ExtremeRavens

The Ravens’ season is officially on the brink. Baltimore no longer controls its own destiny after a 28-24 loss to the Patriots on Sunday in which it squandered an 11-point fourth-quarter lead and lost quarterback Lamar Jackson to a back injury. To advance to the postseason, the Ravens need to beat the Packers on Saturday and have the Steelers lose to the Browns on Sunday, then Baltimore needs to beat Pittsburgh in Week 18. The odds are slim. Who do you blame most for the Ravens’ disappointing season? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

Lamar Jackson went down clutching his back, and with him went the Ravens’ increasingly thin margin for error. The crowd noise inside M&T Bank Stadium faded into unease Sunday night as the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player rolled onto his side after Patriots safety Craig Woodson’s knee connected with Jackson’s lower back. In that moment, the Ravens’ path forward should have been unmistakable. Future Hall of Fame running back Derrick Henry flattened the heavyweight Patriots all evening. Early in the fourth quarter, he ripped off four straight runs for 32 yards, punctuated by his 2-yard rushing touchdown that pushed Baltimore ahead 24-13 with 12:50 remaining. With Jackson sidelined and an 11-point fourth-quarter lead in hand, the Ravens looked positioned to close. Then Henry disappeared. Vanished. Poof. Like Casper the Friendly Ghost. But it wasn’t his own doing. Over Baltimore’s next two possessions — nine offensive plays representing the most important moments of the season — Henry did not receive a single touch. Perhaps more troubling, he did not see the field again for a single snap. Zero touches. Zero snaps. Zero! The Ravens didn’t lose this critical Week 16 prime time contest because Jackson went down with his fifth reported injury this season. Baltimore lost because the coaching staff inexplicably stopped feeding the King. That failure falls squarely on offensive coordinator Todd Monken, whose decisions turned a manageable situation into a self-inflicted crisis. For whatever reason, Monken veered away from the simplest, safest option available to him. It’s not the first time Monken wasted Henry in a devastating loss either. “Looking back, would I rather have had Derrick starting the drive? Yes,” coach John Harbaugh said. “But Derrick was kind of ready for Keaton Mitchell to start that drive. And then he was planning on coming in next. So, they were working that rotation.” A rotation? With the season hanging in the balance and backup quarterback Tyler Huntley in? C’mon. Rolling out a running back rotation with your backs against the wall is some type of comedy. To Mitchell’s credit, the 5-foot-8 speedster has provided some juice as a change-of-pace tailback over his three seasons, but don’t get it twisted — he’s not even a fraction of the challenge that Henry, a 6-foot-2, four-time All-Pro, consistently presents. Treating those options, even reserve Rasheen Ali got on the field again before Henry, as being interchangeable was a reckless decision that brought consequences Baltimore will now suffer from. The Mitchell experiment also wasn’t even working. Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 28-24 loss to the Patriots Inside how the Ravens blew another double-digit 4th-quarter lead National pundits react to Ravens’ collapse vs. Patriots: ‘Shut Lamar down’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 28-24 loss to Patriots Ravens squander late lead in 28-24 loss to Patriots, putting playoff hopes in serious peril Mitchell touted the football a season-high nine times against New England, but averaged just 1.4 yards per attempt, representing a single-game career low. Along the way, Baltimore’s offense stalled while its most physically imposing weapon stood idle on the sideline. Despite not seeing the field again after his second rushing touchdown, Henry finished with a game-high 128 rushing yards across 18 carries (7.1 average). Those final 12 minutes and 50 seconds might ultimately define Baltimore’s highly disappointing season. With everything on the line, the Ravens handed a winnable game away like an early Christmas gift for the visitors. The defense folded like wrapping paper against Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, but let’s be real, Henry should’ve been draining the clock rather than riding the bench. Harbaugh, at least, acknowledged the season-defying mistake. “I don’t like the drive at all,” Harbaugh said in reference to Henry not playing over the offense’s final two possessions. “But we’re rotating those guys throughout the game as two backs. But yes, [on a] game-winning drive, do I want Derrick Henry on the field? Sure, I do want him on the field.” Why not step in then? Monken might dial up the personnel and call the plays, but Harbaugh owns the operation. Leadership in tense moments should require intervention. Henry sat out nine straight plays before wide receiver Zay Flowers coughed up his NFL-leading third lost fumble to effectively seal the team’s bitter fate. The damage, though, was done long before the ball was punched from Flowers’ apparently loose grip. Monken, Harbaugh and the Ravens had already surrendered their advantage. With Henry glued to the sideline, the Patriots rallied for a comeback victory that secured New England a playoff berth and shrunk Baltimore’s playoff chances from small to improbable. Was Henry surprised to not be on the field for most of the fourth quarter? “No,” he said. “We’ve been doing a rotation for I don’t know how many weeks. Keaton has been doing a great job in the run game, and we are both in there doing the best we can. “Any player would just like to be able to have the ball in their hands and make plays for the team just to give ourselves a chance to go win. I think any player would have that same response, if you’re a competitor, and you love the game — and I definitely love the game — but this didn’t go our way tonight. They were the better team, and that’s where they won.” Kudos to Henry for taking the high road. But Baltimore, even without Jackson, was in fact, the better team for much of Sunday’s contest. It’s a shame the coaching staff didn’t realize its wrongdoings once again as it all unfolded with Jackson and Henry together on the home sideline. With everything on the brink, the Ravens neglected to keep pounding the rock with Henry. It was certainly quite the choice this turbulent season may not survive. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Ravens running back Derrick Henry scores on a 21-yard run against the Patriots in the first quarter Sunday. Henry ran for 128 yards, but he didn't receive a touch over Baltimore's final two drives. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

The Ravens let slip an 11-point, fourth-quarter lead, losing to the Patriots, 28-24, on a night a season’s worth of issues all came to a head. Now 7-8, two games back of the AFC North lead, Baltimore no longer controls its own playoff destiny. Here are five things we learned from the game: Sunday night was a dizzying roller coaster ride If you were to chart the Ravens’ postseason hopes throughout Sunday night on a graph, measuring time perpendicular to the heart rate of the fan base, the squiggly line would look like a rollercoaster that left its riders with frizzy hair, doubled over the toilet. At 7:50 p.m. EST, over 500 miles away at Ford Field in downtown Detroit, the Lions scored what appeared to be a game-winning touchdown to beat the Steelers. That was the helping hand Baltimore needed in the AFC North standings. After some deliberation, the touchdown was overturned, Pittsburgh won and that line began its initial descent. By 8:39 p.m., the Ravens were playing like a team ready to make a playoff push. Not only did they still control their own playoff destiny, they white-knuckle gripped it. Derrick Henry rushed for a touchdown to cap a quick scoring drive, then Marlon Humphrey picked off Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. Baltimore was buzzing. Then at 9:34 p.m., about two minutes before halftime, Baltimore fell silent. Lamar Jackson trudged into the locker room steps, hanging his head and grabbing at his back. Huntley replaced him, which in a game of this magnitude, the line representing their playoff hopes fell faster than Joe Frazier in 1973. During an 11-minute window around 10:30 p.m. their playoff hopes were tied to a rocket ship. Zay Flowers took an end-around handoff 18 yards for a touchdown. The Patriots then tried a fake punt, fumbled it and Henry punched in his second touchdown to give the Ravens a two-score lead in the fourth quarter. At 11:22, that charted line crashed with its final descent. There were MVP chants for the opposing