The Ravens had seven seconds left, the ball at their own 35 and a game that looked headed for overtime. Lamar Jackson found Zay Flowers for 27 yards, got the timeout with one second left, and Tyler Loop made a 56-yard field goal. Baltimore beat Dallas 34–31 in Rio on Sunday, September 27.

That’s a ridiculous amount to get done in seven seconds. What I like even more is that they’d practiced it.

Jackson said after the game that the offense had worked on getting down and calling timeout since training camp. They hadn’t rehearsed it during the week before Dallas, but everyone knew what to do. The line gave him time, Flowers made the catch and got down, and Jackson found the official before the clock ran out.

Jesse Minter said the staff knew how long the route should take and how much yardage they needed. Dallas kicking a touchback helped, too. Starting at the 35 gave Baltimore a chance to get into range with one completion. There wasn’t much room for anyone to hesitate.

I’m especially happy for Loop. His missed 44-yarder in Pittsburgh ended Baltimore’s playoff hopes last season. That’s a lot for a young kicker to carry through an offseason. In Brazil, he got another chance with the game on his foot, this time from farther away, and made it.

His teammates had stayed behind him. After the kick, they chased him down the field and lifted him onto their shoulders. One make doesn’t mean he’ll never miss another important kick. It does mean Pittsburgh won’t be the only ending people remember when they talk about him.

It was good to have Nnamdi Madubuike back, too. He played for the first time since Week 2 of last season after a serious neck injury. Earlier this month, he described a difficult recovery but said he’d always expected to return. There was speculation about his future; that isn’t the same as him saying his career was over.

The defense still gave us plenty to worry about. I wrote about the fourth-quarter problems after the Saints loss, and this win doesn’t settle them. Dallas had first-and-goal late with a chance to take the lead. Baltimore held them to a tying field goal, which deserves credit, but we shouldn’t need a finish like this every week.

Kyle Hamilton called the defensive problems “unacceptable.” Minter called the win a “baby step.” I can enjoy what Lamar, Zay and Loop pulled off and still agree with that assessment.

Does a win like this help the Ravens get going? I hope so. I’d also be happy with a fourth quarter that doesn’t require a 56-yard kick to rescue it.

Sources