The homestretch is starting.
The best evidence of that comes from the return of Steve Kornacki to the Football Night in America set. He joined us during the pregame show, and he contributed throughout the Sunday night look back at the day that was.
A supersized edition of our Applebee’s recap is attached. Along with Kornacki, Jason Garrett, Devin McCourty, Matthew Berry, and I look at the biggest stories and the playoff chances, good or bad, of teams that won or lost on Sunday.
You should watch all of it. Preferably, after PFT Live, which begins at 7:00 a.m. ET on Peacoack and SiriusXM 85.
Tylan Wallace was not supposed to be returning punts for the Ravens on Sunday.
But Devin Duvernay had to exit the game with a back injury. So Wallace got an opportunity to return a punt in overtime.
He cashed in on the opportunity, taking Los Angeles’ punt in overtime 76 yards for a touchdown, giving Baltimore a 37-31 victory.
The Rams and Ravens had gone back and forth all day, with two scores in the last 90 seconds sending the game to overtime.
Zay Flowers caught a 21-yard touchdown and a successful two-point conversion to give Baltimore a 31-28 lead with 1:16 left in the contest.
But the Rams responded well, getting in position to throw passes into the end zone to try and win the game in regulation. The club ended up settling for a Lucas Havrisik 36-yard field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime.
Los Angeles and Baltimore both forced a three-and-out in overtime. But Wallace made sure the Rams’ punt was the last play of the game.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson finished 24-of-43 for 316 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He was also Baltimore’s leading rusher with 70 yards on 11 carries.
Odell Beckham Jr. caught four passes for 97 yards with a touchdown against his old team. Flowers had six receptions for 60 yards with a TD. Tight end Isaiah Likely also had a 54-yard touchdown, finishing with five catches for 83 yards.
On the other side, quarterback Matthew Stafford performed well, completing 23-of-41 passes for 294 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Cooper Kupp caught eight passes for 115 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Rookie tight end Davis Allen also caught the first touchdown of his career, finishing with four receptions for 50 yards. Kyren Williams finished with 25 carries for 114 yards.
Overall, Baltimore finished with 449 total yards and 23 first downs, going 4-of-12 on third down. Los Angeles had 410 yards, 24 first downs, and was 6-of-16 on third down.
With the victory to move to 10-3, the Ravens appear to be in the driver’s seat for the AFC’s No. 1 overall seed. Baltimore will be on the road to face the Jaguars next Sunday night.
The Rams’ loss breaks their three-game winning streak and puts the club at 6-7. Los Angeles will be at home to face the Commanders in Week 15.
The Ravens won’t have one of their key defensive players for the rest of Sunday’s game against the Rams.
Kyle Hamilton has been ruled out with a knee injury.
Hamilton was questionable to return earlier in the contest after going down in the first half. He did return to play but has now been downgraded to out.
A second-year safety, Hamilton entered Sunday’s game with 62 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions, and 3.0 sacks.
The Ravens have also ruled out receiver Devin Duvernay with a back injury.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Los Angeles leads Baltimore 22-20.
For the second week in a row, the Rams have picked up a safety.
This time the two-point play gave Los Angeles a 22-20 lead over Baltimore midway through the third quarter.
Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum snapped the ball before quarterback Lamar Jackson was ready for it on third-and-5 from the Baltimore 15 and the ball went right to the end zone. Quarterback Lamar Jackson kicked the ball out of the end zone to prevent an opponent touchdown, instead letting Los Angeles get two points.
The illegal kick was a penalty but Los Angeles declined it.
The Rams weren’t able to do anything off of their extra possession following the safety, as the team’s offense stalled after getting to Ravens territory.
The Rams and Ravens have gone back and forth in the first half of Sunday’s game, but Los Angeles leads 20-17 at halftime.
The Rams controlled the ball and the clock for the majority of the first half, with L.A. leading in time of possession 19:21 to 10:39. The Rams have 216 yards, 15 first downs, and are 5-of-9 on third down. However, Baltimore has 243 yards and is getting 8.1 yards per play.
The club got on the board first with Lucas Havrisik’s 27-yard field goal, getting points on a drive that started with nine consecutive runs. Then quarterback Matthew Stafford threw two touchdowns in the second quarter. He connected with receiver Cooper Kupp for a 6-yard score and rookie tight end Davis Allen for a 7-yard score.
It was Allen’s first career touchdown on just his second career catch.
Stafford finished the first half 11-of-19 for 139 yards with two touchdowns. Kyren Williams has 71 yards on 14 carries.
Under pressure after the Rams signed Mason Crosby to the practice squad, Lucas Havrisik nailed a 51-yard field goal to give Los Angeles a 20-14 lead.
The Ravens have gotten a couple of long touchdowns but other than that haven’t found much consistency on offense. Tight end Isaiah Likely had Baltimore’s first score with a 54-yard touchdown catch. Then receiver Odell Beckham Jr. caught a 46-yard touchdown in the second quarter, scoring against his old team.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw an interception in the second quarter that set up Havrisik’s second field goal. He nearly threw another to start the subsequent drive but linebacker Earnest Jones couldn’t make the catch.
That was significant, as the play that wasn’t made allowed the Ravens to go down the field and get points just before halftime. The Ravens got to the red zone but couldn’t get to the paint, settling for a 31-yard field goal by Justin Tucker to make the score 20-17.
Jackson is 13-of-21 for 206 yards with two touchdowns and a pick. He’s also rushed for 20 yards on three attempts. Likely leads with 72 yards on four catches.
Rams tight end Hunter Long was carted off the field midway through the second quarter with a knee injury. The Rams announced he’s doubtful to return. L.A. receiver Tutu Atwell had to exit midway through the second quarter and was examined in the medical tent. He is questionable to return, as he’s being evaluated for a concussion.
Los Angeles will receive the second-half kickoff.