ExtremeRavens

The Ravens got their quarterback back for Wednesday’s practice but were missing two of his pass catchers. Lamar Jackson took the field after a week on the shelf for a back contusion he suffered in Baltimore’s Week 16 loss to the Patriots. He was a full participant, which bodes well for his availability against the Steelers this Sunday night — a playoff game, for all intents and purposes. Wideouts Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins were both missing, though neither listed for reasons that should impact their availability by the weekend. Bateman was out with an illness, while Hopkins was granted a veteran rest day. The two have combined for 41 catches for 554 yards and four touchdowns this season. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (quad) was the team’s only other absence. However, he was seen in the locker room after practice, which is generally an indication that the injury isn’t too serious. The Ravens had a few prominent players listed as limited practice participants: linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee), fullback Patrick Ricard (ankle), tight end Charlie Kolar (nose) and guard Andrew Vorhees (foot). Defensive tackle Taven Bryan (knee), now back from injured reserve, was another limited participant. Harbaugh said earlier this week that his team flew back from Green Bay, Wisconsin, “in good shape, health-wise.” There were nicks and bruises, which are to be expected after a brutish win over the Packers, but nothing major that the coach expects to linger. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh will be without its top receiver, DK Metcalf, who was suspended for the final two games of the regular season. Tight end Darnell Washington won’t be available either. He was put on injured reserve with a broken arm. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is “optimistic” about returning five key players: All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt (lung), wide receiver Calvin Austin III (hamstring), cornerbacks Brandin Echols (groin) and James Pierre (calf) and left guard Isaac Seumalo (triceps). Watt, a four-time All-Pro who has seven sacks this season, hasn’t played since Week 14. He suffered a partially punctured lung during a dry needling treatment in early December. Austin and Echols both went down in Week 16 against the Lions and missed last weekend’s dud in Cleveland. Pierre is working toward a return after missing three games. And Seumalo hasn’t been available the past two weeks. All five returned to practice Wednesday in a limited capacity. Tomlin said that Watt won’t play unless he’s ramped up to a full participant by week’s end. Steelers linebacker Malik Harrison, a former Raven, was also limited Wednesday with a knee injury. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice ahead of Steelers game: ‘Very optimistic’ Ravens-Steelers rivalry takes on new chapter with first win-or-go-home game Watch Episode 18 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Steelers could have T.J. Watt back for ‘AFC North championship’ showdown against Ravens Former Ravens Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda among 15 finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame View the full article

Lamar Jackson is back. The Ravens quarterback returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a back injury in the second quarter of a Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player had been sidelined the past nine days and missed last week’s must-win game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Jackson’s arrival at the practice field in Owings Mills is also a good sign that he will be available for Sunday night’s regular-season finale against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, where the winner will capture the AFC North crown and the loser will be eliminated from playoff contention. The winner will also secure the No. 4 seed and host a wild-card playoff game. In Jackson’s absence, Tyler “Snoop” Huntley helped guide Baltimore to a 41-24 romp over the Packers to keep the Ravens’ playoff hopes alive, completing 80% of his passes for 107 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers and rushing for 60 yards on eight carries, but there’s little question who will get the start if Jackson is healthy. “I think the fact that we have a lot of confidence in Tyler is a real big positive and a real plus, but it doesn’t factor into whether Lamar plays,” coach John Harbaugh said on Monday. “If Lamar’s ready to go, he’s playing. That’s it, for sure.” Jackson has endured the worst year of his career amid a string of injuries, including to his hamstring, knee, ankle and toe. In 12 games, his 63.7% completion rate and 192.6 yards passing per game are the third-lowest marks in his eight seasons. He has also thrown for just 2,311 yards and just 18 touchdowns after a career-high 41 last season. His 28.3 rushing yards per game are easily the fewest of his career. In addition to missing four gams this season, he had also missed at least one day of practice each of the past seven weeks. But that streak came to an end on Wednesday. Harbaugh is scheduled to speak to reporters Wednesday afternoon. 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-Steelers rivalry takes on new chapter with first win-or-go-home game Watch Episode 18 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Steelers could have T.J. Watt back for ‘AFC North championship’ showdown against Ravens Former Ravens Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda among 15 finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame Is Ravens’ John Harbaugh coaching for job against Steelers’ Mike Tomlin? View the full article

