ExtremeRavens

Ravens fans can finally relax — at least a little bit. After a crushing Week 1 collapse against the Bills, Baltimore got back on track and dominated old friend Joe Flacco and the Browns in a 41-17 victory in its home opener for its first win of the year. It’s been an up-and-down first two games, though. How would you grade the Ravens after a 1-1 start to the season? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

The Cincinnati Bengals are going to be without Joe Burrow for a while. Burrow needs surgery for the turf toe injury he suffered Sunday and is expected to miss at least three months, according to ESPN. The 28-year-old quarterback came up limping after he was sacked by Arik Armstead in the second quarter of Sunday afternoon’s 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Cincinnati. Third-year quarterback Jake Browning replaced him, and Burrow did not return. Monday’s development came about 12 hours after ESPN reported images of Burrow’s injured left foot were being sent to specialist Dr. Robert Anderso for review. Burrow was seen after Sunday’s game in a boot and with crutches. Turf toe describes a sprain of the big toe’s joint and typically occurs when the toe is hyperextended. Missing exactly three months would allow Burrow to return for Week 15 against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens at home on Dec. 14. Burrow, a two-time Pro Bowler and former No. 1 overall pick, led the NFL in passing yards (4,918) and passing touchdowns (43) last season. He’s completed 21-of-36 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in just over five quarters this year. This is the third significant injury in six NFL seasons for Burrow, who suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee as a rookie in 2020 and a season-ending right wrist injury in 2023, both of which required surgery. He missed a total of 13 games in those two seasons. Browning replaced Burrow after the 2023 injury and went 4-3 as the Bengals’ starter. On Sunday, Browning completed 21-of-32 pass attempts with two touchdowns and three interceptions and led the game-winning drive in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. Browning’s go-ahead rushing touchdown on a one-yard sneak with 18 seconds left served as the game-winner. Still, the loss of Burrow is a significant blow for a Super Bowl-hopeful Bengals team off to a 2-0 start. Cincinnati is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2024 season in which it finished 9-8 and missed the postseason. The injury is also likely to affect the production of star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who both signed big-money contract extensions during the offseason. Burrow is the second quarterback to suffer a turf toe injury this season. Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers sustained a less serious version of the injury in Week 1 and missed Sunday’s 26-21 win over the New Orleans Saints. Purdy could return as soon as this weekend. View the full article

Baltimore learned its lesson and closed out a double-digit lead, this one a 41-17 win over the Cleveland Browns. It marked the first time the Ravens scored 40-plus points in back-to-back games since December 2020. A few unexpected heroes made the difference. Here are five things we learned from the game: Wide receivers can turn any target into a touchdown The pass lofted high, then careened down into Devontez Walker’s waiting arms. The second-year wide receiver gained a beat on his defender with plenty of room to spare in the back left corner of the end zone for his second touchdown on as many targets. Coupled with his lone catch in 2024, Sunday stacked this wonky stat line: three career catches, three career touchdowns. Talk about efficiency. The advice trickling down from veterans DeAndre Hopkins and Tylan Wallace was simple in that the fifth receiver buried down the depth chart needs to take advantage of the opportunities when they’re presented — an NFL truism, easier said than done. Hopkins and Wallace practiced what they preached, arguing for the thesis about the malleability of Baltimore’s offense. Hopkins caught both of his targets for 64 yards. The first was initially ruled a touchdown, then called back when officials noticed his knee touched down at the half-yard line. His second, a touchdown (for real this time), required some sneaky maneuvering to slip under the defender and make the catch. Wallace was similarly efficient, with two catches on as many targets and a touchdown. Sunday’s beatdown against Cleveland actualized all the offseason chatter about an offense bearing a surplus of playmakers. And it tempered egotistical concerns. “Anybody could spark us to just start moving the ball,” said Zay Flowers, who paced the Ravens with 75 yards on seven catches. “I feel like everybody in our receiver room has something that we need.” What unfolded in the home opener was a reminder that Flowers is still the top option. But the depth chart runs deep with guys who can contribute on any given Sunday — the separating factor in games like this one, when the usual suspects aren’t producing. Baltimore couldn’t get its run game going all afternoon. Derrick Henry’s 23 rushing yards were his fewest as a Raven. Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews, the second- and third-most lucrative pass catchers from 2024, combined for three catches and 17 yards. At the break, the Ravens had only four first downs on 81 total yards. Harbaugh called the win “a grind,” as the offense struggled to find a groove in the first two quarters. Lamar Jackson widened his scope in the second half. It paid off with three more touchdown passes to two guys who can get lost in the shuffle of that group and a 13-year veteran who refuses to be labeled as “washed.” “Lamar just trusts in his players, guys who are going out there and making plays,” Hopkins said. “Just being able to scramble and not get a sack but create plays that aren’t on script, that’s what he’s been doing his whole career.” Wide receiver Tylan Wallace rolls at the feet of Browns safety Ronnie Hickman after catching a touchdown in the Ravens' 41-17 win on Sunday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) They were serious about holding defenders accountable Marlon Humphrey wasn’t kidding. These Ravens, as he said, won’t be “repeat offenders.” That is to say, their high-ceiling projections won’t be squandered by giving a long leash to any player not executing at the level they expect. Not like they did for 10 weeks last year when Baltimore owned the worst statistical secondary in football and refused to make changes. This would be different, Humphrey argued. They wouldn’t “protect this guy or protect that guy.” Sunday’s most glaring example was the decision to make Jaire Alexander a healthy scratch. The veteran cornerback struggled in Week 1, notably during the waning minutes of Buffalo’s 15-point comeback over the final four minutes: burnt twice and flagged for a consequential pass interference. Harbaugh said this week that he’s “healthy enough,” despite missing the lion’s share of training camp with a knee injury, but “we have to get him right.” Orr doubled down: “There’s no doubt in our mind that he’s going to be ready to go when it’s time.” The messaging didn’t change after the decision to scratch him worked out. “Jaire Alexander is going to play great football for us this year,” Harbaugh said. “I kind of made the decision — he was pushing me hard — but I made the decision, ‘Let’s get completely right and in football shape.’” Alexander’s absence opened the door for Reuben Lowery’s NFL debut. He saw garbage time reps. Second-year corner T.J. Tampa Jr. was a more obvious beneficiary after not playing a single defensive snap last week. Harbaugh noted how well he practiced this week, and Tampa took home a highlight to show for it. In the fourth quarter, he swatted a fourth-down pass to Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy with a parallel-to-the-ground effort. Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins returns the ball after intercepting a Joe Flacco pass in the third quarter of Sunday's win over the Browns. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and Chidobe Awuzie seem to have locked up the top-three cornerback spots. Wiggins intercepted Flacco and returned it 61 yards, getting tripped up a few steps shy of the goal line. Although Humphrey, who saw an interception slip through his hands into the waiting mitts of Cedric Tillman for a fluky touchdown, suffered a groin injury that might further test their depth. The other playing time decision that took all of one game came at inside linebacker. Fourth-round rookie Teddye Buchanan got the nod over third-year pro Trenton Simpson, playing beside All-Pro Roquan Smith. Against Buffalo, Buchanan and Simpson split time pretty evenly. Simpson started. But Buchanan finished with three more defensive snaps. A week later, he was named full-time starter. Buchanan saw his reps double, clocking 60 on Sunday, according to Pro Football Focus. That’s compared with last week when the Ravens leaned more heavily on sets using six defensive backs behind Smith as the only linebacker. Decision-makers felt they could trust Buchanan, who wore the green dot in the preseason, meaning he relayed the calls from the defensive coaches. He proved them right with five total tackles. Buchanan was asked if, when he first got drafted, he might have anticipated that by his second NFL game he’d already be a starter. The rookie’s eyes wandered around the locker room. He took a moment to find the right words. “I’m not sure I would have necessarily anticipated it,” Buchanan said, “but the mindset is always to stay as ready as I can.” Jake Hummel proves to be a worthy offseason acquisition Cleveland sat at its own 45-yard line. It was fourth-and-8, early in the second quarter and Corey Bojorquez came on to punt. When the ball was snapped, Jake Hummel burst through the middle the same way a raging bull does when the fence swings open. Hummel trucked the upback and dove forward, stretching out his right hand just enough to send the football tumbling in the opposite direction. That was the first blocked punt by a Raven since Chris Moore on Nov. 6, 2016, versus Pittsburgh. Hummel’s gave Baltimore prime field position. Two plays later, Jackson floated a touchdown pass to Wallace in the back right corner of the end zone. Linebacker Jake Hummel blocks a punt by the Browns' Corey Bojorquez, setting up the Ravens' first touchdown on Sunday. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Special teams is a point of pride for the Ravens — particularly Harbaugh, who famously got his start in coaching with the game’s third unit. It came as no surprise that the Ravens saw a need to invest in a veteran special teamer after a down year from that group in 2024. Enter Hummel, a veteran on a one-year deal signed on the heels of Malik Harrison and Chris Board signing elsewhere. In 2024, Hummel blocked a punt for a touchdown with the Rams. It took two weeks for him to block another as a Raven. Hummel explained postgame that in a couple of previous punt rushes, he got a similar look where he’d end up one-on-one with the furthest back protector. That opportunity presented itself again and, as Hummel said, special teams coordinator Chris Horton “gave me another chance to run a similar play and I was able to get the one-on-one and beat him.” Related Articles Mike Preston: Who are these Ravens? We still don’t know. | COMMENTARY Ravens learn from collapse, keep foot on gas vs. Browns | ANALYSIS Ravens’ Week 2 lesson? Accountability matters. | COMMENTARY The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-17 win over Browns Ravens dismantle Joe Flacco, Browns in 41-17 bounce-back win The 26-year-old had a quiet camp. He missed a chunk of practice time, at one point for the birth of his son, Hudson, and another chunk for a left-hand injury that required minor surgery in late August. Hummel called the injury “a pain” more than a major setback. He was able to work into practice before having the surgery and return in time for Week 1. In time to be the difference-maker Baltimore signed him to be. “I’m always just trying to do whatever I can to help the team win,” Hummel said. A smile broke across his face, “I’m happy to block as many punts as I can. I’m just going to try to affect every game that I’m in.” It was a vintage Roquan Smith performance Walker was standing off to the sideline when he noticed a pile in the pocket. Outside linebacker Tavius Robinson strip-sacked Joe Flacco, squirting the ball loose. Roquan Smith came flying into frame. He bent down to pick up the ball and took off. “I feel like it took me back to my high school days playing running back,” Smith said. Walker did a double take. “I looked up, like, that’s Ro?” he laughed. “I’m thinking that’s a safety or a corner. He was moving on that. That’s one of the fastest I’ve seen him move out there.” Smith downplayed his participation on the play, “I just had to do a little sprint for about 15, 20 yards.” He really sold himself short. Smith carried that ball 63 yards upstream for his first career scoop-and-score touchdown. That was the icing on the cake of what might have been his best individual performance as a Raven. Smith finished with 15 total tackles. His three tackles for loss tied a career high, and he reached that mark before halftime. Smith got his hands on the quarterback twice and logged his first fumble recovery since Week 10 of last year. “‘Ro’ makes all the difference on our defense and our team as a leader, so yes, all the credit in the world to him,” Buchanan said. “He has done an amazing job leading this team. From everything he does — his effort, his leadership — I can’t say enough good things about him.” “Man, he is our leader right there,” Robinson added. “Since I got here, with the way he practices, I’m not surprised that he has games like that. That’s someone who, when I’m on the field with him, I’m trying to play up to his standard, every time.” Baltimore didn’t forget how to close out wins Smith rewatched the Buffalo loss twice on the bus ride after the game. He ran the tape again on the plane ride home. The entire Ravens defense relived that loss again on Tuesday. After that, he said, “the game was flushed.” To say the Ravens one-flushed the Buffalo loss would be a logical fallacy. Even if that game lingered a little longer than other losses might, what happened in Buffalo seeped into a week’s worth of preparation. It remained a talking point even after the final whistle Sunday afternoon. Most importantly, it served as a reminder to not let that happen again a week later. Ravens outside linebacker Tavius Robinson drives Browns quarterback Joe Flacco to the turf. Flacco fumbled, leading to a Baltimore recovery and touchdown in the fourth quarter Sunday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) “That is what was nagging us since the Buffalo game, just not finishing in the fourth quarter,” Nnamdi Madubuike said. “But we showed today that we can.” The Ravens were in a not dissimilar situation a week ago. A double-digit lead going into the fourth quarter. ESPN Analytics projected a 90-plus-percent chance of victory. Both sides of the ball were sluggish in some ways, dominant in others. There was even a tipped pass touchdown for the other team. Baltimore wasn’t going to let this one loose from its stranglehold. The Ravens had the advantage and, in the way they didn’t against the Bills, closed the door on any shot at a comeback. It was midway through the fourth quarter, the Browns well into field goal range, when Robinson shed a block and strip-sacked Flacco from behind. The ball jarred loose, dribbling a few yards out into open space. Smith scooped it up and kicked 63 yards for a touchdown that extended the Ravens’ lead from 17 to 24. The Ravens didn’t let Cleveland cruise upfield like Buffalo did. They hunkered down defensively. The Browns passed midfield, but Tampa broke up a fourth-down attempt that gifted the ball back to Baltimore’s offense. As if the Bills loss was still looming large in their minds, the Ravens kept pressing. Jackson flung a 23-yard pass to Hopkins, the death knell for any shot at another miraculous fourth-quarter comeback. “Like I said last week, we should have kept it going, but this week that’s what we did,” Jackson said. “We got the job done, and shout out to all phases. Everyone played their part.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The Ravens breathed a sigh of relief Sunday. They won their first game of the 2025 season, smashing the woeful Cleveland Browns, 41-17, before an announced 70,487 at M&T Bank Stadium. That’s a good thing. Actually, it’s a great thing. Players spend all summer working out and going through difficult practices, so it’s good to release the tension that has been bottled up during the entire offseason. The Ravens couldn’t do that last week, losing 41-40 to the Buffalo Bills in a stunning collapse and failing to get revenge for last season’s AFC divisional round defeat. After Sunday’s win, the Ravens were in a celebratory mood, and it certainly beat the disaster left on the field in Buffalo to open the season. But the bottom line is that the Ravens are still a tough team to figure out, and very little could be determined from their beating of the Browns (0-2). The Ravens are expected to be one of the best teams this season, but the Browns are pathetic and have the worst offense in that city’s history since returning to the NFL in 1999. That in itself is a statement because there are only eight to 10 good teams in the league right now, and the rest aren’t very good. Yes, we can start with the Browns. Poor Joe Flacco, Cleveland’s starting quarterback. At age 40, the former Ravens star still has that smooth throwing motion but little else. A calendar is needed when he gets flushed out of the pocket. He was sacked twice Sunday and hurried on nine other occasions. Without star running back Nick Chubb, who now plays in Houston, the Browns don’t have an X-factor on offense. Shoot, they don’t even have a receiver who can catch the ball consistently. The Browns talked a lot of trash during the week leading up to Sunday’s game, but it just amounted to mostly hot air. The Ravens got some much-needed defensive confidence. A week ago, they allowed quarterback Josh Allen to run free and torture them for nearly 400 passing yards. On Sunday, things were different because they decided to attack. They blitzed a lot. They brought a lot of pressure, which we saw in training camp. They power rushed and shoved around Cleveland right tackle Cornelius Lucas, who has no business being a starter in the NFL. Absolutely none. And the Ravens forced turnovers, including a blocked punt by linebacker Jake Hummel that was recovered by safety Sanoussi Kane and turned into a 15-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson early in the second quarter. There was also a 61-yard interception return by cornerback Nate Wiggins that led to a 2-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Devontez Walker early in the third. Those were great confidence builders. The Ravens now have a foundation to build on after being upset by the Bills last week. The only problem was that Cleveland’s offense was so inept. Vanilla might be a derogatory term. Flacco was a statue, and he had either two choices: Throw quickly or run for his life. That’s it. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews drops the ball after Browns safety Grant Delpit punches it out in the end zone during Sunday's game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) It appeared as if the Ravens blew Cleveland out, but let’s look at the scoring drives. One was two plays for 24 yards and resulted in a touchdown. Another was four plays for 5 yards and another touchdown. One was three plays for 25 yards and another score and the other was a legitimate 10-play, 81-yard march that produced a touchdown. That’s it. Another high-octane effort was expected, but the Ravens didn’t need one. They just needed to show up, eliminate turnovers, and win. But there was some intriguing stuff. Ravens running back Derrick Henry rushed only 11 times for 23 yards. The Ravens ended the game with 47 yards on 21 carries, and they never got that running or play-action passing game going. Related Articles Ravens learn from collapse, keep foot on gas vs. Browns | ANALYSIS Ravens’ Week 2 lesson? Accountability matters. | COMMENTARY The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-17 win over Browns Ravens dismantle Joe Flacco, Browns in 41-17 bounce-back win Instant analysis from Ravens’ 41-17 win over Browns in home opener The Browns play great defense, but they aren’t that good. The Ravens were only 3-for-12 on third down. Worse yet, after Wiggins returned his interception down to the Cleveland 5-yard line, Henry, all 252 pounds of him, didn’t touch the ball on three straight plays. That’s ridiculous. Even worse, the Ravens brought in No. 2 guard Ben Cleveland and Henry still didn’t have a carry. It was a strange game, and to not get Henry involved in some form was even stranger. Let’s call the Ravens opportunistic. They did get the offense together in the second half, but it was an ugly game. Yet, when a team wins its first game of the season, it eliminates a lot of pressure. That is basically what the Ravens achieved Sunday. Now, it’s time to move on to Detroit. But before then, time for some relief. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith had a bitter taste in his mouth. So much so that he spent last week rewatching Baltimore’s stupefying collapse to the Buffalo Bills four times. “You just hone in on details and know that there’s small things that eventually adds up to a big thing,” he said Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. “It’s about being real with yourself and up front. If there’s plays out there, you have to look yourself in the mirror and say ‘Hey, there’s a play that I can’t allow to happen.’ “We just have to play our part for four entire quarters and not just three. That and it revealed some weaknesses and we said we’re not gonna allow that to happen again. That was the main thing and we kept the main thing the main thing.” The main thing was not letting up, offensively or defensively, against an overmatched Cleveland Browns team with a 40-year-old quarterback. It took a little while, but the response was resounding, a 41-17 thumping in what was anything but a joyful homecoming for Browns quarterback and forever Baltimore legend Joe Flacco. Flacco shared a pregame hug with his former coach, John Harbaugh, and caught up with former teammates Torrey Smith, Todd Heap and Dennis Pitta, but his hero’s welcome was anything but by a Ravens defense that often made him look like he belonged with the group of old Baltimore Colts stars in attendance for the festivities. “Finishing was a big thing,” outside linebacker Tavius Robinson said. “We wanted to play four quarters of good football. Then, we wanted to put emphasis on taking the ball away, taking shots at the ball. We might not get it every time, but that’s the style of defense we wanna be.” Check and check. The Ravens (1-1) sacked Flacco just twice, but were consistently in his face, registering nine quarterback hits. That included Robinson’s strip sack midway through the fourth, with Smith scooping up the bouncing ball and racing 63 yards for the touchdown. That was the exclamation point for a Baltimore defense that held Cleveland (0-2) to just 120 yards and 3.5 yards per play over the first 30 minutes, forced two turnovers on the day after none last week, and that was paced by Smith’s 15 tackles, including three for loss. It was also a fitting response to Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy’s double middle fingers to the crowd before kickoff and “no challenge” response when asked about the Ravens’ secondary earlier in the week. “We noted it,” Robinson said of the trash talk leading up to the game. “We talk with our pads. Nothing to say back.” Added Harbaugh: “I wanted to see a good defense, a defense I believe we could be. I saw that a lot.” The Browns eventually saw plenty of the Ravens’ offense, too. Though the first half of Baltimore’s home opener felt like a game from another era, with the Ravens bringing to life the old mantra of 3 yards and a cloud of dust with just 81 yards of offense on 27 plays, it wouldn’t last. A week ago, Cleveland’s Myles Garrett-led defense had limited the high-octane Bengals to 141 total yards and Joe Burrow to a paltry 113 yards passing. It did not hold against two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson. In the second half, Jackson was as efficient as he was lethal, completing 9 of 12 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns for a passer rating of 155.6 over the final 30 minutes. That included a 23-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins with under five minutes to play and the game already in hand. It was one of two long and sprawling grabs by the 33-year-old cagey veteran, the other a 42-yard snag initially ruled a touchdown but overturned to be marked at the 1-yard line earlier in the game. “What does it feel like to get in the end zone?” Hopkins said. “My answer: It feels good to win.” And for Jackson, it feels good to have a contested catch king at his disposal. “I seen it his whole career,” Jackson said of Hopkins’ ability to make spectacular grabs with the second game in a row that he has done so. “I believe people call him washed, but he’s showing otherwise. “A guy who can be covered and still make plays, I feel like we have that but he different. He’s a vet, he done seen it all.” Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins catches a pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson in Sunday's win over the Browns. Hopkins caught two passes for 64 yards and a touchdown in the victory. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) He’s also just one of many playmakers in a deep Ravens arsenal. Second-year receiver Devontez Walker snagged a pair of touchdown catches on two targets in the second half, giving him three scores on three career catches. Tylan Wallace had a touchdown. And once again, Zay Flowers, the first Ravens receiver to be selected to the Pro Bowl a season ago, continues to show his chemistry with his fellow South Floridian, racking up a team-high seven catches for 75 yards, including a 19-yarder on the first play of the third quarter to set the tone. Unlike last week, when the Ravens had a 15-point lead twice in the fourth quarter, there was no taking the foot off the gas. Related Articles Mike Preston: Who are these Ravens? We still don’t know. | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Week 2 lesson? Accountability matters. | COMMENTARY The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-17 win over Browns Ravens dismantle Joe Flacco, Browns in 41-17 bounce-back win Instant analysis from Ravens’ 41-17 win over Browns in home opener “It’s an NFL game, wild things happen,” Jackson said. “Last week, we should’ve kept it going. Shout out to all phases. Everyone played their part.” It was why the message from Harbaugh going into the final quarter was “Game’s not over,” he said. “Let’s finish it up.” The Ravens did, but they also know there’s more work to come. Even though it was the first time the Ravens scored at least 40 points in two straight games since December 2020 against the Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars, a much stiffer opponent awaits next week. On Sunday, the Detroit Lions blew out the Chicago Bears, 52-21. The Lions, one of five 2024 playoff teams on the Ravens’ schedule in the first six weeks, come to M&T Bank Stadium next Monday night for another prime-time matchup in front of a national audience. Told the score of the game, Robinson’s eyes widened and a smile of disbelief stretched across his face. “Damn,” he said. “We all felt good, but at the end of the day, there’s so much to correct and so much to get better from,” Robinson said. “I think it was a step in the right direction.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

