Ravens prove that they know how to win ugly in OT thriller against Vikings

The Baltimore Ravens have a flair for the dramatic, so to speak. They’ve proven this season that they have a knack for tight, heart-wrenching games that come down to the final moments.

But they’ve also proven that they know how to win those games. They know how to win ugly — and through the ups and downs of an NFL season, that’s an incredibly valuable trait to possess.

The Ravens managed to overcome a 14-point second-half deficit to claw from behind and beat the Minnesota Vikings by a final score of 34-31 in overtime.

They overcame a sluggish offensive start, a couple of early defensive miscues, and multiple special-teams blunders to win again and improve to 6-2, tied with the Tennessee Titans atop the AFC, at the time of writing.

This Ravens team is far from perfect, but Lamar Jackson said it best in his post-game press conference. “We’re a team of fighters,” Jackson proudly remarked while also explaining that he’d rather not play in overtime every week.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens fought to the end and earned a victory

There were a number of times where it felt like the game was all but over. Jackson’s second-quarter interception that set up a Vikings field goal to give them a 17-3 lead seemed like a time when Minnesota might run away with the game.

But a two-minute drill touchdown drive cut the Vikings’ lead to seven going into halftime.

That was followed up by a 98-yard Kene Nwangwu kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half that gave Minnesota its 14-point lead back.

From there, Jackson and the Ravens would take over with the defense making a number of huge stops as well.

Even after an overtime interception to Anthony Barr, the Ravens defense once again came through in the clutch allowing Jackson and the offense to drive down the field and set up the eventual Justin Tucker game-winner.

This Ravens team doesn’t know the definition of the word “quit.” Their games might be ugly and filled with moments that leave you scratching your head, but they get the job done more often than not.

Is this sustainable? Who knows. It certainly isn’t encouraging that the Ravens needed overtime to beat a banged-up Vikings team coming off a loss to the Cooper Rush-led Dallas Cowboys, especially with two weeks to prepare.

But the Ravens know how to win ugly. That might not be a sustainable strategy, but it sure does come in handy when things don’t go as planned.