Saints Stun Ravens 24-17 as Defense Holds Baltimore to 84 Second-Half Yards

Q: Did the Saints truly win this game, or did Lamar Jackson and the Ravens simply collapse in the final seconds?

The Saints won this game; it was not simply a Ravens collapse. New Orleans earned the result by taking control where it mattered most. Trailing 17-9 entering the fourth quarter, the Saints scored 15 unanswered points, tied the game on Tyler Shough’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Chris Olave and a two-point conversion, then mounted a long, pressure-filled final drive that converted multiple third and fourth downs. Shough’s game-winning 1-yard sneak on fourth-and-goal with 1:28 left was a choice to win the game rather than settle for a field goal, and it paid off. At the same time, Baltimore clearly helped create the opening. The Ravens had a 17-9 lead, then produced consecutive empty drives, including a costly three-and-out after New Orleans tied it. They also failed to extend the margin late in the third quarter after getting the ball near midfield, going backward 16 yards before punting. Lamar Jackson’s late interception by Julian Blackmon at the Saints’ 7-yard line sealed it and fit an uncomfortable pattern for Baltimore, which has now blown 15 double-digit leads in losses since Jackson became the full-time starter in 2019, the most in the NFL over that span. So the fairest reading is both: Baltimore faltered badly in the closing stretch, but the Saints forced that outcome with a composed comeback, aggressive late-game decisions, and a defense that finished the job.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 21

New Orleans turned a 14-3 halftime deficit into a 24-17 road win by outscoring Baltimore 21-3 after the break and avoiding an 0-2 start.
The Saints' defense drove the comeback, limiting the Ravens to 84 second-half yards; Chase Young added 1.5 sacks as Lamar Jackson and Baltimore's Week 1-hot offense stalled.
Tyler Shough then took over in the fourth quarter, completing 12 of 14 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown, while Chris Olave followed his 182-yard opener with 86 more.
Baltimore's collapse revived concerns about late-game execution under new coach Jesse Minter, with the Ravens managing just 32 yards on their final three possessions and giving Derrick Henry only one fourth-quarter carry.