Instant analysis: New Ravens regime finds its identity with epic win in Atlanta

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ATLANTA — Tyler Huntley scored on a quarterback sneak in overtime and safety Kyle Hamilton had a game-ending interception as the Ravens claimed a dramatic 30-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

With quarterback Lamar Jackson missing his first start of the season and an explosive offense held in check for much of the night, the Ravens scored the final 15 points en route to their second straight win. Their decisive overtime drive covered 68 yards in 14 plays and took more than seven minutes off the clock.

Hamilton picked off a pass over the middle from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who’d replaced an injured Michael Penix Jr., with just over two minutes remaining to end the Falcons’ comeback.

The Ravens forced overtime with a last-minute touchdown. Huntley hit wide receiver Devontez Walker on a 7-yard back-shoulder score with 44 seconds remaining to cap a six-play, 71-yard drive. Running back Derrick Henry converted the 2-point conversion on a wildcat run to tie the game at 23.

Atlanta couldn’t make it past midfield on the following drive, and regulation ended with a punt and an even scoreline. The Ravens won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball first; teams often opt to kick off first so they know what they need to do when they get the ball.

Huntley, making his first start this season for the injured Jackson — who sprained his ankle in a Week 4 win over the Tennessee Titans — went 24-of-32 for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson’s recovery timetable is unclear. The Ravens offense struggled for much of the night but finished with 391 yards overall at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Tight end Mark Andrews, long one of Jackson and Huntley’s most reliable targets, had a night to forget. He dropped a would-be touchdown pass on third down as the Ravens looked to finish off an impressive opening drive. Two minutes later, Falcons safety Sydney Brown punched the ball out of Andrews’ hands in the open field as the tight end looked for yards after the catch. Safety Jessie Bates picked up the fumble and ran it back for a 36-yard touchdown and a 7-3 Falcons lead.

Later, Andrews had the ball knocked away on a would-be catch in the end zone, spoiling a 2-point attempt that would’ve tied the game at 17 in the third quarter. Another third-down target was broken up in the fourth quarter. Andrews finished with four catches for 28 yards, including a crucial third-down conversion in overtime.

With Huntley under pressure for much of the night, the Ravens’ potent passing game was quiet early. Wide receiver Zay Flowers had eight catches for 53 yards. Rashod Bateman had six receptions for 52 yards. Running back Derrick Henry had an 18-yard touchdown on a screen pass to cut the Falcons’ lead to 17-15 in the third quarter and finished strong to roll up 102 on the ground.

The Ravens held Atlanta (2-3), by some metrics the NFL’s best offense over the past two weeks, to 367 yards (5.7 per play). Penix, who didn’t complete a pass until midway through the second quarter, finished 19-of-32 for 240 yards and a touchdown.

Wide receiver Drake London had seven catches for 118 yards, including a couple of crucial third-and-long conversions. Running back Bijan Robinson, the NFL’s second-leading rusher entering Week 5, was held in check for much of Sunday’s game. He finished with 86 yards (5.1 per carry) on the ground.

With the win, the Ravens took sole possession of first place in the AFC North. They’ll face the Browns in Cleveland next Sunday in their AFC North opener.

Kicker Tyler Loop was the Ravens’ only scoring source in the first half, nailing two 51-yard field goals and a 21-yarder. Baltimore entered halftime trailing 14-9.

Snoop, again

“Snoop” Huntley was not the NFL’s most likely candidate to lead a game-tying touchdown drive. He is more caretaker than flamethrower as a passer, the backup you call on in good times and hope for the best from in bad times.

But coach Jesse Minter said after the game that there’s no locker room in the NFL that trusts their backup quarterback more than the Ravens trust Huntley, and Huntley showed why.

He was accurate and unflinching on the Ravens’ final drive of the fourth quarter, delivering a pinpoint touchdown pass to Walker. In overtime, Huntley delivered time and again in clutch situations.

— Jonas Shaffer, reporter

An encouraging sign and a reason to worry

Even without Jackson — their two-time MVP, extremely mobile quarterback — the Ravens were able to run all over a Falcons defense that had allowed an average of 48 yards per game. Henry had to power through some tackles, but he also had some solid holes. And fellow running back Justice Hill saw an increased role. That’s a great sign moving forward, since getting Jackson back can only help. But the defense is relatively healthy; it’s certainly not missing a two-time MVP. While the Ravens successfully corralled Bijan Robinson, holding him below 100 yards after he rushed for 339 yards in two games, their secondary remains leaky. The Falcons have been solid with Penix at quarterback, but they’re not among the tougher passing attacks the Ravens will face. This has become a consistent issue, and Minter and the players have had over a month to find answers.

— Giana Han, reporter

All-time backup hero

If you only watch tape from the final three minutes of regulation and beyond, you’ll conclude that Huntley is one of the coolest operators of all time — leading a two-minute drill for a touchdown, then opening overtime with another scoring drive. At one point, Huntley had 11 completions in a row. Honestly, you just can’t expect a backup QB to do that in the clutch. Huntley has been exceptional for the Ravens when he has a full week to prepare, and better than you could hope for with the game on the line.

Combine Huntley’s heroics with a defense that made it tough for Atlanta to get to the end zone, and you get one of the most surprising Ravens wins of the season. They were underdogs because of the players they were missing. The guys they had in the lineup proved to be worth their salt after all.

— Kyle Goon, columnist

Hello, new regime

It’s been difficult to think of Minter and his staff as truly distinct from the old regime. He’s a Harbaugh disciple. His defensive coordinator played and coached here previously. But this felt like something bold and revelatory and authentic. The decision to take the ball in OT, after seeing Huntley suddenly become the most elevated version of himself in the two-minute drill, was awesome. The ensuing drive was the sort of thing fans will talk about for years. Methodical, every-player-matters football — nothing flashy about it. Just the sort of drive that takes the will out of another team.

— Chris Korman, editor