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

Episode 16 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law is here. Preston and Coleman analyze the Ravens’ much-needed 24-0 win over the Bengals. Baltimore’s playoff dreams are still alive, although it faces three teams with winning records (Patriots, Packers and Steelers) to conclude the regular season. On this week’s episode, Preston and Coleman are joined by former Ravens coach and Super Bowl champion Brian Billick. You can watch the podcast weekly, posting every Tuesday during the NFL season on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

To some, the idea of University of Maryland landing a generational recruit with international recognition was laughable. One long-time donor actually cackled. But Andrew Valmon noticed something that could at least get his foot in the door of Quincy Wilson’s recruitment. Valmon, the decorated Terps’ track and field coach of two-plus decades, watched Wilson wear Maryland on his sleeve, figuratively when he had name-dropped the DMV after returning home from the 2024 Paris Games with a gold medal resting on his chest and literally when he donned the Maryland state flag on a singlet at the Olympic trials. “That gave us an indication that he’s a hometown kid,” Valmon said. “There was a possibility of representing his state with pride if we were able to present a Maryland united front.” That’s how the Terps secured Wilson. The record-breaking sprinter signed with Maryland on Nov. 24. From the outside, it might be easy to look at a 17-year-old like Wilson, the high schooler with a New Balance deal who ran in the Olympics before taking his driving test, and assume a metaphorical duffel bag of cash would sway his college decision. The Baltimore Sun spoke with Wilson and folks around the Terps community. Those conversations told a different story, one of a happy-go-lucky senior earnestly interested in representing his hometown. “I was talking to my mom about this a couple days ago,” Wilson said. “Why start something from scratch? Why restart something if it’s already working? Why rewrite another part of my life somewhere else when you can keep on building to the resume that you have here in Maryland?” It’s quite the resume. Wilson earned national acclaim in the track community as a middle schooler. He ran 400 meters in 47.59 seconds at the AAU Junior Olympic Games, breaking an under-14 record that previously stood for three decades. At Bullis School in Potomac, Wilson shaved his 400 time to earn national championship and All-America status as a high school underclassman. Then, at 16 years old, he outran full-grown men during the Olympic trials, becoming the youngest male athlete on the U.S. Olympic track and field team — ever. Top programs in the country flocked to Maryland, hoping to land the prodigal recruit. Wilson’s Olympic relay teammate, Vernon Norwo od, joined LSU on a home visit. Schools such as UCLA and Southern California attempted to lure him across the country, where he would have trained in the backyard of the 2028 Summer Games host site. South Carolina tried pairing Wilson’s campus visit with another DMV star, Jayden Deleon, hoping to secure the top-two finishers from this summer’s New Balance Nationals together. “It’s huge for Maryland to keep our elite talent here,” Terps athletic director Jim Smith said. “One of our top priorities.” Maryland threw the kitchen sink. From left, WNBA star Angel Reese, Olympic track stars Masai Russell and Quincy Wilson and Wizards rookie Bub Carrington pose for a photo before a Ravens game. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Gov. Wes Moore checked in with relative frequency leading up to Wilson’s commitment. University President Darryll J. Pines, clad in a tan suit and turtle pin, visited Wilson’s home in July to pitch the prospect as well. That required special permission from the NCAA to be deemed a permissible recruiter for the day. Bullis coach Joe Lee noticed a swell of support, calls from prominent state figures to locals who recognized Wilson at the grocery store, ensuring that the Olympian knew “he’s one of ours and at the very least, let’s show that we actually care.” Terps football coach Michael Locksley and women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese joined the effort, too. Locksley, a Washington native, declined to share specifics from those conversations. But he insisted recruiting is about relationships. He’s been at Maryland for 17 years and knows College Park as well as anyone. Locksley, a controversial football coach but a flag bearer for the university, spent time with Wilson and his family, selling them on the value of staying home. “We are the flagship university. We should be represented that way,” Locksley said. “What you’re seeing is a generation of kids from this region now that get it. They understand the importance of brand, they understand the importance of staying here in the region.” Locksley and Frese offered their state-of-the-art facilities and hammered home a connectedness within Terps athletics. That hit home with Wilson. “You don’t see a lot of basketball or football coaches talking to a track athlete,” he said. “It’s just not the world we really live in.” Valmon made clear Maryland wasn’t trying to win Wilson with a hefty NIL offer. He focused on the educational resources available to Wilson, who is interested in broadcast journalism at Maryland’s esteemed Philip Merrill College of Journalism, and how to best prepare him for the 2028 Olympic Games. And of course, what it meant to represent the state. “We didn’t make it just about an arms race and just about money,” Valmon said. “We made it about family and the state and Maryland pride.” Wilson’s interest in staying home wasn’t enough to seal the deal. Coach’s pedigree affirmed his confidence. Valmon has a pair of gold medals as a member of the U.S. 4×400-meter relay team in 1988 and 1992. He’s helped several Terps reach the Olympics alongside two staff members with Olympic ties. Valmon was on hand in Paris to see Wilson run last summer. Those in the Terps’ community were still shocked by the announcement. Fernando Palacios, a Maryland donor and 1991 graduate, said the signing defies competitive logic with where Maryland stands in the Big Ten. The Terps finished last in the 2025 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Even compared with other Big Ten facilities, Maryland lags behind — its outdoor track circles the soccer field rather than anchoring its own dedicated facility. He applauded the athletic department for their effort in signing Wilson. Bullis School hosted an Olympic watch party in Potomac over the summer to support school stars Quincy Wilson and Masai Russell. (Sam Cohn/Staff) “I’ve been to Oregon and seen that facility, and it’s pretty Mac Daddy,” Palacios said. “Why wouldn’t you go to the No. 1 program in the country? If he represents Maryland in the Olympics, I think that will be a bigger deal than just signing with Maryland.” Joe Forgette, a Terrapin Club member, said that the signing didn’t align with how the Terps typically stack against the rest of the conference. He described Wilson’s decision as a “spark” for a program that has long operated with fewer resources. And “maybe it does equate out to more of a recruiting platform for more DMV people,” Forgette said. At least, that’s the future Wilson sees. In the weeks following his signing, the track program has received interest from college athletes looking to join the Maryland program and race alongside Wilson. He kept the decision tight-lipped for weeks. Wilson chose Maryland about three weeks before announcing publicly. Only his parents and sister knew, he said. Not even grandma got looped in, for fear of her spilling the beans to her church friends, Wilson quipped. Last month, he stood before family and friends, dressed head to toe in Louis Vuitton denim, declaring “there’s nothing like being able to run for your hometown” and “in 2028, I want to have the whole city behind me. And I’m ready to do it for the University of Maryland.” Wilson was promptly added to a group chat with Terps freshman quarterback Malik Washington and five-star men’s basketball commit Baba Oladotun. They call it “DMV Avengers.” Related Articles Maryland men’s basketball makes habit of allowing 100 points | TAKEAWAYS Maryland men’s basketball runs out of steam in 101-83 loss to No. 2 Michigan Maryland QB Malik Washington to return in 2026: ‘Why not stay?’ Maryland men’s basketball star Pharrel Payne exits vs. Michigan with injury Maryland women’s basketball’s perfect start meets growing injury challenge Washington organized the group chat, inviting his fellow DMV natives, two elite recruits who passed on blue bloods in favor of the Terps, to watch the men’s basketball team host Michigan on Saturday. The trio and five-star edge rusher signee Zion Elee met during the game for a photo opportunity. That same night, Washington announced he would return to the Terps in 2026. The DMV Avengers represent a collective sign of hope for their respective programs and the athletic department in College Park. “That’s a group chat that will get texted in a lot next year,” Wilson said. Last year, he watched Baltimore native Derik Queen sink a buzzer-beater to send Maryland basketball to the Sweet 16. Asked what gave him the confidence to take the shot, Queen didn’t hesitate: “I’m from Baltimore, that’s why.” Now picture Wilson at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, or the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The same kind of moment — medal around his neck, cameras in his face What would he say? “The best in the DMV stay in the DMV; I’m definitely gonna be saying that.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. View the full article

Twice this season, Baltimore has run a mere 40 offensive plays. Both ended in blowouts. First was the worst Ravens game this season, decimated by injuries, and promptly thumped by the Texans, 44-10. Then on Sunday, coach John Harbaugh called their 24-0 rout in Cincinnati their “best football game of the year.” Both games mark a single-game franchise low for offensive plays. The Ravens run an average of 57 per game, which ranks fifth-worst in the NFL. Opponents average seven more per contest (64). They’re also bottom-seven in average time of possession (28:42). That stacks pressure to capitalize on slim margins for error. Against an overmatched and frigid Bengals defense, they did just that. The competition stiffens these final three weeks. Baltimore would much rather hold the ball longer, control the pace of the game and scheme from a position of strength. “We took ourselves off the field more than anything,” Harbaugh said, nitpicking Sunday’s dominant win. He noted a few instances that sunk otherwise efficient chances to keep their defense off the field. In the third quarter, the Ravens led 17-0 and were marching upfield. They started at their own 8-yard line and crossed midfield on four plays. Harbaugh tipped his cap to Cincinnati’s pass rush that got a sack on first down. By that point, on second-and-long, he’s thinking, just try to reach field goal range. A short pass to Keaton Mitchell fell incomplete. On third-and-16, the Bengals brought pressure, Lamar Jackson held onto the ball and took another sack. “You want Lamar to be aggressive there because he can do it,” Harbaugh said. “And the worst case there is you have to punt. But that got us off the field, for instance.” Earlier, on second-and-medium in the second quarter, Jackson ran a bootleg out to his right. He crashed right into a Bengals edge defender. Then the Ravens needed what Jackson calls a “G.B.O.T.” or “get back on track” play. Harbaugh acknowledged that’s where the offense has gotten into trouble before: trying to be aggressive, failing and falling far behind the sticks. A lack of offensive plays can keep guys out of rhythm. That’s hurt Baltimore in its two recent losses, but players seemed to handle it deftly on Sunday. Jackson threw two touchdowns on eight of 12 passes, his fewest attempts in a game he both started and finished over his eight-year career. Aside from the four sacks taken, Jackson’s throws were on time and on target. Derrick Henry ran the ball only 11 times, one more than on Thanksgiving, when his lack of touches became a sticking point in the loss. Henry still made the most of his chances, rushing for 100 yards on 9.1 per carry. It was his most efficient outing since Week 1 in Buffalo. Cincinnati’s clock-chewing drives kept the ball out of Jackson’s hands as much as anything. The Bengals ran five drives lasting more than four minutes, compared to Baltimore’s one. Their opening drive chewed over eight minutes. In the fourth quarter, Cincinnati’s offense held possession for about 13 minutes, sandwiching the Kyle Van Noy to Alohi Gilman pick six. Baltimore ran five plays in the fourth quarter. Three of them were kneel-downs. The calculus of the Ravens keeping drives alive, or an extra fourth-quarter effort, would have gotten Baltimore closer to 50 or 55 plays. “You still want more than that,” Harbaugh said. Related Articles How did Maryland recruit a high school Olympian to College Park? Ravens’ John Harbaugh isn’t frustrated by home struggles: ‘That’s made up’ READER POLL: Are the Ravens contenders again in the AFC? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 24-0 win over the Bengals Joe Burrow blames himself after shutout loss to Ravens that ends Bengals’ playoff hopes The disparity has hurt them in other losses. Cincinnati ran 23 more offensive plays on Thanksgiving. The Texans ran 24 more in Week 5. The Chiefs ran 17 more before that. The Bills ran 28 more in the season opener. “It just comes down to us,” Harbaugh said. “We want to keep extending the drives and just execute as well as we can and score as many points as we can.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

