Ravens' Rio trio: Three players who helped Lamar Jackson to a walk-off win

Inside the Baltimore Ravens' emotionally charged locker room in Rio de Janeiro, quarterback Lamar Jackson wanted to deliver a message following Sunday's 34-31 walk-off win over the Dallas Cowboys. "We had all this adversity going on and we conquered," Jackson told his teammates. "This is the start of the season right here." Jackson and the Ravens redeemed themselves by battling back after letting another fourth-quarter lead disappear, which is a trend that has haunted this franchise for years. Last week, Jackson's interception sealed a fourth-quarter collapse to the New Orleans Saints. On Sunday, after Baltimore failed to hold an 11-point lead, Jackson put the Ravens in position to win by throwing a pass that traveled 36.4 yards in 1.6 seconds, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. With only seven seconds remaining on Sunday, he didn't take a knee to run out the clock in regulation and instead threw a 27-yard pass that set up Tyler Loop's winning, 56-yard field goal as time expired. "I was prepared for overtime," Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith said, "and then Mr. Houdini [Jackson] made the play." Here are the other three players who overcame adversity to help Jackson produce one of the wildest finishes in Ravens history: Tyler Loop Leading up to Sunday's game, rookie punter and holder Ryan Eckley came up with an idea. "You know what would be sick is if we hit a game winner," Eckley said. "We go knee-slide in the end zone." Loop replied, "Dude, there is no way. I feel like I am going to face-plant." After drilling his first career winning kick, Loop sprinted to the opposite end zone as the entire team raced after him. Then, at one of the most storied soccer stadiums, Loop struck the Cristiano Ronaldo signature celebration in which he jumps and lands with arms outstretched while shouting "Siu!" The Ravens showed their support for Loop as he lined up for the kick. Jackson yelled encouraging words from the sideline, where teammates felt Loop was going to come through. "I thought he was going to make it," running back Derrick Henry said. "I wasn't even doubting [anything]. I knew he was ready; I could just tell." Loop's finest moment in the NFL came after a tumultuous offseason. His only previous attempt at a game-winning field goal came in last season's finale, when his 44-yard field goal went wide right and ended the Ravens' season eight months ago. Then, after Loop's uneven preseason, the Ravens signed kicker Jake Moody to the practice squad as competition. Now, after Moody was cut earlier this month, Loop has solidified himself with the Ravens, making 5 of 6 field goals (83.3%). This was the Ravens' first winning field goal from 50 yards or longer since September 2021, when Justin Tucker's 66-yarder beat the Detroit Lions. "The amount of flak that [Loop] faced at the end of last year, [he] just put his head down, never complained, just worked his butt off this whole season," safety Kyle Hamilton said. "For that moment to happen like that, on this stage, is pretty cool. The celebration was dope, too." Zay Flowers The Ravens wide receiver revealed a secret about his injured left hamstring after the game. "I knew I was going to be able to play earlier in the week," Flowers said. Although it wasn't a surprise to Flowers that he played, it caught others off guard to see him suit up after he missed Baltimore's only two full practices of the week. Flowers, who was considered a game-time decision, was limited to 17 snaps but still led the Ravens with 84 yards receiving on five catches. Seven seconds was all the @Ravens needed. @NFLBrasil pic.twitter.com/zMpVY6oBdp — NFL (@NFL) September 27, 2026 This marked Flowers' return after aggravating his left hamstring in the first half of the season opener. Flowers' impact on Sunday was felt in the fourth quarter, when he made three receptions for 55 yards. His biggest play was getting open over the middle of the field and catching a 27-yard pass to get Baltimore into field goal range. "If some of us might be slow to get started in the game, you just see him blazing past people, and it is like, you better wake up, [and] you have to get on his level," Jackson said. "So, it was wonderful to have Zay back out there. That man -- we call him 'Sonic' from now on because he is amazing." Olaivavega Ioane It was a couple of weeks ago when Ravens assistant offensive line coach Shawn Flaherty suggested to Ioane, their rookie first-round pick, that he get some reps at center. Ioane, the No. 14 pick in this year's draft, was glad he did because he found himself snapping to Jackson in the fourth quarter. Injuries to starter Jovaughn Gwyn (ankle) and backup Ethan Pocic (left knee) led to Ioane moving from right guard to center. "It is unfortunate how it happened, but you just got to step up and be ready for the moment," Ioane said. Minter didn't provide any injury updates on Gwyn and Pocic after the game. If both can't play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, Ioane may have to start at center despite little experience there. During his Penn State career, Ioane lined up at center for 17 of his 2,149 college snaps. "For a rookie to be in that situation, [Ioane] stepped up and didn't flinch," Henry said. "[He] stepped up and did what we needed to do for us to be able to get in position to win."