ExtremeRavens

PITTSBURGH — Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position in their 26-24 loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh in Week 18: Quarterback Lamar Jackson played well, especially in the second half when the Ravens fell behind. Jackson completed 11 of 18 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns and had touchdown passes of 50 and 64 yards in the fourth quarter. He also completed a 26-yard pass over the middle to tight end Isaiah Likely, which set up rookie Tyler Loop’s missed 44-yard field goal as time expired. Jackson had a rough start, but came through in crunch time. Grade: A Running backs Derrick Henry rushed 20 times for 126 yards and the Ravens stayed with his power most of the game, and that in itself should have been enough. Henry had a long run of 41 yards, but the Ravens need help in finding a pass-blocking running back because Rasheen Ali isn’t quite good enough. Also, backup running back Keaton Mitchell looked tired during the game and had little acceleration, even though he had a big kickoff return late in the game. Grade: B Offensive line Baltimore finished with 137 yards rushing and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. As a unit, they did fairly well in the first half, but the Steelers started cramming the line of scrimmage in the second half to slow down Henry, which worked. The Ravens have struggled pass blocking all season and their best play has always been Jackson running around and improvising. Pittsburgh finished with three sacks and five hits on the quarterback. The Ravens finished with 359 yards of total offense, but Jackson made this group look better than it played. Grade: C+ Receivers Zay Flowers had a big game and had four catches for 138 yards with touchdown receptions of 50 and 64 yards in the fourth period. It still remains to be seen why linebacker Patrick Queen was covering Flowers on the 50-yard touchdown pass. The rest of the group was complementary as usual and the Ravens got ample production from tight ends Mark Andrews and Likely, who each had two catches. Grade: C Defensive line The Steelers got enough from their running game to offset some of the pressure on quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In fact, Pittsburgh running back Jaylen Warren rushed 14 times for 66 yards, and the Steelers appeared to wear down the Ravens’ defense in the second half. Pittsburgh had 390 yards of total offense, and the Ravens didn’t get much pressure in the final two quarters. Brent Urban played well in goal-to-go situations, and John Jenkins add three tackles as well to tie Urban. But the Ravens can’t get pressure from the interior line. That’s become the standard for this group. Grade: C Linebackers It was very strange but fitting that middle linebacker Roquan Smith finished with only three tackles. He was victimized over the middle by the Pittsburgh tight ends and receivers, where Rodgers kept hitting them with slant patterns. The Ravens played well in the first half, but the group seemed to tire in the second. Weakside linebacker Simpson finished with eight tackles and has played well since replacing injured fourth-round pick Teddye Buchanan. Tavius Robinson finished with six tackles including one sack and one hit on the quarterback, but the Ravens need a dominating force up front. Grade: C Secondary The Ravens tried to mix and match coverages but they still have one major weakness during the past two seasons. They can’t tackle. Safety Kyle Hamilton had nine tackles and fellow safety Alohi Gilman had eight, but the Ravens missed several opportunities and it was the usual suspects like cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and safety Malaki Starks. Plus, Rodgers completed 31 of 47 passes for 294 yards and a touchdown, and he finished with a passer rating of 90.2. Worse part, he is 42 years old and beat up on the Ravens with a lot of short passes in the flat. Grade: D Special teams Rookie placekicker Tyler Loop had a good season, but it was only a matter of time before the final verdict was determined by attempting a game-winning field goal in the cold with postseason aspirations on the line. He failed, and let’s just hope the rookie can recover. Overall, he’s still a good kid who replaced Justin Tucker, the best kicker in NFL history. Punter Jordan Stout averaged 47.8 yards per punt and bailed Baltimore out with good field position in the first half as Jackson struggled. Keaton Mitchell had a 41-yard kickoff return to set up Loop’s failed attempt at the end. Grade: B Coaching The Ravens stayed with Henry, and that’s been a problem area the past two years. Jackson gave the offense a new dimension by doing what he does best, running around and making plays, but the Ravens need to find offensive linemen who can pass block. Defensively, the Ravens were lost again in the secondary, and the final 26-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III was unacceptable. There needs to be some changes on both sides of the ball. Grade: C Related Articles Ravens 2026 schedule: Home vs. Chargers, road vs. Cowboys highlight slate Ravens’ season ends in heartbreak as Tyler Loop misses FG on last play of 26-24 loss to Steelers Instant analysis from Ravens’ 26-24 season-ending loss to Steelers Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton ruled out vs. Steelers; Nate Wiggins exits in 4th quarter Ravens vs. Steelers, January 4, 2026 | PHOTOS View the full article

The 2025 NFL regular season is over, which means the 2026 matchups are set. For the Ravens, who lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night to finish as the runner-up in the AFC North, that means playing a second-place schedule for the first time since 2022. In addition to their six games against the AFC North — three at home and three away against the Steelers, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals — the Ravens will face the AFC South, NFC South and the runners-up of the AFC East, AFC West and NFC East. Under the NFL’s scheduling rotation, the Ravens will host the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Chargers. They’ll play road games against the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. NFC teams will have the extra home game in 2026. In finishing 8-9 this season after last-second heartbreak in Pittsburgh, Baltimore fell just short of becoming the fourth team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger and the first since the 2020 Washington Football Team to overcome a 1-5 start and make the playoffs. In a roller-coaster season, just two of the Ravens’ wins came against teams that made the postseason: the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley started both of those games for injured star Lamar Jackson. The Ravens also uncharacteristically struggled at home, going 3-6 at M&T Bank Stadium for their first losing record in Baltimore since 2015. Since coach John Harbaugh’s first season in 2008, the Ravens have won 102 home games, which ranks third-most in the NFL over that span behind only Green Bay and New England. Next season figures to be much easier in Charm City, with the Saints (6-11), Titans (3-14) and Buccaneers (8-9) all finishing below .500 in 2025. At the same time, the Jaguars (13-4) and Chargers (11-6) were among the top teams in the AFC and are the most likely bets for a prime-time home game in 2026, especially with the Harbaugh brothers connection between Baltimore and Los Angeles. The road slate also includes three teams that finished below .500 in the Falcons (7-10), Panthers (8-9) and Colts (8-9). But the Texans (12-5) and Bills (12-5) put together strong seasons and are likely to be Super Bowl contenders again. The Cowboys went a disappointing 7-9-1 but always draw attention. Those three matchups are likely to be appealing for the NFL’s schedule-makers when it comes to setting prime-time dates, too. Thanks to a pair of flexible scheduling games in Weeks 16, 17 and 18, the Ravens finished the 2025 season with seven prime-time games, going 2-5 in them. Even coming off a disappointing regular season, the Ravens are likely to command the spotlight once again next year when the full schedule is announced in May. Ravens 2026 opponents Home: Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Jaguars, Titans, Saints, Buccaneers, Chargers Away: Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Falcons, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Cowboys Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. Related Articles Ravens’ season ends in heartbreak as Tyler Loop misses FG on last play of 26-24 loss to Steelers Instant analysis from Ravens’ 26-24 season-ending loss to Steelers Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton ruled out vs. Steelers; Nate Wiggins exits in 4th quarter Ravens vs. Steelers, January 4, 2026 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Steelers live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 26-24 loss View the full article

PITTSBURGH — A week ago, a watch party at Ravens coach John Harbaugh’s home for the Steelers’ loss to the Browns in Cleveland turned “uncorked,” the 18th-year coach said. By Sunday night, however, the mood had turned rightfully sour. In a win-or-go-home contest against its biggest rival, Baltimore’s season fizzled out like week-old champagne, at least when it mattered most. Trailing the Steelers 26-24 with 2 seconds remaining in a wild back-and-forth second half of back-and-forth lead changes down the stretch, rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal attempt wide right as time expired. Super Bowl favorites at the start of the season, the Ravens’ championship hopes were officially extinguished at the convergence of the Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, where so many of their dreams had died before and did so once again in familiarly excruciating fashion. Even when the Ravens looked like they’d find a way to win, they couldn’t. Leading 24-20 with just over two minutes remaining after Lamar Jackson (11 of 18 passing 238 yards, three touchdowns, one interception) connected on a 64-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers for the go-ahead score, 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers (31 of 47 passing, 294 yards, one touchdown) drove the Steelers 65 yards in six plays, connecting with a wide-open Calvin Austin III on a busted coverage for the game-clinching score. Still, Baltimore had a chance. Steelers kicker Chris Boswell missed the extra point, and Keaton Mitchell’s kick return gave the Ravens the ball just short of midfield. Faced with a fourth-and-7 from the 50, Jackson connected with tight end Isaiah Likely, who made a spectacular leaping catch to get the Ravens within field goal range. But like so many other opportunities, this was another missed one. The loss to Pittsburgh in the regular season’s final week officially eliminated Baltimore from playoff contention. The Steelers are AFC North champs for the first time since 2020 and will host a wild-card playoff game against the Houston Texans next Monday night. Ravens players will disperse on Monday after Baltimore failed to reach the postseason for the first time since 2021. The defeat was also the fifth in Baltimore’s past six trips to the Steel City. More notably, it brings an end to a year that began with so much promise and ended with a thud, with only frustration and questions that will echo across the weeks and months ahead. Questions about Harbaugh’s future, those of his offensive and defensive coordinators Todd Monken and Zach Orr, respectively, and even the franchise quarterback who eight years ago on draft night promised to bring a Vince Lombardi trophy to Charm City. Instead, it’s wait till next year — again. Related Articles Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton ruled out vs. Steelers with concussion Ravens vs. Steelers, January 4, 2026 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Steelers live updates: Baltimore takes 17-13 lead in 4th quarter Texans clinch AFC’s No. 5 seed, will face Ravens or Steelers on road Ravens WR Rashod Bateman ruled out vs. Steelers; 2 players called up Whatever the fallout, these Ravens will almost certainly not look the same next season. As for this 30th anniversary campaign, it will go down as an abject disaster. It was just two years ago that the Ravens were on the precipice of the sport’s final and biggest game. Harbaugh and Jackson led the Ravens to the NFL’s best record at 13-4 and the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. But Baltimore did what it has done too often of late when the stakes are the biggest and came up small in a 17-10 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, with questionable coaching decisions over play calling, missed scoring opportunities and three costly turnovers providing plenty of offseason fodder and fury. Last season, the Ravens stumbled early — the sting of the previous year perhaps still lingering — but bounced back. Facing a two-game deficit in the division with four to play, they won out, including against the nemesis Steelers, to capture a second straight AFC North crown. Yet, their postseason woes continued, losing 27-25 to the Buffalo Bills in a performance stained by three crucial turnovers, including two by Jackson, and a dropped would-be game-tying 2-point conversion pass by Mark Andrews with 93 seconds remaining. This time, and despite expectations, the Ravens didn’t come close to even making it that far. Five losses in their first six games — including squandering a 15-point fourth-quarter lead to the Bills in upstate New York — nearly torpedoed their chances from the start. Along the way, Jackson injured his hamstring and missed three games, two of them losses. Like previous years, though, the Ravens climbed their way out of the hole they’d dug themselves, rattling off five straight wins to climb to the top of the division. Turn the corner? It was all a tease. Baltimore dropped two straight division games at home, matching a franchise high with five turnovers in a Thanksgiving night debacle against the Cincinnati Bengals at home then getting bullied by the Steelers the next week. The first shutout of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s NFL career followed, then the Ravens blew another double-digit fourth-quarter lead, this time to the New England Patriots in Baltimore. With Jackson injured after suffering a back contusion in that defeat, the Ravens rode the long and strong legs of Derrick Henry to a victory over the Green Bay Packers last week to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. The Steelers breathed further life into them with a loss to the Browns a day later, setting up the first matchup for the division title in the season’s final week between the longtime foes. But like the rest of the year for the Ravens, it was one step forward, two steps back. Now the party is over. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ season-ending 26-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final game of the 2025 NFL regular season on Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh: Brian Wacker, reporter Like so many games before the Ravens had victory within their grasp until they didn’t. Not even some late-game would-be heroics by Lamar Jackson and Isaiah Likely or Derrick Henry’s running could save them. Tyler Loop’s missed field goal to win the game epitomized Baltimore’s failings as a team and an organization this season. Now there will be a long offseason of questions that will linger deep into the night from the head coach on down. Mike Preston, columnist The Steelers and the Ravens created one of the craziest games in their history, and Pittsburgh was fortunate to come out on the victorious end and win the AFC North championship. With the win, the Steelers earned a No. 4 seed in the postseason and will play the Houston Texans on Monday night in Pittsburgh. It was a wild finish with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throwing two long touchdown passes in the final four minutes and helping set up rookie Tyler Loop for the potential game-winning 44-yard field goal that was off the mark as time expired. Sam Cohn, reporter That’s about as gut-wrenching an ending to this Ravens season as we could’ve imagined. Season on the line, the Ravens had a chance. That fourth quarter pingponged in a show of unbelievable theater. Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers had a legacy fourth quarter. These Ravens haven’t played complementary football all season. On the biggest stage, under twinkly January lights, a blown defensive coverage cost them. But the offense did its part. And Loop’s missed kick sent the Steelers sideline into a frenzy. A long offseason awaits. C.J. Doon, editor Every year, the same nightmare. Only this time it didn’t even come in the postseason. Not officially, anyway. The Ravens had this game won, it seemed, when they led 10-3 and bowed up to stop the Steelers at the goal line to end the first half. Then, Kyle Hamilton and Alohi Gilman collided. Hamilton left the game on a cart, bound for the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion. As NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth said, “I can’t tell you how much of the Ravens’ defense just went into the tent and off the field with Kyle Hamilton.” If that wasn’t bad enough, Lamar Jackson’s pass got tipped and picked off by — who else? — T.J. Watt. Another year, another backbreaking turnover at a critical moment. Need everyone be reminded of the Mark Andrews fumble last year? Jackson’s exasperated reaction, hands raised, said it all. “How is this happening again?” That wasn’t the worst of it. Far from it. To see Chris Boswell miss an extra point attempt — just his second missed PAT in four years –to give the Ravens life, only for it be snatched away by rookie Tyler Loop’s miss was a haunting sequence. I think it would be risky to fire John Harbaugh and bet on another coach coming in and leading the Ravens to greater heights. The injuries are enough of a reason to give him some grace for a disappointing season. But maybe there’s an argument that something drastic needs to change for Baltimore to rid itself of this curse when it comes to important games. It’s been a long time since the magic of 2012. Owner Steve Bisciotti and general manager Eric DeCosta have a lot to ponder this offseason, including a potential Jackson extension and how much that should cost. Trading him seems like the nuclear option that would only come with the belief that Jackson’s best days are behind him. That would be another huge bet. But what perhaps hurts the most is that it felt like this team, despite all the drama and frustration this season, had the potential to go on an amazing run in what’s shaping up to be a wide-open AFC. It’s a shame that we’ll never know for sure. Tim Schwartz, editor The Ravens went right down the field on their opening drive and scored a touchdown with ease. How did it go so wrong from there? Inexplicable, really. Derrick Henry had nearly three times as many rushing yards as the Steelers had yards in the first quarter. Baltimore was sticking to its script. It spiraled from there, as it has so many times over the past few years. Even with Lamar Jackson’s magical moment — a go-ahead 50-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers early in the fourth quarter — you could almost sense that Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers would answer. And they did. And even after Jackson and Flowers were given a gift with 2:20 left — a completely blown coverage for a wide-open 64-yard score — Pittsburgh had the answer. Again. This season was a flat-out disaster for the Ravens, so it’s fitting it ended this way, falling short with one final shot at redemption. A huge offseason awaits. Who survives it? Don the Ravens run it back with coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Lamar Jackson? Does either coordinator come back? Does Eric DeCosta’s seat start to get hot? Will owner Steve Bisciotti address any of this with the media for the first time in four years? We’re going to find out much sooner than any Ravens fan wanted to. Bennett Conlin, editor How did Baltimore lose that game?? The Ravens jumped out to a 10-0 lead and looked poised to demolish a short-handed Steelers squad. Even after an awful stretch in the middle of the game, Baltimore rallied to take a 17-13 lead in the fourth quarter. Then the Ravens led, 24-20, later in the quarter. All they needed at the end was a 44-yard field goal to win it. The Ravens couldn’t hold on, finding a way to lose a game it seemingly had in the bag at multiple points. It’s a fitting end to the 2025 season. Losing to an aging Aaron Rodgers and a middling Steelers team twice in one season? It’s inexcusable. Finishing 8-9 despite having one of the most talented rosters in the NFL? That’s also inexcusable, even considering injuries to Lamar Jackson. Baltimore needs an offseason shake-up. Whether that’s major changes to the roster or a coaching staff overhaul remains to be seen, but the Ravens can’t just run it back next season. This season was baffling. Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton exited Baltimore’s Sunday night game against Pittsburgh in the third quarter after an awkward collision. He was later ruled out with a concussion. Hamilton and safety Alohi Gilman hit helmets shortly after halftime while contesting a pass to Calvin Austin III. Both were evaluated for a concussion, but Gilman returned on the next play following a timeout. The secondary then took another hit when cornerback Nate Wiggins exited the game in the middle of the fourth. Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers offered Hamilton a fist bump as Hamilton walked to the sideline after the play. Hamilton was carted off as Steelers fullback Connor Heyward scored a touchdown to tie the game at 10 in the third quarter. Pittsburgh took a 13-10 lead one possession later on a 25-yard Chris Boswell field goal. The 2021 first-round pick is the centerpiece of Baltimore’s defense, totaling 53 tackles and two forced fumbles entering the game. He recorded nine tackles before exiting. The Ravens traded for Gilman on Oct. 7. The move allowed Hamilton to split time at linebacker, safety, slot corner and along the edge. He earned his third Pro Bowl selection and is Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded safety. Gilman, rookie Malaki Starks and Ar’Darius Washington will try to fill his void the rest of the game. Wiggins exited after his leg was rolled up on by Steelers running back Jaylen Warren with 8:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. He remained on the ground briefly before being helped off the field by trainers. Cornerback T.J. Tampa replaced him. The Steelers retook a 20-17 lead with 3:49 remaining. Wiggins recorded two pass deflections and four tackles before exiting. He had three interceptions entering the game. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, or x.com/Mikephowes. Related Articles Ravens vs. Steelers, January 4, 2026 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Steelers live updates: Baltimore takes 17-13 lead in 4th quarter Texans clinch AFC’s No. 5 seed, will face Ravens or Steelers on road Ravens WR Rashod Bateman ruled out vs. Steelers; 2 players called up Ravens assistant to become Georgia Tech offensive coordinator: reports View the full article

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Jabrill Peppers (40) reacts after Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop's missed field goal attempt in the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop (33) watches his missed field goal attempt during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop (33) attempts to kick a field goal that was missed during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker, top, celebrates with wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) after a touchdown by Flowers during the second half an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Adam Thielen (16) pulls in a catch during the second half an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl) Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Connor Heyward (83) pushes for a touchdown during the second half an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl) Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) is stopped short of the endzone during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens safety Alohi Gilman (12) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko) Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) runs for yards during the second half an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) runs after a catch during the second half an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl) Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) is looked at after a play during the second half an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (34) carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl) Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) reacts after being stopped short of the endzone during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Baltimore Ravens safety Alohi Gilman, left, reacts after the Pittsburgh Steelers were stopped on fourth down during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, hands the ball off to running back Derrick Henry (22) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, center, is tackled by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson, left, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl) Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith (0) and safety Alohi Gilman (12) react after stopping Pittsburgh Steelers on fourth down during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl) Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) dives for yardage as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Baltimore Ravens guard Daniel Faalele reacts after a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson runs out of bounds during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith, left, moves in to sack Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks to throw during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker (81) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker (81) runs in a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker (81) runs in a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl) Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (34) is unable to pull in a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson warms up prior to Sunday's game against the Steelers. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) View the full article

The Ravens visit the Steelers for a prime-time matchup Sunday. The winner secures the AFC North crown and makes the postseason, while the loser’s season will end. Follow along here for live coverage and analysis. View the full article

HOUSTON — C.J. Stroud accounted for two touchdowns and Ka’imi Fairbairn made a go-ahead field goal with 12 seconds left to lift the Houston Texans to a 38-30 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday that extended their winning streak to nine games. The victory gives the Texans (12-5) the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs. Defensive tackle Tommy Togiai scooped up a fumble on the final play and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown to pad the lead. The Texans clinched a third straight postseason berth last week and they had a chance to win the AFC South with a victory and a Jacksonville loss. But with the Jaguars up big over the Titans at halftime, coach DeMeco Ryans opted to rest quarterback Stroud, defensive stars Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Derek Stingley and several other starters after the break. The Colts led 30-29 after a field goal with about 2 1/2 minutes to go before Fairbairn’s 43-yard kick put the Texans on top 32-30 and gave him a career-high six field goals in the game. Rookie Riley Leonard had 270 yards passing with two TDs and he ran for another score. But he also lost a fumble and threw an interception in his first NFL start after the 44-year-old Philip Rivers started the past three games for the Colts after coming out of retirement. It’s the seventh straight loss for the Colts (8-9), who were eliminated from postseason contention with Houston’s win last week. Stroud had an 11-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and added a 2-yard run in the period to put the Texans up 20-10. The Texans trailed 27-26 early in the fourth when Alijah Huzzie picked off Leonard to give them great field position. They failed to move the ball and settled for a 44-yard field goal to take a 29-27 lead. Jonathan Taylor had 14 carries for just 26 yards to end the season with 1,585 yards and finish second in the NFL in yards rushing behind Buffalo’s James Cook. Alec Pierce had four receptions for a season-high 132 yards with two touchdowns before being ejected late in the third quarter for making contact with an official. He was ejected when he brushed an official with his arm as he was complaining about a flag not being thrown on a pass intended for him in the end zone. He was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and disqualified. The Colts took a 24-23 lead on a 1-yard TD scamper by Leonard on Indy’s first drive of the second half. That score was set up by a 53-yard reception by Pierce. Houston went back on top with a 43-yard field goal later in the third. After the penalty on Pierce, the Colts settled for a 39-yard field goal that put them up 27-26. Houston took a 13-10 lead when Stroud threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins with about 9 ½ minutes left in the first half. About a minute later, Danielle Hunter sacked Leonard and caused a fumble which Henry To’oTo’o recovered on the 2-yard line. Stroud ran for the score on the next play to make it 20-10. Pierce’s second touchdown came on an 8-yard grab that capped a 92-yard drive and cut the lead to 20-17 with about 90 seconds until halftime. Fairbairn’s 29-yard field goal extended the lead to 23-17 at halftime. Leonard connected with Pierce on a 66-yard touchdown pass to put the Colts up 7-3 early in the first. Fairbairn’s second field goal of the game cut the lead to 7-6 later in the first. A 50-yard field goal by Blake Grupe pushed Indy’s lead to 10-6 near the end of the quarter. Injuries Houston RB Jawhar Jordan injured his ankle in the second quarter and didn’t return. Up next The Texans will hit the road for the playoffs next week with an opponent to be determined. View the full article

