At the time, NBC's Cris Collinsworth pulled out quite the bold idea, at least on paper.
He wanted the Baltimore Ravens to go for it on fourth down, needing three yards, on their own 40, with a minute-and-a-half to play, with a two-point lead.
It's not a move an NFL coach would ever make.
Except, Collinsworth may have been right.
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Why Ravens should've gone for it on 4th down
The end result of the game is proof enough. The Bills went down the field and kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired after gaining 66 yards from the spot the Ravens' punt went out of bounds at the 20-yard line.
But even by process, there's a real case.
Essentially, the whole argument comes down to three yards.
The Bills had used up all their timeouts, so if Baltimore gets the line to gain, the game is over.
This game is so batshiiit that Collingsworth with a straight face argued that a team up 2 should go for it on 4th & 3 from their own 40 with 1:30 left, and he was absolutely right
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) September 8, 2025
With Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in the backfield, the Ravens average more than five yards per carry. So three? That would've been in play with a run, let alone with a pass play that gives Lamar an opportunity to move around and make a decision.
Sure, it's risky. If you don't get it, the Bills are practically already in field goal range. Punting is a vote of confidence in the defense.
But going for it is a vote of confidence in the two-time MVP and his future Hall of Fame RB alongside him.
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If a move like that backfires, a coach gets ridiculed. But John Harbaugh has built up enough equity to take a chance.
It's just Week 1. The season doesn't end with a loss. Play to win the game.
There was always the risk that punting ends up looking like a playing-not-to-lose decision, and it did.
Going for three yards and the ballgame would've been a choice to end it right there and then and not let Josh Allen touch the ball again.
But the Ravens didn't do it.
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