Raiders use all 3 phases in wild 4th-quarter comeback: ‘We found a way’
BALTIMORE — Antonio Pierce delivered a consistent message to the Raiders in the days and hours leading up to their 26-23 upset win against the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday.
He said to beat one of the best teams in football and the reigning NFL MVP in Lamar Jackson, his club couldn’t afford any lapses on offense, defense and special teams.
“We need all three units to play at their best,” Pierce said.
His words were ultimately heeded, but not right away. The Raiders (1-1) slogged their way through an ineffective first half and trailed 23-13 with 12:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Then they found their footing offensively. Quarterback Gardner Minshew delivered big-time throws and wide receiver Davante Adams and rookie tight end Brock Bowers came up with clutch catches to power an incredible comeback.
The Raiders overcame a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit for the first time since 2016, scoring 13 points in the final frame to emerge with their first victory in 2024.
“It was just awesome to see those guys respond,” defensive end Maxx Crosby said.
The late offensive explosion rewarded an impressive defensive performance. Crosby was incredible, with two sacks, six tackles and a deflected pass. He helped the Raiders keep a lid on Jackson, who finished with 247 passing yards but never took over the game.
“Maxx is like an animal,” said Minshew, who completed 30 of his 38 passes for 276 yards, a touchdown and an interception despite a rough first half.
The Raiders also got a spirited special-teams effort from kicker Daniel Carlson and punter AJ Cole. Carlson made all four of his field-goal attempts, including a 38-yarder with 31 seconds remaining that put his team ahead.
The kick finished a 13-0 run for the Raiders, who stunned the Ravens (0-2) in their home opener.
“It’s awesome, especially on the road,” Carlson said. “Great job by the offense and defense and everybody setting it up and making my job easier by getting it closer and then the defense making some awesome plays to close out the game.”
Showing heart
The Raiders weren’t perfect.
They rushed for just 27 yards on 17 carries. They surrendered five sacks. But ultimately, they did enough in all phases to beat a quality opponent on the road.
“I call it complementary football,” linebacker Robert Spillane said.
Spillane provided the perfect example in the third quarter.
He intercepted Jackson at the Ravens’ 46-yard line. The offense took the ball and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Alexander Mattison to cut the Raiders’ deficit to 16-13 with 2:36 to go in the third quarter.
“We get a turnover and our offense goes down and gets seven points,” said Spillane, who finished with a team-high 10 tackles. “That’s how we have to win games.”
It’s not exactly a new or novel formula. But it’s what the Raiders need to do.
“Once we got in our groove a little bit, I would say especially in the second half, we started getting on a roll,” Adams said.
Adams played a huge part in the offense’s surge.
He finished with nine catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. He also drew two pass interference calls, including a crucial one in the end zone on a third-and-17 with 4:03 left in the game and the Raiders trailing 23-16. Minshew and Adams connected for a 1-yard touchdown the following play to make it a 23-23 game.
Crosby and the defense forced a three-and-out the Ravens’ next drive, giving the ball right back to the Raiders’ offense with 2:21 to go.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Crosby said. “We’re all in this together. It’s a team sport. That’s why football is the greatest sport in the world.”
The win means the Raiders, rather than limping back to Las Vegas in a dreaded 0-2 hole, soar back home at 1-1. They’ll face the Panthers (0-2) and the Browns (1-1) the next two weeks at Allegiant Stadium.
“It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t pretty,” Crosby said. “But we found a way.”
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.
