BALTIMORE — Ravens running back Derrick Henry finally got rolling after a tough start, but Baltimore’s offense stalled in the fourth quarter in a stunning 26-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in the home opener on Sunday.
Daniel Carlson made a 38-yard field goal for Las Vegas with 27 seconds left to send the Ravens to their first 0-2 start since 2015. Only 9 percent of the teams since 1970 that started 0-2 made the playoffs — 407 teams lost their first two games and only 39 made the postseason.
“Disappointing loss, tough loss,” Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. “It could have gone our way, but we didn’t get the job done. Oh-and-two. But it’s a 17-game season, and we will be defined by the next 15 games.”
Henry had a 29-yard run early in the third quarter that set up the Ravens’ first touchdown. He later scored on a 5-yard run to put Baltimore ahead, 23-13, with 12:11 left, but the Raiders scored the final 13 points as Baltimore again failed to protect a fourth-quarter lead.
Henry finished with 84 yards rushing on 18 carries.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers on the first drive of the third quarter that gave the Ravens a 16-6 lead.
Jackson was 20-for-30 for 236 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Jackson threw an interception after the scoring drive in the third quarter that let Las Vegas back in the game. A 1-yard run by Alexander Mattison cut the lead to 16-13 with 2:36 left in the third quarter.
Henry responded with the 5-yard score that gave the Ravens a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter.
However, Carlson made a 25-yard field goal and the Raiders then tied the game, 23-23, on a 1-yard pass from Gardner Minshew to Davante Adams with 3:53 left in the game.
Adams had nine catches for 110 yards with a touchdown.
After the Ravens’ drive stalled, the Raiders got the ball back at midfield and were able to get Carlson within field goal range.
“I know the guys in the locker room, and how we feel about it. Trust me, it sucks more for us than anybody else,” linebacker Roquan Smith said. “I just know we’re going to put our head down and keep going and correct our mistakes.”
Harbaugh now has the most blown double-digit leads in the fourth quarter of any coach since at least 1991, according to the Associated Press.
Minshew was 30-for-38 for 276 yards with a touchdown and interception. He was sacked five times.
Neither team could get much offense going and the Ravens led, 3-0, at the end of the first quarter on a 48-yard field goal by Justin Tucker.
Daniel Carlson and Tucker each converted field goals and Baltimore led, 6-3, with six minutes remaining in the second quarter.
After Carlson tied the game, Tucker made a 32-yard attempt with three seconds left to give the Ravens a 9-6 lead at the break.
Medical emergency: The game was delayed for about 10 minutes after a member of the chain crew suffered a medical emergency and had to leave on a stretcher. Ravens officials reported the man “alert and “responsive” as he left the field.
Toughness: Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy played despite suffering an orbital bone fracture 10 days ago against Kansas City. He had two sacks. Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh also had two sacks.
Tucker’s struggles: Tucker missed a 56-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter. He has converted just one kick on his last seven attempts from 50 or more yards.
Turnover: Ravens cornerback back Marlon Humphrey made his first interception since December 25th when he made a diving catch on a pass by Minshew.
Offensive line continuity: The Ravens used the same starting lineup for the second consecutive game — left tackle Ronnie Stanley, left guard Andrew Vorhees, center Tyler Linderbaum, right guard Daniel Faalele, and right tackle Patrick Mekari, who was beaten by defensive end Maxx Crosby for a first-quarter sack. Rookie Roger Rosengarten entered for Mekari and did a more effective job against Crosby.
Tributes: The Ravens honored former wide receiver/returner Jacoby Jones, who died on July 14, and former offensive lineman Joe D’Alessandris, who had entered his eighth season guiding Baltimore’s offensive line before passing away on Aug. 25. Jones’ teammates Vonta Leach, Jameel McClain, Ray Rice, Torrey Smith and Lardarius Webb were the Legends of the Game.
Ravens Inactives: The Ravens’ inactive players were cornerback Nate Wiggins (neck/concussion), outside linebacker Adisa Isaac (hamstring), offensive lineman Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, safety Beau Brade, center Nick Samac, cornerback T.J. Tampa and wide receiver Devontez Walker. Five of those seven players are rookie draft picks.
