Baltimore vs. Minnesota
Baltimore Bounces Back with OT Win over Minnesota
In theory, it doesn’t seem like the soundest strategy for victory. However, falling behind by double digits in the second half seems to do the trick for Baltimore, who rallied once again to force overtime where Justin Tucker kicked a 36-yarder with 16 seconds remaining in the extra session.
It also marked the third time this year the Ravens didn’t wrap up in 60 minutes. They split the previous two OT contests: a season-opening loss to Las Vegas and a win versus Indianapolis on Oct. 17.
“I’m not trying to be going to overtime every week,” shrugged quarterback Lamar Jackson. “But I just feel our team did a great job. We didn’t lay down. We saw the score was tilted early in the game. Our guys just fought. We made a comeback.”
Baltimore fell behind by 14 points after Kene Nwangnu returned the second half opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.
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The offense never waivered as the Ravens cashed in on their next three possessions of the second half, converting multiple 4th down attempts in the process.
“Like I said before, I don’t think we’re ever really out of a game, but you hate to be in those situations,” explains wide receiver Marquise Brown, who had nine receptions for 116 yards. “You kind of want to start fast so you don’t have to do that. But, if you’re in that situation in the game, I’m confident that we can get it done.”
Lamar Jackson threw for 266 yards and three touchdown passes while adding 120 yards on the ground. His third passing score of the day capped off a brilliant 18-play, 82-yard drive that consumed more than 10 minutes of clock.
“I think his poise, he doesn’t get flustered,” head coach John Harbaugh describes of his franchise quarterback. “He sees the field so well. He gives every play the maximum opportunity to be successful, if that makes sense. And then, he’s just good. He’s just really good.”
Jackson committed one costly mistake in overtime when a pass intended for Patrick Ricard in the flat was tipped at the line and hauled in by Anthony Barr at the Vikings’ 38. He’d get a second chance to lead a game-winning drive after the Vikings quickly went three-and-out, setting the stage for Tucker’s attempt from 36 yards out. A reasonably short distance for a guy who recently set a new NFL record for longest field goal, but even Tucker, who’s connected on 53 consecutive attempts in fourth quarter and overtime, gets a bit uneasy lining up.
“I was nervous before I attempted the game-winning field goal, but that goes for any time we go out there,” explains kicker Justin Tucker. “And, if you’re not feeling a little bit nervous, like, are you really living? If you’re not feeling that emotion, the vibe of the game, then as soon as I stop feeling that way it’s time for me to be done.”
GAME RECAP
Baltimore received the opening kickoff and immediately set the tempo by lining up for a 4th down conversion at midfield. Lamar Jackson was yanked down behind the line, but a horse collar tackle penalty kept the drive alive. Justin Tucker finished the series with a 37-yard field goal to start the scoring.
Minnesota quickly matched through the air as Justin Jefferson got behind three players in the secondary and hauled in a 50-yard pass from Kirk Cousins for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead with 8:32 left in the first quarter.
The Ravens advanced into Vikings’ territory on their next possession behind a 15-yard hookup between Jackson and rookie Rashod Bateman, but were forced to punt, pinning Minnesota back at the Ravens’ 6. Dalvin Cook’s 66-yard scamper on a toss right immediately flipped the field. A defensive pass interference penalty on 4th-and-2 by Chris Board gave the Vikings new life and Cousins cashed in by leaping over the top and extending the football over the goal line for a 14-3 edge.
After both sides exchanged a pair of punts, Jackson threw his first of two interceptions on the afternoon as Camryn Bynum laid out for a pass intended for Mark Andrews and returned it 27 yards inside the red zone. The defense held and Greg Joseph split the uprights on a 36-yard field goal with 90 seconds left in the half to extend Minnesota’s lead to 17-3.
It was still enough time for Jackson to work with as a 42-yard defensive pass interference penalty by Xavier Woods on a deep ball to Bateman placed the Ravens at the 5. A quick out to Devonta Freeman in the flat resulted in a 5-yard touchdown reception to cut the deficit to 17-10 at intermission.
Minnesota went back up by 14 before its offense saw the field again as Kene Nwangwu raced 98 yards down the right sideline on the second half kickoff to make it 24-10.
Coach John Harbaugh wagered on his offense on the following series, electing to go for it on a pair of 4th down scenarios. Freeman converted a 4th-and-2 at the Ravens’ own 36 and Jackson found Patrick Ricard on a playaction pass to the fullback in the flat for a 1-yard touchdown to make it 24-17 with 8:39 to go in the third quarter.
Following a Vikes’ punt, Baltimore set off on perhaps its most impressive drive of the season. An 18-play, 82-yard effort that ate up more than 10 minutes of time was rewarded with Jackson’s third touchdown toss, a 5-yarder to Devin Duvernay to even the count at 24-all with 9:19 to play.
A quick three-and-out put the Ravens back on offense where once again they drove the field. A 22-yard reception by Marquise Brown set up a Le’Veon Bell 1-yard touchdown plunge to give Baltimore its first lead since the first quarter, 31-24.
Minnesota tied it up with just over a minute in regulation behind a 4th down conversion on a Cousins-to-Jefferson reception and a touchdown toss from Cousins to Adam Thielen.
Jackson and company had a chance to win in regulation, but a Kenny Willekes sack chewed up the remaining time in regulation as both teams were bound for overtime tied at 31.
The Ravens won the coin toss and drove into Tucker’s field goal range on the opening possession of OT, but Jackson’s throw to Ricard was tipped at the line and recovered by Anthony Barr for an interception.
Jackson’s turnover turned out to not be a costly one as the Vikings would go three-and-out. Despite starting at their own 10, a 20-yard completion to Brown, a 19-yard rush by Freeman, and a 12-yard run by Bell set the stage for Tucker’s walk-off moment with just 16 seconds separating the two from a tie. His 36-yard attempt squeezed inside the right upright, giving the Ravens a 34-31 overtime victory.
UP NEXT
Baltimore (6-2) hits the road for the first time in more than a month, and does so on a short week. The Ravens will make the trek to Miami for Thursday Night Football. The Dolphins (2-7) snapped a seven game losing streak on Sunday, thanks in large part to three interceptions of Texans’ quarterback Tyrod Taylor in a 17-9 defensive-minded matchup.