ExtremeRavens

We asked readers what their biggest area of concern is for the Ravens. Here are the results from our online poll, Instagram and X: Secondary — 308 votes Pass rush — 90 votes Offensive line — 16 votes Special teams — 4 votes Here’s what some fans have told us about the team (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): ​​I don’t know, man. It was crazy losing to the 1-6 Browns. I feel like your defense could’ve played better. Offense didn’t show out like they should have. Overall, disappointing performance. — Joseph O’Dea It’s a divisional game. We definitely play down. We got to step it up. Like last week, Tampa Bay? We got to step it up, score a lot of points. Because we can do it. We can do it. We just shoot ourselves in the foot and we got to step it up. We got to get a 30-point game. We can do it every week. Every week. … I think that the defense is playing kind of soft right now. The secondary, they’re kind of lost. They’re getting confused, dropping interceptions. The offense — I don’t know what’s going on with offense. The Browns’ defense, they’re depleted. I think we should have put more points on the board. — Josh Villegas Finishing in the fourth quarter, I think that’s been big for us. Sometimes we do and sometimes we can’t so I think if we can just keep strong throughout the first three and finish in that fourth then I think we’ll be all right. — Josh Tune Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses practice again Thursday Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Broncos scouting report for Week 9: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens could go all-in on outscoring opponents | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | WR Diontae Johnson on going from Panthers to Ravens: ‘Still don’t seem real to me’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens DBs stay after practice to catch extra balls: ‘Just a repetition thing’ When a defense goes from the best in the league to the worst in one season, it’s crystal clear that they have the wrong defensive coordinator. Zach Orr is in a situation that is way over his head, especially with the Ravens and their fan base having Super Bowl aspirations. … I suggest before it is too late an immediate change needs to take place. Reach out to Bill Belichick, who is regarded as a defensive genius to become defensive coordinator now! Not only would our fans be elated, but I believe our defensive personnel would be also. — Robert Jolson I really didn’t care about going for it on fourth down; it was putting Derrick Henry in the wildcat. That was a terrible decision. Why not put him in base offense with Lamar Jackson, two of the most dynamic runners in league history? Instead, the Ravens shrunk the field and ran Henry up the middle. He lost 2 yards. In hindsight, John Harbaugh said he’d like to have that call back. Personally, on the road, I’m taking the field goal. — Email from ruheroy Ravens finishing 2 of 10 on third down is horrible. Browns over 50% on their third downs. After all the OTAs, summer camp, preseason games, practices and eight games, our secondary is the league’s worst. Is the center of the field the DMZ to our linebackers and secondary? Is Marcus Williams really worse, or is he in John’s dog house? Roquan? I hope any members of our secondary aren’t on the “hands team.” They can’t catch anything. Hands of bricks. Sadly I do not see any hope for a change with our defense. Is Orr the problem? He can’t go catch the ball for them. But for me, the rest is directly on him. Does the team have a real leader on defense? Harbs goes for the field goal early, we also could have won that game, not needing a touchdown. Opportunities lost that can never get back. Three AFC losses, 1 AFC North loss. That may come back to haunt the team if they get into the playoffs. — Joe Herbert Baltimore Sun reporter Matt Weyrich contributed to this article. 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

The Ravens stumbled and bumbled to a 29-24 loss in Cleveland. The Broncos handled the pitiful Panthers, 28-14. Which of these AFC playoff aspirants will have the advantage when they meet Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium? Ravens passing game vs. Broncos pass defense Lamar Jackson is on pace for the best passing season of his career, leading the league in passer rating and ranking second in yards per attempt, touchdowns and ESPN’s QBR metric for all-around performance. He threw several passes that could have been picked off in the loss to Cleveland but was let down by three third-down drops (two from Rashod Bateman and one from Nelson Agholor). His scrambling covered for a poor performance by his offensive line as he took just three sacks despite being pressured on 21 of his 43 dropbacks. On the bright side, wide receiver Zay Flowers bounced back from a Week 7 ankle injury to catch seven passes for 115 yards, and tight end Mark Andrews caught a touchdown pass for the third straight game. Tight end Isaiah Likely also had his most productive receiving game since the season opener in Kansas City. The Ravens need to find ways to keep him involved given his dynamism after the catch. They added another weapon this week when they traded for wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Jackson, who missed practice Wednesday for what coach John Harbaugh called a rest day, has consistently beat pressure this season, which will be essential against an excellent Denver defense that ranks second in sacks and blitz rate and fourth in pressures per dropback. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph doesn’t have a Myles Garrett-level edge rusher at his disposal, but 12 different Broncos have sacks this season, led by outside linebackers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper and defensive end Zach Allen. Denver also has a very good secondary, led by Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Surtain II and safety Brandon Jones. The Broncos rank ninth in the league with 12 takeaways. Jackson will not only need better games from tackles Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten; he’ll need Justice Hill to pick up blitzes and catch screens to punish Denver’s aggression. The Ravens got away from their play-action game against Cleveland, but it will be their friend against a Broncos defense that might be the best they’ve faced. EDGE: Ravens Broncos passing game vs. Ravens pass defense Rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw four interceptions before his first touchdown pass but has played better recently, with seven touchdowns against just one pick over his last four games. He just threw for career-bests of 284 yards and three touchdowns against the Panthers’ putrid defense. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton (29 catches on 58 targets, 377 yards, two touchdowns) is the top playmaker. Tight end Adam Trautman emerged as a surprising threat with four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown against Carolina. Nix is a threat to escape the pocket and has taken just 11 sacks behind a good offensive line led by left tackle Garett Bolles. This isn’t a high-octane offense, ranking 24th in yards per attempt and 28th in third-down conversion rate, but the Ravens made another poor passing attack look potent last weekend in Cleveland. Their four-man rush did not get home. They dropped several potential interceptions, including one by safety Kyle Hamilton that could have clinched the game. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr became predictable with his all-out blitzes, and Jameis Winston ultimately beat him over the top with a game-winning touchdown strike. The Ravens came out of another disappointing performance ranking last in passing yards allowed and 25th in DVOA against the pass (they were first in that efficiency metric last season). They tried to shake things up by benching starting safety Marcus Williams and giving more snaps to veteran Eddie Jackson. They missed two of their top three cornerbacks in Marlon Humphrey (knee) and Nate Wiggins (illness). But this isn’t a one-week problem; they’ve struggled to prevent chunk passing plays in almost every game. Even their positive statistics — tied for fourth with 24 sacks — belie the fact that they’re failing to make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable for long stretches. EDGE: Broncos Ravens running game vs. Broncos run defense The Ravens lead the league in yards per game (200) and per carry (6.2) but were unable to use their ground game to dictate pace against the Browns. Derrick Henry averaged 6.6 yards per carry but largely disappeared from the game plan in the second half with the Ravens playing from behind. The NFL’s leading rusher ended up carrying a season-low 11 times — a reminder that for all the potency of the Jackson-Henry combination, the Ravens need to build early leads to maximize its impact. They’ll try to crack a Denver defense that has allowed just four yards per carry, fifth-best in the league. It’s telling that the Broncos’ three losses also featured their three worst performances against the run. They have not faced many dynamic offenses (only Tampa Bay ranks top 10 in DVOA) so the Ravens will present a different level of challenge. Denver has a good pair of inside linebackers in Justin Strnad and Cody Barton and an excellent run stuffer in nose tackle Malcolm Roach. The Ravens will attack them on the edges with Henry and hope to break a few long runs. EDGE: Ravens Broncos running game vs. Ravens run defense Coach Sean Payton rarely goes away from his ground game entirely. Denver ranks 14th in rushing and 13th in yards per carry, splitting carries between Javonte Williams (3.8 yards per attempt) and Jaleel McLaughlin (4.1 yards per attempt). Nix (259 yards, five per attempt, team-high four touchdowns) is also a threat to scramble or pick up key yards on an occasional designed run. The Broncos’ line, featuring Quinn Meinerz and former Raven Ben Powers at the guard spots, is solid here as well. The Ravens have allowed the fewest yards and yards per attempt in the league but could be thin on the interior after defensive tackles Michael Pierce (calf) and Brent Urban (concussion) left the Browns game early. Their top defensive tackle, Travis Jones, is dealing with an ankle injury and played just 15 snaps in Cleveland. The Browns found some early success handing off to Nick Chubb, and though the Ravens ultimately held him to 52 yards on 16 carries, it will be interesting to see if the Broncos go right at them. Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury. (David Richard/AP) Harbaugh said stopping the run will be essential against Denver. The Ravens will need a better game from their defensive leader, linebacker Roquan Smith. His partner, first-year starter Trenton Simpson, has played well, but Hamilton has turned into the team’s other big playmaker against the run. All the metrics say the Ravens have a clear edge over Denver here, but that margin could be reduced with Pierce on injured reserve and Jones and Urban hurting. EDGE: Ravens Ravens special teams vs. Broncos special teams Justin Tucker missed a 50-yard attempt in Cleveland that would have tied the game in the fourth quarter. He did not strike the ball with his usual power, reviving questions that arose after he missed a field goal in each of the Ravens’ first three games. Tucker’s inconsistency is one reason the Ravens rank 25th in special teams DVOA. They’ve also made too many poor decisions that have cost them field position in the return game. Punter Jordan Stout has been the bright spot. Denver, meanwhile, ranks fourth in special teams DVOA, with no real weakness. Former Raven Wil Lutz has made 17 of 18 field goal attempts. Marvin Mims has averaged 11 yards on punt returns. Riley Dixon has put 48.8% of his punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. EDGE: Broncos Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens could go all-in on outscoring opponents | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | WR Diontae Johnson on going from Panthers to Ravens: ‘Still don’t seem real to me’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens DBs stay after practice to catch extra balls: ‘Just a repetition thing’ Baltimore Ravens | Colts coach Shane Steichen: Joe Flacco ‘gives us the best chance’ to win Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from practice Wednesday with back and knee injuries Ravens intangibles vs. Broncos intangibles Payton is a proven winner, and he has the Broncos chasing a playoff spot with a rookie quarterback and a roster largely devoid of superstars. His team’s excellent defense and special teams provide a sturdy foundation. With Nix improving, the Broncos could become a serious threat. They’re 3-1 on the road, so they’ll come to M&T Bank Stadium expecting to upset the Ravens. The only real knock against them is that they’ve done it against an easy schedule. Harbaugh’s Ravens have played tougher competition but have inexplicably found ways to lose to their two worst opponents: the Browns and the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s hard to imagine they’ll take the Broncos lightly coming off that defeat in Cleveland. But the Ravens are scrambling to find answers on a defense that has performed far below expectations. They’re also dealing with real injury adversity for the first time this season. Their ace in the hole remains Jackson, who’s almost always the best player on the field and has won 74% of his career starts. EDGE: Ravens Prediction What looked like a sure win when the schedule came out feels like anything but for the Ravens given Denver’s all-around defensive strength and Nix’s rapid improvement at quarterback. The Ravens have made almost every opposing quarterback look good, and they can’t just count on their offense to light it up against the league’s No. 3 scoring defense. That said, they’re easily the best team the Broncos have played, and they’ll come out with some urgency after losing in Cleveland. Sometimes, it really is just about which team has the better quarterback. Jackson will be the difference late in a rugged matchup. Ravens 27, Broncos 23 Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

The Ravens’ trade for Carolina Panthers receiver Diontae Johnson did very little to change the landscape in the AFC. In fact, it was just another day in the NFL. With the addition of Johnson on Tuesday, the Ravens upgraded at the receiver position, but the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs are still the No. 1 team in the conference with the Ravens No. 2 and the Buffalo Bills No. 3. If the experiment with quarterback Russell Wilson continues to pan out in Pittsburgh, then the Steelers jump in at No. 4, but there have been few trades at this point that have changed the likely scenario of the Chiefs and the Ravens duking it out for the second straight year in the AFC title game. The addition of Johnson, 28, can only help the Ravens. He has 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns this season and his presence will push starter Rashod Bateman to work harder and possibly No. 3 receiver Nelson Agholor off the roster. But it isn’t like the Ravens added Davante Adams or Amari Cooper. They already had the league’s No. 1 offense. The only deal the Ravens could make before Tuesday’s deadline that could have a significant impact is to add a pass rusher, even though the acquisition of Panthers outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney would be a gamble. A year ago, Clowney had a career-high-tying 9 1/2 sacks for the Ravens. This season, he has only one sack and 19 tackles for Carolina. In 2023, Clowney had Mike Macdonald as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator. Now it’s Zach Orr, whose defense is ranked No. 32 in pass defense and in total disarray. Clowney might be the answer, and he might not, but it would be worth the risk if the Ravens consider themselves serious Super Bowl contenders. The Ravens also need a shutdown cornerback, but it’s unlikely any team will part ways with that caliber of a player at this point. Those types are a hot commodity, and the Ravens were fortunate to trade for Los Angeles Rams cornerback Marcus Peters in October 2019 in exchange for linebacker Kenny Young and a 2020 fifth-round draft pick. As for the Ravens’ defensive problems in the secondary, it’s common throughout the NFL. With the exception of the Chiefs, who plays great defense anymore? Every game is filled with receivers running wide-open and missed tackles. It’s all part of the tilted field in favor of the offense emphasized by Roger Goodell since he became commissioner in 2006. The real problem for the Ravens is that they don’t have a shutdown cornerback on the roster. Nate Wiggins could become that player eventually, but he is only a rookie. Marlon Humphrey is in the right spot over the slot, but players such as cornerbacks Jalyn Armour-Davis and Arthur Maulet are more suited for nickel and dime roles, and the Ravens don’t have a presence at safety except for Kyle Hamilton. The Ravens’ secondary is composed of a bunch of nomads right now, and neither Orr nor pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt have been able to help them find a way out. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Broncos scouting report for Week 9: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | WR Diontae Johnson on going from Panthers to Ravens: ‘Still don’t seem real to me’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens DBs stay after practice to catch extra balls: ‘Just a repetition thing’ Baltimore Ravens | Colts coach Shane Steichen: Joe Flacco ‘gives us the best chance’ to win Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from practice Wednesday with back and knee injuries At least for Johnson, the Ravens only gave up a fifth-round pick, but even that is somewhat costly because they have been productive in that slot over the years, selecting players such as receiver Jermaine Lewis, center Jeff Mitchell, safety Dawan Landry, defensive tackle Arthur Jones, cornerback Asa Jackson, center John Urschel, outside linebacker Matthew Judon and defensive tackle Broderick Washington. Getting a sixth-round pick in return from Carolina helps, though. Trading is an extensive process requiring large amounts of time poring over film and working through negotiations. Before losing to Cleveland on Sunday, the Ravens had won five straight games. They lost to the Browns because their offensive line got exposed like it did against Kansas City and the Las Vegas Raiders in the first two games of the season, and their secondary had its usual problems. But maybe there is a shift of philosophy in Baltimore. Like the Chiefs and Cincinnati in previous seasons, the Ravens have figured out that if you can’t stop them, you might as well try to outscore them. We will know for sure by Tuesday’s trade deadline. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

To say that Diontae Johnson views his season as having gone from a nightmare to a dream scenario wouldn’t be an overstatement. At 1-7, the Carolina Panthers are one of the worst teams in the NFL. The 5-3 Ravens are one of a handful of teams expected to contend for the AFC title. “It still don’t seem real to me,” the 28-year-old wide receiver said after his first practice with Baltimore on Wednesday after being acquired in a trade a day earlier. “It’s a blessing for me just to get another opportunity to come back to the AFC North — that’s one thing that stuck out to me. “I know what this organization’s about, because I played against them a few years.” Before Johnson spent the first seven games of this season with the Panthers after being traded this offseason, he spent his first five years in the league with the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers, which is also where he had his best years. In 2021, he had 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns and was selected to the Pro Bowl. In 84 career games, he has 421 receptions for 4,720 yards with 28 touchdowns. Now, Johnson joins a Ravens offense that is led by star quarterback Lamar Jackson and, by any number of metrics, ranks as one of the best in the league. “I know what Lamar brings to the table, so just to be able to contribute to the offense that he’s a part of and that he leads [and] is a leader of is a blessing,” Johnson said of the reigning and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player. “I’m going [to] do whatever I can to help this offense continue to get better.” One of the league’s best separators, according to Pro Football Focus, and a high-level route runner who can stretch the defense, the 2019 third-round draft pick out of Toledo is only the latest piece in an offense brimming with talent. Wide receiver Zay Flowers leads the Ravens with 41 catches for 627 yards with a touchdown, while fellow receiver Rashod Bateman has 22 catches for 422 yards and three scores. Then there are tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely along with receiver Nelson Agholor, plus running backs Derrick Henry and the soon-to-be returning Keaton Mitchell. Put another way, though, that’s a lot of hands to feed with only one football, so how will Johnson fit in the scheme? “Just wherever they need me to be at right now until I learn everything [and] until they feel comfortable with me playing something else, then that’ll be my focus,” he said. “But right now, just trying to get acclimated and work with what they’re giving me right now.” So far, Johnson has been working and the “X” and “Z” receiver spots as well as fielding punts, a role he had in the beginning of his career and an area the Ravens have struggled with this season. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, right, greets Diontae Johnson during Wednesday’s practice. The Ravens wore their alternate helmets that will debut on “Thursday Night Football” next week against the Bengals. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Whatever his impact, acquiring the 5-foot-10, 183-pound sixth-year receiver came at little cost with potentially high reward, with the Ravens getting him for a swap of late-round draft picks and having to pick up very little of his current salary. And should Johnson sign a free agent deal of at least $5 million with another team after the season — something that seems likely given the market — Baltimore would get a 2026 compensatory sixth-round draft pick in return. Receiver wasn’t the biggest need, but the deal made sense for general manager Eric DeCosta. “We’re always looking for an opportunity to make our team better, and that opportunity came along,” coach John Harbaugh said. “Eric found it, along with the personnel staff and all of the work that they put it in, and made it happen. So we’re excited; our team is better because of it. It raises everybody up and makes us better.