Ravens kicker Tyler Loop celebrates after making game-winning field goal. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
By Tyler Lauletta on

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The Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys were in Rio on Sunday as a part of the NFL’s international series, and the matchup delivered the most exciting ending of Week 3.

Trailing by three, the Cowboys drove the length of the field but were stuffed at the goal line and had to settle for a game-tying field goal with seven seconds left on the clock.

A touchback on the ensuing kickoff put the ball at the Baltimore 35-yard line, but rather than settling for overtime, the Ravens offense went for the win in regulation. Lamar Jackson hit Zay Flowers over the middle against a soft Cowboys defense to get the ball to the Dallas 38-yard line. As Flowers went to the ground, Jackson was calling for the timeout, and after a brief huddle, the refs determined that there was still a second left on the clock.

In the booth, Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt were enthralled.

“Ball is caught, and oh! Is it one second left?” Nantz asked. “Did they get the timeout call in time? Because [Baltimore kicker Tyler] Loop would have a chance from there!”

“Oh baby Jim! Oh baby!” Watt said after the refs announced that there was indeed a second left on the clock. “Hopefully we don’t have a Michigan on our hands here. Is this synced?”

Nantz did a stellar job framing Loop’s kick, noting his miss in the last game of the season last year that kept the Ravens out of the playoffs and the fact that he was raised in the Dallas area. Loop lined up for a 56-yard game-winning field goal and absolutely striped it.

“Loop’s kick! Oh my goodness!” Nantz said. “A trio in Rio! And the Ravens with a walk-off winner!”

“What did we just watch?!” Watt added.

You can watch the whole scene below.

Fans and media alike showed a lot of love to Nantz for his call in the moment.

The relationship between Nantz and Watt is still pretty fresh, with Watt stepping in after Tony Romo’s offseason arrest and subsequently being placed on leave by CBS. The duo has shined in moments, and showed the need for more reps in others, but Sunday’s finish between the Ravens and Cowboys was their best moment yet together in the booth.

It was a big game that ended on a big moment, and Nantz and Watt both added to the excitement with their call on the final sequence.

About Tyler Lauletta

Tyler is a editorial contributor at Awful Announcing, with previous stops at Sports Illustrated and Business Insider during his career covering sports in digital media. He is, begrudgingly, a Truster of the Process and general Philly sports sicko.

View all posts by Tyler Lauletta