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Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton suffered an ankle injury during practice Friday in Owings Mills and is listed as questionable for Sunday night’s showdown against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium. If Hamilton’s ability is limited at all that could put a strain on Baltimore’s secondary as well as the pass rush and near the line of scrimmage, where the versatile All-Pro has often been deployed this season. Baltimore is already without rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in last week’s win over the Bengals in Cincinnati. New England also has one of the league’s most potent offenses. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is sixth in the NFL in passing with 3,567 yards to go with 23 touchdowns and just seven interceptions, and his 70.9% completion rate is tops in the league. Speedy rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson also has 773 rushing yards and seven touchdowns to go with 34 catches for 212 yards and another score. Hamilton is not the only player in the secondary dealing with an injury, either. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie is listed as doubtful with a foot injury that he suffered last week after getting his foot caught in the netting near the goalpost at Paycor Stadium, coach John Harbaugh said. Awuzie didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday and was limited Friday. “I think Chido’s going to be iffy,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll have to see how it goes up until the game.” Defensive tackle John Jenkins (illness) and left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee/ankle) are also questionable, though both have a good chance to play. The Patriots, meanwhile, will be without their top tackler, linebacker Robert Spillane (left foot/ankle), who was ruled out. That’s a notable loss for a defense that is one of the better units in the league, ranking sixth in points and yards allowed per game, though the defense has struggled more of late. “He’s one of those guys that people want to make assumptions about, then all he does is go out there and make every single tackle — that’s kind of who he is,” Harbaugh said of Spillane. “So, it’s a factor, but they have a lot of good players on defense. They play really well together. They have a really good linebacking corps. [They are] just a bunch of athletic guys, physical guys. So, I don’t think it’s going to change their style too much at all.” Related Articles ‘December Derrick’ Henry is a proven threat. Will Ravens take advantage? Ravens vs. Patriots scouting report for Week 16: Who has the edge? Ravens vs. Patriots staff picks: Who will win Sunday night in Baltimore? Josh Tolentino: Ravens owe fans better at home. Now’s the time. | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Lamar Jackson tries to explain struggling offense: ‘Inconsistency’ Outside linebacker Harold Landry (knee), cornerbacks Marcus Jones (knee) and Carlton Davis III (hip) and defensive tackle Christian Barmore (NIR-rest) are all questionable. Landry, Jones and Davis were all limited on Friday, while Barmore didn’t practice. Both Jones and Davis told reporters, however, that they plan to play. Jones, 27, leads the Patriots with 11 passes defended and three interceptions, while Davis ranks second on the team with nine passes defended after signing a three-year, $60 million deal in free agency. Landry leads the Patriots with 8 1/2 sacks this season after following coach Mike Vrabel from Tennessee. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

In Tennessee, they called him “Dehember.” In Baltimore, the nickname has evolved into “December Derrick.” Derrick Henry has built a reputation on late-season dominance. The numbers support it. The Ravens’ running back has consistently saved some of his best work for December, dating to his Titans days. This season could follow the same script. Henry rolled up 100 yards on just 11 carries last Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, the latest example of his cold-weather surge. He has now posted 16 games of 100-plus yards in December, more than in any other month of his career. With Baltimore’s offense searching for consistency and the Ravens fighting for playoff positioning with three games remaining, those performances could again prove critical. Maybe it’s the colder temperatures. Maybe it’s worn-down defenses. Or maybe the 10th-year running back simply flips a switch when the calendar turns. “I don’t know what it is, but it hope it continues on Sunday,” Henry, who turns 32 on Jan. 4, said ahead of a matchup against the New England Patriots (11-3). Derrick Henry's rushing and scoring performance compared with his career. (Michael Howes/Staff) Henry averages 92.8 rushing yards per game in December, the second-most of any month during the NFL season. Only January carries a higher average (143) in just a five-game sample size. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken said that Henry’s late-season success isn’t tied solely to cold weather, but to game flow. As temperatures drop, Monken said that the running game naturally becomes more prominent, especially when Baltimore is playing with the lead. Henry’s physical style wears down defenses over the course of games, particularly in the second half. Monken pointed to late-season performances and playoff matchups in recent years as examples of how controlling the game allows Henry to become even more difficult to stop. In his first playoff game with Baltimore last year, Henry rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown in the first half as the Ravens took a 21-0 lead over the Steelers at halftime. He added 86 yards in the second half, including a 44-yard score, in a 28-14 wild-card victory. In Baltimore’s recent 24-0 win over Cincinnati, 83 of Henry’s 100 rushing yards came in the second half after the Ravens took a 14-0 lead into halftime. He opened Baltimore’s first drive of the half with runs of 29 and 24 yards. “He’s a threat no matter what the temperature is. But I do think that as the temperature drops or the weather changes, the running game certainly comes to the forefront,” Monken said. “He’s a hard guy to tackle.” Derrick Henry's rushing yards per game. (Michael Howes/Staff) It has been a quiet 1,000-yard season for Henry, who takes 1,125 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns into Sunday night’s matchup against the Patriots. He opened the season with a fumble in three consecutive games. The 1-2 start was punctuated by Henry falling onto the sideline bench after slamming his helmet in frustration in a 38-30 loss to the Lions on Monday night. There hasn’t been a fumble since. Henry is averaging his second-fewest rushing attempts per game (16.6) since his first Pro Bowl season in 2019. Baltimore used Henry more modestly through the first 14 games last season at 18.1 carries per game, before increasing that workload to 23.7 over the final three regular-season games and 21 carries per game in two playoff games. Henry’s rushing workload has fluctuated over the past four weeks, ranging from 25 and 21 carries to just 10 and 11. “I haven’t really thought about all that,” Henry said of his lower rushing attempts this season. “I take care of my body so I’m prepared each and every week. I’m ready to go.” Derrick Henry's touchdowns. (Michael Howes/Staff) The Ravens remain one game behind the Steelers in the AFC North with three games remaining, a scenario that could prompt an increase in Henry’s workload, much as it did late last season. Baltimore faces New England and Green Bay (9-4-1) needing to keep pace with the Steelers ahead of a Week 18 clash in Pittsburgh that could decide the division. And if Baltimore reaches the postseason, Henry is dominant in January. That includes a 195-yard performance in the Titans’ stunning win over the top-seeded Ravens in the 2019 AFC divisional round. Center Tyler Linderbaum said that Henry’s physical presence is what makes him so difficult to stop, especially late in the season. Once Henry reaches the second level, Linderbaum said, few defensive backs are eager to take him on, a challenge that only intensifies in cold weather. Related Articles Ravens vs. Patriots scouting report for Week 16: Who has the edge? Ravens vs. Patriots staff picks: Who will win Sunday night in Baltimore? Josh Tolentino: Ravens owe fans better at home. Now’s the time. | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Lamar Jackson tries to explain struggling offense: ‘Inconsistency’ The Ravens benched LB Trenton Simpson. Now they need him. Former Titans and current Patriots coach Mike Vrabel echoed that sentiment, calling Henry a “unique” player because of his blend of size, speed and strength. “He’s just a different body type than what anybody would go against,” Vrabel said. “We know what he’s about. Build, speed and stiff arm.” Henry hasn’t tried to explain the late-season pattern. But as December winds down and the Ravens try to push toward the postseason, the calendar could offer the same reminder again this season: when the games get colder, and more meaningful, Henry tends to be at his most dangerous. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. View the full article