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens DBs stay after practice to catch extra balls: ‘Just a repetition thing’ Baltimore Ravens | Colts coach Shane Steichen: Joe Flacco ‘gives us the best chance’ to win Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from practice Wednesday with back and knee injuries Baltimore Ravens | Michael Pierce placed on injured reserve, leaving Ravens thin on defensive line Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens need defensive help. Here’s why they should trade for Jadeveon Clowney. | ANALYSIS As for what Harbaugh has seen so far in the former Steeler? “He’s quick, he’s fast, he’s got great hands, an explosive player, a big, strong, tough player,” he said. “That’s what he brings, so you take those talents, and you fit him into what you’re doing.” And about those Steelers games later this season? “I’m looking forward to game,” Johnson said. “I’m focused on right now. Whatever game comes first before we get to that point — I’m going to do my job and just keep preparing.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Ravens defensive backs remained on the practice field Wednesday as their teammates trudged to the locker room. Why the after-school work? They were practicing catching the ball because dropped interceptions — including one by safety Kyle Hamilton that could have clinched the game — cost them dearly in Sunday’s 29-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Veteran safety Eddie Jackson also dropped two picks Sunday, including one in the end zone. The Ravens lead the league in dropped interceptions with eight, according to Pro Football Focus, and that’s part of the reason their pass defense ranks last. “We’re trying to turn over every stone to get better, and that’s certainly one of them,” coach John Harbaugh said. “They’re out there catching passes right now, as we speak. That’s something that we need to get better at. If you catch all eight of those, the whole statistical story [for the defense] is moot. If you catch six of them, it’s moot. If you catch four, it’s mostly mitigated. That’s how fine a line it is in the National Football League.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | WR Diontae Johnson on going from Panthers to Ravens: ‘Still don’t seem real to me’ Baltimore Ravens | Colts coach Shane Steichen: Joe Flacco ‘gives us the best chance’ to win Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from practice Wednesday with back and knee injuries Baltimore Ravens | Michael Pierce placed on injured reserve, leaving Ravens thin on defensive line Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens need defensive help. Here’s why they should trade for Jadeveon Clowney. | ANALYSIS “It’s just a repetition thing,” Hamilton said. “I can’t blame the coaches for wanting us to get out there on the JUGS [machine] and catch extra passes. I feel like it’s something we should do whether we’re dropping picks or we’re not dropping picks. Just make a habit of it.” The Pro Bowl safety acknowledged he was smarting after Browns quarterback Jameis Winston’s pass wiggled out of his grip, one play before Winston threw a game-winning touchdown strike. “I was pissed about it after the game,” Hamilton said. “I was probably the most mad out of anybody.” Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen provided a simple explanation for making the quarterback change Wednesday. He wants to win now — and so do the Colts. One day after news broke that Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft, would be benched in favor of 39-year-old Joe Flacco, Steichen made his first public comments and acknowledged he made the decision for one reason, committing to Flacco for the foreseeable future. “It’s my obligation to 53 guys in this organization to win football games,” he said. “Right now, Joe Flacco gives us the best chance.” The 22-year-old Richardson has struggled with his performance and his health. His completion rate, 44.4%, is the worst in the NFL this season and he’s thrown four touchdown passes and seven interceptions. His nine total turnovers are tied for third most in the NFL despite sitting out two games with an injured right hip. Missing games is not a new phenomenon for Richardson, either. He’s sat out 15 of 25 career games and finished just five of his 10 career starts because of an assortment of injuries, including season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder last October. Then came Sunday. Houston (6-2) picked off one of Richardson’s poor throws deep in Colts territory in the final minute of the first half and quickly converted it into a touchdown. The Texans won 23-20 to take a two-game lead in the AFC South and sweep the season series from Indy (4-4). Worse yet, Richardson briefly left the game in the second half after tapping his helmet to signal he needed a breather. Though he returned on Indy’s next series, his decision to leave — on what Steichen said was going to be a handoff — was so heavily scrutinized, Richardson acknowledged he made a mistake though he didn’t say when he realized it was a mistake. “Regarding that play, I know I can’t do that as a leader, especially as a quarterback of this team,” Richardson said. “As a football player in general, I can’t necessarily just take myself out of the game like that, especially in key moments like that. But you live and you learn. You’ve just got to grow from it.” The result: Indy is benching one of the youngest, least-experienced quarterbacks in the league and going with one of the league’s oldest. Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has been benched 10 games into his NFL career. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) Flacco, last year’s AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year and the Super Bowl 47 MVP, already has made two starts and is 2-1 in the three appearances with the Colts. He’s completed 71 of 108 passes (65.7%) with 716 yards, seven TDs and one interception and his quick decision-making has helped Indy’s offense stay on the field more consistently. And with the Colts still in the playoff mix, Flacco certainly appears capable of leading another team on a postseason run — just as he did with the Cleveland Browns last season. But his biggest contribution to helping Richardson’s growth may be providing insights only a few other NFL quarterbacks can. “The thing we have to remember here is Anthony is really young. I know that when I was that young, there’s no chance I would have been able to have the perspective and just the right head on my shoulders to handle it and take it the right way,” Flacco said. “Being this is my 17th year, I do have that perspective. So this doesn’t have to be a negative thing. There are a lot of positives on his end that can come from this.” Still, it’s a dramatic shift for Steichen, who just last week told reporters he needed to help Richardson with better play-calling. Back then, the Colts seemed intent to let Richardson learn from his miscues regardless of the results. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | WR Diontae Johnson on going from Panthers to Ravens: ‘Still don’t seem real to me’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens DBs stay after practice to catch extra balls: ‘Just a repetition thing’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from practice Wednesday with back and knee injuries Baltimore Ravens | Michael Pierce placed on injured reserve, leaving Ravens thin on defensive line Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens need defensive help. Here’s why they should trade for Jadeveon Clowney. | ANALYSIS What changed? Steichen said the switch had nothing to do with Richardson taking himself out of Sunday’s game because he was “tired” and more to do with what was best for the Colts. Still, it caught the calm, unflappable Richardson off guard. “Of course, it hurts,” he said. “As a competitor, you definitely don’t want to be told that you’re not the guy anymore for the upcoming week, but it’s all good. I’m using this moment as an opportunity to grow and just learn from my mistakes.” So for now, it’s Flacco’s job to lose. “I’m fired up man,” Flacco said. “Anytime you get a chance to play football in this league, you have to count yourself as blessed. I really feel very fortunate to be with this team and be in this situation and I’m excited to get it done.” View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was not at practice Wednesday afternoon in Owings Mills. The absence is his second this season; he missed Baltimore’s first practice of the week following its loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener. This latest one comes three days after Baltimore’s stunning 29-24 loss to the Browns in Cleveland. Through eight games, Jackson has completed 66.9% of his passes for 2,099 yards and 17 touchdowns with two interceptions. He has also rushed for 501 yards and two scores in 81 carries and is the current front-runner to win his third and second straight NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Coach John Harbaugh is scheduled to meet with reporters at 3:30 p.m. following Wednesday’s practice. 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

The Ravens’ already beleaguered defense suffered another blow on Wednesday. Defensive tackle Michael Pierce has been placed on injured reserve, the team announced. The nine-year veteran will miss at least the next four games. Pierce, 31, suffered a calf injury in Baltimore’s loss to the Browns on Sunday in Cleveland. Already, Baltimore is dealing with several injuries along its defensive front. Brent Urban suffered a concussion on Sunday and defensive tackle Travis Jones is dealing with an ankle injury. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens need defensive help. Here’s why they should trade for Jadeveon Clowney. | ANALYSIS Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: What is your biggest area of concern for the Ravens? Baltimore Ravens | Colts benching Anthony Richardson to start Joe Flacco at quarterback Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ trade for Panthers WR Diontae Johnson Baltimore Ravens | Ravens trade for Panthers WR Diontae Johnson, bolstering top offense Pierce, who also missed the Ravens’ Week 4 win over the Buffalo Bills with a shoulder injury, has 15 tackles and one sack through seven games while playing behind Jones in the rotation. On Monday, the Ravens signed veteran nose tackle Josh Tupou, who spent much of the summer in Baltimore, to the practice squad. He could be a game-day elevation Sunday against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium. 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