After shutting out Joe Burrow for the first time since his days at LSU in a 24-0 drubbing of the Bengals in Cincinnati to breathe more oxygen into their playoff hopes, the Ravens now turn their attention to a home regular-season finale Sunday night against the AFC East leading New England Patriots. It’s another critical game with just three more remaining in the regular season. Baltimore has also been stunningly and unusually bad at M&T Bank Stadium this year. Since 2008 — coach John Harbaugh’s first season at the helm — the Ravens have won 71% of their home games, tied for second-best in the NFL (with, ironically, the Patriots) during that span. This season, however, the Ravens are just 3-5 so far at home, tying the franchise record for fewest victories in Baltimore, a mark set in 2015. It’s something that was a point of contention with cornerback Marlon Humphrey after their most-recent defeat earlier this month to the Pittsburgh Steelers, which was the second-straight home loss after a Thanksgiving night disaster against the Bengals. “That’s something that definitely does bother me some,” Humphrey said. “I think every home game we have, it’s probably — no matter [if you’re] young or old — 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. I’m not going to say it is what it is, but it’s just unacceptable.” Asked on Monday, however, if it has been a point of frustration, Harbaugh gave an emphatic “no.” “Seasons go the way they go,” he continued. “You fight the way they fight. You can look back all you want and say, ‘Well this happened or that happened or where do we stand right now?’ You can do that all you want. What’s that gonna do for you? Where’s that gonna take you? You gotta look forward.” Looking back, after all, won’t change anything. But there have been plenty of eccentricities. In the loss to the Steelers, Baltimore’s attempted late rally came up short as quarterback Lamar Jackson was sacked on the final play of the game. An apparent Isaiah Likely touchdown was also overturned by replay amid a series of other calls that didn’t go the Ravens’ way, including one the NFL admitted it got wrong. In the defeat to the Bengals, the Ravens were doomed by five turnovers. The performances also track with how things have gone for the Ravens at home this season. In eight home games, Baltimore is averaging just 21.6 points and 325.5 yards per game. On the road, the numbers have been noticeably higher — 27 points and 368.3. The completion percentage (66.7 vs. 63.2) and yards per pass attempt (8.0-7.3) have also been higher on the road than at home and there have been more passing touchdowns (10-9), despite fewer away games. Related Articles READER POLL: Are the Ravens contenders again in the AFC? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 24-0 win over the Bengals Joe Burrow blames himself after shutout loss to Ravens that ends Bengals’ playoff hopes Josh Tolentino: Ravens rediscover sense of urgency vs. Bengals | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens finally play with identity in win over Bengals | COMMENTARY Those numbers are of course influenced by quarterback Lamar Jackson missing three straight games — all at home — among a spate of other injuries. That included a blowout defeat to the Chicago Bears as well as a loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The Ravens scored a combined 13 points in those contests. If Baltimore makes the postseason, it’ll be the first team to make the playoffs with a losing record at home since 2021. But Harbaugh, as he said, also isn’t worried about the past. “I look back with a lot of pride,” he said. “Every game we’ve lost our guys are fighting like crazy to win it. So, no, there’s no frustration. To me, that’s made up. Yeah the guys are disappointed, the guys wanna win games. “Those games are history. There’s no frustration. There’s opportunity and that’s what our guys are looking at.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

By KYLE HIGHTOWER FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Patriots had one of their fastest starts of the season in the first half against the Bills. The problem was they combined it with one of their worst second halves of the season as well. It added up to their first loss since late September, and some sudden questions about a team that had been one of the NFL’s best over the previous 10 weeks. Even after New England’s 35-31 setback to Buffalo on Sunday, the Patriots (11-3) remain in the driver’s seat atop the AFC East, holding a one-game lead over the Bills with three games left to play. While they were disappointed to see their 10-game win streak come to an end, the Patriots are viewing it as hiccup rather than something emblematic of bigger issues. “It is definitely something — you never know, we probably needed it,” wide receiver Stefon Diggs said. “It’s a lesson for sure that you’re going to have to keep that foot on the gas.” New England held a 24-7 lead at halftime, scoring on all but one of their five possessions. That flipped in a second half that saw quarterback Drake Maye and the offense put only seven points on the board while the Bills scored 28 as quarterback Josh Allen seemed to pick apart the Patriots defense. Coach Mike Vrabel said his team’s shortcomings went beyond the mistakes of just the defense. “It’s not just that unit. The one thing that we’ve done in victory is to play very complementary. I would say to give the third-ranked offense the field position that we did is tough,” Vrabel said. “We are disappointed but not discouraged, and there’s a lot of good snaps of defense, but not enough, and good snaps of offense and not enough, and some good snaps of special teams, but not enough.” What’s working The Patriots have struggled to score in the red zone for most of the season and came in with touchdowns on just 51% of their chances inside the 20-yard line. But they were 2 of 3 on Sunday. What needs help While there were disputable holding and pass interference calls against the Patriots in the second half, their seven total penalties for 65 yards (six in the second half) proved costly. They included infractions like a call on running back Rhamondre Stevenson in the third quarter. New England had just had its lead trimmed to 24-21 when Stevenson broke a 16-yard run. He was pushed on the sideline by Bills linebacker Matt Milano, causing a scrum in which Stevenson shoved him back. Both players were called for offsetting unnecessary roughness, denying the Patriots extra yards. Stock up RB TreVeyon Henderson. The rookie had touchdown runs of 52 and 65 yards, bringing his season total to four rushing scores of at least 50 yards. He joined Chris Johnson in 2009 as the only players in NFL history to have multiple games in a season with multiple TDs of 50-plus yards. Stock down Maye. After scoring a pair of rushing TDs to jumpstart the offense in the first half, Maye disappeared down the stretch. After going 9 of 11 for 108 yards through the air in the opening 30 minutes, he was just 5 of 12 for 47 yards passing with an interception over the final two quarters. Injuries LB Robert Spillane was active after being limited throughout the week with a foot issue. But he did not play in the game, though Vrabel said he could have been used in an emergency situation. CB Carlton Davis III left in the third quarter with a groin injury but returned. Key number 16-25 —That’s the combined record of the Patriots’ final three opponents — Baltimore (7-7), the New York Jets (3-11) and Miami (6-7) — entering Monday night. The Bills’ final three opponents — Cleveland (3-11), Philadelphia (9-5) and the Jets (3-11) — are 15-27 Next steps The Patriots visit the Ravens on Sunday night. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl View the full article

Have the Ravens turned a corner? Baltimore crushed the Bengals, 24-0, in Cincinnati on Sunday to end a two-game losing skid against AFC North opponents. But it was how the Ravens won — dominating in all three phases of the game — that stood out to many. In a topsy-turvy AFC, would you consider Baltimore a contender again? 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

