Ravens rally late to defeat Falcons in overtime, ending 581-game losing streak in similar situations
Baltimore overcame an eight-point deficit in the final minute to win 30-23 in overtime, becoming the first team in four years to do so and snapping a long league-wide streak.
Baltimore rallied from a 23-15 deficit in the closing minute of regulation to defeat Atlanta 30-23 in overtime on Sunday, marking the first occasion in four years that a team has won after trailing by eight points or more in the final minute. The comeback ended a 581-game league streak of teams failing to win in that situation, according to ESPN Research.
Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley led a rapid 71-yard drive, completing all six passes and connecting with Devontez Walker for a touchdown with 40 seconds left. A two-point conversion by Derrick Henry tied the game at 23-23. In overtime, the Ravens advanced 68 yards over 14 plays, the longest overtime touchdown drive since 2015, and Huntley capped it with a one-yard rush for the winning score.
Safety Kyle Hamilton intercepted Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on the final drive, securing the victory. Hamilton said the win felt like a turning point for the team after years of close-game losses. > "The last couple of years, like ever since I've been here, that's a game that we would lose. This win right here, I feel like is us," Hamilton told teammates.
Coach Jesse Minter highlighted the team's composure, noting, "We talk about being at your best when your best is needed, and just like, [the team had] no flinch, no panic. That's a big step for us. And if we let it be, it can be a launch point for us to really, really get this thing rolling."
The Ravens have won three consecutive one-score games this season, following close victories over the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans. Defensive end Calais Campbell praised Hamilton’s play, stating, "Kyle Hamilton is the best of us."
The win also came despite the absence of starter quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Tight end Mark Andrews reflected on the team's resilience, saying, "We were able to overcome adversity. In some years past, we may not have been able to do that."
The comeback was the first time Baltimore recovered from an eight-point deficit in the final minute since a 2021 overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts.