ExtremeRavens

Is it NFL draft season already in Baltimore? The Ravens are 1-5 after Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams, matching their worst start in franchise history. If the season ended today, Baltimore would net the second overall pick in the 2026 draft. It’s rare territory for a franchise that has been among the most successful in all of pro sports since entering the NFL in 1996. In fact, since 2000, the Ravens have only picked in the top 10 three times — and picked an All-Pro each time: running back Jamal Lewis (5th overall, 2000), edge rusher Terrell Suggs (10th, 2003) and left tackle Ronnie Stanley (6th, 2016). Don’t get too excited, though. With Lamar Jackson likely returning after the Ravens’ Week 7 bye, Baltimore has a favorable schedule to try and bounce back from its shockingly poor start. Oddsmakers still consider the Ravens a contender to win the AFC North, while ESPN’s FPI — which projects results based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season — predicts Baltimore to finish around 7-10. But if the Ravens do end up having a premier pick in April, who could be available? Here’s an early look at the top prospects at key positions of need: Edge rusher With Odafe Oweh traded and Kyle Van Noy playing in a contract year at age 34, the Ravens could use some help to get after the quarterback. Baltimore drafted Mike Green in the second round last season, but he’s still unproven. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami: There might not be a more impressive player in the country this season than Bain, who leads all defensive linemen with a 95.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Miami native has recorded 24 quarterback pressures to go along with two sacks, four tackles for loss, one forced fumble and an interception. T.J. Parker, Clemson: Parker has been a rising star since his debut season, in which he broke Clemson’s true freshman record with 12 1/2 tackles for loss. He followed that up with 11 sacks in 2024, but he hasn’t been as productive thus far this season (2 sacks, 5 1/2 tackles for loss). Keldric Faulk, Auburn: The former four-star recruit played in every game as a true freshman and burst onto the scene with 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a sophomore. Mel Kiper said that the 6-6, 285-pound defensive end is an “LTPer” — someone who looks the part — though PFF notes that he stands to improve as a pass rusher. David Bailey, Texas Tech: The 6-3, 250-pound transfer has been a force for the upstart Red Raiders, leading the FBS with a 24.6% pressure rate and 8 1/2 sacks after recording 14 1/2 in three seasons at Stanford. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M: The Bowling Green transfer is enjoying a breakout season with the Aggies, recording 7 1/2 sacks in his first six games. ESPN draft expert Jordan Reid writes that Howell’s upfield burst, bend and closing speed are “Round 1-worthy traits.” Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods could help solidify a reeling Ravens defense. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman) Defensive linemen With Nnamdi Madbuike’s future uncertain after being ruled out for the season with a neck injury and Travis Jones set to enter free agency, the middle of the Ravens’ defense will likely need some reinforcements. Peter Woods, Clemson: The 6-3, 315-pound Woods could be the next great interior lineman the Tigers produce following Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins. Woods’ stats this season are underwhelming (1 1/2 tackles for loss, 1/2 sack), but his versatility and strength will be coveted. Related Articles Joe Flacco’s vintage performance has Bengals back in AFC North mix Josh Tolentino: The Ravens lack leadership and accountability | COMMENTARY 5 reasons to be pessimistic the Ravens can turn their season around 5 reasons to be optimistic the Ravens can turn their season around Ravens Week 6 high school football Coaches of the Week Caleb Banks, Florida: A foot injury in the preseason that later required surgery is a big red flag, especially for a 6-6, 330-pound lineman. If Banks alleviates any medical concerns, he has the potential to be a disruptive force. A’Mauri Washington, Oregon: This is just his first season as a starter, but the 6-3, 330-pound Washington has already put himself in the Round 1 conversation with what Reid calls an “explosive interior presence.” LT Overton, Alabama: The Ravens love players from Alabama, which has produced many quality defensive linemen over the years. The 6-5, 278-pound Overton, a Texas A&M transfer, has five tackles for loss and three sacks so far this season. Would the Ravens be tempted to draft another first-round safety in Ohio State's Caleb Downs? (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) Defensive back The Ravens seemingly have their safety duo of the future in former first-round picks Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks, but finding a reliable third option has proven difficult. Cornerback could also be a soft spot if Marlon Humphrey doesn’t return in 2026. Caleb Downs, Ohio State: Like Hamilton before him, Downs is the rare safety with the talent to be picked in the top half of the first round. The 6-foot, 205-pound Alabama transfer is an instinctive player and sure tackler who has helped lead one of the best defenses in the country over the past two seasons. Mansoor Delane, LSU: After transferring from Virginia Tech, the 6-foot, 190-pound Silver Spring native has raised his game. According to PFF, Delane has earned an 89.9 coverage grade while allowing just six receptions for 77 receiving yards. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee: The biggest question for McCoy is his health after he suffered a torn ACL in January. Assuming his rehabilitation goes according to plan, the 6-foot, 193-pound Oregon State transfer has shown a nose for the ball, recording four interceptions in 2024. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson: The last name should be familiar to football fans, as Terrell is the younger brother of Falcons corner and former Tigers star A.J. Terrell Jr. The 5-11, 180-pound Avieon has recorded 24 pass breakups and three interceptions over three seasons. Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese has been one of the breakout stars of this college football season. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez) Linebacker Roquan Smith remains the leader of the Ravens’ defense, but his performance has slipped a bit in recent years while Trenton Simpson and Teddye Buchanan have yet to solidify themselves in the starting lineup. There could be an opening for a new man in the middle. Arvell Reese, Ohio State: The 6-foot-4, 245-pound true junior is one of the breakout stars of the season across college football. PFF lead draft analyst Trevor Sikkema writes that Reese has a “rare combination of athleticism and instincts when triggering downhill as a run defender, quarterback spy, blitzer or even true pass-rusher.” Sonny Styles, Ohio State: Not to be overshadowed is another Buckeyes star who has been one of the nation’s top defenders since moving from safety to linebacker. The 6-4, 243-pound Styles has an 81.2 run-defense grade with zero missed tackles this season, according to PFF. CJ Allen, Georgia: The 6-1, 235-pound Allen has stuffed the stat sheet already this season, recording 4 1/2 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. Kiper writes that Allen is a “three-down linebacker at the next level because his read-and-react skills are excellent and he can make plays in all three aspects of the defense.” Anthony Hill Jr., Texas: Reid notes that Hill is a “versatile playmaker who is capable of playing the edge along with the second level,” which will be attractive to the Ravens. The 6-3, 238-pound Hill recorded 13 sacks in his first two college seasons. Francis Mauigoa plays right tackle for Miami, but he could help the Ravens at guard. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit) Offensive linemen Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is under contract through 2027 and Roger Rosengarten is entrenched at right tackle for now, but the two starting guard spots next to center Tyler Linderbaum are open for debate. It might not be too early to invest in an eventual Stanley replacement, either. Spencer Fano, Utah: The 6-6, 302-pound Fano has experience at both left and right tackle but could end up playing on the inside to begin his NFL career. Kiper, who ranks Fano as his 10th overall player, writes that he is “technically sound and shows good punch to compensate for his lack of ideal arm length.” Francis Mauigoa, Miami: Both of the consensus top tackle prospects could be better suited at guard, which is a bigger need for Baltimore anyway. The 6-6, 315-pound right tackle is known for his powerful run blocking and has only given up two sacks and two hurries on 153 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama: The 6-7, 366-pound Proctor might rival current Ravens guard Daniel Faaele in bulk, which means he might be a better guard than a tackle. He struggled out of the gate this season at left tackle, allowing seven pressures and a sack against Florida State, and opinions are mixed about whether he can handle NFL-caliber pass rushers. Gennings Dunker, Iowa: The red-haired Dunker sports a mullet and mustache combo that is sure to make him a fan favorite wherever he goes. On the field, the 6-5, 315-pound right tackle is a dominant run blocker who could also shift inside at the next level. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State: One of the few bright spots during a poor start for the Nittany Lions that got coach James Franklin fired, Ioane, nicknamed “Vega,” has been perhaps the best interior lineman in the country. The 6-4, 330-pound guard has earned a 92.0 pass-blocking grade, per PFF. Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson 47 catches for 523 yards and seven touchdowns already this season. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred) Wide receiver While Zay Flowers has flashed WR1 potential, he’s yet to negotiate a contract extension. Rashod Bateman is under contract through 2029, but he hasn’t made much of an impact yet this season. DeAndre Hopkins is on a one-year deal. In short, adding another wide receiver might make sense. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: The 6-2, 200-pound Tyson is a big play waiting to happen with 47 catches for 523 yards and seven touchdowns already this season. His ability to outjump and outmuscle defenders is something the Ravens have lacked before adding Hopkins this year. Makai Lemon, USC: While Lemon might work best in the slot role that Flowers typically occupies, it would be fun to see them pair up. The 5-11, 195-pound junior has been one of the nation’s most productive receivers with 44 catches for 682 yards and six touchdowns this season. Denzel Boston, Washington: The 6-4, 210-pound Boston has the size and physicality of a prototypical X receiver but has shown an ability to win from the slot, too. His contested-catch ability would be a nice gift for Jackson. Carnell Tate, Ohio State: Kiper ranks Tate as his 12th overall player, noting that he is “a precise route runner, has great hands and displays outstanding body control.” Like former Buckeyes stars Emeka Egbuka, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Chris Olave, the 6-3, 195-pound Tate is a polished player who could step in immediately and help elevate the offense. Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq could be the Ravens' tight end of the future. (AP Photo/Matt Marton) Tight end Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are all playing out the final years of their respective contracts, so adding a tight end this offseason might be more important than fans realize. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon: The thought of the Ravens using a high draft pick on a tight end seems improbable, but wouldn’t it be fun? The 6-3, 245-pound Sadiq is a mismatch nightmare with his explosiveness and speed and would elevate any offense with his receiving and blocking skills. 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

Joe Flacco looks like he’s ready to lead another AFC North team on an improbable run. Just 10 days after Flacco arrived in Cincinnati, he beat Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers in an unlikely shootout between 40-year-old quarterbacks Thursday night. Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bengals to a 33-31 comeback victory over Pittsburgh. That left Bengals fans chanting: “Thank you, Cleveland!” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made it clear this week he wasn’t happy the Browns traded Flacco, a Super Bowl MVP with Baltimore 13 years ago, to a division rival. Tomlin criticized Browns general manager Andrew Berry, saying the trade “doesn’t make sense.” Flacco proved Tomlin had good reason to hate the deal. Even though the Bengals (3-4) lost to Green Bay last week in Flacco’s first start, the team finished strong and the offense had reason for optimism. It carried over against Pittsburgh (4-2). Flacco revived the passing attack, which features All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. That opened up the run game for Chase Brown, who had 106 yards against the Steelers. “From Day 1, he’s been impressive his ability to recall the plays,” Brown said about Flacco. “And not only that, but to step into these big games. … He’s played in the NFL for 18 years. He’s extremely poised. You see him in the building early every day. He pushes everyone to work harder and fix their routine and see whatever they could do to help this team. It’s been amazing to see what he can do the last two weeks.” Flacco targeted Chase 23 times. That’s not a typo. Chase caught 16 of those passes for 161 yards and one score. “It’s fun having him,” Chase said. “He knew what he was doing right from the jump. He’s giving me opportunities.” Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns against Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Flacco came off his couch in November two years ago, led the Browns to the playoffs by going 4-1 down the stretch and won the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. After spending 2024 with the Colts, he returned to Cleveland this year but his second stint ended quickly. Flacco threw two touchdown passes and six interceptions in four games, losing three. The Browns benched him for rookie Dillon Gabriel and then traded him away. Flacco replaced Jake Browning, who lost all three of his starts filling in for Joe Burrow. Now, he has Bengals fans believing in a turnaround after the team snapped a four-game losing streak. One fan held a sign that read: “We trust in Joe 2.0.” With the injury-riddled Ravens off to a 1-5 start and the Browns also 1-5, Cincinnati’s victory made it a two-team race for the division. The Bengals host the winless Jets next week and then have another home game against the Bears. They could be 5-4 heading into a bye and then return to face the Steelers on the road on Nov. 16. Flacco has given them hope that a playoff run is still possible. And, Burrow could return in time to take them there. In a game the Bengals had to win, Flacco was slinging it all over the field, picking apart Pittsburgh’s secondary. When the Steelers double-covered Chase and Higgins, he threw a perfect ball down the middle to Andrei Iosivas for a 37-yard gain. But Flacco’s best — and most surprising play — came when he used his legs, keeping the ball on a read option for a 12-yard gain. “It felt good. I can’t lie,” he said. “This game is so great and sometimes when you’ve played it for so long, you can lose some of that energy for it but it’s all about your mind and telling yourself it’s one of the best things in the world and if you can stay excited about what you’re doing, you can do it for as along as you want.” How did Flacco, a father of four boys and one daughter, plan to celebrate the big win? By going to sleep, of course. “Man, I’ve been ready,” he said. View the full article

