Zac Taylor candidly explains the decision to go for the two-point conversion vs. Ravens

The Cincinnati Bengals had a chance to tie the game on an extra point or take the lead on a two-point conversion with 38 seconds to play against their AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor chose to go for a two and one chance on the lead. But tight end Tanner Hudson couldn’t haul in a pass from quarterback Joe Burrow, and Cincinnati went on to lose 35–34 on Thursday night football.

Taylor explained his decision in an abrupt manner when he spoke to reporters shortly after the loss at M&T Bank Stadium.

“Come here to win,” he said.

Simple enough.

Three days earlier, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced an almost identical situation Monday night football. Playing on the road at Arrowhead Stadium, Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles elected to kick the game-tying extra point instead of attempting a two-point conversion to take the lead with 27 seconds left. Tampa Bay never saw football again as Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes won the coin toss and led a game-winning drive in overtime.

While the Buccaneers went on to lose in overtime on Monday night, the Bengals lost in regulation on Thursday night. And that loss stings a little extra for Cincinnati, which was swept in two games by Baltimore after losing by three points in overtime back in early October.

“We’ve got to find a way to close out those games,” Taylor said. “We had an opportunity, we went down there, went for two and it just didn’t work out for us. This team is going to keep putting us in good positions and there’s going to be a point in the season where it turns.”

The Bengals (4-6) will now begin preparing for a tilt against the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday before having a Week 12 bye.