rewarded with running back Joe Mixon's grinding one-yard touchdown behind center Trey Hopkins with 27 seconds left in the first quarter. That came one snap after Mixon was stoned on third-and-goal from the 1.
Mixon's 13th rushing touchdown (two shy of Ickey Woods' club record) was made possible by Chase's hellacious 17-yard grab on the sidelines on third-and-two that put the ball on the Ravens 3 despite safety Chuck Clark's big hit.
Also on the drive, the Ravens lost their most experienced cornerback when Anthony Averett got carted off the field and Burrow wasted no time taking advantage on the next possession. The Ravens looked to call off the blitz and dropped into a zone and Boyd turned around the DB in the slot and was all by himself when Burrow dropped dime down the seam and a week after catching a 56-yard touchdown to win the game in Denver, Boyd made this one a 68-yard touchdown with the help of Mixon's block as he somersaulted into the end zone for a 17-7 lead.
It was Burrow's NFL-leading 12th touchdown pass of at least 20 yards in the air and it signaled another Joe Show was underway just 1:42 into the second quarter.
Burrow must have had Martindale enraged on the next possession after Boyd burned him deep. Burrow pitched 20-yarders over the middle each to Higgins and Chase as Chase broke A. J. Green's Bengals rookie record going past 1,057 yards and finishing the day with 1,163.
Then Burrow found Mixon in the flat and he froze cornerback Tavon Young with a jump cut long enough to slam him back into the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown catch that made it 24-7 with 7:03 left in the half. And Burrow, who had 416 yards in Baltimore, was again blistering the Ravens again with a perfect passer rating of 158.3 on 13 of 15 passing for 217 yards and the two touchdowns.
But the Bengals defense couldn't solve Josh Johnson even though he just showed up in Baltimore ten days ago. After they went up 24-7, they had a shot to bury the Ravens on a third-and-12 from the Ravens 8. But James Proche II got loose over the middle for a 16-yard gain. Then on third-and-13, cornerback Mike Hilton and linebacker Germaine Pratt couldn't finish a tackle on Tylan Wallace's second catch of the season that turned into an 18-yarder. Then they lost 1,000-yard tight end Mark Andrew for a 28-yarder on third-and-10 that set up a touchdown that cut it to 24-14 with a 1:38 left in the half.
As it turned out, more than enough time for Burrow.
When rookie defensive lineman Cam Sample (hamstring) went out for good early in the game, they were down to one edge behind starters Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. Noah Spence, on the practice squad all season, got plenty of work in his Bengals debut.