The Ravens will be without one of their top playmakers for Sunday’s must-win game. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman was ruled out Saturday with an illness for Sunday night’s de facto AFC North championship game against the host Pittsburgh Steelers. Bateman was initially listed as questionable Friday after missing practice all week. Coach John Harbaugh said Friday that Bateman “had a pretty serious flu situation all week” but that the wide receiver did some individual drills before Friday’s practice. Harbaugh said he expected the illness to “clear up by Sunday.” Cornerback Marlon Humphrey also missed Friday’s practice with an illness and was ruled questionable to play. “I think a lot of teams are dealing with this right now around the league,” Harbaugh said of the illnesses. If Humphrey can’t play, Chidobe Awuzie would likely step into a starting role on the outside. Awuzie has played 436 snaps at outside corner this season, allowing 23 catches for 259 yards and one touchdown. Bateman, 26, has just 19 catches for 224 yards this season. He missed two games with a high ankle sprain that he suffered in a win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10. This past summer, the 2021 first-round draft pick signed a three-year contract extension worth $36.75 million, with $20 million guaranteed, making him the first wide receiver in the organization’s 30-year history to receive a third multiyear contract with the team. In other moves, the Ravens elevated wide receiver Keith Kirkwood and defensive back Amani Oruwariye from the practice squad for Sunday night’s game. Kirkwood, 32, has 24 catches for 294 yards and three touchdowns in his career with the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers but hasn’t played in an NFL game since late in the 2023 season. Oruwariye, a seven-year pro, has played one game with the Ravens this season, with all of his snaps coming on special teams. Defensive tackle Taven Bryan, who signed midseason to help bolster an injury-plagued front, was not activated from injured reserve and was downgraded to out for Sunday’s game. Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. Related Articles Ravens assistant to become Georgia Tech offensive coordinator: reports QB Joe Flacco appreciative of his chance to play for the Bengals Josh Tolentino: Ravens walk fine line of promise and frustration | COMMENTARY Ravens vs. Steelers staff picks: Who will win Sunday night in Pittsburgh? Ravens veteran NT John Jenkins ‘surprised’ by extension, his first in NFL View the full article

The Ravens’ season isn’t over yet, but the team’s coaching staff is already changing. Georgia Tech is finalizing a deal to make Ravens tight ends coach George Godsey the school’s new offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports Saturday, first by ESPN. Godsey, 47, is a graduate of Georgia Tech, where he played quarterback from 1998 to 2001 under coach George O’Leary and was teammates with current Yellow Jackets coach Brent Key. Godsey, the program’s record-holder for single-season passing yards (3,085), is set to replace Buster Faulkner, who left to take the same job at Florida under new coach Jon Sumrall last month. Godsey, 47, is a graduate of Georgia Tech, where he played quarterback from 1998 to 2001 under coach George O’Leary and was teammates with current Yellow Jackets coach Brent Key. Godsey, the program’s record holder for single-season passing yards (3,085), is set to replace Buster Faulkner, who left to take the same job at Florida under new coach Jon Sumrall last month. A North Carolina native, Godsey began his coaching career as an assistant at Central Florida from 2004 to 2010 before jumping to the NFL with the New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins and Ravens from 2011 to 2025. He was the offensive coordinator with the Texans during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, calling plays under coach Bill O’Brien as Houston won back-to-back AFC South titles. Godsey served as co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach with the Dolphins under coach Brian Flores in 2021 before being hired by the Ravens in March 2022. He interviewed for the Ravens’ offensive coordinator position to replace Greg Roman at the end of the 2022 season, a job that eventually went to then-Georgia assistant Todd Monken. In Godsey’s three seasons in Baltimore, the Ravens’ tight ends have been among the most productive groups in the league led by three-time Pro Bowl selection Mark Andrews and fourth-year pro Isaiah Likely. Andrews recently agreed to a three-year contract extension through 2028 worth $39.3 million with $26 million guaranteed, while Likely and 2022 fourth-round draft pick Charlie Kolar are set to become free agents at the end of the season. Godsey also helps oversee six-time Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard. The Ravens enter a de facto AFC North championship game Sunday night against the host Pittsburgh Steelers, with the winner clinching a playoff berth and a home game as the No. 4 seed while the loser is eliminated from postseason contention. Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

CINCINNATI — After opening the season as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns facing the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Flacco will close the season as the backup for the Bengals as they face the Browns on Sunday. Flacco was dealt to the Bengals in October and made six starts for the Bengals while Joe Burrow was out with a toe injury. “I don’t really think about putting a label on it,” Flacco said. “It’s crazy. Seasons always go by quick once they’ve started. But the way that this one went, it seems like it flew by.” During the summer, in Cleveland Browns training camp, Flacco won a competition for the starting quarterback job and made four starts for Cleveland. In Week 1 against the Bengals, Flacco threw for 290 yards. He said that over the past 17 weeks, he has seen improvement from the Bengals defense. Now, he refers to the Bengals defense as his team’s defense. “We’re stopping the run,” Flacco said. “We’re getting more pressure on the quarterback. When you combine those two things, it’s going to help you out.” While Flacco went 1-5 as a starter in Cincinnati, the 40-year-old played well. He threw for at least 200 yards in four of his six starts, and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game. Flacco said that he developed a lot of respect for Bengals coach Zac Taylor. “He has a lot of strengths,” Flacco said. “He’s really good at what he does. His demeanor, his overall personality and the way he leads men is really good. The way he puts game plans together. Also, he’s willing to allow it to be collaborative. That’s a strength. His game day play-calling is also something he does really well.” Burrow took over as the starter when he returned on Thanksgiving, and Flacco has been the backup over the past month. Flacco will be a free agent again at the end of the season. As he evaluates his options, he’s hoping to find another chance to play and to start. “That’s always a priority,” Flacco said. “I’m somebody who wants to play football. You’ve got to assess and see whatever is thrown your way. You have to go from there and see what you can do about it.” He said that he’d be open to returning to the Bengals, but he’ll weigh several factors. “I haven’t really thought about it,” Flacco said. “I don’t hope to do anything. I have an idea of maybe of what some goals would be. I’ll go from there and see what happens.” View the full article

The Ravens have spent the entire season balancing a fine line between promise and frustration. They have taken advantage of timely breaks and won games that kept them within arm’s reach of the first-place Steelers. Baltimore also has endured collapses, injuries, coaching mishaps and personnel misfires that left little margin for comfort. Not much about this wild season has felt clean, and all that tension leads directly to Sunday night. For the first time in the franchise’s 30-year history, the Ravens and Steelers will meet in a winner-takes-all regular-season finale for the AFC North crown and a playoff berth. Consider the highly anticipated Game 272 as a determinator of whether this season will be remembered as flawed but resilient or talented but unreliable. Inside the Castle, the Ravens insist they are ready for the moment. “I see a team that’s high energy and ready to go,” coach John Harbaugh said Friday. “It was a great team meeting. It was a lot of fun, but it was also very focused and detailed. Guys are locked in for football. We have a bunch of guys that love football, and they love the opportunity that they have, and they want to go make the most of it.” That opportunity exists only because the Ravens survived their own inconsistency by returning to their run-first identity. They also received some outside help, of course. In a reflection of Baltimore’s rollercoaster season, there was the opener at Buffalo, in which they looked unstoppable before critical mistakes snowballed into an unforgettable collapse. The fallout from Baltimore’s Week 1 stumble bled into a 1-5 start, but the battered Ravens slowly rose from the mat, responding with a season-long five-game winning streak between Weeks 8 to 12. Since then, the Ravens have lost three of their past five games, including a Dec. 7 home defeat to the Steelers, setting up Sunday night’s finale at Acrisure Stadium. “It’s win or go home,” running back Derrick Henry said. “It’s basically like we’re in the playoffs. Going into Pittsburgh, they are a division rival who we both know each other very well. I feel like we’re the underdog going into this game. They came into our house and beat us. They have a better record, so I feel like they’re up on us. We have to execute this week and go in there with a great plan to go execute.” Execution, of course, has been the team’s recurring challenge. When they play clean football, the Ravens look like one of the league’s most dangerous teams. Unfortunately, those moments have been sparse and difficult to identify with much consistency. Related Articles Ravens vs. Steelers staff picks: Who will win Sunday night in Pittsburgh? Ravens veteran NT John Jenkins ‘surprised’ by extension, his first in NFL Ravens QB Lamar Jackson gets full week of practice; key defender missing Staff picks for Week 18 of 2025 NFL season: Panthers at Buccaneers, Seahawks at 49ers and more Ravens vs. Steelers scouting report for Week 18: Who has the edge? Despite the constant turbulence, the Ravens have at least traveled well. They enter Week 18 tied with the Chargers for the second-best road record in the AFC (5-2), a helpful reminder that when Baltimore operates with physicality and controls the line of scrimmage, it can handle hostile environments. After losing their first two road games at Buffalo and Kansas City, the Ravens have rattled off five consecutive wins away from M&T Bank Stadium. The regular season’s final road test: at Pittsburgh. “I just want to win,” quarterback Lamar Jackson said. “I don’t really care about the criticism, it’s going to be that way, especially with how the season was going. There is always noise. It’s the National Football League. We just have to focus on winning.” There is also the broader context that makes this opportunity feel palpable, despite all of Baltimore’s shortcomings. For the first time since 2014, the Chiefs, who’ve too often felt like the Ravens’ kryptonite, will miss the playoffs. Patrick Mahomes has advanced to at least the conference championship game in all seven of his seasons as Kansas City’s starting quarterback. Not this year, however. Will the Ravens be ready to take advantage of a Mahomes-less AFC field? Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson talks with offensive coordinator Todd Monken at practice Friday. "There is always noise. It’s the National Football League. We just have to focus on winning,” Jackson said. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) “It’s going to be a physical game, and it’s on the road. I think we need to play smart, but not play timid,” safety Kyle Hamilton said of the Steelers. “I think there’s a fine line there, especially in this game. You can’t go out there holding any of your bullets in your gun, because you have to let them all go; it’s win or go home … let it rip at the end of the day. Whoever loses the game, it’s their last game of the year. So, whatever the outcome, you don’t want to be sitting in the locker room saying you could have done more.” A postseason berth wouldn’t completely salvage the season, especially if a potential playoff run is short-lived. The Ravens entered the season widely considered as Super Bowl favorites, and quickly fell out of the picture. That should continue to serve as the backdrop to whatever ending comes to fruition in the near future. Will the Ravens finally be able to shed themselves from inconsistency that has plagued them far too long? “Potential is one thing that’s untapped,” veteran linebacker Roquan Smith said. “We’ve done it, but we haven’t done it on a consistent basis week-in and week-out, play-in and play-out. So, I just think it’s a great opportunity knowing the stakes that we have for this game to just come out and show who we are. “We are looking at this game as a part of the new season, so I’m very excited and very eager to get out there and show the world.” 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

