The game just ended. If you missed the live broadcast and you're frantically searching for what was the score of the ravens football game, let’s get straight to the point: the Baltimore Ravens fell to the Houston Texans with a final score of 24-20.
It was ugly.
Honestly, watching Lamar Jackson walk off the field at M&T Bank Stadium today felt like a fever dream for most of Baltimore. This wasn’t supposed to happen. The Ravens entered this AFC Divisional round as the heavy favorites, coming off a season where they looked practically invincible. But the Texans, led by the poised C.J. Stroud and a defense that played like they had nothing to lose, completely disrupted the rhythm of the NFL’s most explosive offense.
Breaking Down the Ravens Score and the Second-Half Collapse
You've probably seen the box score by now, but the numbers don't tell the whole story of how we got to that 24-20 result. At halftime, the game was knotted up at 10-10. It felt like a classic defensive slugfest. Justin Tucker knocked through a 53-yarder early on, and Lamar found Zay Flowers for a quick-strike touchdown that had the "Bank" rocking.
Then everything stalled.
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The third quarter was a masterclass in frustration. Baltimore’s offensive line, usually a brick wall, started leaking. Lamar was sacked three times in the second half alone. When you look at what was the score of the ravens football game at the start of the fourth quarter—17-13 in favor of Houston—you could feel the collective breath holding in the stands. The Ravens tried to mount a late comeback, but a late-game interception in the red zone basically iced it.
Why the Texans Defense Won the Day
Will Anderson Jr. is a problem. A big one. He lived in the Baltimore backfield today. The Texans didn't just play "contain" football; they attacked the mesh point of the Ravens' RPO game. By forcing Lamar to become a pure pocket passer while simultaneously collapsing that pocket, Houston exposed the one thing Baltimore hasn't had to deal with much this year: a trailing scoreboard and a ticking clock.
It's kinda wild when you think about it. The Ravens had more total yards. They had more time of possession. Yet, they lost. Football is a cruel game of inches and turnovers. Baltimore turned it over twice, and in January, that is a death sentence.
Historical Context: Was This a Fluke?
People are going to talk about this game for a long time. When historians look back at what was the score of the ravens football game in the 2025-2026 playoffs, they’ll see it as the moment the "Stroud Era" officially arrived. But for Baltimore fans, it feels like a recurring nightmare. We’ve seen this script before—a dominant regular season followed by a playoff exit that leaves everyone scratching their heads.
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Lamar Jackson’s playoff record is going to be the lead story on every sports talk show tomorrow. It’s unfair, sure. He’s a generational talent. But in the NFL, you're judged by what you do in the cold. Today, the Ravens were just cold.
Key Stats from the Matchup
- Lamar Jackson: 18/31 passing, 212 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 65 rushing yards.
- C.J. Stroud: 22/30 passing, 285 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT.
- Nico Collins: 8 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD.
- Total Penalties: Baltimore had 9 for 85 yards, which kept Houston drives alive at critical moments.
The penalty situation was particularly brutal. A holding call negated a 30-yard run by Derrick Henry in the second quarter that would have put the Ravens in scoring position. Instead, they had to punt. Those are the "hidden" points that explain why the score ended up the way it did.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Loss
A lot of folks will blame Lamar. That’s the easy route. But if you watch the tape, the Ravens' wideouts struggled to create separation against Houston's man-to-man coverage. DeMeco Ryans coached a perfect game. He dared the Ravens to beat them deep, and Baltimore couldn't connect. Rashod Bateman had a couple of targets that just didn't click, and Mark Andrews—while reliable—was blanketed by double teams all afternoon.
Also, we need to talk about the special teams. Usually, the Ravens are the gold standard here. But a missed field goal from Tucker (yes, he’s human) and a botched punt return that gave Houston a short field changed the geometry of the game. You can't give a young, hungry team like the Texans those kinds of gifts.
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What Happens Next for Baltimore?
The off-season starts now, and it’s going to be a loud one. The Ravens have some tough decisions to make with the salary cap and pending free agents. But the core is still there.
If you came here just wondering what was the score of the ravens football game, you now know it was 24-20. But the implications of that score are much heavier. It means the end of a quest for a third Super Bowl trophy for a city that felt like this was "the year."
Actionable Steps for Ravens Fans (and Fantasy Managers)
- Watch the Post-Game Pressers: Pay close attention to John Harbaugh’s comments on the offensive play-calling. There might be staff changes coming if he feels the scheme was too predictable.
- Monitor Injuries: Several players limped off late in the fourth. With the season over, the full injury report will finally come out. This will impact off-season surgery schedules.
- Draft Prep: Start looking at the 2026 NFL Draft order. Baltimore will be picking in the late 20s. They desperately need another playmaker at edge rusher or perhaps a vertical threat at WR to help Lamar.
- Ignore the Hot Takes: The "Lamar can't win in the playoffs" narrative will be at an all-time high. Look at the actual pressure rates and dropped passes before buying into the "choker" label.
The score is final. The Texans move on to the AFC Championship, and the Ravens head home to regroup. It’s a bitter pill for Baltimore, but that’s the reality of playoff football in the modern NFL.