Zay Flowers was at the center of two costly fumbles this past Sunday. The visiting Rams capitalized on both turnovers, effectively sealing the Ravens’ latest defeat. When the home locker room opened, Baltimore’s top receiver, much like he has all season, had already slipped away. His locker stall was empty and his teammates were left behind to answer for his mistakes. The silence from one of the faces of the offense perhaps echoed louder than any quote could. In the Ravens’ latest unraveling, a 17-3 loss to the Rams, Flowers wasn’t just part of the critical sequence that swung the game; he was also absent from the accountability that followed. He’s hardly the only one. But Flowers represents the growing disconnect between the Ravens’ most visible players and the kind of leadership moments that define great teams. Let’s be clear: speaking to reporters isn’t about stroking media egos or entitlement. Rather, it revolves around accountability. It’s about facing the fans who buy jerseys, pour their money into tickets and spend Sundays chanting your name and team. Around the league, other stars in uncomfortable situations, from A.J. Brown’s frustration with the offense in Philadelphia to Detroit’s Brian Branch after his involvement in Sunday night’s brawl in Kansas City, regularly stand at their lockers and explain themselves through the good and the bad. It’s part of being a professional. It’s part of being an accountable leader. In fact, it’s a contractual requirement via the NFL Players Association for players to be made regularly available to the media throughout the season. Even players who’ve faltered in that department have displayed growth. Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs refused to speak with New England reporters back in training camp, drawing heavy criticism. But before the start of the regular season, the former Terps star recognized his error, braved the podium and apologized. Related Articles 5 reasons to be pessimistic the Ravens can turn their season around 5 reasons to be optimistic the Ravens can turn their season around Ravens Week 6 high school football Coaches of the Week Flacco rallies Bengals to upset win over Rodgers and Steelers, 33-31 READERS RESPOND: Fans say Ravens’ start more disappointing than Orioles’ “I was referred to as a pain in the a–. … But I want to be very clear up here, I’m an adult. I apologize,” Diggs said in early September. “Obviously, we have a media-to-player relationship [that I want to make] as professional as I can be. I want to make myself available each and every week. I don’t want to make this abrasive. I don’t want to get up here and not answer questions or make anybody feel uncomfortable. It’s going to be a long season, so we’re going to spend a lot of time together.” Diggs’ course of action served as a reminder that accountability isn’t about perfection, but about showing face and speaking up, especially when things get uncomfortable. Flowers isn’t alone in ducking that responsibility in Baltimore. He’s just the most recent example in a season in which it’s become a frequent occurrence. Nearly seven weeks ago, after the Ravens blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead to Buffalo, veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey also dodged the media in Orchard Park, New York. A few days later, though, under a more comfortable setting at his locker in Owings Mills, he offered one of the more honest assessments of the young season. “We’re just not mature enough as a team yet,” Humphrey said then. He added that defensive coordinator Zach Orr had vowed there would be no “repeat offenders.” Mighty phrases on the surface, but the same mistakes have lingered over the worst start in franchise history. Has anything changed from accountability and maturity standpoints? Wide receiver Zay Flowers, shown speaking to the media in June, hasn't answered media questions after a Ravens game so far this season. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Like Flowers, linebacker Roquan Smith is one of the most recognizable players on the team. He’s also one of the highest-paid players behind only quarterback Lamar Jackson and safety Kyle Hamilton, and is considered by many the defense’s top leader. Before Smith was sidelined with a hamstring injury, though, he never spoke after a loss. In fact, the only time he’s spoken after a game this season was after the team’s lone Sept. 14 win over Cleveland. In Flowers’ case, he’s talked publicly just twice all season, with neither instance occurring after a game. Then there’s Jackson. This team revolves around the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, but his detached posture on the sideline was eye-opening. When Jackson exited the loss to Kansas City with a hamstring injury, he spent the fourth quarter glued to the bench, disengaged from sideline discussions and huddles. Leadership often is about presence. When the team’s biggest, most important veteran voices disappear, intentionally or not, it reverberates. Their disappearances also leave rookies and even undrafted players standing alone in a sparse room in front of cameras and microphones, trying to explain how a proud franchise has reached this bottom point. That exact scene played out after the blowout loss to Houston. Rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan, to his credit, has spoken after every game this season. But after his postgame session with reporters concluded Oct. 5, he turned to a team official and asked with emotional frustration written across his face, “Why are they saying it’s my fault?” Coach John Harbaugh was asked directly earlier this week about the team’s player leadership. His answer came across as measured with a dose of optimism. “We’re going to get great, great veteran leadership,” Harbaugh said Monday. “I believe that. And we’re going to have to. Nothing is going to be more important than that.” Inside the locker room, some players have downplayed the idea that someone needs to step up in a traditional way. One player who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about the situation told The Baltimore Sun: “If you have somebody [cursing you out], you’ll be super cautious about the next play.” Another player who also spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “You could say, ‘Oh, there’s no leadership.’ There’s nothing different that’s happening this year than last year besides maybe it’s repetitive execution, but it’s the truth. You go back to last year, there wasn’t guys like rah-rah standing up. [Smith] got the team going every game. But there’s really nothing different [in terms of leadership] that happened last year that isn’t happening this year.” And yet that’s what makes this disappointing season so jarring. This franchise was built on alphas from Tony Siragusa, Rob Burnett and Sam Adams in 2000 to Ray Lewis, Anquan Boldin and Ed Reed in 2012. Those Super Bowl-winning teams didn’t just have stars, but also real enforcers and leaders who kept everyone around them accountable. Humphrey’s words after the Week 1 collapse have aged poorly. What was framed as a temporary maturity issue has festered into something much more serious and concerning. There might be reasons for optimism coming out of the bye. The Ravens’ roster is littered with talent, and coaches and players carry an important sense of hope tied to Jackson’s imminent return. Belief alone won’t fix a repetitive leadership void. Baltimore Sun reporter Sam Cohn contributed to this article. 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

It’s been a season of disappointments for the Ravens. Baltimore enters its bye week at 1-5, a record that few teams recover from to reach the postseason. Yes, Lamar Jackson is returning, but the Ravens seem to have deep-rooted issues that could be hard to gloss over even with better quarterback play. A return to the playoffs for the fourth straight season is looking more and more like wishful thinking, rather than being rooted in reality. Here’s five reasons to be pessimistic about the Ravens’ chances of turning their season around: Poor trench play There have been two common sights at M&T Bank Stadium this season: Jackson being dragged to the turf and opposing running backs scampering for easy yards. Jackson has been forced to leave the pocket nearly 70% of the time this season, according to Football Insights. That’s the highest mark in the NFL. He’s been sacked 15 times this year, including seven times against the Detroit Lions. Meanwhile, the Ravens’ defense has allowed the most rushing yards through six weeks in franchise history. The unit is allowing 134 yards per game on the ground, which is tied for sixth-worst in the league. A dismal record Yes, the Ravens have an easy schedule remaining. And they will have Jackson returning from injury after the bye. But 1-5 is 1-5, and teams don’t typically make the postseason with that record. Only four teams in NFL history have made the playoffs after starting the season 1-5: the Washington Football Team in 2020, the Indianapolis Colts in 2018, the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015 and the Cincinnati Bengals in 1970. Washington made the playoffs as a divisional winner with a 7-9 record. That type of season likely won’t result in the playoffs for Baltimore, so it will need to string together a lengthy winning streak to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Nonexistent pass rush Long gone are the days of Terrell Suggs. Baltimore’s sack rate is the fourth-worst in football and it has only forced 85 pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus. After trading away Odafe Oweh, the team’s leader in pressures before his departure, the Ravens are missing a clear player to disrupt the quarterback in passing situations. Depth is also an issue. Defensive end Tavius Robinson broke his foot against the Rams and will be out for up to two months, which leaves rookie Mike Green, veteran Kyle Van Noy and fourth-year player David Ojabo as the remaining options on the edge. That’s not exactly an inspiring group for a team that’s already struggled to generate organic pass rush. Perhaps defensive coordinator Zach Orr will dial up more blitzes, as he did in the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but that could leave Baltimore’s secondary susceptible to big plays. Either way, the Ravens are going find a way to create more pressure on the opposing quarterback, or the defensive woes will continue. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: The Ravens lack leadership and accountability | COMMENTARY 5 reasons to be optimistic the Ravens can turn their season around Ravens Week 6 high school football Coaches of the Week Flacco rallies Bengals to upset win over Rodgers and Steelers, 33-31 READERS RESPOND: Fans say Ravens’ start more disappointing than Orioles’ An identity in question For most of coach John Harbaugh’s tenure, his team’s identity has been clear. The Ravens are known for playing stout defense, being aggressive and running the ball. But Baltimore has struggled in all those areas this season. Its defense has been dominated in the trenches, running back Derrick Henry has eclipsed 50 yards just once since Week 1 and the Ravens have faltered in critical situations. Van Noy didn’t have a clear response when asked about the team’s messaging and accountability after the team’s blowout loss to the Houston Texans, a statement he later said not to read into, but it’s an embodiment of where this team sits. Nobody truly understands what they’re intending to do from game-to-game. Perhaps that identity has shifted to Jackson’s magic, but it will be difficult for him to completely carry the franchise to a fourth straight playoff appearance. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is introduced before a Week 3 game vs. the Lions. The Ravens hope Jackson can salvage their 1-5 season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) The Steelers Once a vaunted collection of teams, the AFC North is now one of the worst divisions in football this season. Without Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) looked toothless. That is, until trading for Joe Flacco and upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. The Cleveland Browns (1-5) have already traded away Flacco and turned to rookie signal-caller Dillon Gabriel. The Ravens are 1-5. But the Steelers have emerged as a legitimate contender in the AFC. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and coach Mike Tomlin have worked well as a tandem, leading Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record. The defense is struggling, however, allowing more than 350 yards per game. Flacco, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins just torched the Steelers for 470 total yards. The Ravens and Steelers will play twice at the end of the season. Baltimore is hoping by that point that the division is not already decided. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