quarterback. The Ravens had a chance to put the nail in the coffin and instead ran an uninspiring penultimate drive. Then, on the potential game-winning drive, Flowers fumbled the ball away 15 seconds into a two-minute drill. Fair to say that’s how this Ravens season felt? Late December, we’re getting off a roller coaster that left everyone with frizzy hair, doubled over the toilet. “When we were 1-5, we knew that we were still a good team, and that we had a chance,” wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins said. “We just had to correct some things, and we did that. We went on a little run, but obviously this is the NFL. You have to bring it every week.” ‘It’s BS’; This has been the roughest season of Lamar Jackson’s career Surprisingly, Jackson agreed to speak with reporters after Sunday’s game. He stood against against his locker grimacing in pain. Injured players rarely, if ever, field questions postgame. Trapped inside a Louis Vuitton coat and gray beanie, the superstar quarterback stood upright so as not to move his back too much. “Pain,” he said. “It hurts.” Late in the first half, Jackson, giving himself up on a rare slide, took an awkward knee to the back. He stayed in for one more play. Then he checked out of the game, replaced by Huntley. Jackson said he got a Toradol shot, an anti-inflammatory drug, to alleviate the pain of what coach John Harbaugh unofficially called a “bruise of some kind.” It didn’t get any better. Inside the locker room, he tried throwing a football with one of the team trainers. “It just hurt,” he said. Sunday night may have been the final chapter in what has been the roughest season of Jackson’s eight-year, two-time Most Valuable Player career. He hopes to play in Green Bay on a short week but is expected to undergo imaging on Monday. This season, Jackson has already suffered injuries to his hamstring, knee, ankle and toe. He missed at least one midweek practice for six straight weeks, for reasons listed as injuries, illness and a rest day. There was a three-game stretch without producing a touchdown. He’s five sacks away from tying a single-season career most. Jackson started to look more like himself the past two weeks. He recently acknowledged he was finally feeling closer to playing like himself. Then the 28-year-old was again snakebitten by injury. His night ended having completed seven of 10 passes for 101 yards. Jackson fielded questions in the home locker room about what is closing in on, officially, a lost season. Much of that can be chalked up to the unavailability or uncharacteristic quarterback play. “It’s BS, bro,” he said. “I can’t control that.” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson slowly walks off the field after injuring his lower back against the Patriots. He left the game in the second quarter and did not return. (Nick Wass/AP) Meanwhile, the other quarterback clinched a division title for his team while the remaining fans who traveled from up north showered him with MVP chants. Drake Maye completed 31 of 44 passes for 380 yards, two touchdowns and an interception; all while playing behind an offensive line with multiple reserves. “I have to give [Maye] credit, some of those passes were hotly-contested, tight throws, under pressure, so you have to give them credit for making those plays in those situations,” Harbaugh said. “You have to do the things that are required to win, to win a lot of games. And we haven’t done that enough.” The guy regularly making those plays for Baltimore hasn’t been regularly making those plays. “I felt great tonight,” Jackson said. “It was unfortunate that it happened. I wish it didn’t though.” ‘It’s been a theme’ Kyle Hamilton is sick of talking about it. And he knows reporters aren’t fond of having to repeatedly ask it. The Ravens struggled with turnovers, between Flowers and Henry both fumbling. They failed to wall up on what required a signature defensive stand, leading by a field goal with five minute left. Not to mention that 11-point fourth-quarter lead vanished, marking Baltimore’s sixth loss in the past seven seasons after leading by 10 or more points in the final stanza. Related Articles Inside how the Ravens blew another double-digit 4th-quarter lead National pundits react to Ravens’ collapse vs. Patriots: ‘Shut Lamar down’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 28-24 loss to Patriots Ravens squander late lead in 28-24 loss to Patriots, putting playoff hopes in serious peril Instant analysis from Ravens’ 28-24 loss to Patriots in Week 16 “It’s redundant, and [there are] no excuses at this point,” Hamilton said. “You said we had six losses at home. Is that right? Yes, that’s terrible. Our fans, whoever’s supporting us coming out to these games — it’s not like the attendance has dropped off at all — there’s people still out at these games on a Sunday night. It’s cold outside, the stadium’s packed out, people have work tomorrow, and we’re not making it worth their while at the end of the day.” Those words loom heavy from the highest paid safety in the league and the face of the Ravens defense. This is, unfortunately, who they are. The game’s final few minutes were a microcosm of all that has hindered this Super Bowl caliber roster from getting over the hump to competing for a Lombardi Trophy in the Jackson era. There were coaching decisions worthy of criticism. Prominent players came up short in crucial moments. And the defense couldn’t bring down the quarterback nor get off the field when they desperately needed to. To quote Dennis Green, “They are who we thought they were.” On that final drive, punter Jordan Stout pinned New England at its own 11-yard line. In four plays, they closed in on midfield. Maye, who has been one of the league’s most efficient deep-ball passers, showed no reservations about trying the Ravens defense. He converted a pivotal fourth-and-2, fitting a ball through a tight window to Stefon Diggs. “We just didn’t do enough to close out the game,” said safety Ar’Darius Washington, who nearly tipped the fourth-down throw. “Having an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter [and losing], that’s just not what we wanted to do. That’s not Ravens football, and we know that.” Historically, that’s not Ravens football. Of late, it’s not out of the norm. With the game on the line, Ravens should give the ball to Henry Zay Flowers dropped his head. He shrugged, trying to make sense of what had unfolded. “I tried to make a play,” he said, hard on himself for what was his third career fourth-quarter fumble. This one came two plays into a failed game-winning drive. “I seen him over run it so I cut back. Tried to get upfield. Get a first [down]. Somebody behind punched it out.” It’s a maddening flaw in what has otherwise been an impressive, nascent career for the former first-round pick. Flowers arrived in Baltimore in 2023. He’s grown into the closest thing the Ravens have to a homegrown wide receiver one. The one-time Pro Bowl selection eclipsed 1,000 yards for a second straight year. On Sunday, he caught seven passes, totaled 84 yards and ran for a touchdown. Two explosive plays on the game’s opening drive set the tone. It’s become clear in recent weeks how much Jackson relies on the road runner who jolts and squirms like there’s a battery pack taped between his shoulder blades. Flowers was as reliable an option as the Ravens had all night. Until the final drive, when he caught a short pass from Huntley and Patriots linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson punched it loose. Chaisson said they knew Baltimore had some “speed skaters,” an analogy he used to explain Ravens players who are a bit too liberal with their ball security. Ravens running back Derrick Henry celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Patriots. He scored two in the loss, although Baltimore didn't give him any touches in the game's final 10 minutes. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) If divine intervention could grant the Ravens a do-over, Harbaugh might have preferred a highly paid veteran to decide this game. “Looking back, would I rather have Derrick starting the drive? Yeah,” he said. Harbaugh was alluding more specifically to the drive before. Baltimore led by a field goal and took over possession with under nine minutes left. A touchdown drive might’ve put the game out of reach. Rather than Henry, backup running back Keaton Mitchell was in to start the drive. It was part of a plan the Ravens have been running with lately, rotating running backs on a per-drive basis. By that point, Henry registered 128 yards on 18 carries. He scored two touchdowns against one of the league’s worst run defenses over the past month. Mitchell, who has played well of late, managed just 13 yards on a season-high nine attempts and a career-low 1.4 average. Henry said he was not surprised by how the touches were distributed. That’s because it’s something they’ve been doing for weeks. “Keaton is deserving of it,” Henry said. Flowers is too. He has shown as much. Curiously, it was third stringer Rasheen Ali who was out there for the final drive. In a game of this magnitude, with the star quarterback watching from the sideline in street clothes, there’s one player who should have had the ball in his hands. “When you look back on it,” Harbaugh said, “I think it’s pretty easy to say, ‘Hey, he should have been in there or shouldn’t have been in there.’ But we’re rotating those guys throughout the game as two backs. “But yes, game-winning drive, do I want Derrick Henry on the field? Sure, I do want him on the field.” The Ravens are out of options. They must win out and get help. Thirty minutes before kickoff Sunday night, fans who had already found their seats were glued to the big board. Half the split-screen showed Ravens and Patriots players stretching; fans didn’t care much for that. They were locked into what wound up being a dramatic ending between the Steelers and Lions over 500 miles away. Detroit quarterback Jared Goff nearly authored a two-minute drill for the ages (with some help from officials). It would have given Baltimore a sliver of breathing room. Instead, the Steelers held on, reached nine wins and complicated the Ravens’ playoff push. Now, any combination of a Ravens loss in Green Bay on Saturday or a Steelers win Sunday in Cleveland would end Baltimore’s season. The grim energy in the postgame locker room suggested as such. DeAndre Hopkins said, “It sucks.” Asked about the team’s postgame message, Humphrey admitted, “To be honest, I have no idea what just got said. I’m still processing everything, so I can’t really answer that.” Center Tyler Linderbaum called it “very frustrating” knowing they have the talent to be a playoff contender but for much of this season, they haven’t been able to “translate that onto the field.” “I think it’s very simple,” linebacker Roquan Smith said, “We didn’t play winning football.” Because of it, the Ravens have backed themselves into a corner where just playing winning football won’t be enough to salvage this season from hell. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. The Ravens went just 3-6 at home this season, and their playoff chances are slim with two games left in the regular season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

It appeared Tyler Huntley had done enough. The Ravens led the New England Patriots, 24-13, with 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, and Huntley had capably guided Baltimore through the second half after Lamar Jackson exited with an injury. His stat line wasn’t eye-catching, but he managed the game and built a lead. It should have been enough. It wasn’t. Baltimore surrendered 15 unanswered points, including a nine-play, 89-yard go-ahead drive, as its defense faltered late. Running back Derrick Henry was absent for the Ravens’ final two possessions, and wide receiver Zay Flowers lost a fumble on Baltimore’s last drive. As linebacker Roquan Smith put it, the Ravens simply “didn’t play winning football.” Since the 2020 season, Baltimore has now lost 13 games after leading by 10 or more points. Sunday marked the Ravens’ second such collapse this season, following a blown 15-point lead against Buffalo in the season opener — also on “Sunday Night Football.” “The guys fought and battled, but we didn’t do enough to win the game. We didn’t do the winning things that we needed to do to win the game,” coach John Harbaugh said. “We made plays, but not enough and made some mistakes that cost us.” Patriots quarterback Drake Maye solidified his NFL Most Valuable Player Award candidacy with a 139-yard, one-touchdown fourth quarter. He finished with 380 passing yards and two touchdowns. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey said the difference late was the Ravens’ inability to limit explosive plays. Maye connected with Kyle Williams for a 37-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to one score, then hit Mack Hollins and Stefon Diggs for gains of 20 and 21 yards on the ensuing drive. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson capped the rally by scoring from 21 yards out with just over two minutes remaining. After allowing just one New England play of more than 20 yards in the third quarter, Baltimore surrendered four such gains on the Patriots’ two fourth-quarter scoring drives. “It seemed like we had them bottled up pretty decent throughout the game, but then in the fourth quarter [we] had some lapses,” Humphrey said. “Drake Maye made some great throws and they were able to come back.” Henry recorded his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season, totaling 128 yards and scoring early in the fourth quarter to give Baltimore a two-score lead. The touchdown came on a four-play, 32-yard sequence by Henry capped by a 2-yard run. Henry did not touch the ball again. Keaton Mitchell handled the carries on Baltimore’s second-to-last drive, rushing twice for 4 yards. Henry remained on the sideline during the Ravens’ final possession, with Rasheen Ali lining up at running back. Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 28-24 loss to the Patriots National pundits react to Ravens’ collapse vs. Patriots: ‘Shut Lamar down’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 28-24 loss to Patriots Ravens squander late lead in 28-24 loss to Patriots, putting playoff hopes in serious peril Instant analysis from Ravens’ 28-24 loss to Patriots in Week 16 Asked about Henry’s absence on the final two drives, Harbaugh said that the Ravens have rotated Mitchell and Henry in recent weeks. “Looking back, would I rather have had Derrick starting the drive? Yes,” Harbaugh said. “But Derrick was kind of ready for Keaton to start that drive. And then he was planning on coming in next.” Mitchell finished with a career-low 1.4 yards per carry on a season-high nine attempts. Henry echoed Harbaugh’s explanation, saying the rotation had been used the past couple of weeks and that he felt he was in a good “flow” with Mitchell. “I don’t think this would be a big deal if we had won the game. There wouldn’t be any questions about it,” Henry said. “But I understand that when you lose, everybody’s going to want to know or try to analyze every situation.” Such as the way the Ravens lost was familiar, so was the play by Flowers to effectively end the game — cutting back on a 5-yard reception and having the ball punched out. It marked Flowers’ third lost fumble this season, more than his total receiving touchdowns this year. Along with Henry’s first-quarter fumble, Baltimore is now tied with Seattle for the league lead in lost fumbles with 12. “We all have to protect the football. That’s a lesson that has to be understood,” Harbaugh said. “We have not done a good enough job of that on offense this year.” In a loss defined by late mistakes, the Ravens were again reminded how thin the margin is between control and collapse — a mistake that now leaves their playoff fate out of their hands. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams, left, catches a touchdown against Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey on Sunday. Baltimore's defensed faded in the fourth quarter of the 28-24 loss. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP) View the full article

