For the second time in three weeks, the Ravens, trailing by one point with the game on the line, opted to go for a two-point conversion to win in regulation.
The familiar feeling of the late-game deficit matched an equally familiar play call, with do-it-all tight end Mark Andrews again tabbed as the intended recipient of a potential game-winning grab.
But, in a fashion almost as heartbreaking as Baltimore's road loss to Pittsburgh, a pass lofted by Tyler Huntley -- starting in place of the injured Lamar Jackson -- fell short of its goal. The visiting Green Bay Packers would ultimately prevail, 31-30.
"I think our chances of winning right there were a little bit higher than in overtime, maybe, if you calculate it out," coach John Harbaugh explained following the Ravens' third straight loss. "Felt good about it, thought we had a good play and they made a really good play."
In a low-scoring affair in Week 13 against Pittsburgh, Harbaugh blamed a depleted cornerback room further weakened by a season-ending injury to Marlon Humphrey for the two-point try.
On a day Green Bay's defense had absolutely no answer for Andrews, it felt apropos for his number to be called once more in crunch time. The sure-handed TE, who finished with 10 catches (13 targets), 136 yards and two scores, said he agreed with the choice to go for two.
"That was the decision. Anyone who second-guesses that is wrong," Andrews said, per ESPN.
After an 8-yard Huntley TD scamper cut into the deficit, Baltimore tried to draw the Packers offside to earn a closer 2-point try, but they didn't bite. On the attempt, Huntley rolled to his right and fired a tight-window throw to Andrews. The pass was tipped by safety Darnell Darnell Savage, who sprinted into the flat to help in coverage. And just like that, it was over.
For the majority of Sunday's game, Baltimore's effort did everything but conjure up feelings of deja vu from its Week 13 performance. The Ravens reached the end zone four times in a high-scoring affair against Aaron Rodgers and Co, with Huntley rushing for a TD on consecutive drives to pull them within 1.
To his credit, Huntley played quite well in such a high-stakes game, going 28-of-40 for 215 yards with no turnovers while rushing for 73 yards and adding four total TDs. But we'd be remiss if we didn't praise Baltimore's injury-plagued defense, which allowed a field goal and forced a punt that set up the game-tying score.
In the end, it was the Ravens who again found themselves on the wrong side of the win-loss column with a chance to go to OT. They now find themselves with their backs against the wall heading into a huge Week 16 clash against the 8-6 Bengals for the division lead.