Feeling glum about this Ravens season? Baltimore was a widely popular pick to play in the Super Bowl and has fallen so far that the playoffs seem like a long shot. Now at 1-5 with a steep climb ahead, coach John Harbaugh is having to defend the job of his defensive coordinator, while running back Derrick Henry pleaded to the fan base, “I feel like we still have time. Just believe in us.” Here are five reasons to maintain faith that the Ravens can turn this season around: Two words: Lamar Jackson For those with any vested interest in Baltimore’s playoff aspirations, these past few weeks felt more like a few years. A hamstring injury sidelined Lamar Jackson, and his backup, Cooper Rush, failed to manufacture much offense in his absence. Rush threw four interceptions (not all of them his fault) without a passing touchdown. Harbaugh all but guaranteed Jackson’s return after the bye week for a home game versus Chicago: “I mean, for sure [he’ll be back]? I’m saying so, but I don’t know. That’s how life is sometimes. You can’t predict everything. It’s still the future, but that’s the hope.” The Ravens are a dismal 4-12 without Jackson under center. He’s an obvious force multiplier. In each of Baltimore’s past six games without their two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, the Ravens haven’t scored more than 17 points. With Jackson, they scored at least 30 points in each of their first three games to start the year — and there are still question marks about “rhythm” and play calling. Any hope of a turnaround starts and ends with Jackson. “It’s Lamar Jackson,” center Tyler Linderbaum said. “He’s the best quarterback in the game, so he’s certainly going to help our team out.” Stock up on defense After five weeks of dismal defensive performances that had Baltimore on pace to allow more points than any NFL team in league history, defensive coordinator Zach Orr said that their 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6 was “the most intensity that we played with. That’s what we were looking for. “We have to get back to playing pissed off and with an edge.” Related Articles Josh Tolentino: The Ravens lack leadership and accountability | COMMENTARY 5 reasons to be pessimistic the Ravens can turn their season around Ravens Week 6 high school football Coaches of the Week Flacco rallies Bengals to upset win over Rodgers and Steelers, 33-31 READERS RESPOND: Fans say Ravens’ start more disappointing than Orioles’ The Ravens forced a turnover for the first time since Week 2, logged a pair of sacks and stopped a fourth-down attempt, which they hadn’t done in any of the three previous games. They weren’t quite at full strength. With Nnamdi Madubuike out for the year with a neck injury and Tavius Robinson exiting early for a broken foot, there are serious concerns about the veracity of the defensive line moving forward. But linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, both nursing hamstring injuries since Week 4, should return after the bye week. A break in the schedule will give everyone a much-needed chance to get healthy, and perhaps general manager Eric DeCosta will bring in reinforcements. Even so, it was the best showing from the reserves and rookies the Ravens have been forced to rely on lately. Veteran defensive tackle John Jenkins logged his first sack of the year and forced a fumble on the same play. Linebackers Teddye Buchanan and Trenton Simpson teamed up for a sack. Collectively, the Ravens’ defense went consecutive drives without allowing points to an opposing team’s starting quarterback for the first time since Week 3 versus Detroit. Against the Rams, they walled up in two such instances. “What we’ve got to be able to do is understand, really, how close you are sometimes,” Harbaugh said. “And you can’t allow the weight of the disappointment or the weight of the scrutiny — you can’t allow that to derail you or to sidetrack you or to push you away from your goal, because we can accomplish what we want to accomplish.” Alohi Gilman opens up the defense Gilman was traded across the country on a whirlwind. He was awake for 21 of the next 24 hours. Baltimore’s newest safety, acquired from the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for pass rusher Odafe Oweh on Oct. 7, took every rep and even directed traffic his first day on the field. Gilman brought no ego, only vowing to help in whatever way would help pick up the pieces of a broken defense. Days after Gilman’s seven-tackle debut, senior secondary coach Chuck Pagano said that “it looked like he had been here for a couple years.” Pagano called it “a seamless transition.” Safety Alohi Gilman, shown at a practice earlier this month, was superb in his Ravens debut against the Rams. Coaches are optimistic that his addition allows them to use safety Kyle Hamilton more creatively the rest of the season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Trust in Gilman to cover the back end allows the Ravens to lean into what was a considerable strength in 2023 and a Band-Aid for the troubles in 2024: move All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage. Hamilton broke out in 2023 as the only safety with at least 10 tackles for loss and 10 pass deflections, thanks to playing a majority of his snaps at slot corner. Hamilton pushed back to free safety last season when the Ravens led the league in explosive plays. Baltimore’s most pressing issue this year is its run defense. They’re calling on their highly paid Swiss Army knife to fix it. Gilman can play safety alongside rookie Malaki Starks. And Hamilton can move up to the box or near the line of scrimmage like a linebacker who can play in coverage. “He’s a beast, and offenses really have to account for him,” Pagano said. “Now, we use that to our advantage. We can make offenses predictable of where they’re going to slide and where they’re going to run the football, so that helps us out a lot.” Short-yardage situations have been a major crutch. There’s one man who might be able to fix it. Harbaugh called it the No. 1 thing on his mind heading into the bye week. The Ravens’ struggles in short-yardage situations came under intense scrutiny after a loss to the Rams in which Henry bulldozed down to the 1-yard line on four attempts. They went away from Henry for two failed tush-push attempts then back to the future Hall of Famer, only to see him stuffed on fourth down. Baltimore went into halftime tied at 3 instead of leading 10-3. Patrick Ricard catches the ball during a 2024 practice. The star fullback could return from injury against the Bears, which would give the Ravens' running game a boost. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Last year, the Ravens were the league’s third most efficient team in goal-to-go situations, scoring a touchdown 88.6% of the time. So far this year, they’re punching the ball in a 57.1% clip, which ranks 28th. Jackson’s return should help those figures (but don’t expect him under center for a tush push). But fullback Patrick Ricard could provide a quick fix. He suffered a calf injury in mid-August and has yet to make his season debut. Ricard is aiming to return in Week 8 versus Chicago, although Harbaugh made no promises. Ricard returned to practice Oct. 9. “It’s pretty much recovered from that kind of a standpoint,” Harbaugh said. “It’s just a matter of him being comfortable with his level of strength and his ability to perform.” The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Ricard is essentially another All-Pro lineman to clear a path for Henry. The 30-year-old back earned a contract extension in March for elevating the league’s best rushing attack in 2024. Baltimore ranks ninth in rushing yards per game sans Ricard. In 2024, the Ravens found the end zone 85% of the time that they reached the red zone, a league-best rate. They currently rank 15th, scoring touchdowns 40.6% of the time they get within 20 yards of pay dirt. The schedule Through seven weeks, the Ravens had the third toughest strength of schedule in the NFL, according to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis. Five playoff teams in six weeks, including a pair of AFC juggernauts, felt like too much to overcome for a battered Baltimore team. It lightens up moving forward. The next 11 games rank 23rd among the league’s toughest schedules. Despite issues in just about every positional group, four wins over the next five games (vs. Chicago, at Miami, at Minnesota, vs. Cleveland and vs. New York Jets) would get the Ravens one game within .500 by Thanksgiving. The Ravens also have five more division games. Sweeping the division isn’t impossible, considering the lowly Browns and Joe Burrow-less Bengals. The Steelers (4-2) pose the toughest test, but they have seemingly overperformed and have only a plus-10 point differential after an upset loss to the Bengals (3-4) on Thursday night. It’s a long shot, but maybe the Ravens hit a win streak that gets them to nine wins, good for a wild-card entry into the playoffs. The clock is ticking. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Each week during the high school football season, The Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore Ravens will select one tackle football and one girls flag football Coach of the Week. Here are the winners for Week 6: Tackle football Nick Burkhardt, Sparrows Point: Burkhardt has led the Pointers to their best start in school history at 6-0. Last week, they overcame an early deficit to knock off Pikesville. They’ll look to stay unbeaten with Western Tech and Towson remaining on their regular-season schedule. Girls flag football Sean Brunson Jr., Poly: A is a first-year coach, Brunson is leading the Lady Engineers in their inaugural season. They have won three straight, giving up one score with two shutouts, and have knocked off unbeaten teams in consecutive weeks. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: The Ravens lack leadership and accountability | COMMENTARY 5 reasons to be pessimistic the Ravens can turn their season around 5 reasons to be optimistic the Ravens can turn their season around Flacco rallies Bengals to upset win over Rodgers and Steelers, 33-31 READERS RESPOND: Fans say Ravens’ start more disappointing than Orioles’ View the full article

CINCINNATI — Joe Flacco passed for 342 yards and three touchdowns, Evan McPherson made a 36-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining and the Cincinnati Bengals snapped a four-game losing streak with a 33-31 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. Acquired from the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 7, the 40-year-old Flacco completed 31 of 47 passes in his second Cincinnati start, and outdueled 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers in only the third regular-season game between starting quarterbacks in their 40s. Rodgers went 22 of 32 for 244 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He gave Pittsburgh (4-2) a 31-30 advantage with 2:31 remaining on a 68-yard touchdown to Pat Freiermuth. On second-and-20, Rodgers rolled left and found Freiermuth open downfield. The fifth-year tight end caught the ball at the Bengals 36 after getting separation from safety Geno Stone and scored his second touchdown. Flacco led the Bengals (3-4) 52 yards in eight plays, including completions of 15 and 18 yards to Ja’Marr Chase get Cincinnati into Pittsburgh territory. The 18-year veteran then found Tee Higgins for a 28-yard gain to the Steelers 5 with 1:39 remaining to put the Bengals well within McPherson’s range. Chase finished with 16 receptions for 161 yards and a TD, making him the fourth receiver in NFL history with two games of at least 14 catches in a single season. Higgins finished with six catches for 96 yards. Chase Brown had 108 rushing yards on 11 carries. Freiermuth had four catches for 106 yards for the Steelers. Jaylen Warren ran for 127 yards on 16 carries, Injuries Bengals: DE Trey Hendrickson was inactive due to a hip injury he suffered during the first half of last week at Green Bay. Up next Steelers: Host Green Bay in a prime-time game Oct. 26. Bengals: Host the New York Jets on Oct. 26. View the full article

We asked readers whether the Ravens or the Orioles had a more disappointing start to their respective season. The Ravens are 1-5 in their first six games, while the Orioles started 15-28 and fired manager Brandon Hyde. Here are the results from our online poll: Ravens — 82% (325) Orioles — 18% (70 votes) Here’s what some fans said about subpar starts for Baltimore sports teams (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): After a disastrous April, the Orioles were confident, since the May schedule was supposedly easier. How did that work out? As it turns out, they were worse in May. And the manager was fired shortly thereafter. Now we hear the same about the Ravens. The remaining schedule is supposedly easier. We’ll see how that works out, but with all the injuries and coaching problems, I have my doubts. As Mike Preston wrote, Jackson will have to be a miracle worker — and stay healthy — to get the Ravens into the playoffs this year. — Bobby Both teams will be fine. Hitting a baseball isn’t easy. Michael Jordan couldn’t do it. And try getting blindsided by a 300-pound muscleman. The Ravens and Orioles will bounce back just as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow! — Robin Ficker It’s been a race to the bottom, but the Ravens at least have a chance to salvage their season. — Tom The Ravens. We expect this type of losing from the Orioles. — Tyice Pulliam Leadership is vitally important, and it seems like the vibes and message from Harbaugh has gone stone cold. It is falling on deaf ears. The Orioles, at least, from my standpoint, had little to no chance of winning in a division where all the other teams got better. I was expecting mediocrity. The Ravens on the other hand were Super Bowl favorites. This was the year. That prediction has gone south along with almost any Super Bowl chances. Eric DeCosta, much like Mike Elias, did little to nothing to improve their teams. And the team knows it. I hope they surprise me, but I doubt it. Color me skeptical. — Burt Wils Why not both? — Mike Vail Definitely the Ravens. Injuries have been a major contributor to both of these teams and their underperformance. The Orioles, with a young core, were hoping to be in contention for the World Series. The Ravens, on the other hand, with an experienced roster, were favored to win the Super Bowl. Just a greatly disappointing year for both of Baltimore’s professional teams. — Robert The Ravens have been the bigger disappointment, but they will turn it around after the bye. — David Salter O’s were the most disappointing, as I do not care about the very stupid and evil Ravens organization and I hope they fail at every turn. — Bill The Ravens. Everyone knew that the Orioles were going into 2025 with a questionable starting rotation. The Ravens, however, were two wins from going to the Super Bowl last season. For them to start out 1-5 is much more disappointing and unexpected. — Mark Miller This is hilarious! I’ve been calling the Ravens “the football Orioles” all season. — Steve Scheinberg Related Articles Staff picks for Week 7 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Cowboys, Buccaneers vs. Lions and more Mike Preston: Fire Harbaugh? Now? Don’t be ridiculous. | COMMENTARY Ravens reset: 5 most important questions facing 1-5 team entering bye Joe Flacco vs. Aaron Rodgers: AFC North rivalry takes on a touch of gray Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law The Raven’s gonna win the AFC North! The season isn’t over after six games. If we make a trade for some defensive help … I honestly think that the Raven’s will win the division. — Kenny Anderson Both. This has been the most miserable sports year I can remember in my 60 years as a Baltimore sports fan. The worst thing is that both teams have blown threw their window of opportunity, and while not exactly starting over, are taking a few steps back. — Bill Bruns The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers and FOX45’s Patrice Sanders pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 7: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (11-4 last week, 62-30-1 overall): Bengals Sam Cohn (10-5 last week, 64-28-1 overall): Steelers Mike Preston (11-4 last week, 63-29-1 overall): Steelers Josh Tolentino (9-6 last week, 63-29-1 overall): Steelers C.J. Doon (9-6 last week, 58-34-1 overall): Steelers Bennett Conlin (11-4 last week, 57-35-1 overall): Steelers Tim Schwartz (8-7 last week, 53-39-1 overall): Steelers Patrice Sanders (10-5 last week, 56-36-1 overall): Steelers Los Angeles Rams vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 9:30 a.m.) Wacker: Rams Cohn: Rams Preston: Jaguars Tolentino: Jaguars Doon: Rams Conlin: Rams Schwartz: Rams Sanders: Rams New Orleans Saints vs. Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bears Cohn: Bears Preston: Bears Tolentino: Bears Doon: Bears Conlin: Bears Schwartz: Bears Sanders: Bears Miami Dolphins vs. Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Browns Cohn: Browns Preston: Browns Tolentino: Dolphins Doon: Dolphins Conlin: Browns Schwartz: Dolphins Sanders: Dolphins Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Cohn: Chiefs Preston: Chiefs Tolentino: Chiefs Doon: Chiefs Conlin: Chiefs Schwartz: Chiefs Sanders: Chiefs Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Eagles Cohn: Eagles Preston: Eagles Tolentino: Eales Doon: Eagles Conlin: Eagles Schwartz: Eagles Sanders: Eagles Carolina Panthers vs. New York Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Panthers Cohn: Jets Preston: Panthers Tolentino: Panthers Doon: Panthers Conlin: Panthers Schwartz: Panthers Sanders: Panthers New England Patriots vs. Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Patriots Cohn: Patriots Preston: Patriots Tolentino: Patriots Doon: Patriots Conlin: Patriots Schwartz: Patriots Sanders: Patriots New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Broncos Cohn: Giants Preston: Broncos Tolentino: Broncos Doon: Broncos Conlin: Broncos Schwartz: Giants Sanders: Broncos Indianapolis Colts vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Colts Cohn: Chargers Preston: Chargers Tolentino: Colts Doon: Colts Conlin: Chargers Schwartz: Colts Sanders: Chargers Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Packers Cohn: Packers Preston: Packers Tolentino: Packers Doon: Packers Conlin: Packers Schwartz: Packers Sanders: Packers Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Commanders Cohn: Cowboys Preston: Cowboys Tolentino: Commanders Doon: Cowboys Conlin: Cowboys Schwartz: Commanders Sanders: Commanders Atlanta Falcons vs. San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) Wacker: 49ers Cohn: Falcons Preston: 49ers Tolentino: Falcons Doon: Falcons Conlin: 49ers Schwartz: Falcons Sanders: Falcons Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions (Monday, 7 p.m.) Wacker: Lions Cohn: Lions Preston: Buccaneers Tolentino: Lions Doon: Buccaneers Conlin: Lions Schwartz: Buccaneers Sanders: Buccaneers Houston Texans vs. Seattle Seahawks (Monday, 10 p.m.) Wacker: Seahawks Cohn: Seahawks Preston: Seahawks Tolentino: Seahawks Doon: Seahawks Conlin: Seahawks Schwartz: Seahawks Sanders: Seahawks View the full article