CINCINNATI — Sunday was the coldest game in Ravens history. It was 10 degrees with minus-1 wind chill at kickoff. And yet, the Ravens finally looked comfortable, beating up on the Bengals, 24-0. Here are five things we learned from the game: Practice makes (almost) perfect Marlon Humphrey woke up Saturday morning feeling his joints sore from the previous day’s practice. That was a new feeling for the Ravens cornerback. Friday’s practices are generally reserved for last-minute preparation and a lighter workload. “We went so hard on Friday,” Humphrey said. This week, the Ravens were injected with a shot of urgency — two weeks later than they needed, in time to keep the wheels on the car. For one, they were keenly aware that controlling their own playoff destiny requires four wins in as many weeks. The team’s latest messaging has been explicit: “It’s win or die trying,” Humphrey said. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr didn’t pull any punches in team meetings. He challenged them to play on the same page. When they didn’t, the Bengals and Steelers scored a combined 59 points the past two weeks. When they do, Baltimore’s defense is capable of pitching the organization’s first shutout since 2018. The energy started to shift midweek. Then Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed paid a visit. He showed up on his own accord. He left quite the impression. Reed addressed the defensive backs first. He preached about camaraderie and brotherhood. Orr invited Reed to address the entire defense. Reed was not pleased to see junk food in meetings. He offered perspective on NFL hardship. Players on both sides of the ball acknowledged what a productive week of practice they had and the difference it made come Sunday. The Ravens shouldn’t need such a kick in the pants to save their season. But that’s where they’re at, and that’s what it’s taken to find wins through one of the organization’s most disappointing seasons. At this season’s two most critical junctures, an outside voice helped set the Ravens straight. The Ravens were 1-5 at the bye week, suffering from an identity crisis. The once-popular Super Bowl pick tied itself to an anchor and chucked that anchor over the side of the boat. Organizational higher-ups invited renowned motivational speaker Eric Thomas to Owings Mills. Thomas told a room of perked up ears, “You probably came in and was like, ‘We the Ravens.’ You probably came in and was like, ‘Look what we’ve done.’ You probably came in like, ‘Look who our players are.’ And you probably didn’t focus on what you should’ve been focusing on.” Related Articles Joe Burrow blames himself after shutout loss to Ravens that ends Bengals’ playoff hopes Josh Tolentino: Ravens rediscover sense of urgency vs. Bengals | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens finally play with identity in win over Bengals | COMMENTARY The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 24-0 win over Bengals Ravens put it all together, keep playoff hopes alive with 24-0 win over Bengals The Ravens listened. They strung together five straight wins before the magic cooled off. Cincinnati embarrassed them on Thanksgiving. The Ravens played like a shell of themselves against the Steelers a week later, with both games they deemed must-wins. Reed came in with more to say. “Honestly, that might’ve been why we played so hard on Friday,” Humphrey said. “That kind of did motivate us. Ed, he’s very unfiltered when he talks.” It’s no novel concept that practicing hard makes a difference. Football is a practice sport. But hearing from a legend can be a good reminder. Reed arrived just in time. The Ravens can’t forget his messaging if they’re going to save this season. “If you got to be sore for one day,” Humphrey said, “that’s all right, but we have to practice exactly how we’re going to play, and that’s what we have to do for the rest of the year.” Tight end Mark Andrews insisted this could be the week the Ravens “start being the team that we are.” Can’t blame anyone for scoffing at such a suggestion, considering Baltimore had a ticket to the playoffs in sight and proceeded to lose two straight versus division foes in sloppy showings. Andrews was right. On Sunday, they started to look more like the team they hoped to be: versatile driving upfield, troublemakers on third down, energetic in all phases, unfazed by record-low temperatures. Forgive the cheesiness: It was darn cold at Paycor Stadium, one of the coldest games ever played in Cincinnati, but the Ravens didn’t freeze. They finally started to heat up. The Ravens gave themselves a chance, even if it came against a downtrodden Bengals team that was officially eliminated from playoff contention. “It was our best football game of the year,” coach John Harbaugh said. “Complementary football in all three phases, coming off our best week of practice.” Ravens coach John Harbaugh called Sunday's 24-0 win over the Bengals in Cincinnati "our best football game of the year." (Carolyn Kaster/AP) Lamar Jackson is starting to look like himself again Lamar Jackson admitted Sunday’s game finally started to feel normal for him. The past month has been anything but. Sunday marked the first time Jackson completed more than 60% of his passes since Oct. 30. Before last week’s loss to Pittsburgh, he endured three games without producing a touchdown, the worst stretch of his career. Jackson played through various lower body injuries — knee, ankle and toe — and he missed three games with a hamstring ailment. He admitted to feeling sore but refused to give it credence over a five-week stretch in which he missed at least one midweek practice. Jackson looked as comfortable in the pocket as he has in weeks. Yes, he was sacked four times, bringing his season total to 33. But the offense was clicking. “It felt like us,” said Jackson, who has never lost three straight AFC North games as a starter. “And we just have to keep pushing the envelope.” Jackson braved the cold, wearing one glove on his nonthrowing hand. And presumably a lifetime supply of hand warmers in his jersey pouch. Jackson completed 8 of 12 passes for 150 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Some context: The Ravens ran 40 plays (tying a franchise single-game low) compared with Cincinnati’s 71. They had six possessions, not including the fourth-quarter kneel down. Of his four incompletions, three of them hit both hands of his intended receiver. One skipped through Zay Flowers’ hands for an interception. Another tipped off Mark Andrews’ high-reaching mitts. And the third was a dropped touchdown by Flowers; a high throw, but a catchable ball. Jackson was at his best in the two-minute offense after struggling with it a week ago. He scrambled for 14 yards on first down. That was Jackson’s longest rush since Week 4 in Kansas City. Two plays later, he found a streaking DeAndre Hopkins for 32 yards. Then he flipped the ball over a Bengals pass rusher to Rasheen Ali, who sprinted 30 yards up untouched for his first career touchdown. A drive later, he unleashed a perfect 28-yard pass into Flowers’ arms in the end zone. “I guess you guys had to see it to believe it,” Jackson said. “I’m starting to feel better.” Lamar Jackson said after Sunday's win that he's "starting to feel better." (Carolyn Kaster/AP) The pass rush missed Tavius Robinson Roughly 25 minutes into his first game back since breaking his foot on Oct. 12, Tavius Robinson shed the outstretched arm of a Bengals blocker and burst into the backfield uninhibited. Robinson corralled Burrow and threw him to the turf. He folded his arms in the backfield and mean-mugged. He’s Baltimore’s “glass eater.” Coaches have called Robinson the “prototypical Raven” because of his never-miss-a-rep attitude. After two months on the shelf, it took one drive for Robinson to record a sack. He trails rookie Mike Green by half a sack for the team lead, which says as much about Robinson as it does about Baltimore’s collective pass rush. The funny thing about Robinson is the dichotomy between person and player. He stood beside his locker, dressed in all black with face paint smeared across his face. Then he speaks softly after a player congratulates him. And every answer is accompanied by a smile. Roquan Smith said Robinson is simultaneously the kind of guy you want to “marry your sister” and an unrelenting force in the trenches. After sacking Burrow, Robinson beelined to hug trainers who helped in his recovery. “From day one, I told them I’m gonna be annoying,” Robinson said. “I’m gonna be in here as many hours as possible to get this foot right. Went over and hugged all those guys. … It was a long time watching on TV. Shoot, to be out there having energy with the guys was so fun.” Kyle Hamilton ventured an NBA comparison for his teammate. Bulky Pistons forward Jalen Duren was one. Revered rebounding legend Dennis Rodman was the other. “Guys who just eat glass,” Hamilton said. “They do the dirty work. At the end of the day, you look up and they got great numbers.” Earlier this week, Robinson said he hoped to be the energy infuser Baltimore’s defense needed. “Give the energy to go out there and get it done and affect the quarterback,” he said. Robinson planned to bring the juice and drink it too. “T-Rob deserves a lot of credit,” Harbaugh said. “He had two or three pressures out there, I think, and was just running around making plays.” Robinson fed into one of the Ravens’ best pass rush games in weeks. Travis Jones sacked Burrow. Green sacked Burrow. The team combined for 10 quarterback hits, which they hadn’t done in a month. Sunday was the first time the Bengals had been shut out since 2017. Baltimore’s knockout punch was not without Robinson’s help. He forced Burrow into a bad throw that landed right in Kyle Van Noy’s arms. Van Noy took a few steps to his right, searching for someone younger and faster to give the ball to. He handed it over to safety Alohi Gilman, who turned and burned 84 yards to the end zone. “I didn’t even know until just now that KVN was the one who caught the ball and pitched it,” Robinson laughed. Added Gilman: “I was actually yelling at him to pitch the ball after he caught it, so it worked out. I saved some hamstrings for him. Put it on me. So, shout out to Kyle Van Noy.” Shout out to Robinson, too, for making his presence felt in his first game back. Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson sacks Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in the first half Sunday. Robinson returned after missing several games because of a broken foot. (Jeff Dean/AP) Injuries piled up in the cold, which could complicate this final stretch Rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan sat quietly in his locker stall. He rubbed his face between his hands fretfully. There wasn’t much to say. His baggy sweatpants covered the brace holding together what is feared to be a torn ACL, two sources told The Baltimore Sun. “I don’t think it looks good,” Harbaugh said. Buchanan suffered the noncontact injury late in the first quarter Sunday while on punt coverage. He’s had a promising year, particularly the back half of this season as he settled into anevery-down starter in the middle of Baltimore’s defense. The NFL named Buchanan Rookie of the Month in October. His season might be over. “Giving me chills just thinking about it,” Smith said. “Knowing what he stands for, knowing all that he’s gone through. When you just see that, it just sucks. Obviously, it’s an unforgiving business. We know that. We sign up for that. It just sucks.” Buchanan was named a full-time starter in Week 2. He usurped Trenton Simpson for regular reps beside Smith. Simpson, in his third year, will likely be back in that role to finish out the season against three teams with good quarterbacks and respectable rushing attacks. Buchanan’s injury was the worst in an afternoon littered with them. Chidobe Awuzie came up limping after a pass to the end zone to Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki. He went to the locker room and was ruled out soon after. Baltimore’s top cover cornerback was seen leaving the locker room with a boot on his right foot. Harbaugh said they’ll know more about the seriousness of the injury Monday. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley went down late and appeared to be in significant pain. Harbaugh said he “looks fine.” Stanley didn’t return, which was more a decision based on the time and score than the injury. It gave way to seventh-round rookie Carson Vinson’s first NFL snaps. Ravens cornerback Chidobe Awuzie exited Sunday's game against the Bengals with a lower leg injury and did not return. (Jeff Dean/AP) ‘No more second chances’ The Ravens will have to wait until Monday night to find out if their win Sunday was enough to climb back into a first-place tie with the Steelers. Pittsburgh hosts Miami in the prime-time slot. They’ll watch closely, knowing playoff hopes hinge on some help from a division rival. They’ll keep the game at arm’s length, too, knowing none of it matters if they play their best football the next three weeks. According to The New York Times’ playoff simulator, the Ravens’ playoff odds jumped from 27% to 41%. Next are two big-boy matchups with the New England Patriots (11-3) and Green Bay Packers (9-4-1). Week 18 being the decisive game for AFC North supremacy is still a possibility. “Like I told the guys,” Smith said, “there’s no more second chances.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

CINCINNATI — After voicing his frustration earlier in the week, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had what he described as one of the worst performances of his career in a 24-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens that eliminated Cincinnati from the playoff race. Burrow, who returned three weeks ago after left toe surgery that sidelined him for nine games, threw two interceptions — including a pick-6 for the second straight game — and completed 25 of 39 passes for 225 yards as Cincinnati (4-10) was shut out at home for the first time since 2017. “There’s not a team in the NFL that would have won the game today if I was the quarterback,” Burrow said. During a news conference on Wednesday, Burrow made comments that had some questioning his future in Cincinnati. “If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it,” Burrow said. “If it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for?” Burrow clarified those remarks on Sunday. “My comments had nothing to do with Cincinnati,” he said. “My comments had everything to do with me and my mindset.” Injuries haven’t helped. Burrow’s rookie season ended in 2020 in Week 10 when he tore an ACL. He played only 10 games in 2023 because of a torn wrist ligament. And then came the severe turf toe injury that sidelined him this year. “He just wants to be great, I can respect that,” receiver Ja’Marr Chase said. “I’m not going to let him kill himself mentally by just one game he played bad.” The Bengals haven’t reached the playoffs since 2022, when they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game. A year before that, they lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl. “This is a team that I thought was a talented team that was going to have a chance to do things this year,” coach Zac Taylor said. “Frustrating season. I believe in the guys we have in this locker room. Through good times and bad, they’ll put their best foot forward.” The Bengals spent big this offseason, extending the contracts of Chase and fellow wideout Tee Higgins. They gave top pass rusher Trey Hendrickson a 1-year, $30 million deal but did little else to improve one of the league’s worst defenses. Veteran Joe Flacco filled in for Burrow and kept the Bengals’ playoff hopes afloat. Burrow returned on Thanksgiving night and passed for 261 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Ravens. But the following week, Burrow and the Bengals collapsed at Buffalo. They were much worse on Sunday. On third-and-goal at the 7 in the fourth quarter, Burrow’s pass was intercepted by Kyle Van Noy, who returned it 11 yards before handing the ball to Alohi Gilman, who ran another 84 yards for a touchdown. Burrow was shut out for the first time in his career. “If you’re wanting to compete for championships and get in the playoffs, number one, your quarterback has to play better than I did today,” Burrow said. “I hold myself to a high standard. This is one of the worst games I’ve played.” View the full article

