A few hours before kickoff, there was every reason to believe the Baltimore Ravens were heading toward a successful home opener. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle was already at the stadium studying his call sheet hours before the game.
It seemed he might have been putting the finishing touches on a plan Baltimore hoped would produce another victory. No one would be prepared for what followed once this one unfolded
A little over three hours before the game and Ravens OC Declan Doyle is already on field studying his call sheet. pic.twitter.com/bA8koASc5g
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) September 20, 2026
Instead of celebrating a win, the Ravens walked off their home field with a frustrating 24-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Baltimore built an early lead, controlled stretches of the first half,
and appeared positioned to improve to 2-0.
Then everything unraveled. The Saints outscored Baltimore 18-3 after halftime, Tyler Shough settled into a rhythm, and the Ravens were left searching for answers after another fourth-quarter collapse. Before turning the page to next week's trip to Brazil, let's examine the good, bad and ugly from Sunday's loss.
The good things we saw during the Ravens' loss to the Saints
Veteran players show up despite the injuries
The Ravens needed some good news before kickoff, and they received it when Ronnie Stanley, Trey Hendrickson and John Simpson were all active despite carrying injury designations throughout the week and questionable statuses on the final injury report.
All three attempted to gut it out for a team already dealing with several notable absences. Availability doesn't always show up in the box score, but it mattered Sunday. Stanley gave all he could before his day ended prematurely (more on that later).
Derrick Henry makes history
It's hard not to love Derrick Henry in the Wildcat formation. He continued his strong start to the season early, but it wasn't his best day. He finished with 68 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and etched his name into the franchise record book. His four rushing touchdowns through Baltimore's first two games are the most by any player through the first two contests of a Ravens season.
Derrick Henry takes it himself for SIX 👑
— NFL (@NFL) September 20, 2026
NOvsBAL on CBS/Paramount+
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Rashod Bateman answers the call
After being held without a catch in Week 1, Bateman responded exactly how Baltimore hoped he would. The receiver hauled in three first-half receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown, giving Lamar Jackson a reliable target while the Ravens navigated life without Flowers. He finished with a team-high 88 receiving yards.
Lamar Jackson 🎯 Rashod Bateman for the TD
— NFL (@NFL) September 20, 2026
NOvsBAL on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/RwqbUrIoEP
Trey Hendrickson's first sack as a Raven and Mike Green's first sack of the season
The Ravens wanted more production from their pass rush after Week 1. They got some encouraging signs Sunday.Hendrickson collected his first sack in a Baltimore uniform, while Mike Green recorded the first sacks of his NFL career. Those moments should provide momentum moving forward, even if the overall defensive effort faded late.
TREY HENDRICKSON GETS HIS FIRST SACK AS A RAVEN!!!
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 20, 2026
Tune in on @NFLonCBS and @ParamountPlus. pic.twitter.com/JoecGFPcbZ
MIKE GREEN SACK!!!
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 20, 2026
Tune in on @NFLonCBS and @ParamountPlus. pic.twitter.com/zfVulAjQ83
Devontez Walker produces a big play
Baltimore needed additional production from its receiver room, and Walker answered the call with a big play. With Flowers sidelined and the depth chart stretched thin, every contribution mattered. Walker hauled in one reception for 47 yards. Hopefully, that creates some momentum that he can build on.
The bad news from the Ravens' loss to New Orleans
Ronnie Stanley finishes this one on the sideline
Stanley deserves credit for suiting up. Unfortunately, the toe injury that made him questionable all week eventually forced him out of the game. Losing your left tackle is never ideal, especially against a Saints defense that became more disruptive as the afternoon progressed.
Three second-half Ravens points
This might be the biggest football-related concern coming out of the game. Baltimore scored 14 points in the first half. The offense then managed just three points in the third quarter before being blanked in the fourth.
The Ravens generated only 96 seconds of offensive possession in the fourth quarter before getting the ball back for their final drive, one that ended with an interception. That isn't a recipe for winning football games.
Officials uphold a controversial quarterback sneak
The game's defining moment came late. Tyler Shough appeared to be stopped short on a fourth-down quarterback sneak near the goal line, but the ruling on the field stood after review. Saints players celebrated. Ravens fans voiced their displeasure. New Orleans took the lead. Baltimore still had opportunities afterward, but the controversial ruling immediately became one of the game's most talked-about moments.
The downright ugly
Chris Olave was unguardable in the second half
The Ravens knew Chris Olave was the Saints' most dangerous receiving threat. Knowing it and stopping it turned out to be two very different things. Olave repeatedly found space during the second half and became Shough's go-to option when New Orleans needed a play.
Baltimore never found a consistent answer. 15 fourth-quarter points by the Saints turned the tide. The Ravens entered the fourth quarter with an eight-point lead. They left their much-anticipated home opener with a loss.
New Orleans dominated the final 15 minutes, controlling possession, converting key third downs and consistently moving the football when the game mattered most. For a defense that looked solid for stretches earlier in the afternoon, the finish was difficult to explain.
A game-ending interception
Even after everything that happened, Baltimore still had one final chance. Jackson drove the offense into Saints territory before a late interception ended the comeback attempt and officially sealed the outcome.
JULIAN BLACKMON CALLS GAME WITH THE INT 😱 pic.twitter.com/cmhTtgYBrm
— NFL (@NFL) September 20, 2026
Final thought
For three quarters, this looked like a game Baltimore would win. The offense had its moments. The defense seemed composed. Bateman produced his highlight. The pass rush showed signs of life. The Ravens held an eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter and appeared positioned to celebrate a successful home opener. Instead, they'll spend the week searching for answers after a loss that felt entirely avoidable. The trip to Brazil suddenly carries a little more urgency than anyone inside the organization hoped it would.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Good, bad, and ugly from Ravens' 24-17 loss to the Saints in Week 2
