Falcons Fall to Ravens as Playoff Hopes Crash - Live Updates
The Atlanta Falcons (5-9) are set for a critical road game against the Baltimore Ravens (9-5) inside M&T Bank Stadium on Christmas Eve.
Despite being four games below .500, the Falcons are just one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the lead of the NFC South, with a Week 18 contest looming.
As losers of five of its last six, Atlanta desperately needs a win - and has a prime opportunity against a Baltimore team without star quarterback Lamar Jackson, who will miss his third consecutive game with a knee injury.
The Falcons are coming off a narrow 21-18 road defeat to the New Orleans Saints in quarterback Desmond Ridder's NFL debut, while the Ravens fell 13-3 to the Cleveland Browns last Saturday.
Baltimore has several paths to clinching a playoff berth Sunday, while Atlanta could effectively play itself out of contention, making the stakes for this late December game quite high for both sides.
Here are the inactives for each team ...
Falcons
- OL Chuma Edoga
- S Jovante Moffatt
- CB Rashad Fenton
- DL Matt Dickerson
- OLB David Anenih
Ravens
- QB Lamar Jackson
- CB Marcus Peters
- DL Calais Campbell
- RB Kenyan Drake
- OG Ben Cleveland
- TE Charlie Kolar
- OLB David Ojabo
Live coverage from Falcon Report will begin below at 1 p.m.
The Ravens have won the toss and opted to receive the opening kickoff.
First Quarter
Justice Hill returns Bradley Pinion's kick out to the Baltimore 28-yard line, where quarterback Tyler Huntley will take over for the home team.
An 11-yard carry by J.K. Dobbins gets the Ravens offense rolling, but Huntley's first pass - a screen to the perimeter - sails wide and high, and a four-yard run from Dobbins sets up 3rd and 6.
Huntley connects with Hill in the flat for a four-yard gain, with Atlanta's defense stopping him short of the line to gain.
Ridder and the Falcons offense will start at the Atlanta 12-yard line.
Change of Possession
Atlanta begins with an eight-yard pitch to receiver Olamide Zaccheaus ... but running back Cordarrelle Patterson was stopped at the line of scrimmage, and Ridder fumbled the snap on a quarterback sneak, bringing the Falcons drive to a close.
Pinion's punt travels just 38 yards and is returned for nine yards, setting up Baltimore at midfield.
Change of Possession
Huntley's chased right but finds an open Sammy Watkins, who beats Darren Hall vertically and finishes with a 40-yard catch and run, putting Baltimore down to the Atlanta 10.
Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell sniffs out a screen pass to drop tight end Mark Andrews for a loss of three, and Huntley gains three on a scramble to set up 3rd and Goal from the 10. He takes off right ... and is tackled by linebacker Rashaan Evans and defensive tackle Jalen Dalton at the Atlanta three.
The Ravens opt to settle for a field goal, and All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker knocks one in from 21 yards out to give Baltimore an early lead.
Ravens 3, Falcons 0
Change of Possession
Atlanta begins at its own 30. Ridder looks right to receiver Drake London but opts to keep it instead and is stopped at the line of scrimmage.
On 2nd and 10, Ridder targets tight end Anthony Firkser on an out route but it's knocked away by safety Kyle Hamilton. The following play, Ridder's chased out of the pocket and tackled well behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of six yards, forcing another Atlanta three-and-out.
Pinion's 33-yard punt is fair caught at the Baltimore 43-yard line, giving them prime field position for their third possession.
Change of Possession.
Ravens running back Gus Edwards picks up six yards on the first play and follows it up with 11 more as Baltimore moves inside Atlanta territory.
They go back to Edwards once more, but he's tracked down by Dalton for a loss of one. Huntley attacks the seam to tight end Josh Oliver but throws high - and is nearly intercepted by Falcons safety Richie Grant, setting up 3rd and 11.
Huntley hits tight end Isaiah Likely for a gain of four, setting up a 55-yarder into the wind for Tucker ... and it's blocked!
The Falcons will take over at their own 40.
Change of Possession.
After three passes on the previous drive, Atlanta begins with two runs - a three-yard pickup by Patterson and somersaulting eight-yard gain from rookie Tyler Allgeier, the team's leading rusher.
Allgeier is stopped at the line of scrimmage on his next carry, and Ridder's pass to London sails high, setting up 3rd and 10. The 23-year-old passer looks to hit Patterson on a screen, but it's snuffed out and Ridder is forced to take off, gaining five.
