The Cincinnati Bengals had a chance to tie the game with 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 opted to go for two and a shot at the lead. But Tanner Hudson couldn’t corral a pass from quarterback Joe Burrow, and Cincinnati went on to lose 35-34. Thursday night football.

Taylor explained his decision abruptly when speaking to reporters shortly after the loss at M&T Bank Stadium.

“I came here to win,” he said.

Simple enough.

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

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

“We have to find a way to close these games out,” Taylor said. “We had a chance, we went there, went for two and it just didn’t work for us. This team will continue to put us in good positions, and there will come a point in the season where that changes. .”

The Bengals (4-6) will now prepare for a tilt against the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday before heading into a bye in Week 12.