One of the biggest plays of a wet and wild game Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium was actually a mistake.
In the second quarter, Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was split wide left, ran a dozen yards downfield and faked to the inside against Los Angeles Rams safety Jordan Fuller. The defensive back bit hard on the slant — a route the former All-Pro receiver has terrorized defenses on of late — and that cleared the way for the suddenly rejuvenated 31-year-old star to break back outside and continue down the field, leaving him wide-open for quarterback Lamar Jackson.
There was only one big problem: Beckham wasn’t supposed to be there.
“The good news is I scored; the bad news is I ran the wrong route,” he said of the 46-yard touchdown pass. “The double move was to the other side … It happened to work out.”
So did things for the Ravens.
If there was symbolism to be drawn from Sunday’s 37-31 overtime victory, it perhaps came in the rain that fell throughout the game, with the heavy drops washing away one miscue after another. In Baltimore’s three losses this season, self-inflicted wounds were largely responsible for their demise, and this one had the makings of another inexplicable outcome.
Perhaps it was in Beckham’s incorrect route that turned into a touchdown anyway. After Jackson stepped up in the pocket and let the ball fly, Beckham had to readjust his body to haul in the somewhat off-target throw as he fell across the goal line.
Or maybe it was in Tylan Wallace’s 76-yard punt return to the west end zone in overtime for the walk-off victory. A game that featured its share of questionable calls on Ravens players did not deliver a flag on the block by tight end Charlie Kolar on his former Iowa State roommate, linebacker Jacob Hummel, that helped spring the play.
“It was close,” Kolar said of the block, adding that he was looking to see if a penalty had been called. “I train with him every offseason. He’s fast as hell. I knew that I had to get out [there]. He had a step on me, so I just dove for it. It was close. Thank God they didn’t call it.”
And for the Ravens’ sake, thank God they didn’t blow another fourth-quarter lead.
Baltimore (10-3) was fresh off a bye, yet often looked discombobulated with head-scratching errors that would be maddening for mid-October, nevermind mid-December when there are just four games remaining in the regular season. Former fullback and current Fox Sports analyst Daryl Johnston said at one point that it was “one of the most disjointed games I’ve seen from [the Ravens] all season.”
The Ravens got away with those missteps against the Rams (6-7), but the postseason is a different beast. And if they want to get the AFC’s top seed to secure home-field advantage through the playoffs, you have to wonder how many of their nine lives they’ve used with massive games against the Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins awaiting the next three weeks.
Take your pick, there were plenty of moments to pick apart.
There was Wallace lining up offsides on a punt in the second quarter that gave the Rams a first down and ultimately led to a touchdown. There was Jackson underthrowing an open Rashod Bateman and getting intercepted later in the same quarter, leading to a Rams field goal. There was the unexpected snap that sailed past Jackson and into the end zone for a safety with just under six minutes to go in the third quarter. There were seven penalties for 79 yards, though some of those were questionable.
And yet there were other times when the Ravens looked like a team ready to finally reach a Super Bowl, or at least an AFC championship game, after having failed to advance past the divisional round since the 2012 season.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson tries to throw as he is being sacked in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, center, celebrates, after stopping RamsÕ Kyren Williams for loss of eight yards in the third quarter. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: RavensÕ Arthur Maulet, right, misses a tackle against RamsÕ Cooper Kupp, left, who gained 32 yards in the third quarter. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker points skyward after kicking a 47-yard field goal in the 3rd quarter. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Tylan Wallace runs through defenders, retuning a punt for a touchdown as the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Tylan Wallace runs through defenders, returning a punt for a touchdown as the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Under pressure, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws incomplete to Zay Flowers in the 2nd quarter. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Odafe Oweh wraps up Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams in the 3rd quarter. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: RavensÕ Keaton Mitchell, right, runs for 27-yards against RamsÕ Cobie Durant, left, in the third quarter. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Travis Jones sacks Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in the 3rd quarter for a loss of 4 yards. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson runs out of bounds after keeping the ball for a gain in the 2nd quarter. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Charlie Kolar chases Los Angeles Rams Ahkello Witherspoon after he intercepted a Lamar Jackson pass in the 2nd quarter. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: RavensÕ Kyle Hamilton, right, tackles RamsÕ Puka Nacua, left, for a short gain in the first quarter. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, from left, celebrates touchdown pass to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. with Isaiah Likely in the second quarter. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. scores a 46-yards touchdown against the Rams in the second quarter. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left, celebrates after scoring two-point conversion against the Rams in the fourth quarter. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, right, catches a 21-yards touchdown pass against Rams' Jordan Fuller, left, in the fourth quarter. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers scores a 4th quarter touchdown on a pass from Lamar Jackson. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is congratulated by Rashod Bateman after Flowers scored a 4th quarter touchdown. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely looks for yardage after a reception in the 3rd Quarter. The Baltimore Ravens defeatedthe Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Keaton Mitchell pushes through the line for a gain in the 3rd Quarter. The Baltimore Ravens defeatedthe Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson kicks the ball out of the end zone after a bad snap in the 3rd Quarter. The illegal kick was penalized as a safety. The Baltimore Ravens defeatedthe Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, left, walks to the sideline in frustration after a bad snap to Lamar Jackson, right, costed the Ravens a safety in the third quarter. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Ravens wide receiver Tylan Wallace, right, celebrates with quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, after Wallace returned a punt for the game-winning touchdown Sunday against the Rams. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh signals to go for a two-point conversion following a Zay Flowers touchdown in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Tylan Wallace celebrates with teammates after retuning a punt for the game winning touchdown as the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: Baltimore RavensÕ Tylan Wallace, center, is congratulated by RamsÕ Jason Taylor II as Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, celebrates after the Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: Baltimore RavensÕ Tylan Wallace, left, is congratulated by teammate Odafe Oweh after scoring the game-winning touchdown against the Rams in overtime. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: Ravens players celebrate game-winning punt returned for touchdown against the Rams in overtime. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: Baltimore Ravens Tylan Wallace runs for a 76-yards game-winning touchdown against the Rams in overtime. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: Baltimore RavensÕ Justice Hill, center, makes a key block on Los Angeles Rams punter Ethan Evans, left, allowing RavensÕ Tylan Wallace, right, to score the game-winning touchdown in overtime. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
DEC. 10, 2023: Baltimore RavensÕ Tylan Wallace, center, runs 76-yards for a punt return game-winning touchdown in overtime against the Rams in the quarter. The Ravens defeated the Rams 37-31 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Tylan Wallace scores his first career touchdown, retuning a punt 76-yards as the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Tylan Wallace runs toward the end zone, retuning a punt for a touchdown as the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Tylan Wallace flips into the end zone after retuning a punt for a touchdown as the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens Tylan Wallace flips into the end zone after retuning a punt for a touchdown as the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Los Angeles Rams 37-31 in overtime at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh talks with officials during an injury timeout as the Baltimore Ravens host the Los Angeles Rams at M&T Bank Stadium.(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, celebrates with tight end Isaiah Likely after connecting for a 54-yard touchdown in the first quarter Sunday. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh talks with officials during an injury timeout as the Baltimore Ravens host the Los Angeles Rams at M&T Bank Stadium.(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo)
Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. celebrates his 46-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter Sunday against the Rams. (Jerry Jackson/Staff)
DEC. 10, 2023: Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely, center, dives onto the end zone against Los Angeles Rams Jordan Fuller for a touchdown in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo)
Most notable among them was when Jackson engineered a 13-play, 75-yard go-ahead touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter that ended with a 21-yard pass to rookie Zay Flowers. Rams star defensive lineman Aaron Donald was draped all over the quarterback, but he still delivered a dart. It helped, too, that receiver Nelson Agholor told Jackson he was going to run the safety out of the window to clear the way for what would be a “wide-open” Flowers, which is exactly what happened.
“[We’re] just proving we can make it happen,” Jackson said when asked about the drive. “When we really need it, we’re down [and] trying to win the game, we don’t want to put them back out there on the field, but we just have to score. We have to score, and we delivered. Our whole offensive line did great. [Our] running backs, receivers, [and] tight ends did awesome. It’s a whole team effort.”
That much was evident on the game-winner by Wallace, a player who was just trying to make the team during training camp and was only returning punts because Devin Duvernay was injured earlier in the game.
It was apparent on defense, too, with the Ravens clamping down in the second half. After giving up 20 points and 216 yards in the first 30 minutes, the defense allowed just one touchdown in the final two quarters and overtime and held the Rams to 1-for-7 on third down.
In Jackson’s view, as has been the case in recent weeks, it was a playoff atmosphere.
“Every team wants to beat us,” he said. “They’re going to give us their best shot, so that’s why I say it’s a playoff game, because every time we go out there, that’s what it’s going to be. Sometimes there are going to be up and downs, sometimes we might play a smooth sailing game. But I believe every game is a playoff game because we’re in the NFL.”
Harbaugh’s view isn’t much different.
“December football has a meaning to it,” he said. “It’s preparation for great events to come.
“I think our guys showed an amazing display of December football. It was pretty darn exciting, wasn’t it?”
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