Patriots Rally from 11 Down, Clinch Playoffs as Ravens’ Season Teeters on Brink

December 21, 2025 | M&T Bank Stadium | Sunday Night Football

Final Score: Patriots 28, Ravens 24

In what will go down as one of the most painful losses of the season, the Baltimore Ravens squandered an 11-point fourth-quarter lead and lost quarterback Lamar Jackson to injury in a devastating 28-24 defeat to the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football.

The loss drops the Ravens to 7-8 and puts their playoff hopes on life support, while the Patriots (12-3) clinched their first playoff berth since 2021 and remained the NFL’s only undefeated road team at 7-0.

For a Ravens franchise haunted by fourth quarter collapses in recent years, this one had all the familiar heartbreak: a comfortable lead evaporating, baffling coaching decisions, and a soul-crushing turnover that sealed their fate.

How It Happened: A Tale of Two Halves

First Half: Jackson Injury Overshadows 10-10 Tie

The Ravens started hot, with Derrick Henry rumbling 21 yards untouched for a touchdown on the opening drive to give Baltimore a 7-0 lead. It was just the Ravens’ third first-quarter touchdown in nine home games this season.

But the momentum shifted when Henry fumbled on Baltimore’s second drive—his first fumble in 11 games—allowing the Patriots to tie it at 7-7.

The bigger blow came late in the second quarter when Lamar Jackson went down with a back injury on a quarterback run and headed to the locker room. He would not return, leaving the game in the hands of backup Tyler Huntley.

At halftime, the score was tied 10-10.

Third Quarter: Ravens Take Control

With Huntley under center, the Ravens leaned on their running game and appeared to be in control.

Zay Flowers scored on an 18-yard end around to give Baltimore a 17-13 lead in the third quarter. The defense then snuffed out a fake punt attempt near midfield, giving the Ravens excellent field position.

Fourth Quarter: Collapse and Heartbreak

12:50 remaining: Derrick Henry powered in from 2 yards out to put the Ravens ahead 24-13. Baltimore was cruising.

Then the wheels fell off.

Henry, who finished with 128 yards and 2 touchdowns on 18 carries, never touched the ball again—a decision that will haunt offensive coordinator Todd Monken and head coach John Harbaugh for weeks.

9:01 remaining: Patriots QB Drake Maye hit Kyle Williams for a 37-yard touchdown, capping a perfect 7-for-7 drive. Maye then converted the two-point conversion to make it 24-21.

2:07 remaining: After converting a crucial 4th-and-2 with a 21-yard completion to Stefon Diggs, the Patriots handed off to Rhamondre Stevenson, who took it 21 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Patriots 28, Ravens 24.

Under 2:00 remaining: With three timeouts and a chance to respond, the Ravens’ final drive ended in crushing fashion. Tyler Huntley found Zay Flowers for a short completion, but as Flowers turned upfield, Patriots linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson punched the ball out from behind. Marcus Jones recovered, and the game was over.

The Numbers

Patriots Offense

Drake Maye: 31-of-44, 380 yards (career high), 2 TDs, 1 INT
Went 12-of-14 for 139 yards in the decisive fourth quarter
Rhamondre Stevenson: Game-winning 21-yard TD run
Stefon Diggs: 8 catches, 106 yards (4th 100-yard game this season)
89-yard game-winning drive

Ravens Offense

Lamar Jackson: Left with back injury in 2nd quarter (questionable to return)
Tyler Huntley: 9-of-10, 65 yards (stepped in admirably but couldn’t close)
Derrick Henry: 128 yards, 2 TDs on 18 carries, 1 fumble (but ZERO carries after the 12:50 mark despite leading by 11)
Zay Flowers: 18-yard TD run, but fumbled in final 2 minutes

Game Stats

Patriots: 15 unanswered points in final 12:50
Ravens: 3-6 at home (only 3rd time in franchise history with losing home record)
Attendance: 70,709
Time of Game: 3:03

Three Key Plays That Decided the Game

1. Henry’s Early Fumble

After a dominant opening touchdown drive, Derrick Henry fumbled on Baltimore’s second possession—his first fumble in 11 games. Instead of potentially leading 14-0, the Patriots tied the game at 7-7. Momentum swing #1.

2. Fourth-and-2 Conversion

Down 24-21 with under 4 minutes left, Drake Maye faced 4th-and-2. A stop would have given the Ravens the ball back with a chance to run out the clock. Instead, Maye hit Stefon Diggs for 21 yards, setting up the game-winning touchdown two plays later.

3. Flowers Fumble

With 2:07 left and all three timeouts, the Ravens had a chance to drive for the winning score. Tyler Huntley found Zay Flowers for what looked like a routine completion, but K’Lavon Chaisson came from behind and punched the ball out. Game over.

The Lamar Jackson Injury

The biggest concern moving forward is Lamar Jackson’s back injury.

Jackson was hurt on a quarterback run late in the second quarter and immediately headed to the locker room. He was officially listed as “questionable to return” with a back injury but never came back.

