The Saints fell behind the Lions 21-0 in the season opener but rallied to force overtime. They lost on a failed 2-point conversion.
They trailed the Ravens 14-3 in the first half and 17-9 in the second. They did not lose.
Tyler Shough directed the Saints to a 24-17 comeback win over the Ravens.
The Saints outscored the Ravens 14-0 in the fourth quarter as Shough threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Chris Olave and ran for a 1-yard touchdown on fourth down with 1:28 remaining. The Saints outgained the Ravens 137 to 43 in the fourth quarter, with Baltimore getting only two first downs.
In four possessions in the second half, the Ravens got no closer to the end zone than the Saints 31.
Shough’s touchdown run was reviewed and upheld on replay. Two downs earlier, replay upheld officials’ on-field ruling that tight end Juwan Johnson came up just short of the goal line on a diving attempt after a reception from Shough.
The Saints still had to hold off the Ravens, and Lamar Jackson got Baltimore to the New Orleans 37 with 20 seconds left. Saints safety Julian Blackmon intercepted Jackson on a desperation throw toward Rashod Bateman at the 7.
Shough went 27-of-34 for 252 yards and a touchdown and ran for 23 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. The Saints rushed for only 65 yards on 27 carries.
They were 8-of-15 on third down and 2-of-2 on fourth.
The Ravens, who had 228 yards at halftime, finished with 312 yards. Jackson was 21-of-31 for 235 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he ran for 34 yards on four carries.
Derrick Henry ran for 68 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, and Bateman caught seven passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Ravens Clips
Saints left tackle Kelvin Banks was carted off the field in the third quarter Sunday.
With 2:20 remaining in the quarter, Banks got rolled up on by Ravens pass rusher Trey Hendrickson as Mike Green sacked Saints quarterback Tyler Shough.
Banks injured his left ankle, and the Saints have ruled him out.
Asim Richards has replaced Banks at left tackle.
The Saints ruled out cornerback Martin Emerson with a shoulder injury.
The Ravens lead 17-9.
Derrick Henry entered Sunday needing 97 yards to pass Eric Dickerson for ninth on the NFL’s all-time career rushing list. He has 51 on 11 carries at halftime.
The Ravens running back scored on a 1-yard run with 2:52 remaining in the first quarter.
Baltimore leads 14-6 at halftime.
The Ravens have 228 yards, but punted once and Tyler Loop had a 49-yard field goal try blocked by Carl Granderson.
Lamar Jackson is 13-of-16 for 171 yards and a touchdown and has run for 17 yards on two carries. He threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who has three catches for 50 yards.
The Saints have 137 yards on four possessions, getting Daniel Carlson field goals of 23 and 47.
Tyler Shough is 12-of-15 for 102 yards and is the team’s leading rusher with 21 yards on four carries. Devaughn Vele has three catches for 53 yards.
Running back Derrick Henry scored his fourth touchdown of the season scoring on a 1-yard run on the Ravens’ second drive.
Baltimore leads 7-0.
Henry scored out of the wildcat, taking the direct snap and waltzing in around the right side.
He scored three rushing touchdowns last week.
Henry has seven carries for 28 yards and two catches for 21 yards. He has surpassed 15,000 all-purpose yards in his career.
Lamar Jackson went 5-of-8 for 57 yards.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow called it “ridiculous” to think he might miss Sunday’s game in Houston because of back tightness and he is active for the Week 2 matchup with the Texans.
Burrow’s health became a talking point this week when he was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but he returned to full practice on Friday. The Bengals still listed him as questionable for the team’s first road game of the season.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Burrow felt normal while going through Friday’s practice, but was very sore earlier in the week. The Texans pass rush could exacerbate that soreness if they’re able to get to Burrow early in Sunday’s game.
Bengals at Texans
Bengals: WR Ke’Shawn Williams, CB Josh Newton, OL Connor Lew, DL BJ Hill, DL Landon Robinson, QB Josh Johnson, OL Myles Hinton
Texans: TE Brevin Jordan, WR Nico Collins, LB Jake Hummel, CB Collin Wright, G Ed Ingram, OT Nate Thomas, DE Jadeveon Clowney
Panthers at Falcons
Panthers: LB Pat Jones, TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, QB Haynes King, CB Chau Smith-Wade, LB Tyrel Dodson, OT Albert Reese, DT Bobby Brown
Falcons: QB Tua Tagovailoa, QB Michael Penix, DB Billy Bowman, DB Malcolm DeWalt, OL Ethan Onianwa
Saints at Ravens
Saints: RB Kendre Miler, QB Zach Wilson, DB Decamerion Richardson, LB Isaiah Stalbird, DL Christen Miller, OL Mason Murphy, DL John Ridgeway
Ravens: QB Joe Fagnano, WR Zay Flowers, G Andrew Vorhees, OT Gerad Lichtenhan, LB Teddye Buchanan, DL Nnamdi Madubuike
Vikings at Bears
Vikings: QB Kyler Murray, WR Jauan Jennings, DB Zemaiah Vaughn, DB Jakobe Thomas, OL Nick Samac, OL Caleb Tiernan, DL Elijah Williams
Bears: QB Case Keenum, DE Jamree Kromah, DT Jayden Loving, OT Ozzy Trapilo, OL Jordan McFadden
Steelers at Patriots
Steelers: CB Joey Porter Jr., WR Michael Pittman Jr., QB Drew Allar, QB Will Howard, G Gennings Dunker, DT Kevin Jobity, DT Gabriel Rubio
Patriots: CB Carlton Davis, OT Dametrious Crownover, OT Walter Rouse, TE Tanner Arkin, DL Leonard Taylor, QB Behren Morton
Packers at Jets
Packers: CB Benjamin St-Juste, OL John Williams, OL Travis Glover, DT Warren Brinson, DT Javon Hargrave
Jets: CB D’Angelo Ponds, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, K Blake Grupe, RB Kene Nwangwu, LB Joseph Ossai, LB Trevin Wallace
Browns at Buccaneers
Browns: QB Taylen Green, LB Justin Jefferson, S Daniel Thomas, CB Toriano Pride, C Parker Brailsford, G Teven Jenkins
Buccaneers: CB Ayden Garnes, CB Jacob Parrish, G Luke Haggard, G Billy Schrauth, DL DeMonte Capehart, DL Elijah Simmons
Eagles at Titans
Eagles: QB Tanner McKee, QB Cole Payton, WR Elijah Moore, LB Jonathan Greenard, G Micah Morris
Titans: CB Cor’Dale Flott, LB James Williams, OL Atonio Mafi, OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, TE Kylen Granson, DT Jackie Marshall
The Ravens will be without wide receiver Zay Flowers for Sunday’s game against the Saints, but they are set to have linebacker Trey Hendrickson in the lineup.