Even before the Browns’ Jameis Winston unaffectedly lofted a game-winning 38-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds remaining Sunday in Cleveland, the Ravens, in the words of ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky a day later, had become “predictable.” The third time wasn’t the charm and neither was attempt No. 6. That’s how many consecutive plays Baltimore cover-zero blitzed Cleveland leading into and including on the one that led to Winston’s heroics to no avail. The Ravens came into that game with the league’s worst pass defense by any number of metrics. Down two starting cornerbacks (Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins) and one benched starting safety (Marcus Williams), repeatedly leaving the secondary on an island in man coverage was perhaps a dubious decision on its own. But first-year coordinator Zach Orr’s decision also exposed Baltimore in another, even more significant way. One season after boasting one of the league’s top pass rushes, the Ravens have been one of the worst when it comes to getting to the quarterback, and it’s having a trickle-down effect. Last year, the Ravens ranked ninth in the NFL in pressure rate. Through the first eight weeks of this season, they are 25th. Against the Browns, they had a pressure rate of just 18.6%, which was again among the lowest marks in the league. Consequently, Winston, making his first start since 2022, was kept clean on 76.7% of his snaps and completed 24 of 33 passes for 312 yards and three scores. Baltimore’s pass rush win rate is identical to what it was last season — 41%, per Next Gen Stats — and its 24 sacks are tied for fourth-most in the league, but that shades the truth. Kyle Van Noy has seven sacks and Odafe Oweh 4 1/2, while others have been far less effective. Defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, who had a career-high 13 sacks last season to land a four-year $98 million extension, has just two sacks. Outside linebacker David Ojabo, who was a healthy scratch in Cleveland, has just one across five games. Edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue has been only a minimal rotational contributor. The list goes on and so does the explanation. “A lot of the times if you look at the stats and all that … it’s not as consistently there as you’re going to want it to be,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “Some of that is the fact that we’ve played some really mobile quarterbacks who we’ve had to kind of cage rush a little bit. … But there’s also times on play action, especially on first down, where [Winston] held it, and that’s because you’re stopping the run first, and we weren’t stopping the run as well as we have. We’re playing run defense, and then you have to transition, and you have the bigger guys on the field. That’s when the time really kind of stacked up in terms of him being able to throw the ball in some of those deep windows – some of those chunk throws. “Maybe that’s somewhere where we have to do more blitzing – on first and second down.” And maybe that’s why general manager Eric DeCosta should perhaps get on the phone with Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan again before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. On Tuesday, the Ravens traded for Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson in a move that will bolster their already NFL-best offense. All it cost Baltimore was a draft-pick swap. Calling Morgan back to inquire about Panthers outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney feels like even more of a no-brainer. RavensKevin RichardsonOutside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney was productive for the Ravens last season. He’s a logical trade target for the Ravens to boost this year’s defense. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Of course, several contenders need a pass rusher, so pulling off the right deal for the 31-year-old veteran might be easier said than done. Plus, a shoulder injury kept him out of two games before he returned last week in Denver against the Broncos, who also are coincidentally the Ravens’ opponent this week. But reuniting a healthy Clowney with Baltimore makes too much sense. Last season for the Ravens, he matched his career high with 9 1/2 sacks and added 43 tackles, 23 pressures, nine tackles for loss, a career-best five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He also set career highs in pass-rush win rate (16.8%) and pressure rate (15.4%), per PFF. Clowney is terrific against the run, having finished ninth among all edge players in run-stop rate (9.6%) last season, and he knows the scheme. He’s also affordable. After a big year in Baltimore last season, he signed a two-year, $20 million deal with Carolina. But with the Panthers having already paid the majority of his salary this year and only $2 million guaranteed next year, the Ravens could easily fit him under their tight salary cap with room to spare and only a minimal hit for cutting him next year. And, perhaps most importantly, a return to the Charm City could rejuvenate the former No. 1 overall pick, who has never reached a Super Bowl but helped the Ravens get to the cusp while also being a dependable contributor and affable locker room presence last season. “I hadn’t been here for 48 hours and thought I could fit,” Clowney told The Sun late last season. “Harbaugh is also a guy I’ve been a fan of my whole career.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: What is your biggest area of concern for the Ravens? Baltimore Ravens | Colts benching Anthony Richardson to start Joe Flacco at quarterback Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ trade for Panthers WR Diontae Johnson Baltimore Ravens | Ravens trade for Panthers WR Diontae Johnson, bolstering top offense Baltimore Ravens | This Ravens fan set out to kick a field goal in every Division I college football stadium Whether Harbaugh gets the chance to coach him again isn’t certain, but it’s likely DeCosta isn’t done maneuvering, either. In addition to an edge rusher, there are needs along a suddenly banged up and thin interior defensive line and at safety after Williams was benched and Eddie Jackson and Ar’Darius Washington struggled in his place. “I love our guys. I love our roster,” Harbaugh said this week. “I feel like our roster is really good, and I think every one of our guys is going to play really well down the stretch to the best of their ability.” What that roster looks like a week from now remains to be seen, but if the Ravens hope to get to where they want more changes could be coming. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens’ biggest issues were exposed in Sunday’s 29-24 loss to the Browns in Cleveland. We want to know your thoughts. Under the poll, tell us what you think and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

The Indianapolis Colts are benching Anthony Richardson to start Joe Flacco at quarterback on Sunday night at Minnesota, according to two people with knowledge of the decision. Both people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the team had not announced the change. Coach Shane Steichen said Monday he was “evaluating” whether Richardson would remain the starter — the first hint that a move might be coming for the 4-4 Colts. Richardson, the fourth pick in the 2023 NFL draft, was 10 of 32 passing and got sacked five times in a 23-20 loss to Houston over the weekend. He also drew outside criticism for taking himself out of the game for a play because he said he was tired. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ trade for Panthers WR Diontae Johnson Baltimore Ravens | Ravens trade for Panthers WR Diontae Johnson Baltimore Ravens | This Ravens fan set out to kick a field goal in every Division I college football stadium Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 8: ‘The Ravens’ biggest opponent is the Ravens’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh will ‘turn over every stone’ to fix defensive issues Flacco came in relief earlier this season and started the next two games when Richardson was out with a right hip injury. The 39-year-old former Ravens star completed 71 of 108 passes for 716 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception, and Indianapolis went 2-1. The Colts are 2-3 in games Richardson has started and finished. The University of Florida product is 59 of 133 for 958 yards, four touchdowns and seven picks. Richardson joins Carolina’s Bryce Young as quarterbacks drafted in the top five last year who were benched for performance-related reasons. Young started for the Panthers in their most recent game after journeyman Andy Dalton was involved in a car crash, and the 2023 top pick threw for 224 yards in a 28-24 loss to Denver. This article will be updated. View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ trade for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Tuesday ahead of next week’s deadline: Brian Wacker, reporter: On one hand, this is a shrewd move. Johnson is a solid wide receiver who is one of the league’s best separators and gives quarterback Lamar Jackson and an already high-powered offense yet another player defenses have to worry about as their greatest strength gets even stronger. It also cost the Ravens very, very little, especially since they’ll have a compensatory fifth-round draft pick to replace the fifth-rounder they sent the Panthers. On the other, it doesn’t (at least not yet) address their defensive woes, and there’s the issue of there being only one football to spread amongst many offensive weapons. Still, there’s little not to like about this deal and there should be only upside to it. Childs Walker, reporter: This wasn’t the move we expected from a team that already leads the league in passing efficiency. The Ravens need players who can break up deep balls more than they need another guy who can catch them. That said, Johnson has been a durable, productive receiver throughout his six-year career, and he’ll give Lamar Jackson another target who can punish blitzes and make plays in the red zone. The Ravens didn’t give up much to get him and better yet, they kept Johnson away from AFC rivals that might immediately plug him in as a starter. Jackson will have a lot of hands to feed, and this could lead to renewed questions about the size of Rashod Bateman’s role. But it’s a low-downside addition. Sam Cohn, reporter: That’s a good deal considering the Ravens gave up next to nothing to add a former Pro Bowl receiver and the Panthers are paying most of his salary. He’s 28 years old and has caught 30 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games this season. Johnson only adds to what this team continually refers to as a “pick your poison” offense. That being said, the trade deadline is still a week away and it’s hard to imagine this being Baltimore’s lone move considering its floundering defense. Bennett Conlin, editor: Can Johnson play defensive back? If not, the trade isn’t a major needle-mover for Baltimore’s biggest need, but it does add to a high-powered offense. On a 1-10 scale considering only entertainment value, this hits close to a 10, though. The Ravens lead the NFL in passing efficiency, and now they’ve added a receiver to complement Zay Flowers and tight end Mark Andrews. This should only make Baltimore’s exhilarating offense even more enjoyable for fans. The move could mean fewer targets for Rashod Bateman, who dropped a pass off his face mask in Sunday’s loss to the Browns but has otherwise been solid this season. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Colts benching Anthony Richardson to start Joe Flacco at quarterback Baltimore Ravens | Ravens trade for Panthers WR Diontae Johnson Baltimore Ravens | This Ravens fan set out to kick a field goal in every Division I college football stadium Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 8: ‘The Ravens’ biggest opponent is the Ravens’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh will ‘turn over every stone’ to fix defensive issues C.J. Doon, editor: If you ranked the Ravens’ needs entering this trade deadline, wide receiver would have been behind pass rusher, cornerback and safety. There are already enough mouths to feed with Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely on the field, and the Ravens’ passing offense hasn’t exactly been struggling with Lamar Jackson enjoying another MVP-level season. But, man, adding Diontae Johnson to the mix gives the Ravens’ offense yet another playmaker defenses need to account for in this “pick-your-poison” attack. Nelson Agholor has been a productive and valuable veteran on this team for two seasons, but he simply doesn’t have the same juice running routes and picking up yards after the catch as Johnson, who is an elite separator down the field as measured by ESPN’s Open Score. I doubt general manager Eric DeCosta is done looking for help before next Tuesday’s deadline given the state of the defense. But perhaps the best defense this season is a great offense. It’s hard to envision many teams — even the Chiefs, Bills and Texans, who just lost Stefon Diggs for the season with a torn ACL — being able to outscore the Ravens in the postseason when they’re firing on all cylinders. Keeping Johnson from going to one of those teams is also a huge benefit for Baltimore. And when you consider the cost — just a fifth-round pick while also getting what should be an early sixth-round pick from lowly Carolina — this was a no-brainer. Well done. View the full article

