Baltimore, MD— Gardner Minshew and the Raiders defied years of frustration and skepticism with a standout performance on a bright day for underdogs.
Minshew orchestrated three scoring drives in the fourth, culminating in a clutch 38-yard field goal by Daniel Carlson with 27 seconds remaining, leading the Las Vegas Raiders to a dramatic 26-23 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Baltimore seemed poised for their first victory of the season when Derrick Henry powered into the end zone for a 23-13 lead with 12 minutes left. However, Minshew and the Raiders (1-1) surged back to secure the win.
The comeback was especially surprising given Minshew’s 15-23 career starting record and the Raiders’ disappointing performance the previous week, where they only managed 10 points in a loss to the Chargers. Moreover, the Raiders had not posted a winning season since 2021 and were up against a team that had the best record in the NFL the previous year.
After Carlson’s 25-yard field goal trimmed the deficit, Minshew connected with Davante Adams for a 1-yard touchdown pass, leveling the score at 23-23 with 3:54 remaining. Minshew then guided Las Vegas downfield once more, setting up Carlson’s game-winning kick, his fourth of the game.
“I’m excited to build on this momentum,” Minshew said. “Everyone feels good about it. There’s a lot of tape to review, but we believe in what we can achieve as an offense.”
The Ravens, looking to rebound from a tough 27-20 loss to the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, fell to 0-2 for the first time since 2015.
“It’s a disappointing loss, a tough loss,” said Baltimore coach John Harbaugh. “It could have gone our way, but we didn’t get it done. We’re 0-2, but it’s a 17-game season, and we’ll be defined by how we perform in the next 15 games.”
Minshew completed 30 of 38 passes for 276 yards. Despite being sacked five times and throwing one interception, his performance was crucial in the Raiders’ remarkable comeback.
Lamar Jackson of the Ravens went 21-for-34 with 247 yards passing and was held to 20 rushing yards after a stellar 122-yard rushing performance against the Chiefs.
“I told the team that to beat one of the best teams from last year and one of the best players in the game, Lamar, we needed every unit to perform at its best,” said Raiders coach Antonio Pierce. “Everything came together in the fourth quarter.”
Henry, who was signed in the offseason to enhance Baltimore’s running game, showcased his Pro Bowl form in the second half. After a 17-yard run, he took a direct snap and, with help from lineman Ronnie Stanley and fullback Patrick Ricard, scored to extend the Ravens’ lead to 23-13 with 12:11 remaining. This touchdown was Henry’s 92nd career rushing score, moving him to 11th place on the NFL’s all-time list.
Despite Henry’s efforts, the Ravens remain winless.
“I know how tough this is for us,” said linebacker Roquan Smith. “We’re frustrated, but we’re determined to correct our mistakes and keep pushing forward.”
The Ravens led 9-6 at halftime and extended their lead in the third quarter with a 70-yard drive, highlighted by a 29-yard run from Henry and a touchdown pass from Jackson to Zay Flowers. However, Minshew responded by advancing the Raiders to the Baltimore 26-yard line before missing a crucial pass attempt. Shortly after, linebacker Robert Spillane intercepted Jackson, setting up a touchdown for the Raiders.
Adams finished the game with nine catches for 110 yards, playing a key role in the Raiders’ comeback.
“We executed well and showed resilience,” Pierce said. “It was a great job by our guys.”
Up Next:
Raiders: Home opener against Carolina next Sunday.
Ravens: Travels to Dallas next Sunday.
