Defensive end Brent Urban was tired from hardly sleeping the night before, too excited for his very first NFL game despite it being his second season.
Safety Will Hill was praying for one more chance to make a play after nearly costing the Ravens a win.
The two Ravens who made Baltimore's game-winning field-goal block and 64-yard touchdown return both had something to prove on the final play. Both pulled it off in spectacular fashion.
"It's surreal," Urban said after the Ravens' 33-27 improbable win.
For Urban, the story started in training camp of 2014 when he tore his ACL, ending the fourth-round pick's rookie season before it even got off the ground. Filled with promise this summer, Urban suffered another major injury in training camp with a torn biceps.
He hadn't even suited up for an NFL preseason game. Still, the Ravens put him on injured reserve – designated for return in hopes that he could get back in time to contribute this season. At the least, Head Coach John Harbaugh said, his 6-foot-7 frame would be useful for getting blocks.
Fast forward to Monday night.
Browns kicker Travis Coons, who beat the Ravens with a game-winning kick in Baltimore in Week 5, lined up for a 51-yard attempt in the final seconds.
Urban bull rushed up the middle and stuck his left hand up in the air. With his giant wingspan, it was enough to get a hand on the ball.
"I just wanted to drive in low and stick my hand up," he said. "I just felt it [hit] and took off running.
"It's surreal. After being out this long, it's crazy. I'm almost speechless. Just a wonderful feeling."
Cleveland was in position to win the game in part because of Hill's admitted blunder. Hill bit on an underneath route in zone coverage, allowing Browns third-string quarterback Austin Davis to step up and throw over the top for a game-tying 42-yard touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Hill said he was "desperate and frustrated at the same time."
"That play with [Browns wide receiver Travis] Benjamin, I should have been right there," he said. "I was praying though. I was saying, 'If we get a block and it bounces my way, I'm going to take it to the end zone.' Luckily it did. With good faith, the ball bounced the right way."
When Hill scooped up the ball, he only had a couple Browns to beat. A group of four Ravens – safeties Terrence Brooks, Anthony Levine and Brynden Trawick and linebacker Zachary Orr – started paving the way down the sideline.
"All the guys that set the wall down the sideline, it was just a thing of beauty," Harbaugh said.
Hill said he knew he was going to score as soon as he picked the ball up.
"I wasn't paying attention to anything on the inside," he said. "I was focused on not stepping out of bounds and making it to the end zone."
Remarkably, it's the Ravens' fifth-straight game with a special teams block.
Former Raven Asa Jackson blocked a punt in Arizona, then an extra point against San Diego. Outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith blocked a field goal against Jacksonville (which he got late credit for from the NFL). Defensive end Lawrence Guy blocked an extra point against the Rams last week.
Harbaugh gave credit to Special Teams Coordinator Jerry Rosburg, as well as Special Teams Staff Assistant Chris Horton. He pointed to the leadership from special teamers Levine and linebacker Albert McClellan.
"We play hard on special teams," Harbaugh said. "We've got a lot of good special teams players and they're very well coached. They've got five games in a row with a block. Who's ever heard of that?"
After Hill reached the end zone, safety Kendrick Lewis mobbed Harbaugh on the sideline, yelling about how this Ravens team won't quit. They were just 3-7 entering the game with hardly a shot at the playoffs, but they played to the very end once again.
"We're battle tested," Hill said. "We've all been fighting all year long, no matter the ups and downs, the injuries, people getting cut. It doesn't matter. We believe in each other.
"Faith and guts. That's all we have now. We'll continue to fight and be the best Raven team we can be."
