Raiders vs. Ravens score, takeaways: Derek Carr, Las Vegas rally for dramatic overtime win

The Raiders won their first game in front of fans inside Allegiant Stadium

An exciting Week 1 in the NFL ended with a thrilling overtime game on Monday night between the Ravens and Raiders. Despite committing a turnover earlier in overtime, Derek Carr's 31-yard touchdown pass to Zay Jones completed the Raiders' 33-27 come-from-behind victory. The score was set up by Carl Nassib's forced and recovered fumble off of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on Baltimore's only possession of overtime. 

The visitors enjoyed an early 14-0 lead and took a 17-10 lead into the fourth quarter. Las Vegas countered with two touchdowns that included Darren Waller's game-tying score with 6:04 left. Jackson's 28-yard run set up Justin Tucker's 47-yard go-ahead field goal with 42 seconds left, but Carr's two completions to Bryan Edwards set up Daniel Carlson's 55-yard, game-tying field goal with two seconds left to force overtime. 

Las Vegas appeared destined for a win after Carr connected with Edwards on a 33-yard completion. But after a penalty moved the Raiders back to the 6-yard-line, Carr's third-down pass was deflected and intercepted by Ravens cornerback Anthony Averett. The Raiders gave the ball back to their offense moments later, however, as Las Vegas won their first game in front of fans inside Allegiant Stadium. 

Here are some immediate takeaways from Monday's wild Raiders victory:

Why the Raiders won

The one undeniable reason: They never quit, even as Monday's prime-time affair became more and more like a circus as time wore on. Let's start with Derek Carr: He was inaccurate -- almost recklessly so -- for at least half of regulation, only to keep coming back with fade-away floaters to the tune of 435 total yards and an easy game-winning overtime touchdown. Darren Waller and Bryan Edwards offered a lot of help, with the former feasting like his reliable self and the latter coming out of nowhere in the fourth quarter to out-muscle Baltimore's secondary. On defense, Las Vegas was similarly resilient, forcing a pair of Lamar Jackson fumbles with the feisty Maxx Crosby as the headliner. Jon Gruden made some questionable calls throughout, but one thing's for sure: His guys battled, and they delivered maybe the most entertaining victory the first real Vegas crowd could've asked for.

Why the Ravens lost

It comes down to a lot of things, but chiefly, the blame lies with Lamar Jackson. Why? Because as dynamic as the QB was with his legs, leading Baltimore's makeshift ground game with 86 yards and a handful of signature eyebrow-raising first downs, his two fumbles really afforded Vegas new life. One was more egregious than the other, with Jackson trying a bit too hard to extend a play on the move, but on a night when the Raiders never fell too far behind, ball security was a must. Jackson's wideouts actually popped a bit, with Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins logging big plays, but he wasn't always efficient through the air, either. On defense, Baltimore got after Derek Carr regularly but never had an answer for Waller, and Marcus Peters' absence at corner was more obvious down the stretch, with Edwards and then Zay Jones exposing the secondary on deep catches.

Turning point

Goodness, does the entire second half count? This was wildly back-and-forth for the home stretch, but a couple of plays stand out: Daniel Carlson nailing a 55-yard field goal with seconds left in regulation to ensure overtime; Carr hitting Edwards on a 33-yard would-be TD to end the game in OT, only to have the score reversed by replay; a false start pushing the Raiders back to the 5-yard line on first-and-goal, with Carr then getting picked off in the end zone on a tipped pass to Willie Snead; and Jackson getting strip-sacked by Carl Nassib on the ensuing drive. You tell us which one actually swung momentum!

Play of the game

Let's go with Carr's dime to Edwards that originally appeared to end the game. It didn't count as a TD upon further review, and ultimately, Vegas would have to make another defensive stop before putting the "W" in the bag. But this improbable heave is representative of the entire game, not to mention Edwards' sudden emergence in crunch time:

What's next

The Ravens (0-1) will be back in prime time in Week 2, when they host the reigning AFC champion Chiefs (1-0), who edged the Browns in Week 1. The Raiders (1-0), meanwhile, will hit the road to take on the Steelers (1-0), who upset the Bills in their opener.

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:55 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

No question that was one of the strangest games I have seen in my life. Great win for the Raiders. 

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:55 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

OK I guess it's a jump-pass touchdown to Zay Jones. Unreal. What a game. 

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:54 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Look things have gone wild here recently but kicking on second down from 43 yards out? And taking a penalty to make it a 48-yarder? What is happening?

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:53 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The Raiders defensive line has just been awesome all game. Even with Ngakoue and McCoy going out. 

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:52 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

And Lamar Jackson coughs it up again! This time Carl Nassib gets the sack, and Jackson loses the football in the pocket. Raiders ball!

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:51 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Great play by by Johnathan Abram to knock that ball out as Andrews turned to head upfield. 

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:47 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

No way. Raiders get pushed back five yards after a false start on first-and-goal, then Derek Carr has a pass tipped sky high in the air on third-and-goal. Interception. This game is far from over!

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:46 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Oh my God...

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:42 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Looks like Edwards is going to be JUST short of the end zone but that was an incredible play. Carr just tossed it up to the moon because there was a free rusher coming off the edge on his blind side and Edwards went up and made a play, then had a great run after the catch.

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:40 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

BRYAN EDWARDS, ladies and gentlemen!

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:40 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

WOW BRYAN EDWARDS!!!!

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:37 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

How did Renfrow stay in bounds there? Great footwork. 

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:36 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Bryan Edwards is everywhere, all of a sudden. Zero catches for the first 59 minutes of the game, three in the last minute.

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:32 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

FREE FOOTBALL, FOLKS. 

[Sep 13, 2021 at 11:31 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Wow. Daniel "Leg" Carlson delivers! Nailed the 55-yarder with more than enough power. Credit the Raiders for making this a game.