The Ravens were 10 minutes away from icing one of their biggest wins of the season, a prime-time contest against the 11-win Patriots. Instead, the defense fell apart and Baltimore abandoned its reliable running game yet again in a game’s final moments. Baltimore’s playoff hopes aren’t mathematically dead, but with Lamar Jackson battling a new back injury, it’s hard to imagine the Ravens getting the breaks needed in Weeks 17 and 18 to make the postseason. It’s a brutal turn of events for Baltimore, which held a two-score lead going into Sunday’s final 10 minutes. Here’s what national analysts had to say about Baltimore’s 28-24 loss to the Patriots. ESPN’s Tim Hasselbeck “Lamar just didn’t seem right this year, if I’m calling it like it is,” he told Scott Van Pelt after the game. “The hamstring injury, whatever else was bothering him, he just didn’t seem right. He is normally the scariest player when things break down. He’s going to either take off and run or create. We just didn’t see enough of that.” Jackson exited Sunday’s game in the second quarter, although the offense performed admirably in his absence. Baltimore’s backup quarterback Tyler Huntley led a pair of second-half touchdown drives, finishing the game 9-for-10 passing for 65 yards. Jackson was 7-for-10 for 101 yards. Patrick Peterson, CBS Sports “We’ve seen this time and time again,” the longtime NFL defensive back said on a postgame show. “When they need to lean on Derrick Henry late in the game, here’s nowhere to be found. I don’t know if it’s because of the fumbles early in the game that’s causing [offensive coordinator Todd] Monken to shy away from him, but they have to find a way to keep him engaged in the game, especially when he’s having the game he was having.” Henry’s lack of usage was a major postgame storyline. The bruising running back carried the ball 18 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns, but he didn’t play a snap over Baltimore’s final two drives. Most analysts took issue with Henry’s lack of usage in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. Bryant McFadden, CBS Sports McFadden, on the same show as Peterson, had the same opinion. “I don’t want to tackle him in the fourth quarter. He was rolling … but for some reason, they took him out of the game,” McFadden said. “They did the Patriots a big-time favor by doing that.” New England’s comeback came as the Ravens abandoned Henry in the running game. Shannon Sharpe, Nightcap “They might as well just go ahead and shut Lamar down,” the former Ravens tight end said on his YouTube show. “He has not been the same since he came back.” Sharpe says that Jackson’s limited mobility greatly hampered Baltimore this season. He also thinks that the franchise needs to take a serious look at John Harbaugh, the team’s longtime coach. “I don’t really advocate for anything like this, but it might be time for the Ravens to get a new voice … they need to go in a different direction,” he said. Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 28-24 loss to the Patriots Inside how the Ravens blew another double-digit 4th-quarter lead The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 28-24 loss to Patriots Ravens squander late lead in 28-24 loss to Patriots, putting playoff hopes in serious peril Instant analysis from Ravens’ 28-24 loss to Patriots in Week 16 Sharpe suggested that Baltimore’s roster has become too old and too slow to compete. He’s in favor of the Ravens getting a new coach and overhauling portions of the roster. He says that the team’s lack of a high-end pass rusher is a clear weakness that needs to be fixed in the offseason. Michael Hurley, NBC Sports Boston “Derrick Henry averaged over 7 yards per carry and the Ravens only gave him the ball 18 times in a must-win game where Lamar Jackson got hurt before halftime,” he posted on X. “That’s unconscionable.” Henry’s lack of touches in the final minutes will likely be discussion fodder for weeks as Ravens fans and NFL media members try to determine what the heck went wrong Sunday night at M&T Bank Stadium. Have a news tip? Contact Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position in their 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday night at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Quarterbacks Starter Lamar Jackson left the game with two minutes remaining in the first half after taking a knee to the back. Until that point, Jackson had played well, connecting on 7 of 10 passes for 101 yards. Replacement Tyler Huntley completed 9 of 10 passes for 65 yards but was basically a game manager as the Ravens were content to hand the ball off to the running backs. It will be interesting to see what the Ravens do with Jackson from this point on as far as a possible contract extension. He has been hurt most of the season, suffering almost every injury imaginable in the lower half of his body. After eight years, have the Ravens had enough? Grade: C Running backs The Ravens controlled a lot of the game with running backs Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell. Henry had 128 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns but also lost a fumble in the first half with Baltimore seeking a two-score lead. Mitchell had nine carries and finished with only 13 yards, but he forced the Patriots to spread out their defense with his sheer speed. With the injury to Jackson, both backs helped the Ravens control the game in the final two quarters. The Ravens, though, should have stayed with Henry late in the game. They gave up on him way too early, and the Patriots couldn’t stop him. Grade: A Offensive line The Ravens did a good job of sustaining blocks, maybe their best effort of the season as far as maintaining blocks after initial contact. The entire group did well, and the Ravens were successful in terms of “gut running” in the first half. In the second half, the Ravens did exactly what was needed with both tackles playing well and guards Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees dominating the middle of the field. Pass blocking will always be a liability with this team, but the Ravens finished with 171 rushing yards (5.2 per carry). They allowed only one sack but did surrender five quarterback hits. Overall, they didn’t need much else because the running game was strong. Grade: B Receivers Tight end Isaiah Likely had a great block to spring receiver Zay Flowers on an 18-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The Ravens dominated New England’s defense, especially since the Patriots were missing middle linebacker Robert Spillane, the team’s leading tackler. The Ravens, though, used the play-action pass to Flowers well. He had seven receptions for 84 yards, but his fumble after a catch over the middle in the final two minutes basically sealed the win for New England. Flowers is a great playmaker when used properly, but he needs to hold on to the ball. DeAndre Hopkins had a big game, at least compared with previous outings, with four catches for 41 yards. The Ravens didn’t need this group to step up because they ran the ball so well and the Patriots were content on backing up and giving the Ravens space. But the bend-don’t-break approach worked for New England. Grade: C Defensive line The Ravens’ core group of tackles John Jenkins and Travis Jones and ends Brent Urban and Dre’Mont Jones held the Patriots to 79 rushing yards, but they didn’t get a lot of pressure on Drake Maye. And when they did, it mostly came from the outside linebackers. The Ravens need to rebuild this group by using some first- and second-round draft picks on linemen who can do more than just one thing, which is stop the run. This group played well enough to win, but wilted in the final quarter. We’ve seen this before. Grade: C- Linebackers Middle linebacker Roquan Smith led the Ravens in tackles with 10. The Ravens, though, did some bizarre stuff, such as having outside linebackers like Kyle Van Noy and Trenton Simpson in coverage. Both handled the extra duties well, but both should have been victimized by touchdown passes in the right corner of the end zone. Jones, who doubles as an outside linebacker, played well and finished with one sack and two pressures. Fellow outside linebacker Tavius Robinson didn’t stick out despite playing well a week ago. Simpson had seven tackles, including one sack and two tackles for losses. This is another area where general manager Eric DeCosta has to invest in some talent. If a team can’t provide pressure in the postseason, especially with the front four, all the exotic blitzes won’t work. Grade: C- Secondary Overall, the Ravens struggled in coverage, even though Maye threw some great passes, especially early in the game. But the Ravens had no one who could cover veteran receiver Stefon Diggs. He has been disgruntled for years, but he worked the Ravens over for nine catches for 138 yards. As expected, the Patriots went after cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who might need to move to safety next year. Humphrey gave up a 37-yard touchdown reception to rookie Kyle Williams with 9:01 left in the game, and he was burned by Diggs several times across the middle. Humphrey did have an interception deep in Ravens territory in the first quarter. After the Ravens got the 11-point lead early in the fourth quarter, they were content to give up the dink-and-dunk passes as long as they tackled well, but New England riddled the secondary with crossing patterns. The Ravens left the field with New England fans chanting “MVP” for Maye after the game. The Patriots lit the Ravens up for 453 yards of total offense, including 380 through the air. Grade: D Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 28-24 loss to the Patriots Inside how the Ravens blew another double-digit 4th-quarter lead National pundits react to Ravens’ collapse vs. Patriots: ‘Shut Lamar down’ Ravens squander late lead in 28-24 loss to Patriots, putting playoff hopes in serious peril Instant analysis from Ravens’ 28-24 loss to Patriots in Week 16 