Tyler Huntley led the Ravens to a last-minute win against the Chicago Bears with Lamar Jackson sidelined due to illness. RSR staff react to the win here.
Derek Arnold
Did it feel like Justin Fields getting hurt was the worst thing that could have happened for the Ravens? This was my thought:
Everyone else: "well, Fields is out, the Bears don't have a chance."
Ravens fans: "well, Andy Dalton is coming in, the Ravens don't have a chance"
— D.Baby, allergic to 🦃 (@BMoreBirdsNest) November 21, 2021
And Andy Dalton lived up to his billing. Chicago scored their first TD of the day on his second play in the game, thanks to more Yakkety Sax antics from Ravens defenders tackling each other instead of the opponent, then Dalton broke the Ravens’ hearts on yet another long 4th-and-long touchdown with under two minutes to play.
Yet Huntley was up to the challenge, leading the Ravens down the field – thanks in large part to a (correct) pass interference penalty drawn by Rashod Bateman – for a game-winning touchdown.
If Lamar Jackson had played, it feels like this would have been a puffy pants game – hammer time for the Ravens. The Ravens’ JV squad edged out the Bears’ in the end. An ugly W is an ugly W…is a Ravens W.
The schedule is a bear (sorry) from here on out, and Lamar getting back to 100% and staying there is obviously the most important thing. But a loss today would have made things a lot more difficult going forward. Kudos, Tyler!
Darin McCann
There is an awful lot to digest when thinking about this one, but the most critical morsel of all is that the Ravens got a road win with their backup quarterback and will stay atop the AFC North at least one more week.
Tyler Huntley deserves a ton of credit for this one, and he will surely receive his praise. But Tyus Bowser was maybe just as responsible for this one, playing perhaps the best game of his career from whistle to whistle.
There were plenty of negatives out there today, including the performance by Chris Westry, and an offensive line that might later prove to have been allergic to Robert Quinn. But now, for at least these few minutes of postgame bliss, let’s enjoy this one. It counts as a win.
Chad Racine
Another crazy ending and it’s what Ravens fans have come to expect. I have to admit I had no faith in the offense on the final drive. Tyler Huntley came through in a big way when it was needed the most.
Normally when backup quarterbacks come in the game there is a sense of relief. I was worried before Dalton even threw a pass. He’s been the Ravens kryptonite far too many times.
The defense giving up huge plays in critical situations has been a problem all season. When it was 4th and 11 I was far from relaxed.
In the end it’s another win for the Ravens but they must improve. The schedule is not getting any easier.
Nikhil Mehta
There will be plenty of time for in-depth breakdowns about playcalling, big plays, and even an Andy Dalton appearance. What’s really important is that the Ravens went into Chicago and left with a win without the single most valuable player to his team in the NFL.
Other than that, this is all I got:
This one’s for you, @_SNOOP1 pic.twitter.com/yB2IOEQGU3
— Nikhil Mehta (@nmehtaUR2022) November 21, 2021
Ben Dackiw
This team.
Even without their best player, they still can’t let me relax and watch one lousy game of football. It has to be a barn burner to the end.
Andy Dalton almost did it to us again.
Chris Westry clearly needs more seasoning.
*deep sigh* at some point the Ravens need to put a team away, but I wasn’t expecting them to do it this week.
We shall see what they have in store for us next Sunday night.
Kevin McNelis
A game featuring a last-second clinching play, suspect blocking and blown defensive coverages? Where have I heard that before?
This game looked like it was going to be a snoozer after that first half, but at least it looked like one that the Ravens could control defensively. Then our defenders decided to take each other out on a home-run play to start the second half and the game script changed entirely. I’m thanking the football gods BIG TIME for Tyus Bowser today, and kudos to Jaylon Ferguson for making a big time special teams contribution.
Who’s up next? Cleveland? That’s SURE to be good for the blood pressure!