A week ago, the Ravens’ defense was licking its wounds. Buffalo hung 41 points on Baltimore, which collapsed in the final stages. The defense was defeated. The secondary appeared in disarray. Then came Marlon Humphrey’s public warning: “The guys that are doing it right are going to play. … We can’t protect this guy or protect that guy.” By kickoff Sunday, the Ravens backed his words with action. Cornerback Jaire Alexander, the high-profile newcomer and close friend of Lamar Jackson’s who was tormented in Buffalo, was a healthy scratch. The Ravens didn’t wait for another crisis. Instead, Baltimore’s defense delivered a signature performance in a 41-17 victory over Cleveland that evened the Ravens’ record to 1-1. This represented a different Ravens defense than the one that took the field a year ago. Back then, patience blurred into stubbornness. Baltimore rode struggling veteran defensive backs Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson deep into the fall before turning to safety Ar’Darius Washington after the bye. Similarly, struggling linebacker Trenton Simpson stayed in the lineup until late November despite coverage lapses that screamed for change. Those moves eventually paid off, but only after valuable games had already been squandered. This time, the lesson landed quickly in Baltimore. Related Articles The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-17 win over Browns Ravens dismantle Joe Flacco, Browns in 41-17 bounce-back win Instant analysis from Ravens’ 41-17 win over Browns in home opener Ravens’ Kyle Van Noy injures hamstring vs. Browns, ruled out Ravens CB Jaire Alexander inactive; Reuben Lowery making debut vs. Browns With Alexander in street clothes, the defense looked like a group that took Buffalo’s embarrassment personally. Alexander, a 2018 first-round draft pick who signed a one-year deal worth $6 million after being cut by the Packers, wasn’t the only change to the lineup, either. Rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan earned his first career start over third-year player Simpson. Additionally, defensive back T.J. Tampa Jr. saw an uptick in snaps. The tweaks turned into a defensive stomping. The Ravens registered nine quarterback hits on Joe Flacco — after just three on Josh Allen in Week 1 — and recorded their first two takeaways of the season. Cornerback Nate Wiggins jumped his assignment to rob an errant Flacco pass, while defensive captain Roquan Smith scooped a strip-sack from Tavius Robinson and returned it 63 yards to the house. As Smith high-stepped into the end zone, the sold-out crowd at M&T Bank Stadium roared in approval. The home sideline went into a frenzy. This was the defense many expected from second-year coordinator Zach Orr. “The emphasis this week was getting takeaways,” said rookie outside linebacker Mike Green, who registered his first career quarterback hit, helping force one of Flacco’s 20 incompletions. “We knew we had to come through with more adjustments and make sure we took care of him correctly. This week, we knew Joe was a great thrower. We had to keep him in the pocket and disrupt his throwing lanes, just keep disrupting the quarterback.” The unit’s lone blemish was another fluke. For the second straight week, a tipped pass became a touchdown, this one off Humphrey’s hands, bouncing backward into Cedric Tillman’s lap in the end zone. Veteran coach John Harbaugh and Orr didn’t wait for the bye in Week 7 to display accountability. Rather, the coaching staff drew a strict line after the Buffalo loss and enforced it during the home opener. Smith led the Week 2 AFC North showdown with 15 tackles, including three for loss, and two quarterback hits. Wiggins added three tackles and a career-high three passes defensed as Flacco struggled and looked mighty uncomfortable throughout. This was the type of defensive response and bounce-back outing that travels. Even Smith admitted that the team’s ugly defeat to Buffalo stung hard. He rewatched the loss four times before fully turning his head to Cleveland. “We all had a sour taste in our mouths,” Smith said. “It was more so about moving on and not letting last week beat us twice. … Last week is in the past for a reason. We learned from our mistakes and did a lot of great things.” Remember the part about the Ravens not waiting too long to make tough decisions? Said Smith: “It’s great to have your weaknesses revealed Week 1 than later in the season.” Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith scores a touchdown after recovering a fumble by Browns quarterback Joe Flacco in the fourth quarter. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Humphrey, who exited Sunday’s game in the fourth quarter with a groin injury, threw down the challenge. Baltimore proved it could answer much earlier. The only other touchdown the Ravens allowed was a Dillon Gabriel passing touchdown with backups on the field for both teams in garbage time. If the Ravens can carry this type of edge, the implications reach far beyond an early win over a middling Browns offense. The next month will pit the Ravens against MVP quarterbacks, creative offensive play-callers and four consecutive 2024 playoff opponents. Additional doses of necessary accountability and adjustments could be the only way to survive the incoming gantlet. Sunday showed the Ravens are willing to make tough calls before the standings and public outcry demand them. There was no wound licking in the home locker room, where Harbaugh embraced each player, including Alexander, with a celebratory handshake. “We want everybody to be able to respond that way,” Harbaugh said. “I wanted to see a good defense. I wanted to see the defense that we’ve been working to be. I wanted to see that. We saw that — and we can still get better. “We need to get better. We will chase that, too.” Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins reacts after catching a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position after a 41-17 win over the Cleveland Browns in their home opener Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium: Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw touchdown passes of 15, 2, 24 and 23 yards. He showed some nice touch on all four, but he overthrew several receivers and should have had two passes intercepted, including two inside the red zone. Jackson completed 19 of 29 passes for 225 yards and had a passer rating of 128.6, but he had a lot of opportunities to run when he got outside the pocket and declined to do so. Some of those out patterns he threw in the first half were horrendous. Grade: C+ Running backs The Ravens never got 252-pound running back Derrick Henry free, but he did ice the game with several tosses in the second half. Henry finished with 23 yards on 11 carries and he had to be scratching his head at the Ravens attempting to pass after going with the jumbo package early in the third quarter. With Baltimore at the 1-yard line and then the 5-yard line after a penalty, Henry didn’t touch the ball on three straight plays and the Ravens settled for a 32-yard Tyler Loop field goal. Backup Justice Hill wasn’t much of a factor either, but at least the Ravens won with so little production from this group. Grade: D Offensive line Left tackle Ronnie Stanley had problems with defensive end Myles Garrett, but who doesn’t? The Browns star finished with five tackles, 1 1/2 sacks and two quarterback hits. At times, he made Stanley look slow. Overall, it was a solid performance by this group. As mentioned before, if the Ravens can’t run, they struggle in pass protection. Jackson was hit several times but did a great job of play-faking and avoiding the pressure. The Browns do a nice job of penetrating and that stifled Baltimore’s running game. Grade: C Receivers It will be interesting to see whether an opposing defense slows down slot receiver Zay Flowers from running all those crossing patterns. Flowers had seven catches for 75 yards on Sunday, and most of those were on shallow-to-midrange routes over the middle. He did a good job of working back to the ball when Jackson got in trouble. Veteran DeAndre Hopkins, for the second straight week, beat cornerbacks one-on-one in the end zone and had two exceptional catches, including one for a touchdown in the fourth quarter with a cornerback draped all over him. The Ravens got a good blend from this unit, but Flowers seems to be Jackson’s go-to receiver. He was helped when Cleveland cornerback Denzel Ward left the game with an injury in the second quarter. Grade: A Defensive line Cleveland had no running game coming into Baltimore, and the Ravens shut a lot of it off early. The Browns finished with 115 yards on 22 carries, but they weren’t a serious threat. Without any running game, quarterback Joe Flacco was quick to throw passes over the middle. The Ravens also took advantage of right tackle Cornelius Lucas, who started for the injured Jack Conklin. The Ravens harassed Flacco most of the time while he was in the pocket and he couldn’t outrun the Ravens around the corner. End/tackle Nnamdi Madubuike had one sack, seven hurries and one tackle for a loss. End/outside linebacker Tavius Robinson finished with six tackles and forced a fumble by Flacco that resulted in a 63-yard return for a touchdown by middle linebacker Roquan Smith. Grade: B Linebackers You knew the Browns were in trouble when Smith and the other Ravens linebackers were sitting in zones and smacking Cleveland receivers coming across the middle. Smith led all tacklers with 