Ravens vs. Falcons: Good, bad and ugly from Baltimore’s overtime win

The Baltimore Ravens had to earn every bit of their victory over the Atlanta Falcons , and it certainly wasn't pretty for much of the evening. The offense stumbled early. The defense missed opportunities to create turnovers. Even the always sure-handed Zay Flowers dropped a pass that would have moved the sticks on third down.

Baltimore spent much of the first half playing catch-up, making mistakes and leaving points on the field. Tyler Huntley eventually settled in, Derrick Henry and Justice Hill provided a much-needed spark , and Tyler Loop continued his remarkable climb as one of Baltimore's most dependable weapons.

When the game reached its defining moments, the Ravens found another gear. That forced overtime before delivering the decisive blow. Baltimore's resilience was impressive, but the performance also raised concerns that won't disappear just because the Ravens walked away with another win. Here's the good, the bad, and the ugly from Baltimore's hard-fought win over the Atlanta Falcons .

The good things we saw during the Ravens' win over the Falcons

The rushing attack found its footing. Atlanta entered the game allowing just 48.1 rushing yards per contest. That was the best mark in the NFL through four weeks. Baltimore had already piled up 90 rushing yards by the end of the first quarter, with Derrick Henry accounting for 49. He finished with 102. Baltimore as a whole ran for 208. That physicality gave the Ravens a foundation when the passing game struggled.

Tyler Huntley delivered a quarterback sneak worth celebrating. A 15-yard quarterback sneak behind Vega Ioane reminded everyone that Baltimore's quarterback can contribute to the ground game in unexpected ways. The play lacked subtlety, but it had plenty to love in its execution.

Tyler Loop keeps raising the bar. After Baltimore brought in another kicker to challenge him, Loop has earned Ravens fans' trust, and they now serenade him after successful kicks. For the second consecutive week, he connected on a long-distance field goal as time expired in the first half, keeping Baltimore within reach during a largely forgettable opening stretch. Now, be honest. When was the last time anyone expected to utter the words 'Loop is keeping the Ravens in the game?'

Trenton Simpson continues to make an impact. Another sack gave Simpson a team-leading three on the season. Baltimore needs more consistent pressure from its defense, and Simpson is providing encouraging production there.

Justice Hill supplied the lightning to Henry's thunder. Hill's 47-yard dash set up Baltimore's first touchdown: an 18-yard catch-and-run by Henry, punctuated by a stiff-arm. After waiting for the two backs to complement each other, it was encouraging to see Hill break free for explosive gains. Mark Andrews couldn't haul in the two-point conversion attempt, however, capping a difficult evening for the tight end.

Baltimore refused to fold late. Facing the need for a touchdown, a two-point conversion, and a defensive stop to force overtime, the Ravens produced one of their best drives of the night. The six-play, 71-yard march tied the game at 23 and gave Baltimore another chance.

The Ravens finished the job in overtime. Baltimore won the coin toss and put together a clock-consuming drive that lasted 7:03 of the 10-minute extra period. Huntley's one-yard quarterback sneak capped the possession, and Kyle Hamilton delivered the final blow by intercepting Tua Tagovailoa, who entered after Michael Penix Jr. was injured.

The bad news from the Ravens' win over Atlanta

Miss ing out on opportunities. Two Ravens defenders got their hands on the ball during Atlanta's opening offensive series, but neither turned it into an interception. Those missed chances might seem minor in isolation, but turnovers can swing close road games, especially against an offense that can score quickly.

Mark Andrews had a night to forget. Andrews dropped a potential touchdown on Baltimore's opening offensive drive. Then lost a fumble on the next possession that Jessie Bates returned for a scoop-and-score. The Ravens cannot afford to give opponents free points, particularly when their offense is struggling to establish a rhythm.

Ravens tight end Matt Hibner was carted to the locker room with a hand injury . Baltimore already lost Durham Smythe to a season-ending Achilles injury last week, leaving the tight end room even thinner. Broderick Washington and Travis Jones left with injuries during the fourth quarter. If there's a silver lining in all of that, Josh Cuevas has shown flashes of real potential, but the injuries are hard to ignore.

The Ravens are now 4-1 and lead the AFC North, but this win doesn't erase the problems that surfaced along the way. Baltimore showed resilience when the game was on the line, yet the penalties, missed turnovers, offensive inconsistency, and mounting injuries remain concerns heading into the next challenge.

The Cleveland Browns visit Baltimore at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 18. The Ravens will win, but they'll need a cleaner performance to keep their place atop the division.