After each Ravens loss, the chants of “Fire Harbaugh” get stronger, but that’s because a lot of people around here are silly. Actually, a better description is asinine. Baltimore fans need to let the 2025 season play out. It’s impossible to shuffle several injured starters in and out of the lineup and win, especially when one is among the NFL’s best players in quarterback Lamar Jackson and another is a top middle linebacker named Roquan Smith. Wins aren’t going to happen without them, especially against the elite teams. So far, the Ravens have played perhaps the league’s toughest schedule with games against Buffalo, Detroit, Kansas City, Houston and the Los Angeles Rams, all playoff teams from a year ago. Only Cleveland can be considered a sleeper. The Ravens have produced a 1-5 record, and it’s well-deserved. But to fire a coach with an 18-year history in this town that includes a Super Bowl victory, four AFC championship game appearances and 12 playoff bids is ridiculous. Remember, this is not Major League Baseball and the Ravens aren’t the Orioles. Where is the logic? More importantly, let’s just use some common sense. The X-factor in any season is injuries. Look around the NFL. You think Cincinnati (2-4) is happy after losing quarterback Joe Burrow in the second game of the season? What would happen to the Rams if they lost quarterback Mathew Stafford or Kansas City lost Patrick Mahomes? It’s a quarterback-driven league, and when you lose your star, it’s just about over until he returns. In the words of Mr. T from “The A-Team” fame, “I pity the fool.” It has happened here with Jackson missing the past two games since going down late against Kansas City. There was hope that Cooper Rush or Tyler Huntley could be decent backups, but that was like believing in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. It’s called wishful thinking. The expectations were for the Ravens to play harder, which they didn’t do against Houston, or be entertaining, which was not the case against the Rams. Yet, it’s all about perspective. Those looks on Harbaugh’s face on the sideline didn’t provide any optimism. It’s as if he has run out of answers, or might break down and cry at any minute. That’s not something fans want to see. But if I were missing Jackson, left tackle Ronnie Stanley, defensive tackles Nnamdi Madubuike and Broderick Washington, Smith, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, safety Kyle Hamilton, outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and fullback Patrick Ricard, I’d tear up, too. Ravens fans express their disappointment during a loss to the Rams. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Back in 2001 after the Ravens won their first Super Bowl title, they lost Jamal Lewis (ACL tear) and Leon Searcy (torn triceps tendon) during one of the first few weeks of training camp. They weren’t going to repeat without their best running back and their powerful tackle on the right side. That’s nothing compared with the losses suffered by the Ravens this season. Also, where is the loyalty? The younger generation has none because they change jobs as often as they change socks, selfies still remain in style and everything is about me, me, me. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, 65, is old school. He admittedly declares his impulsiveness, and it’s safe to assume that he has wanted to fire Harbaugh several times since he became coach in 2008. But Bisciotti is aware of the mass injuries and the consequences and losses that follow. In MLB, there are 162 games compared with just 17 in the NFL regular season. The Ravens have never made a head coaching change during the season, even when the late Ted Marchibroda won only 20 games in his first three years. Who on this staff would replace Harbaugh? Secondary coach Chuck Pagano, 65, or offensive coordinator Todd Monken, 59? Sorry, no offense to them, but the trend in the NFL these days is to hire a head coach in their 30s or early 40s. Plus, these are the Ravens, not the Tennessee Titans, who fired second-year coach Brian Callahan this week after only two seasons with a 4-19 record, including 1-5 this year. Harbaugh, 63, is the most complete coach in the franchise’s 30-year history, even though neither he nor former coach Brian Billick could draw up plays and schemes like Marchibroda. With a career record of 173-109, Harbaugh ranks 16th all-time in coaching wins. Harbaugh might not be a big game coach, and his clock management and gambles on fourth down or 2-point conversions are risky business. He can build teams, though, and is exceptional at chemistry, which is why his players often wear those corny little T-shirts with his slogans on them. Harbaugh is also a fighter, in the same class as Kansas City’s Andy Reid and Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin when it comes to feistiness. It will be interesting to see how he responds with his character in question. The Ravens have had periods like this before, most notably in 2004 and 2005. In those seasons, they had players such as middle linebacker Ray Lewis, outside linebacker Peter Boulware, safety Ed Reed, tight end Todd Heap, Lewis, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and cornerbacks Deion Sanders and later Samari Rolle, who signed as an unrestricted free agent. The Ravens finished 9-7 in 2004 and 6-10 in 2005. In 2004, Jamal Lewis, Ogden, Heap, Sanders and center Mike Flynn all missed considerable playing time. In 2007, Billick lost the locker room to veterans like Ray Lewis and Reed, which forced the Ravens to hire Harbaugh. No one knows what Harbaugh can do with this group, but let the season play out. The Ravens have their problems. The offense is inconsistent, the defense has no clue and the special teams aren’t so special. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Fans say Ravens’ start more disappointing than Orioles’ Staff picks for Week 7 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Cowboys, Buccaneers vs. Lions and more Ravens reset: 5 most important questions facing 1-5 team entering bye Joe Flacco vs. Aaron Rodgers: AFC North rivalry takes on a touch of gray Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law But the remaining 11 games — and yes, the Ravens need to win nine of them to get to the magic number — are loaded with teams that don’t have a bonafide starting quarterback such as Minnesota, the New York Jets and Cleveland. The AFC North-leading Steelers (4-1) might have their usual end-of-season collapse, and the Ravens still have to face them twice. It’s very easy to point fingers at Harbaugh. It’s just as easy to single out general manager Eric DeCosta, who has loaded up with cornerbacks and receivers instead of using first-round draft picks to select interior linemen. Ravens fans want to terminate everybody. Fire Harbaugh. Fire DeCosta. Fire Poe. But the next time you get that urge, don’t do it. Please, no more emails, texts or babbling phone calls about getting rid of anyone. Above all things, remember, it’s still just a game. And there are 11 more to play. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The Ravens cannot lose Sunday. That’s one of a few luxuries an early season bye week provides struggling Baltimore, which limps into the much-needed break 1-5 and in search of itself as much of victories. The Ravens are losers of four straight and are off to their worst start in a decade with a several players, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, battling injuries. While players get four days off beginning Thursday, coach John Harbaugh, general manager Eric DeCosta and the rest of the staff will spend their time searching for solutions. “We still believe we can do it,” Harbaugh said of a playoff push, even though only four teams in NFL history have lost five of their first six games and gone on to reach the postseason. “All of our focus goes to, really, two things; the bye week and working through every aspect and issue that we can [to] find every way we can be at our best going forward with the players we have. … And then how we organize ourselves and craft our schemes.” It is a steep climb. Here are the five biggest questions Baltimore is facing once players return to work next week. How will the offense perform once Lamar Jackson is back? It’s hard to imagine John Harbaugh stretched out on the couch of a psychologist spilling his innermost thoughts, but the 18th-year coach painted such a picture when expressing just how much he’s looking forward to Jackson’s return to spark a listless offense. “I would have to say I’m leaning really hard into that, really hard,” he said Monday. “For any kind of psychological wellbeing, spiritual wellbeing, I’m leaning hard on that happening.” For good reason, obviously. DeCosta invested two years and $6.2 million into Cooper Rush with the idea that the 31-year-old veteran who led the Cowboys to a 9-5 record during his tenure in Dallas would be a capable fill-in if such a need ever arose. It hasn’t worked out that way. From training camp through Week 5 and 6 (and part of Week 4), Rush has not been good. He completed 65.4% of his passes for just 303 yards and no touchdowns to go with four interceptions for a woeful passer rating of 48.8. Rush, a prototypical drop-back passer who rarely ran run-pass option plays for the Cowboys, felt like a square peg in a round hole. Then, he didn’t even perform as well as a passer. The simple fact is the offense is built around Jackson and his ankle-breaking mobility. For the Ravens, who have largely ignored the backup role (at least financially) over the past few seasons, to spend somewhat meaningful money in the way that they did can be chalked up to a notable miss. Jackson’s return should help immediately if not immensely. Before getting injured, he completed a career-high 71.6% of his passes for 869 yards and 10 touchdowns with one interception. Yes, the offense was out of rhythm before he was sidelined. But perhaps the time off also allowed him and Monken to zero in on adjustments to the scheme. Ravens outside linebacker Mike Green blocks Malik Hamm during practice. Both could be called upon to help improve the pass rush. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) How will the Ravens generate a pass rush now? One of the biggest problems this season has been a lack of a pass rush. Only two teams — the San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers — have fewer sacks than Baltimore’s eight. This, after ranking first and second the past two seasons. Now, Odafe Oweh, who had 10 sacks last season but none this year, has been traded to the Los Angeles Chargers, and fellow outside linebacker Tavius Robinson is out at least 6-8 weeks with a broken foot, leaving just three outside linebackers on the roster. “It’s been a challenge all year to generate pressure, so we are going to have to manufacture pressure,” Harbaugh said. “But also, our guys are going to have to step up and create pressure on the four-man rush. We do it with simulated pressures, too, a lot of times.” That was the case on a few occasions against the Los Angeles Rams with the Ravens tallying two sacks, but they still had just two pressures, per Pro Football Focus, in true passing sets. With only Malik Hamm and Kaimon Rucker on the practice squad — at least one of whom could get elevated for a few games — Baltimore will need to find reinforcements quickly. Help could come as soon as the beginning of next week and a trade or two would be the most likely route with the need for a disruptive player at outside linebacker and/or defensive tackle. Still, the Ravens need to find some way to generate a rush. “We have to be to be better on first down, and then on second down, we have to be better,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “Right now, a lot of teams you see they get to second-and-long, [and] they get to their third-down game plan. Well against us, they’re going [to] quick game, or they’re even running the ball or going tempo to try to keep us out of our third-down package. We just have to continue to find different ways and different personnel groups to get pressure, and I think that we’ll be able to do that.” In what ways does Alohi Gilman change the defensive picture? Five days after the Ravens traded Oweh for Alohi Gilman, the safety played 44 of 53 defensive snaps and was deployed in the box, at free safety and in the slot in its loss to the Rams. He finished with the second-most tackles (seven) on the team. “He is a beast,” Orr said of the 28-year-old former Notre Dame and Navy standout. It helped that Gilman came from a similar system and has played under several defensive coordinators during his college and pro careers. He should also help change the calculus, allowing Orr to be able to move versatile and talented Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton around, much the way Baltimore did during his 2023 All-Pro season. “It’s good to get back to that,” Orr said. “I think that you saw we were able to do some things with Kyle, and I think that benefited us. “Now, we use that to our advantage. We can make offenses predictable of where they’re going to slide and where they’re going to run the football, so that helps us out a lot. And credit to ‘K-Ham.’ He hasn’t played at the nickel position or dime position – it was funny, he was talking about it – since [middle of the year] last year. So, it’s been a long time. Like we said, he’s a unicorn.” Outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, the Ravens' third-round draft pick in 2024, could return in November. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) When are reinforcements coming? The Ravens’ sudden release of C.J. Gardner-Johnson just days after signing the veteran but embattled safety might have seemed odd given the timing and given the need for defensive help. But it was probably connected to timing, with Baltimore landing Gilman via trade a few hours later and then the former Charger playing fairly well when being thrust into a significant role. It also likely won’t be the last move, with Harbaugh having said that everything is on the table. That holds true to potential reshuffling of the offensive line to seeing what pass rush options are in-house to acquiring more players via trade or free agency. There should be some positive news on the injury front, too. At left tackle, Ronnie Stanley is still battling an ankle injury, so the bye week should help after he left Sunday’s game early and did not return. “It’s structurally good, or he wouldn’t be out there playing,” Harbaugh said. “It becomes a matter of his ability to perform on it, and the only person that knows that is the player; so you’ve got to go by that. But he’s fighting to get out there and play.” Fullback Pat Ricard’s situation, meanwhile, has suddenly gotten murkier. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Fans say Ravens’ start more disappointing than Orioles’ Staff picks for Week 7 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Cowboys, Buccaneers vs. Lions and more Mike Preston: Fire Harbaugh? Now? Don’t be ridiculous. | COMMENTARY Joe Flacco vs. Aaron Rodgers: AFC North rivalry takes on a touch of gray Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law After Harbaugh said he expected that he could be available for next week’s game against the Chicago Bears after being sidelined with a calf injury since mid-August, he backpedaled on that certainty. “I don’t know,” he said. “The way the injury is is it’s pretty much recovered from that kind of a standpoint; it’s just a matter of him being comfortable with his level of strength and his ability to perform. It’s him being able to get out there and push himself through practice and feel like it’s going to stay healthy, feel like he can move and run, change direction and power into people. It’s really up to him. The only thing we can do is ask him how he’s doing, how he’s feeling, and if he can push himself to do more or not, because it’s his calf. That’s all we can do right now, so I can’t really make any promises.” On the flip side, Harbaugh did say that he expects inside linebacker Roquan Smith, who has been sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring strain since suffering the injury during a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, to be back for the Bears game. That should help take some of the pressure off rookie fourth-round linebacker Teddye Buchanan and potentially allow Baltimore to use Trenton Simpson, who lost his starting role to Buchanan, as a pass rusher on the outside given his speed. Outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, who has been injured each of his first two years, is also expected back in mid-to-late November after landing on injured reserve with a dislocated elbow in the preseason. Can the Ravens turn things around and make a playoff push? The bad news for Baltimore is that it is 1-5 and in last place in the AFC North. The good news, potentially, is that its remaining schedule is the fifth-easiest in the league with its opponents having a combined .442 win percentage. After the Bears — who have won three straight — the Ravens head to South Florida for a Thursday night tilt against the dysfunctional Miami Dolphins (1-5), then travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings (3-2) before a trip to Cleveland for a divisional game against the Browns (1-5) and then a home date with the winless New York Jets (0-6). If the Ravens can get through that stretch 4-1 to pull within a game of .500, they’d still have a shot at 10-7 — though they will have little margin for error. The schedule still has its challenges, particularly down the stretch. Over the final six weeks, Baltimore will have two games against the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers, a Week 17 date at the Green Bay Packers and a Week 16 contest against the suddenly ascending New England Patriots. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Joe Flacco was asked during the preseason about continuing to play at 40 years old. However, Flacco is a youngster compared to his counterpart, 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers. Thursday night’s matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals will mark only the third regular-season game between 40-year-old starting quarterbacks. New Orleans’ Drew Brees won both regular-season games against Tampa Bay and Tom Brady in 2020. But Brady sent Brees into retirement when the Buccaneers beat the Saints in an NFC divisional round game. “Yeah, it’s one thing you guys can’t talk about this week in terms of me being older, at least, but it’s pretty neat,” Flacco said. “I’ve been in a locker room my whole life, so, you know, age isn’t something that I think about. I just view myself as one of those 20-something-year-olds in the locker room. So, it’s not something I really think about, but I think one day, when you look back on it, it’s just one of those things that’ll be pretty cool to be able to have a matchup like this.” At the beginning of the season, Flacco thought this matchup would happen when the Browns faced the Steelers last Sunday. Flacco was replaced as Cleveland’s starter after four games and then traded to Cincinnati last Tuesday, which stunned most people, including Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. With Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow sidelined until at least mid-December after toe surgery on Sept. 19, many expected them to make a move after Jake Browning was ineffective in his three starts. Few expected it to come from a division rival. “[Browns general manager] Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us, because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that area. But that’s just my personal feelings,” Tomlin said on Monday. This will be the fourth matchup between Rodgers and Flacco. Rodgers has won the previous three. “I think it’s great for all the old guys. I know that when I watch other sports, maybe it’s because I’m the older guy, but I tend to pull for the older guys to win,” Rodgers said. “I’ve known Joe for a long time. He’s been great coming to my charity event. He’s had a great career, and it’s fun that we’re both still playing.” Rodgers has helped lead the Steelers to a 4-1 start and first place in the AFC North. He is second in the AFC with a 105.4 passer rating, along with 10 touchdowns and only three interceptions. A key to Rodgers’ success this season is that his average time to throw is 2.57 seconds, second quickest in the league and his quickest since at least 2016. He has completed 81.1% of his attempts on passes under 2.5 seconds and is averaging 8.2 yards per attempt, which is second best. He will be facing a Bengals defense that allows a league-high 7.7 yards per attempt on quick passes and eight touchdowns, second most. Joe Flacco has faced the Steelers 25 times in his career, including the playoffs, with 24 starts. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Flacco hasn’t had much practice time with the Bengals, but he has developed a quick rapport with star receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. He passed for 219 yards and two touchdowns against the Packers in his Cincinnati debut, but most of that came in the second half after Cincinnati fell behind 10-0 at halftime. Flacco and the Bengals (2-4) will try to snap a four-game losing streak and stay within striking distance of the Steelers. The former Ravens star has faced the Steelers 25 times in his career, including the playoffs, with 24 starts. “He knows their style of play. He knows their level of aggression on defense and played against most of their guys over there,” coach Zac Taylor said. “Obviously, he’s played them more than anybody has in this league that is currently playing, so I think he’s got a great sense of what it takes to win.” Quick start needed Cincinnati is hoping to get off to a better start. It has been outscored 79-9 in the first half during the four-game skid and is one of three teams without a first- or second-quarter touchdown in that span. “You’ve got to be willing and ready to just play the patient game as well. I think we’ve got to be efficient on early downs. And I think if we do that, then we’ll give ourselves a chance to be successful early on in the football game,” Flacco said. Going big The Steelers gave their secondary a makeover in the offseason, with all moves designed to help them match up better against Cincinnati’s dynamic tandem of Chase and Higgins. Donte Jackson (5-foot-10), Damontae Kazee (5-11) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (6-1) are gone. Jalen Ramsey (6-1), Juan Thornhill (6-0) and Darius Slay (6-0) joined Joey Porter Jr. (6-2) to give Pittsburgh a physical and veteran defensive backfield the team believes is better suited to take on maybe the best wide receiver duo in the league, no matter who the quarterback is. “You’d better have some corners taller than me if you’re dealing with the likes of Tee Higgins and people like that,” said the 5-foot-11ish Tomlin, who was a wide receiver during his college days at William & Mary. Chase and Higgins have been a problem for the Steelers throughout their careers, combining for 78 catches for 1,194 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 appearances against Pittsburgh. Thursday road woes No team has played on Thursday nights (Thanksgiving Day excluded) more often than the Steelers since the league began playing on Thursdays semi-regularly in 1980. And no team over the past 15 years has lost more Thursday night road games than Pittsburgh, which is 1-9 on Thursdays since 2009. That includes a 0-6 mark against AFC North opponents Baltimore and Cleveland. This will be the first Thursday meeting between the Bengals and Steelers in Cincinnati, and the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach doesn’t appear to be lingering on his team’s Thursday night road shortcomings. “I’m only concerned about 2025,” he said. “I got my (butt) kicked in a lot of ways over the last 19 years.” AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh and freelance reporter Charlie Goldsmith in Cincinnati contributed to this article. View the full article