The Ravens-Steelers rivalry got off to a conspicuous start. Sept. 8, 1996 at 1 p.m. Week 2. Pittsburgh. 75 degrees and partly sunny. Marv Albert and Sam Wyche in the booth for NBC. A Kobe Bryant-Adidas commercial before kickoff. Ten-year veteran Vinny Testaverde under center for nascent Baltimore, which was playing just the second game of its existence after the Colts had jilted the Charm City for Indianapolis a dozen years earlier. As the former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback dropped back to pass on the second-generation but still plasticky AstroTurf of Three Rivers Stadium, feigning a handoff to running back Leroy Hoard on a second-and-8 from his own 33-yard line, the strong-armed Brooklyn native fired the ball 11 yards to the right sideline and receiver Michael Jackson on a curl route. Testaverde was looking that way the moment he started to drop back, Rod Woodson saw it and the Steelers safety broke toward the intended target long before the throw got there, snatched the pass out of the air and raced 43 yards untouched the other direction for a touchdown. Pittsburgh was victorious, 31-17, and went on to win 12 of the first 16 games between the two division foes in a rivalry that nearly wasn’t. In the years since, of course, it has become one of the NFL’s marquee matchups. The Ravens and Steelers have played 64 times in all, with Pittsburgh holding a 37-27 edge. Many of the contests have been as memorable as they were meaningful, including a 2016 Christmas Day thriller punctuated by Antonio Brown’s “immaculate extension” game-winning touchdown grab in the final seconds to seal the AFC North title. They have also met five times in the playoffs, including indelibly in the 2009 AFC championship game at Pittsburgh, where the Steelers emerged from the gritty, physical, defensive struggle the victors, 23-14. The Steelers also came out on top in divisional round games in Pittsburgh in 2002 and 2011, while the Ravens won wild-card matchups in 2015 at then-named Heinz Field and last season in Baltimore. But for all the drama and history between the two bitter adversaries, they have never met in the final week of the regular season in a win-or-go-home contest for the division crown until now. “I didn’t realize that,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who along with counterpart Mike Tomlin are the NFL’s two longest-tenured active coaches. “That’s something.” It’s also not the only (potential) first. Should the Ravens win Sunday night in Pittsburgh, it will not only be a remarkable turnaround from a 1-5 start and the precipice of disaster that sends them to the playoffs, it will clinch their third straight AFC North title. No other team has ever won the division three consecutive years, something Harbaugh was surprised by, though only momentarily. “It was a surprise, but then not a surprise when I thought about it for about five seconds, because it’s so darn competitive,” he said. “I’m assuming it’s the only division that’s the case. I’ll bet it is, if we were allowed to bet.” If he was, he would have cashed in. “It’s something to think about,” Harbaugh continued. “It’s a big deal, but it’s a game. It’s like any big game; there’s a lot riding on it, and there’s a lot to earn, but you have to go play a winning football game. You have to go play the type of game that can beat a really good football team in their stadium when the stakes are really high, and I know they feel the same way, but it’s our responsibility to take care of us, take care of our business, play our game the way we play it and to execute it the way we need to execute to get the job done. “Keep it simple. Go play hard. Go play well. Go play good football. Our goal will be to play our best game of the season, and that’s what we’ll be really focused on. That’s what we have to get ready for.” If history is any indication, that includes being prepared for a close game. Of their past 14 meetings dating to the beginning of 2019 and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s first full year as the starter, Baltimore has averaged 19.5 points and Pittsburgh 18.3 in the showdowns. All but three have been decided by seven points or less. Related Articles Watch Episode 18 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Steelers could have T.J. Watt back for ‘AFC North championship’ showdown against Ravens Former Ravens Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda among 15 finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame Is Ravens’ John Harbaugh coaching for job against Steelers’ Mike Tomlin? Ravens coach John Harbaugh describes Browns-Steelers watch party: ‘Raucous’ That included earlier this month, when Aaron Rodgers threw for 284 yards and a touchdown, receiver D.K. Metcalf had seven catches for 148 yards and Pittsburgh was held to a paltry 34 rushing yards but jumped out to a 17-3 second quarter lead and held on for a 27-22 victory at M&T Bank Stadium. Like many of their run-ins of yore, it also had plenty of theatrics if not controversy. Trailing by five with just over three minutes remaining, Jackson drove Baltimore to Pittsburgh’s 13-yard line before hitting Isaiah Likely over the middle for what appeared to be a go-ahead touchdown. But replay overturned the call, with the tight end ruled as not having completed the catch as the ball was ripped from his grasp after he’d taken two steps with control. Then Jackson, who was also intercepted earlier in the game on a pass that fluttered well short of running back Rasheen Ali and eventually led to a Steelers touchdown, was sacked at Pittsburgh’s 38 on the game’s final play. Afterward, the quarterback said his frustration was “through the roof” over what was a second straight division loss after a Thanksgiving night debacle in which Baltimore had five turnovers at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. “We have to finish and find a way to put some points on the board,” Jackson said. “At this point of the season, we have to just keep fighting.” Now comes one, last chance to do so to try to prevent the season from slipping away entirely, along with a new chapter in an old rivalry, one that the 62-year old Harbaugh, a proud historian of the game, is aware of but not thinking about. “I probably would’ve thought it might’ve been another time it would’ve come up,” he said of the two teams’ first meeting in the final week of the season with this much at stake. “But that’s about as much head space as I can give it. So, other than that, it’s a division championship game for sure, but it’s a game. It’s in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. We kind of understand that part of it, too.” That it’s at night, on national television to close out the regular season? A cherry on top. “I think it’s really cool,” Harbaugh said. “It’s what you want. “The game could have been at 4 o’clock. It could have been 1 o’clock. It could have been Saturday [or] Saturday night. That would have been fine. I wouldn’t have really cared, so the fact that it’s Sunday night just means we have to wait longer. That’s kind of my mindset. We have to wait that much longer to go play, so we have to set our clock accordingly and be ready at 8:20 on Sunday night. But … I think when you take a step back, especially as a Ravens fan or in the organization, you have to take a step back, and you have to nod your head a little bit and go, ‘Yes, that’s probably the way it should be.’” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Even Ravens coach John Harbaugh was willing to admit Monday that playing the Steelers in prime time with a playoff spot on the line is "cool." (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

Episode 18 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law is here. Preston and Coleman break down a critical Ravens win over the Packers and their chances Sunday against the Steelers in what is essentially an AFC North title game. The duo also discusses Preston’s recent column about Lamar Jackson’s future in Baltimore. You can watch the podcast weekly, posting every Tuesday during the NFL season on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

By WILL GRAVES PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers could have outside linebacker T.J. Watt back for their “win or go home” showdown with Baltimore for the AFC North title on Sunday night. Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he’s “more optimistic” than he has been that the perennial Pro Bowl edge rusher will be available after sitting out each of the past three games while recovering from surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung sustained following a dry needling treatment. Tomlin added he’d like to see Watt practice fully at some point this week. Watt was a limited participant last week before being held out of Sunday’s 13-6 loss to Cleveland, a setback that cost the Steelers (9-7) a chance to wrap up the division with a week to go. Now, Pittsburgh either needs to win or tie the Ravens (8-8) on Sunday night to win the AFC North for the first time since 2020. Tomlin doesn’t think Watt’s extended downtime will have a significant impact on the 31-year-old Watt’s stamina, should he be cleared to play. “I doubt that TJ is ever out of football shape or conditioning over the course of a 12-month calendar,” Tomlin said. “I just know how he lives his life and how he prepares and how thoughtful he is in terms of what he puts in his body and how we trains.” While Watt’s familiar No. 90 could return, massive tight end Darnell Washington is out indefinitely after having surgery on Monday for a broken arm suffered in the first half against the Browns. Tomlin did not rule out Washington’s potential availability should Pittsburgh advance to the playoffs, though the Steelers would likely need to make a deep run to have any chance of seeing the uniquely talented 6-foot-7, 300-plus-pound Washington in the huddle. Wide receiver Calvin Austin III (hamstring), veteran left guard Isaac Seumalo (triceps), cornerback Brandon Echols (groin) and cornerback James Pierre (calf) — all of whom sat out last week — could return against the Ravens. The Steelers will need as many healthy bodies available as possible, particularly on offense, to avoid a stunning late collapse. Pittsburgh sputtered in Cleveland without suspended wide receiver DK Metcalf, who will also sit out this week as punishment for making contact with a fan in Detroit earlier this month. Pittsburgh managed just 160 net yards passing against the Browns, a big chunk of it coming on a last-second drive that ended with Aaron Rodgers throwing incomplete in the end zone to wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on three consecutive plays. Rodgers had perhaps his best game of the season in Pittsburgh’s road win at Baltimore on Dec. 7, thanks in large part to a seven-catch, 148-yard performance from Metcalf. Downfield shots were nowhere to be found on a blustery day in Cleveland, where Rodgers’ longest completion was a 29-yarder to tight end Pat Freiermuth. While Tomlin allowed both teams will add a “wrinkle” or two in the rematch, the reality is scheme is unlikely to play a significant role in a series that has produced its fair share of memorable high-stakes meetings through the years. The stakes should keep the Steelers from having a hangover after letting the lowly Browns jump to an early 10-point lead before holding on. Asked if it was frustrating to lose to a team that came in with just three wins on the season with so much on the line, Tomlin shrugged. “Man, there’s a lot of things that you could get frustrated about in our business,” he said. “I’ve learned to kind of always move forward. My windshield is much bigger than my rearview.” Maybe, but there’s a chance the game could also be the 264th and final regular-season game of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ Hall of Fame-caliber career. The 42-year-old four-time MVP said over the summer that his 21st season could be his last, though he also said last week he feels as if he’s aging backward and has been relatively healthy save for a broken left wrist that forced him to sit out a loss to Chicago in late November. Rodgers said on Sunday that he expects Pittsburgh to recover and beat the Ravens. That inherent confidence is one of the reasons the Steelers spent months courting him in free agency last spring. “That’s one of the things that made him really attractive to us, that ‘can do’ attitude and the experience and resume that goes with it,” Tomlin said. “I don’t think it’s work for him. I think it is as natural as breathing. And so if he’s breathing, I expect to see that from him as we lean in on this game.” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL View the full article

