(Baltimore) Tyler Huntley threw a first-half touchdown pass and the Baltimore Ravens secured a playoff berth by beating the Atlanta Falcons 17-9 on Sunday.
About 30 minutes after the Ravens (10-5) defeated the Falcons, the New England Patriots lost to the Cincinnati Bengals to confirm the Baltimore squad’s playoff spot.
The Ravens won for the second time in three games since star quarterback Lamar Jackson suffered a knee injury.
Gus Edwards rushed for 99 yards and JK Dobbins added 59 rushing yards for the Ravens. Huntley threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson, the first reception for a major by a receiver for the team since Week 3 of action.
Huntley carried the ball into the end zone himself on the two-point convert that gave the Ravens a 14-0 lead. Their defense has only allowed more than 14 points on one occasion since the start of November.
The Falcons (5-10), who were only one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the top of the NA Southern Division, suffered a fourth straight loss.
Huntley joined Sammy Watkins for a 40-yard gain and he threw a 36-yard pass to Mark Andrews on two separate offensive runs. These ended with a field goal to give the Ravens a 6-0 lead.
The Falcons rolled the dice on fourth down near midfield and quarterback Desmond Ridder spotted Drake London for a 20-yard gain, but he fumbled the ball to allow the Ravens to regain possession.
The Ravens ran with the ball 11 straight plays in the following offensive series, which ended with Huntley’s touchdown pass.
The Baltimore squad got some help late in the first half. On the first try at the goal gate, Ridder received a penalty for deliberately getting rid of the ball and the Falcons had to settle for a goal.
On the first possession of the second half, a penalty to receiver Olamide Zaccheaus nullified a Cordarrelle Patterson touchdown and the Falcons still had to attempt a field goal.
Leading 17-6 in the fourth quarter, the Ravens’ defense shut the door on the Falcons when four consecutive runs inside the five-line were stopped short of the end zone.