Watch the “Overtime” segment of the eighth episode of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law. The longtime sports columnist answers reader questions from Baltimore Sun subscribers after the Ravens fell to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss to the Rams. Missed the eighth episode of the pod? Watch here. Have a question for Preston about the Ravens? Message us at sports@baltsun.com. You can watch the BMore Football 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

He wears brown collared shirts underneath his shoulder pads, practices left-handed putting despite being right-handed, and once lived in a camper as a multimillionaire. Those quirks are just part of why Marlon Humphrey isn’t your typical NFL player. “A lot of the veterans that I’ve had here, a lot of different guys that come from different teams, none of them are like Marlon,” said former Ravens edge rusher Odafe Oweh, who was traded to the Chargers earlier this month. Humphrey has played nine high-level seasons at one of the most turbulent positions in the league, become a leader in Baltimore’s locker room and is “uniquely himself.” His teammates say that they’ve never played with anybody like him. T.J. Tampa said that he “shut the room down” when he first met him. Jaire Alexander said, “There’s nobody like [Marlon].” Nate Wiggins said, “You really can’t explain him. He just does Marlon things.” The cornerback has endeared himself to Baltimore with his popular Instagram Live videos that show the relationships inside the Ravens’ locker room. He’s also frustrated them with his podcasting after losses this season. His teammates appreciate his authenticity. Humphrey declined to comment for this story, saying he only wanted to talk about football. “He’s just a genuine person. He’s gonna be himself. And that’s what we love about him,” said rookie safety Reuben Lowery III, who was cut by Baltimore earlier this month and later picked up by the Colts. That originality shows up in many ways. Humphrey wears distinctive clothing — Alexander said that he’s never seen anyone put a dress shirt under their practice gear — publicly holds teammates accountable after tough losses, and even owns a massive farm in Alabama, where he raises a variety of animals. Wiggins, an animal enthusiast, said that he’s waiting to visit the farm. One of Tampa’s first interactions with Humphrey came in a defensive meeting. Tampa watched as Humphrey entered the facility with sweatpants, a towel wrapped around his body, and a hat and durag on his head. Everyone seems to remember their first encounter with Humphrey. Former Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix recalled the cornerback visiting Tuscaloosa as a high school recruit. Humphrey, a former five-star prospect, was slated to sit down with the Crimson Tide’s defensive backs and defensive staff. Related Articles Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Funeral plans set for Ravens superfan Captain Dee-Fense Ravens release C.J. Gardner-Johnson after 1 week with team Watch Episode 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law The Ravens are 1-5. These 5 stats help explain the slow start. | COMMENTARY Clinton-Dix, a senior at the time, anticipated a routine meeting with a high schooler. But that was far from the case with Humphrey. Humphrey was quiet. He wasn’t brash, nor shy. Clinton-Dix and he spoke, and the Crimson Tide safety came away impressed with the 18-year-old’s maturity, Clinton-Dix told The Baltimore Sun. The two stayed in contact during Humphrey’s career, and when the freshman recovered a critical onside kick during Alabama’s national championship game against Clemson, Clinton-Dix made sure to call him. The Ravens drafted Humphrey with the 16th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. He entered a secondary with cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Brandon Carr and safeties Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson — a combined 49 years in the league between the four of them. Not an easy situation for a rookie to find playing time. But Humphrey carved out a role as a nickel back and then started the final four games as an outside cornerback after Smith tore his Achilles tendon. Humphrey has switched between the slot and boundary cornerback throughout his time in the league. At 29 years old, he’s playing some of the best football of his career. Humphrey played 500 snaps in the slot last season and 316 on the outside, according to Pro Football Focus. He turned in a career-high six interceptions and was named a first-team All-Pro. “He’s just a workaholic. He really cares about his craft. If he’s doing something wrong, he’s going to get to the bottom of what he’s doing wrong,” Wiggins said. Ravens fans clamor for autographs from cornerback Marlon Humphrey in 2024. Humphrey's teammates say he's unique personality among his NFL peers. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) He’s also become a leader for Baltimore’s defense. Humphrey said the Ravens “weren’t mature enough” and players would face repercussions for poor performances after their loss to the Buffalo Bills. But Humphrey’s frankness occasionally frustrates fans, too. After the Ravens’ defense was shredded in a 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions, the cornerback said, “We’re not good enough.” The next day, he released a YouTube video titled “Marlon reacts to Lions-Ravens MNF loss.” The comments were unforgiving. “I’m stunned by your lack of self awareness, almost in admiration,” one user wrote. “Marlon read the room,” another commented. “Stop with the podcast [crap] and go win some games first.” Humphrey’s not going to change, though. His channel description reads like a personality promotion: “Marlon Humphrey has a lot on his mind … The Marlon Humphrey Show is not another player podcast pumping out PR-approved talking points — it is a one of a kind experience led by one of the most curious minds in sports.” That last line rings true. Ask anyone around the Ravens about Humphrey, and you’ll hear the same response: there’s nobody like Marlon. “He’s not scared to [speak up]. It’s different in that aspect,” Oweh said. “He’s gonna say whatever’s on his mind. He doesn’t care who you are. He wants you to know who he is.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

