What a win! The Baltimore Ravens clawed out an overtime victory in Week 5, stunning the Atlanta Falcons, 30-23.
Late in the fourth quarter, it didn’t seem to be possible. The offense wasn’t finding the explosive plays when they needed them, and the defense struggled to keep Atlanta off the scoreboard in the big moments.
Unlike the Baltimore Ravens of old, though, this team locked in down the stretch. Two straight touchdown drives from Tyler Huntley, followed by a Kyle Hamilton interception, and the Ravens find themselves at 4-1.
Here are 5 instant takeaways from the miraculous win.
5 instant takeaways from Ravens’ overtime thriller in Atlanta
Declan Doyle is a maniac in the best way possible
The Ravens chose to take the ball first in overtime, and Declan Doyle delivered a masterclass on his lone drive.
Slow, productive, methodical. That was the name of the game for Doyle’s offense. He milked just over 7 minutes off the clock. And not only did he take all that time off the clock, but Tyler Huntley scored the game-winning touchdown. When Doyle’s best was needed, he showed out.
It was the only way this team was going to win, and Doyle pulled it off. Major props to him.
Tyler Huntley plays hero when it matters
Early on, Tyler Huntley didn’t play well. He couldn’t get the ball to his receivers beyond 15 yards consistently, was way too indecisive, and wasn’t aggressive enough. However, something changed when it mattered most.
Whether it was Declan Doyle letting Huntley loose, or just the 28-year-old’s mentality switching up, Huntley was slinging it. He went 13/14 for 103 yards and 3 touchdowns in the second half and overtime.
He WAS aggressive. He WAS decisive. He made some big-time throws and ensured he turned potential sacks into slight gains.
Huntley did it last year, winning two must-win games to keep Baltimore’s playoff hopes alive, and he did it again. The guy just gets it done.
Vega Ioane was a huge bright spot
Vega Ioane looked amazing. He continues to be a mauler in the middle. It didn’t matter what his assignment was; he was going to wreck Atlanta’s defensive front. He paved the way in the middle, was a difference maker on the move, and once again held his own at center.
If he looks like this at a position he’s very rarely played, imagine what he’ll look like when he’s back at guard with an actual center alongside him. A portion of this concerning offensive line could be stabilized.
Declan Doyle’s creativity is awesome (but he needs to be basic sometimes)
This is my only criticism of Declan Doyle.
Obviously, Doyle is a huge reason Baltimore won. His creativity helped the run game take off and set up opportunities in the passing game. Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, and Zay Flowers all found plenty of space in this one, and Henry’s two-point conversion was an excellent paycall.
Sometimes, you have to call the basic plays, though.
All year, we’ve been talking about the Ravens’ troubles in short-yardage situations. When they get inside the five-yard line, Henry hasn’t found sustained success in between the tackles. And that wildcat play has worked, but when you’re at the goal line…call a tush push or QB sneak.
It seemed Doyle learned from his mistake. We saw a few successful sneaks with Huntley later, including the overtime touchdown. We’ll see if that’s installed in the playbook going into the rest of the year.
Mark Andrews costs the Ravens 14 points
Listen, a win is a win, but we have to talk about Mark Andrews’ performance.
A dropped touchdown. A fumble returned for a touchdown. A dropped two-point conversion. It was an unholy trifecta for Mark Andrews on Sunday Night Football.
You’re the veteran tight end, and one of the longest-tenured Ravens. When a backup quarterback is starting, it’s your job to step up. Andrews did the exact opposite. It felt like every time the team found a rhythm, it hit a 6-foot-5, 250-pound wall.
I’ll give him credit; he made an important catch to move the chains later. Still, Andrews must be better.
Andrews was having a good start to the year. He was a security blanket who could be trusted to move the chains. Unfortunately, the player fans had gotten used to over the past few years showed up in Week 5. It was a horrendous outing.
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