15, including three for losses. Weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson had four tackles and fellow weakside linebacker Teddye Buchanan had five tackles and earned the start. Starting outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy left near halftime with a hamstring injury, and it will be interesting to see how the Ravens handle that situation. Grade: A Secondary The Ravens weren’t challenged a lot on deep balls, only on short-to-intermediate passes. Cornerback Nate Wiggins picked off one pass from Flacco and returned it 61 yards to set up a touchdown. The Ravens were close to intercepting several other throws. They read the eyes of Flacco, who stared down his receivers. Rookie safety Malaki Starks led the group in tackles with seven while cornerback Chidobe Awuzie had five. Fellow safety Kyle Hamilton had five tackles while cornerback Marlon Humphrey had three. Grade: A Related Articles Ravens’ Week 2 lesson? Accountability matters. | COMMENTARY Ravens dismantle Joe Flacco, Browns in 41-17 bounce-back win Instant analysis from Ravens’ 41-17 win over Browns in home opener Ravens’ Kyle Van Noy injures hamstring vs. Browns, ruled out Ravens CB Jaire Alexander inactive; Reuben Lowery making debut vs. Browns Special teams Rookie kicker Tyler Loop converted field goal attempts of 43 and 32 yards, but he had two errant kickoffs (one out of bounds and one short of the landing zone) that allowed Cleveland to take possession at the 40-yard line. That’s a no-no against quality offensive teams. Rookie LaJohntay Wester returned one punt for 23 yards and was a shoe-string tackle away from scoring a touchdown. Tylan Wallace had three kickoff returns for an average of 26.3 yards, including a long of 33. Linebacker Jake Hummel also blocked a punt in the second quarter, which set up a touchdown pass from Jackson to Wallace. This group was much more sound than a week ago against the Bills. Grade: A- Coaching The Ravens did a good job of mixing and matching defenses, and coordinator Zach Orr did a good job of attacking instead of being attacked. He had an assortment of blitzes and called several pressures against Flacco. Offensively, the Ravens had 242 total yards but some of that resulted from Cleveland’s inept offense giving Baltimore short fields. Special teams contributed, including a blocked punt that led to a touchdown. Overall, it was a strong effort, but there is room for improvement. It was a good day to be playing Cleveland. Grade: B Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Ravens wide receiver Tylan Wallace scores on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson in the second quarter Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

Over the past three seasons, the Ravens have allowed an average of 20 points per game to AFC North opponents. Marlon Humphrey — Baltimore’s longest-tenured defender — said nobody in the division feared the Ravens’ defense anymore. Then, after an offseason of promises and notable offseason acquisitions, Baltimore surrendered 41 points to the Bills to open the season. Not exactly an encouraging start. But perhaps the Ravens just needed Ray Lewis in the building. On a day with several of the franchise’s legendary defenders at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore’s defense responded with one of its most encouraging efforts in recent memory. The Ravens dominated the Cleveland Browns, 41-17, in their home-opener Sunday afternoon. The Browns’ offense, led by Joe Flacco, mustered just 4.5 yards per play and had two crucial turnovers. Flacco finished the day completing 25 of 45 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was relieved late by rookie Dillon Gabriel, who was 3-for-3 for 20 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw four touchdown passes, including two to second-year wideout Devontez Walker, en route to 31 second-half points. Roquan Smith punctuated the day with a 63-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Nate Wiggins also picked off Flacco in the third quarter and nearly returned it for a score. It set up a 5-yard touchdown drive. The defense needed every early stop because the dynamic offense that tormented the Bills last week didn’t appear until the second half Sunday. Jackson and the Ravens mustered only 81 yards, four first downs and eight rushing yards by halftime. But aside from a third-quarter touchdown drive, Baltimore’s defense ensured Flacco’s return wouldn’t end in his 97th win at M&T Bank Stadium. While nobody is mistaking the Browns’ offense for the Bills’, the Ravens’ defense simply looked more cohesive at home. The pass rush pressured Flacco throughout, a revamped secondary recorded five pass breakups and the star veterans made multiple splash plays. Even the special teams — a unit that was heavily criticized for multiple miscues in Buffalo — made arguably the game’s most crucial play. Veteran Jake Hummel blocked a punt in the second quarter that set the Ravens up at the Browns’ 24-yard line. It was the team’s first blocked punt since Nov. 6, 2016. Last week’s showing wasn’t just alarming; it was a direct contradiction to everything Baltimore’s players and coaches promised in the offseason. They needed to show last Sunday was an aberration, that this year wouldn’t start like the previous one when they started 0-2. Related Articles Ravens’ Kyle Van Noy injures hamstring vs. Browns, ruled out Ravens CB Jaire Alexander inactive; Reuben Lowery making debut vs. Browns Ravens vs. Browns, September 14, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Browns live updates: Baltimore leads 20-10 in 2nd half Ravens planned to draft Shedeur Sanders before QB nixed pick, report says Cornerback Marlon Humphrey said this week the defense was “immature.” Safety Kyle Hamilton thought they were “lackadaisical.” Defensive coordinator Zach Orr said the coaching staff would bench players if necessary. They made good on their word this week, making multiple key personnel changes before the game. Cornerback Jaire Alexander was a healthy scratch in favor of undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery III, and linebacker Trenton Simpson was benched for rookie Teddye Buchanan. While Lowery didn’t play any meaningful defensive snaps, Buchanan played nearly every drive. Cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and T.J. Tampa rotated opposite Nate Wiggins. But those moves involved players on the margins. Baltimore spent $116 million on their defense for their stars to play the way they did Sunday. Smith played one of his best games in a Ravens jersey. He finished with 15 tackles, including three tackles for loss, and impacted every level of the defense. In one drive, Smith pressured Flacco on a blitz then dropped a Browns receiver in the flat for a minimal gain. His three tackles for loss were nearly more than the four he had all last season. Playing next to a new running mate in Buchanan requires new communication signals and chemistry, but the two linebackers were both excellent. Ravens’ Devontez Walker celebrate with fans after scoring on a 24-yard pass from Lamar Jackson in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens’ Roquan Smith recovers and returns a fumble for a touchdown against the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Roquan Smith recovers and returns a fumble for a touchdown against the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Roquan Smith recovers and returns a fumble for a touchdown against the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Roquan Smith recovers and returns a fumble for a touchdown against the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Tavius Robinson sacks and causes Joe Flacco to fumble the ball which was recovered by Roquan Smith and returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Tavius Robinson sacks and causes Joe Flacco to fumble the ball which was recovered by Roquan Smith and returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens outside linebacker Tavius Robinson sacks and causes Browns quarterback Joe Flacco to fumble the ball in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Roquan Smith, right, scooped it up and returned it 64 yards for a touchdown in Baltimore's lopsided victory in its home opener Sunday. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Devontez Walker scores on a 24-yard pass from Lamar Jackson in the forth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens’ Tylan Wallace celebrate after scoring on a 15-yard pass from Lamar Jackson in the secord quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens’ Nate Wiggins returns the ball after intercepting a Joe Flacco pass in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Nate Wiggins returns the ball after intercepting a Joe Flacco pass in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Chidobe Awuzie, left, jumps on Nate Wiggins to celebrate Wiggins interception in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Nate Wiggins returns the ball after intercepting a Joe Flacco pass in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Nate Wiggins returns the ball after intercepting a Joe Flacco pass in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Devontez Walker celebrate after scoring on a 2-yard pass from Lamar Jackson in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens’ Devontez Walker scores on a 2-yard pass from Lamar Jackson in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens’ Mark Andrews cannot hold in the ball in the end zone in third quarter against the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Mark Andrews cannot hold in the ball in the end zone in third quarter against the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Mark Andrews cannot hold in the ball in the end zone in third quarter against the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Mark Andrews cannot hold in the ball in the end zone in third quarter against the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Tylan Wallace scores on a 15-yard pass from Lamar Jackson in the secord quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens’ Tylan Wallace celebrate after scoring on a 15-yard pass from Lamar Jackson in the secord quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Former Colts quarterback Bret Jones is introduced during pregame ceremony at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/staff)Browns’ Jerry Jeudy leaps to catch a Joe Flacco pass in front of Ravens’ Chidobe Awuzie at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Roquan Smith tackles Browns’ Jerome Ford in the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Several Ravens pressure Browns quarterback Joe Flacco to throw incomplete during game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens celebrate Tylan Wallace’s touchdown catch against the Cleveland Browns in the 2nd quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens celebrate Tylan Wallace’s touchdown catch against the Cleveland Browns in the 2nd quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Sanoussi Kane picks up the ball to return a blocked punt by Browns punter Corey Bojorquez in 2nd quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Sanoussi Kane picks up the ball to return a blocked punt by Browns punter Corey Bojorquez in 2nd quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Sanoussi Kane picks up the ball to return a blocked punt by Browns punter Corey Bojorquez in 2nd quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Jake Hummel blocks a punt by Cleveland Browns punter Corey Bojorquez, setting up Baltimore’s first touchdown of the game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Jake Hummel blocks a punt by Cleveland Browns punter Corey Bojorquez, setting up Baltimore’s first touchdown of the game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Jake Hummel blocks Browns punter Corey Bojorquez in 2nd quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Jake Hummel blocks Browns punter Corey Bojorquez in 2nd quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Tylan Wallace catches the ball for a first down against Browns’ Grant Delpit at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens HOFers’ Ray Lewis. Ozzie Newsome and Johnathan Ogden are on the field during pre game ceremony before the team takes on the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens HOFers’ Ray Lewis. Ozzie Newsome and Johnathan Ogden are on the field during pre game ceremony before the team takes on the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens HOFer Ray Lewis is on the field during pre game ceremony before the team takes on the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens HOFer Ray Lewis is on the field during pre game ceremony before the team takes on the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Tylan Wallace catches the ball for a first down against Browns’ Grant Delpit at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens’ Tylan Wallace catches the ball for a first down against Browns’ Grant Delpit at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Browns quarterback Joe Flacco visits with visits with Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti during warm up before the game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens team owner, Steve Bisciotti, visits with QB Lamar Jackson during warm up before the team’s home opener with the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Cleveland Browns’ Shedeur Sanders visits with Baltimore Ravens’ LaJohntay Wester before game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Browns’ Shedeur Sanders is on the field before Ravens home opener at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, now with the Browns, warms up before game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Sep 14, 2025: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester exchanges hugs with Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester exchanges hugs with Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco practices before playing against the Baltimore Ravens during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester exchanges playful pushes with Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens head football coach John Harbaugh greets Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco listens to Baltimore Ravens principal owner Steve Bisciotti during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)With her first NFL regular season game as a fan, Cassie Walls, 10 of Rock Hall gets an autograph on her football from Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman who enters to play the Cleveland Browns during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)With her first NFL regular season game as a fan, Cassie Walls, 10 of Rock Hall gets an autograph on her football from Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman who enters to play the Cleveland Browns during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles smiles for fans who take photos as he enters to play the Cleveland Browns during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles stops to autograph for young fans before entering to play the Cleveland Browns during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Show Caption1 of 62Ravens’ Devontez Walker celebrate with fans after scoring on a 24-yard pass from Lamar Jackson in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand In the secondary, Wiggins was criticized last week after allowing six catches on seven targets for 82 yards. The second-year cornerback responded with an interception, one pass breakup and allowed just one reception. His third-quarter interception nearly ended in a pick-six, but it set up Jackson’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Walker on fourth down for a commanding 20-3 lead. Jackson’s day was filled with inconsistencies. He missed wide receiver Zay Flowers on a few short throws and the team struggled on third down (3-for-11). Still, the star quarterback also had his typical fair share of dazzling plays — two deep balls to DeAndre Hopkins, a third-and-long conversion to Flowers — and finished the day with 225 passing yards. Fautige eventually opened up cracks in Cleveland’s defense, sealing a blowout win. Anytime a team can rest its starters in a divisional game, they’ll be pleased. Nostalgia colored Sunday: Flacco’s return, the franchise’s 30-year celebration, and appearances by Lewis, Jonathan Ogden and Ozzie Newsome. Squint, and there were echoes of those vaunted Ravens defenses in Baltimore’s performance. Now, a Lions offense that scored over 50 points in Week 2 comes to town for a prime-time test on “Monday Night Football.” Next week will reveal just how real these defensive strides are. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 41-17 win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 2 of the NFL season on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Brian Wacker, reporter: The first half felt like a game from another era, an unintentional homage to the Baltimore Colts of old in attendance for the 30th anniversary celebration of the Ravens’ existence against the city from which they came. Perhaps it was further evidence of the strength of the Browns’ defense, which stifled the high-octane Bengals in a squeaker of a loss last week. But an offense that was the best in the NFL last season can only be locked up for so long and unsurprisingly the Ravens found enough of their footing amid Cleveland’s own offensive ineptness to pull away. Unlike last week, this one never felt in danger of another big lead blown. The final dagger came courtesy of a Tavius Robinson strip-sack of 40-year-old Joe Flacco midway through the final quarter with Roquan Smith scooping up the bouncing ball and racing 64 yards for the touchdown. Then, for good measure, Lamar Jackson hit DeAndre Hopkins with the Ravens already up 34-10 inside five minutes remaining in an effort to not take their foot off the gas. As woeful as Cleveland is, Baltimore’s defense deserves a good bit of credit for not letting Flacco to find a rhythm and return a conquering hero. He was harassed all day and when Cleveland turning to its running game found little room against the defensive line and a surging Smith, who finished with 15 tackles. The line, linebackers and secondary answered the call after getting pushed around a week ago. Mike Preston, columnist: The Ravens toyed with Cleveland for nearly a half before finally taking control of the game in the third quarter. The Ravens still play either up or down to the level of their opponents, and it showed against the Browns. This Cleveland offense is the worst since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999. The Browns were one-dimensional on offense, throwing basically nothing but short passes, and