The life of late Ravens megafan Wes Henson, known as Captain Dee-Fense, will be celebrated at a funeral service next week, which will be open to the public and livestreamed online. Henson died of cancer last week, after spending years as one of the Baltimore Ravens’ most prominent ambassadors. Before becoming a Charm City icon, Henson served in the Navy for 15 years as a cryptography technician. His funeral is set to be held by March Funeral Homes at its tribute center in Randallstown on Oct. 23, with a wake at 10 a.m. and funeral following soon after at 11 a.m. A visitation is scheduled for the day before at the same location from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Oct. 21 at March Funeral Home West from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A news release Tuesday from March Funeral Homes said Henson’s family urged “everyone to celebrate his legacy by wearing purple in his honor.” The services will be livestreamed at March Funeral Homes’ website. Have a news tip? Contact Mathew Schumer at mschumer@baltsun.com, 443-890-7423 or @mmmschumer on X. View the full article

C.J. Garnder-Johnson’s time in Baltimore lasted one week. The Ravens signed the polarizing safety to their practice squad last Tuesday in an effort to bulk up their secondary on the heels of disastrous, injury-riddled defensive showing versus Houston. A week later, the team released Gardner-Johnson, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told The Baltimore Sun. Gardner-Johnson joined the practice squad but was not elevated for Baltimore’s Week 6 game versus the Los Angeles Rams. He told The Baltimore Sun that, after being let go by the Texans last month, the Ravens were his “only option.” Gardner-Johnson’s agent told ESPN that they were “looking for a clearer path to play.” That’s a reference to the Ravens making a trade the same day for Alohi Gilman. The former Chargers safety suited up days after arriving in Baltimore and played 44 snaps against the Rams in what coach John Harbaugh called a “good dynamic” for their defense. Gardner-Johnson has a history of short-lived stints. He joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, tallying six interceptions en route to a Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs. A month later, he was traded to Houston in a salary dump. Gardner-Johnson disagreed. He told “The Pivot” podcast that summer it was because the Eagles were “scared of a competitor.” In Houston, the 2019 fourth-round draft pick logged 15 tackles in three games without a pass breakup. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters it was his decision to move on, citing communication issues and “what’s best for my team.” The Texans released him after three games. Baltimore signed him before Week 6. And he was let go seven days later. Baltimore Sun reporter Brian Wacker contributed to this article, which will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Related Articles Watch Episode 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law The Ravens are 1-5. These 5 stats help explain the slow start. | COMMENTARY Ravens season has been ‘test,’ coach John Harbaugh says as he eyes fixes Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh react to Joe Flacco being traded within division Former Ravens pass rusher Za’Darius Smith abruptly retires View the full article

Episode 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law is here. Preston and Coleman break down the Ravens’ latest loss to the Rams. Baltimore is just 1-5 on the season as it enters a much-needed bye week. You can watch it 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

The Ravens (1-5) enter their bye week with an alarming set of numbers that define their season-long struggles. “Our focus is going forward,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “We still believe we can do it.” Zero: Quarterback hits from Ravens edge rushers Just days after trading Odafe Oweh to the Chargers, Baltimore’s depleted edge group produced … nothing. Over 54 combined pass-rush snaps in Sunday’s 17-3 loss to the Rams, Kyle Van Noy, Mike Green, David Ojabo and Tavius Robinson failed to register a single quarterback hit against veteran Matthew Stafford. To make matters worse, Robinson, who is tied with defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike for the team lead with two sacks, fractured his foot in the second quarter and will miss between 6-8 weeks, according to Harbaugh. That leaves a pass rush already thin on production scrambling for answers. Among the trio of healthy pass rushers, only Van Noy has registered a single sack this season. Van Noy’s 14.3% pass-rush win rate ranks 42nd in the NFL, according to TruMedia. Green, a second-round draft pick, has just a 5.7% win rate, ranked 107th among 131 qualified pass rushers in the NFL. Across 122 pass-rush snaps, Green has six pressures, two quarterback hits and zero sacks after he led college football last season with 17 sacks at Marshall. Ojabo’s 6.7% win rate would rank 96th if he qualified. If general manager Eric DeCosta truly believes the Ravens are bound for a post-bye turnaround, it’d be within his best interest to acquire external help to beef up the edges. Baltimore’s eight sacks – four of which are from injured players Robinson and Madubuike – are tied for third fewest in the NFL. “It’s been a challenge all year to generate pressure,” Harbaugh said. “We’re going to have to manufacture pressure … but our guys are going to have to step up and create pressure on the four-man rush.” 44.4%: Red-zone touchdown percentage The red alarm should be blaring when it comes to the team’s issues in the most critical part of the field. Baltimore went 0-for-3 inside the red zone against Los Angeles, including an ugly three-play sequence at the goal line before halftime. The Ravens have now converted just 44.4% of their red-zone trips into touchdowns this season, ranking among the bottom dwellers in the league and a steep fall from their efficiency in recent seasons. Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley lies on the turf after being sacked in a 17-3 loss to the Rams. The Ravens' offense has struggled in recent weeks, especially in short-yardage situations. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Short-yardage failures have become defining moments in several of the team’s losses. On Sunday, the Mark Andrews tush push failed on consecutive attempts with the offensive line lacking the push needed, while backups Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley were unable to compensate for the lack of physicality up front. “We should be way better than we are,” Harbaugh said. “We’ve been talking about fixing it for weeks, and we haven’t done a good job. That’s like the No. 1 thing in my mind on offense – short yardage and goal line.” 80: Season-high penalty yards For the second straight week, the Ravens were buried by penalties. After they were penalized a season-high nine times in Week 5 against Houston, the Ravens were penalized seven times for a season-high 80 yards against the Rams. Baltimore’s 36 total penalties through six games rank 13th in the league. But the timing of its flags has been brutal. A pair of penalties on offensive linemen Daniel Faalele and Ronnie Staley proved to be detrimental on the team’s opening drive. The Ravens had reached the Rams’ 11-yard line, but committed two penalties within three plays to set up third-and-18. Rush, who never completed a pass longer than 10 yards, then connected with Zay Flowers for a four-yard reception, leading to the Ravens’ only points of the day off Tyler Loop’s 37-yard field goal. The Ravens won the coin toss, but insisted they start with possession given the defense’s recent struggles. Had Baltimore come away with seven points rather than three on the opening drive, maybe the result would have been different. But for the second consecutive game, penalties torched the home team. “It feels that way,” Harbaugh said of the momentum effect from self-inflicted mistakes. “You just have to fight to play clean football and do the best you can to play clean football, so they just can’t call you for something … You have to find a way to just keep coaching those things, talking to the guys about those things and drilling those things, because the momentum does start to swing if you keep coaching, and you keep teaching, and the guys want to get better, which our guys do. “That’s all you can do. You just have to keep after it and try to do things the right way.” 439: Derrick Henry rushing yards There was at least one bright spot Sunday. Derrick Henry looked like Derrick Henry again. After four straight sub-50-yard outings, one of the worst stretches of his brilliant career, the All-Pro running back ripped off 122 yards on 24 carries. His 439 rushing yards now rank seventh in the NFL behind Jonathan Taylor, Javonte Williams, Rico Dowdle, Travis Etienne, James Cook and JK Dobbins. “I wish we could play tomorrow,” Henry said. “Anytime you have a couple weeks [like the ones] that we’ve had, I always wish we could play the next day, but that’s not how it goes. It isn’t basketball, so you have to wait. The bye lets guys rest up who need it and come back next week ready to go to work. [We will] get better through this week, through the bye week, and then hit the ground running when it’s time to go.” Related Articles Ravens season has been ‘test,’ coach John Harbaugh says as he eyes fixes Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh react to Joe Flacco being traded within division Former Ravens pass rusher Za’Darius Smith abruptly retires READER POLL: Who had the more disappointing start to their season: The Ravens or Orioles? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Rams 10: Total turnovers, tied for second most in the NFL The Ravens have committed 10 turnovers through six games, including three more against the Rams. Baltimore’s 10 giveaways are tied for the second most in the NFL. During a game in which the Ravens finally ended their four-week takeaway drought, the team’s offense wasted that effort. Sloppy execution and timely mistakes continue to play a major role in Baltimore’s disappointing season. Wide receiver Zay Flowers, who was involved in two fumbles lost on consecutive possessions in the second half, was a quick departure from the postgame locker room, declining to discuss his critical mistakes. “You can’t win by turning the ball over,” Harbaugh said. “You want to look at why the record is the way it is – start with that. That’s the main thing.” 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