Special teams Jordan Stout averaged 42 yards on two punts and had a long of 45 yards. He planted one inside the 20-yard line. The Ravens averaged 24.5 yards on four kickoff returns and rookie LaJohntay Wester still looks indecisive when returning punts. He had only one return for 11 yards. Rookie Tyler Loop converted a 36-yard field goal, but his 56-yard try fell short. The Ravens were fortunate to play against New England, whose special teams play was horrendous. The Patriots failed on a fake punt late in the third quarter that Baltimore turned into a touchdown for a 24-13 lead. Grade: C Coaching Of course it’s hindsight, but the Ravens should have stayed with Henry, even late in the game. The Patriots had no answer for him, but the Ravens tried to use the passing game, which was disappointing. Baltimore appeared ready for this game, and even had a five-play, 65-yard touchdown drive on its opening series. But there was no passing game to complement the running game, and the defense was giving up big plays on the back end. Coach John Harbaugh said after the game that the Ravens had played hard all season, but that’s not true. They didn’t play hard once the injuries started mounting early in the year and they tried to compensate for Jackson’s absence with a good running game. Overall, they had no passing game, and the coverage in the secondary and the pass rush were brutal. Grade: C Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Even without Lamar Jackson, the Ravens had a chance. In practically a must-win game against the New England Patriots on Sunday night at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore’s quarterback took a knee to the left side of his ribs/back from safety Craig Woodson on a short run up the middle with just under 2 minutes remaining in the first half and never returned. Jackson winced as he exited the field and headed to the locker room, clapping his hands in frustration. It was that kind of night — and has been that kind of season for the Ravens and their biggest star, who has also suffered hamstring, knee, ankle and toe injuries this year. Still, Baltimore was in position to win — until, like so many times this year, it wasn’t. With the Ravens leading 24-13 with just under 13 minutes remaining in the game, Drake Maye (31 of 44 passing, 380 yards, two touchdowns, one interception) rallied the Patriots to a 28-24 victory with Rhamondre Stevenson scoring the go-ahead touchdown from 21 yards out with 2:15 remaining. Baltimore took over at its own 32-yard line with 2:03 left, but wide receiver Zay Flowers was stripped from behind and fumbled with 1:48 remaining to all but end any chance of a comeback. Huntley finished 9 of 10 passing for 65 yards. With the Steelers’ win in Detroit over the Lions earlier in the day, coupled with the Ravens’ loss, Baltimore is now two games behind Pittsburgh with as many games remaining. It also means their playoff chances are out of their control and on life support. If the Steelers beat the Browns in Cleveland next Sunday, Pittsburgh will be the AFC North champion, rendering the Ravens’ result against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 on Saturday and the Week 18 game in Pittsburgh meaningless. For a season that started with Super Bowl expectations, it is a cold and crushing reality. Those championship hopes took a series of body blows with a 1-5 start that included a squandered 15-point fourth-quarter lead to the Buffalo Bills in upstate New York in Week 1 — a defeat that lingered long beyond on the final whistle. An embarrassing 44-10 beatdown at home by the Houston Texans followed a few weeks later. But long before the Steelers’ wild last-second victory and Baltimore’s incomprehensible sixth loss at M&T Bank Stadium (and fourth in prime time), the crushing 1-2 punches were home losses in Weeks 13 and 14 to the Bengals on Thanksgiving night and then nine days later to the Steelers. The Steelers and Ravens are both deeply flawed teams, but in the end Pittsburgh found ways to win when it had to. The Ravens did not. Jobs will undoubtedly be lost over it, but that’s a story for another day in the not-too-distant future. This latest loss was as brutal as it was familiar, with the Ravens unable to finish another game they had in their grasp. Related Articles Instant analysis from Ravens’ 28-24 loss to Patriots in Week 16 Ravens QB Lamar Jackson suffers back injury, ruled out vs. Patriots Packers monitoring QBs Jordan Love, Malik Willis ahead of game vs. Ravens Ravens vs. Patriots, December 21, 2025 | PHOTOS Steelers edge Lions, 29-24, in wild finish when penalty negates winning TD Leading 7-0 late in the first quarter and with the ball on the Patriots’ 27 and marching toward what looked like would be another score, Derrick Henry (18 carries, 128 yards, two touchdowns) fumbled, with safety Jaylinn Hawkins punching the ball out at the end of a 5-yard run. It was his first fumble since Week 3 but fourth of the season — and a costly one. Then Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey was flagged for defensive holding, negating a stop on third-and-4 that kept the Patriots’ drive alive. Unsurprisingly, New England took advantage. On third-and-13 from Baltimore’s 47, the Ravens got zero pressure — a common theme this season and all night — against New England’s two backup tackles, and Maye found Mack Hollins wide-open in the middle of the field for 20 yards. Then it was Austin Hooper’s turn with a 26-yard catch before Maye floated an easy 1-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Hunter Henry to tie the score at 7 at the 11:22 mark of the second quarter. Baltimore then went three-and-out on its next possession with New England adding a 45-yard field goal after a 33-yard completion to Diggs on a third-and-3 in which the Ravens again gave Maye way too much time. Tied at 10 as the second half began, Baltimore surged ahead on touchdowns by Flowers and Henry, but that was the last time the Ravens found the end zone. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 16 of the NFL season on Sunday night at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Brian Wacker, reporter Like so many games this season, the Ravens (7-8) had a grasp of victory until they didn’t. Without injured quarterback Lamar Jackson for the second half, the game was always going to be an uphill climb. Still, they forged a two-score lead into the fourth quarter, thanks mostly to Derrick Henry and for bits and pieces backup quarterback Tyler Huntley. But it wasn’t enough. Drake Maye continued to pick apart what has been an average-at-best defense and with little worry of the Ravens being able to consistently move the ball. It also felt apropos that the Ravens’ final last gasp effort ended with Zay Flowers fumbling. Like the Eminem song “Lose Yourself” that blared through the stadium as Ravens players took the field, the words were foreboding: “Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted, in one moment, would you capture it or just let it slip?” Mike Preston, columnist The Ravens got upset by New England on Sunday night and that pretty much sealed their playoff aspirations. It’s basically Pittsburgh’s AFC North championship to lose, but the Ravens played well enough to win Sunday, especially with a strong running game. But the Ravens couldn’t get enough pressure on Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who sliced up their secondary, especially cornerback Marlon Humphrey. The Ravens’ weaknesses were exposed again, mainly problems in the secondary and no pass rush. The Ravens were also without quarterback Lamar Jackson, who left after taking a knee to the back with two minutes left in the first half. Jackson has left open to speculation that his days might be numbered in Baltimore. Josh Tolentino, columnist While the controversial ending of the Steelers’ win over the Lions was being displayed on one of the big screens at M&T Bank Stadium, an adjacent screen showed Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers amid pregame warmups celebrating what he initially thought was a Lions’ victory. Flowers’ celebration was a bit premature. The third-year wide receiver was later involved in Baltimore’s own controversial ending as Flowers critically fumbled away a shot at a comeback victory in the game’s waning moments. The Ravens are still mathematically alive in the playoff hunt, but they no longer control their own destiny. Sunday represented a culmination of frustrations with quarterback Lamar Jackson’s early departure in the first half. His pain tolerance (Jackson was ruled out in the second half with a back injury) will be under the microscope this week as the team faces a short turnaround with another prime time matchup looming Saturday night at Green Bay (dealing with its own quarterback health issues). Even with a potential Week 17 win against the Packers, the Ravens would still need help from the Browns for their Week 18 date at Pittsburgh to hold any weight. Sunday night felt like the beginning of the end as Baltimore dropped to 3-6 at home. Sam Cohn, reporter The Ravens’ season seemingly vanished into a cloud of smoke Sunday night. First, when Lamar Jackson left before halftime with an injury that would hold him out for the rest of the night. Then again, when Snoop Huntley was called on to author a two-minute game-winning drive to save the season, but Zay Flowers fumbled. The climb to the playoffs is arduous, a long shot. The Ravens will have to win out and get some help from the Browns, who would need to beat the Steelers. As strange a game as it was, Baltimore gave itself a chance. But Sunday, when a blown lead gave way to MVP chants raining for the opposing quarterback, proved a fitting way for this season to plummet. Michael Howes, reporter A deflating loss. No other words to describe it. Any immediate thought that the Ravens were going to lose when Lamar Jackson went down were quelled for the majority of the second half with Tyler “Snoop” Huntley under center. Huntley did enough to allow the Ravens to win, managing the game and avoiding mistakes. That optimism was swiftly snatched away. The defense allowed New England to score 15 unanswered points in the final 12 minutes of the fourth quarter to steal the prime-time victory. It doesn’t feel like a new way to lose for the Ravens. They have dropped games with a similar script this year, and throughout coach John Harbaugh’s tenure. This loss, though, will likely cost them the playoffs. C.J. Doon, editor The Baltimore Ravens, everybody. We’ve seen enough. This is just who they are. Squandering late leads against quality opponents? You bet. Star players making huge mistakes in big moments? Yup. Lamar Jackson raising more questions about his legacy? Unfortunately, yes. I just don’t know what else to say anymore. This has been an amazing run of regular season success with Jackson that has led to just one AFC championship game appearance. But just when you think that the Ravens are turning the corner — that dominant opening drive, that 11-point fourth-quarter lead, that Week 1 avalanche in Buffalo — they falter. MVP chants rained down in late December at M&T Bank Stadium as a postseason berth was clinched. It was for the visiting quarterback and his playoff-bound team. Let that sink in. Related Articles Ravens squander late lead in 28-24 loss to Patriots, putting playoff hopes in serious peril Ravens QB Lamar Jackson suffers back injury, ruled out vs. Patriots Packers monitoring QBs Jordan Love, Malik Willis ahead of game vs. Ravens Ravens vs. Patriots, December 21, 2025 | PHOTOS Steelers edge Lions, 29-24, in wild finish when penalty negates winning TD Tim Schwartz, editor Yet another gut-wrenching loss for the Ravens. They have to be used to it by now, right? Down four with the season essentially on the line, Tyler Huntley trotted out with 2:03 left. Not Lamar Jackson, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, because he took a knee to the back late in the first half. It didn’t look like much, but it was enough to knock him out of Baltimore’s biggest game of the year. And just like another infamous playoff defeat, Zay Flowers fumbled the ball away when they desperately needed it. This, unfortunately, is in the Ravens’ DNA now. Change is necessary. Bennett Conlin, editor That’s all she wrote. The Steelers just need a win over the Browns next week to end Baltimore’s highly disappointing 2025 season. I’m betting they’ll make that happen. The Ravens’ hopes Sunday didn’t end when Lamar Jackson exited the game in the second quarter with a back injury. No, Tyler Huntley picked up the slack and then some offensively. It was Zach Orr’s defense that decided it would effectively end Baltimore’s season. The unit was spotted a double-digit fourth-quarter lead, and it coughed the lead up with two poor possessions in a row. That can’t happen at home in a must-win game. Zay Flowers then fumbled, a familiar sight in crunch time in recent years. Baltimore wasn’t good this season after having massive preseason expectations, even when Jackson was on the field. Expect significant offseason changes. This team needs them. Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson injured his back late in the first half of Sunday night’s game against the Patriots and was ruled out in the third quarter. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player was briefly checked by trainers on the sideline before heading to the locker room near the end of the first half. He returned to the sideline in street clothes in the second half. Jackson was hit by safety Craig Woodson near his left side on a 3-yard carry, and Woodson’s knee collided with Jackson’s back as he dove forward. Jackson was seen grimacing on the sideline and clapping his hands in frustration as he left the field. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley entered on third down for the Ravens at the Patriots’ 25-yard line, completing a 7-yard pass to running back Rasheen Ali before rookie kicker Tyler Loop made a 36-yard field goal to tie the game at 10. Jackson did not take the field to warm up before the third quarter, and Huntley remained at quarterback for the Ravens’ first drive of the second half. Huntley helped the Ravens take a 17-13 lead into the fourth quarter. “They’re working on him right now. Stretching. We’ll see how he feels coming out,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of Jackson in an interview with NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark before the start of the second half. “Tyler does everything Lamar does if he has to play. But we’ll see what happens.” The Ravens (7-7) entered Sunday’s game trailing the Steelers (9-6) for the AFC North lead. Pittsburgh held on to beat the Detroit Lions, 29-24, earlier Sunday, and finishes the regular season against the Cleveland Browns and the Ravens in what could be a winner-take-all matchup for the division title in Week 18. Jackson, 28, missed three games earlier this season with a hamstring injury, and he’s suffered various lower-body injuries since returning. He missed Wednesday’s practice earlier this week with an illness and has routinely missed at least one practice in recent weeks. In 11 games entering Sunday night, he had completed 63.5% of his passes for 2,210 yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions while rushing for 333 yards and two scores on 61 carries. His 30.3 rushing yards per game this season are the fewest of his career. Huntley led the Ravens to a 30-16 victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 8 earlier this season with Jackson sidelined, which ended a four-game losing streak following a 1-5 start and the Week 7 bye. The 27-year-old Huntley is 6-9 in his career as the starter, with all but five of those starts coming with Baltimore. He also started the Ravens’ 24-17 wild-card round loss to the Bengals at the end of the 2022 season, which included a fumble on a quarterback sneak at the goal line that Cincinnati returned for the decisive score. 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 squander late lead in 28-24 loss to Patriots, putting playoff hopes in serious peril Instant analysis from Ravens’ 28-24 loss to Patriots in Week 16 Packers monitoring QBs Jordan Love, Malik Willis ahead of game vs. Ravens Ravens vs. Patriots, December 21, 2025 | PHOTOS Steelers edge Lions, 29-24, in wild finish when penalty negates winning TD View the full article

