By Premier Varsity Sports
BALTIMORE — For the second straight week, the New Orleans Saints found themselves needing a second-half comeback on the road.
This time, they finished the job.
Tyler Shough scored on a fourth-and-goal quarterback sneak with 1:28 remaining, and the Saints completed a fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 24-17 Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
The victory gave New Orleans its first win of the 2026 season and evened the Saints’ record at 1-1.
Baltimore controlled much of the first half and took a 14-3 lead after Lamar Jackson connected with Rashod Bateman for a 22-yard touchdown with just 24 seconds remaining before halftime.
But the Saints managed to steal three points before heading to the locker room.
Following a 53-yard kickoff return by Barion Brown, Daniel Carlson connected from 47 yards as time expired, cutting Baltimore’s lead to 14-6 and keeping New Orleans within striking distance.
Carlson continued to keep the Saints in the game after halftime, drilling a 51-yard field goal early in the third quarter to make it 14-9.
The Ravens answered with a 49-yard Tyler Loop field goal, extending their advantage to 17-9 late in the third.
Then the Saints began to take control.
Shough directed a nine-play, 68-yard drive early in the fourth quarter and found Chris Olave for a 21-yard touchdown with 9:42 remaining. Travis Etienne Jr. followed by reaching the end zone on the two-point conversion, tying the game at 17.
After the New Orleans defense got the ball back, Shough and the Saints put together the drive that ultimately decided the game.
New Orleans marched 68 yards on 16 plays, eating more than six minutes off the clock. One of the biggest plays came when tight end Juwan Johnson turned a third-down reception into a 26-yard gain that moved the Saints deep into Baltimore territory.
New Orleans eventually faced fourth-and-goal from the 1.
Rather than settle for a field goal and a three-point lead, Saints coach Kellen Moore kept his offense on the field.
Shough took the snap, plunged into the pile and was ruled across the goal line for the touchdown. The play was reviewed, but the ruling stood, giving New Orleans a 24-17 lead with 1:28 remaining.
Baltimore still had one final opportunity, and with Jackson at quarterback, the Saints’ work was far from finished.
The Ravens moved into New Orleans territory before safety Julian Blackmon delivered the final blow, intercepting Jackson at the Saints’ 7-yard line with 13 seconds remaining.
For a New Orleans team that came painfully close to completing a comeback one week earlier against Detroit, the finish in Baltimore provided a much different ending.
Moore pointed afterward to the Saints’ persistence throughout a game in which very little came easily.
“Our guys just keep going,” Moore said.
That persistence was particularly evident from Shough.
The Saints quarterback completed 27 of 34 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception. He also rushed for 23 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown. New Orleans converted eight of its 15 third-down opportunities and both of its fourth-down attempts.
Olave once again emerged as Shough’s leading target, finishing with eight receptions for 86 yards and the game-tying fourth-quarter touchdown.
Johnson added four receptions for 66 yards, while Devaughn Vele caught five passes for 64 yards.
It wasn’t a dominant offensive performance for New Orleans. The Saints finished with 298 total yards compared with Baltimore’s 312, and New Orleans struggled to finish drives with touchdowns for much of the afternoon.
But they protected the football, controlled possession for more than 32 minutes and made their biggest plays when the game was on the line.
The defense also delivered against one of the NFL’s most difficult quarterbacks to contain.
Jackson completed 21 of 31 passes for 235 yards with one touchdown and the game-ending interception. Derrick Henry rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
Chase Young led the Saints’ pass rush with 1.5 sacks, while Pete Werner finished with 11 tackles and also recorded a sack.
New Orleans also welcomed Alvin Kamara back for his season debut. Kamara carried nine times for 15 yards and added five receptions, while veteran defensive end Cameron Jordan also made his first appearance of the season.
The win did come with injury concerns. Left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. left in the third quarter with an ankle injury, while cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. exited earlier with a shoulder injury.
Still, after opening the season with two consecutive road games, the Saints will return to New Orleans at 1-1 with evidence that their ability to fight back can produce more than a moral victory.
Against Baltimore, the Saints trailed by 11 in the first half and by eight entering the fourth quarter.
They scored the final 15 points.
And this time, they finished the comeback.
New Orleans will play its home opener Sunday, Sept. 27, against the Las Vegas Raiders at the Caesars Superdome. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:25 p.m. CT.