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday night’s Week 18 game between the Ravens and Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh that will decide the AFC North champion: Brian Wacker, reporter Steelers 20, Ravens 17: Receiver DK Metcalf not being available for the Steelers is significant, if not game-shifting. The Ravens’ defense is also not nearly as good as the Cleveland Browns’, so Aaron Rodgers, a masterful operator, should be able to have some success against cornerbacks Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey as well as linebacker Trenton Simpson underneath and over the middle. If the Ravens learned anything from last week’s win over the Green Bay Packers, it’s that moments like these are why they got Derrick Henry. The bruising back ran for 162 punishing yards against the Steelers in an easy and crucial win in Baltimore last December, though Pittsburgh didn’t have stout rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon then. The return of Lamar Jackson also bolsters the offense. But weird things happen in Pittsburgh, which has been a house of horrors for the Ravens’ quarterback and a few of his teammates in recent years. The longer this game stays close and the more discordant it is, the more that favors the Steelers. The Ravens, meanwhile, have been a tease all year. Why would this be any different? Sam Cohn, reporter Ravens 20, Steelers 17: A few factors that could help determine how this game goes intertwine like a loaf of challah. The Ravens have been much sharper on the road (5-2) than they are at home (3-6). They’ve also played worse in prime time games, compared with the afternoon slate. Both quarterbacks are in line for legacy games: Jackson, a quintessential final test for this bumpy regular season; and Rodgers, 42 years old looking to turn back the clock in what could be his final shot at a playoff run. The upward trend of the Ravens of late compared with the downward arrow in Pittsburgh gives me more confidence in Baltimore — by a smidge. It feels like a toss up between two teams unworthy of playoff contention. All that said, no DK Metcalf leaves a gaping hole in the Steelers’ offense. Metcalf torched the Ravens when these teams met a few weeks back. Expect Rodgers to play better than he did in Cleveland, but not by enough to overpower what is still a talented Ravens secondary. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 24, Steelers 10: Unless the Ravens turn the ball over, they should win this game, and do it fairly easily. Pittsburgh is missing two of its top receivers and doesn’t have a long ball threat in the absence of DK Metcalf, who is serving the second of a two-game suspension. Pittsburgh’s run defense is good, but the Ravens should keep pounding the ball with Derrick Henry. Not only do they control the time of possession, but they also keep their No. 25 ranked defense off the field. Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers has to have a great game, but that doesn’t seem promising without a big-time receiver on the outside. Josh Tolentino, columnist Ravens 24, Steelers 21: Lamar Jackson returning to practice as a full participant in all three sessions for the first time in two months might be the headliner ahead of this fascinating Week 18 showdown, but the Ravens need to run the ball again and again with Derrick Henry, who will be celebrating his 32nd birthday Sunday night. The Steelers regain key cog Derrick Harmon, a stud rookie defensive tackle who missed the first meeting involving these two teams, and might sell out to stop King Henry. But Todd Monken must lean on the team’s identity and physicality in this win-or-go home matchup. When Jackson is asked to create explosive plays, the two-time NFL MVP must prioritize ball security and not gift Pittsburgh any free possessions. The Ravens lost their first two road games at Buffalo and Kansas City, but have since rattled off five straight wins away from M&T Bank Stadium. With Baltimore riding the shoulders of Henry, plus Jackson’s pending return, Sunday night figures to be road win No. 6. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 20, Steelers 16: Lamar Jackson is available, and DK Metcalf isn’t. Need we say more? Sure, there’s a world in which Jackson is rusty and struggles against a Pittsburgh defense that has slowed him down many times before, but he has the luxury of handing it off to Derrick Henry. The Steelers’ best playmaker right now is Kenneth Gainwell. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Adam Thielen and Scotty Miller are too old, Calvin Austin III is banged up, and Roman Wilson is unproven. It would take a comedy of mistakes and missed opportunities for the Ravens to squander this opportunity that was handed to them on a silver platter thanks to the Browns’ surprising win over Pittsburgh last week. The real question to me isn’t whether the Ravens win this game, but how far they go after that. Some sportsbooks already make Baltimore a slight favorite at home against the Texans, the likely No. 5 seed, in the wild-card round. This game is a perfect test to see whether the Ravens can finally start to show that Super Bowl potential. Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 23, Steelers 17: The Ravens’ biggest weakness is probably their secondary, but without DK Metcalf, can Pittsburgh really stress Baltimore’s corners? The Steelers’ injury and suspension situation looks more dire than Baltimore’s. A healthier Lamar Jackson obviously helps the Ravens, but offensive coordinator Todd Monken shouldn’t need to put the game in Jackson’s hands, especially if he’s less than 100% healthy. The plan for Baltimore should be simple: Give the ball to Derrick Henry and play decent defense against a short-handed Steelers offense. This is a de facto playoff game, but the Steelers don’t look like a playoff team with Metcalf sidelined. Tim Schwartz, reporter Ravens 28, Steelers 21: Lamar Jackson is back. Derrick Henry is rolling. The defense has turned a corner. Is that enough for the Ravens? It should be against a Steelers squad that has been reeling and looked totally lost last Sunday in Cleveland without wide receiver DK Metcalf. Baltimore rediscovered its identity without Jackson by running Henry over and over. This coaching staff should know by now that that is the Ravens’ recipe for success. Count on Jackson to manage the game and pick up some key third downs and Baltimore will win. A loss very well could spell the end of the Harbaugh-Jackson relationship, so they better show up. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 27, Steelers 24: The Ravens have come a long way since a 1-5 start to the season. It’s been a year of injuries and ups and downs, but here we are. It all comes down to this one game. If the Ravens have Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, I think they can do it. Baltimore needs to feed the ball to Henry and go for a division title. Have a news tip? Contact Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

When Saints nose tackle Broderick Bunkley suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury in 2013, he told then-teammate and rookie John Jenkins to not give New Orleans a reason to bring someone else in. Thirteen years and seven teams later, it has proven to be sage advice. On Friday, the Ravens signed Jenkins to a one-year extension, the team announced. The deal is for one year and $2.1 million, a source with direct knowledge of the contract confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. “I’m excited,” Jenkins said Friday. “Ya’ll know I been around the whole America and having my first extension in 13 years, I’m excited.” Indeed. The 6-foot-3, 360-pound defensive tackle had ostensibly been on 11 one-year deals over the course of what has been a solid if unspectacular career with seven teams. “So yeah, I was surprised,” he said. Jenkins, 36, wasn’t sure that he would be back at all. “Being in this position, 13 years, you start thinking about life after football,” he said. “So I was having some conversations with some people in the front office and things of that nature and they were like, ‘Hey listen, you still got it.’ You think so? Next thing you know, here we are.” The deal also comes after what has been a strong season for the veteran. In 16 games, Jenkins has 36 tackles, including three for loss, and two forced fumbles. His Pro Football Focus grade is also his best since 2021. And he has helped plug the middle of a run defense that over the past two months has been one of the best in the NFL. Just as importantly, he has been a dependable presence in the middle after Baltimore lost Nnamdi Madubuike to a season-ending neck injury in Week 2 and not long after veteran Broderick Washington to a season-ending Achilles tendon injury. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson gets full week of practice; key defender missing Staff picks for Week 18 of 2025 NFL season: Panthers at Buccaneers, Seahawks at 49ers and more Ravens vs. Steelers scouting report for Week 18: Who has the edge? Why Ravens’ Travis Jones could be difference-maker vs. Steelers: ‘Like a tree stump’ With DK Metcalf suspended, Ravens aim to dictate Steelers’ offense With Madubuike’s future uncertain, the Ravens at least know they will now have Jenkins and Travis Jones for the immediate future after Jones signed a three-year extension last month. That organizational faith in Jenkins is one of the reasons the seasoned defender was more than happy to stick around. “They believed in me to not bring somebody else in,” he said. “That says a lot when things like that happen.” As for the secret to lasting that long at one of the most physically demanding positions in the sport? “Just know that it’s not very glorifying,” Jenkins said. “I make a joke with [fullback] Pat Ricard — he’s the nose tackle of the offense. We just grind, do our job and set people up to make plays.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