Former Ravens greats Terrell Suggs and Marshal Yanda are among the 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. It marks the second straight year each has reached the doorstep of immortality and is within reach of a coveted gold jacket and bust in Canton, Ohio. Whether one or both are selected for enshrinement remains to be seen, though each has a solid case and chance. The other finalists are offensive tackle Willie Anderson, quarterback Drew Brees, guard Jahri Evans, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, running back Frank Gore, receiver Torry Holt, linebacker Luke Kuechly, quarterback Eli Manning, kicker Adam Vinatieri, receiver Reggie Wayne, defensive tackle Kevin Williams, tight end Jason Witten and safety Darren Woodson. Up to five players can be chosen, and each must receive 80% of the vote. As for Suggs and Yanda, their resumes stack up well. Suggs, drafted 10th overall out of Arizona State in 2003, was an All-Pro and the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 and was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection in his 17-year career. His 139 sacks rank eighth all-time, just behind Jason Taylor and just ahead of DeMarcus Ware, both of whom are in the Hall of Fame. Yanda, a third-round pick out of Iowa in 2007, was a two-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl selection. He was part of the 2010s NFL All-Decade Team. Both players were integral members of the Ravens’ Super Bowl 47 championship team, while Suggs also won a title with the Kansas City Chiefs in the final year of his career. The Class of 2026 will be announced at “NFL Honors” in San Francisco in February and enshrined in August. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Is Ravens’ John Harbaugh coaching for job against Steelers’ Mike Tomlin? Ravens coach John Harbaugh describes Browns-Steelers watch party: ‘Raucous’ Josh Tolentino: Start Huntley? Jackson must finish Ravens’ season. | COMMENTARY Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s availability for Steelers showdown is uncertain Panthers-Buccaneers matchup on Saturday isn’t quite winner-take-all View the full article

Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh are currently the two longest-tenured coaches in the NFL, with 19 and 18 hardened and mostly successful years between them. Yet, as the two men and their respective teams, the Steelers and Ravens, head toward a collision course Sunday night in Pittsburgh, the win-or-go-home nature of the affair could extend beyond who gets into the playoffs and who doesn’t. Already, questions about the future of each have percolated amid what has been disillusioning seasons for both clubs. Last week, following a loss to the New England Patriots in which Baltimore blew an 11-point fourth quarter lead and questions were raised about running back Derrick Henry’s lack of usage down the stretch, Harbaugh was asked if he expects to be back next season. He said only that coaching is a “day-to-day job” and anything beyond that he isn’t thinking about. Fast forward another week and despite a victory over the Green Bay Packers to keep the Ravens’ postseason prayers alive, part of the discourse on television and across social media again is centered around Harbaugh’s future. It’s only exacerbated with this week’s showdown against Tomlin and the Steelers, who could have clinched their first AFC North title since 2020 and eliminated Baltimore in one fell swoop with a win over the Browns in Cleveland on Sunday but instead failed to find the end zone and fell 13-6. As far as Harbaugh is concerned, though, he’s understandably not thinking about the future, at least beyond the Steelers game. “I just don’t really have the space for that,” he said Monday when asked if the game was a referendum on either. “It’s just not something that you have the ability to think about. It’s not important. If it was important and it had an impact and a bearing I think you’d think about it.” There are indeed more pressing issues at hand. Though the Ravens rallied from two games behind the Steelers with four to play last season to win the division and then knocked Pittsburgh out of the playoffs with a wild-card win at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore has dropped four of its past five trips to the Steel City. Perhaps just as concerning is the status of quarterback Lamar Jackson, who suffered a back contusion against the Patriots and hasn’t practiced since. Harbaugh said that Jackson’s availability for Sunday night is still to be determined and that he would know more on Wednesday. The Ravens are also just 1-3 in Pittsburgh in games which Jackson has started with their lone win there during that span coming in 2019. Still, questions over whether a fresh voice is needed in each city are like objects in a rear view mirror — closer than they appear — and are likely to move to the fore within minutes of the final whistle on Sunday. Take the Steelers’ embarrassing 26-7 loss at home to the Buffalo Bills late last month in which the offense sputtered after Pittsburgh had staked a 7-0 halftime lead before getting bulldozed in the final 30 minutes. During the fourth quarter, fans broke into a “Fire Tomlin!” chant. Unsurprisingly, Tomlin had a similar refrain as Harbaugh. “Man, I’ve been in the hot seat for 19 years,” he told reporters during his usual weekly news conference two days later. “I always feel like I got something to prove. Not necessarily to anyone in particular, but that’s just the spirit in which I go about what I do professionally.” On paper, both Harbaugh and Tomlin have fared quite well professionally. Related Articles Ravens coach John Harbaugh describes Browns-Steelers watch party: ‘Raucous’ Josh Tolentino: Start Huntley? Jackson must finish Ravens’ season. | COMMENTARY Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s availability for Steelers showdown is uncertain Panthers-Buccaneers matchup on Saturday isn’t quite winner-take-all Mike Preston: The Ravens have life. Thank the mediocre NFL. | COMMENTARY The former has a career record of 180–112, fourth-best among active coaches, with 13 playoff wins, four AFC title game appearances and a Super Bowl title in 2013. The latter has never had a losing season and is 192-114-2 to rank second all-time among current coaches. He’s also won eight playoff games, guided Pittsburgh to three AFC title games and two Super Bowls, including winning the title in 2009. The stains on their resumes have grown in recent years, though. The Ravens have just one AFC title game appearance during Jackson’s tenure, despite two NFL Most Valuable Player Awards for the quarterback. They have also regressed each of the past two seasons, getting knocked out in the divisional round of last year’s playoffs and being on the brink of missing them entirely this year in what has been a tumultuous season filled with angst and injury. The Steelers, meanwhile, haven’t won a playoff game since 2016 and are a woeful 3-10 in the postseason since getting to the Super Bowl in 2011. They blew last year’s division title and could be on the verge of doing the same again this year. But Harbaugh isn’t thinking about any of that. “It’s sports. That’s how sports are and I think that’s part of the intrigue of it all,” he said. “I feel really honored to be a part of that.” Like Tomlin, he added that there is always pressure, and reiterated tennis legend Billie Jean King’s famous line about pressure being a privilege, something he will embrace Sunday night in Pittsburgh, where his job could in some ways be on the line along with Tomlin’s. “That’s something that is earned,” Harbaugh said. “We feel like it’s something very worthwhile to be in games like this. “If those are the things that are being talked about along with that, that’s OK. That’s a privilege too. So, let’s get to work and let’s go try to play our best game, coach our best game.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Ravens coach John Harbaugh shakes hands with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin following a narrow Steelers win earlier this season. The winner of Sunday's game between the teams will make the playoffs, while the loser's season will end. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