Hendrickson was listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report of the week after returning to practice on Friday. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Hendrickson is expected to play while wearing a cast to protect his injured finger.
Flowers is out with a hamstring injury and the Saints’ top wideout Chris Olave has also been dealing with a hamstring issue this week. Olave traveled with the team to Baltimore and Rapoport reports that Olave is set to play on Sunday.
Saints defensive end Chase Young, who has a calf injury, is also expected to play.
Yes, there are concerns about the quality of the field at Maracaña Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the Ravens and Cowboys are due to play next Sunday. And the NFL is aware of the situation.
From rain to a significant number of soccer matches (with one more happening on Sunday), there are potential problems. The NFL is taking steps, we’re told, to ensure that the field will be ready to host the game in only eight days.
The clock is ticking. After Sunday’s soccer game, the league will need to decide fairly quickly whether the field will be suitable for the Week 3 contest. If there’s a chance it won’t be, the only prudent thing to do would be to move it.
With the Cowboys serving as the home team for the game, the obvious alternative would be to move the game to Dallas. A quick decision will need to be made.
The overriding question is whether the NFL’s international obsession will tip the scales toward rolling the dice on proceeding. Regardless of the enhanced physical risk that a substandard field may present to the players.
Eight years ago, the NFL scrapped a Chiefs-Rams game set for Mexico City and moved it to L.A., due to issues with the field.
While Zay Flowers was able to get back on the practice field on Friday, he won’t be playing on Sunday against the Saints.
Baltimore has officially downgraded Flowers from doubtful to out.
Flowers caught five passes for 150 yards with a touchdown in Baltimore’s 41-23 victory over Indianapolis last weekend before exiting the contest.
Additionally, the Ravens have placed cornerback T.J. Tampa on injured reserve with a knee injury. Linebacker Carl Jones has been signed to the 53-man roster from the club’s practice squad as a corresponding move.
Offensive tackle Gerad Lichtenhan has been elected from the practice squad to the gameday roster.
The Saints listed wide receiver Chris Olave as questionable to play in Sunday’s game against the Ravens, so their move to elevate another wideout from the practice squad on Saturday could signal Olave will not play in Baltimore.
The clearest signal about his outlook would have been if Olave stayed in New Orleans, but that did not happen. Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports that Olave made the trip with the team on Saturday.
Underhill reports that defensive end Chase Young also traveled with the team. Olave hurt his hamstring during the week and Young, who is also questionable, is dealing with a calf injury.
The Saints elevated wide receiver Kevin Austin, who was also brought up to play in their Week 1 loss to the Lions. Long snapper Scott Daly was called up for Sunday’s game as well.
Next Sunday, the Ravens and Cowboys will play in Rio de Janeiro, at Maracaña Stadium. And there are reportedly concerns about the grass there.
Via Mauricio Rodriguez of AtoZSports.com, complaints about the quality of the field are coming from soccer players who have played there in recent days.
“You don’t even need to talk about the field, it’s there for everyone to see,” Flamengo goalkeeper Agustín Rossi said, per Rodriguez. “The way we play, it’s unbelievable that we’re playing on a field like this. Both penalty areas are bad as [expletive]. If you look at it, there are bumps everywhere. There’s still going to be an NFL game here during the international break. After that game, I hope the field is in better shape.”
“We’ve been struggling a lot in these last few games, and the field keeps getting worse,” Flamengo midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta said. “It’s getting harder and harder to control the ball. We have to try to play quickly. If we want to be champions, we have to find a solution. With the team we have, we can’t be playing on a field like this.”
Here are the highlights from the latest game played there. It definitely looks rough.
One more soccer game is scheduled for Sunday, before preparations commence to host Ravens-Cowboys.
In 2018, a Chiefs-Rams game that had been scheduled for Mexico City was moved to the L.A. Coliseum six days before the Monday night kickoff due to issues with the field. Ravens-Cowboys is only eight days away; the league will need to make a quick assessment of the field after Sunday’s soccer game — and possibly make a decision that could lead to another game next weekend at Jerry World.
