Ravens Walkthroughs Made Improbable Finish Probable

Sep 27, 2026; Rio De Janeiro, BRA; Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter looks on during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Maracana Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Ravens Walkthroughs Made Improbable Finish Probable

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Wesley Dixon | Last updated Oct 3, 2026 5:29 AM ET

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Against the Dallas Cowboys, the Ravens had just seven seconds to get into field goal range and avoid overtime. Some teams may have taken their chances and let the game go to overtime, but Baltimore instead picked up 27 yards on a completion from Lamar Jackson to Zay Flowers.

Tyler Loop converted the ensuing 56-yard field goal to seal the win. Days later, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle revealed that Baltimore had practiced a similar situation during a walkthrough roughly two weeks before facing Dallas.

“I would say the last time we did that one probably would have been like two weeks ago in a walkthrough setting,” Doyle said. “If two weeks ago we did not go through that, they probably do not know what to do quite as well and they are not able to execute it at a really high level.”

Practice Makes Perfect

Despite the big hits normally seen on Sundays, the NFL can also be thought of as a massive chess game. Playbooks can stretch hundreds of pages, position groups spend hours studying film, and coaches pour a dizzying amount of time into perfecting their schemes and game plans. Amid all of that preparation, even extremely specific situations have to be practiced so players know exactly what to do when an unlikely moment finally arises.

Having a play ready for an almost literal last-second drive may seem absurd to the average fan, but when you consider how much time NFL teams spend rehearsing situation after situation, the concept starts to make more sense.

Baltimore’s preparation extends well beyond one specific sequence. The Ravens are averaging 30.7 points per game, the fourth-highest mark in the league according to NFL Savant, and their ability to execute in unorthodox situations is another example of the attention to detail behind that success.

Against Dallas, that preparation turned seven seconds into enough time to win a football game.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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