ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons lost 30-23 in overtime to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football, a game that turned after quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was hurt in the closing seconds of regulation.
Penix was sacked with 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter and fumbled on the play. He went to the sideline with a rib injury, came back for one more snap, threw an incompletion and did not play in overtime. Tua Tagovailoa took over at quarterback.
Baltimore got the ball first in overtime and leaned on Derrick Henry to move into Atlanta territory before backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, starting in place of Lamar Jackson, finished the drive with a touchdown run. Tagovailoa then threw an interception on the final Atlanta possession, ending the game.
Before the injury, Penix completed 19 of 32 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Atlanta hit seven plays of 10 yards or more on third down, all through the air, including three of at least 19 yards. It was his third game back after a torn ACL last season.
Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson made the late sack that knocked Penix out. Tagovailoa finished 2 of 3 for 34 yards, and his last throw was the interception that sealed the result. Penix stayed on the bench during overtime while team staff attended to him, but he never went to the medical tent.
Many expected a ground battle between Bijan Robinson and Henry. Instead, Atlanta found its biggest gains through the air, with the offensive line giving Penix time to throw downfield and receivers adding yards after the catch.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Penix would have imaging Monday. Penix said after the game he does not expect the injury to be a long-term problem.
The loss ended a run of two straight prime-time wins over Green Bay and New Orleans and dropped the Falcons to 2-3.