What We Know:

Injury occurred on designed QB run
Jackson walked off under his own power
Did not return to the game
Severity unknown as of postgame

What It Means:

Ravens have two games left (@Packers on Saturday, vs Steelers in Week 18)
Need to win out and get help to make playoffs
Tyler Huntley proved capable (9-of-10) but lacks Jackson’s dual-threat ability
Jackson’s availability for Saturday’s critical game in Green Bay is in serious doubt

The Fourth Quarter Problem

This loss was painfully familiar for Ravens fans who have watched their team collapse in fourth quarters throughout recent seasons.

The Sequence:

12:50 left: Ravens lead 24-13, looking dominant
Ravens get conservative: Stop running Derrick Henry (who had 128 yards and 2 TDs)
Patriots score quickly: 89-yard TD drive takes under 4 minutes
Ravens can’t respond: Flowers fumble ends any comeback hopes

Baffling Decisions:

Derrick Henry, who had been gashing the Patriots all night, didn’t touch the ball after the 12:50 mark despite an 11-point lead
Ravens went away from what was working
Defense couldn’t get a stop when it mattered most

This is now a pattern, not a coincidence. The Ravens have blown multiple fourth quarter leads this season, and the coaching staff’s conservative approach continues to backfire.

What This Means for the Ravens’ Season

The Playoff Picture (Before This Game)

Ravens entered at 7-7, half game behind Steelers (8-6) in AFC North
Needed to win out and get help to make playoffs

The Playoff Picture (After This Loss)

Ravens now 7-8 with two games left
AFC North title: Virtually impossible (Steelers now 9-6)
Wild Card: Extremely unlikely, need to win out AND get massive help
Playoff Probability: Dropped from ~18% to ~3% per ESPN Analytics

Remaining Schedule

Saturday, Dec 28: @ Green Bay Packers (8:00 PM ET)
Week 18: vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Reality Check: The Ravens need to win both games AND need multiple teams ahead of them to lose. Even then, tiebreakers likely won’t work in their favor.

This season, which started with Super Bowl aspirations, is all but over.

The Patriots: Back in the Playoffs

While the Ravens’ season crumbles, the Patriots’ rebuild is ahead of schedule.

Drake Maye’s Breakout:

380 passing yards (career high)
31 completions (career high)
Two touchdown passes, including 37-yard laser to Kyle Williams
12-of-14 in the fourth quarter
First fourth-quarter comeback of his career

Patriots’ Impressive Season:

12-3 record (first playoff berth since 2021)
7-0 on the road (only undefeated road team in NFL)
Control their own destiny for AFC East title

What’s Next for New England:

@ New York Jets (Week 17)
vs Miami Dolphins (Week 18)
Win both games = First AFC East title since 2019

Under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel (yes, that Mike Vrabel), the Patriots have exceeded all expectations and look like a legitimate playoff threat behind their exciting young quarterback.

Standout Performances

Patriots

Drake Maye, QB: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Career-best 380 yards, two TDs, led two fourth-quarter scoring drives. The future is bright in New England.

Stefon Diggs, WR: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
8 catches, 106 yards, crucial 4th-and-2 conversion. Fourth 100-yard game this season.

K’Lavon Chaisson, OLB: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Game-saving forced fumble on Zay Flowers in final two minutes.

Ravens

Derrick Henry, RB: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
128 yards, 2 TDs on 18 carries. Inexcusable that he didn’t touch the ball after the 12:50 mark.

Tyler Huntley, QB: ⭐⭐⭐
9-of-10 for 65 yards. Managed the game well in relief of Jackson but couldn’t lead final drive.

Ar’Darius Washington, S: ⭐⭐⭐
Strip-sack of Drake Maye in second quarter prevented Patriots from taking lead before halftime.

Social Media Reaction

Ravens fans were not happy:

“STOP ABANDONING THE RUN IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. DERRICK HENRY HAD 128 YARDS. WHY DID HE NOT TOUCH THE BALL AFTER WE WENT UP 11?!?”

“Another fourth quarter collapse. This is who we are now. Can’t close games.”

“We blew an 11-point lead with 12:50 left. ELEVEN POINTS. IN TWELVE MINUTES.”

“Lamar getting hurt changed everything, but even so—we were up 11 with Huntley and Henry. How do you not run the ball???”

“Ravens and fourth quarter collapses. Name a more iconic duo.”

“That Zay Flowers fumble is going to haunt us all offseason. We had a chance.”

Patriots fans, meanwhile, were ecstatic about their unexpected playoff berth and Maye’s emergence as a franchise quarterback.

Coaching Decisions Under Fire

Todd Monken (Ravens OC)

The decision to abandon Derrick Henry after the Ravens went up 24-13 will be dissected all week. Henry was averaging 7.1 yards per carry and had scored twice. Why did he not touch the ball in the final 12:50?

