Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-12**Lead**
ATLANTA — Tyler Huntley, the Baltimore Ravens’ third-year backup quarterback pressed into service with starter Lamar Jackson sidelined, delivered a career-defining performance Sunday, leading his team to a stunning 22–19 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The win, sealed on a Justin Tucker field goal with 74 seconds remaining in the extra period, snapped a two-game Ravens losing streak and improved Baltimore’s record to 9–5 on the season. Huntley, who began the week on the practice squad, completed 24 of 36 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns, adding 47 rushing yards in a gritty, mistake-prone but ultimately clutch outing.
**Context**
The Ravens entered the contest in a precarious position. Having lost two straight games — including a demoralizing 42–38 defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Browns — Baltimore’s playoff positioning was slipping. The team’s offense had been further weakened by the absence of wide receiver Rashod Bateman and tight end Mark Andrews, both declared inactive with injuries. Most critically, star quarterback Lamar Jackson was ruled out Friday after failing to recover from a knee sprain suffered in Week 13. Huntley, an undrafted free agent out of Utah who has bounced between the active roster and practice squad since 2020, was elevated Saturday to start his first game of the 2022 season.
The Falcons, meanwhile, entered the game with a 5–9 record but had shown fight in recent weeks. Quarterback Marcus Mariota — himself a former No. 2 overall pick — was coming off a solid performance in a narrow loss to the New Orleans Saints. Atlanta’s defense, though statistically among the league’s worst against the pass, had generated timely turnovers. The Falcons’ strategy was clear: load the box, dare Huntley to beat them deep, and pressure him early.
For three quarters, that strategy worked. Atlanta held Baltimore to a pair of field goals and forced two punts and a turnover on downs. Huntley looked understandably nervous at times, throwing off his back foot and missing open receivers. The Ravens managed only 84 total yards in the first half. The Falcons, meanwhile, exploited a depleted Ravens secondary to build a 13–6 lead, with Mariota finding rookie receiver Drake London for a touchdown and kicker Younghoe Koo adding two field goals.
Then came the fourth quarter. Huntley, who had spent extra hours with quarterbacks coach James Urban studying film of Atlanta’s defense, began to find a rhythm. On a third-and-8 from Baltimore’s 31-yard line, Huntley scrambled right, pump-faked a linebacker out of his shoes, and hit veteran wideout Demarcus Robinson for a 29-yard gain. Four plays later, Huntley rolled left and delivered a strike to tight end Josh Oliver in the end zone, cutting the deficit to 13–12 after a failed two-point conversion.
Atlanta responded with a methodical drive — 10 plays, 63 yards — capped by a Cordarrelle Patterson two-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 19–12 with 8:42 remaining. But Huntley did not flinch. On the ensuing possession, he converted two third downs with his legs, and then, on third-and-10 from Atlanta’s 36, he evaded a blitz and found receiver James Proche II crossing over the middle for a 24-yard gain. Two plays later, Huntley threaded a pass to Proche in the back of the end zone, tying the game at 19–19 with 3:07 left in regulation.
In overtime, the Ravens won the toss and elected to receive. Huntley calmly marched Baltimore 68 yards in 11 plays, mixing short passes with designed quarterback runs. The drive stalled at Atlanta’s 16-yard line, setting up Tucker for a 34-yard field goal that split the uprights. The kick gave Tucker his 18th career game-winning field goal, and sent the Ravens sideline into a measured celebration.
**Análise**
Huntley’s performance carries significant implications for the Ravens. With Jackson’s injury status uncertain for the final three weeks of the regular season — and Baltimore facing a brutal stretch against the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers — the team may need to rely on Huntley again. Sunday’s win demonstrated that offensive coordinator Greg Roman can tailor the playbook to a mobile backup who, while lacking Jackson’s explosive speed and arm strength, processes progressions quickly and protects the football. Huntley’s passer rating of 106.8 was the highest of his career, and his 67% completion rate reflected growing comfort in critical moments.
For the Falcons, the loss extinguishes any lingering playoff hopes. Atlanta’s defense, which forced only one punt in the second half, could not contain Huntley once he started moving the pocket. Head coach Arthur Smith will face questions about his fourth-down decisions — including a failed fake punt in the third quarter that gave Baltimore short field position, and a conservative run call on third-and-4 in overtime that effectively settled for a long field goal attempt, which Koo missed wide left. Mariota finished 18 of 29 for 197 yards and a touchdown but could not sustain drives in the fourth quarter when it mattered most.
The game also highlighted the Ravens’ resilience. Despite losing key players to injury week after week — including cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Marcus Williams, both inactive Sunday — the defense held Atlanta to 3-of-11 on third downs and forced a critical overtime stop. Linebacker Patrick Queen recorded a sack and a tackle for loss, while safety Geno Stone intercepted Mariota in the third quarter, setting up a Ravens field goal.
**Fontes**
- NFL Game Summary: Baltimore Ravens vs. Atlanta Falcons, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, December 18, 2022 - Postgame press conferences: Ravens HC John Harbaugh, Falcons HC Arthur Smith - Official injury reports released by the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons, December 17, 2022 - Statistical data from Pro Football Reference and ESPN’s NFL statistics database