they had virtually no running game. At least on defense, the Ravens got quarterback Joe Flacco to move in the pocket and he was under constant duress. The best news for the Ravens were that they won a game, and that’s important at this point. It’s a big relief to win the first game of the year after the Ravens failed last week in the season opener against Buffalo. There were no last-minute comebacks Sunday, just a Ravens team that turned up the heat on the Browns in the second half. Josh Tolentino, columnist: Cleveland backed up its week-long trash talk by bottling up running back Derrick Henry (11 carries, 24 rushing yards). Yet Lamar Jackson still distributed the ball plenty as the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player threw four touchdown passes, tallying 225 yards across 19 completions. Defensively, the Ravens swarmed old friend Joe Flacco, recording its first two takeaways of the young season. Nate Wiggins came down with an arrant Flacco pass, while linebacker Roquan Smith’s touchdown return off Tavius Robinson’s strip-sack put the game out of reach in the second half, a signature performance for Zach Orr’s group. DeAndre Hopkins’ big-catch ability has been on display in consecutive weeks; he had two explosive catches, including his 23-yard touchdown reception, against the Browns. The accomplished veteran wideout will only continue to build up his rapport and chemistry with Jackson as the season progresses. The home opener served as the perfect get-right spot for Baltimore (1-1), which is now scheduled to play four straight 2024 playoff opponents. Sam Cohn, reporter: This was a prime example of how versatile Baltimore’s offense can be. When Derrick Henry, Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman were all nonfactors, Lamar Jackson found DeAndre Hopkins, Tylan Wallace and Tez Walker — all of whom made massive contributions in small sample sizes. The Ravens were sluggish to start. Neither side of the ball showed much firepower. Even against what is considered an impressive Browns defense, Jackson found a way to cut them up in the second half. It was exactly the kind of blowout win the Ravens needed after a crushing blow in Buffalo. C.J. Doon, editor: This performance didn’t do much to quell any fears that arose in last week’s collapse. The Ravens’ defense certainly played much better, but when considering the opposition, it wasn’t that impressive. Joe Flacco gave Baltimore a homecoming gift with his third-quarter interception that Nate Wiggins nearly returned for a touchdown. He should have thrown another pick near the goal line, but his pass inexplicably bounced off Marlon Humphrey’s hands and into the waiting arms of Cedric Tillman in the end zone. Then Flacco sealed the game with a fumble that Roquan Smith returned for a touchdown. He might not be wearing purple anymore, but he helped the Ravens almost as much as any player on the Baltimore sideline Sunday. The Browns’ top offensive threats are Jerry Jeudy, who catches the ball about as well as he talks trash; rookie running back Qunishon Judkins, who’s had one padded practice since June; and rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who played in his second career game. Baltimore still allowed more than 300 total yards. The Ravens might not be so fortunate against Jared Goff, Patrick Mahomes, C.J. Stroud and Matthew Stafford over the next few weeks. Until they face another elite offense, we just don’t know how good the defense can be. The Ravens’ offense, based on its own lofty standards when Lamar Jackson is healthy, was disappointing. The offensive line struggled to keep Jackson clean, allowing three sacks. The Ravens went three-and-out on three straight possessions to end the first half. Baltimore took advantage of some good field position before turning it on in the second half. The running game was surprisingly nonexistent, totaling just 16 carries for 48 yards before garbage time. Jackson was his usual efficient self, Zay Flowers continued to stand out, DeAndre Hopkins turned back the clock and Devontez Walker announced himself as a big-play threat with two TD catches, but it was far from a complete performance. Mark Andrews looked shaky and Zaire Mitchell-Paden had a rough sequence near the goal line early in the game. Isaiah Likely and Pat Ricard can’t come back soon enough. Related Articles Ravens’ Kyle Van Noy injures hamstring vs. Browns, ruled out Ravens CB Jaire Alexander inactive; Reuben Lowery making debut vs. Browns Ravens vs. Browns, September 14, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Browns live updates: Baltimore leads 20-10 in 2nd half Ravens planned to draft Shedeur Sanders before QB nixed pick, report says Tim Schwartz, editor: I didn’t learn much from this one, aside from two things: The Ravens will have no problem pressuring stationary quarterbacks, and their wide receiver depth behind Zay Flowers is about as good as it’s been in franchise history. Baltimore’s defense nearly outscored Cleveland — Nate Wiggins will surely hear from teammates after falling a few yards shy of a pick-six — but this is the Browns with a 40-year-old Joe Flacco under center. And they still outgained the Ravens, who could not establish their rushing attack with the game still within reach in the first half. This went about as expected. The Lions on “Monday Night Football” will be a great barometer for good this team really is right now. Bennett Conlin, editor: A win is a win in the NFL, even against the lowly Browns. A season ago, the Ravens suffered a stunning Week 2 home loss to the Raiders. They avoided that fate this year against a Cleveland team expected to lose in bunches. It was far from perfect offensively, though. The offensive line struggled to protect Lamar Jackson, and the running game wasn’t as dynamic as usual with Jackson and Derrick Henry in the backfield. Still, Jackson made plays when the pocket collapsed and Zay Flowers looked amazing yet again. Devontez Walker, Tylan Wallace and DeAndre Hopkins contributed, too. It was more than enough to win the home opener, as the Ravens dominated defensively — aside from Marlon Humphrey dropping an interception that fell into the arms of Cedric Tillman for a Browns touchdown. He’ll want that play back. A blocked punt helped create a first-half double-digit lead, and the Ravens’ defense handled the rest. A week after being embarrassed by Buffalo, the Ravens took advantage of an aging Joe Flacco to boost their confidence. It was a solid win for Baltimore given the defensive dominance, but there’s not a ton to take from this game. The Browns are deeply flawed, and the Ravens face the Lions, Chiefs, Texans and Rams in the next four weeks. The Ravens avoided disaster Sunday, but we’ll learn way more about Baltimore in the coming weeks. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

The Ravens lost outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy during Sunday’s home opener against the Browns. Van Noy, 34, left the game with a hamstring injury in the second quarter and did not return. He was ruled out early in the third quarter. The veteran led Baltimore in sacks last season with 12 1/2. How long he’ll be sidelined for remains to be seen. Van Noy had one tackle and a quarterback hit before leaving and has three tackles and no sacks on the season. The Ravens can also ill afford to be without him for a significant length of time with a pass rush that after Week 1 was near the bottom of the league in pass rush win rate. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Ravens CB Jaire Alexander inactive; Reuben Lowery making debut vs. Browns Ravens vs. Browns, September 14, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Browns live updates: Baltimore leads 20-10 in 2nd half Ravens planned to draft Shedeur Sanders before QB nixed pick, report says Browns RB Quinshon Judkins on track to make NFL debut vs. Ravens View the full article

Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander is inactive for Baltimore’s home opener against the Browns on Sunday. The move comes after the two-time Pro Bowl selection struggled in his Ravens debut in last week’s 41-40 loss to the Bills. Alexander, 28, came into that game off just a few days of practice after missing three weeks because of a knee injury. It was also not surprising after a few clues during the week that he might not play. “Practice is important, especially at that position [for] just being exactly right,” coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week. “So he and I have had that conversation. I recognize it and the main thing right now is just to get him right. He’s healthy enough, but we have to get him right so we can go out there and play like Jaire Alexander, which I fully expect him to do. We’ll just give him an opportunity to do that.” Over the past two seasons with the Packers, Alexander appeared in just 16 games because of injuries, including to his knee, quadriceps, back and shoulder. With Alexander inactive, that also means that undrafted rookie free agent safety Reuben Lowery will be making his NFL debut. Lowery, who was a healthy scratch last week, played at Tennessee-Chattanooga. He was also a standout during training camp, regularly making plays on the ball to land a spot on the 53-man roster. The remainder of the Ravens’ inactive players were less surprising. Running back Keaton Mitchell is a healthy scratch for a second straight week, as are outside linebacker David Ojabo and rookie offensive tackle Carson Vinson. Fullback Patrick Ricard (calf) and tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) were ruled out Friday. The Browns, meanwhile, are without starting right tackle Jack Conklin (eye, elbow), who was made inactive after being listed as questionable on Friday. Also inactive are rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, running back Raheim Sanders, defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr., and guard Zac Zinter. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Ravens vs. Browns, September 14, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Browns live updates: Baltimore hosts rival in home opener Ravens planned to draft Shedeur Sanders before QB nixed pick, report says Browns RB Quinshon Judkins on track to make NFL debut vs. Ravens MTA adds shuttles, alters service for Ravens opener View the full article

