Lamar Jackson, Ravens hold off Titans 24-18

Baltimore takes control

Lamar Jackson’s two touchdown passes powered the Baltimore Ravens past the Tennessee Titans 24-18 on Sunday, October 4, at M&T Bank Stadium, with Tennessee’s onside kick recovery ending the late threat.

Jackson completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, finding Zay Flowers for a 19-yard score and later delivering a 3-yard touchdown pass after Baltimore took over at its own 2. Flowers supplied eight catches for 118 yards, including a 52-yard catch that set up the second touchdown and turned a one-score game into a 14-point Ravens lead.

Baltimore improved to 3-1 by building a 24-7 halftime edge, then absorbing a Titans comeback bid that reached the Ravens’ 3-yard line with 1:51 left. Tennessee fell to 0-4 despite Cam Ward’s late touchdown pass and successful two-point conversion, which cut the margin to 24-18 with 1:12 remaining.

The drives that made the difference

The game tilted immediately when Trenton Simpson intercepted Ward on Tennessee’s opening snap and returned the ball to the Titans’ 37. Derrick Henry finished the short possession with a 5-yard touchdown, but Tony Pollard answered with a 3-yard scoring run after Tennessee’s 11-play, 70-yard march tied it 7-7.

Jackson and Flowers struck early in the second quarter to restore the lead, and Baltimore made its biggest push after Tennessee turned the ball over on downs. The Ravens went 98 yards in nine plays over 4:44, with Flowers’ 52-yard reception putting the ball at the 5 before the 3-yard touchdown pass made it 21-7.

A Tennessee fumble inside the final minute of the half gave Baltimore another opportunity, and Loop’s 64-yard field goal at the horn made it 24-7. The Titans managed a 33-yard field goal in the third, then Ward connected with a 3-yard touchdown pass after Carnell Tate’s 33-yard catch placed Tennessee at the 3 in the final two minutes.

A late escape

Tennessee recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Baltimore’s win probability jumped from 92% to 100% on the recovery, ending the meaningful suspense. Ward finished 20 of 31 for 222 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while Tate caught nine passes for 145 yards in the Titans’ rally.

The numbers show why Baltimore’s early passing game held up. EPA measures expected points added on each play; the Ravens posted 0.06 EPA per play against Tennessee’s minus-0.13, and Baltimore’s passing EPA per play was 0.32 while its rushing mark was minus-0.21. The Ravens also produced a 48% success rate, meaning 48% of their plays had positive EPA, compared with 43% for Tennessee.

Henry carried 23 times for 73 yards and the opening touchdown, helping Baltimore avoid a turnover while Tennessee gave the ball away twice. The Titans host the Houston Texans on Sunday, October 11, at 0-4, while the 3-1 Ravens visit the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, October 11.