CINCINNATI – A half-filled Paycor Stadium grew quiet as the final seconds to the Ravens’ first shutout since 2018 ticked down. The visitors’ locker room was anything but. Rap lyrics leaked through the concrete walls, down the hallway and past security as players, coaches and team personnel yelled over one another. John Harbaugh’s celebratory message and the team’s resounding reply echoed into the tunnel. For a team that has spent much of the season navigating unease, this sounded like pure relief. On the field, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens played with the same levels of necessary urgency and physical dominance in a 24–0 shutout of the Bengals, a Sunday afternoon win that kept their playoff hopes alive and eliminated Cincinnati from postseason contention with three regular-season games remaining. At last, the embattled offense leaned into its roots. “I believe all of us on offense had good rhythm,” Jackson said. “It felt like us. We just have to keep pushing the envelope.” Excluding three end-of-game kneel-downs from backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, Baltimore ran the ball on 21 of its 37 offensive plays, representing 56.7% of coordinator Todd Monken’s play calls. Lead tailback Derrick Henry averaged an impressive 9.1 yards per carry, while speedy backup Keaton Mitchell averaged an equally impressive 8.3 yards per rush. While the Ravens dictated a majority of the AFC North contest with their physicality, they did so without needing to dominate time of possession. Both scoring drives lasted just five plays. Ten snaps total, spanning 159 combined yards. Explosive gains replaced the slow bleed, incomplete drives and red-zone stalls that have hampered the offense for much of the season. The Ravens finished the Week 15 contest with just one three-and-out. Yup. Just one. “We really don’t get a lot of explosive plays like that,” wideout DeAndre Hopkins said. “So just kind of getting back to our ball, Zay [Flowers] making plays, Lamar doing his thing on the ground, and not turning the ball over.” The Ravens did have one turnover, but that was more so a byproduct of a drop from Flowers that resulted in a lucky interception for Bengals safety Jordan Battle. The conditions Sunday weren’t forgiving. The Ravens’ second meeting with the Bengals ranked among the coldest games in franchise history, a numbing afternoon that stiffened fingers and increased overall soreness. Jackson wore a glove on his non-throwing hand to help manage the cold temperatures (minus-1 degree at kickoff). During Baltimore’s first touchdown drive, Jackson scrambled for 14 yards, cutting up the middle and accelerating without much hesitation. It was the fastest he’s looked in weeks after dealing with multiple lower-body injuries. The drive also featured a 32-yard Jackson strike to Hopkins down the right hash. A few plays later came perhaps Jackson’s most impressive sequence of the chilly afternoon. Cincinnati showed a zero-blitz look, but Jackson quickly recognized the pressure and smartly flipped the ball to Rasheen Ali in the flat. The third-string halfback sprinted untouched 30 yards to the end zone, capturing the first touchdown of his career. Jackson completed 8 of 12 passes for 150 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He was sacked four times, but the pocket never looked overwhelmingly chaotic. His passer rating of 114.7 marked his highest since Oct. 30 against Miami, a notable swing after a stretch of uneven performances that dragged his numbers down in recent weeks. “One thing about Lamar, he will take some sacks sometimes,” coach John Harbaugh said. “But I also think it’s a function of Lamar having a pretty good feel for the fact that he can make some plays. So he held the ball in there a couple of times, a little longer than maybe he’s going to make you comfortable — and yet found receivers.” Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens finally play with identity in Bengals win | COMMENTARY The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 24-0 win over Bengals Ravens put it all together, keep playoff hopes alive with 24-0 win over Bengals Instant analysis from Ravens’ 24-0 win over Bengals in Week 15 Ravens vs. Bengals, Dec. 14, 2025 | PHOTOS Late in the second quarter, Jackson delivered one of his cleanest end-of-half sequences this season, capped by a 28-yard touchdown completion to Flowers in the left corner of the end zone. Jackson and his teammates said that the Ravens had some of their most intense and detail-oriented practices of the season leading into the Bengals game. That urgency was apparent throughout. Baltimore recorded its first shutout since 2018, overwhelming a Joe Burrow-led offense that failed to establish rhythm, despite nearly doubling the Ravens in time of possession (20:41 vs. 39:19). The Ravens controlled the line of scrimmage and with their backs against the wall, protected their season. Across the way, the Bengals were mathematically done. “We just wanted to attack,” defensive end Dre’Mont Jones said. “We knew we had [the Bengals] on their heels, based on how they looked, how they were calling it, their demeanor. They didn’t feel lively to me. I felt it from play No. 1 that they weren’t ready to play. It was too cold for them. “Everyone in [our locker room] is ear to ear, smiling.” Said Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase: “Sometimes you just get your butt whipped.” Indeed. The Ravens kept pressing and swarming their opponent. There was no late-game collapse this time around. The overall operation under Harbaugh was clean, too, with the Ravens committing a season-low two penalties. Jackson improved to 5–0 at Paycor Stadium, now owning an incredible 17-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio in Cincinnati. No matter how bad things are going, some places just suit the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player like South Florida, or in this instance chilly Southeast Ohio. “I say we played better than a playoff team,” Jackson said. “Hats off to everybody, but I feel like we can still do more.” Inside the concrete walls of the visiting locker room, the sound kept rising. From an up-close view, it sounded and felt like a team that prepared with urgency, played fast and sensed early that this day belonged to them. By the time the music and the Harbaugh-led cheers concluded, Cincinnati’s stadium was quiet again. The Ravens, for at least one more week, felt very much alive. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Ravens coach John Harbaugh arrives before Sunday's win over Cincinnati. He was equally happy after the convincing result. (Carolyn Kaster/AP) View the full article

CINCINNATI — Soon after the Ravens had beaten the Bengals, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh declared it was the team’s most complete game of the season. How do you take that? It was indeed the Ravens’ best game of the 2025 season, the first shutout since 2018, but it came against the Bengals who have the worst defense in the NFL, allowing 410.5 yards a game including an average of 155.5 rushing. So, which one is it? It’s either the glass is half full or half empty. Let’s quickly settle the dispute and reach this conclusion: the Ravens won, and are now 7-7 with most of the eyes in Baltimore focused on Monday night’s game with Pittsburgh taking on the Miami Dolphins. And they showed some passion. Finally. In several ways, the Ravens did improve. They rushed for 189 yards on 24 carries as Derrick Henry had 11 carries for 100 yards, and change-of-pace back Keaton Mitchell had eight attempts for 66 and came close to breaking two long runs. There is still doubt about what has taken offensive coordinator Todd Monken so long to get Mitchell into the mix, but at least the Ravens played to their strengths as opposed to having pass protection problems. The wide receivers seemed interested, and quarterback Lamar Jackson did enough to spread the ball around. Four receivers had receptions, including a perfectly lofted pass from Jackson over two defenders to slot receiver Zay Flowers, which resulted in a 28-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. A 30-yard check down from Jackson to Rasheen Ali resulted in a touchdown from the right flat about four minutes earlier. And that defense? Oh my. They sacked quarterback Joe Burrow three times and hit him on 10 other occasions. Cincinnati’s offensive tackles are terrible, but there is no complaining at this point. Baltimore even made tackles on the back end. Safeties Alohi Gilman, Kyle Hamilton and cornerback Nate Wiggins each finished with eight. That’s not a misprint. Wiggins had eight. But even more than the improved tackling, the Ravens’ ability to at least keep track of Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase showed they had a tough guy attitude. They haven’t had it all year. There were some borderline cheap shots and late hits on Burrow, but there were no penalties. Until the referees call one, stay the course and keep banging Burrow. There was left offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley going after defensive end Joseph Ossai on what Stanley perceived as a cheap shot on Jackson in the third quarter. Football is about tackling, blocking and execution, but also about fights, emotion and passion. That’s what has been missing from this team. They need more tough guys, more players with that “crazed dog” personality that former New York Giants and Hall of Fame outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor used to talk about. Related Articles The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 24-0 win over Bengals Ravens put it all together, keep playoff hopes alive with 24-0 win over Bengals Instant analysis from Ravens’ 24-0 win over Bengals in Week 15 Ravens vs. Bengals, Dec. 14, 2025 | PHOTOS Sources: Ravens fear LB Teddye Buchanan suffers torn ACL vs. Bengals “I think we’re pissed off we lost to them the first time, I’m not going to lie,” said Gilman, who helped return an interception for an 84-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. “So, that’s kind of where I came from. But at the end of the day, it’s about us. It’s about our defense, it’s about our team. December football, that’s what we preached. How can we get better in December and be the best, be at our peak?” That’s a goal, and it’s realistic, but it was the Bengals. They are a sorry bunch. Paycor Stadium was half-filled, and there was no excitement or any buzz in the stadium. In fact, once the Ravens got a 14-0 lead at halftime, this game was virtually over. Earlier on Wednesday leading up to the game, Burrow was quoted as saying he was not having fun playing football. That came days after the Bengals lost, 39-34, to Buffalo. So much for inspiring your teammates. As for the Ravens, the offense had moments but it wasn’t like they dominated Cincinnati for four quarters. Of their two scoring drives, one was for 79 yards on five plays and the other was five plays for 80 yards. That’s it, folks. Baltimore had 317 yards of total offense compared to 298 for Cincinnati. Quarterback Lamar Jackson completed 8 of 12 passes for 150 yards, and the touchdown pass he threw to Flowers was his best of the season. He also had a 12-yard run around the left end where he looked like the Jackson of old. But Jackson was also sacked four times and again looked indecisive as far as running or throwing the football. He took one sack in the last minute of the third quarter where he had both center Tyler Linderbaum and right guard Daniel Faalele out in front of him, but he held the ball and was eventually sacked by linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. There were a lot of highs and lows in this game, and you came away wondering if this team really got its act together Sunday in Cincinnati. They had a running game. They had a pass rush. Players in the secondary actually made tackles, and kept everything in front of them. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson hands off the ball to running back Derrick Henry in Baltimore's 24-0 win over Cincinnati. The Ravens rushed for 189 yards in the victory. (Kareem Elgazzar/AP) Yet at the same time, it was the Bengals. If the Ravens didn’t have five turnovers, they probably would have beaten them on Thanksgiving night. Maybe this was a turning point for the Ravens or maybe both teams should be banned by the NFL from making the postseason. Regardless, it was the best game the Ravens have played this season. “That is our identity, and we have been playing that way,” Harbaugh said. “We’ve been playing with physicality. To see it come together with some fruits of our labor, it was really good to see today. But yes, that’s a big part of December football.” We will see. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position in their 24-0 win over the Bengals: Quarterback Lamar Jackson played his best game since late October. There are still some things lacking, but he threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to receiver Zay Flowers in stride in the second quarter, and there were times when he ran and made quicker decisions. His 12-yard scamper around the left end in the second quarter was exceptional, and it was his most electrifying run of the season. But Jackson still took four sacks and was indecisive at times about when to run, especially going around right end with two offensive linemen in front of him in the third quarter. But Jackson 8 of 12 passes for 150 yards and finished with a passer rating of 114.6. He is still fluttering too many passes. Grade B- Running backs Baltimore did what it needed to do, and it punished the worst run defense in the NFL (155.5 yards allowed per game) as the Ravens finished with 189 yards on just 24 carries. Derrick Henry finished with 100 yards on 11 attempts and backup Keaton Mitchell ran eight times for 66 yards, and came close to breaking a couple of long runs. The Ravens also got a touchdown reception on a short pass to Rasheen Ali in the second quarter, which was an audible by Jackson. After a slow first quarter, Baltimore dominated Cincinnati. Grade: B Offensive line The Ravens did what they do best, and that’s run block. They have had the best run blocking group in the NFL for the past two seasons, and they punished Cincinnati almost every way possible. They ran inside the tackles and used tosses as well as pitches around the corner. A lot of those runs were behind left tackle Ronnie Stanley and guard Andrew Vorhees. This was a total beatdown and something Baltimore needed. It still gives up too much ground on twists and stunts in pass protection, but the game plan was catered to their strength, and that’s knocking the defensive line off the ball. Grade: B Receivers At least the Ravens appeared interested, unlike the past two weeks. It appeared Jackson made a conscious effort to get the receivers involved with Zay Flowers, the slot receiver, becoming the top weapon. Besides his touchdown catch down the left side, and in between two defenders, Flowers finished with three catches for 68 yards. Tight end Mark Andrews also had two catches for 18 yards, and outplayed any Cincinnati player that tried to cover him one on one in the second half. Even veteran DeAndre Hopkins contributed with a 32-yard reception. Overall, a solid performance by this group on a day when the Ravens dominated with a strong running game. Grade: C Defensive line The Bengals had absolutely no running game. None. They finished with 100 yards rushing on 29 carries, but Cincinnati’s running game was an attempt to keep the Ravens off Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. In all honesty, the Ravens had no respect for Cincinnati’s run offense or their two top rushers, Chase Brown and Samaje Perine. The Ravens dominated the Bengals up front with tackles Travis Jones and John Jenkins, who each had four tackles. Also, Bengals offensive tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims couldn’t contain any of Baltimore’s outside pass rushers. The Bengals finished with 298 yards of total offense, and Burrow had no places to run or to hide from the consistent pressure up front, even deep down in the trenches. Grade: B+ Linebackers The Ravens kept pressure on Burrow for most of the game by beating the two weak tackles. Outside linebackers Mike Green, a rookie, and Dre’Mont Jones were consistently in the face of Burrow, forcing him to move. Baltimore had three sacks and finished with 10 hits on Burrow. Even strong side linebacker Kyle Van Noy had a good day, but not quite as impressive outside linebacker Tavius Robinson who had a sack and two pressures. He forced Burrow to move several times, and that happens when a player has been out of the lineup for a substantial period of time. Robinson has been on injured reserve since Week 6. Middle linebacker Roquan Smith led the team in tackles with 14, but a serious knee injury to rookie weakside linebacker Teddye Buchanan could be costly. Looks like third-year player Trenton Simpson has to step in and up. Grade: B Secondary The Ravens finally made tackles on the back end. There were no whiffs and no dropping of the heads. They kept everything in front of them, and that’s easier to do when playing with a lead instead of from behind. They found a way to neutralize Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who seemed uninterested from the start of the game. Without receiver Tee Higgins, out from a concussion suffered last week against Buffalo, Cincinnati had no other weapons and tried to throw short to intermediate passes over the middle. The Ravens smothered most of those, and all three cornerbacks, Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and Chidobe Awuzie, covered well. Baltimore had a good rotation on the back end to provide ample support. Grade: B+ Special teams Reserved tight end Charlie Kolar had three assisted tackles on special teams and linebacker Jake Hummel had two assisted tackles as well. Baltimore did slow Cincinnati’s kickoff return game and the Bengals’ punt return game was nonexistent. Well, they had one for minus-2 yards. Jordan Stout punted three times with a long of 53. There wasn’t much to the kicking game, but the coverage units played well. Grade: B Coaching That’s all you want in these games. It’s called style points and they banged around the Bengals, something they should have done on Thanksgiving night, but they didn’t because of five turnovers. The Ravens worked the offensive game plan to perfection pounding Cincinnati’s defense, and the Bengals had no answers for Baltimore’s zone defenses which allowed the short passes, but the tackling was the best it has been in recent games. Baltimore came out slowly but conquered and went home victorious. Case closed. Grade: B Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Related Articles Ravens put it all together, keep playoff hopes alive with 24-0 win over Bengals Instant analysis from Ravens’ 24-0 win over Bengals in Week 15 Ravens vs. Bengals, Dec. 14, 2025 | PHOTOS Sources: Ravens fear LB Teddye Buchanan suffers torn ACL vs. Bengals Ravens vs. Bengals live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 24-0 win View the full article