Jordan Love isn’t the only Green Bay quarterback dealing with a health issue as the Packers attempt to regroup from a brutal 22-16 overtime loss in Chicago that dealt a major blow to their hopes of winning the NFC North. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Sunday that Malik Willis hurt his shoulder while playing the majority of the game in place of Love, who’s in concussion protocol after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Austin Booker in the second quarter of Saturday night’s game. “I’d say he’s pretty sore,” LaFleur said of Willis. “That’s a legitimate deal that he’s dealing with, and he’s going to be another guy that we’ll see where he’s at as we progress.” The Packers (9-5-1) remain unsure about Love’s potential availability for their home game Saturday with the Baltimore Ravens. “That’s always a tough one to navigate,” LaFleur said. “There’s a lot of steps to getting through that. But I do think just my conversations with people, I have not specifically talked to him today, but it sounded like he was doing better.” Green Bay’s only other quarterback is Clayton Tune, who was signed to the practice squad in late August. Tune played 13 games and made one start with the Arizona Cardinals from 2023-24, and he went 14 of 23 for 70 yards with two interceptions and no touchdown passes. LaFleur said running back Josh Jacobs and wide receiver Jayden Reed would be the Packers’ two emergency quarterbacks. Green Bay’s injury issues at the quarterback position and elsewhere come at an inopportune time. After blowing a 10-point lead in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and losing in overtime Saturday, the Packers are 1 1/2 games behind Chicago in the NFC North race with two weeks left in the season. If the season ended today, the Packers would end up with the NFC’s seventh and final playoff seed for a third straight year. That’s not what the Packers were expecting when they made the blockbuster trade just before the season to acquire superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons, who’s out for the season after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament in a 34-26 loss at Denver that started Green Bay’s two-game skid. Green Bay did get some good news Sunday when former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 29-24 victory at Detroit. The Lions’ loss means the Packers can clinch a playoff berth by winning just one of their final two games. “The great thing about this game is it’s bittersweet now,” defensive lineman Rashan Gary said after Saturday’s game, “but we’ve got another opportunity to erase the taste out of our mouth this week and we have another opportunity to correct ourselves and still put ourselves where want to be at the end of the season.” What’s working Green Bay controlled possession for nearly 39 minutes in a game that lasted just over 65 minutes. The Packers had a season-high 192 yards rushing, their sixth straight game with at least 115 yards on the ground. In their first full game without Parsons, the Packers kept the Bears out of the end zone for the first 59 1/2 minutes of the game. What needs help Green Bay reached the red zone on five separate occasions and failed to convert any of those opportunities into touchdowns. The Packers also blew a 10-point lead one week after squandering a nine-point, second-half advantage in a 34-26 loss at Denver. The Packers have been outscored 44-20 after halftime over their last two games. A team that has occasionally been prone to special teams breakdowns had its worst mistake of the season when Romeo Doubs was unable to hang on to an onside kick, setting the Bears up for their tying touchdown in the last minute of regulation. Without Parsons on the field, the Packers failed to produce a single sack for a second straight game. Stock up Willis. He again showed he’s one of the NFL’s most reliable backup quarterbacks. Willis, who went 2-0 as a starter last season, played the majority of this game and guided a ball-control offense that had the Packers in position to win for most of the night even as they struggled to turn scoring opportunities into touchdowns. Stock down While playing through a knee injury, Jacobs mustered just 48 yards from scrimmage (36 rushing, 12 receiving) and lost a fumble on first-and-goal from the 4 in the third quarter. He didn’t have another carry the rest of the night. WR Matthew Golden didn’t catch a pass for the second time in three games. The rookie first-round pick had no receptions in either of Green Bay’s two game with the Bears. CB Keisean Nixon had the coverage on Caleb Williams’ 46-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Moore in overtime. An apparent miscommunication between Nixon and CB Nate Hobbs allowed Jahdae Walker to get free for a tying 6-yard touchdown catch on a fourth-and-4 play with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Injuries The Packers have a major lack of depth at tight end after John FitzPatrick injured his Achilles tendon in a game that Josh Whyle didn’t play due to a concussion. Green Bay already is missing Tucker Kraft, who was having a Pro Bowl-caliber season before tearing his ACL last month. RT Zach Tom and S Evan Williams didn’t play due to knee injuries. Key number 4 for 48 — NFL teams had successfully converted just four of their 48 onside kick attempts this season, according to Sportradar, before the Bears managed to recover theirs during their comeback Saturday. Chicago’s recovery improved the success rate for the season from 8.3% to 10.2%. Next steps The Packers hope they can get a little healthier before playing for a second straight Saturday. Green Bay closes the regular season Jan. 4 at Minnesota. View the full article

Ravens’ Zay Flowers paces dejectedly on the side line with seconds left in the game against the Patriots. The Patriots defeated the Ravens 28-24 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Patriots’ Marcus Jones, right, recovers a fumble by Ravens’ Zay Flowers in the fourth quarter. The Patriots defeated the Ravens 28-24 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens kicker Tyler Loop, right, reacts after missing a field goal attempt against the Patriots in the third quarter. The Patriots defeated the Ravens 28-24 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs receives a pass in front of Baltimore Ravens safety Ar'Darius Washington during the fourth quarter of an AFC showdown in Baltimore. The Patriots stunned Baltimore, 28-24. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson barrels over Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey on a touchdown run while safety Kyle Hamilton gives chase during the fourth quarter of an AFC showdown in Baltimore. The Patriots stunned Baltimore, 28-24. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh shouts. at officials during the third quarter of an AFC showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots in Baltimore. The Patriots stunned Baltimore, 28-24. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens’ Derrick Henry celebrates scoring a touchdown during the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens’ Derrick Henry scores a touchdown during the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens’ Derrick Henry scores a touchdown during the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens’ Derrick Henry has a long run that set up a touchdown during the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens’ Derrick Henry has a long run that set up a touchdown during the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley celebrates a touchdown against the New England Patriots in the third quarter at M&T Bank stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley celebrates a touchdown against the New England Patriots in the third quarter at M&T Bank stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams dances after scoring in the fourth quarter at M&T Bank stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens’ Zay Flowers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens’ Zay Flowers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens’ Zay Flowers scores a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens’ Zay Flowers scores a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens’s Dre’Mont Jones, right, recovers the fumble by Patriots quarterback Drake Maye who was sacked by Ar’Darius Washington, left, in the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completes a deep pass to wide receiver Austin Hooper in the second quarter at M&T Bank stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens’ Derrick Henry fumbles the ball during the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey intercepted a pass by New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in the first quarter at M&T Bank stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey intercepts the ball during the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson celebrates with running back Derrick Henry after Henry runs in for a touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens running back Derrick Henry celebrates a touchdown with quarterback Lamar Jackson against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at M&T Bank stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens running back Derrick Henry celebrates a touchdown with quarterback Lamar Jackson against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at M&T Bank stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens running back Derrick Henry scores on a 21-yard run against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at M&T Bank stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens running back Derrick Henry scores on a 21-yard run against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at M&T Bank stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens' Derrick Henry runs for touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens' Derrick Henry runs for touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Patriots. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers catches a 19-yard pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson in the first quarter at M&T Bank stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff Jackie Helme, of Culpeper, VA. is ready for the Ravens vs. Patriots game at M&T Bank Stadium on the Sunday before Christmas. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Bobbi Mooers, of De. and fiancée Kyle Johnson are ready for the Ravens vs. Patriots game at M&T Bank Stadium on the Sunday before Christmas. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Robert Kraft, chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group and majority owner of the New England Patriots tosses a football to a fan during pregame before an AFC showdown against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Fans dressed as Santa and the Grinch are ready for the Ravens vs. Patriots game at M&T Bank Stadium on the Sunday before Christmas. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Lajohntay Wester poses for fans during pregame before an AFC showdown against the New England Patriots in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Fans gather around Brian Marchetti and Wendy Leonard, who represent the nonprofit organization Believable Foundation as a camera team with Sunday Night Football record footage for an AFC showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

DETROIT — The Pittsburgh Steelers survived a wild finish, pushing Detroit to the brink of playoff elimination and boosting their chances of winning their division for the first time in five years. Pittsburgh held on for 29-24 win over the Lions on Sunday when Jared Goff’s touchdown on the final play was negated by an offensive pass-interference penalty on Amon-Ra St. Brown. “It’s been playoff-type football for us the last three weeks,” Aaron Rodgers said. The Steelers (9-6) have won three straight after a midseason slump, surging into the AFC North lead with two games remaining. “I’m just so appreciative of the men that I work with and the fight they displayed individually and collectively,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “Certainly weren’t perfect, a lot of adversity, some of it created by us. But they didn’t blink and that’s what’s required this time of year.” In a couple of weeks, the Lions will likely have a chance to sleep in because their season probably be over. They almost pulled off an amazing comeback after trailing by 12 points with four-plus minutes left, but they had two touchdowns negated by penalties in the final minute. On the last play of the game, Goff threw a fourth-down pass to St. Brown just short of the goal line. The receiver pushed off cornerback Jalen Ramsey to get free, and before the Steelers could bring St. Brown to the ground, he threw a lateral to the quarterback to set up an apparent score by Goff. Officials huddled for a couple of minutes on the field before announcing the decision to the dismay of the crowd. With 22 seconds left, rookie Isaac TeSlaa was called for pass interference for setting a pick that freed up St. Brown, negating Goff’s 1-yard TD pass. “That’s a bad call,” Goff said. Referee Carl Cheffers explained afterward why there was a such long delay. “It is a pretty complex play,” Cheffers said. “We had the original player who had the ball, lose possession of the ball. So, we had to decide if that was a fumble or a backwards pass because of course we have restrictions on the recovery of a fumble inside of two minutes. “We ruled that it was a backward pass, so the recovering player was able to advance it and that recovering player advanced it for a touchdown. We had to rule on that and then because of the offensive pass interference, it negates the touchdown. Because it is an offensive foul, we do not extend the half. Therefore, there is no score and there is no replay of the down. That’s the way the rule is written.” Detroit (8-7) dropped two straight games for the first time in more than three years, ending its outside shot to win a third straight NFC North title. While the Lions haven’t been eliminated from the playoffs, they have an 8% chance of earning a spot, according to the NFL. “We know the percentages,” said Goff, who threw two of his three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. “We know we’re not eliminated. We know some things need to go our way.” The running game certainly didn’t go Detroit’s way on Sunday. Jaylen Warren had two 45-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter and finished with a career-high 143 yards for the Steelers, who had a 230-15 advantage in rushing yards. Detroit’s defense, which allowed Pittsburgh to gain a season-high 481 yards, forced the Steelers to settle for a 37-yard field-goal try with 2:05 left, and Chris Boswell missed it. The Lions had a fourth-and-2 from their 35 and Pittsburgh was called for pass interference and tripping on consecutive plays, moving the ball to the Steelers 35 and setting up the wild finish. Rodgers finished 27 of 41 for 266 yards. He threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Gainwell to close the first half that was initially ruled incomplete, then changed to a TD after a review. Gainwell made the catch while lying on his left side and got his right arm under the ball, then popped to his feet and scampered to the end zone. Goff was sacked by blitzing Kyle Dugger for a safety to give the Steelers a 12-10 lead in the third quarter. Pittsburgh converted a pair of fourth downs on the ensuing drive and elected not to go for it a third time from the Lions 5, settling for a field goal and a five-point lead after a 17-play, 64-yard drive that took nearly 10 minutes. The Steelers went ahead 3-0 when Boswell capped their first possession with a 59-yard field goal. The Lions could have tied the game on the ensuing possession, but coach Dan Campbell went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 3 and Goff’s pass to St. Brown in the end zone was broken up by Joey Porter Jr. Did Campbell regret that decision after seeing that a field goal in the end would have won the game? “No,” he said without elaborating. Metcalf scuffles with a fan Steelers receiver DK Metcalf swiped at a fan leaning over the railing in the front row during the second quarter. Metcalf and the fan, wearing a black-and-blue shirt and a blue wig, were speaking to each other before the two-time Pro Bowler threw a right hand toward the man’s face. Metcalf did not appear to make much, if any contact. Although game officials didn’t penalize Metcalf, the league will review the incident and he could face discipline. Steelers extend their streak Pittsburgh secured its 22nd straight season with at least a .500 record, breaking the NFL record it previously shared with the Dallas Cowboys, who had a 21-year run without a losing season from 1965-85. Tomlin has finished at .500 or better in each of his 19 seasons. Injuries Steelers: CB Brandin Echols (groin) left the game in the second quarter. … Two starters were inactive — OLB T.J. Watt (lung) and OG Isaac Seumalo (triceps) — along with reserve OLB Nick Herbig (hamstring). Lions: C Graham Glasgow (knee) and C Trystan Colon (wrist) were inactive, giving 24-year-old Kingsley Eguakun his first start after he played in two games sparingly in September, and G Kayode Awosika (foot) missed his third straight game. Up next Steelers: At Cleveland next Sunday. Lions: At Minnesota on Christmas Day. View the full article

The Ravens host the Patriots in a crucial matchup for Baltimore to keep its postseason dreams alive. Follow along here for live game coverage and analysis. View the full article

DETROIT — Steelers receiver DK Metcalf swiped at a fan leaning over the railing in the front row at Ford Field during the second quarter of Pittsburgh’s game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Metcalf and the fan, wearing a black-and-blue shirt and a blue wig, were speaking to each other before the two-time Pro Bowl selection threw a right hand toward the man’s face. Metcalf did not appear to make much, if any contact. He had one reception on six targets for 5 yards in the first half. The 28-year-old Metcalf is in his first season with the Steelers after spending six seasons with Seattle. Pittsburgh (8-6) is in a tight race with the Ravens (7-7) for the AFC North title and a spot in the postseason. Baltimore hosts New England on Sunday night. According to ESPN, the NFL will review the altercation for potential discipline. View the full article

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