The Las Vegas Raiders took down the Baltimore Ravens 33-27 on Monday Night Football in front of their first home crowd (due to the pandemic) at Allegiant Stadium. The game had a bit of everything, but we’re going to focus on the wild finish, which had Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, and Russell Wilson in disbelief.
Justin Tucker made a 47-yard field goal with 37 seconds remaining in regulation to give Baltimore a 27-24 lead. However, Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson answered by nailing a 55-yard field goal as time expired to send the game into overtime.
https://twitter.com/thecomeback/status/1437620121225207810
The finish to regulation was crazy enough, but things went up a notch in overtime.
It was initially ruled that Bryan Edwards had a 33-yard touchdown reception to win the game for the Raiders with 7:08 remaining in overtime, but he was ruled down inside the one-yard line after review.
https://twitter.com/thecomeback/status/1437623616183554049
Then Derek Carr ran for no gain on second down, followed by a Raiders false start and then an incompletion. And on third down, the Ravens intercepted Carr in the end zone. A brutal turn of events for the Raiders.
The Raiders went from thinking they won the game, to being inside the 1-yard line, to throwing an interception. 😬 pic.twitter.com/Jb6RMWJxdE
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 14, 2021
But on the ensuing drive, the Ravens also turned the ball over on a Lamar Jackson fumble forced by Carl Nassib.
NASSIB.
THE RAIDERS GET ANOTHER CHANCE.
📺: #BALvsLV on ESPN/ABC
📱: https://t.co/NS3IxESidh pic.twitter.com/WpBtIxFOFD— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2021
That put the Raiders in scoring position again, just a field goal away from winning the game this time. But on second down, the Raiders got a delay of game penalty that made absolutely no sense, especially to Eli Manning.
Eli Manning for Raiders coach. 😂🏈 pic.twitter.com/UZtQFyC5CG
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 14, 2021
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden explained after the game that the delay of game happened because they couldn’t find the kicker, Carlson. Really.
"Our kicker was warming up in the net … no one could find him. But things worked out."
Jon Gruden on the late decision to try for a FG before having to take a delay of game. pic.twitter.com/W8heoIe44q
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) September 14, 2021
But, on 2nd-and-14, the Raiders finally stopped screwing up. Carr beat the Baltimore blitz and connected with Zay Jones for the easiest of 31-yard touchdowns.
The Raiders get their game-winning TD after all! pic.twitter.com/FycW5WFcMp
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 14, 2021
Credit the Raiders for continuing to bring the tenacity after a demoralizing goal-line sequence on the previous drive. It would’ve been an absolutely heartbreaking loss for them. Instead, it’s a great win.
As for the Ravens, that’s an ugly loss, and especially after leading 14-0 into the final five minutes of the second quarter. It’s been a brutal last month on the injury front for Baltimore, and letting this game get away from them won’t improve the vibes surrounding the team.
Week 2 will present a highly difficult challenge for each team, with the Raiders traveling to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers, and the Ravens hosting the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.