For the first time in two months, quarterback Lamar Jackson participated in practice all week. It couldn’t come at a better time for Baltimore, with the AFC North championship game set for Sunday night. Still, the Ravens entered the new year much as they had spent much of 2025: managing absences. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey was not at Friday’s practice despite not appearing on the injury report earlier in the week, while receiver Rashod Bateman missed his third practice this week because of an illness. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, however, returned Friday after missing time earlier in the week. Humphrey has dealt with several injuries this season. He missed Week 11 against Cleveland after having finger surgery and also sat out Week 5 against Houston with a calf injury. His absence could push Chidobe Awuzie into a starting role on the outside. Awuzie has played 436 snaps at outside corner this season, allowing 23 catches for 259 yards and one touchdown. That potential matchup would come against a Pittsburgh receiving corps without top target DK Metcalf, which struggled in his absence during last week’s 13-6 loss to Cleveland. Van Noy was seen Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday with a quad injury, a promising sign for his availability Sunday in Pittsburgh. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley was also not seen at practice, though the 10-year veteran has routinely used Fridays as a rest day. Stanley has played in all but one game this season. Bateman’s absence is familiar territory for Baltimore. The 2021 first-round draft pick missed three games earlier this year with a high ankle sprain after signing a three-year extension in June. Those injuries contrast with Jackson’s full return to the practice field — his first since Week 10 against Minnesota. During that stretch, he was listed with knee, ankle and toe injuries, along with a back contusion that caused him to miss Sunday’s 41-24 win at Green Bay. “It’s been that long ago where we get Lamar in a full week of practice and timing with the receivers and our communication,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said Thursday. Jackson said Thursday he will “100%” start against Pittsburgh and first felt confident he would play Monday. He will wear bulky padding on his back, similar to what he wore during his rookie season. At last, Baltimore’s quarterback is back. “It feels great to be out there with my guys, as always,” Jackson said Thursday. “I am looking forward to playing on Sunday.” This story will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. Related Articles Ravens veteran NT John Jenkins ‘surprised’ by extension, his first in NFL Staff picks for Week 18 of 2025 NFL season: Panthers at Buccaneers, Seahawks at 49ers and more Ravens vs. Steelers scouting report for Week 18: Who has the edge? Why Ravens’ Travis Jones could be difference-maker vs. Steelers: ‘Like a tree stump’ With DK Metcalf suspended, Ravens aim to dictate Steelers’ offense 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 18: Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Saturday, 4:30 p.m.) Brian Wacker (8-8 last week, 166-88-1 overall): Panthers Sam Cohn (8-8 last week, 167-87-1 overall): Panthers Mike Preston (9-7 last week, 164-90-1 overall): Buccaneers Josh Tolentino (7-9 last week, 166-88-1 overall): Buccaneers C.J. Doon (12-4 last week, 164-90-1 overall): Panthers Bennett Conlin (8-8 last week, 166-88-1 overall): Panthers Tim Schwartz (9-7 last week, 153-101-1 overall): Buccaneers Patrice Sanders (11-5 last week, 159-95-1 overall): Buccaneers Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers (Saturday, 8 p.m.) Wacker: 49ers Cohn: Seahawks Preston: 49ers Tolentino: Seahawks Doon: 49ers Conlin: Seahawks Schwartz: Seahawks Sanders: 49ers New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Falcons Cohn: Falcons Preston: Falcons Tolentino: Falcons Doon: Saints Conlin: Falcons Schwartz: Saints Sanders: Falcons Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bengals Cohn: Bengals Preston: Bengals Tolentino: Bengals Doon: Bengals Conlin: Bengals Schwartz: Bengals Sanders: Bengals Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Texans Cohn: Texans Preston: Colts Tolentino: Texans Doon: Texans Conlin: Texans Schwartz: Texans Sanders: Texans Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Jaguars Cohn: Jaguars Preston: Jaguars Tolentino: Jaguars Doon: Jaguars Conlin: Jaguars Schwartz: Jaguars Sanders: Jaguars Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Packers Cohn: Packers Preston: Packers Tolentino: Packers Doon: Vikings Conlin: Vikings Schwartz: Packers Sanders: Packers Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Cowboys Cohn: Cowboys Preston: Cowboys Tolentino: Cowboys Doon: Cowboys Conlin: Cowboys Schwartz: Cowboys Sanders: Cowboys New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Bills Cohn: Bills Preston: Bills Tolentino: Bills Doon: Bills Conlin: Bills Schwartz: Bills Sanders: Bills Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Bears Cohn: Bears Preston: Lions Tolentino: Bears Doon: Bears Conlin: Bears Schwartz: Lions Sanders: Bears Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Broncos Cohn: Broncos Preston: Broncos Tolentino: Broncos Doon: Broncos Conlin: Broncos Schwartz: Broncos Sanders: Broncos Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Rams Cohn: Rams Preston: Rams Tolentino: Rams Doon: Rams Conlin: Rams Schwartz: Rams Sanders: Rams Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Raiders Cohn: Chiefs Preston: Chiefs Tolentino: Chiefs Doon: Chiefs Conlin: Chiefs Schwartz: Chiefs Sanders: Chiefs Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Patriots Cohn: Patriots Preston: Dolphins Tolentino: Patriots Doon: Patriots Conlin: Patriots Schwartz: Patriots Sanders: Patriots Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Eagles Cohn: Eagles Preston: Eagles Tolentino: Eagles Doon: Eagles Conlin: Eagles Schwartz: Eagles Sanders: Eagles Have a news tip? Contact Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

Surprisingly, this is a new one. For the first time in their storied, decades-old rivalry, the Ravens and Steelers (9-7) will meet for a winner-take-all regular season finale. There are hats and T-shirts on the line. Baltimore (8-8) could be a playoff team by the end of the weekend. Who will have the advantage Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium? Ravens passing game vs. Steelers pass defense The Steelers have been a thorn in Lamar Jackson’s side, perhaps more than any other team over his eight-year career. He’s started eight games against Pittsburgh and lost five. Jackson’s touchdown-to-interception ratio is a putrid 11 to 10. He’s rushed for only one touchdown and coughed up three fumbles. So even though the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is healthy, returning from a back injury suffered in Week 16, there’s something about this division rival that tempers expectations for the kind of game-changing, quarterback mastery he’s capable of. Whether defensive lineman T.J. Watt can play will have major implications on Baltimore’s ability to stay on schedule. He can muck up an opposing run game, and in 17 career games against the Ravens, he has 17 sacks. “You just have to be calm,” said Jackson, who enjoyed a full week of practice for the first time in nearly two months. “You have to be calm in the storm. So, that’s my approach. And I feel like that’s the team’s approach.” EDGE: Steelers Steelers passing game vs. Ravens pass defense Last time these teams met, Aaron Rodgers had no issues picking apart the Ravens’ secondary to the tune of season-high 284 yards and a touchdown. Anyone who watched the Steelers lose in Cleveland last weekend — particularly the final two minutes — knows why this rematch might look a bit different. Rodgers didn’t have his favorite target, DK Metcalf, who’s serving a two-game suspension. It was obvious in that loss. Rodgers passed for 168 yards and never found the end zone. He’ll also be without tight end Darnell Washington, who broke his arm in Cleveland, although he could get some help from speedy Calvin Austin III returning from injury. Another plus for Baltimore: Most of the explosive plays allowed in their first meeting came by Pittsburgh exploiting one-on-one matchups. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he’s noticed that the Ravens secondary stray away from man coverage in favor of zone looks to minimize an opposing team’s air raid. “I think that our fundamentals and technique have to be better and more consistent,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “Sometimes they make plays, and it’s a good throw, good catch, and you live with that. But what’s unacceptable is playing with bad eyes, bad fundamentals and not giving yourself a chance.” EDGE: Ravens Ravens running game vs. Steelers run defense Derrick Henry. Need we say more? He’s coming off the best showing of his Ravens career: four touchdowns with 216 yards on 36 carries, all season highs. Henry wasn’t merely a one-dimensional freight train. According to Next Gen Stats, he ran for 100-plus yards between the tackles and another 100-plus out toward the boundary, the fourth such versatile game of his career. No other running back has done that once in the past decade. “It’s gonna be a challenge for us,” former Raven and current Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen said. “But I think we’re built for the challenge. I think every single guy in the locker room is fired up for the challenge.” Pittsburgh’s defense wouldn’t be the first group forced to eat such mid-week confidence. But the Steelers have more ground to stand on as the best run stoppers in the NFL over the past three weeks, allowing the fewest rushing yards per game (52) and per carry (2.9). EDGE: Steelers Steelers running game vs. Ravens run defense An unstoppable force is about to meet an immovable object. The Ravens have an elite run defense; one the best in the NFL. Across the line, Pittsburgh owns the league’s second best rushing attack over the past month (165.3), second only to Baltimore. Harbaugh called Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell “top of the line running backs.” The question here is whether the Ravens’ secondary can hold up enough that the Steelers aren’t able to follow in Green Bay’s footsteps, abandon the run and lean into a pass-heavy offense. EDGE: Ravens Ravens special teams vs. Steelers special teams The Steelers’ special teams unit was once among the most consistent in the NFL. They’ve been shaky lately. Kicker Chris Boswell has a miss in each of the past two weeks. Long snapper Christian Kuntz has had multiple poor snaps lately. A divisional rivalry in murky conditions could feasibly come down to a few innocuous special teams plays, and the Ravens have been the more reliable group. Related Articles Why Ravens’ Travis Jones could be difference-maker vs. Steelers: ‘Like a tree stump’ With DK Metcalf suspended, Ravens aim to dictate Steelers’ offense Ravens vs. Steelers Week 18 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Ravens’ Derrick Henry is no stranger to pummeling Pittsburgh: ‘Do my job’ Ravens’ Lamar Jackson responds to questions about injury, future: ‘Be calm in a storm’ EDGE: Ravens Ravens intangibles vs. Steelers intangibles Calls for heads to roll have grown louder with disappointing seasons in Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The narrative heading into Sunday is that both Harbaugh and Tomlin, whether it’s rooted in fact or not (it’s likely still undecided and both are still under contract), are coaching for their jobs. They’re the two longest-tenured active coaches in the NFL. Each has a Super Bowl ring. Each has been booed by their home fans at some point this season. If one side comes out flat on Sunday, calls for a firing will only grow louder. The other might save themselves — at least from continued discourse — by earning a home playoff game. So the edge here goes ever so slightly to the betting line road favorites. And who knows, maybe both jobs are safe no matter what happens because they’re two of the most consistently successful coaches in the NFL and this has been a weird year across the league. EDGE: Ravens Prediction A few factors that could help determine how this game goes intertwine like a loaf of challah. The Ravens have been much sharper on the road (5-2) than they are at home (3-6). They’ve also played worse in prime-time games compared with the afternoon slate. Both quarterbacks are in line for legacy games: Jackson, a quintessential final test for this bumpy regular season; and Rodgers, 42 years old looking to turn back the clock in what could be his final shot at a playoff run. The upward trend of the Ravens of late compared with the downward arrow in Pittsburgh provides more confidence in Baltimore — by a smidge. It feels like a toss up between two teams unworthy of playoff contention. That all said, no DK Metcalf leaves a gaping hole in the Steelers’ offense. Metcalf torched the Ravens when these teams met a few weeks back. Expect Rodgers to play better than he did in Cleveland, but not by enough to overpower what is still a talented Ravens secondary. Ravens 20, Steelers 17. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Ravens coach John Harbaugh speaks to the media after practice. Baltimore needs a win over Pittsburgh on Sunday to make the postseason. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) View the full article