John Harbaugh (Ravens HC)

Another fourth quarter collapse raises questions about in-game management and clock control. The Ravens have now blown multiple double-digit fourth quarter leads this season.

Mike Vrabel (Patriots HC)

In his first year with the Patriots, Vrabel has them in the playoffs at 12-3. His aggressive decisions (going for it on 4th-and-2, two-point conversion attempt) paid off.

Looking Ahead: Ravens @ Packers (Saturday Night)

The Ravens travel to Lambeau Field for a Saturday night showdown with the Green Bay Packers (December 28, 8:00 PM ET).

Key Questions:

Will Lamar Jackson play? His back injury status will dominate the week’s storylines
Can the defense stop a fourth quarter collapse? This has become a disturbing pattern
Will they actually run Derrick Henry? He’s averaging 75 yards per game—use him!

What’s at Stake:

Technically, the Ravens can still make the playoffs if they win out
Realistically, they’re playing for pride and to avoid a losing season
A loss would officially eliminate them from playoff contention

Game Preview: The Packers are fighting for playoff seeding in the NFC. Lambeau Field in late December is one of the toughest environments in the NFL. If Lamar Jackson can’t go, Tyler Huntley will be making his first road start of the season against a playoff-caliber defense.

This is must-win for any slim playoff hopes to survive.

The Bottom Line

The 2025 Baltimore Ravens will be remembered as a team that couldn’t finish.

They started 0-4, clawed back to .500, and briefly looked like a team that could sneak into the playoffs. But fourth quarter collapses—this one especially brutal—have defined their season.

Now sitting at 7-8 with Lamar Jackson’s health in question and playoff hopes on life support, the Ravens are facing the reality of a lost season.

The Good:

Derrick Henry remains one of the NFL’s elite running backs (128 yards, 2 TDs)
Tyler Huntley showed he’s a capable backup (9-of-10)
Defense created turnovers (strip-sack, forced fumble recovery)

The Bad:

Fourth quarter execution continues to be a massive problem
Coaching decisions in critical moments are highly questionable
Can’t protect leads

The Ugly:

Lamar Jackson’s back injury could end the season early
3-6 home record (worst in franchise history)
Another heartbreaking loss that will sting for months

For fans who made the trip to M&T Bank Stadium on a cold December night, this was a tough pill to swallow. The Ravens had this game won. They were up 11 points with under 13 minutes to play.

And somehow, they found a way to lose.

For Your Next Ravens Game: Skip the Stadium Parking Stress

If you attended Sunday night’s heartbreaker, you know the pain of sitting in stadium parking lot traffic for an hour after a devastating loss, replaying every fourth quarter mistake in your head.

There’s a better way.

Park at Harbor Park Garage for just $12 all-day and enjoy the full Baltimore experience—even when the outcome isn’t what we wanted:

The Harbor Park Garage Advantage

Before the Game:

Arrive early and park at Harbor Park Garage (just $18)
Explore Inner Harbor (15-minute walk to M&T Bank Stadium)
Have dinner at a real restaurant instead of stadium food
Walk or take a quick rideshare to the stadium
Save $22-42 vs. stadium parking ($40-60)

After the Game (Especially After a Loss Like This):

Walk back to Inner Harbor instead of sitting in stadium traffic
Decompress with a drink at Power Plant Live or Fells Point
Process the game over late-night food
Walk to your car when you’re ready
Drive home relaxed instead of fuming in gridlock

The Reality: When the Ravens lose a heartbreaker like this, the last thing you want is to sit in your car for 90 minutes in bumper-to-bumper stadium parking lot traffic. Give yourself the gift of processing the loss somewhere better.

For Saturday’s Game @ Green Bay: Obviously, this is a road game, so parking tips don’t apply. But when the Ravens return home for the season finale against Pittsburgh in Week 18, consider the Harbor Park Garage strategy.

Because even if the Ravens break our hearts, we don’t have to make the parking situation worse.

Reserve Your Parking for the Season Finale

Ravens vs Steelers | Week 18 | Date TBD

Even with playoff hopes all but gone, the rivalry game against Pittsburgh always matters. Reserve your spot now:

harborparkgarage.com/parking-nearby/stadium-lot/baltimore-ravens/

Harbor Park Garage
55 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 528-0888
Open 24/7

Final Thoughts

This loss hurts. It hurts because the Ravens had it won. It hurts because of the injury to Lamar. It hurts because this keeps happening in the fourth quarter.

But there are still two games left. Saturday night in Green Bay, and then the season finale against Pittsburgh at home.

For a franchise with a proud history and a fanbase that never quits, these final two games matter—even if the playoffs are out of reach.

The 2025 season may not have gone as planned, but Ravens fans will show up. We always do.

Next Game:
Ravens @ Packers
Saturday, December 28, 2025
8:00 PM ET
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
FOX

Stay strong, Ravens fans. There’s always next year.

🏈 #RavensFlock

Ravens Suffer Devastating 28-24 Sunday Night Collapse to Patriots: Fourth Quarter Demons Strike Again