For a moment, Ravens coach John Harbaugh blushed, nervous there might be some leaked footage of his reaction to the Browns upsetting the Steelers. Harbaugh jumped for joy. How could he not? The Ravens were playoff long shots for much of this year. In a 24-hour span, his team rose from the dead, winning a crucial bout in Green Bay on Saturday then getting the shocking result few anticipated a day later, which sets up a win-or-go-home regular season finale in Pittsburgh. “Everybody was jumping around and fired up and happy,” said Harbaugh, his team suddenly within arm’s reach of becoming the AFC North’s first three-peat division champs. Harbaugh invited coaches and players over to his house to toil through that emotional rollercoaster together. On a video posted by the team from the visiting locker room at historic Lambeau Field, Harbaugh promised to provide water, Gatorade and protein cookies for anyone interested. “We had fun but it was also a nail-biter,” Harbaugh said. It was a nail-biter by the end, but a sluggish affair for the better part of the afternoon. Viewership might have plummeted had the game not been gift wrapped by playoff implications. Or enlivened by an anecdote about Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley phoning Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the wee hours of the morning to, as Sanders said, “speak life into me.” Sanders barely did enough. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown. He also threw two interceptions. The win that saved Baltimore’s chances at an improbable opportunity to sneak into the playoffs came down to the final minutes. Harbaugh’s eyes stayed on the TV for a good chunk of that game. But at times, even he couldn’t bare to watch. With about seven minutes to go, Pittsburgh had the ball near midfield and went three-and-out. The Steelers got the ball back with two minutes left, still in need of a touchdown to win. Aaron Rodgers threw a quartet of incomplete passes and the ball was back with Cleveland. The Browns went three-and-out and kicked a field goal to make it 13-6, meaning the Steelers needed a touchdown and point-after to tie or two-point conversion to win. Win the game and their first division title since 2020. Rodgers would have one more shot at the kind of late game heroics he built a Hall of Fame career on. Harbaugh and his team watched the same thing we did: CBS Sports color commentator and former NFL quarterback Tony Romo insisting that situation is why the Steelers signed a now 42-year-old Rodgers. He drove Pittsburgh the length of the field, arriving inside the 10-yard line with 30 seconds left. Rodgers proceeded to throw three incomplete passes, the last of which was a fourth-down try against Cleveland’s best defender that never stood a chance. The reaction at Harbaugh’s house? “It was uncorked, man,” he said. “It was raucous. A lot of hugging.” Related Articles Josh Tolentino: Start Huntley? Jackson must finish Ravens’ season. | COMMENTARY Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s availability for Steelers showdown is uncertain Patriots win AFC East, Ravens stay alive and 49ers will battle Seahawks for No. 1 seed in NFC Mike Preston: The Ravens have life. Thank the mediocre NFL. | COMMENTARY Browns prevent Steelers from clinching AFC North with 13-6 win Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar posted on social media that watching Sunday’s matinee had him more nervous than any game he’s played in. That post came hours after he jokingly encouraged someone to call Myles Garrett “overrated,” hoping to light a fire under the future Hall of Fame pass rusher. Several other players posted to social media embracing their newfound, short-lived fandom. Harbaugh slipped out of coach mode for that game. He acted like every other Ravens fan watching what he described as “a great example of AFC North football.” He complained about play calls and criticized clock management. They even got superstitious. When the Browns executed on a string of positive plays early in the game, someone told Harbaugh he wasn’t allowed to move from the seat he was sitting in for fear that some cosmic being might interfere if the coach’s butt touched a different cushion. By sunset, the Browns had won. The Ravens live to see another week. “We’re appreciate of the opportunity it affords us,” Harbaugh said. “And it’s our job right now to prepare for it.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

Take a bow, Tyler Huntley. The sixth-year veteran backup quarterback certainly earned it. With the season in the balance, Huntley stepped into a must-win moment Saturday night and delivered. He played within the structure of the offense and trusted Baltimore’s necessary game plan of leaning on Derrick Henry during the team’s 41-24 victory at Green Bay. Huntley’s defining sequence featured his command of a 12-play, 85-yard march that was capped by his sharp 10-yard completion to Zay Flowers. Baltimore’s longest drive displayed Huntley at his best — decisive, poised and in control. John Harbaugh graded Huntley’s performance an “A+++.” The Ravens’ only two victories over winning teams (Chicago and Green Bay) this season have occurred with Huntley as the starter. Against the Packers, he also added a dynamic element Baltimore hasn’t consistently had at quarterback this year; Huntley had eight rushes for 60 yards, including the team’s first 20-yard quarterback run of the season. Huntley’s latest performance has sparked debate ahead of Sunday night’s winner-take-all trip to Pittsburgh: With the AFC North title and a playoff berth at stake, should the Ravens ride the hot hand? Former Ravens and longtime Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe posted Sunday on X: “Some might see this as a hot take, but IF* I’m the Ravens, I’m going with Huntley as my starter. King Henry getting at least 30 carries more IF* needed.” A recent email from one Baltimore Sun subscriber reads: “Regardless of what Lamar’s teammates say … without a doubt it’s time to move on from Lamar. I truly hope Huntley starts again Sunday for the Ravens, he has a quicker release then Lamar and can run faster then Lamar at this point. This organization has to be totally honest for once and rid themselves of a cancer that will continue to drag this franchise down.” It’s a fair question — and the wrong answer. Sure, Huntley was steady and deserving of praise. But even in a down year, this remains Jackson’s team. And if he is healthy enough to play, he must start the most important game of the season. Jackson suffered a back contusion during the team’s Week 16 loss to the Patriots. He did not practice all last week, was listed as doubtful and ultimately ruled inactive before kickoff against Green Bay. Ahead of Week 18 at Pittsburgh, the Ravens are scheduled to hold their first of three practice sessions on Wednesday, when clarity on Jackson’s availability should surface. On Monday, coach John Harbaugh labeled Jackson’s status for Sunday night’s game as “to be determined.” “He’s coming off a very serious injury,” Harbaugh said. “He’s working at it. I saw him here today working at it. I think we’ll know a lot more Wednesday. … If Lamar’s ready to go, he’s playing.” It really should not be that complicated. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s availability for Steelers showdown is uncertain Patriots win AFC East, Ravens stay alive and 49ers will battle Seahawks for No. 1 seed in NFC Mike Preston: The Ravens have life. Thank the mediocre NFL. | COMMENTARY Browns prevent Steelers from clinching AFC North with 13-6 win Ravens to play Steelers for AFC North title on ‘Sunday Night Football’ Mamba Mentality is a phrase often used by many professional athletes, including several inside the Ravens’ locker room. Superstars don’t sit out winner-take-all games when they’re healthy enough to play. Even if his mobility is compromised by multiple lower-body injuries amid a down season, Jackson is still the Ravens’ best option at quarterback. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is a far superior downfield passer than Huntley, particularly against a Steelers’ pass defense that ranks 29th in the NFL. Of course, the game plan shouldn’t change. Todd Monken’s play sheet must revolve around Henry, with an emphasis on physicality and controlling the line of scrimmage. Following his career outing at Green Bay, Henry is now up to 1,469 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns this season. The future Hall of Fame halfback needs just two more rushing touchdowns to set a new single-season career high. The Steelers are bound to create at least a couple of negative plays, but Monken and Harbaugh must express patience and stick to the team’s identity. The Ravens also inevitably will face critical downs, such as third-and-longs, and Jackson provides the offense the best chance in those situations during a de facto playoff game. “We’re playing a division championship game on Sunday, that’s what we’re doing the last week of the season,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a meaningful thing. We’ve worked hard to get to this position. There’s a lot of different paths in football and life. This is the path of the 2025 season. Here we are. Our goal is to make the most of it.” There’s also an organizational reality that can’t be ignored. Jackson is the highest-paid player in franchise history, carrying an average annual salary of $52 million. You do not sit a player of his stature in a division-clinching, season-defining game, no matter how well the backup and Jackson’s close friend performed in his absence. Huntley has done exactly what Baltimore needed him to do. He commendably protected the football and kept the season alive. Now, if Jackson is healthy enough, the responsibility returns to him in the NFL’s highly anticipated Game 272. The Ravens are chasing their third consecutive division title, a playoff berth and a chance to make up for a season that’s been widely defined as a massive disappointment. This unprecedented stage — Sunday night will mark the first time Baltimore and Pittsburgh will meet in the regular-season finale with the AFC North at stake — is meant for the franchise quarterback. Take a bow, Huntley. Then hand the huddle back to Jackson and let the Ravens live with the choice that gives them their best chance to win. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