The first person Ravens right tackle Roger Rosengarten saw when he arrived at the team’s facility in Owings Mills after being drafted in April 2024 was defensive tackle Travis Jones. “I remember it was a time where not everyone’s back but some guys are back here doing offseason stuff,” Rosengarten said. “I saw him and, man, my heart sank a little bit. “I was like, ‘Dude, is this how everyone looks in the NFL? I started asking around, ‘Does everyone look like this? No, that guy’s just a freak.’” Fours years into his NFL career, Jones, a third-round pick out of Connecticut has also blossomed into one of the NFL’s top nose tackles. It’s why Baltimore signed him to a three-year, $40.5 million contract extension earlier this season before he had a chance to hit free agency this offseason. With a win-or-go-home game against the Steelers on Sunday night in Pittsburgh, the Ravens are also counting on him to be the type of disruptive force he has been much of the season — and especially of late. Last week against the Green Bay Packers — another contest Baltimore had to win to keep its postseason pulse going — Jones had two sacks to go with seven quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus, on Malik Willis at Lambeau Field. The week before in a loss to the New England Patriots, another seven pressures on Drake Maye. And the week before that, in a 24-0 shutout of the Cincinnati Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow, four pressures, a sack and two tackles. The ascendance has been coming. It was also borne out of epic weight room sessions, say those around the laconic 6-foot-4, 341-pound New Haven, Connecticut, native, along with becoming a master of his craft. “He can do … in terms of weight that he can move, he’ll be moving weight that guys can’t even back squat in the bench press,” says center Tyler Linderbaum, pausing momentarily at the outset with a sadistic laugh. “What he’s doing, I don’t know, but guys should probably get on that routine.” During the throes of the season, players are only required to log a modest two weightlifting sessions a week. Then there’s Jones. He lifts four or five times a week. “He’s an extremely hard worker,” Rosengarten said. “Guy’s in the weight room every day and it shows. The guy’s super athletic for how big he is and in my opinion he’s one of the best game-wrecking nose three-techniques in the NFL.” Of course, there are plenty of players around the league who live in the weight room, are sculpted like Michelangelo’s David and as sturdy as the Carrara marble from which he was carved. Jones is also different. “I don’t know if I’ve faced someone with that brute strength,” said Linderbaum, who was drafted the same year as Jones and has spent the past four summers and falls going against him in training camp and practice. “The things he’s able to do in the weight room clearly transitions over to the field. He’s one of the strongest guys I’ve ever seen and he plays like it on the field.” Linderbaum also compared him with Steelers veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward. “When you play him, you get a feel how strong he is,” he said. “Guys like that you can feel how strong they play the game.” Rosengarten had a different comparison. “Guy’s like a tree stump,” he said. “It’s hard to move him. Related Articles With DK Metcalf suspended, Ravens aim to dictate Steelers’ offense Ravens vs. Steelers Week 18 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Ravens’ Derrick Henry is no stranger to pummeling Pittsburgh: ‘Do my job’ Ravens’ Lamar Jackson responds to questions about injury, future: ‘Be calm in a storm’ Ravens waive guard Ben Cleveland amid looming return from suspension “Super strong, very technical player with his hands, understands leverage and double teams. You mix those combinations together you’re going to make a really good three-technique nose tackle.” The statistics don’t jump off the page the way those of some interior linemen around the NFL do. They also paint only a partial picture of his disruption. In 15 games this season, Jones leads the Ravens with four sacks, though that ranks just 23rd among interior defenders, per PFF. His 45 pressures are tops on the team, but rank just 14th among others at his position. Jones also has 42 tackles, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. There are two notable reasons why his numbers might not stand out more. First, the Ravens have been without his interior running mate, Nnamdi Madubuike since Week 2, when he suffered a season-ending neck injury. Second, and not unrelated, Jones is consequently one of the most double-teamed defensive tackles in the league. According to PFF, he has been double-teamed on 64.9% of his pass rush snaps this season as well as being chip-blocked at one of the highest rates in the NFL among interior linemen. Add that to playing a career-high 69% of defensive snaps — a 16% jump from last season and an impressive rate for a man of his size — and the picture of Jones’ ability becomes that much clearer. “I think [he’s] one of the most underrated defensive linemen in the National Football League,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said last month, adding, like everyone else, that Jones is one of the strongest players on the team and deceptively quick and fast for his massive frame. “For what he does, the amount of snaps he plays, he’s a force in there.” Not that Jones will ever talk much about being one. He hardly talks at all, which is just the way he prefers it. After signing his extension in December, Jones said that it was an exciting moment for him and that he was happy to get the deal done. He also said he planned to buy his mom a new house. In all, eight questions were asked. His eight responses totaled 175 words. Ravens defensive tackle Travis Jones, shown in 2024, has developed into one of the NFL's most disruptive interior linemen. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Afterward, he retreated to his preferred confines, the Ravens locker room, sat at his stall, smiled and again pointed out that he prefers to do less talking off the field and let his play on it speak for him. Now comes another opportunity to do so. The last time Jones faced the Steelers, he had just two pressures and one tackle. He was also flagged for unnecessary roughness, helping turn a field goal into a costly touchdown, though the NFL later admitted the official blew the call and Jones should not have been flagged. Needless to say, getting to Aaron Rodgers will be paramount to the Ravens’ chances. “Obviously they have a big, physical offensive line and a really good, young center, but for any quarterback, for Aaron, just like for any quarterback, that interior pressure kind of sets the tone for everything,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “So, Travis is a big part of that and a really important part of that.” Bigger — and stronger — than most. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens knew who was getting the ball in their Week 14 loss to Pittsburgh — and still couldn’t stop it. After receiver DK Metcalf scorched Baltimore’s secondary for seven catches and 148 yards, quarterback Aaron Rodgers said that he “just had to keep feeding him.” The Steelers won’t have that option Sunday. Pittsburgh will be without its top receiver for what amounts to a de facto AFC North championship game, as Metcalf serves the second and final game of a suspension stemming from an altercation with a fan during the Steelers’ 29-24 win over Detroit on Dec. 21. Baltimore could benefit. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr, however, isn’t expecting much to change. And Baltimore still needs to make Metcalf’s absence matter. “Obviously, DK, he’s a heck of a player, one of the top receivers in the league. But Aaron Rodgers and [offensive coordinator] Arthur Smith, they’re running the same offense,” Orr said. “You’re [still] going against a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers who can pinpoint the ball where he wants.” Metcalf’s 148 yards and seven catches were both season highs. He also was the only receiver to be targeted more than three times, finishing the game with 12 targets. His 850 yards and eight touchdowns are also team bests. The loss of Metcalf was felt last Sunday during a 13-6 loss to the Browns to force Sunday night’s divisional title match. Rodgers averaged a season-low 4.3 yards per attempt with 168 passing yards. He also completed just 3 of 10 passes of more than 10 yards. Pittsburgh tried to replicate the 6-foot-4, 229-pound receiver with fellow big-bodied wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, with dissimilar results. Rodgers targeted Valdes-Scantling a game-high nine times, only connecting three times for 21 yards. Three targets came in the red zone on Pittsburgh’s final drive, all falling incomplete. It was the most targets for the 31-year-old since the 2021 season with Rodgers in Green Bay, and a mark he’s only hit six times in an eight-year career. “I don’t see anything changing much, and they have capable receivers,” Orr said. “I don’t think the preparation changes at all.” Orr still expects the Steelers to take deep shots on the outside in one-on-one scenarios. Coach John Harbaugh has respect for the Steelers’ running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, who have combined for 100 receptions and 722 receiving yards this year. The pair had nine catches for 66 yards in their last meeting, with Warren recording a touchdown reception. “They’ll have like a — we call it an escort-type of a flare pass — and really, it’s a run play if they dump it out there,” Harbaugh said. “Aaron does an incredible job of sorting all that stuff out [and] screens.” Related Articles Why Ravens’ Travis Jones could be difference-maker vs. Steelers: ‘Like a tree stump’ Ravens vs. Steelers Week 18 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Ravens’ Derrick Henry is no stranger to pummeling Pittsburgh: ‘Do my job’ Ravens’ Lamar Jackson responds to questions about injury, future: ‘Be calm in a storm’ Ravens waive guard Ben Cleveland amid looming return from suspension Outside of tight end Pat Freiermuth, the options thin quickly. He finished with three receptions for 63 yards against Cleveland. Receiver Calvin Austin III is next in line, though production has been modest — 28 catches for 317 yards this season. He’s managing a hamstring injury, too. Scotty Miller is a possibility. He has just seven receptions this year, three of them coming against the Browns. Tight end Jonnu Smith could see an expanded role after Darnell Washington was placed on injured reserve with a broken arm. Smith has 22 receptions. There’s also Adam Thielen, 35, signed by Pittsburgh in early December, though production has been limited. Roman Wilson, a 2024 third-round draft pick, has just 21 catches this year. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin believes that with an extra week of preparation without his top receiver, Pittsburgh can generate more downfield plays against Baltimore. “It’s a reasonable expectation, from my perspective, particularly with an additional week to prepare, that we put together a thoughtful plan and that we our guys to take advantage of our opportunities, and if and when they do present themselves, that we make the plays,” Tomlin said. Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf catches the ball against Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins earlier this season. Metcalf won't play in Sunday's Week 18 game. (Terrance Williams/AP) Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith was more dismissive when asked about facing a Metcalf-less Steelers offense Sunday: “Can’t worry about who’s not out there. It don’t matter.” Smith’s sentiment matters for the Ravens. Especially after allowing Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis to pass for 288 yards last weekend. Green Bay’s Christian Watson finished with 113 receiving yards, the third-highest total of his career. Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed added 62 and 41 yards, respectively. None are A-tier receivers in the mold of Metcalf — a similar, patchwork group Rodgers will throw to Sunday. Smith expects the Steelers to lean more heavily on the run without Metcalf and attempt to control the game script. For him, the key will be stopping the run and forcing Pittsburgh to throw. “We stop the run, make them one-dimensional and know that you can get predictable in that sense,” Smith said. Stop the run and force Rodgers into predictable passing situations, and the Ravens could dictate the night. They believe, at least. Fail to do so, and Baltimore risks letting the Steelers control the script — again. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. View the full article

The Ravens visit the Steelers on Sunday with the AFC North title on the line. For the winner, their season stays alive. The loser’s Super Bowl dreams evaporate. It’s a high-stakes game for the two bitter rivals. Here’s a closer look at what sports betting odds tell us about the matchup. What are the odds? Baltimore is on the road, but with Lamar Jackson expected to play, the Ravens are the favorite. Spread: Ravens by 3 1/2 points (FanDuel) Total: 41.5 points Moneyline: Ravens -184, Steelers +154 “The early movement in the market indicates that bettors believe Jackson is playing, with the spread jumping from Ravens -3 to -3.5,” Covers senior sports betting analyst Jason Logan told The Baltimore Sun via email. “That half point move is more significant than you would think, due to the spread cross the key number of a field goal. If and when Lamar is cleared, that could prompt more money on Baltimore and perhaps push this spread to Ravens -4, which would likely draw some buyback on the Steelers, who are always live underdogs.” Could either team make a playoff run? The winner of the game will make the postseason. But is either of the two squads actually capable of making a run to the Super Bowl? Each team holds Super Bowl odds of +2000 or longer entering this weekend’s games. Logan offered some insights into the Ravens’ Super Bowl odds, which on the surface suggest they’re a long shot compared with other playoff-bound teams. Baltimore is +2000 to win the Super Bowl, and the Steelers are +10000. “NFL futures, like odds to win the Super Bowl, aren’t an accurate reflection of a team’s chances to hoist the Lombardi Trophy,” Logan said. “Those odds vary from sportsbook to sportsbook and reflect the liability those books have on certain teams over the course of the season. “If one shop has taken a lot of money on the Ravens to win the Super Bowl at higher odds, meaning they would pay out a lot if Baltimore won, they likely don’t want to draw any more money on the Ravens. They’ll adjust their futures book accordingly, jacking up the ask on Baltimore and hoping to entice action elsewhere to help soften their liability.” While the odds might not be a perfect representation of Baltimore’s Super Bowl chances, other predictive metrics paint a similar picture. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Ravens just a 4.4% chance to win it all. Getting into the playoffs would help the cause, but Baltimore has shown plenty of shortcomings throughout the year. Jackson’s injuries have hampered his performance, and the defense ranks 30th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game. Most numbers don’t suggest the Ravens are ready for a Super Bowl run. Related Articles Why Ravens’ Travis Jones could be difference-maker vs. Steelers: ‘Like a tree stump’ With DK Metcalf suspended, Ravens aim to dictate Steelers’ offense Ravens’ Derrick Henry is no stranger to pummeling Pittsburgh: ‘Do my job’ Ravens’ Lamar Jackson responds to questions about injury, future: ‘Be calm in a storm’ Ravens waive guard Ben Cleveland amid looming return from suspension But games are decided on the field, not spreadsheets. “You don’t always get to pick your path,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday. “And many times, the path isn’t what you would have picked, what you would have chosen, but it might be exactly what you needed, and I hope that’s the case.” The pick Before the Ravens can think about the Super Bowl, they need to win Sunday. Most analysts are in agreement that Baltimore’s best path to an AFC North title comes on the ground. Perhaps the most intriguing bet of the game comes via a prop bet related to Derrick Henry. The over/under for Henry’s carries is 18.5 on FanDuel. DraftKings has the line at 19.5 and BetMGM makes it 20.5. In Week 17, Baltimore gave him the ball 36 times. In the first meeting between the Ravens and Steelers, Henry ran the ball 25 times. If the game remains close and the Ravens aren’t forced to abandon the running game, Henry should clear 20 carries. Best bet: Henry over 18.5 carries Have a news tip? Contact Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