The Falcons keep the offense on the field for 4th and 5 ... and Ridder's deep shot to Damiere Byrd falls several yards short, giving Baltimore the ball back on its own 44.
Change of Possession.
Dobbins gains five on a run up the middle, bringing the opening quarter to a close.
Second Quarter
Huntley targets Oliver deep against Terrell, but the pass is overthrown ... and he goes back to Terrell's side on 3rd and 5, connecting this time with tight end Mark Andrews for a gain of 36.
After a run for no gain by Huntley and six-yard completion to Oliver, Baltimore had 3rd and 4 - and Huntley's pass in the flat to Dobbins is incomplete as Rashaan Evans delivers a big hit.
Tucker's 27-yard field goal is good, and Baltimore adds to its lead.
Ravens 6, Falcons 0
Change of Possession.
Atlanta starts on its own 33, with Allgeier picking up three yards. Ridder, showing command at the line of scrimmage, calls an audible and switches to play action, hitting Zaccheaus for a gain of 10 to move the sticks.
A pair of runs by Allgeier net the Falcons three yards, leading to 3rd and 7. Ridder hit Firkser for a gain of five, setting up 4th and 2 ... and coach Arthur Smith leaves his offense on the field once more.
Ridder steps up and throws a strike to London ... who fumbles after a 20-yard gain, with Ravens corner Marlon Humphrey punching the ball away.
A brutal twist for Atlanta's offense sets Baltimore up at its own 30.
Change of Possession
The Edwards show continues for the Ravens offense, as he picks up 11 on his first carry and five on the second. Huntley keeps a read option on the third play, gaining eight yards for another first down.
Baltimore's run game has hit its stride, with Dobbins picking up 14 yards. Two more runs from Dobbins set up 3rd and 3, and Huntley pulls it on a sweep fake to gain six yards and move the chains.
Dobbins gains five and follows it up with two more, slipping away from rookie linebacker Troy Andersen. Given another 3rd and 3, Huntley keeps it and just reaches the line to gain.
A short gain by Dobbins is followed up by Huntley hitting Likely in the end zone ... but the ball pops out of his hands as he falls to the ground.
On 3rd and Goal, Huntley hit Demarcus Robinson in the back corner of the endzone, going over the top of Cornell Armstrong. After review, the touchdown was confirmed, and Huntley waltzed into the endzone on a two-point conversion attempt.
Baltimore 14, Falcons 0
Change of Possession
Patterson returned the kickoff out across the Atlanta 30-yard line, and caught an ensuing screen pass for 14 yards, putting the Falcons out to the Baltimore 46 at the two-minute warning.
Patterson's strong drive continues, as he picks up 10 ... but a holding penalty on right tackle Kaleb McGary brings it back, putting the Falcons in a 1st and 20 situation.
Atlanta responds by London catching a nine-yard pass off play action and tossing a screen to Allgeier, who bounces off contact for a huge 26-yard gain.
Set up at the Baltimore 29, a throw-away by Ridder and one-yard run by Avery Williams led to 3rd and 9. The Falcons' rookie signal caller hits London for a full-extension grab, but it's called incomplete. Upon review, London's elbow hit down in bounds and the call was overturned, giving Atlanta a key first down.
Working from the Baltimore 14, Atlanta started with a five-yard run from Allgeier before Ridder looked for London in the endzone but saw the pass fall incomplete.
Ridder hit Williams on 3rd and 5 to push Atlanta down to the one-yard line ... and proceeds to be called for intentional grounding despite his arm being hit.
After 15 seconds are taken off the clock with no game action, the Falcons send Younghoe Koo out for a 32-yard field goal ... and he clanks one off the left upright, but it bounces through, putting Atlanta on the board.
Ravens 14, Falcons 3
Halftime
Third Quarter
Williams is upended on the kickoff return, and the Falcons will start at their own 21.
Ridder hits London for 12 on the first play, giving Atlanta a fast start to the final 30 minutes.
A four-yard run by Patterson followed by an incompletion led to 3rd and 6 ... where Ridder's pass to London fell incomplete, but defensive pass interference on Ravens cornerback Damarion Williams (in coverage on London) extended Atlanta's drive. Baltimore challenged the play, arguing that the pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage - but it's unsuccessful.
