Baltimore Ravens' home opener spoiled with 26-23 to Las Vegas Raiders

Baltimore Ravens drop home opener to Raiders, 26-23

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens' home opener was spoiled with a 26-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.

Gardner Minshew led three scoring drives in the fourth quarter, Daniel Carlson kicked a go-ahead 38-yard field goal with 27 seconds left and the Las Vegas Raiders rallied to beat the Ravens.

"Disappointing loss, tough loss," Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. "It could have gone our way, but we didn't get the job done. (We're) 0-2, but it's a 17-game season, and we will be defined by the next 15 games."

Baltimore appeared headed toward its first win of the season after Derrick Henry plowed into the end zone for a 23-13 lead with 12 minutes left. But the Raiders (1-1) stormed back behind Minshew.

After Carlson kicked a 25-yarder to cut Las Vegas' deficit, Minshew connected with Davante Adams on a 1-yard TD pass to tie it with 3:54 to go.

The Raiders quickly got the ball back and Minshew moved Las Vegas downfield before Carlson kicked his fourth field goal.

Seeking to bounce back from a harrowing 27-20 loss to the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, the Ravens dropped to 0-2 for the first time since 2015.

Minshew went 30 for 38 for 276 yards. He was sacked five times and intercepted once, but none of that mattered as he led the Raiders to a stunning comeback on the road.

Baltimore's Lamar Jackson completed 21 of 34 passes for 247 yards. He was limited to 20 yards rushing after amassing 122 on the ground against the Chiefs.

"I told these guys last night and throughout the week to beat one of the best teams in football last year and to beat one of the best players in the game, Lamar, we need all the units to play at their best," Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said. "It all came down together in the fourth quarter."

Henry rushed for 84 yards and a score.

Signed as a free agent during the offseason to bolster Baltimore's running game, Henry finally looked like a four-time Pro Bowler in the second half. Two plays after peeling off a 17-yard run to the Las Vegas 6, Henry took a direct snap and ran straight ahead. With a helpful push from lineman Ronnie Stanley and fullback Patrick Ricard, Henry scored to make it 23-13 with 12:11 to go.

It was his 92nd career rushing touchdown, giving the former Tennessee Titans star sole possession of 11th place on the NFL's all-time list.

Up 9-6 following a lackluster first half, the Ravens opened the third quarter with a 70-yard drive that featured a 29-yard run by Henry and ended with Jackson finding Zay Flowers in the middle of the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown and a 10-point lead.

Minshew subsequently took the Raiders to the Baltimore 26 before misfiring on a fourth-and-2 pass to Adams into the end zone.

Minutes later, Las Vegas linebacker Robert Spillane plucked a pass from Jackson out of the arms of receiver Rashod Bateman. Minshew turned the interception into seven points, converting a third-and-8 with a 27-yard pass to rookie tight end Brock Bowers before Alexander Mattison barreled in from the 1.

Adams finished with nine catches for 110 yards and played an integral role in the comeback.

"I know the guys in the locker room, and how we feel about it. Trust me, it sucks more for us than anybody else," Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith said. "I just know we're going to put our head down and keep going and correct our mistakes."

Injuries

Raiders: LB Divine Deablo left in the fourth quarter with a hip injury.

Ravens: LB Kyle Van Noy notched a sack despite missing much of the week with an eye injury.

Up next

Raiders: Home opener against Carolina next Sunday.

Ravens: At Dallas next Sunday.

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