The Ravens kept their playoff hopes alive with a resounding victory in Cincinnati. The competition stiffens in another must-win game Sunday night against the 11-win New England Patriots. Who will have the advantage? Ravens passing game vs. Patriots pass defense Lamar Jackson has never lost a game that he’s started in the final four weeks of the regular season. He’s a perfect 16-0. This home stretch will be as important a December schedule as he’s had, with the Ravens’ margin for error nearly nonexistent. Lucky for Baltimore, Jackson’s stretch of odd and uncharacteristic outings might be behind him. He endured a five-game rough patch without completing more than 60% of his passes. Various lower body injuries restricted his ability to make plays with his legs, too. This past weekend, Jackson was an efficient 8 of 12 with two vintage scoring drives. His best football of the season might be ahead of him. The Patriots have a good defense, but they aren’t world beaters. Plus, four defensive starters missed practice all week. Since Week 8, they have 11 sacks, which is the second fewest in the league over that span. And they don’t force takeaways at a high clip. When the Ravens aren’t beating themselves, those are the two categories that have hurt them the most in losses. EDGE: Ravens Patriots passing game vs. Ravens pass defense Two prominent gambling sites, DraftKings and FanDuel, give Drake Maye the second-best odds to be named the NFL Most Valuable Player. The 23-year-old was the frontrunner until last week, when the Patriots’ 10-game winning streak ended against Buffalo. Maye has the best completion rate in the NFL (70.9%), and he’s top five in passing yards (3,567), passing touchdowns (23) and yards per completion (8.7). “I’m going to be honest, I’m really impressed with Drake Maye,” Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “I’m like, man, this guy’s in his second year, and he has full control of the whole offense. He’s running the show. Nobody’s telling him what to do. All the responsibility is on him, which is impressive. You really don’t see that with second-year guys, especially somebody in their first year in a new system.” On the flip side, Maye has been sacked 43 times. Defenses brought him down three times in each of the past two weeks. Some of that can be chalked up to losing his blindside blocker, rookie left tackle Will Campbell, to injury. Still, Maye is considered one of the best deep ball threats in football. He’s first in DVOA on deep passes of 16 or more air yards. Baltimore’s best hope is to disrupt the MVP candidate like they did against Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. EDGE: Patriots Ravens running game vs. Patriots run defense There is no clearer an advantage for the Ravens in this game than their rushing attack against New England’s run defense. Derrick Henry is coming off his most efficient outing of the year: 9.1 yards per attempt, churning out 100 yards on just 11 attempts. No surprise, he’s at his best when the temperature drops and the pressure heats up. Keaton Mitchell has been an admirable complementary carrier. He’s eclipsed 8 yards per carry on eight or fewer attempts in each of his past three outings. Tasked with stopping Baltimore’s version of Sonic and Knuckles is a New England run defense which has plummeted in recent weeks. Nine games into this season, the Patriots ranked third in EPA/rush (-0.14) and yards per carry (3.6). The Patriots are 29th (+0.07) and 26th (4.8), respectively, over the past five games. EDGE: Ravens Patriots running game vs. Ravens run defense As Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton put it, New England is going to keep running “until you stop it.” Maye can extend plays with his legs. TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson account for a top half of the league ground game. All three have combined for 14 rushing scores. Henderson and Stevenson “can gash you for big runs and also run downhill and get out of the backfield, so it presents a lot of problems,” Hamilton said. But Baltimore doesn’t allow many explosive rushes. In fact, the Ravens rank first in the NFL over the past month. They’re also second in rush success rate and EPA per rush — a far cry from where they started the year. Related Articles ‘December Derrick’ Henry is a proven threat. Will Ravens take advantage? Ravens vs. Patriots staff picks: Who will win Sunday night in Baltimore? Josh Tolentino: Ravens owe fans better at home. Now’s the time. | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Lamar Jackson tries to explain struggling offense: ‘Inconsistency’ The Ravens benched LB Trenton Simpson. Now they need him. EDGE: Ravens Ravens special teams vs. Patriots special teams New England’s special teams unit hasn’t had many problems this season. But the Patriots struggled mightily against the Bills, allowing returns of 38, 45 and 58 yards. Two of them led to touchdown drives. Baltimore brings big-play threats in the third phase and has consistently stopped opposing teams from flipping the field. There are few opponents on the Ravens’ schedule with a tougher special teams unit. EDGE: Ravens Ravens intangibles vs. Patriots intangibles To John Harbaugh, it was a sour question. Is the Ravens’ 3-5 home record a point of frustration? “No, I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” the longtime coach snapped. “A point of frustration? No. The guys are locked in for the next game. That’s it, period.” Baltimore hasn’t had its quarterback in a pair of the five home losses, but an inability to defend home turf is a troubling stat. It’s an indictment on this topsy-turvy season, an inability to string wins together. The Patriots, alternatively, haven’t lost a road game this season. They’re a perfect 6-0. “When you go into those hostile environments, we’re all we got,” star receiver Stefon Diggs told reporters this week. “For real, for real. Whether it’s the coaches, whether it’s the players, it’s hyper-sensitive.” That’s how the Patriots carry themselves, like underdogs and castoffs. EDGE: Patriots Prediction Last Sunday’s win looked like the Ravens might have turned a corner in a few ways: their defense played with some swagger and the offense moved the ball efficiently. It was a confident, well-rounded win with help from all three phases. But that was against the Bengals (4-10). These are the Patriots (11-3) we’re talking about. And the last time the Ravens beat a time with a winning record was the Bears … in October. They haven’t been very good at home either. I think they show up and give New England a fight but their hopes of a late-season playoff push diminish drastically late Sunday night. Patriots 27, Ravens 24. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday night’s Week 16 game between the Ravens and Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 26, Patriots 17: Baltimore’s defense has started to find something of a rhythm. The Ravens have also generally fared well against young quarterbacks. As brilliant as Drake Maye has looked for most of the season — save for last week in a loss to the Bills — this feels like a game in which he might take a step back again against a group that is playing aggressive and making plays on the ball. Baltimore’s offense also showed glimpses last week, and while it’s still an inconsistent unit, an increasingly healthy Lamar Jackson should be able to pilot the offense to at least a couple of scores against the worst red zone defense in the NFL. Sam Cohn, reporter Patriots 27, Ravens 24: Last Sunday’s win looked like the Ravens might have turned a corner in a few ways: their defense played with some swagger and the offense moved the ball efficiently. It was a confident, well-rounded win with help from all three phases. But that was against the Bengals (4-10). These are the Patriots (11-3) we’re talking about. And the last time the Ravens beat a time with a winning record was the Bears … in October. They haven’t been very good at home either. I think they show up and give New England a fight but their hopes of a late-season playoff push diminish drastically late Sunday night. Mike Preston, columnist: Ravens 21, Patriots 17: Earlier this week, I thought that the Patriots would win this game, but I have since changed my mind. I think New England has a great coach in Mike Vrabel and the Patriots are as fundamentally sound as any team in the NFL. But the Ravens need to just come out and be physical and dominate with a strong running game. The Patriots will play hard, especially after losing to the Bills last week after blowing a 21-point lead, but the Ravens should match up well with them on both sides of the line of scrimmage. The key will be first downs; the Ravens can’t put themselves in passing situations. They need to gain some yards on first-down runs. Josh Tolentino, columnist Ravens 33, Patriots 27: Similar to Mike, I initially thought about picking the Patriots, who’ve emerged this season as a conference heavyweight. But Jackson has strung together two of his stronger outings amid an injury-filled campaign and appears to be nearing full health, or at least as close as he’ll get to 100% before the offseason arrives. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is an astonishing 16-0 during his career in combined games between Weeks 15-18. When the lights brighten, Jackson often has starred. The NFL seems to be betting on Jackson’s stardom to come through as it flexed the Ravens to prime time in consecutive weeks, first this Sunday against New England and then next Saturday at Green Bay. Coming off the franchise’s first shutout in seven seasons, Baltimore must continue to generate pressure and takeaways down the stretch. If the offense can create explosive plays and jump to a quick start, the Ravens will hand New England its first road loss of the year. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 27, Patriots 20: The oddsmakers are predicting a Ravens win, and so am I. New England has a much better resume and might have the better quarterback this season in Drake Maye, but this Baltimore team is unpredictable. These Ravens remind me of the 2010 Green Bay Packers, who coalesced toward the end of the season around their 27-year-old star quarterback and marched all the way to a Super Bowl title. This is the week for the Ravens to prove that they’re the championship contender we all thought they were before the season. Related Articles ‘December Derrick’ Henry is a proven threat. Will Ravens take advantage? Ravens vs. Patriots scouting report for Week 16: Who has the edge? Josh Tolentino: Ravens owe fans better at home. Now’s the time. | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Lamar Jackson tries to explain struggling offense: ‘Inconsistency’ The Ravens benched LB Trenton Simpson. Now they need him. Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 27, Patriots 23: Outside of maybe the NFC West, there aren’t many teams that should scare Baltimore. New England is 11-3, but it has faced the league’s easiest schedule, according to ESPN. The Patriots haven’t played hardly anyone with a pulse, and they’re 1-2 in games against the Bills and Steelers. The Ravens need a win, and they’re plenty capable of beating a good but not great opponent. If they let this opportunity slip at home, it might officially be time to give up on Baltimore’s preseason Super Bowl aspirations. If they win, it looks more and more likely that Week 18 vs. the Steelers will be a showdown for a playoff spot. Tim Schwartz, editor Patriots 24, Ravens 21: Which Ravens team will show up Sunday night? If we see the Ravens focus on establishing Derrick Henry in the running game, an elusive Lamar Jackson and a defense continue to build on its dominant performance Sunday against the Bengals, I like Baltimore’s chances. But I have seen far too much inconsistency from the Ravens this season, and the wins they strung together earlier this season were against some bad teams with bad quarterbacks. Drake Maye is no slouch, and the Patriots are going to be eager to put their disappointing collapse Sunday against the Bills behind them. This feels like a toss-up. I just don’t trust the Ravens enough. Win this one, and I’ll start to believe in their status as an AFC contender again. But I’m not there yet. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 27, Patriots 24: The Ravens need to stay locked in and block out the outside noise as they have three crucial games remaining to keep their hopes for the postseason alive. Have a news tip? Contact Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

The Ravens can’t fix their home record Sunday night. Sadly, it’s already too late for that. They enter their regular-season home finale with a 3-5 record at M&T Bank Stadium, locked into one of the worst home seasons in franchise history. Even a win over the visiting Patriots wouldn’t bring them back to .500. But the Week 16 contest still matters, perhaps more than any other home game this season. If the Ravens want to lift the AFC North crown and host a playoff game next month, Sunday is the next domino. Since coach John Harbaugh’s first season in 2008, the Ravens have won 102 home games, which ranks third-most in the NFL over that span behind only Green Bay and New England. Last year, the Ravens went 6-2 at home. This season, though, Baltimore is guaranteed a losing record in its own building for the first time since 2015. It’s worth noting, of course, that the Ravens started the season 1-5 and quarterback Lamar Jackson missed three games earlier in the year, all at home. Through eight home games, the Ravens are averaging 70,243 fans (14th in NFL) in paid attendance, down from 71,052 (ninth) last season. Seventy thousand-plus fans is nothing to shy away from. But the amount of empty seats this season has told a bit of a different story. It’s become common to see sparse purple patches across the upper bowl. Baltimore’s home stadium noticeably wasn’t full for a nationally televised prime-time game, a 32-14 loss to the Bengals on Thanksgiving night. When asked whether being under .500 at home was a point of frustration, Harbaugh emphatically waved off the notion. “No, I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” Harbaugh said. “A point of frustration? No. The guys are locked in for the next game. That’s it, period. … There’s no frustration. There’s just opportunity.” Some veteran players have taken a different approach this week when asked about the team’s shortcomings at home. “That’s something that definitely bothers me,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “I think every home game we have, it’s probably … someone’s first game in ‘The Bank,’ and to continue these performances [of] people’s first memory of being in this stadium is losing, I’m not a huge fan of that. Obviously, when you’re home, you have the fans to your advantage. You want to win in front of them. People pay a lot of money to get in these seats. We appreciate them a lot, so losing at home, really, it’s unacceptable.” Safety Kyle Hamilton, the team’s second-highest paid player behind only Jackson, agreed with Humphrey. “I think our home record is not what we want it to be,” Hamilton said. “I don’t think it’s as much as focusing on finishing strong at home as it is just finishing strong for the whole year. Obviously, we have some pretty important games coming up, starting with this one. “So home, away, neutral, wherever it may be, in the parking lot — we have to lock in and do what we need to do so we can get into the dance.” Hamilton’s college teammate at Notre Dame and fellow safety Alohi Gilman framed it in a similar way, pointing to the team’s lack of consistency. Since the team acquired Gilman, the reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Week, in an Oct. 7 trade with the Chargers, the Ravens are 6-3, but just 2-3 at home. “It’s not a big jump,” Gilman said. “It’s just little things here and there. That’s not a question of our character, culture or identity. It’s just a matter of executing on a high level, on a more consistent basis.” Related Articles ‘December Derrick’ Henry is a proven threat. Will Ravens take advantage? Ravens vs. Patriots scouting report for Week 16: Who has the edge? Ravens vs. Patriots staff picks: Who will win Sunday night in Baltimore? Ravens’ Lamar Jackson tries to explain struggling offense: ‘Inconsistency’ The Ravens benched LB Trenton Simpson. Now they need him. When I asked Jackson after his return to practice on Thursday whether the Ravens felt added urgency to protect their home turf in the final regular-season game at M&T Bank Stadium, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player replied: “I can’t say we really look at it like it’s the last home game. We feel like each and every game, we have to win. No matter where we’re at, we have to win.” He continued: “But this game is special. You just said it, it’s the last home game. I didn’t even think about that. So we just have to lock in and protect our territory.” Easier said than done, as this crazy season has shown. The Drake Maye-led Patriots will march into town Sunday evening with a perfect 6-0 road record, making New England the only remaining team with an undefeated mark away from home. The Patriots have made a habit of surviving uncomfortable environments. Five of their six road wins were decided by one possession. Despite the wide gap in records, the Ravens (7-7) are 2 1/2-point betting favorites over the Patriots (11-3). Hmm. Will the Ravens make up for earlier disappointing losses with a statement victory on prime time? The NFL and NBC, after all, marked this late-season AFC showdown as a highly appeasing game after they flexed Baltimore-New England from its original 1 p.m. kickoff slot. There’s no erasing what’s already happened at home this season. But the Ravens could right those wrongs by throwing a haymaker to the chin of one of the conference heavyweights. Jackson owns a stellar 16-0 record during his career in Weeks 15-18. Can he make it 17-0 on Sunday night? It’d be a mighty step toward bringing playoff football, and at least one more home game, back to Baltimore. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Ravens fans sit quietly late in an early season loss to the Rams. Baltimore is just 3-5 at home this season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

When it comes to the Ravens’ slow starts in games this season, quarterback Lamar Jackson said that he “can’t call it” when asked to explain what gives. “Inconsistency,” he said Thursday in Owings Mills, where he was back at practice after an illness that led to a rest day on Wednesday. “I can’t call it why we start off slow.” It has been a peculiar if not worrisome trend in what has been an upside-down year, particularly for an offense that in 2024 was third in the NFL in scoring and became the first to top 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in the same season. Last year, the Ravens scored seven times on their opening possession of games, including five touchdowns. This season, they have actually put points on the board on their opening possession on eight occasions, though just three of those have been touchdowns with only one coming since Week 4. Of course, Jackson also missed three games from Weeks 5 through 8 because of a hamstring injury. But last week against the Bengals, who have the league’s worst defense, Baltimore punted on each of its first three possessions. That included going three-and-out twice. The Ravens finally scored on their fourth possession, with Jackson checking into a short pass to running back Rasheen Ali that burned Cincinnati’s blitz for a 26-yard touchdown in the eventual 24-0 victory. “We are certainly looking to start fast, that’s for sure,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said Thursday. The reasons they mostly haven’t are myriad. Turnovers, sacks, penalties, field position, offensive line blocking, lack of explosive plays, red zone failures. All have played their part. Last week’s win over Cincinnati ended a two-game losing streak, kept the Ravens from losing three straight AFC North games for the first time in Jackson’s tenure and showed some promise in terms of offensive efficiency with an average of 8.4 yards per play, a season high. It also presented plenty of oddities, including matching a franchise-low 40 offensive plays. “It’s more frustrating, say, against the Texans when you’re not playing good and things aren’t going your way,” Monken said of the 44-10 Week 5 debacle. “I could care less how many plays we have if we play well and if it gives us a chance to win.” Most glaring within Baltimore’s affliction to starting fast and inability to consistently find the end zone has been its red zone woes. Last season, the Ravens ranked first on trips to their opponents’ 20-yard line and in, scoring a touchdown 74.2% of the time on those drives. This year, they have found pay dirt just 44% of the time to rank 31st. What do they need to do to turn that around? “I feel like just calm down,” Jackson said. “I feel like we execute a lot in practice. We just got to push the envelope in the game. Because they be there when we have opportunities, we just don’t take advantage.” Jackson also hasn’t been the same physically this year, slowed by hamstring, knee, ankle and toe injuries, all of which have likely cut into his dynamic abilities as a runner, which is something that makes him even more dangerous near an opponent’s end zone. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, center, carries the ball during a win over the Bengals. He had two carries for 26 yards in the win. (Kareem Elgazzar/AP) “It’s huge,” Monken said of Jackson’s mobility in the red zone. “But that hasn’t been all of it. I gotta call it better, we can scheme it better, we can block it better, we can certainly execute in the passing game and hold onto the ball. “It all collectively adds up. It’s not one thing. There’s 4-5 areas where we just haven’t executed at a high level. When we do that, I really believe we’re going to take off.” That has often been easier said than done. Jackson’s eight completions last week against the Bengals were the fewest of his career in a full game. His two touchdown passes were also the most since Oct. 30 when he had four against the Miami Dolphins. His 28-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers late in the second quarter was also his longest in terms of air yards this season. Now comes a showdown against the New England Patriots (11-3) on Sunday night at M&T Bank Stadium. The Patriots rank seventh in points and yards allowed. They’re also fifth against the run, allowing a scant 95.1 yards per game, and rank second in fewest rushing touchdowns surrendered. But there are areas in which they have been vulnerable. Most notably, they’ve allowed opponents to score a touchdown in the red zone a whopping 75% of the time, which ranks last in the league. They’re also 15th against the pass. Something figures to give between the not-so-irresistible force and the immovable object. Related Articles The Ravens benched LB Trenton Simpson. Now they need him. READERS RESPOND: Fans split on Ravens being AFC contenders again Ravens injury report: Lamar Jackson, 3 veterans return to practice Staff picks for Week 16 of 2025 NFL season: Rams vs. Seahawks, Steelers vs. Lions and more Mike Preston: The Chiefs are done. Which AFC QB will take advantage? | COMMENTARY The Ravens have found success in other ways, too, including scoring on their first possession of the second half in six of the past eight games, including last week. Why that divergence from the beginning-of-the-game foibles? Monken said that he didn’t know, adding, “It’s not like we haven’t planned the whole week for the start of the game for what we like. I would think a whole week of planning is better than 20 minutes.” Jackson’s response to the same question? “I don’t know,” he said before demurring. “I know, but I don’t wanna give it away.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Trenton Simpson was supposed to be Baltimore’s starting weakside linebacker last year. He was benched by Week 13. Again this year, he figured to be the guy, with no obvious depth chart challenger. Then fourth-round rookie Teddye Buchanan outplayed him two weeks into the season. Starting on Sunday night against the New England Patriots, Simpson will have another opportunity to prove himself. This one the most important of all. Buchanan suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of last weekend’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Simpson filled in from there, totaling seven tackles on 46% of the day’s defensive snaps. He had his best tackling performance of the year, according to Pro Football Focus’ grading system. Harbaugh thought that he played up to snuff, too. The Ravens (7-7) are fighting for their playoff lives. A win over New England, plus a Steelers loss to the Dolphins, would set up a win-or-go-home Week 18. Getting there will require, in part, the best version of Simpson. His teammates didn’t hesitate; they feel he’s ready. “It’s Year 3 now, he’s grown up a lot,” Kyle Hamilton said. “Super excited to put his talent on display because I honestly think he’s one of the more talented people on this team, on this defense.” Why is everyone so confident in Simpson finally turning a corner? A couple of reasons. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr has seen a more comfortable Simpson of late. All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith was most impressed that Simpson never batted an eye despite twice losing his job. “I admire the way he treated it and his opportunity has come back around,” Smith said. “I know he’s gonna run with it.” Simpson started a pair of games while Smith was injured before the bye week. Orr called that stretch “two of his best games in his career.” Since then, he’s taken edge rusher snaps in certain personnel groupings and become a fixture on special teams, which won’t change as he becomes an every-down linebacker. Orr told special teams coordinator Chris Horton, “If he’s tired, we’ll figure something out, but we need all our best players out there, and he’s one of our best special teams players as well.” Hamilton’s confidence in Simpson emanated most clearly from the Ravens’ shutout win against the Bengals. When Buchanan went down, it was “almost like a seamless change,” he said. “It’s not like he came in and [the Bengals] started gashing us in the run and stuff like that.” Added Harbaugh: “Trent has played a lot of football here. He has been playing all year. He’s been playing well. I think if you watch the snaps that he’s been taking on defense in the last month, month and a half — whatever it’s been — he’s been good.” That’s the Simpson the Ravens need to help plug up the middle of the field, starting with New England’s top-three rushing attack. Not the one who struggled each of the past two seasons. The third-year linebacker out of Clemson was named a starter at the outset of last season, filling in after Pro Bowl selection Patrick Queen signed with the Steelers. Two-thirds of the way through the season, Simpson was benched in favor of Malik Harrison, who also made his way to Pittsburgh. It was “humbling,” Simpson said this past offseason, but “exactly what I needed.” This figured to be his breakout year. He bulked up in the offseason, arriving to training camp looking “like a Greek God,” Smith said. Roster projections envisioned him beside Smith and ahead of the rookie. “I’m ready for Year 2,” Simpson said in June. He was quickly outplayed by Buchanan, who became the first Day 3 draft pick to start on the Ravens’ defense within his first two games since 2006. Fifth-round safety Dawan Landry was the last to do so. Buchanan became the team’s second-leading tackler, earning NFL Rookie of the Month honors in October. Related Articles Ravens’ Lamar Jackson tries to explain struggling offense: ‘Inconsistency’ READERS RESPOND: Fans split on Ravens being AFC contenders again Ravens injury report: Lamar Jackson, 3 veterans return to practice Staff picks for Week 16 of 2025 NFL season: Rams vs. Seahawks, Steelers vs. Lions and more Mike Preston: The Chiefs are done. Which AFC QB will take advantage? | COMMENTARY “We went with Teddye because Teddye was slightly a little bit better,” Orr said. “But now Trent’s opportunity is back again and Trent stepped right in and played really well.” Baltimore doesn’t have many options if he doesn’t. Buchanan is the third rookie Ravens linebacker to go down with a knee injury this season. Jay Higgins IV missed the past five games and only returned to practice this week. Chandler Martin, a fellow undrafted rookie, tore his ACL in late November. And Buchanan’s absence leaves the Ravens thin at a crucial position. Special teams ace Jake Hummel is next in line. Then the Ravens would turn to the practice squad. Simpson is their only option right now. But the Ravens are confident that he’s ready. “We’re gonna be relying on him down the stretch,” Hamilton said. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

We asked readers if the Ravens are contenders again in the AFC North after improving to 7-7. The reigning AFC champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, were eliminated from playoff contention last week. Here are the results from our online poll: No — 51% (189 votes) Yes — 49% (189 votes) Here’s what some fans said about Baltimore’s chances of making a playoff run (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): Derrick Henry is the best running back, and Lamar Jackson is the best quarterback when healthy! Indiana’s football coach Curt Cignetti has taught us that with the right coach, teams can do anything. It’s time to BELIEVE! — Robin Ficker Getting Tavius Robinson back was huge. Losing Teddye Buchanan will hurt. He had been comfortably settling in his role. Trenton Simpson, who has been playing better lately, is going to have to step his game up. Getting Ar’Darius Washington back will help a lot. Pound for pound, he might be the hardest-hitting Raven. — Burt Wills The Ravens being a contender again is more of an indictment of the mediocracy of the other teams in the AFC versus the resurgence of the preseason expectations . As Mike Preston always says, the NFL is a week to week league. There are no truly dominant teams in the NFL this year. Anything is possible on any given Sunday. — Dan I need to see how they play against New England to say for certain. — Justin The Bengals looked like they were already planning their offseason vacations. Let’s see what happens against a team that cares like the Patriots. — Chris Bowers If the Ravens play to the highest level of the talent they have, I believe they can beat any team in the NFL. Having said that, this year the AFC North is the weakest division, and I don’t see any AFC North team going deep into the postseason. Ravens, prove me wrong. I won’t be angry! — Jeff Peterson I don’t think so. I don’t see wins vs. New England or Green Bay. And by the time we see Pittsburgh, they may have already clinched the division. — Darryl Kirkpatrick No, they beat a Bengals team that was obviously ill-prepared and hasn’t been a good team all season. Win at least two out of three here and if you look good doing so then we can have that conversation. — Jeremy Hyson Sunday will tell. — Michael Timmer The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll Related Articles Ravens injury report: Lamar Jackson, 3 veterans return to practice Staff picks for Week 16 of 2025 NFL season: Rams vs. Seahawks, Steelers vs. Lions and more Mike Preston: The Chiefs are done. Which AFC QB will take advantage? | COMMENTARY Inside Ed Reed’s message to Ravens players: ‘We had to raise our level’ Is every game a must-win for the Ravens to make the playoffs? Not so fast. View the full article

As coach John Harbaugh predicted, many of the Ravens who missed Wednesday’s practice returned Thursday. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was back after a brief bout with the flu, throwing and catching passes with the quarterback group. Linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Roquan Smith and left tackle Ronnie Stanley also practiced. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie was not present after being listed with a foot injury Wednesday, and defensive tackle John Jenkins was absent. Jackson’s absence Wednesday marked the sixth consecutive week he has missed a practice, though he has played in each of the past seven games. Van Noy was listed with a quad injury, Smith with a knee injury and Stanley with knee and ankle issues. Harbaugh said Wednesday functioned largely as a rest day for veterans in advance of Sunday’s showdown with the Patriots. Jenkins was not on Wednesday’s injury report. The 13-year veteran has appeared in all 14 games this season, totaling 34 tackles and three tackles for loss. Awuzie has played in 12 games this season with seven pass deflections and five starts. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. Related Articles Staff picks for Week 16 of 2025 NFL season: Rams vs. Seahawks, Steelers vs. Lions and more Mike Preston: The Chiefs are done. Which AFC QB will take advantage? | COMMENTARY Inside Ed Reed’s message to Ravens players: ‘We had to raise our level’ Is every game a must-win for the Ravens to make the playoffs? Not so fast. Ravens injury report: Lamar Jackson misses midweek practice with illness View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers and FOX45’s Patrice Sanders pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 16: Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (10-6 last week, 149-73-1 overall): Rams Sam Cohn (10-6 last week, 148-74-1 overall): Seahawks Mike Preston (11-5 last week, 145-77-1 overall): Seahawks Josh Tolentino (11-5 last week, 150-72-1 overall): Seahawks C.J. Doon (12-4 last week, 140-82-1 overall): Seahawks Bennett Conlin (8-8 last week, 146-76-1 overall): Rams Tim Schwartz (9-7 last week, 133-89-1 overall): Seahawks Patrice Sanders (9-7 last week, 138-84-1 overall): Rams Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders (Saturday, 5 p.m.) Wacker: Eagles Cohn: Eagles Preston: Eagles Tolentino: Eagles Doon: Eagles Conlin: Eagles Schwartz: Eagles Sanders: Eagles Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears (Saturday, 8 p.m.) Wacker: Packers Cohn: Packers Preston: Packers Tolentino: Bears Doon: Bears Conlin: Packers Schwartz: Packers Sanders: Bears Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Buccaneers Cohn: Buccaneers Preston: Buccaneers Tolentino: Buccaneers Doon: Panthers Conlin: Panthers Schwartz: Buccaneers Sanders: Buccaneers Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bills Cohn: Bills Preston: Bills Tolentino: Bills Doon: Bills Conlin: Bills Schwartz: Bills Sanders: Bills Los Angeles Chargers vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Chargers Cohn: Cowboys Preston: Chargers Tolentino: Chargers Doon: Chargers Conlin: Chargers Schwartz: Chargers Sanders: Chargers New York Jets vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Saints Cohn: Saints Preston: Saints Tolentino: Jets Doon: Saints Conlin: Saints Schwartz: Saints Sanders: Saints Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Vikings Cohn: Vikings Preston: Vikings Tolentino: Vikings Doon: Vikings Conlin: Vikings Schwartz: Vikings Sanders: Vikings Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Cohn: Titans Preston: Chiefs Tolentino: Chiefs Doon: Titans Conlin: Titans Schwartz: Chiefs Sanders: Chiefs Cincinnati Bengals vs. Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bengals Cohn: Bengals Preston: Dolphins Tolentino: Bengals Doon: Bengals Conlin: Bengals Schwartz: Bengals Sanders: Bengals Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Falcons Cohn: Falcons Preston: Falcons Tolentino: Falcons Doon: Cardinals Conlin: Falcons Schwartz: Falcons Sanders: Falcons Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Broncos Cohn: Broncos Preston: Jaguars Tolentino: Broncos Doon: Broncos Conlin: Jaguars Schwartz: Broncos Sanders: Broncos Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Detroit Lions (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Lions Cohn: Lions Preston: Lions Tolentino: Lions Doon: Lions Conlin: Lions Schwartz: Lions Sanders: Lions Las Vegas Raiders vs. Houston Texans (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Texans Cohn: Texans Preston: Texans Tolentino: Texans Doon: Texans Conlin: Texans Schwartz: Texans Sanders: Texans San Francisco 49ers vs. Indianapolis Colts (Monday, 8:15 p.m.) Wacker: 49ers Cohn: 49ers Preston: 49ers Tolentino: Colts Doon: 49ers Conlin: Colts Schwartz: 49ers Sanders: 49ers View the full article

Now that Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes is out with a torn ACL in his left knee and the Chiefs are no longer eligible for the postseason, some quarterback has to take over the playoffs. Will it be the bridesmaids of the past two seasons, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson or Buffalo’s Josh Allen? Or will be a rising newcomer such as New England’s Drake Maye, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, Denver’s Bo Nix, Houston’s C.J. Stroud or the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert? It can’t be Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers. Please, please, please let the football gods have mercy upon us and not let Rodgers, 42, get to another Super Bowl. If he does, we’ll never hear the end of it because he won’t let us. But some quarterback has to take control and dominate. Since he became the Chiefs’ starter in 2018, Mahomes has won three Super Bowl titles, two NFL Most Valuable Player awards and seven AFC West titles and has appeared in seven straight AFC championship games. Whether you liked him or not, his play was excellent and fun to watch because no lead was safe. And his coach, Andy Reid, always came up with some clever play in clutch situations. So, who is next? Former Ravens coach Brian Billick, who appeared on the latest BMore Football Podcast with myself and Jerry Coleman, recently said that the AFC was a wide-open race. We actually agreed. We agreed on several other things, like this being the perfect opportunity for one of these quarterbacks to step up. It makes sense because the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and they take over in the postseason. Yet, at this point, it’s hard to make a prediction. Allen is playing at a super human pace. He’s completing 70% of his passes for 3,276 yards with 25 touchdowns. When he is on his game, the Bills are nearly unbeatable. Go ask the Ravens. As for Jackson, his health has improved in recent weeks, but you never know what you’re going to get when he steps on the field. One thing is for sure: this hasn’t been the Jackson of recent years when he was a dual threat running off the perimeter and showing a strong touch on the long ball. In fact, more questions persist about which days he’ll take off this week. But if he regroups, what a great story about a team that started the season 1-5. Right now, though, Jackson is an enigma. Former Ravens coach and the late Ted Marchibroda used to say that the team with the least amount of weaknesses usually wins a Super Bowl. If that’s the case, then the New England Patriots should be the favorites. They are ranked No. 6 in total offense, averaging 364.2 yards per game, and No. 7 defensively, allowing 300.1 yards per game. That’s about as balanced as a team can get, and they also have Maye, a second-year quarterback who has completed 70.9% of his passes for 3,412 yards with 23 touchdowns. The kid from North Carolina can play. Related Articles Inside Ed Reed’s message to Ravens players: ‘We had to raise our level’ Is every game a must-win for the Ravens to make the playoffs? Not so fast. Ravens injury report: Lamar Jackson misses midweek practice with illness Ravens film study: How Tavius Robinson’s return sparked defensive shutout NFL playoffs will miss Mahomes, Brady and Manning for the first time since the 1998 season “Big plays is the biggest thing when you look at their offense,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of Sunday night’s opponent. “They’ve just had a bunch of big plays [and] big runs. They have a rookie running back [TreVeyon Henderson] that’s fast and explosive. Boy, you better have your angle set up on him. They’re physical, obviously, and Maye’s made some nice throws, and sometimes he runs around, but he’s made some big throws and play actions and things like that. That’s a combination that you have to be concerned about.” Billick liked Maye, but also Lawrence, whom he says is starting to come into his own. Lawrence has just finished the best five-game stretch of his five-year career and looks content and comfortable using the wristband designed by first-year coach Liam Coen. Lawrence has completed 59.7% of his passes for 3,210 yards with 23 touchdowns, and at 6 feet 6 and 220 pounds, he appears faster than he looks running downfield. The team that really causes concern is the Houston Texans. Quarterback C.J. Stroud has drawn a lot of accolades in his first three seasons, some of them well deserved, but it’s the defense that is more of a concern. The Texans can bring it and are ranked No. 1 in total defense, allowing only 269.2 yards per game. They have the best pass rushing tandem in the league in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Middle linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is very instinctive and the secondary is elite with cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and nickelback Jalen Pitre. Safety Calen Bullock can play anywhere in the deep third of the field. More importantly, defense travels. As for Denver, there are still questions about second-year quarterback Nix. He has completed 63.5% of his passes for 3,256 yards but sometimes looks rattled or confused in the pocket. Herbert has put up impressive numbers as well with the Chargers, but Los Angeles plays on the West Coast. In other words, they are so soft. As for Rodgers, he is fun to watch and seems to have made a name for himself in Pittsburgh. I’m pretty sure they will come out with the name of a sandwich in his honor soon. But poof, out will go the lights in Pittsburgh. It’s inevitable. Regardless, somebody has to step up. The NFL is a world driven by quarterbacks. Without Mahomes, the playoffs will become boring, but some signal-caller has to become the new champion. This all should get interesting soon. