Fans slam Tua Tagovailoa after he led the Falcons to a loss: The nickname that haunts him is back

Tua Tagovailoa is facing renewed criticism after his overtime interception helped seal the Atlanta Falcons' 30-23 defeat to theBaltimore Ravens, with fans bringing back the unflattering nickname that followed him during his final season with the Miami Dolphins.

Tagovailoa entered the game after starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a rib injury late in the fourth quarter. However, his opportunity to deliver a comeback ended abruptly when Kyle Hamilton intercepted his pass intended for Drake London in overtime.

The turnover reignited social media discussions surrounding Tagovailoa's struggles with interceptions, reviving the nickname “Tua Turndaballova”, which became associated with the quarterback during a difficult his final campaign in Miami, when he threw 15 interceptions.

Atlanta had possession at its own 28-yard line to begin overtime, and Tagovailoa initially showed promise by connecting with London for a 20-yard completion - yet the following play proved decisive, as the Ravens safety read the intended pass and secured the interception to end the contest.

The defeat dropped the Falcons to 2-3, while Baltimore improved to 4-1 after completing a dramatic comeback to take outright control of the AFC North after the Cleveland Browns failed to win.

With the game slipping away in regulation, Tagovailoa's costly mistake gave critics another reason to question whether he can regain the consistency that once made him a productive NFL starter.

Ravens rally behind Tyler Huntley to stun Falcons

Baltimore's victory was particularly impressive because backup quarterback Tyler Huntley was filling in for Lamar Jackson, who missed the game with an ankle injury. 

Huntley completed 24 of 32 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns, then scored the winning touchdown himself in overtime.

The Ravens had trailed 23-15 with less than a minute remaining when Huntley connected with Devontez Walker for a seven-yard touchdown. Derrick Henry subsequently ran for the two-point conversion, forcing overtime after Atlanta appeared close to securing the victory.

Henry also played a major role throughout the contest, rushing for 102 yards against an Atlanta defense that entered the game ranked first against the run. His contributions helped Baltimore remain competitive despite Jackson's absence.

The Falcons, meanwhile, struggled to establish consistent offensive momentum as Penix finished with 240 passing yards and a touchdown, finding tight end Kyle Pitts for a five-yard score.

Atlanta's other touchdown came from safety Jessie Bates III, who returned a recovered fumble 36 yards for a score in the first quarter. Bijan Robinson added 86 rushing yards, but the offense could not produce enough points to finish the job.