The Ravens are loading up on offense. Baltimore is trading for Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson, a source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday. In exchange, Carolina will get a fifth-round draft pick in 2025, while sending its sixth-round pick to the Ravens in a pick swap. Johnson, a 2021 Pro Bowl selection who spent his first five years in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, has 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns this season. 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

When Josh Pokrywka and his friends — all die-hard Ravens fans and road-trip junkies — drove to New Orleans for Super Bowl 47, they made a pitstop in Knoxville, Tennessee, drawn by curiosity to one of college football’s most historic stadiums. It was after dusk but the lights were still on and a door unlocked, so they moseyed right in. Pokrywka tossed around a football at midfield. He felt the orange checkered end zones under his toes. And as his eyes surveyed around the 100,000 seats of Neyland Stadium, an idea was born. “How easy it was to just kind of get on there and get to live out some of our childhood dreams of being on fields like that because, unfortunately, we’re not [Division I] athletes,” Pokrywka said. “I wanted to kind of see if others were the same.” Then in 2021, on a road trip helping a friend move across the country, he added a new layer of difficulty: make a field goal. And now, Pokrywka, 31 and living in Baltimore, is setting out to (legally) sneak into every Division I college football stadium in the country and kick one through the uprights. Pokrywka will take a Friday off from his day job as a loan advisor and plan a long weekend road trip. Usually, there’s a major sporting event he’s working around — like in December when he hit 11 stadiums en route to Jacksonville for a Ravens vs. Jaguars game on “Sunday Night Football.” His wanderlust leads him to as many stadiums as possible in a short window. “I try to build in an hour for each stadium,” said Pokrywka, who has over 150,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok as @bigggjenk. “You never know how easy it’s gonna be to get into some of these places but, especially the bigger ones, I want to enjoy the stadium for its uniqueness and beauty.” Football and kicking tee in hand, Pokrywka starts circling the perimeter looking for an open gate. There’s always one. He wears sneakers so as not to damage the grass and defaults to a 40-yard field goal — 30 if he’s pressed for time. “I’ll take a 30-second stretch and just rip it,” Pokrywka said. The Owings Mills native and University of Maryland alumnus who hasn’t missed a home Ravens game since 2006 has successfully maneuvered onto, and made a field goal at, 120 DI football fields, split between 66 Football Bowl Subdivision and 54 Football Championship Subdivision schools. Each comes with its own harrowing tale. LSU was a fortress that required two full laps before finding an unlocked entry point. In the two years since he started this hobby religiously, South Carolina’s William-Brice Stadium was the only field he surrendered after hours of searching for a way in. Pokrywka nearly got stuck overnight at Southern Mississippi, set his personal record (52 yards) at Kansas, made a kick on a dirt field in Alaska while wearing a Ray Lewis jersey and took a side quest on an engagement trip only to be escorted out of a Gaelic football stadium in Ireland. Josh Pokrywka hasn’t missed a home Ravens game since 2006. His dad, Greg, has season tickets dating back to the 1990s. Their love of football and travel has been a foundational part of their relationship, making at least one road trip for a game each year. (Courtesy of Josh Pokrywka) Perhaps the craziest run-in was at the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium. “That was the scariest for me,” Josh’s mom, Helene, said. Because of the heat and the long walk, she opted to wait outside while her son ventured onto the field. He got in fairly quickly and sank the kick. Then security noticed. If he ever came back, they said, they’d arrest him. Josh complied, got back to the car and realized his keys were not in his pocket. They were still on the field and the only way to get them back would be if Helene went in. But Josh couldn’t remember where exactly they were. “I’m just ready to have a panic attack,” Helene said. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 8: ‘The Ravens’ biggest opponent is the Ravens’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh will ‘turn over every stone’ to fix defensive issues Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh mum on benched safety Marcus Williams’ future role Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 29-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens’ poor secondary could derail Super Bowl dreams | COMMENTARY She got inside and went down the steps toward the field. The whole time she’s sobbing, thinking, “If I don’t find these keys, we’re screwed.” It only took about 10 minutes of searching before she found them and escaped in one piece. That story is immortalized with Josh’s video titled, “How did my mom end up in Georgia’s end zone by herself?” He’s become a kicking enthusiast over the past few years — dropping everything and calling for his fiancee to come see any critical kick on TV. Naturally, Ravens veteran Justin Tucker is Josh’s favorite. He also admires Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys and thinks he could be the first to connect from 70 yards. Josh’s affinity for road trips stems from his upbringing. He grew up in a close-knit family that was always on the go — camping, visiting family and seeing other parts of the country. There’s at least one Ravens away game every year. “We’re no fair-weather fans,” Josh’s dad, Greg, said, having faithfully sat through snow and rain. This passion project is a perfect amalgamation of Josh’s love for football and travel, taking him all over the map and putting him on grass (or turf) beyond his wildest childhood dreams. “It’s really amazing to think I’m just there by myself when other people have been here in these 100,000-person raucous environments,” Josh said. “It’s almost therapeutic when you’re able to sit there and just be by yourself in the silence of a giant stadium.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will recap the best and worst from around the league. Here are our winners and losers from Week 8: Loser: Ravens Bill Belichick was right. Speaking on the “The Pat McAfee Show” earlier this month — and later reiterating those comments on the “ManningCast” for Ravens vs. Buccaneers — the seven-time Super Bowl champion coach said “the Ravens’ biggest opponent is the Ravens.” “They just can’t let themselves beat themselves,” Belichick said. “When they’re hitting on all cylinders and they’ve got it going right, it really looks good. They’ve just got to find that consistency and eliminate some of the things that they’ve done that put themselves in a hole more than what the opponent has done to them.” Well, the Ravens beat themselves again Sunday in a 29-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Whether it was dropped interceptions, dropped passes, a failure to pressure quarterback Jameis Winston or poor coverage in the secondary, the Ravens couldn’t secure what should have been an easy win over a team that failed to score 20 points in each of its seven games. This was a Cleveland offense with a new starting quarterback in Winston and new play-caller in Ken Dorsey, and the Ravens were playing without injured cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins. That said, Cedric Tillman should not have been as open as he was for the game-winning 38-yard touchdown pass with 59 seconds left, and Winston should not have had as much time to throw as he did with the Ravens rushing seven players. In his first start since 2022, the 30-year-old journeyman threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns and was sacked just twice. So far, attempts to fix the defense haven’t worked. The Ravens (5-3) brought in free agent pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue, hired former defensive coordinator Dean Pees as an adviser and benched safety Marcus Williams on Sunday in favor of Ar’Darius Washington and Eddie Jackson, yet they still rank among the league’s worst in terms of defending the pass and pressuring the quarterback. It’s a complete failure for a unit that is running out of excuses under new coordinator Zach Orr. “We’re going to continue to turn over every stone with our defense and with every other part of our team, too, to get as good as we can get it over the course of a long season,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. The defense isn’t the only problem. The Ravens rank second in the league in penalties (63) and penalty yards (549), and the special teams have taken a dramatic step back from their usual spot near the top of the league. Harbaugh was critical of some mistakes there Sunday, including three penalties on kickoff returns and a fair catch at the 6-yard line by Tylan Wallace on a fourth-quarter punt. Justin Tucker is now a bad bet on 50-plus-yard kicks. One loss to Cleveland, as bad as it was, won’t derail this season. But if the defense can’t solve its biggest issues before the postseason, the Ravens could be in for another disappointing finish. Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown, right, celebrates his game-winning touchdown reception on a Hail Mary against the Bears with Terry McLaurin on Sunday in Landover. (Scott Taetsch/Getty) Winner: Washington Commanders The legend of Jayden Daniels keeps growing. The rookie quarterback launched a Hail Mary as time expired Sunday that bounced off a crowd of players at the goal line and landed perfectly in the hands of Noah Brown for a 52-yard touchdown, completing a stunning 18-15 win over the Chicago Bears and setting off a wild celebration in Landover. “That’s kind of like a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Daniels, who has led Washington to a 6-2 start and first place in the NFC East. The buzzer-beating finish overshadowed what was a mediocre day on offense for the Commanders and their young star, who played through a rib injury he suffered last week that cast doubt on his availability right up until game time. Washington went 0-for-3 in the red zone and 5-for-15 on third down and settled for four field goals from Austin Seibert, an uncharacteristically poor performance for the league’s top scoring offense. “I’m happy that we won, but at the end of the day I know there’s a lot that we left out there, a lot that we could continue to get better from,” said Daniels, who still finished 21 of 38 for 326 yards while rushing eight times for 52 yards. “We’ve got to clean some stuff up on the offensive side. We’ve got to clean up some stuff — penalties, communication. We won the game, so it’s always better on a win.” He left quite an impression on his teammates as well. Perhaps forgotten in the euphoria of the victory are the 11-yard pass to Zach Ertz and the 13-yard completion to Terry McLaurin in the final seconds that put Washington in position to try the Hail Mary. “We’re blessed to have ‘5’ leading this team: The things he can do is special,” Brown said. “I wouldn’t want to play with any other quarterback.” Loser: Chicago Bears The Commanders’ miracle win included plenty of help from the Bears, including on that final play. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson had his back turned when Washington snapped the ball because he was focused on interacting with fans in the crowd. He eventually sprinted over after Daniels scrambled for 13 seconds and released the ball from his own 35-yard line, joining the mob of players at the goal line as the ball arrived. Coach Matt Eberflus said Stevenson was supposed to block out Brown, who ended up being uncovered when he caught the tipped pass in the end zone. Stevenson later apologized to his teammates and addressed the team during a meeting Monday. “I let the moment get too big and it’s something that can never happen again and won’t ever happen again,” he said. But that wasn’t the only mistake the Bears (4-3) made Sunday. Facing third-and-goal from the 1-yard line earlier in the fourth quarter, Chicago inexplicably handed the ball to offensive lineman Doug Kramer, an occasional blocking fullback in goal-line situations who had never carried the ball in the NFL. Kramer predictably muffed the handoff from rookie Caleb Williams, and the Commanders recovered the fumble to preserve a 12-7 lead. The Bears forced a quick punt and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 25 seconds left — handing the ball to running back Roschon Johnson at the goal line this time — but the damage had been done. Perhaps the Hail Mary was karmic justice for a team with the hubris to hand the ball to an offensive lineman with the game on the line, a truly unprecedented blunder. According to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, there are no examples of a player who weighs at least 300 pounds scoring a rushing touchdown in a situation when his team was trailing. The Lions at least had the good sense to wait until they had put away the Cowboys earlier this season before trying to get one of their offensive linemen to score. Leave the fun plays to Detroit, Chicago. The return of Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, left, helped quarterback Matt Stafford have his best game of the season. (Ryan Sun/AP) Winner: Los Angeles Rams Things were not looking good for the Rams entering Thursday night. Los Angeles was 2-4 and facing calls for wide receiver Cooper Kupp and perhaps even quarterback Matthew Stafford to get traded before next Tuesday’s deadline. Fellow receiver Puka Nacua had been out since getting injured in Week 1, and Kupp hadn’t played since Week 2. Only a thrilling comeback against the 49ers and a win over the lowly Raiders had kept the Rams afloat. Then both star receivers returned, and Los Angeles looked like a team that could contend for a playoff spot and potentially a division title in a 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Nacua caught seven passes for 106 yards, looking every bit the dynamic player who set the NFL rookie receiving record with 1,486 yards last season. Kupp had five catches for 51 yards and a score, and Stafford finished with 279 yards and four touchdowns after throwing just three touchdown passes in the first six games combined. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh will ‘turn over every stone’ to fix defensive issues Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh mum on benched safety Marcus Williams’ future role Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 29-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens’ poor secondary could derail Super Bowl dreams | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Browns QB Jameis Winston quotes Eminem after leading stunning win over Ravens “They brought a lot of energy to our team, and a ton of confidence,” Stafford said. “It’s not only just the offense. I know the defense feels it too when those guys are out there making plays.” The defense did benefit from a missed facemask call against Byron Young on his sack of Sam Darnold in the end zone for a safety that effectively ended the game, but it was unlikely that Minnesota would have been able to drive for a touchdown and a game-tying 2-point conversion with 1:46 left and no timeouts. The Rams sacked Darnold three times and limited the Vikings’ explosive offense to just two field goals in the final three quarters. Now, Los Angeles (3-4) sits just one game behind the 49ers, Cardinals and Seahawks in a crowded NFC West race that could go down to the wire. Aaron Donald might be gone, but seeing Stafford, Kupp and Nacua all healthy and playing well with a chance to compete for another Super Bowl title under coach Sean McVay is a treat. “I believe in this group,” McVay said. “I saw resolve. I didn’t see a flinch. … We’ve done a good job of getting ourselves back to where we wanted to be.” Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

The Ravens have signed a free agent pass rusher, hired a defensive-minded consultant with a game-day role and benched a highly paid safety. Their defense is still performing among the league’s worst. Coach John Harbaugh did not sidestep the notion of further changes. “Depends what kind of changes are available to us,” he said. “We’re going to continue to turn over every stone on defense. … We’ll do whatever we can do.” Through eight weeks, the Ravens (5-3) have given up the most total air yards on completions (1,177) and are tied for first in passing touchdowns allowed (17). They’ve given up the most completed passes (207) on the most attempts (308) for the most first downs (123). And they’re 21st in takeaways, all under first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr. That’s a pretty stark contrast from a team that only a year ago became the first to lead the NFL in points allowed, sacks and takeaways in a single season. And it’s a poor complement to perhaps the league’s top offense. In their 29-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, the Ravens dropped three interceptions, according to Pro Football Focus. Two slipped through Eddie Jackson’s fingers and a third — the most consequential that would have iced a sixth straight Ravens win — pinballed between Kyle Hamilton’s arms and legs before tumbling to the turf. It was an agonizing end to an otherwise sound day from Hamilton, who starred among a depleted defense against a bottom-of-the-barrel Browns offense. Hamilton’s drop came just outside the game’s final minute. The next play, Browns receiver Cedric Tillman dusted Jackson and caught a 38-yard pass from Jameis Winston for the eventual game-winning touchdown. When asked about how his defensive backs can translate catching on the JUGS machine to in-game interceptions, Harbaugh sounded as if he, too, was struggling to come to grips with the glaring issue. “There are probably a lot of factors that are pretty hard to measure on that,” he said, “but we lead the league in drops. It’s no secret.” According to Fantasy Football analyst Ian Hartitz, there has been only one other instance of an NFL team dropping three potential picks this season. It was Baltimore in Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills. The Ravens defense has eight total drops on the season, while no other team has more than five. “Man, those are huge opportunities,” Harbaugh said. “That’s low-hanging fruit.” Ravens safety Eddie Jackson, left, dropped two interceptions Sunday against the Browns. (Jason Miller/Getty) Baltimore’s secondary was playing without its takeaways leader Marlon Humphrey (knee) and rookie Nate Wiggins, who Harbaugh said did not travel because of an illness. Safety Marcus Williams was benched for Ar’Darius Washington but the veteran coach declined to offer further details. Tillman’s earlier touchdown — his first of two, part of the best outing of his young career — came on the heels of another Ravens defensive blunder. There was miscommunication at the line of scrimmage that left Odafe Oweh sprinting to the opposite end as Winston snapped the ball. Tillman caught a quick slant over the middle, shed a Jackson tackle and scurried into the end zone to give Cleveland the lead back late in the third quarter. “We’ve had a few of those this year,” Harbaugh said. “We’ve got to do a much better job of that. … It’s what defenses face nowadays in the NFL. There’s a lot of moving parts to the offenses and we’re trying to match personnel and match formations. You got to be on point and we’re not on point with that play.” How and when the Ravens blitz was another point Harbaugh said they’ll take a good long look at. He said he’s been happy with the pass rush — which is top five in the league in sacks with 24. And to the Ravens’ credit, their bottom-10 blitz percentage (18.6%) is somewhat a byproduct of playing a murderer’s row of mobile quarterbacks. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh mum on benched safety Marcus Williams’ future role Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 29-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens’ poor secondary could derail Super Bowl dreams | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Browns QB Jameis Winston quotes Eminem after leading stunning win over Ravens Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 29-24 loss to Browns | COMMENTARY That was not the case Sunday against Winston, who was making his first start since September 2022. Baltimore also played most of Sunday’s loss without nose tackle Michael Pierce and defensive end Brent Urban. Pierce exited in the first half with a calf injury. Urban suffered a concussion on his lone snap of the day. And Travis Jones played only 15 defensive snaps while still dealing with an ankle injury. Even behind an undermanned front, Harbaugh lamented the frequency with which Winston was able to hold onto the ball and make a play. They weren’t containing the run against Cleveland, which opened the door for Winston to make chunk throws. “Maybe that’s somewhere where we have to do more blitzing — on first and second down,” Harbaugh said. “We did some. Zach called a couple edge blitzes that got there. We’ll be looking real hard at that. … It’s a big part of our defense, and the execution part of it, for the most part, has been good, but there have been plenty of times where it hasn’t been good. I do think it’s part of the learning curve.” On Monday, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovksy made note of Orr calling all-out blitzes on six straight plays to end the game. Orlovsky might agree with the need to turn over a few more stones, having called Baltimore’s defense “predictable.