CINCINNATI — In the coldest game in Ravens’ history and with the season hanging in the balance, Baltimore finally heated up on both sides of the ball Sunday afternoon. An icy chill danced off the banks of the Ohio River and down through Paycor Stadium, the actual temperature at kickoff 10 degrees with a feels-like of minus-1, surpassing the frigid 2013 “Mile High Miracle” playoff game in Denver. There was no need for divine intervention this time. Behind a defense that held the Bengals to 298 total yards, including just 225 yards passing from quarterback Joe Burrow, who was also intercepted twice, and an offense that finally found a once-familiar form with a string of chunk plays, the Ravens coasted to a 24-0 win over Cincinnati. It was Baltimore’s first shutout since 2018 against the Tennessee Titans. The victory also ended a two-game losing streak for Baltimore (7-7) after embarrassing losses in two straight division games. More importantly, it keeps playoff hopes alive with the Ravens just a half-game behind the AFC North-leading Steelers, who will play the Miami Dolphins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. And even if the weather didn’t feel good, the victory had to. Lamar Jackson completed 8 of just 12 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns, while Derrick Henry got rolling in the second half, battering the Bengals for 100 yards rushing on 11 carries. Keaton Mitchell added 66 rushing yards on eight touches. The Ravens also avoided being swept by the Bengals (4-10) in the regular season for the first time 2021 — coincidentally also the last time Baltimore missed the playoffs — and avoided dropping three straight games to division opponents for the first time in Jackson’s tenure. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player also remained perfect at Paycor Stadium, where he came in with a 4-0 mark and 15-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. On Sunday and unlike during a Thanksgiving night debacle in Baltimore two weeks ago in which the Ravens turned the ball over a season-high five times, the offense got rolling in the second quarter and never looked back. Jackson scrambled up the middle for 14 yards. Then he hit DeAndre Hopkins for a 32-yard gain. Three plays later, Baltimore cashed in. Seeing Cincinnati was blitzing, Jackson appeared to check out of a play and dumped a short pass off to wide-open running back Rasheen Ali, who raced untouched up the right sideline for a 30-yard score and the first touchdown of his career. Jackson and center Tyler Linderbaum celebrated the play afterward. On their next possession and in the final minute of the first half, left tackle Ronnie Stanley took umbrage with a Bengals defender and was flagged for unnecessary roughness as things started to get chippy between the two teams. But the penalty was offset by defensive holding and was only a momentary hiccup. Flowers made a spectacular adjustment, twisting to secure a pass up the right sideline for 26 yards. Then Jackson scrambled for a dozen more yards. Three plays later, Jackson found Andrews for 14 yards and then hit Flowers in stride with a 28-yard dart to the back left corner of the end zone for a 14-0 lead. Tyler Loop then tacked on a 27-yard field goal in the third quarter, while the defense continued to zero in on Burrow and the Bengals’ offense. Related Articles Instant analysis from Ravens’ 24-0 win over Bengals in Week 15 Ravens vs. Bengals, Dec. 14, 2025 | PHOTOS Sources: Ravens fear LB Teddye Buchanan suffers torn ACL vs. Bengals Ravens vs. Bengals live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 24-0 win Ravens defense gets boost with Ar’Darius Washington, Tavius Robinson returns Burrow was sacked three times, including once by outside linebacker Tavius Robinson, who returned after suffering a broken foot in Week 6. He was also intercepted first by cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who caught the ball at Baltimore’s 14-yard line as it bounced off receiver Ja’Marr Chase’s hands in the second quarter to end a scoring threat. Then, Kyle Van Noy sealed the victory with a fourth-quarter interception that he quickly handed to safety Alohi Gilman, who raced 84 yards untouched down the right sideline for a touchdown that ended Cincinnati’s faint playoff hopes. Baltimore had its moments, too — most notably when Jackson’s pass to Flowers in the middle of the second quarter went through the receiver’s hands and was intercepted by Jordan Battle. But Cincinnati went three-and-out, and the Bengals threatened only once more the rest of the game. The Ravens will now return home to face the New England Patriots next Sunday night in what again will be another crucial game. 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’ 24-0 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15 of the NFL season on Sunday at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati: Brian Wacker, reporter The Ravens (7-7) have talked for weeks — months really — about the need to play complementary football, and on a frosty day in Cincinnati finally did just that. It took a little while to warm up, but once they did they showed they had more fight than the hapless Bengals (4-10). Unlike earlier contests, Baltimore’s defense never allowed Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase to find a rhythm, while its offense found some of its own with the passing and running of Lamar Jackson along with the bruising power of Derrick Henry. It wasn’t a perfect performance by the Ravens, but this was a game they couldn’t afford to be sloppy in. Baltimore had just two penalties, played smart when it had the football and took care of business. Now they’ll return home for another critical game against the New England Patriots next Sunday night with the playoffs still very much in reach. Mike Preston, columnist At sometime during the second half, some of the Bengals players pulled up the U-Haul trucks and started moving out some of their apartment or home furnishings. Paycor Stadium was only half-filled and Cincinnati played with little inspiration or momentum. Actually, the Bengals played like the worst defense in the NFL. But let’s not throw away the Ravens’ team effort. Baltimore played its best game since back-to-back wins against Chicago and Miami in late October. They ran the ball well with running backs Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell, and the defensive players actually kept everything in front of them and came up to make tackles. And the Ravens actually had a pass rush. Wow. They were pretty consistent with pressure on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who at times had no answers for the zone looks the Ravens kept presenting him. The Ravens are still far from being a good, solid football team, but at least they took advantage of Cincinnati. After two straight losses, this franchise has to take whatever it can get. Josh Tolentino, columnist The Ravens survived Sunday’s bitter cold temperatures and escaped Paycor Stadium with a needed victory that ended their two-game skid. Their exact playoff odds remain in flux; first-place Pittsburgh is scheduled to host Miami on Monday night. For now, cue the Bee Gees. Baltimore’s playoff hopes are staying alive with three critical regular-season games remaining. Lamar Jackson was sacked four times but looked more like a two-time Most Valuable Player rather than the sub-par version of himself that was on display the past five weeks. He led a near-perfect end-of-half sequence that concluded with his 28-yard touchdown completion to wideout Zay Flowers. Jackson should’ve finished with three touchdown passes, but Flowers was unable to high-point a toss near the right corner of the end zone in the third quarter. Flowers also played a detrimental role in Jackson’s lone interception, again unable to haul in a ball that hit him in the hands before it was snatched midair by Cincinnati safety Jordan Battle. The defense, which lost rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan to a suspected torn ACL injury, impressively shutout embattled Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, highlighted by interceptions from Kyle Van Noy and Marlon Humphrey. After the Ravens recorded just one sack over their past two games, Travis Jones, Tavius Robinson and Mike Green finished with a combined three sacks of Burrow. More pressure and takeaways will be key ingredients if the Ravens aspire to pull off a memorable stretch to close the season. Sam Cohn, reporter This performance came two weeks too late. Jackson was sharp through the air. And the Ravens’ defense beat up Burrow. The ensuing discourse would sound different had they won the initial Thanksgiving meeting. Blowing out this Cincinnati team doesn’t prove Baltimore to be a January-ready team. But the Ravens survived and thus they advance to another week with a playoff berth still possible. Their playoff odds climbed from 27% to 41%, per The New York Times’ playoff simulator. The next three games will all be tougher: vs. New England, at Green Bay, vs. Pittsburgh. Credit to the imperfect Ravens. They didn’t roll over with the season on the line this time. Also: Front runner for funniest play of the year goes to Kyle Van Noy. Tavius Robinson got pressure on Burrow, who threw a bad interception right to Van Noy. The veteran linebacker ran about four steps and looked for someone to give the ball to. He handed it over to Alohi Gilman, who took it 84 yards for a touchdown. One of those, “no, no, no, oh nice” plays. Related Articles Ravens put it all together, keep playoff hopes alive with 24-0 win over Bengals Ravens vs. Bengals, Dec. 14, 2025 | PHOTOS Sources: Ravens fear LB Teddye Buchanan suffers torn ACL vs. Bengals Ravens vs. Bengals live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 24-0 win Ravens defense gets boost with Ar’Darius Washington, Tavius Robinson returns C.J. Doon, editor That game felt like a trip to the dentist: Cold, dreary and occasionally painful but something you just have to take care of to avoid future problems. (Kyle Van Noy’s handoff to Alohi Gilman for the game-sealing pick-six was a nice lollipop on the way out the door.) Credit to Todd Monken for pounding the rock with Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell early and often. We finally saw some glimpses of vintage Lamar Jackson as well, especially that beautiful touchdown pass to Zay Flowers to end the first half. That felt like Jackson’s best throw in a while. Outside of an airmailed pass to Mark Andrews that DJ Turner should have intercepted, the star QB appeared to be in total control — at least until he took a few too many sacks late in the third quarter. He can’t afford to be on the turf too often giving how many injuries he’s had to battle so far this season. Speaking of injuries, they are a big concern right now after linebacker Teddye Buchanan (knee) and cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie (foot) and Marlon Humphrey (knee) went down. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley and outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones were shaken up as well. On the day safety Ar’Darius Washington and defensive end Tavius Robinson came back, it felt like one step forward and two steps backward in the health department. At the end of the day, the Ravens are still alive. In fact, if the Steelers falter on Monday night (a very realistic possibility with the Dolphins playing well in recent weeks and star pass rusher T.J. Watt being ruled out), Baltimore is right back in the hunt for the AFC North title. Keeping the winning streak going against the Patriots, Packers and Steelers is asking for a lot, but you need to beat good teams on the path to becoming a Super Bowl champion. That’s a great test to get ready for January football. Tim Schwartz, editor Baltimore’s roller coaster season continues to be unpredictable. Barely two weeks after losing to the Bengals at home, the Ravens went into a frozen Paycor Stadium and crushed Cincinnati in all three phases. The Bengals looked to be sleepwalking through this one, at least offensively, while Baltimore focused on what it does best: run the ball. Derrick Henry carried the ball the first three plays of the game to set the tone, and he started breaking off longer runs as the game progressed. Keaton Mitchell looked healthy, gaining 66 yards on eight carries, and Lamar Jackson had a timely 14-yard run, too. This is Baltimore’s recipe for success. Count on the defense to have a good day and ride Henry and Mitchell (and Rasheen Ali, because why not?) to victory. Bennett Conlin, editor Baltimore’s playoff dreams are alive. The Ravens’ defense delivered perhaps its best game of the season in a must-win moment. Running back Derrick Henry took over in the second half, with Zay Flowers acting as a perfect offensive complement at wide receiver. There’s a lot to like about Baltimore’s team-wide showing, including Lamar Jackson showing improved burst as a runner. The Bengals, however, are now 4-10. Even with Joe Burrow back, Cincinnati isn’t New England nor Green Bay. The Ravens gave their fans reason for renewed optimism with a comfortable win Sunday, but it won’t matter much if they fall back against the Patriots, Packers and even the Steelers in Week 18. Baltimore showed they still have fight left in them, delivering a knockout blow to Cincinnati’s slim playoff hopes. How many haymakers do the Ravens have left? They didn’t look like a team ready to quietly drift into the offseason Sunday. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) signs fan merch while leaving the field after a win over the Cincinnati Bengals in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle van Noy (53), with safety Alohi Gilman (12) running next to him, returns an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle van Noy (53) returns an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) breaks up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley (82) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle van Noy (53) celebrates with Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Travis Jones (98) and safety Kyle Hamilton (14) after an interception that he handed off to safety Alohi Gilman for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) reacts after an interception by linebacker Kyle van Noy against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) is pushed out of bounds by Baltimore Ravens safety Malaki Starks (24) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens safety Alohi Gilman, right, tackles Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) sacks Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens place kicker Tyler Loop, right, with punter Jordan Stout (11) holding, kicks an extra point during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) throws against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens safety Alohi Gilman (12) celebrates with cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) and safety Ar'Darius Washington (29) after breaking up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks to throw against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left, makes a catch for a touchdown past Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) makes a catch for a touchdown past Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8), right, hands the ball off to running back Derrick Henry (22), left, during of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8), center, carries the ball during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8), center, carries the ball during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) celebrates with quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) A Baltimore Ravens fan adjusts his Santa Claus hat during an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, right, celebrates with tight end Mark Andrews, left, after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens running back Rasheen Ali (26) runs the ball toward the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Deandre Hopkins (10) runs the ball after a reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Deandre Hopkins (10) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle (27) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens safety Malaki Starks (24) breaks up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas (80) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (0), cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) and defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (41) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr., left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) celebrates after a sack against Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks to throw as Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) approaches during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (41) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, right, throws against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, right, is sacked by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson (95) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) reacts after being sacked by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (34) runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) intercepts a pass and runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) View the full article

