The Baltimore Ravens left Atlanta on Sunday night with a 30-23 overtime win over the Falcons, rallying behind backup quarterback Tyler Huntley while Lamar Jackson watched from the sideline with a sprained left ankle. For Baltimore fans, the result matters well beyond one game: the Ravens are 4-1 for the first time since 2021 and now hold a one-game lead in the AFC North heading into their first division game, at Cleveland on Sunday.
Here is how the comeback happened, what Huntley’s numbers looked like, and what is still unknown about Jackson’s return.
How did the Ravens come back to beat the Falcons?
Baltimore trailed for much of the night. The Falcons’ first points came when safety Jessie Bates III scooped up a Mark Andrews fumble and returned it for a touchdown, and Atlanta led 14-9 at halftime, according to the Ravens’ official game recap.
The Ravens trailed by eight points in the fourth quarter. With 40 seconds left in regulation, Huntley threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Devontez Walker, and Derrick Henry ran in the 2-point conversion to tie the game at 23, ESPN reported.
In overtime, Huntley converted two third downs with passes to Andrews and Zay Flowers and finished a 14-play, 68-yard drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak. ESPN called it the NFL’s longest overtime touchdown drive in eight years. Atlanta still got a possession, but safety Kyle Hamilton intercepted Tua Tagovailoa, who had replaced an injured Michael Penix Jr., to end the game.
According to ESPN, the eight-point fourth-quarter comeback was Baltimore’s largest in a game Jackson did not start in 11 years.
How well did Tyler Huntley play?
Huntley was shaky early, completing 11 of 18 passes for 97 yards in the first half, according to ESPN. He was nearly perfect late: 11-for-11 for 80 yards on the final two drives. The Ravens’ running game did much of the heavy lifting against a defense that came in allowing a league-low 48.3 rushing yards per game.
| Player | Key numbers vs. Falcons |
|---|---|
| Tyler Huntley, QB | 24 of 32, 202 yards, 2 TD passes; 1-yard TD run in OT |
| Derrick Henry, RB | 24 carries, 102 yards; 18-yard TD on a screen pass; 2-point conversion |
| Justice Hill, RB | 4 carries, 73 yards, including a 47-yard run |
| Rashod Bateman, WR | 5 catches, 62 yards |
| Zay Flowers, WR | 8 catches, 53 yards |
| Tyler Loop, K | 3 of 3 field goals, two from 51 yards |
| Ravens team | 208 rushing yards; 8 tackles for loss |
Coach Jesse Minter had told players the night before the game that no locker room in the league had more faith in its backup quarterback. After the win, he described what he saw from Huntley.
“He doesn’t really get rattled. He just is always the same, and he keeps such a good demeanor about him, keeps his composure.”
Ravens coach Jesse Minter, via ESPN
Huntley has now won his last three starts dating to the 2025 season, according to the team.
What is Lamar Jackson’s injury, and when will he return?
Jackson missed the game with a sprained left ankle. The Ravens have not given a timetable for his return, ESPN reported, and the team’s recap did not include an update. We covered his status before kickoff in our preview of Huntley’s first start this season.
What fans should watch this week: the Ravens’ practice participation reports, which typically begin Wednesday, and the final injury designations released Friday. Until the team says otherwise, it is not known whether Jackson or Huntley will start in Cleveland.
Baltimore is now 7-11 in games Jackson has missed, per ESPN.
What does a 4-1 start mean in the AFC North?
The win broke a first-place tie. After Week 5, the division looks like this:
- Baltimore Ravens: 4-1
- Cleveland Browns: 3-2 (lost 17-12 at the New York Jets on Sunday)
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 3-2
- Cincinnati Bengals: 3-2
Because all three rivals are one game back, Sunday’s trip to Cleveland is the Ravens’ first chance to build a division cushion and a head-to-head tiebreaker.
What went wrong for Baltimore before the comeback?
Two problems stand out. The Andrews fumble that gave Atlanta its first touchdown was his first lost fumble in a regular-season game since 2019, according to the team. And after controlling the ball for roughly 17 of the first 21 minutes, the Ravens had it for just under nine minutes in the second half, per the team recap.
Huntley’s 2-point pass to Andrews after Henry’s third-quarter touchdown was also broken up by Bates, leaving Baltimore down 17-15 at that point, according to the Falcons’ game breakdown.
When do the Ravens play the Browns?
The Ravens visit the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m. Eastern. It is the first AFC North game of the season for Baltimore. Watch for the Ravens’ injury report later this week for the quarterback answer that Baltimore fans most want.
Featured image: Tyler Huntley lines up behind center for the Ravens during a preseason game. Photo: All-Pro Reels / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.