Both the player and his team needed it in the worst way.
asserted
player → need → way
You could see it in how the Baltimore Ravens reacted, pouring onto the field and following Loop toward one of the corners, where he performed a Cristiano Ronaldo-style celebration in soccer-crazy Brazil.
uncertain
he → see → Brazil
For much of the second half, this looked like another excruciating Baltimore collapse, but in those final few seconds the Ravens ensured that Dallas would be the team flying home with plenty to regret.
asserted
Dallas → look → plenty
“NFL football in general reflects life very eerily similar.
asserted
football → reflect → life
Everything is cyclical,” safety Kyle Hamilton said.
asserted
Hamilton → say → ?
“What goes around comes around.”
asserted
goes → go → ?
Loop’s 56-yard kick gave the Ravens a 34-31 win over the Cowboys on Sunday.
asserted
kick → give → Sunday
As a rookie last season, he had one of the more significant misses in recent NFL history, pushing a 44-yard attempt to the right on the last play of the regular season.
asserted
he → have → season
That kick would have won Baltimore the division, but instead the Ravens were left out of the playoffs.
asserted
Ravens → win → playoffs
Loop’s hold on the job looked tenuous after a shaky preseason this year, and Baltimore even brought in kicker Jake Moody for its practice squad.
asserted
Baltimore → look → squad
But Loop had a solid opener and Moody was dismissed.
asserted
Moody → have → opener
Now Loop has come through in a spot where the Ravens needed a lift.
asserted
Ravens → come → lift
“We have talked a lot this season about being the best when your best is needed.
asserted
best → talk → lot
There has been a lot of adversity,” Loop said.
asserted
Loop → say → adversity
“Been a lot of stuff that has happened between the end of last season and now.
asserted
that → happen → season
It has been a pleasure to have teammates like these guys and the rest of the locker room stand behind me and support me.”
asserted
teammates → have → me
The Ravens (2-1) were coming off a home loss to New Orleans in Week 2 in which they were dominated in the fourth quarter.
asserted
they → come → quarter
That brought back memories of all the leads they let slip away toward the end of coach John Harbaugh’s tenure.
asserted
they → bring → tenure
After going up 24-13 against Dallas, Baltimore quickly allowed two touchdowns, but Lamar Jackson put the Ravens back ahead with a TD pass of his own.
asserted
Jackson → go → own
With the score 31-28, the Cowboys had first-and-goal from the 2, but Baltimore managed to hold them to a field goal with 7 seconds left.
asserted
Baltimore → have → seconds
That was enough time for Jackson to throw a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers and set up Loop’s big chance.
asserted
Jackson → throw → chance
What’s working
The connection between Jackson and Flowers has been dynamic so far this season.
asserted
connection → work → Jackson
Flowers returned from a hamstring injury and caught five passes for 84 yards against Dallas, and he added a 20-yard run.
asserted
he → return → run
Flowers has produced five plays of at least 20 yards in six quarters of action.
asserted
Flowers → produce → action
What needs help
Baltimore’s offensive line might need more help than the team currently has in house.
uncertain
team → need → house
Center Danny Pinter was injured before the season began, and the Ravens have now lost Jovaughn Gwyn (ankle) and Ethan Pocic (knee) at that position; coach Jesse Minter said Monday those could be long-term injuries.
uncertain
those → injure → position
Rookie guard Vega Ioane might have to be the solution at center for a little while.
uncertain
Ioane → have → while
“He’ll prepare to potentially play that position,” Minter said.
asserted
Minter → prepare → position
“We’ll figure out the best five guys to put out there for this particular week, as we may add a piece or two obviously.”
uncertain
we → figure → piece
Although the O-line woes didn’t cripple the offense, Baltimore did not have enough strength up front to convert short-yardage running plays with any regularity, even with Derrick Henry in the backfield.
asserted
Baltimore → cripple → backfield
The special teams shined Sunday.
asserted
teams → shin → ?
In addition to Loop’s game-winning kick, the Ravens also got a blocked field goal from Keondre Jackson.
asserted
Ravens → win → Jackson
Even with Trey Hendrickson added to the pass rush in the offseason — and Nnamdi Madubuike finally back from a neck injury — the Ravens couldn’t slow down Dallas defensively late in the game.
asserted
Ravens → add → game
The Cowboys had touchdown drives of 67 and 96 yards after falling behind by 11.
asserted
Cowboys → have → 11
Baltimore did force a key three-and-out after that, but then Dallas drove 60 yards for the tying field goal.
asserted
Dallas → force → goal
Minter came to Baltimore with a defensive background.
asserted
Minter → come → background
He has a lot to fix on that side of the ball.
asserted
He → have → ball
Although the injuries to Pocic and Gwyn were more serious, TE Mark Andrews (hand) and Hamilton (evaluated for a concussion) were able to return to the game.
asserted
Andrews → evaluate → game
Next steps
Baltimore returns home this weekend to face Henry’s old team, the winless Tennessee Titans.
asserted
Baltimore → return → team
The Aporia