CINCINNATI — Ravens rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan is feared to have suffered a torn ACL during the first half of the team’s Week 15 game Sunday against the Bengals, two league sources familiar with the situation told The Baltimore Sun. Buchanan suffered the non-contact injury to his right leg while he appeared on punt coverage near end of the first quarter of divisional contest. The expected season-ending injury halts a promising rookie campaign for Buchanan. The fourth-round draft pick out of California, was named a Week 2 starter at inside linebacker, and has starred all season as a fixture across Baltimore’s middle level alongside veteran linebacker Roquan Smith. Buchanan ranks fifth on the Ravens with 639 defensive snaps and third in special teams snaps (233). Buchanan’s 93 tackles are second behind Smith. He was named the NFL’s Rookie of the Month in October. Buchanan, 23, was initially helped off the field by trainers. Shortly after he reached the visitors sideline, Buchanan was then carted off the field and into the locker room at Paycor Stadium. Buchanan, was ruled out immediately with a knee injury, and replaced at linebacker by reserve Trenton Simpson. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Related Articles Ravens put it all together, keep playoff hopes alive with 24-0 win over Bengals Instant analysis from Ravens’ 24-0 win over Bengals in Week 15 Ravens vs. Bengals, Dec. 14, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Bengals live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 24-0 win Ravens defense gets boost with Ar’Darius Washington, Tavius Robinson returns View the full article

The Ravens visited the Bengals in a crucial AFC North clash and came away victorious. Baltimore defeated Cincinnati, 24-0, for the team’s first shutout victory since 2018. Follow along here for postgame coverage and analysis. View the full article

CINCINNATI — The Ravens’ defense is getting reinforcements. Baltimore officially activated safety Ar’Darius Washington and outside linebacker Tavius Robinson from the physically unable to perform list and injured reserve, respectively, on Saturday. After both practiced all week, the moves clears the way for them to play in Sunday’s crucial AFC North showdown against the division rival Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Washington, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon during an offseason workout in May and was once thought potentially lost for the season, hasn’t played since last season. Robinson has been out since suffering a broken foot in a Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Their returns should help against a Cincinnati offense led by quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase that scored 32 points in a blowout of the Ravens on Thanksgiving night in Baltimore. They also come at a critical time for Baltimore (6-7), which is a game back of the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers with only four games remaining in the regular season. A third-straight AFC North title for the Ravens is the most likely path to the playoffs. Washington had a breakout season in 2024, starting 10 games and helping spark a defensive turnaround for a unit that was one of the worst in the NFL until he was inserted into the starting lineup. How he fits into the rotation remains to be seen, but the expectation is Washington will play. In October, the Ravens traded outside linebacker Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman along with a swap of draft picks. That allowed Baltimore to move All-Pro safety and its most versatile and talented defender Kyle Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage while utilizing Gilman and first-round rookie safety Malaki Starks on the back end to shore up what again was a struggling defense. Washington has the versatility to play both safety and in the nickel. “I’m ready to go,” Washington said earlier this week. “Whenever [they] give me the call, whenever they put me out there on the field, I’m going to be ready to go. I didn’t come back early to not play at all.” Related Articles Ravens 2025 High School Coaches of the Year: Sparrows Point’s Nick Burkhardt, Linganore’s Brian Sweene honored Ravens WR Rashod Bateman questionable; Bengals without 2 key starters Ravens vs. Bengals scouting report for Week 15: Who has the edge? Ravens vs. Bengals staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Cincinnati? Josh Tolentino: Ravens’ biggest flaw isn’t an easy fix | COMMENTARY Robinson, meanwhile, has developed into a solid and dependable defender, particularly against the run, in what is his third season. “It feels so good to get back out there,” Robinson said this week. “It was really tough at the start, especially the first couple weeks not be able to do much, watching at home, definitely sucked. There was two ways I could look at it. I could either be frustrated and mad at it, or just attack rehab, and really that’s kind of what I did. Just put my head down and did everything I could to get back as fast as possible.” He now rejoins a group that includes veteran Kyle Van Noy, second-round rookie Mike Green, the recently acquired Dre’Mont Jones and David Ojabo. Before getting injured, Robinson had 17 tackles, including one for loss, and two sacks. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Sparrows Point football coach Nick Burkhardt and Linganore girls flag football coach Brian Sweene were named the 2025 Ravens High School Coaches of the Year, John Harbaugh announced Friday afternoon. Burkhardt, who is also an alum of Sparrows Point, is the first coach from the school to receive the honor in the 29-year history of the award. He did so in what was just his second year at the helm after leading the Pointers to a 10-1 record, the best in school history. “It means everything,” Burkhardt said. “Our community truly is one of kind down in Sparrows Point and to be able to not just for me but bring this spotlight down to our school and our community truly does mean the world to us.” Sweene also said that the honor “means the world.” He is the second recipient of the award after Boonsboro coach Chad Hartman took home the inaugural honor last year. Sweene led Linganore to the Class 2A/1A state title, knocking off No. 1 seed Calvert along the way, with the defense only allowing an average of 8.6 points in five games in the state tournament. Sweene credited the Ravens for helping the sport get off the ground in the state and said that it wouldn’t have happened without their assistance. The NFL also recently announced plans to launch professional men’s and women’s flag football leagues, something that the current generation of high school players can now aim for. Said Sweene: “The fact that they get to play a sport that they cheered on for boys for years is amazing.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. Linganore girls flag football coach Brian Sweene, posing with Ravens coach John Harbaugh, is the 2025 Ravens High School Flag Coach of the Year. (Courtesy of Ravens) View the full article

With time running out on the Ravens’ chances to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021, Baltimore will head into its critical AFC North showdown against the Bengals in Cincinnati about as healthy as it has been all season. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was not listed on the injury report with any afflictions for the first time in over a month, with his only absence this week for a rest day on Wednesday. The only other player on the Ravens’ roster with an injury designation for Sunday’s game is wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle), who is listed as questionable. “It’s just a nagging thing,” coach John Harbaugh said of Bateman’s ankle sprain. “You fight through it, you fight through it, and you can annoy it, I guess is the best way to say it. He has probably just been annoying it.” If Bateman can’t play, that could mean a much bigger role for DeAndre Hopkins, something Harbaugh said that he’d like to do anyway. “I’d like to be using DeAndre more,” he said earlier this week. I don’t think he’s at the stage of his career where he is going to play every play. When he’s out there, you really want to — and we’ve talked a lot about this — trying to be intentional about him being out there for specific purposes and to do the things that he does well, which we all kind of know what those things are. “He’s just become one of my favorite, favorite players ever. We are going to be friends for a long time, and he and I have had a lot of these conversations, but yes, this next game, and these next four games and into the playoffs, let’s get him involved more. We really need to try to do that. We have been trying to do it; we can do it.” Despite the uncertainty of Bateman’s status, the Ravens could also get a boost with the return of safety Ar’Darius Washington and outside linebacker Tavius Robinson, who are officially listed as questionable. Washington has been out since suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the spring, while Robinson has been sidelined since breaking his foot in Week 6. Both practiced fully all week and are likely to be activated from injured reserve on Saturday. The overall mostly good health is also good news for a group that has little margin for error and needs all the help it can get. Baltimore (6-7) has dropped two straight division games and trails the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers by a game with four to play. The Steelers will play the Miami Dolphins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. Related Articles Ravens 2025 High School Coaches of the Year: Sparrows Point’s Nick Burkhardt, Linganore’s Brian Sweene honored Ravens vs. Bengals scouting report for Week 15: Who has the edge? Ravens vs. Bengals staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Cincinnati? Josh Tolentino: Ravens’ biggest flaw isn’t an easy fix | COMMENTARY Why Ravens QB Lamar Jackson continues to miss a practice each week The Ravens, who lost two weeks ago to the Bengals at home, haven’t been swept by Cincinnati since 2021. They have also never lost three straight division games with Jackson at quarterback. If the Bengals (4-9) are to pull off the sweep, though, they’ll have to do so without star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who was placed on injured reserve this week because of a hip/pelvis injury that will require core muscle surgery, as well as standout wide receiver Tee Higgins (concussion), who was officially ruled out Friday. Of course, neither played the last time the two teams met, either. Meanwhile, rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart and safety PJ Jules (ankle) are listed as doubtful. Stewart, a first-round draft pick, has been on injured reserve since suffering a knee injury in Week 9 and is unlikely to come off IR before Sunday. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