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Ed Reed showed up unannounced. That’s how the Ravens legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame safety rolls, often appearing out of thin air but always around the ball, the same way he played for a dozen NFL seasons and has lived his life since retiring. As the franchise’s all-time interception leader, his access to the team’s practice facility in Owings Mills is, of course, permanently unfettered. Reed’s presence at last Friday’s practice, it turns out, was also stimulating. “I was starstruck,” Baltimore’s rookie safety and first-round draft pick Malaki Starks said. “You know how Allen Iverson feels about Michael Jordan? That’s how I feel about Ed Reed. It’s just like, ‘wow.’” So, apparently, was the message that he delivered. It began unscripted and unfiltered. As cornerback Marlon Humphrey described on his eponymous podcast, it was “raw” and “uncut.” It started with the defensive backs, including individually with Starks and each of the others on the sideline, then to the entire defense, followed by the whole team. “It was different,” Humphrey said. “I don’t think he planned on talking to us. It just happened.” Whether on the field or in the meeting room, the avidity and magnitude was palpable. Baltimore had what Humphrey dubbed a “ridiculous” Friday practice, the ninth-year veteran said. As he left the facility, he told one of the coaches that he went “way too hard” and was sore on a day when the intensity of the session notches barely above a glorified walkthrough. “The game and the team is only as good as your weakest links,” Reed bellowed in a clip on Baltimore’s social media channels after coordinator Zach Orr gave him the floor in the defensive meeting room. “You’re either coaching your teammates or you’re allowing it to happen. In here, we watch the film together. We all break down the film throughout the week or after the game. Are you critiquing your teammate the same as you critique yourself?” Coach John Harbaugh described the delivery as “reinforcement” more than anything, adding that Reed’s clips are included among the team’s film sessions because in the 30,000-foot view of the defensive scheme not much has changed, and who better to learn from than one of the league’s best-ever players? “So, you get a chance to watch Ed do it, Ray [Lewis] do it, or Haloti [Ngata] and Jarret Johnson,” Harbaugh said. “You get a chance to watch all those great players do what they do – Terrell Suggs – you can just keep naming them. It’s just incredible.” That’s what all of the players The Baltimore Sun spoke with this week naturally think about Reed, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and a Super Bowl champion in February 2013, the last time Baltimore won the the title. “It was just good perspective from someone who everyone in that room is chasing,” said practice squad cornerback Amani Oruwariye, who added that it took him a moment before he recognized the salt-and-pepper haired and bearded Reed. “He was as real as it gets. He wasn’t trying to sugarcoat nobody. He wasn’t trying to put on a front. He was just speaking from the realness of everything he went through and everything it takes to get there. He’s a living testimony of that.” The impact was notable. “I think everyone kind of sits up straight when he comes in,” safety Alohi Gilman said. “He came in with a lot of energy, talking about the standard that we set as DBs, the type of energy we need to play with and being commanders on the back end.” Related Articles Is every game a must-win for the Ravens to make the playoffs? Not so fast. Ravens injury report: Lamar Jackson misses midweek practice with illness Ravens film study: How Tavius Robinson’s return sparked defensive shutout NFL playoffs will miss Mahomes, Brady and Manning for the first time since the 1998 season Watch Episode 16 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Two days later, the Ravens blew out the Cincinnati Bengals, 24-0, with Gilman putting the exclamation point on the victory by returning Kyle Van Noy’s interception of Joe Burrow 84 yards for a touchdown after the outside linebacker handed him the ball. It was a perfect homage to Reed, who’d made similar plays on several occasions through his college and professional career from the early 2000s through 2013 — though usually far more brazenly. Born in 1997, Gilman was a young boy at the height of Reed’s intrepid prowess, but the performances have stuck with him all these years later. “He was constantly around the ball,” Gilman said. “I feel like he was playing Pop Warner football with grown men. Then, he was just entertaining to watch.” To a man in the locker room, so was the Ravens’ complementary play against the Bengals in a game Baltimore had to have to continue to keep its playoff hope alive. That the Ravens shut out Burrow for the first time since his college days at LSU was the cherry on top. “I think we all kind of felt like we had to raise our level a little bit more in terms of everything,” Gilman said. “Communication, energy, play style. Having a guy like that walk in and preach to us about what it means to play for the Ravens, and second of all how to play, I think that’s what it brought to the room.” Gilman added that the touchdown is one of those plays you dream about it. It also extended beyond his own gratification. “I think it was cool because it shows us coming together as a unit and everyone being selfless and one of those plays you remember as a unit,” he said. “We all celebrated because we did it together.” Ravens safety Alohi Gilman celebrates with cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Ar'Darius Washington after breaking up a pass Sunday against the Bengals. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) With the Ravens a game back of the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers with just three to play and the most likely path to the postseason through a division title, it’s something that also isn’t lost on the group, from players on the practice squad to starters. “Even just hearing anything about him working with corners, being on the same page, being able to almost read each other’s minds because they were so tied in,” Oruwariye said. “that just makes us look ourselves in the mirror and think, ‘How much more can we do to be that much more connected?’” The answer will come again Sunday against the New England Patriots and then against the Green Bay Packers and finally the Steelers. No matter the scenario, the Ravens must win in Pittsburgh in Week 18 to make the playoffs. Perhaps Reed’s words will end up being the spark. “You could see guys that day with the connection piece,” Starks said. “It was like something clicked. “The biggest thing is we gotta be together. It starts with the connection that you have in the secondary and as a defense. If you’re gonna go all the way, you gotta go all the way together.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Ravens coach John Harbaugh admitted earlier this week that he planned to watch the Steelers-Dolphins game Monday night with “great interest.” Baltimore was coming off a dominant showing in Cincinnati, having kept pace with Pittsburgh in the hunt for a third straight AFC North crown. A day later, Harbaugh watched the Steelers cruise past Miami, meaning Pittsburgh reclaimed a one-game advantage in the division standings. Playing meaningful football in December, keeping an eye on the box scores around the division, Harbaugh said, “it’s part of the fun of this whole thing.” With three regular-season games remaining, the Ravens (7-7) know they can still control their own destiny. Winning all three — hosting the Patriots on Sunday night, a road trip to meet the Packers then a regular-season finale in Pittsburgh — would give Baltimore the AFC North crown. Anything else “would be a stretch,” Harbaugh said. “The bottom line is that we have to take care of our business,” he continued. “So, we are not sitting there on pins and needles; you just assume that you have to take care of your business.” Should they take care of business, the Ravens would finish the season 10-7, salvaging what once appeared to be a lost year. If the Steelers (8-6) have the same record, tiebreakers come into play. There are 12 rungs to help decide, the last of which is a coin flip for the division — a hilarious way for this saga to end. It won’t get that far. The tiebreakers unfurl like so: head-to-head, winning percentage versus division teams, common opponents, games played within the conference, strength of victory, strength of schedule, combined ranking among conference foes in points scored plus allowed, same thing but for all teams, net points in common games, net points in all games, net touchdowns in all games, then a coin flip. So, if the Ravens win out, they’d best Pittsburgh in division opponents (depending on Steelers vs. Browns in Week 17) or common opponents. “There’s no more second chances,” All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith said Sunday night. It’s a nice sentiment and the right mindset, but not entirely true. Baltimore can afford one more loss. It just can’t be to Pittsburgh. Any scenario in which the Ravens go 2-1 over these final three (including beating the Steelers), they would need some help by way of Detroit beating Pittsburgh. That game, scheduled for 4:25 p.m. on Sunday, should wrap up before kickoff for “Sunday Night Football.” Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses a midweek practice for 6th straight week Ravens film study: How Tavius Robinson’s return sparked defensive shutout NFL playoffs will miss Mahomes, Brady and Manning for the first time since the 1998 season Watch Episode 16 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law How did Maryland recruit a high school Olympian to College Park? Here’s a weird scenario worth monitoring: If Pittsburgh loses to Detroit and Baltimore beats New England, Week 17 becomes a meaningless affair. Week 18 becomes a game for the AFC North title. Perhaps a few starters would sit out a frigid Saturday night in Green Bay. The New York Times’ playoff simulator projects the Ravens as having 34% odds of reaching the playoffs. One more win puts them over 40%, but the needle doesn’t shift drastically until Week 18. The Steelers, meanwhile, sit at 66%. That jumps to 81% should Pittsburgh upset Detroit. “We have to win out,” wide receiver Zay Flowers said, “so that’s what we’re planning on doing.” Grab your popcorn. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was absent from Wednesday’s practice. What’s new? Jackson has now missed at least one practice day in six consecutive weeks while dealing with multiple injuries. Linebackers Roquan Smith and Kyle Van Noy, left tackle Ronnie Stanley and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie also did not practice Wednesday. Over the past month, Jackson has managed a rotating list of injuries — hamstring, knee, ankle and toe — making a weekly practice absence part of the Ravens’ routine. Jackson said last week that rest days are essential when recovering from injury, a sentiment coach John Harbaugh echoed. “You want to have everybody practicing every day; that’s your goal as a coach, but it’s a long season,” Harbaugh said last week. “These guys go through a lot; Lamar as much as anybody.” Awuzie missed last Wednesday’s practice with a shoulder injury but was a full participant the rest of the week, playing 16 snaps in a 24-0 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Stanley has regularly missed practices this season as part of scheduled rest days. Van Noy missed two games earlier in the season with a hamstring injury but has not appeared on the injury report since Week 5. Smith has also missed two games because of a hamstring injury and was last listed on the injury report in Week 12. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. Related Articles Ravens film study: How Tavius Robinson’s return sparked defensive shutout NFL playoffs will miss Mahomes, Brady and Manning for the first time since the 1998 season Watch Episode 16 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law How did Maryland recruit a high school Olympian to College Park? Ravens’ John Harbaugh addresses need for more offensive plays View the full article

It wasn’t until after Sunday’s game in Cincinnati that Ravens outside linebacker Tavius Robinson even knew that Kyle Van Noy was the one who intercepted a Joe Burrow pass that safety Alohi Gilman returned for a backbreaking touchdown midway through the fourth quarter of the 24-0 victory. There was a good reason. Robinson was too busy taking Burrow to the Paycor Stadium turf. By the time the third-year fourth-round pick who’d missed the previous eight games because of a broken foot suffered in Week 6 started to pick himself up to one knee, he saw Gilman already with the ball racing down the sideline for the 84-yard score. Robinson’s stats from the contest — two pressures, per Pro Football Focus, one sack, one tackle — hardly jump off the page. But there were myriad ways in which he contributed in notable if only occasionally impactful ways. He is not a game-wrecker the way defensive tackle Travis Jones can be, or even the same kind of pass-rush threat that Dre’Mont Jones has been at times. However, the “glass eater” moniker supplied by pass rush coach Chuck Smith is apt. There were a few examples Sunday. On Van Noy’s interception, the outcome was as much about the play call from defensive coordinator Zach Orr as Robinson’s role in it. Facing a third-and-goal from the Ravens’ 7-yard line and already trailing 17-0 with just 7:55 remaining, linebacker Trenton Simpson blitzed from the edge to draw the attention of left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. That caused left guard Dylan Fairchild to have to decide between blocking Robinson or the seemingly blitzing Van Noy. He chose the latter. Except Van Noy wasn’t blitzing and after taking a step toward the line instead dropped into coverage. By the time Robinson turned back to Robinson, it was too late and the 6-foot-6 linebacker closed in on Burrow, who threw desperately over the middle for tight end Mike Gesicki on a crossing route. Van Noy was waiting, caught it, then handed it to the much faster Gilman. “He had two or three pressures out there, I think, and was just running around making plays,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “He was very physical, and to come back like that, his first game getting back and to make a difference … I do believe that the pressure is what causes the opportunity for turnovers.” Robinson was also notable for what he didn’t do. The Ravens surrendered just 3.4 yards per carry on the ground against the Bengals. Chase Brown’s longest run of the day was a 10-yard carry in the second quarter, a play Robinson wasn’t even on the field for. When he was, he held the edge and the Bengals’ lackluster ground game never got a chance to get untracked. Of course, whether he’s able to do the same against the AFC East leading 11-3 New England Patriots and their much-improved offensive line as well as explosive rookie back TreVeyon Henderson on Sunday night remains to be seen, but his first step back was a solid one. There were other ways, too, that Robinson impacted the game that were less tangible. Several times, the Ravens deployed him on the interior, alongside Travis Jones and with usually Dre’Mont Jones lined up outside him on the edge, a move that helped Dre’Mont Jones wrack up a half-dozen pressures on the day, per PFF. Travis Jones benefitted sometimes, too. On a second-and-9 with 1:29 left in the third quarter, he was left one-on-one with his man and the defensive tackle powered by on the inside to get in Burrow’s face, forcing a hurried throw to Ja’Marr Chase that fell incomplete. Earlier, and near the end of the first half, Robinson occupied two Bengals offensive lineman, clearing a path for Van Noy to charge through the middle to disrupt another pass attempt. Robinson also got his first sack since Week 4. With just under 4 minutes left in the opening quarter of a scoreless game and the Bengals facing a third-and-4 from the Ravens’ 25-yard line, safety Kyle Hamilton lined up near the line of scrimmage, a move that drew the attention of Brown. With the tackle and guard seemingly focused elsewhere, Robinson raced through practically untouched and knocked Cincinnati out of field goal range. “After I got the sack, I ran out the field, hugged all the trainers that were with me from Day 1 when I said, ‘Look, I’m going to be annoying. I’m going to be in here as many hours as possible to get this foot right.’ So, I went over there, hugged all those guys,” he said after the game. “It felt great to be out there. I lost my voice yelling so much. I was trying to juice up the guys and all that.” He also showed some juice. Related Articles Watch Episode 16 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law How did Maryland recruit a high school Olympian to College Park? Ravens’ John Harbaugh addresses need for more offensive plays Ravens’ John Harbaugh isn’t frustrated by home struggles: ‘That’s made up’ Patriots believe 2nd-half collapse in loss to Bills isn’t a sign of bigger issues On a third-and-4 from Baltimore’s 25 with 4:10 remaining in the first quarter, he tirelessly worked his way across the line, chased down Burrow and held him to a 1-yard gain. The play was wiped out by offsetting penalties but it was emblematic of Robinson’s hustle much of the day. Add it all up and Hamilton had an interesting comparison. “If I had to give him an NBA comp, probably like a Jalen Duren or Dennis Rodman,” he said. “Guys who just eat glass and do the dirty work, and at the end of the game you look up and they’ve got good numbers. Team guy, super physical.” In other words, something the defense will need over the next few weeks if the Ravens hope to get into the playoffs. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article