NFL Rumors: Ravens Locker Room was 'More Somber' Than Expected After Win vs. Bengals

Patrick Smith/ The Baltimore Ravens pulled off a dramatic 35-34 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Thursday's AFC North showdown, but the winning locker room was reportedly anything but a party.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Friday the "Ravens' postgame locker room scene was more somber than you'd expect after a heated divisional win. People with the team could sense it. Pass defense owned the bad play. Wasn't exactly a celebration. That can be a good thing long term."

As Fowler pointed out, the secondary was largely missing in action.

Joe Burrow threw for 428 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions, while wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase torched Baltimore for 11 catches, 264 yards and three touchdowns. It didn't help that star safety Kyle Hamilton exited in the first half with an ankle injury, but it was still anything but an encouraging performance from the home team's defense.

Yet that defense also helped turn the game around when Marlon Humphrey forced a Chase Brown fumble in the third quarter when the Bengals had a 14-point lead and the ball. Baltimore scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession and set the stage for an incredible fourth quarter that saw Lamar Jackson throw three touchdowns and Burrow throw two.

One of Burrow's fourth-quarter touchdown passes was a 70-yarder to Chase after the star receiver scored a 67-yarder earlier in the contest. To say the tackling left much to be desired would be quite the understatement, although the Baltimore secondary did win the game by stopping the Bengals' two-point conversion in the final minute.

The Ravens appeared to get away with some defensive holding on the play, but they ultimately earned bragging rights with the victory.

Yet Baltimore will have to be much better defensively if it is going to accomplish its goal of winning the Super Bowl. Potential playoff games against Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen likely won't go well with similar efforts as Thursday, which is surely why there weren't huge celebrations in the aftermath.

But it also shows the team knows it has to improve and will look to do so moving forward into the season's stretch run.