Ravens team owner, Steve Bisciotti, visits with QB Lamar Jackson during warm up before the team’s home opener with the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Browns quarterback Joe Flacco visits with visits with Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti during warm up before the game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver LaJohntay Wester exchanges hugs with Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Cleveland Browns’ Shedeur Sanders visits with Baltimore Ravens’ LaJohntay Wester before game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens head football coach John Harbaugh greets Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco listens to Baltimore Ravens principal owner Steve Bisciotti during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles smiles for fans who take photos as he enters to play the Cleveland Browns during Baltimore’s 2025 NFL home opener. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

Football is back in Baltimore. The Ravens host their home opener Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Cleveland Browns in what will mark not only the 30th season of the Ravens in Charm City but the return of former star quarterback Joe Flacco to M&T Bank Stadium. Follow along here for live coverage and analysis. Wrinkle on first drive View the full article

Shedeur Sanders, Baltimore Raven? It almost happened, according to a new report. The Ravens were planning to pick the former Colorado quarterback in the fifth round with the 141st overall selection before Sanders let it be known that he didn’t want to be on a roster with superstar Lamar Jackson and not have a path to playing time, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter citing anonymous league sources. Baltimore instead drafted Alabama A&M offensive lineman Carson Vinson. Three picks later, Cleveland ended Sanders’ stunning fall by selecting him 144th overall, two rounds after picking former Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Sanders, who played for his father and Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders at Colorado, is currently listed third on the Browns’ depth chart behind Gabriel and 40-year-old former Ravens star Joe Flacco, who will start Sunday in his return to Baltimore. Sanders likely would have been QB3 as well in Baltimore, which signed former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush before the draft to a two-year, $6.2 million deal to be Jackson’s backup. “If this is true, I think this is crazy,” former NFL quarterback Alex Smith said of Schefter’s report during ESPN’s “NFL Countdown” on Sunday. “You’re in the fifth round. I understand you had higher hopes, but you dropped to the fifth round, and you’re thinking about being a starting quarterback the next year? I think this is incredibly short-sighted. If you’re in this situation, you want to go to an organization that is going to develop you. “Here we have the Baltimore Ravens, the model of stability in the NFL. This regime’s been together for how many decades now, and actually has a track record to develop quarterbacks. Joe Flacco, Lamar. Instead you choose the Cleveland Browns, because you think you have a chance to start the next year? And, mind you, the Cleveland Browns, who are on the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to stability. This is the same organization that walked away from Baker Mayfield as the No. 1 pick in the draft. … There’s been 700 starting quarterbacks in the last 20 years for the Cleveland Browns. This makes zero sense.” Sanders had an up-and-down training camp and preseason with Cleveland, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in an impressive debut Aug. 8 against the Carolina Panthers before suffering an oblique injury Aug. 13 during a joint workout with the Philadelphia Eagles that kept him out for an extended period of time. He then struggled in the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams, which prompted a defense from coach Kevin Stefanski on his handling of Sanders’ development. Stefanski addressed claims that he was deliberately hindering Sanders’ progress, particularly after replacing him with Tyler Huntley, who led the game-winning drive. “I don’t concern myself with outside types of things, but I’m committed to his development, just like all of our rookies,” Stefanski said. “We’ll continue to focus on getting our guys better, and that’s what we’ll stay committed to, and that’s what’s important to me.” Cameras caught Sanders frustrated on the Browns’ sideline after being told he was done for the day. He asked to return, but Stefanski shook his head, adding to the controversy. Related Articles Ravens CB Jaire Alexander inactive; Reuben Lowery making debut vs. Browns Ravens vs. Browns, September 14, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Browns live updates: Baltimore hosts rival in home opener Browns RB Quinshon Judkins on track to make NFL debut vs. Ravens MTA adds shuttles, alters service for Ravens opener “I think all of our guys are extremely competitive and want to be out there for every play. So, I never want a player to be less competitive,” Stefanski said. Sanders, Gabriel and practice squad quarterback Bailey Zappe all have been running Cleveland’s scout team in practice, quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave said Friday. While Rush is entrenched as the backup quarterback in Baltimore because of his contract and performance, he’s 31 years old, leaving room for a developmental prospect behind him. The Ravens drafted quarterback Devin Leary in the sixth round in 2024, but he struggled and was released at the end of training camp last month, prompting the Ravens to bring Huntley back to the practice squad. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was activated to the active roster Saturday, clearing the way for him to make his NFL debut against the Ravens. The second-round draft pick was on a roster exemption after signing his contract on Sept. 6. To make room for Judkins, Cleveland waived wide receiver Gage Larvadain. “I feel good. Just still taking day by day in the playbook, learning everything I need to know in case I have to play,” Judkins said on Friday. “As a competitor, you want to go out there and do your best every single day you step on the field. So if I have to play, I’m going to give it my all.” Judkins missed all of training camp after he was accused of domestic violence in Florida in July. Prosecutors declined to pursue a case against him on Aug. 14 following a state attorney’s office investigation that found inconsistencies in the accuser’s story. Coach Kevin Stefanski said that Judkins has done a nice job trying to get up to speed, but wanted to see how he progressed throughout the week before making a determination on his status. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do up to this point,” Stefanski said. “There’s football shape, and once you get in pads and get hit a little bit, that’s different than working out prior. But I do think he’s in good shape.” Stefanski and the Browns are looking for improvement in the run game after gaining only 49 yards on 24 carries in last week’s 17-16 loss to Cincinnati. The Browns drafted Judkins with the 36th overall pick in hopes he could become their main running back after he helped the Buckeyes win the national championship last season. Judkins rushed for 1,060 yards and had 16 total touchdowns. Cleveland also has fourth-round pick Dylan Sampson and four-year veteran Jerome Ford in the backfield. The Browns will face a Baltimore defense on Sunday that allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league last season at 80.1 yards per game. However, Cleveland has rushed for at least 100 yards in six of 10 meetings against the Ravens since Stefanski became coach in 2020. Baltimore is also 0-1 after a 41-40 loss at Buffalo last week. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said that Judkins has done a good job of retaining knowledge of the playbook from spring workouts, but one advantage is that things are limited once teams get into game weeks. “You have a finite number of plays within a game plan, there will be carryover in terms of the terminology,” Rees said. “So, for him it’s really focused on, all right, we have a new playbook for this week’s opponent, let’s try to master that instead of saying, here’s our seven installs at training camp. That’s a little bit more daunting than one game plan.” View the full article