Will he or won’t he? Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s status for Sunday night’s win-or-go-home game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh is still uncertain six days ahead of the showdown for the AFC North crown, coach John Harbaugh said Monday in Owings Mills. Jackson, 28, suffered a back injury after getting kneed by Patriots safety Craig Woodson in the second quarter of the Week 16 loss to New England. He hasn’t practiced since, and whether he will be able to play in the regular season finale is still to be determined. “He’s coming off a very serious injury and he’s working at it,” said Harbaugh, who added that Jackson was at the team’s facility rehabbing on Monday. “I think we’ll know a lot more on Wednesday.” Harbaugh did say that the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player has made significant progress physically since last week, however. “It was not good at all early in the week and he improved as the week went on,” he said. “That was cause for optimism.” Should Jackson not be able to take the field, it would mark the fifth game this season and second in a row he has missed because of injuries. He also missed three games earlier this season because of a hamstring injury. Other injuries have piled up, too, including to his knee, ankle and toe, resulting in Jackson missing at least one day of practice each of the past nearly two months. Tyler Huntley, who helped the Ravens to a must-win 41-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Saturday night to keep their playoff hopes alive, would start for the third time this season if Jackson does not play. He also started in Week 8, leading Baltimore to a 30-16 victory over the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium. In five appearances this season, Huntley has completed 77.6% of his passes for 426 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 151 yards on 24 carries. Jackson, meanwhile, has had an inconsistent campaign at best. In 12 games this year, he has completed just 63.7% of his passes, his lowest mark since 2022 and the second-lowest completion percentage of his career as the full-time starter. He has also thrown just 18 touchdown passes after a career-high 41 last season and his 192.6 passing yards per game is also his lowest average since 2022. Related Articles Patriots win AFC East, Ravens stay alive and 49ers will battle Seahawks for No. 1 seed in NFC Mike Preston: The Ravens have life. Thank the mediocre NFL. | COMMENTARY Browns prevent Steelers from clinching AFC North with 13-6 win Ravens to play Steelers for AFC North title on ‘Sunday Night Football’ 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-24 win over the Packers He has not been as dynamic with his legs, either. Jackson has rushed just 63 times for 340 yards, his 5.3 attempts per game easily the lowest average of his career by nearly three carries per contest. His two rushing touchdowns are also the fewest in his eight years, while his 5.4 yards rushing per attempt is his lowest mark since his rookie season. Still, despite Huntley’s success and Jackson’s struggles, there’s little question who will get the start if the latter is healthy enough. “If Lamar’s ready to go, he’s playing,” Harbaugh said. “That’s it, for sure.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

By ROB MAADDI The Patriots became the fourth team to clinch a division title, the Browns kept the Ravens alive and the 49ers moved closer toward a No. 1 seed. There’s plenty left to be settled before the NFL’s playoff schedule is set. Twelve of the 14 playoff berths have been secured and four teams are battling for the final two spots. Both No. 1 seeds are up for grabs and there could be two winner-take-all games in Week 18. New England (13-3) routed the Jets 42-10 on Sunday and later clinched the AFC East title when the Bills lost to the Eagles 13-12. The Patriots completed a worst-to-first turnaround under first-year coach Mike Vrabel. The NFC North champion Bears also went worst to first this season. Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers missed an opportunity to lock up the AFC North, losing 13-6 at Cleveland. Now, the division championship comes down to the final game when Baltimore (8-8) visits Pittsburgh (9-7). The winner advances; the loser is eliminated. That’s likely the scenario when Carolina (8-8) plays at Tampa Bay (7-9) next Saturday. If the Falcons lose or tie the Rams on Monday night, the Panthers-Buccaneers matchup will be winner-take-all. If Atlanta (6-9) wins its final two games, the Panthers are in the playoffs regardless of what happens against Tampa Bay because they hold the three-team tiebreaker. San Francisco’s 42-38 victory over Chicago set up a showdown against Seattle next Saturday night for the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed. The Broncos (13-3), Patriots, Jaguars (12-4), Texans (11-5), Chargers (11-5) and Bills (11-5) have secured playoff spots in the AFC. The Seahawks (13-3), Bears (11-5), Eagles (11-5), 49ers (12-4), Rams (11-4) and Packers (9-6-1) are heading to the NFC playoffs. Here’s the updated playoff picture: AFC East New England won its first division title since Tom Brady led the franchise to 11 straight from 2009-19. The Patriots would secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win over Miami and a loss or tie by Denver against the Chargers or a tie against the Dolphins and a loss by the Broncos. Buffalo’s run of five consecutive division crowns ended, but the Bills will be the No. 5, 6 or 7 seed. AFC North The Steelers beat the Ravens 27-22 at Baltimore on Dec. 7. They have to beat them again or tie them next Sunday night without wide receiver DK Metcalf and probably without star edge rusher T.J. Watt. Derrick Henry and backup quarterback Tyler Huntley led the Ravens to a win at Green Bay on Saturday night that kept Baltimore in the race and made Pittsburgh’s loss to Cleveland matter. Lamar Jackson’s status is unknown for the do-or-die game against the Steelers due to a back injury. AFC South Jacksonville wins the division with a win or tie against the Titans or a loss coupled with Houston losing or tying the Colts. The Texans would win the division with a victory over the Colts and a loss by the Jaguars. AFC West The Broncos have already won the division, ending Kansas City’s nine-year run. Denver can secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win against the Chargers or a loss by New England to Miami. Los Angeles will be the No. 5, 6 or 7 seed. NFC East The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles became the first team to win this division in consecutive seasons in two decades. They’ll be the NFC’s No. 2 or 3 seed. NFC North The Bears clinched their first division championship since 2018. They will be the No. 2 or 3 seed. The Packers are locked into the No. 7 seed. NFC South The Panthers beat the Buccaneers 23-20 at home last week. They missed a chance to clinch the division by losing 27-20 to Seattle. Tampa Bay’s 20-17 loss to Miami means the Bucs need the Falcons to lose to the Rams or Saints in order to have a shot at winning their fifth straight division crown. Atlanta is already eliminated, but the Falcons give the Panthers a tiebreaker edge over the Buccaneers if the three teams finish 8-9. The Buccaneers hold a two-team tiebreaker advantage over Carolina. NFC West The 49ers beat the Seahawks 17-13 in Week 1. If they beat them again, San Francisco will earn a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Niners could become the third team to play for a Super Bowl in their home stadium. Seattle secures the division title and the No. 1 seed with a win or tie against the 49ers. The Rams will be the No. 5 or 6 seed. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl View the full article

