The Baltimore Ravens’ Christmas Day domination of the Houston Texans had plenty of highlights, but none were quite as entertaining—or chaotic—as defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s reaction to a pivotal goal-line stop.
With the Texans threatening to cut Baltimore’s lead to one score in the second quarter, Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington delivered a bone-rattling hit on Joe Mixon to deny Houston a fourth-down conversion.
The stop was a massive momentum shift for the Ravens, but it nearly caused another collision on the sideline—this time between Orr and his own player. As Washington celebrated, Orr came sprinting in, yelling “Let’s go!” with the energy of a man ready to suit up and join the defense. He leaped into the air to celebrate, only to lose his balance and take a tumble over the celebrating Washington.
It was the kind of unfiltered emotion you’d expect from someone who once played the game at an elite level. For Orr, who retired in 2017 due to a congenital spine condition, moments like these are a reminder of how much he loves the sport—and how much the players love him back.
Ravens DC Zach Orr could have been mistaken for Roman Reigns
Orr’s reaction wasn’t just a coaching moment; it was a full-on WWE audition. As he sprinted to celebrate Washington’s heroics, Orr’s leap into the air ended with him sprawling to the turf. But like any great performer, he popped right back up, undeterred and still fired up.
Gonna need a wellness check on Zach Orr 😂 pic.twitter.com/v7Sw6pB7hL
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) December 26, 2024
The play that sparked Orr’s theatrics was nothing short of clutch. With Houston on Baltimore’s 4-yard line after a 56-yard drive, the Texans needed just one more play to punch it in. Mixon looked poised to bulldoze his way to the end zone. Instead, Washington stood his ground, delivering a hit that stopped Mixon in his tracks and gave the ball back to Baltimore.
The significance of the stop wasn’t lost on anyone. At that point in the game, Houston had clawed back to within striking distance after a Ravens safety had cut the lead to 10-2. A Texans touchdown would have made it a one-point game, and momentum could have easily swung in their favor. Instead, Washington’s tackle ignited a fire in Baltimore that burned the Texans for the rest of the game.
After the stop, the Ravens drove down the field—six plays, 99 yards, in under four minutes—and scored a touchdown, making the game 17-2.
Orr, who played his last NFL game eight years before this defensive masterpiece, has poured his heart into coaching since retiring. His players clearly wanted to deliver for him, and they did just that. By the time the final whistle blew, the Ravens had held Houston to just 211 yards and zero offensive points.
Orr's defensive turnaround has been nothing short of amazing.
If the Ravens’ defense keeps playing with this kind of energy, it might be time to give Zach Orr an honorary title belt—and maybe a padded mat to celebrate on.