The air is thick with the odor of hotdogs, sweat, and anticipation. The Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions, having made it by means of their respective championship video games in opposition to Kansas Metropolis and San Francisco, identical to most of us hoped they might, have marched out onto the sector to take their pictures at glory.
For the previous it’s in regards to the legacy of a quarterback who’s all however wrapped up his second MVP at simply 27 years outdated and a defence that’s strangled the life out of the league’s most elite assaults this yr that’s on the road. For the latter, it’s the legacy of a whole organisation whose historical past is stacked with much more disappointment than success, the battle-scarred, however unbroken beast that hasn’t made the Tremendous Bowl since earlier than the Tremendous Bowl was even a factor.
Just one may have the redemption they desperately crave when at present’s sport in Madden NFL 24 is all mentioned and accomplished.
0-0.
The primary drive goes to the Lions and Jared Goff, the resurgent quarterback who got here to them by way of commerce from the Rams as a cast-off who it was believed would by no means once more be something greater than a stopgap starter. Quickly, he’s kicking off his second Tremendous Bowl look with a primary down-notching go to rookie Sam Laporta on third and two. Sadly, he can’t fairly handle one other this time, and the Lions punt the ball over to the boys in purple.
Lamar Jackson, flanked by the Raven offense, takes the stage for the primary time. He rapidly finds himself staring down a fourth down with only a yard to spare. John Harbaugh elects to not go for it. The opening punches have been thrown, and the stalemate stays intact. Not for lengthy, although. With their subsequent drive, the Lions carve upfield and Jameson Williams finds the endzone after simply six performs. 7-0.
Now the stress’s on for Baltimore. Jackson’s again on the market and this time, he will get going with a giant completion to Rashod Bateman. After slicing right down to the Lions’ objective line, there are some furry moments. A drop on second and objective, a run on third that doesn’t make it in. Going for it on fourth is the one possibility, and Lamar finds Nelson Agholor for the TD. The Ravens group that didn’t come undone in opposition to Patrick Mahomes and the reigning champion Chiefs has stared down early adversity and never blinked. 7-7.
It seems for a bit bit just like the Lions would possibly reply proper again with a tuddy of their very own, however the Ravens’ vaunted D forces a lack of yardage on a key third down. Michael Badgely delivers the sport’s first subject objective to make it 10-7 Lions as the primary quarter attracts to an in depth. The Ravens kick off the second with some clear momentum, shifting steadily down the sector till Aidan Hutchinson throws a wrench within the works by touchdown the sport’s first sack, pushing the offense far sufficient again {that a} punt is all it might probably muster.
Now, it’s the boys in Honolulu blue who’re rolling, all the best way to a 3rd and 9 with the endzone in sight. A go to Williams finally ends up as an incompletion, slightly than his second rating of the sport. One other kick on fourth makes it 13-7 Lions. Regardless that it didn’t come again to chunk him in opposition to the 49ers, Dan Campbell appears to be feeling cautious on fourth downs.
The subsequent Ravens drive seems prefer it might be on the ropes early, till a go interference name in opposition to C.J. Gardner-Johnson converts a 3rd into a primary. A few performs later Mark Andrews, who fought to get again in time for the convention championship sport, hobbles to the bench damage. The Ravens experience the Gus Edwards bus right down to the objective line, however they will’t experience it any additional, regardless of hopping aboard thrice. Justin Tucker boots by means of his first factors of the day, 13-10 to the Lions. Detroit’s drive with underneath three minutes left within the half goes nicely early, however stalls out with a failure to transform on fourth.
The Ravens get the ball again with underneath a minute to go, and handle to get into subject objective vary. It’s good. It’s 13-13 because the halftime present roars into life.
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It’s Baltimore’s ball once more to start out off the third, they’re firing on all cylinders. Lamar can’t run it in on first and objective, however finds Bateman on second to offer his group their first lead of the sport. 20-13 Ravens following a fast assessment of the play. Goff and the Lions come out, however are barely on the sector earlier than a Jadaveon Clowney sack has them heading again off. Quickly, the Ravens are within the endzone once more with a returning Andrews. 27-13. One other Lion three and out is adopted by one other lengthy Raven drive and a second Andrews TD. The second half Ravens have turned up, identical to they did in opposition to the Texans, and so they’ve simply compelled one more punt.
The third quarter is sort of over. Ravens ball once more. Playoff Lamar takes the sector in Las Vegas, hungry to complete off exercising his postseason demons. Reverse him, the group that just about invented the thought of being haunted by NFL demons units up for but a pivotal defensive stand. Everybody within the crowd at Tremendous Bowl 58 takes a breath. A shiver runs down the spines of the gamers on each side. The ball is snapped.
Lamar’s gone. 73 yards. A profession defining first down run to the home. 41-13. The Lions punt once more to finish the third. It’s gotta be over.
Then once more, possibly it isn’t. After a fast Baltimore three and out to start out the ultimate interval, the Lions’ David Montgomery is quickly diving into the endzone. 41-20. One other Raven drive goes nowhere, and shortly the Lions are going for it on fourth. Goff finds Jahmyr Gibbs streaking down the sideline in direction of the endzone. 56 yards. 41-27.
It’s not fairly panic time, however Lamar and the Ravens know they should stem the bleeding as they retake the sector. With a run, one other massive Bateman catch, and a fourth down conversion to Zay Flowers, they’re on the objective line. The primary stab is a miss. The second isn’t. Andrews’ third TD of the day means one factor.
Ball sport.
The Lions handle to take it to the home another time within the closing 5 minutes, but it surely doesn’t matter. The Ravens have their type of redemption by a closing rating of 48-34, having battled by means of a sport that wasn’t all the time shut on the scoreboard, however definitely didn’t really feel actually over till that closing late strike by the NFL’s now unquestionably greatest participant in 23/24.
Lamar and his brethren in purple have answered the doubters. Their opponents got here up simply brief, however fought so valiantly that they’ve undeniably shifted the temper of their metropolis and their group’s notion on the nationwide stage. They’ll have a fantastic shot to be again subsequent yr, greater and higher, with an opportunity to correctly end off their very own Cinderella story.
The gang begins to filter out of Allegiant Stadium because the final of the confetti falls on Lamar and the Lombardi.
Oh, what might have been…