The Pittsburgh Steelers waited until near the end of the season to fold, but they pulled the predictable in losing, 13-6, to the Browns in Cleveland on Sunday. With the loss, the Ravens now travel to Pittsburgh for the final game of the regular season next weekend with the winner claiming the AFC North title. You knew this was going to happen. The NFL has become the WWE, and the script for the final game of the 2025 regular season will probably be played out before a national audience. The Ravens will win. In fact, they might even embarrass Pittsburgh. The Steelers will be without top receiver DK Metcalf, who will be serving the second of a league imposed two-game suspension for an altercation with a fan in Detroit, and top defensive end T.J. Watt will be slowed recovering from a lung injury. With no Metcalf, the Steelers don’t have anyone who can challenge the Ravens’ cornerbacks on the outside. Regardless, this hasn’t been a strong showing by the NFL this season. The games haven’t been entertaining, and downright embarrassing at times because of the quality of play and injuries to star players. I prefer those days when Green Bay was the dominant team of the 1960s, and Pittsburgh ruled the 1970s followed by San Francisco in the 1980s and Dallas a decade later. But the NFL salary cap, initiated in 1994, created this parity and insanity. There will be no Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs or even Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, who had become household names. There are still some established signal callers such as Buffalo’s Josh Allen, but make way for Denver’s Bo Nix, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert, the Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud and the New England Patriots’ Drake Maye. Related Articles Browns prevent Steelers from clinching AFC North with 13-6 win Ravens to play Steelers for AFC North title after Browns stun Pittsburgh 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-24 win over the Packers Josh Tolentino: Derrick Henry saves Ravens, but what took so long? | COMMENTARY Ravens QB Tyler Huntley delivers with season in balance: ‘What you need’ As for the quality of play, it’s been super boring, and Cleveland’s win against Pittsburgh has become the standard. There really aren’t 32 good quarterbacks in the NFL, which is a major reason the Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers, 42, and the Indianapolis Colts added Philip Rivers, 44, to their roster. But it goes along with the flow of the league. The poor teams in 2024 got a weaker schedule in 2025, as the Patriots went from 4-13 a year ago to 13-3 this season while the Chicago Bears jumped from 5-12 to 11-4 and the Jaguars improved from 4-13 to 12-4. That’s parity, but the preference is for good evaluations of talent, drafting and schematics. The NFL is in topsy-turvy state. Just look at the Ravens. They started this season with a 1-5 record courtesy of injuries and a strong schedule, but now they have a shot at the playoffs. To complicate matters, there is uncertainty surrounding the status of quarterback Lamar Jackson (back contusion) and whether he will play next weekend or possibly be held out for the postseason if the Ravens beat Pittsburgh. In all honesty, it’s a sign of how the league has fallen when a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player can miss four games and his team still has a shot at the postseason. It’s good in one way, not so good in the other. The eventual demise of the Steelers had to come soon. In 2024, they lost their last four games of the regular season before falling to Baltimore, 28-14, in the wild-card round. The Ravens will do a number on Pittsburgh again in Week 18. Rodgers looks lost without Metcalf. Plus, in the past two games, the Ravens’ brain trust has finally figured out that they need to run super closer Derrick Henry, who rushed 36 times for 216 yards and four touchdowns against Green Bay on Saturday night in a 41-24 victory. Imagine that. It’s been like getting former Ravens coach Brian Billick to transfer to “the dark side” before the team’s 2000 title run. The Ravens’ defense is still very suspect. They were ranked 30th before the Green Bay game, and they still have problems as far as coverage and rushing the quarterback one week before the regular season finale. The Ravens will struggle against some of the better quarterbacks in the conference, but at least now they have a shot. It might be one-and-done in the postseason, but there are no super teams anymore. Every good team in the AFC has a weakness, and that’s what has made the 2025 regular season one of the strangest in NFL history. And the Ravens still should make the playoffs. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. The Ravens' defense struggled to stop Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis on Saturday night. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) View the full article

CLEVELAND — Shedeur Sanders threw for 186 yards and a touchdown, Cleveland’s defense kept Pittsburgh out of the end zone and the Browns held on for a 13-6 victory on Sunday, preventing the Steelers from clinching the AFC North. Pittsburgh (9-7) came into the weekend needing either a win or loss by Baltimore for its first division title since 2020. Instead, the Steelers will host the Ravens to close the regular season with the winner getting the division title and the AFC’s fourth seed in the playoffs. The Browns (4-12) ended a four-game losing streak, along with a seven-game skid in division games. It is the first time since Dec. 10, 2009, that the Browns defeated the Steelers and held them without a touchdown. Cleveland scored on its first two possessions and jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Sanders completed 17 of 23 passes, including a touchdown and two interceptions as he improved to 2-4 as an NFL starting quarterback. Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. scored a touchdown for the third time in four games and Andre Szmyt had two field goals, including one from 33 yards that put the Browns up 13-6 with 1:40 remaining. Pittsburgh got the ball at its 35 after a touchback. Rodgers got the Steelers to the Browns 11 in four plays, including completions of 29 and 11 yards to tight end Pat Freiermuth. A 3-yard completion to Adam Thielen on first-and-10 got the Steelers to the Browns 7, but Rodgers was unable to connect with Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the next three plays. Denzel Ward blanketed Valdes-Scantling on a pass to the right corner of the end zone on fourth-and-7 with 17 seconds remaining as Pittsburgh turned it over on downs. Myles Garrett was held without a sack for the first time in 10 games. He remains at 22 and needs one against Cincinnati next week to surpass Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt for the single-season NFL mark. The Browns scored on their opening possession for the second straight game on Szmyt’s 50-yard field goal. After Pittsburgh went three-and-out, Cleveland got into the end zone on the ensuing series when Fannin caught a 28-yard TD pass from Sanders to make it 10-0. Fannin adjusted his route as the ball hung in the air. He caught it at the 1 before rolling into the end zone with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter. Fannin aggravated his groin injury on the play and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Fannin originally suffered the injury during Friday’s practice. The Steelers closed within 10-6 at halftime on a pair of field goals by Chris Boswell. Pittsburgh appeared to go three-and-out on its second drive, but Cleveland’s Rayshawn Jenkins was called for taunting. Boswell connected from 44 yards early in the second quarter to put the Steelers on the board. He added a 40-yard field goal on the last play of the first half. Boswell was short on a 54-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter after Alex Wright sacked Rodgers for a 5-yard loss at the Browns 36 on third-and-14. Second guessing Pittsburgh wasted a prime scoring chance with 2:46 remaining in the first half when it turned it over on downs at the Cleveland 22 when Rodgers wasn’t able to connect with Scotty Miller on a pass to the end zone on fourth-and-1. The Steelers drive started at the Browns 31 when rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer, who went to Ohio State, picked off Sanders’ pass at the Pittsburgh 42 and returned it 27 yards into Cleveland territory. Injuries Steelers: TE Darnell Washington (forearm) left in the second quarter. Browns: Besides Fannin, G Wyatt Teller aggravated a calf injury in the first quarter. G Tevin Jenkins suffered a concussion during the fourth quarter. Up next Steelers: host Baltimore next weekend Browns: at Cincinnati to finish the season. View the full article