On a chilly January evening, around this time last year, Lamar Jackson gave his most descriptive account of what it’s like watching Derrick Henry run with the football. His lips crinkled to make a whooshing sound. Jackson said that Henry runs like the aptly named Lightning McQueen drives. Jackson invoked the Disney movie “Cars” after having watched Henry torch Baltimore’s most vexing rival for 186 yards and two touchdowns off the strength of 26 carries in the wild-card round. “It’s making my job a lot easier,” the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player said at the time. That was the last time the Ravens and Steelers played a win-or-go-home affair. This next meeting Sunday night in Pittsburgh isn’t officially a playoff game. But for all intents and purposes, it is. Week 18’s winner claims the AFC North division title and a trip to the playoffs, while the loser enters a long offseason of questions concerning organizational hierarchy. Henry figures to be the key to Baltimore prolonging this confounding season. With temperatures expected below freezing this weekend and potential for snow, he’s that much tougher to tackle. In a matchup fulfilling every cliché about the physicality of this rivalry, Henry is the one best equipped to land punches, particularly with Jackson recovering from a back contusion for a can’t-lose game against a team that cornerback Marlon Humphrey described as historically being a “knife in their side.” “When you have the best back in the game,” center Tyler Linderbaum said, “sometimes there’s not an issue with just giving 22 the ball and seeing what happens.” Henry is coming off “one of the greatest performances” his coach has ever seen. John Harbaugh said that it’s always in the game plan to involve their Mack Truck of a running back, but against an understaffed Packers defense, the Ravens were more intentional. According to Next Gen Stats, Henry rushed for 165 of his 216 yards out of the I formation. That’s the most by any player in a single game since at least 2016. It was also his fourth career game with 100-plus rushing yards inside the tackles and another 100-plus outside the numbers, a feat no other running back has touched in a decade. Henry’s four touchdowns (a first-half hat trick and fourth-quarter knockout blow) tied his career high. “We have the best job in the world blocking for someone like that,” Linderbaum said. Wide receiver Zay Flowers beamed with his boyish grin: “I said give it to him every play. Fourth-and-10? Give it to him. We don’t even need to throw it.” Henry was handed the ball 36 times in the season-saving win over Green Bay. That’s the most carries of any NFL running back since 2023. It was a career-high mark and the most times Henry ran the ball since in his football life since 2016, when he led Alabama to a national championship win over Clemson. Even Henry, who invests considerable time and money into his body, appeared to be huffing at times. “There were a couple of those where he was kind of tapping out and I said, ‘No, get him back in there. Get his [butt] back in there,’” offensive coordinator Todd Monken joked. “At the end of games, you’re gonna need him.” Monken and Harbaugh have taken flack — some fair, some not — for how they’ve handled Henry’s workload of late. Related Articles Why Ravens’ Travis Jones could be difference-maker vs. Steelers: ‘Like a tree stump’ With DK Metcalf suspended, Ravens aim to dictate Steelers’ offense Ravens vs. Steelers Week 18 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Ravens’ Lamar Jackson responds to questions about injury, future: ‘Be calm in a storm’ Ravens waive guard Ben Cleveland amid looming return from suspension He was barely on the field during a Thanksgiving night loss to Cincinnati and he was on the sideline for each of Baltimore’s final two drives despite a two-touchdown outing against the Patriots. Some of that is a byproduct of game flow. But pummeling the Packers seemed to justify much of the criticism. Henry preferred to not spend much time dwelling on the past. A world-class performance in Green Bay, to him, is nothing more than “a game to build off of.” Henry has two thoughts front of mind: “[Pittsburgh] got the upper hand on me last time,” he said, and this weekend is a chance to improbably punch Baltimore’s ticket to the postseason. He’s the guy to do it. Against the Steelers in December 2024, he turned 24 carries into 162 yards. Three weeks later, in the playoffs, he sent Pittsburgh packing with his second best performance of that season. Tomlin hadn’t stepped into the shower after that game before he was already thinking about an aggressive offseason approach to mitigate a player like Henry. It’s well documented that those two performances hung around the Steelers’ draft war room like a thick cloud. The Steelers selected Derrick Harmon with their first-round pick. Harmon didn’t suit up in the first meeting because of a knee injury. He’s expected to play Sunday alongside star edge defender T.J. Watt (another game wrecker who missed the first meeting). Harmon’s impact is bolded and underlined on the stat sheet. Since his return three weeks ago, the Steelers have allowed 52 rushing yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry, both NFL lows. They’re also the only team to have not allowed a rushing score. Harmon isn’t shy about the expectation. “It’s what they [brought] me here for,” he told local reporters, “for these type of games.” Same could be said for Henry, who turns 32 on Sunday and forged a career bound for the Hall of Fame with a reputation of playing his best football in the consequential games with below-freezing temperatures — another truism Henry won’t give credence. “I don’t really get into the, ‘Oh, this is when I’m going to be Macho Man or something like that,'” Henry said. “I just try to go out there and do my job.” His job on Sunday against the Steelers is to run like Lightning McQueen and carry the Ravens to the playoffs. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson hands the ball to running back Derrick Henry during practice this week. Henry ran for 94 yards in the first meeting with the Steelers this season, a 27-22 Pittsburgh win. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson emerged from the field house like a phoenix Thursday in Owings Mills, his back contusion protected by a flak jacket and teammates and coaches energized by his presence on an otherwise bitterly cold afternoon. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player’s full participation in practice for a second straight day was a welcome sight for a season that hangs in the balance. Jackson said that he will “100%” play in Sunday night’s regular-season finale against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, where the winner will be crowned AFC North champs and advance to the playoffs and the loser’s season will be over. “I feel great,” he said. Certainly better than he did two weeks ago. Jackson called the back contusion that he suffered in a Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots that knocked him out of that game and caused him to miss last week’s must-win contest against the Green Bay Packers “extremely nasty” and added that he was “in pain.” He also dismissed any notion that he was faking or overdramatizing his latest malady. “I always want to play football,” he said Thursday in Owings Mills, where he was a full participant in practice for a second straight day. “I was really hurt. I don’t know why I have to get questioned about or I hear things about, ‘Oh I don’t know if he really hurt.’ I never quit on my team before. I’ve never quit anything, to be honest with y’all. I don’t know where that noise came from. “Some people probably think I’m a robot, but I’m a human being too. Unfortunately, I couldn’t avoid that injury.” Assuming he practices Friday as expected, it will also mark the first time that Jackson will have a full week of practice in two months. “It’s the closest we’ve been,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said when asked how confident he is that Jackson will have his full complement of skills for what is a de facto playoff game for Baltimore in what has been a topsy-turvy season filled with injuries, questions and criticisms. “So, we’re excited. You like having your quarterback out there every day.” Jackson, unsurprisingly, has been at the nexus of many of the questions in what has been an incongruent and tumultuous season amid a series of afflictions for one of the game’s typically most dynamic and explosive players. Related Articles Ravens waive guard Ben Cleveland amid looming return from suspension Ravens’ Lamar Jackson practices Thursday, says he will ‘100%’ start Sunday READERS RESPOND: Some Ravens fans want QB Lamar Jackson traded NFL playoff picture: If Ravens get in, what does their path look like? Ravens’ defense eager for ‘dream scenario’ vs. Steelers with season at stake First, there was the hamstring injury he suffered during a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that knocked him from that game and kept him out of the next three as well, two of which were losses. Jackson returned in Week 9, threw four touchdown passes and had a near-perfect passer rating in a rout over the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Then a week later, he operated the offense smoothly in the noisy confines of U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota and navigated the blitz-happy Vikings defense with aplomb, guiding the Ravens to another victory. Wins over the hapless Cleveland Browns and New York Jets followed to mark five straight victories as Baltimore climbed back from the abyss of a 1-5 start to the top of the division, but the list of physical ailments continued to grow. Knee, ankle and toe issues were pesky inhibitors, though Jackson did not blame his poor play this season on any physical problems, even as the Ravens lost their next two at home, first to the Steelers, then the Cincinnati Bengals in a Thanksgiving night fiasco. Then came the Patriots game. With the score tied at 7 late in the second quarter and Baltimore driving toward another score, Jackson scrambled for 3 yards up the middle, but as he went down safety Craig Woodson’s knee drove into his back. Jackson winced and heaved as he went to the sideline and then the locker room. There, he was administered an injection of the anti-inflammatory drug Toradol, to no avail. He tried to throw a few passes to trainers, but the pain was too much and he didn’t return. With Jackson out against the Packers, Tyler “Snoop” Huntley filled the void and helped lead the Ravens to the 42-24 victory at Lambeau Field, where Derrick Henry rushed for 216 yards and four touchdowns. Two days later, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said that he was optimistic that Jackson would be able to play this week against Pittsburgh. For the quarterback, it became clear, he said, on Monday after undergoing more rehab, working out and throwing more passes. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a pass during practice this week in Owings Mills. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Jackson returned to the practice field Wednesday sporting a flak jacket to protect his low back. He said he will wear the extra padding for the game as well, though he said it doesn’t affect his ability to throw or do the things he normally does. He also said the criticism he has endured during what has been perhaps the worst of his eight seasons doesn’t provide any added motivation. “I just want to win,” he said. “I don’t really care about the criticism, it’s going to be that way, especially with how the season was going and stuff like that. When you’re winning, there’s no noise, but soon as you lose, or things don’t look right, all types of noise come out of nowhere. So, it is what it is.” He also disputed suggestions raised in a column by Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston that he stays up until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. playing video games or that he has fallen asleep in team meetings — though he did say he was sleeping during this past Sunday’s Browns-Steelers game as part of his rehab and that he didn’t want to “jinx” the outcome, with Pittsburgh needing to lose to keep the Ravens’ season alive. Likewise, Jackson insisted that he has a good relationship with Harbaugh. “Yeah, I believe so,” he said. “Like I said, I don’t know where the noise come from.” Teammates in recent days have likewise backed Jackson’s competitiveness. “I can’t really speak on motivating Lamar,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “I think Lamar is very self-motivated. I don’t know if he lets external factors really motivate him, but I do know that if he’s out there, he’ll be ready to go.” Added safety Kyle Hamilton: “I don’t think it’s ever a matter of, does he want to? I think it’s just a matter of, is he physically able to do so? … I’ve been around this dude for the past four years, and I know what he’s about. I know that he practices what he preaches, and if he’s able to go out there, play and practice, he will do so. He’s a warrior, and I respect him. I respect who he is as a person and as a player. But yes, he’s a two-time MVP and the face of the franchise; people are probably going to talk a little bit. But it’s not with any negative connotation attached to it.” But with a prohibitive $74.5 million salary cap hit looming each of the next two seasons and a lack of clarity over current contract extension talks, questions about Jackson, who will turn 29 next week, and his future have arisen, particularly after what has been perhaps the worst of his eight seasons that still includes just one AFC championship game appearance. Long reluctant to discuss his contract during the season, Jackson when asked said that he “absolutely” wants to be in Baltimore. It was only two years ago, however, when he requested to be traded as the NFL’s owners meetings kicked off. He later said that was simply part of doing business while negotiating his first contract extension, which he did without an agent. Yet many of the same narratives that spilled over from the 2022 season — from a season-ending knee injury to contentious negotiations — have resurfaced again. Though Jackson doesn’t quite view the two years through the same lens. “It’s different in a way because we have a chance to make the playoffs and I can actually play,” he said. “Then, I couldn’t play, so it’s different.” For now, the only question that remains is whether the outcome in Pittsburgh will be any different than it has been of late. Jackson has been on the losing end in three of his past four starts at Acrisure Stadium. During that span, he has been sacked 18 times, thrown six interceptions and has just three touchdown passes. Now comes another opportunity, in what will be the first win-or-go-home game in the final week of the regular season for the storied rivalry. “You have to be calm in the storm,” he said. “So, that’s my approach. And I feel like that’s the team’s approach.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens on Thursday waived guard Ben Cleveland, who was set to return from a three-game suspension this week. A 2021 third-round draft pick by Baltimore, Cleveland played just three snaps this season and was a healthy scratch in three games. On Dec. 8, he was suspended three games without pay for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The 27-year-old from Georgia was re-signed by the Ravens in March to a one-year, $1.17 million dollar deal after making seven starts between 2021 and 2023. He appeared in 64 games with Baltimore but never managed to get a foothold among the starting five or in the rotation. In February, Cleveland was cited on suspicion of driving under the influence in his native Georgia after he had a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of .178, over twice the legal limit of .08, according to police. His suspension was lifted on Dec. 29. He pleaded guilty on Nov. 4 to one count of driving under the influence. The charge resulted in a one-year probation. Coach John Harbaugh had previously spoken publicly about Cleveland’s difficulty securing a starting role in Baltimore. Harbaugh said that starting right guard Daniel Faalele “just a fact, straight up, matter of fact” beat him out. “Ben knows what he needs to do. If he wants playing time, he knows how he needs to play and how he needs to practice when he gets that chance,” Harbaugh said in September 2024. Cleveland pinned the struggles more on injuries forcing him to move around the offensive line than routinely play right guard. “It’s been a struggle having to move around positions with injuries and stuff like that,” Cleveland told The Baltimore Sun in 2024. “But as far as adapting to other positions and just playing where I’m asked, I feel like I’ve been extremely consistent and competitive.” Cleveland’s disappointing tenure in Baltimore now comes to an end, and it remains to be seen whether another team will claim the former first-team All-SEC lineman entering the postseason. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. Related Articles Ravens’ Lamar Jackson practices Thursday, says he will ‘100%’ start Sunday READERS RESPOND: Some Ravens fans want QB Lamar Jackson traded NFL playoff picture: If Ravens get in, what does their path look like? Ravens’ defense eager for ‘dream scenario’ vs. Steelers with season at stake Mike Preston: Ravens must stop Aaron Rodgers. He’s Pittsburgh’s only hope. | COMMENTARY View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned for a second consecutive practice Thursday, but Baltimore still had notable absences. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman and outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy both missed a second consecutive day. Bateman was out with an illness, while Van Noy is dealing with a quad injury. Jackson said that he will “100%” start Sunday after missing last week’s 41-24 win over Green Bay with what the team described as a deep back contusion. Jackson was seen wearing bulky padding around his back during Wednesday’s session. “I’m doing a lot of treatment,” Jackson said. “Trying [to get] the contusion out of there as much as possible. But I feel great right now.” Jackson also said that he will wear the padding to keep his back protected, and that he wore something similar during his rookie season. Van Noy was seen in the locker room after Wednesday’s practice, but his continued absence Thursday casts doubt on the 12-year veteran’s availability for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins returned Thursday in a limited capacity after resting Wednesday, leaving Bateman as the only one of Jackson’s targets yet to practice this week. Bateman has appeared in 13 games this season, totaling 38 receptions for 224 yards and two touchdowns after missing time earlier in the year with a high ankle sprain. Five players who were limited participants Wednesday, including linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), were all present at Thursday’s practice. Smith was still a limited participant, while tight end Charlie Kolar (nose), fullback Patrick Ricard (ankle), guard Andrew Vorhees (foot) and left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee) were full participants. Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt was again a limited participant while recovering from a punctured lung from dry needling. Watt has missed the past three games after undergoing surgery to stabilize the lung. Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin hinted that Watt will be back Sunday, but he said that the capacity he’d return in is unknown. The 31-year-old Watt has seven sacks and three forced fumbles this season. “It’ll be great to have him back,” Austin said. “In what capacity we’ll find out really, not until Sunday. But it’ll be great to have him back.” Cornerback James Pierre was Pittsburgh’s only player absent from Thursday’s practice, listed with a calf injury and illness. Pierre has started four games and appeared in 13 this season, recording one interception and a fumble return for a touchdown. He was limited Wednesday. Cornerback Brandin Echols was again limited Thursday with a groin injury, while linebacker Malik Harrison was limited with a knee ailment. Echols has six pass breakups this season, and Harrison has started eight games, totaling 36 tackles. Like Wednesday, wide receiver Calvin Austin III was limited with a hamstring injury. Guard Isaac Seumalo (triceps) was a full participant Thursday after being limited Wednesday. Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. Related Articles Ravens waive guard Ben Cleveland amid looming return from suspension READERS RESPOND: Some Ravens fans want QB Lamar Jackson traded NFL playoff picture: If Ravens get in, what does their path look like? Ravens’ defense eager for ‘dream scenario’ vs. Steelers with season at stake Mike Preston: Ravens must stop Aaron Rodgers. He’s Pittsburgh’s only hope. | COMMENTARY View the full article