Ravens coach John Harbaugh spoke for 31 minutes Monday afternoon in Owings Mills. Questions abounded. About the lack of pass rush. An offensive line that lacks push and has struggled to block. Goal-to-go foibles. A once-Super Bowl favorite is now the antithesis following a disastrous 1-5 start that included a fourth straight loss Sunday in familiarly ignominious fashion, 17-3, to the Los Angeles Rams. What has it been like? “It’s been a test,” Harbaugh said amid a four-minute response. “It’s been a test of faith, your family, it’s a test for your family, a test for everybody in the building.” Now comes a bye week and another attempt to locate the answers. Players will practice Tuesday and Wednesday before having four days off, as required by the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. Coaches, of course, will spend the entirety of the week at the team’s facility. One problem for them to figure out is, where will the pass rush come from now? Last week, Baltimore traded Odafe Oweh — who registered his first sack of the season on Sunday — to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman. Then, the Ravens lost outside linebacker Tavius Robinson, who broke his foot Sunday and will miss 6-8 weeks, Harbaugh said. That leaves just three outside linebackers (veteran Kyle Van Noy, rookie Mike Green and David Ojabo) on the 53-man roster, with Adisa Isaac, who suffered a dislocated elbow during the Ravens’ second preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, not expected to come off injured reserve until at least mid or late November. “It’s been a challenge all year to generate pressure, so we’re gonna have to manufacture pressure,” Harbaugh said of a unit that came into the week ranked 16th in pass rush win-rate, according to ESPN analytics. “Our guys are going to have to step up and create pressure on the four-man rush.” It hasn’t happened. Baltimore has just one current defender on the roster (tackle Travis Jones) who ranks in the top 100 in pass rush win percentage, according to Pro Football Focus. The only other player in the top 150 is Van Noy. The Ravens can try to scheme pressure with simulated pressures or actual blitzes, but they have largely not been effective. Related Articles Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh react to Joe Flacco being traded within division Former Ravens pass rusher Za’Darius Smith abruptly retires READER POLL: Who had the more disappointing start to their season: The Ravens or Orioles? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Rams Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 Still, at this point, they just need healthy players. They have Malik Hamm and Kaimon Rucker on the practice squad, and one or both will get a shot. Or, they could look outside the building, something that Harbaugh said is “certainly” on the table. That might not be the only change. Asked if he is further considering changes on the offensive line, where left guard Andrew Vorhees and right guard Daniel Faalele in particular have struggled, he said, “absolutely.” Of course, he has said that before, and the lineup has remained intact. But a bye week should buy some time to at least experiment. One option could be third-round rookie Emery Jones, who began practicing two weeks ago after missing all of the spring and summer because of shoulder surgery. Harbaugh also said Jones hasn’t been able to work on pass protection because of the shoulder, but they are “trying to get him up to speed as quick as we possibly can.” Other possibilities are second-year Corey Bullock, a former Maryland standout, and veteran Ben Cleveland, though Harbaugh has been reluctant to turn to Cleveland on several opportunities in recent years. Of course, the most significant difference for the Ravens the next time they take the field will be at quarterback, with Lamar Jackson expected back for a Week 8 home game against the Chicago Bears. Without Jackson, who has missed the past two games because of a hamstring injury, Baltimore’s offense has struggled mightily and especially at the unit’s most important position. In his absence, backup Cooper Rush has completed 64% of his passes for 251 yards with zero touchdowns and four interceptions in two starts. Ravens quarterbacks Cooper Rush, center, and Tyler Huntley, right, warm up before Sunday's game against the Rams. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Asked whether Rush will remain the backup quarterback once Jackson returns, Harbaugh parsed his words. “Is Cooper Rush still the second-string quarterback?” he said, repeating the question as if pondering a response. “I’m gonna say yes. But I will also say we’ve got two backup quarterbacks.” The other is Tyler Huntley, who momentarily injected some life into the offense on Sunday in relief of Rush. But Harbaugh also said there are some roster decisions that have to be made. Huntley has one practice squad elevation remaining. Injury updates For a second straight week, left tackle Ronnie Stanley has either been inactive or had to leave the game early because of an ankle injury, which he did in the second quarter Sunday against the Rams, retreating to the bench, where he sat with a towel over his head for the duration. “It’s structurally good, or he wouldn’t be out there playing,” Harbaugh said. “It becomes a matter of his ability to perform on it, and the only person that knows that is the player; so you’ve got to go by that. But he’s fighting to get out there and play.” When fullback Patrick Ricard began practicing for the first time since mid-August last week, Harbaugh said the target for his return would be the Bears game. Monday, he was a little less definitive about whether the All-Pro, who has been sidelined with a calf injury, would be ready by then. “I don’t know,” he said. “The way it works — the way the injury is — is it’s pretty much recovered from that kind of a standpoint; it’s just a matter of him being comfortable with his level of strength and his ability to perform. It’s him being able to get out there and push himself through practice and feel like it’s going to stay healthy, feel like he can move and run, change direction and power into people.” On a more positive note for Baltimore, Harbaugh said cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who appeared to be banged up Sunday, is physically OK. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Joe Flacco started the season with the Cleveland Browns. After benching the veteran in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland traded Flacco to an AFC North rival. The Cincinnati Bengals brought in Flacco, who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2012, to help replace the injured Joe Burrow. Flacco started Sunday in Cincinnati’s loss to the Packers, and he’s expected to start Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Count Steelers coach Mike Tomlin among those perplexed by the divisional trade. “To be honest, it was shocking to me,” he said Monday. “[Cleveland general manager] Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that area. But that’s just my personal feelings.” Tomlin made clear his confusion lies solely with the Browns’ side of the decision. “It certainly makes sense from Cincinnati’s perspective,” Tomlin said with a wide grin. The smiles spread through the division. When asked about Tomlin’s reaction Monday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh cracked a smile. He kept his thoughts about the deal mostly to himself, though. “I didn’t think about it that much, probably because we don’t play the Browns or the Bengals for four or five weeks or something like that. … I was surprised,” Harbaugh admitted. “I will say that.” While the Browns’ and Bengals’ moves at quarterback have at least caught the attention of opposing franchises in the division, most people anticipate the division to be decided by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers (4-1) currently hold a 3 1/2-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North, but Jackson is expected to return from injury in Week 8 after the Ravens’ Week 7 bye. Even with a 1-5 record, FanDuel gives Baltimore the second-best odds to win the AFC North at +165. The Steelers are finally the favorite (-150) after the Ravens were still the betting favorite at 1-4. The Bengals (+1400) and Browns (+3300) aren’t expected to factor into the divisional race. Despite a growing deficit in the division, the Ravens are banking that Jackson’s return can turn the tide. “If I was on the couch with a psychiatrist right now, if I was spilling it, I’d say I’m leaning really hard into that,” Harbaugh said of Jackson’s expected return. Tomlin didn’t need a hypothetical shrink to share his feelings about the Flacco trade. Related Articles Ravens season has been ‘test,’ coach John Harbaugh says as he eyes fixes Former Ravens pass rusher Za’Darius Smith abruptly retires READER POLL: Who had the more disappointing start to their season: The Ravens or Orioles? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Rams Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 His disdain for the Browns’ front office might be caused by Pittsburgh’s upcoming schedule. The Steelers face Flacco and the Bengals on Thursday and again in a month on Nov. 16. Pittsburgh beat Cleveland on Sunday, holding Gabriel to 221 passing yards on 53 attempts in a 23-9 victory. The Ravens don’t face the Bengals until Thanksgiving, although they did beat Flacco and the Browns in Week 2. It’s possible Baltimore could face Flacco three times this season, depending on when Burrow’s turf toe injury heals. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Za’Darius Smith abruptly announced his retirement Monday, five games into his eighth NFL season and first with the Philadelphia Eagles. The 33-year-old pass rusher called it a career in a post on Instagram. The Eagles lost Thursday night at the New York Giants to fall to 4-2 and play at Minnesota on Sunday. Smith signed with the reigning Super Bowl champions the day after their Week 1 win against Dallas. He spent last season with Cleveland and Detroit. “As I step into the newest season of my life, please know this game has meant the world to me,” Smith said. “The lessons learned on and off the field will stay with me forever.” Smith was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, in 2019 and ’20 with Green Bay and again in 2022 with Minnesota. He had 10 tackles in five games with the Eagles. Smith played for Baltimore from 2015 through 2018, with the Ravens drafting him in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. His best season with the Ravens came in 2018, when he posted 8 1/2 sacks across 16 games played and eight starts. The Baltimore Sun’s staff contributed to this article. View the full article

The Ravens are not who we thought they were. A team with Super Bowl aspirations is 1-5 and losers of four straight after another embarrassing defeat, the latest a 17-3 loss to the Rams at home on Sunday. Yet, somehow their brutal start might not even be the worst for a professional franchise in Baltimore this year. The Orioles, another team that entered the year with a championship on their minds, started 15-28 before they fired manager Brandon Hyde and never recovered to finish with a losing record. Which team had the more disappointing start to their season? We want to hear from you. Are 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