The Ravens are still alive, and they have the city and organization from which they were spawned from 30 years ago to thank for it. Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders called Baltimore backup quarterback and former Cleveland teammate Tyler Huntley on Sunday morning, perhaps seeking some sage advice as he prepared to take on the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the penultimate week of the NFL regular season. Then he went out and threw for 186 yards and a touchdown, while Cleveland’s stifling defense held the Steelers out of the end zone as the Browns pulled off an improbable 13-6 upset win at Huntington Bank Field for what was just the fourth win of the season for Cleveland. More importantly for the Ravens (8-8), it means they still have a chance to make the playoffs. They will play the Steelers (9-7) next weekend in Pittsburgh, where the winner will be crowned AFC champs and advance to the playoffs and the loser will go home wondering what went so shockingly wrong. Though the Ravens already lost to the Steelers earlier this season, if they beat Pittsburgh for a season split, they would win their third straight division title via tiebreaker after finishing one game better against common opponents. It also marks the first time in the long and storied history between the teams that they will meet in a winner-take-all scenario in the final week of the regular season. This latest opportunity for the Ravens only even became possible because of their emphatic 41-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Saturday night to stay alive. Derrick Henry rushed for 216 yards and a career high four touchdowns on 36 carries, also a career high, while Huntley — filling in for the injured Lamar Jackson, who was out with a back injury — played what coach John Harbaugh called an “A-plus-plus” game in what was his second start of the season, both Ravens wins over above-.500 teams. “It was just a heart-defining win is what that was,” Harbaugh said afterward. “I am very proud of these guys, very grateful for this game [and] very grateful for this win. “I just think the belief on this football team is at a level that I’ve never really seen before, because we’ve been through a lot. It just makes my heart soar to see that and to see how these guys respond, how they’re there for one another, how they fight for one another, how they run the ball for one another; that’s what a team should be.” Still, the Ravens had to wait until the following afternoon to learn their fate. Harbaugh offered to host players for a watch party at his Owings Mills house. Henry said that he planned to watch the game and pray. Tight end Charlie Kolar wrote on X of the Browns and their star pass rusher, “Someone in the Browns locker room go tell Myles Garrett he’s overrated and there’s absolutely NO WAY he gets to 30 sacks today.” Garrett and Baltimore native Jim Schwartz’s defense then did its part, and so did Sanders, whom the Ravens were reportedly interested in selecting in the fifth round of this past April’s NFL draft before the quarterback made it known that he wanted to go somewhere he could play rather than be a backup to Jackson. Now thanks to them, Jackson has a chance to return for what will be one more meaningful regular season game with Baltimore looking to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021, when Jackson was unable to finish the regular season because of a season-ending ankle injury. Jackson’s availability for Week 18 remains uncertain. Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-24 win over the Packers Josh Tolentino: Derrick Henry saves Ravens, but what took so long? | COMMENTARY Ravens QB Tyler Huntley delivers with season in balance: ‘What you need’ NFL playoff picture: Ravens stay alive, Bears and Broncos clinch division titles The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 41-24 win over Packers This season has been a tumultuous one in a different way for the Ravens. Favored to win the Super Bowl going into the year, they stumbled to a 1-5 start and endured underwhelming performances, injuries, discord among some players in the locker room and questions over coaching and play calling. None of that matters now, though, after the Browns beat the Steelers in Cleveland for the fourth straight time. The Steelers’ latest loss there came with star pass rusher T.J. Watt out because of a partially collapsed lung suffered earlier this month and their top two receivers, suspended star DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III, who suffered a hamstring injury last week. What the availability of most of that group will be next week remains to be seen, but Pittsburgh will at least be without Metcalf for another game after he lost an appeal over a two-game suspension for getting into an altercation with a fan during last week’s win over the Lions in Detroit. It’s a significant blow for what is has been an up-and-down offense. The last time the Steelers played the Ravens, Metcalf had a team-high seven catches for 148 yards. Now the teams will meet again with much more at stake. “We have a bunch of fighters in this room [and] in this organization that refused to give up,” Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said Saturday night. They’ll get to prove it at least one more time. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