We asked readers what the Ravens should do with quarterback Lamar Jackson. Columnist Mike Preston recently wrote that Jackson and the Ravens are at a crossroads, and that something needs to change for the star quarterback and his team to reach a Super Bowl together. Here are the results from our online poll: Trade him for draft picks/players — 48.6% (1,703 votes) Negotiate a new contract with a lower cap hit — 43.8% (1,535 votes) Make him the NFL’s highest-paid QB — 7.6% (264 votes) Here’s what some fans have said about the Ravens’ quarterback (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): You re-sign him … end of story. — Mark G. Lamar Jackson is a two-time MVP, and a once-in-a-generation talent. Trading him shouldn’t even be in any sane conversation. That being said, he definitely should either allow for a restructuring of his contract or even take a pay cut so the team can build a solid offensive line to protect him and increase our odds of winning a Super Bowl. The bottom line is that the Ravens must figure out a way to further build the team around the best QB in the NFL. — Chris McGloin Jackson doesn’t seem to be capable of finishing a season. He’s not the same hot-shot QB as when he started. We need a player to go the distance, playoffs included. — Robin Lamar is on the downside. Whatever it is, age, injuries or punishment he has taken, he is not the same. Even when healthy, his playoff performance is poor. Take a page from the Patriots’ book — trade a player before his performance completely deteriorates. He would be hard to replace but it is inevitable. Plus his cap hit would harm the rest of the team. I just feel it is time. The Ravens will never get to the Super Bowl with him. Trade him while his value is high. Let another team deal with his agent (mother), contract, moodiness and injuries. — Robert I contend, as many others, that Lamar has done his job and done it exceedingly well. How many times have his passes been dropped or fumbled away after catches in crucial situations, or coaching decisions destroyed the tempo of the game, to name a few? Yes, Lamar makes the big bucks and is now eight years after league entry and starting to break down, but those can’t necessarily be the points that call for a trade or lower his salary. What has the front office done to give him more protection, to get an elite pass rusher to give the defense more rest? What has been done to correct poor coaching decisions that ultimately rest on the shoulders of the head coach? NOTHING. So, I think a total objective evaluation of the team is in order before making any hurried decision about Lamar’s future. I can’t imagine how many years the organization would be set back trying to break in a draftee quarterback. Those who have been around long enough to remember the struggles before Flacco can bear witness. — Bill He will always have the reputation of not being able to win the big game and that will stay with him the rest of his career and is justified. The time has come to cut bait with him and get as much as you can, this whole organization needs a complete makeover including the head coach. — Bob lancione I think Jackson is very much affected by cold weather and as he ages the cold bothers him more, He has been the most entertaining QB I’ve ever seen, but as a Florida resident his reaction to cold is observable to me. And as he ages it becomes more problematic. — Terence Bosley It’s been a rough season all around. Injuries early. No pass rush. Turnovers on offense. Unfortunate calls going against them. Perplexing coaching decisions. And the regression of Lamar. But I think he can bounce back and be one of the best ever again. He needs a reset both physically and through coaching changes. Restructure his contract and start over with new leadership. — Mark H. Lamar’s legacy as one of the greats to ever play the game has already been cemented but let’s hope the cement doesn’t cure entirely prior to hoisting that elusive Lombardi Trophy in Baltimore. — Michael Pierce Related Articles Ravens waive guard Ben Cleveland amid looming return from suspension Ravens’ Lamar Jackson practices Thursday, says he will ‘100%’ start Sunday NFL playoff picture: If Ravens get in, what does their path look like? Ravens’ defense eager for ‘dream scenario’ vs. Steelers with season at stake Mike Preston: Ravens must stop Aaron Rodgers. He’s Pittsburgh’s only hope. | COMMENTARY A healthy Lamar and productive running backs both require a top-shelf offensive line. We’ve had something less than that. With protection, Lamar turned into the most efficient, least error-prone QB in the NFL. — Tim N. The question should be what should the Ravens do with John Harbaugh? — Fred Sanford Trade him to the Jets for two first-round picks and a case of Nathan’s hot dogs. — Chris Lamar Jackson will never get to the Super Bowl wearing a Ravens jersey. The Ravens have made a fundamental organizational miscalculation by placing an individual in a leadership role that does not have the attributes of a leader. That scenario always leads to a breakdown in commitment, discipline and dedication. — Charles 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