BALTIMORE (AP) — Tylan Wallace took the penalty kick cleanly — no easy feat on this rainy day — then slid to his left, moved away from one would-be attacker and raced past several other players while barely staying inbounds along the sideline.
By the time Sean Jolly came diving to his feet near the 45-yard line, Wallace was in good shape for Baltimore to kick a field goal — but after stumbling a bit, he stayed on his feet and kept running.
“I’m like, ‘I can’t get down here.’ I’ve come this far,” Wallace said.
In his first game returning kicks as a pro, Wallace ran one punt return 76 yards for a touchdown in overtime to lift the Ravens to a 37-31 win over Los Angeles on Sunday, snapping the Rams’ three-game winning streak.
Wallace became the fourth player in NFL history to score a touchdown on a punt return in overtime. New York Jets’ Xavier Gibson also did so this season, on September 11 against Buffalo.
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“It feels great to be able to make a difference in the game and help the team win,” Wallace said. “You could say once in a lifetime moment.”
The 24-year-old Wallace is in his third season after being drafted in the fourth round in 2021. He has managed just six receptions in his career, plus two kickoff returns as a rookie.
When Devin DuVernay, Baltimore’s top return man, left Sunday with back issues, Wallace was pressed into duty. He returned three shots in the game, and his final kick more than made up for the crucial penalty he committed in the second quarter that led to points for Los Angeles.
Baltimore (10-3) has a half-game lead over Miami for the top seed in the AFC. The Dolphins host Tennessee on Monday night.
The Rams (6-7) remain in trouble from teams fighting for the NFC’s final playoff spots. They narrowly missed out on a big win on the road.
“Give the Ravens credit for finding a way,” Los Angeles coach Sean McVay said. “There were some chances, but we played a lot to stay in that game and there will be some chances for us as a team.”
Jolly had one last real chance to bring down Wallace, and after he couldn’t quite do it, the Baltimore returner punctuated the winning touchdown with a jumper into the end zone before the Ravens punted him in the corner.
“It was mountains and valleys. It was highs and there were lows in that game,” Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. “National Football League in December against a very good opponent. Our guys weathered all those storms, figuratively and literally.”
Catching passes and kicks was an adventure on a rainy day in Baltimore, but Lamar Jackson and Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes each. Jackson passed for 316 yards and Stafford passed for 294 yards. Each offense went three-and-out in overtime before Los Angeles’ final kick.
“Just continue to have faith in the work we’ve done,” Stafford said. “Obviously we didn’t get the result we wanted but we fought. All three stages had positive things, things we can be better at.
Jackson’s 21-yard strike to Zay Flowers with 1:16 remaining — and his two-point conversion pass to Flowers — put Baltimore up 31-28. Stafford then got the Rams into position to make several shots into the end zone, and when that failed, Lukas Havrysek nailed a 36-yard field goal with 7 seconds left to force overtime.
Jackson gave Baltimore a 7-3 lead when the Rams allowed Isaiah to run free down the left sideline for a 54-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Los Angeles responded with a 6-yard TD pass from Stafford to Cooper Kupp.
Odell Beckham Jr. trailed defensive back Jordan Fuller on a 46-yard reception against the team with which he won the Super Bowl two seasons ago. But Baltimore again didn’t stay ahead for long.
Wallace was called for lining up in the neutral zone on a fourth-and-5 punt, gifting Los Angeles a first down, and a pass interference penalty on Kyle Hamilton put the Rams in the red zone. Stafford’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Davis Allen gave Los Angeles a 17-14 lead, and the Rams led 20-17 at halftime.
He was tied at 20 when, on third down from the Baltimore 15, Jackson’s shotgun caught Jackson by surprise and passed him. The ball entered the end zone and Jackson kicked it out of bounds for a safety.
After Justin Tucker put the Ravens ahead with a field goal, Stafford found former Raven DeMarcus Robinson for a 5-yard touchdown with 4:41 remaining, but the Rams’ 2-point conversion didn’t work.
Baltimore hasn’t had to fall far behind this season. In fact, it was the first time all season that the Ravens had trailed after three quarters.
Hamilton left the match due to a knee injury. … The Rams were without TE Tyler Higbee (neck). Los Angeles TE Rob Havenstein hurt his hip, and TE Hunter Long suffered a knee injury. Rams WR Tutu Atwell was evaluated for a concussion.
Rams: Host Washington next Sunday.
Ravens: At Jacksonville on Sunday.
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In an electrifying moment during Sunday’s game, the Baltimore Ravens’ punt returner seized the spotlight as he dashed 76 yards to score the game-winning touchdown in overtime, securing a thrilling 37-31 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. This breathtaking play not only captured the attention of fans but also showcased the Ravens’ resilience and determination on the field. The punt returner’s remarkable performance not only secured a crucial win for the team but also solidified his status as a standout player in the league.