For at least a few more hours, the Ravens’ razor-thin playoff hopes remain alive. They beat the Packers, 41-24, in what coach John Harbaugh called a “heart-defining win;” one that may not matter by Sunday at dusk. Here are five things we learned from the game: Derrick Henry affirmed what we already knew: He should have gotten the ball. He knew it. They knew it. We all knew it. “Oh, I got it today,” Derrick Henry laughed behind a tired exhale. His workload has been a point of contention lately. Last week, with their season on the line and superstar quarterback sidelined by injury, the Ravens left their future Hall of Fame running back stashed in the holster. Henry, one of the NFL’s all-time closers, was on the sideline for the final eight offensive plays of Baltimore’s fourth-quarter collapse against the Patriots. A few weeks prior, in a Thanksgiving night loss, he logged just 10 carries. Both losses proved body blows to Baltimore’s playoff hopes and elicited a week’s worth of criticism wondering why. It might have come too late, but the Ravens finally learned their lesson. They gave him the ball. On Sunday night at historic Lambeau Field, Henry played with what looked more like bottled up frustration, unleashing his powers on a depleted Packers defense to the tune of — sit down for this — four touchdowns and 216 yards on 36 carries, all season highs. “It’s one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen,” Harbaugh said. Henry now holds the NFL record for most 200-yard performances (7). He leap-frogged Tony Dorsett for sole possession of 10th place on the NFL’s career rushing leaderboard. He moved to No. 4 all-time in rushing touchdowns. The list goes on. The Ravens force-fed Henry. With Lamar Jackson out (back), they needed to. He was a revelation. At halftime, Packers coach Matt LaFleur told Peacock sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen that the Ravens “big boyed us” and “that’s about as bad as we can play.” Henry was the catalyst in an older-brother-style tormenting. Most importantly, he was the closer Baltimore needed. The fourth quarter was his most productive frame, turning nine carries into 70 yards and a touchdown. “I might be a little sore tomorrow, but I’m built for it,” Henry said. “This is what I train for.” Harbaugh admitted the Ravens were “intentional” about committing to the run. It was a “main deal” during the week’s preparation. Perhaps that’s because Green Bay ranked near the bottom of the league in rushing yards allowed the past month (so did New England). Or because of the blowback for not utilizing Henry last week. Either way, it prolonged Baltimore’s season – for now. Tyler Huntley was a more than serviceable understudy Jackson grabbed a foam cheese grater, a popular prop for teams who outduel the cheeseheads, and crowned backup quarterback Tyler Huntley. Tight end Isaiah Likely let Huntley savor the moment before he grabbed the grater and ordained Henry, who admirably shredded Green Bay’s defense. Henry gifted it back to Huntley, a show of recognition for the fill-in quarterback who kept the train on the tracks. Harbaugh graded the performance an A+++. “It couldn’t have been any better,” he said. “I just thought he had some clutch plays – the kind of plays that you have to make.” Baltimore’s game plan didn’t complicate the offense. Huntley wasn’t called on to take deep shots or pilot solo hero missions. The Ravens were playing a game with their season down to its final breath, absent their two-time Most Valuable Player at quarterback, who Harbaugh said is dealing with a “legitimate and very painful” back contusion, and they got more than they could have hoped for from Huntley. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: Derrick Henry saves Ravens, but what took so long? | COMMENTARY Ravens QB Tyler Huntley delivers with season in balance: ‘What you need’ NFL playoff picture: Ravens stay alive, Bears and Broncos clinch division titles The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 41-24 win over Packers Ravens ride Derrick Henry to 41-24 win over Packers to keep playoff hopes alive The 27-year-old career backup resuscitated hope by throwing for 107 yards, completing 16 of 20 passes. He was “stone cold,” tight end Mark Andrews said. Huntley efficiently used his arm and legs to keep the offense on schedule. Twice on crucial third-downs, he scrambled ahead of the sticks. One of which put the Ravens on the fringe of the red zone in the fourth quarter. Five plays later, he’d connect his best strike of the night: a 10-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers. Huntley noticed one-on-one man coverage pre-snap. “I knew once he ran that crisp route, I could just let it rip,” Huntley said. That was a defining fourth-quarter score, erecting a two-score lead by capitalizing on the kind of drive the Ravens have repeatedly failed to this season. Huntley’s other third-down conversion set the Ravens up with first down, 25 yards from the end zone, in the game’s waning minutes. Henry took care of the rest. Huntley wasn’t so sure when exactly he was told he’d be starting in place of the injured Jackson. But Huntley handled first-team reps all week and proved ready, like he did his last start in Week 8, to maintain the integrity of this Jenga tower offense. The Ravens didn’t punt until after halftime. They scored points on seven of eight drives, albeit against a troubled Packers defense, while chomping considerable bites of clock. And they didn’t turn the ball over once. “He was tremendous, holy smokes,” center Tyler Linderbuam said. “The way he came out today and the way he performed, he got us out of some really critical situations and made a lot of plays. That’s what you need. “When ‘L’ is down, we have to have someone step up and fill that role. ‘Snoop’ did a tremendous job tonight, and we have the most confidence in him.” This Ravens defense was believed to have turned a corner. They could never fully contain playoff teams in prime time. The Bills hung 41. The Lions bludgeoned their way to 38. The Bengals had few issues reaching 32. The Patriots muscled two fourth-quarter scoring drives to get to 28. And the Packers, piloted by a nifty backup quarterback, still burnt them in the passing game for 24. Harbaugh said after the fact that it was “shocking” to see how “discombobulated” the pass defense looked trying to slow down Malik Willis. “It was just crazy ‘how-did-this-happen’ kind of plays,” he said. Those aforementioned showings are a damning sample size of prime-time games. Baltimore’s only outlier was a Thursday night beatdown against the Dolphins in late October. It’s not just when stadium lights flick on. Entering Sunday, the Ravens ranked 31st in the NFL in defensive performances against playoff teams. Even against a playoff-bound Packers team without multiple offensive starters, including quarterback Jordan Love (concussion), the Ravens didn’t have many answers for Green Bay’s air raid. That was clear from the jump. Packers quarterback Malik Willis runs for a touchdown against the Ravens. Baltimore's defense struggled to slow down Green Bay's backup quarterback. (Morry Gash/AP) On the Packers’ first play from scrimmage, Willis dropped a perfect throw into Romeo Doubs’ mitts 40 yards upfield. The next snap not blown dead for a penalty saw Willis connect with a streaking Christian Watson for a no-doubt, 39-yard touchdown. The Ravens had just chewed eight minutes on a scoring drive. The Packers punched back in 70 seconds courtesy of Willis’ two longest passes of the year. Willis, who left early after aggravating a shoulder injury, went on to rush for two touchdowns. He picked on Ravens cornerbacks Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey in particular. Willis completed six of seven throws of 20-plus air yards. He was a perfect two for two between 10 and 20 yards. “I have to give Malik Willis a lot of credit,” Harbaugh said. “We had him [under pressure] in the pocket numerous times, and he got out and made plays. That’s probably the biggest thing. All those things are things that they had to overcome, and I’m glad we did finally at the end.” The Ravens did clock two turnovers. Neither was particularly impressive. The first, a Mike Green fumble recovery, was aided by a mistimed snap that smacked off Willis’ facemask and fell to the grass. The other, a throw from practice squad quarterback Clayton Tune that skipped through Bo Melton’s hands and Humphrey picked it out of the air. “We were a little on our heels,” Harbaugh said. “I thought it was led by [Roquan Smith] and Kyle [Hamilton] and those guys; they did a good job of kind of taking a deep breath, took a breath, got it figured out and started playing a little better.” To beat the Steelers’ starters and — if they do sneak into the postseason — win a playoff game, they’ll need to truly turn that corner. Ravens tried something new in electing to receive Conventional wisdom has long suggested the team who wins the opening coin toss elect to defer. Best case scenario, that team can position itself to have the ball last before halftime and first after the break. Before Sunday, 10 of the Ravens’ opponents have scored points on their opening drive this season. Six of them started with the ball. The Ravens, who generally defer to the second half, won the coin toss and surprisingly decided to take the ball. “We don’t always do that,” Harbaugh said, after the fact. The Ravens have spent a large chunk of this season playing from behind. Be it early or late in games, the clock has rarely been their friend. Harbaugh said his decision to take the ball first was twofold: “It was to try to get the lead, and I thought we could do it, but also the wind, because that wind was howling in that one direction down there, so the bonus to that was we would have the wind in the fourth quarter at our back for Tyler Loop if we needed it.” Ravens coach John Harbaugh speaks to reporters after Saturday's 41-24 win over the Packers. Harbaugh and Baltimore elected to receive the opening kickoff, a piece of strategy that paid off in the 17-point win. (Matt Ludtke/AP) It was about 36 degrees at kickoff in Green Bay but felt below freezing. Harbaugh thought by leaning on their ground game, they could manufacture points early and play with a lead. Then later, if it came down to it, use the wind to their advantage. On Baltimore’s opening drive, the Ravens marched 80 yards on 13 plays. Henry was responsible for a bulk of that production. It took eight minutes and five seconds, their longest scoring drive of the season. But it worked, injecting early juice in a game they desperately needed it. By halftime, the Ravens were winning the time of possession battle by more than a quarter. Green Bay scored with about 90 seconds remaining before halftime. But the Ravens answered in quick succession, a seven-play touchdown drive that put them up two scores. Huntley called it a “key” momentum swing, knowing the Packers would get it back after the break. “We got the time of possession today that we hadn’t had in other games sometimes,” Harbaugh said, “so I am just really proud of that. I think that’s the difference.” Now, we wait The Steelers and Browns meet Sunday at 1 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohio. The Ravens’ season rides on a game they’ll be watching on TV. If the Browns win, Baltimore will have squeaked its way into a Week 18 clash of epic proportions. Expect that to be flexed into a prime-time slot with the AFC North title at stake. If the Steelers win, Week 18 will not matter; the Ravens’ season will be over, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021. “I’m trying to make it out of here so I can call [Browns quarterback] Shedeur [Sanders] real quick,” Huntley joked, “make sure he can get it done.” Added Henry: “I’ll be watching and praying for sure.” And Harbaugh: “It’s out of our control, we understand that. But we did our part.” The Ravens put themselves in this situation. They’ll spend Sunday hoping the Browns can help dig them out. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article