That Ravens’ winning streak is falling further into the rearview mirror. They’ve now dropped two straight, both crucial matchups to division opponents, and the only obvious path to the playoffs requires winning out. Baltimore’s uphill climb starts Sunday afternoon at Paycor Stadium for a rematch against the Bengals. The forecast calls for wool socks and mittens. Who will have the advantage? Ravens passing game vs. Bengals pass defense In Lamar Jackson’s first six games, he threw 15 touchdown passes and one interception. The Ravens were 1-5, toiling through tempestuous waters, but the quarterback play was expectedly sharp. In four games since returning from a hamstring injury, while dealing with a host of other lower body pains, Jackson has thrown only one touchdown pass compared with four interceptions. He has played shockingly subpar football. At least below the ridiculously high bar we judge a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player on. He’s the centerpiece of a wider inefficient offense that’s forgivable in wins against lesser teams and plagued Baltimore in losses against decent clubs. When the Ravens and Bengals met on Thanksgiving, Cincinnati owned, by some metrics, the worst defense of the last half-century. But that group held Baltimore to 14 points and forced five turnovers. Three of them were from Jackson. The Ravens weren’t much better 10 days later. Mark Andrews said this week that he’s excited to “start being the team that we are.” But it’s Week 15. This might just be who they are this year. EDGE: Bengals Bengals passing game vs. Ravens pass defense After the bye week, the Ravens reeled off five straight wins by holding opponents to less than 20 points. Here were the quarterbacks they muted: Chicago’s Caleb Williams, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy, Cleveland’s Dillon Gabriel (then Shedeur Sanders) and the New York Jets’ Tyrod Taylor. Not exactly a menacing list. But the Pro Bowl-caliber passers have picked apart the Ravens. Such was the case early in the year; the likes of Josh Allen, Jared Goff, Patrick Mahomes, C.J. Stroud and Matthew Stafford. It’s happening again, with the schedule feeding Baltimore a healthy Joe Burrow, who passed for 261 yards and two touchdowns in their first meeting. EDGE: Bengals Ravens running game vs. Bengals run defense Two things can be true: Derrick Henry hasn’t burst into space the way we’ve become accustomed to over his Hall of Fame career and the Bengals aren’t the team to keep it that way. According to Next Gen Stats, Henry has forced a missed tackle on only 17.1% of his carries this season. That’s the second lowest rate among 41 running backs with at least 100 carries. It’s also his lowest since at least 2018. Henry has been hit behind the line of scrimmage on half of his carries this year, the seventh-highest rate among that same group. He’s still top-four in the NFL in generating yards after contact. Meanwhile, the Bengals rank last in the NFL in contacting running backs in the backfield, about one-third of attempts. On Thanksgiving, Henry touched the ball just 10 times. An extensive line of questioning followed about his lack of involvement in the loss considering that he scored Baltimore’s first touchdown. Harbaugh fairly explained that it was a product of how the game unfolded. Against Pittsburgh, Henry went 94 yards on a season-high 25 carries, his most in a game since late 2023. This matchup could be a beneficial one for Henry if he gets more than 10 touches and the offense stays on schedule. EDGE: Ravens Related Articles Ravens vs. Bengals staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Cincinnati? Josh Tolentino: Ravens’ biggest flaw isn’t an easy fix | COMMENTARY Why Ravens QB Lamar Jackson continues to miss a practice each week Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice; 2 pass catchers limited Ravens DT Travis Jones agrees to 3-year, $40.5 million contract extension Bengals running game vs. Ravens run defense The Bengals don’t run the ball much. Who can blame them? They have one of the best receiving duos in the NFL and, when healthy, a dynamite quarterback to deliver them the ball. Chase Brown and Samaje Perine are no backfield slouches, but Cincinnati play callers won’t lean on them to decide a game, as evidenced by their combined four rushing touchdowns this season. There’s one outlier on the list. Two weeks ago, the Bengals ran the ball 33 times, 10 more carries than their next most in a single game. Cincinnati’s 128 yards on the ground were the most Baltimore’s front has let up since Week 5, when an injury-riddled defense did nothing to slow down Houston. EDGE: Bengals Ravens special teams vs. Bengals special teams Tyler Loop missed an extra point attempt in Pittsburgh, something he hadn’t done since Week 1. But he’s been perfect on all nine field goal attempts, all within 50 yards, over the past four games. The rookie isn’t being called upon to win games or show off his boot to save a drive, but he’s been admirably consistent when the Ravens get down near the red zone and stall out. Can’t ask for much more than that. Cincinnati could be a daunting task for the Texas native who kicked at the University of Arizona. Special teams coordinator Chris Horton said they “won’t be able to replicate the things that you see up in this [AFC North]. It’s different. When that wind gets to howling, and it’s really cold, it’s a lot different. But, he’ll be fine, man. He’s a young guy, and he’s on the right track. I think he’s playing his butt off.” The Bengals own the fifth-best special teams expected points added per play in the NFL (20.6) — far better than Baltimore’s 15th place mark (2.7). While it’s been a strong year for the Ravens’ third phase, the edge goes to Cincinnati, particularly for a chilly home game. EDGE: Bengals Ravens intangibles vs. Bengals intangibles Well, the Ravens are playing for their lives and the Bengals are essentially playing for pride — the pride of crushing Baltimore’s playoff hopes. Here’s how the two sides spoke about this week, this matchup and the vibes umbrella over each team. Burrow spent his 29th birthday reflecting. His team’s playoff odds, by percentage points, can be counted on one hand. After missing a chunk of this season because injury, he waxed eloquently about his desire to have fun. “I’ve been through a lot and if it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for? So that’s the mindset I’m trying to bring to the table.” Winning is included in that calculation. But that’s the mindset of someone who knows he won’t be playing deep into January. On the other hand, Kyle Hamilton, knowing that the Ravens are on the ropes, invoked some of the best Cinderella stories in recent memory. Like Carlos Alcaraz’s miraculous French Open comeback. Or Rory McIlroy leaving short his would-be winning putt on the 18th green at The Masters, only to win it on the first playoff hole. Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen had an impressive second-half turnaround this year. So did LeBron James’ Cavaliers, famously climbing back from down 3-1 to win the 2016 NBA Finals. Conversely, Hamilton pointed out, the Patriots went undefeated in 2007 and lost in the Super Bowl. “So, it’s not about how you get there, it’s just a matter of you getting there; I think the mindset that we have to have is kind of like that,” he said. “It’s going to be a heck of a story; that’s what we’re telling ourselves.” EDGE: Ravens Prediction What have the Ravens done to give anyone confidence that a turnaround is imminent? Two weeks ago, they scored 14 points against a bad Bengals defense and let Joe Burrow torch them for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Last week, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers picked apart their defense and the Ravens missed out on three chances at lead-changing, fourth-quarter touchdowns. It’s possible Baltimore proves us wrong and flips a switch with the kind of dominant showing it’s capable of. But we haven’t seen that version in weeks. The Ravens seem destined to watch their playoff odds shrivel up in Sunday’s frost at the hands of a team whose only motivation is spoiling Baltimore’s year. Bengals 27, Ravens 21. 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’s Week 15 game between the Ravens and Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati: Brian Wacker, reporter Bengals 31, Ravens 17: Joe Burrow might not be having any fun, as he said earlier this week, but the Ravens have too often been a welcome tonic for those searching for a cure. The Bengals quarterback is also too good and would like to do nothing more than put a dagger in Baltimore’s season, which feels like it’s hanging by the thinnest of strings. The Ravens’ own offense, meanwhile, has been oft discombobulated and far too allergic to touchdowns once it gets in the red zone, even against struggling defenses. Cincinnati hasn’t swept Baltimore since 2021, but that’s where this is headed. That was also the last time the Ravens missed the playoffs. Sam Cohn, reporter Bengals 27, Ravens 21: What have the Ravens done to give anyone confidence that a turnaround is imminent? Two weeks ago, they scored 14 points against a bad Bengals defense and let Joe Burrow torch them for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Last week, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers picked apart their defense and the Ravens missed out on three chances at lead-changing, fourth-quarter touchdowns. It’s possible that Baltimore proves us wrong and flips a switch with the kind of dominant showing it’s capable of, but we haven’t seen that version in weeks. The Ravens seem destined to watch their playoff odds shrivel up in Sunday’s frost at the hands of a team whose only motivation is spoiling Baltimore’s season. Mike Preston, columnist Bengals 24, Ravens 21: I am not picking the Ravens until they prove that they can beat a top-caliber quarterback. Cincinnati is ranked No. 32 in overall defense, allowing 410.5 yards per game. Its run defense is also last, giving up 155.5 yards per game. But the Ravens won five straight earlier this season by beating up on rookie or inexperienced quarterbacks, and the Bengals have some top playmakers in quarterback Joe Burrow and receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Josh Tolentino, columnist Bengals 27, Ravens: 21: The Bengals deploy the NFL’s 32nd-ranked defense and 30th-ranked rushing offense. Does any of that matter against the visiting Ravens? Baltimore’s offense is riding a season-long funk, while its defense has struggled against quality passers. During the team’s two-game losing streak, the Ravens’ defensive line has generated zero(!) sacks and just 11 pressures across 85 dropbacks from Joe Burrow and Aaron Rodgers. The five-game win streak was commendable, but now the real pressure is on. Until the Ravens put together a complete offensive showing, reminiscent of the first three quarters in the season opener at Buffalo, it’ll be difficult to trust Lamar Jackson and company over the season’s final stretch. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 26, Bengals 23: This can’t be how the season ends, right? Those upcoming matchups against the Patriots, Packers and Steelers are far too juicy for Baltimore to slip two games below .500 and be all but eliminated from postseason contention with a loss this weekend. Some fans might already be thinking about 2026 and the potential upgrades across the roster, but the story of this season has yet to be written. That Week 18 trip to Pittsburgh seems all but destined to be a winner-take-all showdown for the AFC North. The Ravens have a long way to go before that becomes a reality, but they’ll find a way to escape Cincinnati with a win on a last-second field goal and keep their faint hopes alive a little bit longer. Related Articles Ravens vs. Bengals scouting report for Week 15: Who has the edge? Josh Tolentino: Ravens’ biggest flaw isn’t an easy fix | COMMENTARY Why Ravens QB Lamar Jackson continues to miss a practice each week Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice; 2 pass catchers limited Ravens DT Travis Jones agrees to 3-year, $40.5 million contract extension Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 34, Bengals 28: I’m going back to the well one more time. If the Ravens lose again, I will have officially lost hope in their 2025 season. Baltimore averaged more yards per play than Cincinnati in a loss two weeks ago, but five turnovers ruined its chance of winning. In the loss to the Steelers, the Ravens outplayed Pittsburgh between the 20s. They stunk in the red zone and lost by five, in part because of questionable officiating. The Ravens are not that far off from playing winning football, and in a weak AFC North, that means they still have a chance. If they lose Sunday, however, it’s time to call it. I think they keep hope alive for another week, and Miami upsets Pittsburgh on Monday to make the AFC North race even spicier. Tim Schwartz, editor Bengals 28, Ravens 24: The Ravens’ season is hanging by a thread, and I haven’t seen anything from them over the past few weeks that makes me believe they are going to turn it around and win the AFC North. The Bengals, despite having the leakiest defense in football, look like a better team than the Ravens right now. That says a lot. Baltimore’s offense looked better against the Steelers last weekend, but it’s still a shell of what we expected it to be with a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player under center. The good news for the Ravens is that the Steelers play a fairly difficult schedule the rest of the way, too, so it’s still possible that the division is decided in Pittsburgh in Week 18. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 37, Bengals 31: The Ravens are struggling to get into the playoffs. Looking at the road ahead and the games left to play, if Baltimore can’t get past this game with a win, it has no chance. View the full article