A short run by Patterson and incomplete screen pass to Allgeier set up 3rd and 8. Ridder hit Williams on a screen pass for seven, leading to 4th and 1, and the Falcons kept the offense on the field once more.
They gave it to Allgeier ... and he delivered, picking up four yards and giving Atlanta a fresh set of downs. The rookie out of BYU picked up two and three yards, respectively, on his next two touches, and Ridder found London for eight yards over the middle to move the chains.
Runs of nine and six yards run from Allgeier pushed the Falcons inside the redzone, and Patterson added five more. The veteran runner found the endzone on the next play - but a questionable holding call on Zaccheaus brings it back.
Another close call goes Baltimore's way as a pass to tight end MyCole Pruitt is ruled incomplete, even after a challenge, and the Falcons are forced to settle for a field goal try after a screen pass to Zaccheaus is stopped short.
Koo's 32-yard try is good, and the Falcons pull within one score, but Atlanta's 17-play, near-eight-minute drive out of the half falls short after a pair of questionable calls.
Ravens 14, Falcons 6
Change of Possession
After Dobbins' first carry was stopped for no gain, Huntley hit Desean Jackson for a first down and Dobbins ripped off an eight-yard gain the next play.
But Atlanta's defense stood strong, stopping Dobbins at the line of scrimmage one play before dropping Huntley for a loss on the next.
Baltimore's defense received just three minutes of rest after a long opening drive, now set to defend from the Atlanta 22.
Change of Possession
Ridder's first pass is nearly intercepted, but he'll live to fight another down. The pop pass to Zaccheaus that worked on Atlanta's first play of the game was snuffed out this time, as he was dropped at the line of scrimmage.
On 3rd and 10, Ridder hit Firkser underneath for a gain of five, stopped well short of the first down. Pinion's punt is well-covered by Atlanta's gunners, but after a five-yard penalty on Falcons wideout Khadarel Hodge, the Ravens will start on their own 42.
Change of Possession
Baltimore goes heavy formation but runs play action, with Huntley finding Andrews for 12 yards. Edwards, who's been hard to stop all game, had his biggest run of the day, a 37-yard pickup inside the Falcons 10.
The Ravens went back to Edwards, and he picked up four yards on the final play of the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Huntley keeps it for a gain of two, setting up a crucial 3rd and Goal ... where Atlanta's defense stands tall, forcing Huntley to throw it away. Tucker's 21-yard field goal is good, but it feels like a small victory for Atlanta's defense.
Ravens 17, Falcons 6
Change of Possession
Atlanta, in desperate need of points, begins with a pass to Allgeier in the flat that's stopped for no gain. Allgeier takes the ensuing handoff 16 yards and adds on five more after that.
Patterson is dropped in the backfield, setting up 3rd and 6 ... and they keep it on the ground with Williams, who picks up 13 and gets a crucial first down.
The Falcons, now inside Ravens territory, are over 100 rushing yards for the day, and Williams gets two more on the ground. They follow with play action, and Ridder finds London for a first down ... and does the same two plays later, putting Atlanta inside the 5.
Ridder runs on 3rd and Goal and is stood up at the 1, setting up 4th and Goal and the play of the season for the Falcons.
It's a run to Allgeier, who's stopped short of the line to gain, turning it over on downs.
Change of Possession.
Edwards rips off a 14-yard run to get Baltimore out of its own endzone, but the drive stalls, as he's stopped for a one-yard loss before Huntley tosses a pair of incompletions.
Change of Possession
Ridder refuses to blink; after a holding penalty on center Drew Dalman, the Falcons were facing 1st and 20. He responded by hitting receiver Damiere Byrd for 15, Allgeier for nine, and Hesse and Allgeier for eight ... but the drive came up short, as Ridder was stopped on a read option just inches shy before Patterson was tackled for a loss on 3rd and 1.
Koo's 37-yard field goal splits the uprights, and Atlanta is back to within one score.
Ravens 17, Falcons 9
Change of Possession
The Falcons opted to kick it deep, and the timeout at the two-minute warning came and went.
Edwards gained three on the first carry and eight more on the second, giving the Ravens a first down and effectively ending the game, as the Falcons are now out of timeouts with 1:50 to play.
Huntley took three kneel-downs to finish the game.
Final Score: Ravens 17, Falcons 9
The Falcons return to action next Sunday on New Year's Day against the Arizona Cardinals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
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