Right now, the only thing that can slow the bleeding of this Ravens season from hell is the bye week. We’ve finally arrived, but not before another Baltimore clunker. This one, a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Here are five things we learned: If it’s not one thing with this team, it’s another In a postgame locker room largely cleared out by players itching to get home and flush this fourth straight loss — a first for Baltimore since 2021 — there stood DeAndre Hopkins. He’s a 33-year-old veteran who has experienced the many highs and lows football has to offer. Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro in Year 13, is as thoughtful as he is talented. This particular question in a postgame media scrum didn’t warrant much musing. Was Hopkins surprised by the Ravens’ 1-5 start? He shook his head no, “Bad football will get you 1-5.” Unfortunately for these Ravens, that’s not a singular fix. They can’t point to just one facet of their play, six weeks into the season, that consolidates all their “bad football.” It seems every week offers something new. For much of this season, enough of it could be blamed on the defense. Sunday was different. “Our defense did a hell of a job,” running back Derrick Henry said. “But as far as offense, we definitely have to be better.” If it’s not one thing with this team, it’s another. Baltimore returned defensive staples Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey from injury. Then outside linebacker Tavius Robinson broke his foot. The Ravens forced their first takeaway since Week 2. But they turned the ball over thrice. The defense held Los Angeles’ very good offense to a manageable 17 points. But the offense was held out of the end zone for the first time in three years. Henry clocked his most yards on the ground (122) since Week 1. But the Ravens failed to convert 4 of 6 fourth-down tries. Now, Baltimore’s season enters unsalvageable territory. One win through six weeks matches the worst start in franchise history. Three points marks their fewest points scored in a home game since 2002. Every week, players and coaches try to make sense of what went wrong the previous Sunday. They vow to correct it. Then they find another way to box themselves out of the win column. “Obviously, a little tired of getting up here and having this conversation,” coach John Harbaugh said. The Ravens’ only option is to stack a win streak coming out of the bye, with games against Chicago, Miami then Minnesota. It’s not impossible. “I feel like we still have time,” Henry said. “Just believe in us.” Related Articles Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 Mike Preston: Ravens need Lamar Jackson to pull off a miracle | COMMENTARY Josh Tolentino: The Ravens look lost. The boos said it all. | COMMENTARY For Ravens fans, apathy is setting in: ‘Vibes are just really bad’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 17-3 loss to Rams The Ravens finally lost faith in Cooper Rush With 13:30 left in the fourth quarter and the Ravens trailing by two scores, a No. 5 purple jersey emerged from the bench. Third-string quarterback Tyler Huntley, whom Baltimore signed to its practice squad in late August, refocused all the wandering eyes. Every fan who might have opened the discussion among their traveling party about heading for the exits early was now locked in, leaning forward in their seats. Even Lamar Jackson stood up to watch Huntley — who replaced the injured two-time Most Valuable Player in 2022 — take over. Harbaugh said he planned to play both throughout the game. He claimed to have not seen an obvious mid-game opening to pull Cooper Rush and give Huntley a try. Those watching such an uninspiring offense seemed to think differently. Fans on a windy October Sunday let Rush hear it. They already saw him throw three interceptions last week. Baltimore’s slugfest rolled into Week 6, and so fans called for Huntley. But not before booing Rush off the field on three straight drives. When Rams kicker Joshua Karty shanked a chip shot in the first quarter that gave the ball back to Baltimore with a lead (something we haven’t seen much of this year), Rush threw his fourth interception in five quarters as a Ravens starter. When the Ravens opted to go for it on fourth-and-3, Rush rolled out to his right and sailed a throw intended for Zay Flowers streaking into open grass. That pulled the plug on any momentum gained from the forced turnover moments before. When Todd Monken’s offense picked up some steam and reached midfield, Rush threw a third-and-8 ball at the feet of an open Mark Andrews. So ensued the negative energy from an antsy home crowd. Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush threw for only 72 yards against the Rams before being replaced by Tyler Huntley in the fourth quarter Sunday. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Rush finished the day 11 of 19 for 72 yards. His replacement finished out the fourth quarter 10 of 15 with 68 yards through the air, albeit against a fourth-quarter defense that was protecting a 14-point lead. Huntley’s magnetism climaxed on a fourth-and-12 try. There were four minutes left, and punting would have been the ultimate white flag. Huntley scampered for 19 yards by himself, extending a drive that reached the red zone but yielded no points. “If I were in ‘Coop’s situation, I wouldn’t want to get pulled when you’re trying to win the game,” Huntley said. “There’s a lot of stuff that, as a quarterback, you just have to be ready for.” Surely, everyone in that locker room is ready to be done with the conversation once Jackson returns after the bye week. Goal-line offense issues haven’t been resolved This offseason, the Ravens were one of 10 teams that voted in favor of keeping the “tush push” — the short-distance set in which a player takes the snap and teammates shove his derrière over the line, made popular by the Philadelphia Eagles. Detractors claim it ruins the product of the game. The play requires “no skill,” one high-ranking Packers front office member said after a playoff loss last season. He called it an “automatic first down.” The Ravens would like to have a word. In the waning seconds before halftime, they failed twice at the sure-thing, then got stuffed trying a regular Henry run on fourth down. While Baltimore has had success pushing Andrews’ tush in the past, this anticlimactic goal-line bust “didn’t get any push,” Harbaugh said. That took the wind out of Baltimore’s sails heading into halftime tied at 3 when they could have been up 10-3. “That sucks,” center Tyler Linderbaum said. “We just didn’t get a yard. They wanted it more than us. When it comes down to it, who wants it more?” The tush push was a new approach to an issue that’s plagued the Ravens all season. There are 22 NFL teams better than Baltimore at scoring touchdowns once they get inside the red zone. The Ravens score at a 53.3% clip. Remember when Jackson fumbled against the Lions after three failed attempts from inside the 5-yard line? Or against Cleveland, when Baltimore needed all four tries to finally punch in a touchdown? Those frustrations resurfaced with the two holding penalties that foiled the Ravens’ opening drive, instead leaving them with a field goal, their only points. Add Sunday’s goal-line meltdown to the growing list. “I mean, that’s just unacceptable,” Henry said. Defense finally showed some life The 6-foot-3, 360-pound John Jenkins lumbered up field, holding the football to the gray sky, wearing a toothy smile under his face mask. His Ravens teammates were right there beside him on a celebratory caravan for the team’s first takeaway since Week 2 vs. Cleveland. That romping against a division foe was the last time Baltimore’s defense showed this much juice. Ravens defensive tackle John Jenkins sacks Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and recovers Stafford's fumble Sunday. The takeaway was the team's first forced turnover since Week 2. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Jenkins’ strip-sack answered the prayers of a defense that spent all offseason touting the importance of takeaways and has since failed to deliver. Not to mention, the Ravens were one of the worst teams in football at bringing down the quarterback. On Sunday, linebackers Teddye Buchanan and Trenton Simpson teamed up for the Ravens’ second of the day on a crucial fourth-and-short. “I thought our defense played pretty darn well against a high-powered offense,” Harbaugh said. It may have cooled the seat under defensive coordinator Zach Orr. With each loss, his job has come into question. Harbaugh continually backed his young coach. But if a staffing change were to happen, this break in the schedule would be the time. And yet, Sunday night, Harbaugh didn’t waiver: “I don’t really have any plans to do that. No, I don’t think there’s any obvious move there that would make us better.” Ravens defensive players have all insisted these shortcomings are on them. Not Orr. At the very least, they held up their end of the bargain Sunday afternoon. Rams running back Kyren Williams’ 50 rushing yards were his fewest this season. Matthew Stafford, the league’s leader in passing yards, threw for only 181 yards, his lowest mark this season (granted, he was without star receiver Puka Nacua for much of the game). And the Ravens’ defense walled up on fourth down for the first time since Week 2 (Lions, Chiefs and Texans were all perfect converting fourth-down attempts). “We needed to see that,” Harbaugh said. The most noticeable difference was the injection of safety Alohi Gilman, whom Baltimore acquired via trade with the Los Angeles Chargers. Gilman learned a “whole new football scheme in three days” and looked right at home in Baltimore’s offense. It allowed for Orr to play around with three safety looks, which means Hamilton can move closer to the line of scrimmage. Sunday was the first time the Ravens’ defense went consecutive drives without allowing points to a team’s starting quarterback since the second quarter in Week 3 vs. Detroit. They pushed around Los Angeles in two such instances in the loss. While all of this is a good sign for the potential course-correction required after the bye week, Baltimore won’t get home scotch free. Robinson’s broken foot is “a bad one,” Harbaugh said. Baltimore is already light on pass rushers. Nnamdi Madubuike was ruled out for the season with a neck injury, and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh was traded in the Gilman deal. Oweh recorded a sack in his Chargers debut, a 29-27 win over the Dolphins. These guys can’t catch a break. Thank goodness for the bye week The Ravens can sigh a bit of relief. They won’t play another game for 14 days. Baltimore is in desperate need of this break. Both for the emotional reset of the team’s worst start since 2015, which chops off another few percentage points from their playoff chances, and to address the unending injury woes that have plagued the first third of Baltimore’s season. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton warms up before Sunday's game vs. the Rams. Hamilton is one of several Ravens who have battled injuries this season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Most crucially, the Ravens should return their star quarterback from a hamstring injury for Week 8 versus Chicago. They hope to have middle linebacker Roquan Smith and fullback Pat Ricard back. Hamilton, Humphrey, left tackle Ronnie Stanley and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie have all dealt with injuries to varying degrees these past three weeks. The break should offer some solace in that department. These past few weeks have been a sprint, every step weighed down by a loss then the ensuing questions trying to figure out what went wrong. Harbaugh said he doesn’t have “any plans” to make staffing changes over the break. Either way, they’ll spend the next week balancing the urgency to course correct and the obligation to embrace a break in the schedule. “I wish we could play tomorrow,” Henry said. “The bye lets guys rest up who need it … then we’ll hit the ground running when it’s time to go.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Josh Jacobs rushed for two touchdowns and the Green Bay Packers held off Cincinnati for a 27-18 victory in Joe Flacco’s Bengals debut on Sunday. Jacobs had a 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and opened the fourth by scoring on a 14-yard burst up the middle. Jordan Love went 19 of 26 for 259 yards with an interception and a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Kraft. Lucas Havrisik sealed the win by making the second of his two field goals, a 39-yarder with 1:52 remaining. Havrisik also kicked a 43-yarder a day after signing with the Packers because usual kicker Brandon McManus had injured his quadriceps. Cincinnati’s final hope vanished when Evan McPherson was wide right on a 56-yard attempt with 41 seconds left. McPherson also made a 45-yard field goal and was well short on what would have been an NFL-record 67-yarder to end the first half. The Packers (3-1-1) returned from a bye week with their first home game since Sept. 11. They bounced back from two straight subpar performances — a 13-10 loss at Cleveland and a 40-40 tie with Dallas. Flacco was Cleveland’s quarterback in that victory over the Packers three weeks ago. He was acquired by Cincinnati (2-4) on Tuesday. The 40-year-old Flacco was 29 of 45 for 219 yards and two touchdowns, but the Bengals dropped their fourth consecutive game. Although Cincinnati never led, the Bengals made it a one-score game on Flacco’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase on a fourth-and-5 play with 4:11 to go. A 2-point conversion pass from Flacco to Chase Brown cut Green Bay’s lead to 24-18. But the Bengals’ defense couldn’t get a stop down the stretch. Neither team punted in the second half. Love threw a 31-yard pass to Matthew Golden on third-and-8 to get the Packers down to Cincinnati’s 29-yard line with 2:24 remaining. That set up Havrisik’s second field goal. Flacco became the eighth quarterback since at least 1950 to start against the same opponent twice in a season while playing for two different teams. The only quarterback to win both games in that scenario was Jack Kemp, who guided the AFL’s Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers past the New York Titans in 1962. The Bengals' Joe Flacco throws under pressure by the Packers in the first half Sunday in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) Cincinnati was outscored 10-0 and outgained 240-65 in the first half, marking the fourth straight game in which the Bengals failed to reach the end zone before halftime. The Bengals got back into the game by opening the second half with a 17-play, 78-yard touchdown drive that lasted 10 minutes, 14 seconds. On fourth-and-goal, Flacco threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Hudson, who entered Sunday’s game without any catches all season. Jacobs’ second touchdown made it 17-7. Cincinnati cut the lead to 17-10 with 10:43 left before Love and Kraft connected for Green Bay’s longest touchdown completion of the season. Kraft caught the ball a couple of yards beyond the line of scrimmage, shed a tackle and lowered his shoulder to get through cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt and land in the right corner of the end zone. Injuries Bengals: TE Mike Gesicki (pectoral) and DE Trey Hendrickson (back) both left the game. Packers: DE Lukas Van Ness was carted into the locker room with a foot injury in the third quarter. WR Dontayvion Wicks hurt his ankle. S Javon Bullard was evaluated for a concussion. Up next Bengals: Host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Packers: Visit the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. View the full article

The Ravens’ season is now down to the return of quarterback Lamar Jackson. That’s because there is no other hope. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player has to pull off another miracle if the Ravens have any playoff aspirations. Can that happen? Probably not, at least not with what we’ve seen from Jackson in the first four weeks of the season. He appeared a few steps slower and was even run down on several occasions, which has never happened to Jackson throughout his eight-year career. His decision making was slow, which might have been from the injured hamstring, or it’s from opposing teams blitzing him and keeping spies around the line of scrimmage, not allowing him to escape. But that’s where this team is right now. The Ravens are 1-5 after losing, 17-3, to the Los Angeles Rams in a game they could have won. That’s the new course chartered by the Ravens. They are staring into the abyss. A team that many predicted as Super Bowl champion has lost it way. It’s sad to see, downright humiliating. The most talented team in the 30-year history of this franchise has gone bust. And now, all hopes are on Jackson. Regardless of the score Sunday, it’s apparent that the Ravens have to score 30 or 40 points to win. They lost, 41-40, in a stunning comeback by the Buffalo Bills in the season opener. They handled Cleveland in Week 2 (after a scary first half) but then gave up 38, 37 points and 44 in losses to Detroit, Kansas City and Houston. There is a trend here. When it comes to the supposedly elite teams, the Ravens are getting mauled. That is where Jackson enters the picture. Before the hamstring injury sidelined him for the past two games, the Ravens had some semblance of a real NFL offense. The team’s best play always consisted of Jackson running around with his scrambling ability. That’s why NFL fans, especially those in Baltimore, are mesmerized by his playmaking ability and his improvement throwing the long ball. With this team, Jackson has to pull another rabbit out of the hat. The Ravens’ backup quarterbacks are awful. No. 2 Cooper Rush completed 11 of 19 passes Sunday for 72 yards and finished with a passer rating of 44.2. Most of his throws were of the dink-and-dunk variety, with nothing more than 10 yards. Question: Is this the NFL or high school football? No. 3 quarterback Tyler Huntley has a skill set similar to Jackson’s, but can’t throw as well. By the time he came into the game in the fourth quarter, he was harassed by the Rams’ defense, which totaled four sacks and 11 hits on the quarterback. Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley passes in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Rams. The Ravens used Huntley and Cooper Rush, but only scored three points in a 17-3 defeat. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) This offensive line is not very good. Even though running back Derrick Henry had a strong performance, rushing for 122 yards on 24 carries, the Ravens couldn’t pass block. That 14-point deficit in the third quarter was practically insurmountable. And do we really want to talk about defense? The Ravens had nearly a 15-minute advantage as far as time of possession, but still allowed 241 yards of total offense. Rams wide receiver Davante Adams dropped three passes and quarterback Matthew Stafford overthrew him twice in the end zone on the Rams’ first drive, or the score might have been worse. The 8-yard touchdown pass that Stafford threw to tight end Tyler Higbee in the third quarter was the same type of play Houston and Detroit used in previous games. There were signs that the Ravens’ defense improved Sunday, but not to the point where it can be counted on week after week. OK, Mr. Jackson, time to play. The Ravens have no other chance. At least with Jackson and Henry, the Ravens have an inside and outside threat with both players, especially on option plays. They have a quarterback who has improved significantly in the past two years throwing long passes and can roll to his left and hit open receivers. More importantly, Jackson gives this team hope. It’s not phony. They believe in him and that they can win any game with him as the starter. Related Articles Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 Josh Tolentino: The Ravens look lost. The boos said it all. | COMMENTARY For Ravens fans, apathy is setting in: ‘Vibes are just really bad’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 17-3 loss to Rams What Tom Brady said about the Ravens during ugly loss to Rams That’s the key for a team that is void of leadership, especially from the veterans. There are no alpha males on this team, even with Jackson. In 2000, the Ravens had defensive linemen like Tony Siragusa, Rob Burnett, Sam Adams and Mike McCrary. In 2012, they had receiver Anquan Boldin, linebacker Ray Lewis and safeties Bernard Pollard and Ed Reed. Now, they have no one, but only the hope that comes from Jackson. The magic number to get to the playoffs as always is about 10 wins, and the Ravens have 11 games remaining and just one victory. Can Jackson help them go on a nine-game winning streak in a sorry league with games against Miami, Minnesota, Cleveland and Cincinnati? Those are all teams without bonafide starting quarterbacks. No, but at least his return adds some intrigue to a season that has gone south. That’s all there is left. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article