On Thursday, the Ravens celebrated defensive tackle Travis Jones, a 2022 third-round draft pick who signed a three-year extension worth up to $40.5 million with $25 million in guaranteed salary. Jones’ new deal is considered relatively team-friendly for a productive interior lineman with respectable numbers this season. Solid work, Eric DeCosta. Let’s not escape reality, though. Too often this season, the Ravens’ offensive and defensive lines have been pushed around. The lack of beef is perhaps Baltimore’s most glaring flaw. Quarterback Lamar Jackson already has surpassed his 2024 season sack total, up to 29 from 23, despite playing in seven fewer games. During the team’s recent two-game skid, Baltimore defensive linemen have produced zero sacks and a measly 11 pressures over 85 combined dropbacks (12.9% pressure rate) by quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Aaron Rodgers. Yikes. Here comes Burrow again on Sunday. “We know that when you’re playing a quarterback of this caliber, any misstep, any wrong hesitation, [Burrow] is going to make you pay more times than not,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “We have to execute, and then we have to get the football…we have to execute better on third down and then we have to get more takeaways.” All fine teaching points. The Ravens, though, desperately need help in the trenches. It’s difficult to imagine them correcting their season-long issues over the next month. Let’s play the hypothetical game for a second. Related Articles Why Ravens QB Lamar Jackson continues to miss a practice each week Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice; 2 pass catchers limited Ravens DT Travis Jones agrees to 3-year, $40.5 million contract extension Staff picks for Week 15 of 2025 NFL season: Bills vs. Patriots, Lions vs. Rams and more Mike Preston: Talk is cheap. The Ravens need better defense. | COMMENTARY What if the Ravens reel off four consecutive wins to close the season and clinch the AFC North title, along with a playoff berth? What if the Steelers collapse, and provide a postseason path for Baltimore? What if? Can you really trust the defensive and offensive lines in high-stakes January football? Behind Jones, the Ravens rely on 36-year-old John Jenkins (4,464 career defensive snaps), 34-year-old Brent Urban (2,655 snaps), and rookie CJ Okoye as primary depth. The lack of pressure up front has forced safety Kyle Hamilton into a three-level defender. Super Bowl-winning teams often have elite offensive and defensive lines, armed with pass-rush dominance. The Ravens have an outside shot at making the playoffs, but if they somehow reach that stage, will it be because of elite trench play? It’s OK to be realistic. The Zach Orr-led defense, at least, deserves slight grace. Losing pressure leader Nnamdi Madubuike, a $98 million defensive tackle, in Week 2 was gut-wrenching. His season-ending neck injury has caused an assortment of personnel issues with Baltimore consistently struggling to generate pressure, especially from the interior. There were more than a handful of options, albeit at hefty price tags, available around the trade deadline to help with Madubuike’s loss, but Baltimore only added safety Alohi Gilman and defensive end Dre’Mont Jones. Both have been productive pieces, but the defense still lacks game-wrecking pressure. Once touted as the NFL’s best roster, DeCosta’s group has been exposed. Elite pass rush and pass protection requires hardcore investment. Since taking over Ozzie Newsome’s post as general manager in 2019, DeCosta has overseen seven NFL drafts. During that span, DeCosta has made 13 premium selections (first- or second-round picks), with five (38.4%) of those picks dedicated to the offensive and defensive lines: defensive end Odafe Oweh (2021 first round), center Tyler Linderbaum (2022 first round), outside linebacker David Ojabo (2022 second round), right tackle Roger Rosengarten (2024 second round) and outside linebacker Mike Green (2025 second round). Among that group, only Linderbaum and Rosengarten have developed into full-time starters still with the team. Oweh started and produced a career-high 10 sacks in 2024, but he had zero sacks through his first five games this season, and the Ravens bid him farewell in an Oct. 7 trade that sent Oweh to the Chargers in exchange for Gilman. Ojabo has just 4 1/2 career sacks, including just a 1/2 sack in 2025 over 554 defensive snaps across four seasons. The jury is still deliberating on Green, who leads the team with 2 1/2 sacks as a rookie. The 2024 FBS leader in sacks (17 at Marshall) experienced a quick accession into the starting lineup because of Oweh’s trade, plus a midseason injury to fellow pass rusher Tavius Robinson. DeCosta has hit on a couple of mid-round selections dedicated to the trenches such as Jones and Madubuike, a 2020 third-round pick, but he’s also whiffed on plenty others. Newsome, meanwhile, often struck gold with finding productive pass rushers in the middle of the draft (see: Pernell McPhee, Za’Darius Smith, Matthew Judon, Paul Kruger, etc.) At some point in the near future, it’ll be time for DeCosta and company to get back to the drawing board. Free agency and the NFL draft will present opportunities to rebound once more. The Ravens on Thursday at least secured one important piece to the future. Extending Jones was sensible business. He’s earned it, and he’s one of the few interior linemen investments that has paid off. But Sunday’s matchup against Burrow in Cincinnati, along with the month ahead against consecutive above-average passers, will more than likely continue to expose the truth Baltimore currently faces. No matter how this wild season concludes, the Ravens need help and more beef in the trenches. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

Lamar Jackson stepped out of the field house, jogged down the turf ramp and onto the practice field on a chilly Thursday afternoon in Owings Mills. It’s his new normal, returning to action after missing the previous day’s session, something that has occurred for five straight weeks and shows no signs of changing as the Ravens’ season hangs in the balance. At this point in the year and after a succession of injuries — hamstring, knee, ankle, toe — he views the weekly day off as a necessity for his 6-foot-2, 208-pound frame. “I feel like rest days are one of the most important things when you’re recovering from any injury,” Jackson said Thursday. Asked if he thinks the missed practices have impacted his play or led to a rash of turnovers of late, he said no, instead pointing to some of them being the result of tipped passes. Over the past month in particular, however, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player has endured the worst stretch of his career. Jackson hasn’t reached a 60% completion rate in any of his past four outings. He has also thrown four interceptions, fumbled three times and at one point went three straight games without producing a touchdown — the longest span of his career — before ending that drought with one passing and one rushing touchdown last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also had an interception in that game, completed just 54.3% of his passes, struggled in the red zone and in the final two minutes of the game and the Ravens lost for the second week in a row after getting blown out on Thanksgiving night at home by the Bengals. Have Jackson’s absences made things more challenging for what has been an incongruous offense, particularly in those critical situational moments? “I think any time a player, especially your quarterback, is not able to practice — you’re talking not only the mental side of it but the timing with the receivers and then the physical part of it — there are some challenges with that,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said Thursday. “It’s not just Lamar, it’s any player that misses time, and you’ve got to find a way to overcome that.” That’s been an insoluble constant for the quarterback and consequently the offense. It has also been something Baltimore has needed to balance. “There’s no science to it,” coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week. “You want to have everybody practicing every day; that’s your goal as a coach, but it’s a long season. These guys go through a lot; Lamar as much as anybody. “He has the ball in his hand every play; he is making plays; he’s doing what he does; he’s competing like crazy. So, there are going to be times when he is just not going to be up for practice. It’s just not going to be the best way to go about doing it, and that’s a conversation between Lamar [and] the trainers. We’re involved in that to some degree, but what’s best for him to be ready to play his best on Sunday, that’s really what matters. So sure, you’d rather have everybody practicing all the time, but if it’s not the best thing to practice, because you want to get your body right, I think you have to respect that as a coach. I know you have to respect that as a coach, so I respect Lamar and his judgment.” Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice; 2 pass catchers limited Ravens DT Travis Jones agrees to 3-year, $40.5 million contract extension Staff picks for Week 15 of 2025 NFL season: Bills vs. Patriots, Lions vs. Rams and more Mike Preston: Talk is cheap. The Ravens need better defense. | COMMENTARY Date and time of Ravens-Packers Week 17 game at Lambeau Field announced Jackson, meanwhile, hasn’t blamed his performance this season on injuries, saying that if he’s in a game he should be able to do all the requisite and typically exceptional things he usually does. Still, he needs to rest when he can get it, he said. When he’s not at practice, he said, he looks at film afterward. During practices he is not participating in, he said he sometimes watches from the team’s adjacent treatment room, which looks out on the practice fields. Now comes a trip to Cincinnati for a rematch. A game back of the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers and the likely path to the playoffs being through a division title, the Ravens (6-7) know little-to-no room for error and can’t afford another loss, particularly in the division. The last time the two teams met, Jackson completed just 17 of 32 passes with no touchdowns, one interception and two fumbles against what has been one of the worst defenses in the NFL all season. He said this time that the Ravens have to avoid turnovers and put more than 14 points on the board. “I feel like we just played them yesterday, but looking forward to new results, different ending,” Jackson said. He also said he feels healthy, perhaps buoyed by the extra days off over the past five weeks. Said Jackson: “I feel good.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned to practice Thursday, one day after missing his usual reps for a rest day. It marked the fifth straight week that he has missed one midweek practice. The Ravens won the first three games and have lost the past two, now facing an all-important divisional foe in the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday while trailing the Pittsburgh Steelers by one game for the AFC North lead. As coach John Harbaugh put it, “To say we control our own destiny, that’s only if we win.” The Ravens (6-7) figure to be near full strength. Jackson was a full practice participant. He’s battled various lower body injuries this season but this was the first week in a month that he was listed without a specific ailment. Jackson said that when he’s not on the field, he’s still watching closely while getting treatment or ensuring he’s not missing mental reps. “I have eyes everywhere,” he joked. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who missed Wednesday’s practice with a shoulder injury, appeared to move comfortably in limited reps a day later. He wore an obvious wrap under his pads. The Ravens’ stickiest defensive back is a crucial chess piece heading into a matchup against one of the NFL’s best quarterback-receiver duos. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle) and tight end Mark Andrews (glute) were each limited participants Thursday. The severity of each injury and their availability for Sunday will become clear by Friday afternoon. Two established defenders could each return this weekend: outside linebacker Tavius Robinson broke his foot in Week 6, while safety Ar’Darius Washington is awaiting his season debut in his return from a torn Achilles tendon. Both Robinson and Washington practiced uninhibited Thursday and said that they’re ready to play this weekend. Meanwhile, running back Keaton Mitchell and cornerback Nate Wiggins seem to have avoided major injuries. Mitchell looked a bit gimpy after an explosive run against the Steelers. Two years removed from major knee surgery, Mitchell heading to the medical tent was an unnerving scene. But tests came back negative. He was back on the field this week, ramping up to full participation. Wiggins suffered a foot injury during a Thanksgiving loss to the Bengals. He did not play the second half but was limited through most of last week. Wiggins played in 94% of the team’s snaps last weekend, was limited Wednesday and was a full go by Thursday. Related Articles Ravens DT Travis Jones agrees to 3-year, $40.5 million contract extension Staff picks for Week 15 of 2025 NFL season: Bills vs. Patriots, Lions vs. Rams and more Mike Preston: Talk is cheap. The Ravens need better defense. | COMMENTARY Date and time of Ravens-Packers Week 17 game at Lambeau Field announced Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton unwavering in title belief: ‘Gonna be a heck of a story’ The Bengals, nearing mathematical elimination from the postseason, officially placed star defensive end Trey Hendrickson on the injured reserve after he had core muscle surgery. Safety PJ Jules (ankle) was the only other absentee Thursday. Wide receiver Tee Higgins (concussion) was limited for a second consecutive day. Each of the three other players listed on the injury report — linebacker Shaka Heyward (fibula), defensive end Joseph Ossai (shin) and defensive end Shemar Stewart (knee) — were full participants again. Stewart hasn’t been on the practice field since Week 9. Cincinnati’s first-round draft pick, if healthy enough to go Sunday, would be a notable boost for that defensive front. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article