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Ravens coach John Harbaugh called struggling starting safety Marcus Williams’ benching for Sunday’s game against the Browns in Cleveland a “personnel decision” and more quizzically “an internal” one. A day after the 28-year-old veteran never so much as reached for his helmet much less made his way onto the field in the Browns’ stunning 29-24 upset, the coach declined to elaborate. “I don’t really have anything else to say about that,” Harbaugh said when asked Monday to clarify what he meant about calling it an internal matter. “There’s a lot of things going on all the time. A lot of it’s kind of our business. It kind of belongs in-house. “It’s between us and it’s not something that we need to tell everybody everything about. I don’t think you’re telling everybody about your family business. … There’s some things we could choose to keep to ourselves and that’s gonna be one of them. I never get up here and talk about why we put guys up and put guys down. I never have. I’m probably not going to start doing that now.” What role Williams, whom the Ravens signed to a five-year, $70 million contract in 2022 that made him the fourth-highest paid safety in the NFL, will play going forward also remains a mystery. Asked if his benching was limited to just the Browns game and if he would be on the field this week against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium, Harbaugh declined to say. He also declined to explain why he simply wasn’t inactive if he had no plans to play him, which had been the case all week. This, less than two weeks removed from what defensive coordinator Zach Orr said was Williams’ best week of practice all season going into Baltimore’s Week 7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yet, six days later, he never left the sideline. When Williams has played, he has struggled mightily. He ranks 76th out of 85 qualifying safeties, according to Pro Football Focus, with an overall grade of 48.9 and a coverage grade of 46.8. He has also allowed a passer rating of 143.9 and surrendered 16.3 yards per catch. But even with Williams riding the pine, the Ravens’ floundering secondary — which was also without starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey and rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins because of injury — was no less leaky than it had been all season. Asked if safety Marcus Williams’ benching was limited to just the Browns game and if he would be on the field this week against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium, Ravens coach John Harbaugh declined to say. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) With a safety trio of Kyle Hamilton, Eddie Jackson and Ar’Darius Washington, along with Brandon Stephens and Jalyn Armour-Davis at cornerback, Cleveland quarterback Jameis Winston completed 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns. That included a 38-yard bomb to a wide-open Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds remaining for the game-winner after he inexplicably got behind Jackson on a cover zero blitz. It didn’t help, either, that Ravens defensive backs dropped at least three would-be interceptions, including two by Jackson and one by Hamilton one play before the completion to Tillman. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh will ‘turn over every stone’ to fix defensive issues Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 29-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens’ poor secondary could derail Super Bowl dreams | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Browns QB Jameis Winston quotes Eminem after leading stunning win over Ravens Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 29-24 loss to Browns | COMMENTARY “That’s where you could make a huge difference in your play — how many fewer plays you have to play, how many fewer scoring opportunities they have, the difference in points; it’s massive,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll make those plays. … We’ve got guys with good hands. They could catch the ball. I’m very confident that we’re going to do it going forward, but I’d like to see it happen real soon.” Whether Williams will be back on the field soon, however, remains a mystery for now, though Harbaugh continues to be resolute. “I’ll just reiterate what I said before; Marcus is a heck of a player,” he said. “I have the utmost confidence in him as a player, as a person, as a pro. … I anticipate him playing great football for us all season and very soon.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens’ defense could not come up with a clutch stop, and Lamar Jackson’s offense could not bail them out this time around in a 29-24 loss to the woeful Browns in Cleveland. Here are five things we learned from the game: The Ravens’ defense is a five-alarm fire Kyle Hamilton was the one defender on the field a Ravens fan might have trusted to catch a falling baby. With his raggedy unit falling apart in its effort to protect a 24-23 lead, Hamilton saw Jameis Winston’s pass float tantalizingly toward his hands. An interception would likely mean sweet relief, an escape from ignominious defeat against a Browns team that was going nowhere. Instead, the ball squiggled out of Hamilton’s grasp. On the very next play, Cleveland’s top receiver, Cedric Tillman, raced past safety Eddie Jackson like he was a stationary cone, pulling in Winston’s 38-yard strike to give the Browns a lead they would not relinquish. A blown opportunity setting up blown coverage. That about sums up where the Ravens’ defense stands after eight weeks under first-year coordinator Zach Orr. It brings no one pleasure to criticize Orr, a bright, charismatic figure going back to his days as a Ravens linebacker. But his defense isn’t working, and Sunday’s disaster, against an offense that came in as the league’s least efficient, offered the most damning evidence yet. Did any fan watching have faith the Ravens would protect that narrow lead with more than two minutes left for Winston to work? With the ball in Lamar Jackson’s hands, the Ravens are a whirlwind — a team we can envision playing for the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans on the second Sunday in February. Right now, Orr’s defense isn’t nearly good enough for us to believe the Super Bowl is their destiny. The Browns’ final touchdown is the one that will linger in the memory, but another score late in the third quarter offered just as potent an illustration of the Ravens’ failings. Baltimore defenders pointed at one another as they scrambled to line up on third-and-5. Amid all the confusion, Tillman somehow burst unchecked through the heart of the secondary to catch a 22-yard touchdown pass from Winston. The Ravens did not seem to know what they were trying to accomplish and could not check the most basic box by covering the opponent’s most dangerous pass catcher. That’s on the coaches and on defensive leaders such as Hamilton and Roquan Smith. The Ravens, going in shorthanded without cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins, tried to shake up their secondary. They benched safety Marcus Williams, who was off to the worst start of his career, in what coach John Harbaugh described as a “personnel” decision. But that just meant more snaps for Eddie Jackson, who also has not played well. Winston had plenty of time to throw when the Ravens rushed four. He had open receivers to target between the hashmarks. When he did take an inexplicable risk, the Ravens failed to turn it into an interception. We’ve seen this formula for failure again and again from a team that defended the pass better than any other in 2023. “There’s no big theory behind it,” said Eddie Jackson, who also failed to catch a pair of would-be interceptions. “We’re just in a funk right now that we have to get out of because a lot of those are big game-changing plays if we make those.” The Ravens know there’s a problem. They showed as much by bringing in former coordinator Dean Pees as another set of eyes to help Orr. They did not play Williams, who had been on the field for 98% of their defensive snaps going into the Browns game. They’re grasping, but the solutions are eluding them. This time, the offense was too sloppy to bail them out Over five straight victories, the Ravens had rightly come to believe their offense could blow past almost any setback. Send extra rushers? Jackson would coolly slice you up. Slow Derrick Henry for a half? Fine, but he’d break you by the end. From ahead or behind, they unleashed equal devastation. The Browns didn’t exactly derail this machine. The Ravens averaged 6.2 yards per play and drove 91 yards for a touchdown to give themselves a chance to win. But this was not the offense that had executed so ruthlessly in the red zone and on third down. Receivers dropped passes at key moments. Jackson took risks that could easily have led to interceptions. Coordinator Todd Monken called odd short-yardage plays that did not work. They never built their usual crushing advantage on the ground and had to go away from Henry as they played from behind in the fourth quarter. The Ravens wasted a 77-yard opening drive when they inexplicably called a direct snap to Henry on fourth-and-1, taking the threat of Jackson out of the equation. They blew another red zone chance on their next drive when Jackson sailed a pass well beyond the reach of a wide-open Zay Flowers. They made error after error on third down, converting just two of 10 after they came in with a 50% success rate, second best in the league. “It honestly goes back to execution. Whatever the play, somehow, someway, no matter what it [was], we beat ourselves,” wide receiver Rashod Bateman said. “I don’t know what [better] position [we] could have been in. It could have been the receivers, it could have been [the] O-line; you never know. But we are a team, and I just feel like we all failed when we should excel.” Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers reacts after an incomplete pass in the end zone with no time remaining in Sunday’s loss against the Browns. (David Richard/AP) With the Ravens in Cleveland territory on their first drive of the second half and needing to answer a Browns touchdown, Nelson Agholor dropped a strike from Jackson. Early in the fourth quarter, it was Bateman who dropped Jackson’s on-target throw, setting up Justin Tucker to miss short and left from 50 yards. On the Ravens’ next drive, Bateman lost his footing, then lost the ball in the sun, squandering a potential 40-yard gain that would have put them in scoring position. The performance was a setback for the 2021 first-round draft pick coming off the best three-game stretch of his career. We covered the direct snap to Henry. In the third quarter, tight end Charlie Kolar lined up to take a direct snap on third-and-1 and instead set the Ravens back with a false start. Again, why the overthought gimmicks in short yardage when Jackson or Henry could have carried the ball? Jackson rendered that one moot by slipping away from pressure to find Isaiah Likely for a first down. He threw a strike to Mark Andrews for a touchdown two plays later. But even on a successful drive, the Ravens made their lives unnecessarily difficult. They nearly rallied anyway against one of the tougher defenses on their schedule. There’s no reason to doubt the Ravens will roll up yards and points in the weeks to come. They just came up with too few too late on this frustrating afternoon. They weren’t first to blame, but this was also a rough day for the Ravens’ offensive line They have been the happiest surprise on the team — the unit that evolved from supposed Achilles heel to rock-solid foundation for the Ravens’ offensive brilliance. That happy narrative took a turn against Cleveland’s talented defensive front. Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett finished with just one quarterback hit, but his modest statistical line belied the pressure he imposed. In part because of Garrett’s presence, left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who had played at a Pro Bowl level through seven games, set the Ravens back with a holding penalty and a false start. Former Raven Za’Darius Smith, the subject of rampant trade rumors, had his way with rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten, piling up a sack, two tackles for loss and 10 hurries, according to Pro Football Focus’ initial charting. Center Tyler Linderbaum wiped out a 22-yard Lamar Jackson scramble with a holding penalty in the second quarter. Cleveland finished with three sacks, seven quarterback hits and seven tackles for loss, and the damage could have been worse if not for Jackson’s wondrous scrambling. Kyle Hamilton was oh so close to playing savior If Hamilton had pulled in that final interception, the day would have belonged to him. He had saved the Ravens’ bacon with two huge plays in the first half and had perhaps been the team’s best run defender and pass rusher. The final twist — a ball Hamilton would probably catch nine out of 10 times — was cruel. So it goes at times, even for the sharpest and most gifted among us. Hamilton was gone from the postgame locker room by the time reporters arrived, so we’ll have to wait to hear his thoughts on the matter. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton can’t come up with an interception that would have sealed the victory Sunday. The Browns scored the game-winning touchdown on the next play. (Nick Cammett/Getty) Prudent quarterbacks don’t throw screens to Hamilton’s side of the field. Winston had driven the Browns 91 yards on their opening possession when he called an audible in the red zone, dumping the ball to Tillman to counter a Baltimore blitz. Hamilton read the chess board and raced upfield to destroy the play before Tillman could take a step. His bold move saved four points. With Cleveland up 6-3 and facing third-and-15 in the two-minute drill, Hamilton came swooping in from Winston’s blind side to strip the ball. Trenton Simpson recovered it, and two plays later, Jackson threw an 11-yard dart to Agholor to give the Ravens a halftime lead they probably did not deserve. Hamilton was the reason for it on a day when so many of his defensive comrades could not suit up because of injury or illness. Sometimes, a team has to fall back on its superstars in tense moments, and if we needed a reminder that Hamilton is one of the three or four most important Ravens on the roster, he provided it. It’s still true, even with that final drop overshadowing everything else he did in Cleveland. This loss doesn’t have to mean much in the long run It’s striking that the Ravens have now fallen to two of the NFL’s worst teams because of their own head-smacking errors. It’s tempting to say a real contender would never crumble against the likes of the Browns and the Las Vegas Raiders. But of course that’s not true. Real contenders lose to inferior opponents in head-scratching ways every season. The Ravens did it last season when they dropped every pass under the sun in Pittsburgh. The eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Raiders on Christmas, scoring just 14 points in their Yuletide misery. The eventual runner-up San Francisco 49ers lost three straight last October. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens’ poor secondary could derail Super Bowl dreams | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Browns QB Jameis Winston quotes Eminem after leading stunning win over Ravens Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 29-24 loss to Browns | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ defense collapses in 29-24 loss to Browns, ending 5-game winning streak Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 29-24 loss to Cleveland Browns It happens. The Ravens still feature the reigning Most Valuable Player at the head of the scariest offense they’ve ever fielded. They’re still in very good position to win the AFC North. They’re a few twists from being 7-1 or even 8-0. Their defense has reached a legitimately concerning state, but even on that side of the ball, they’ll likely be healthier next Sunday with Humphrey, Wiggins and defensive tackle Travis Jones (active but hampered by an ankle injury in Cleveland) recuperating. They’ll be favored at home against the offensively challenged Denver Broncos and again four days later against a Cincinnati Bengals team that was just hammered by the Philadelphia Eagles. The Ravens left Cleveland embarrassed by the mess they made, but this loss wasn’t the end of anything. “Any given Sunday, a team can wake up, and it could be their day,” Lamar Jackson said. “We just have to play better all around, that’s all.” Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. Week 9 Broncos at Ravens Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 9 1/2 View the full article

CLEVELAND — The Ravens brought Dean Pees back as an adviser to help young defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Here’s a suggestion: At this point, coach John Harbaugh should invite some of the previous defensive coordinators to return, such as Greg Mattison, Rex Ryan, Don “Wink” Martindale and Chuck Pagano. Shoot, fly in former Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis if he can get out of his contract with Las Vegas as the Raiders’ assistant head coach. These are desperate times for Baltimore. The Ravens got beat, 29-24, Sunday by Cleveland and were lit up by quarterback Jameis Winston, who completed 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards with three touchdowns and finished with a passer rating of 115.3. Yes, that Winston. The last time Winston was a full-time starter, he threw for 5,109 yards with 33 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions for Tampa Bay in 2019. Worse yet, he was filling in for the injured Deshaun Watson, who ruptured his Achilles tendon last week, so Winston was making his first start of the season. There has been a cloud hovering over Cleveland this week after fans booed Watson while he lay on the field injured, and there were recent reports about fans being angry with the threat of team owners possibly moving the team from downtown Huntington Bank Field to a new domed arena in the suburbs. So, either the Ravens were going to get a reborn Browns team or one in a pitiful mental state. They got Winston, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft by Tampa Bay who spent four seasons in New Orleans before coming to the Browns at the start of this season, and they shouldn’t lose to him. He can still play, but let’s not get carried away. The 30-year-old journeyman is on the tail end of a 10-year career, but he carved the Ravens into near submission. This was embarrassing. Where do I begin? I’m not worried about that, as it’s the ending that is more of a concern. “It’s frustrating, for sure,” Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike said. “We’re the Ravens. We pride ourselves on defense, and obviously, everybody is referring to how great we were last year and just comparing it to this year, it’s just not the same. … But hey, we’re just going to go back to practice [and] just fix those little things. That’s where it starts, and that’s where it can transfer to the game [from] so we can win these games. “This is a game we should have won, and we didn’t, so it’s very frustrating. And I know a lot of guys feel the same way I feel. But, we have an opponent coming into our house [next week], and that’s the next thing we’re going to focus on.” The Ravens simply can’t cover in the secondary. They aren’t even close. It’s not a physical problem because the Ravens aren’t just getting beat in one-on-one situations. They aren’t even in the vicinity, especially in the middle of the field. Receiver Elijah Moore had eight catches for 85 yards while fellow wideout Cedric Tillman finished with seven receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Jerry Jeudy and tight end David Njoku combined for 10 catches for 140 yards and a score. This was just plain ugly. Safety Kyle Hamilton’s dropped interception in the fourth quarter was just one of several from the Ravens on Sunday. (Nick Cammett/Getty) The worst part was Tillman’s 38-yard touchdown pass over the middle from Winston with 59 seconds remaining to win the game as he ran by safety Eddie Jackson. The Ravens blitzed to no avail. Nearly three years ago, Harbaugh didn’t offer Martindale a contract because he said the Ravens were too predictable blitzing and leaving the team vulnerable in “zero coverage.” There were no excuses Sunday because the Ravens have too many holes. Cornerback Brandon Stephens can’t cover one-on-one and can’t find the ball — a reason more teams are starting to pick on him. The only real press corner the Ravens have is rookie Nate Wiggins, and he missed Sunday’s game because of a shoulder injury and illness. The rest of this crew are just fill-ins, but they still should only be a step or two behind receivers, not lightyears. They can’t catch either. Safety Eddie Jackson had three passes in his hands Sunday and couldn’t make an interception. Winston overthrew Moore with 1:08 remaining, which should have sealed the win for the Ravens if safety Kyle Hamilton had held onto the ball. But Hamilton bobbled it and it fell to the turf. The next play, Tillman scored. “ just have to come down with it. just have to continue to work on it [and] see the ball through,” Jackson said. “It’s like a funk right now. Like I said, there’s no big theory behind it, just have to catch the ball. It sounds crazy, but I just have to come up with them.” Ravens safety Eddie Jackson struggled against the Browns, losing track of receivers and dropping potential interceptions. (Sue Ogrocki/AP) I’ve tried to be quiet for the last couple of weeks watching Orr and this secondary. In fact, I’ve advised patience. But now, bring all the former coordinators back. Heck, throw a party and have a reunion. But let’s not focus just on the secondary. Winston sat in the pocket and delivered quick, short passes both inside and outside. The Ravens had virtually no pass rush and Winston was sacked only twice. He was hurried just seven times. The Ravens got little pressure from inside, especially Madubuike, and even less from outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, who combined for five tackles and no sacks. “We weren’t able to do that in this game,” Harbaugh said of the lack of pass rush. “We’ll definitely break it all down. We’ll break every aspect of it down. When we sit there and watch the film, everybody will look at everything that they can do better and everything we did, and we’ll try to continue to keep improving. I mean, there’s a lot of football left to be played. You’re not going to win every game.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Browns QB Jameis Winston quotes Eminem after leading stunning win over Ravens Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 29-24 loss to Browns | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ defense collapses in 29-24 loss to Browns, ending 5-game winning streak Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 29-24 loss to Cleveland Browns Baltimore Ravens | Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah carted off field after collision with Ravens RB Derrick Henry Middle linebacker Roquan Smith finished with eight tackles but hasn’t made an impactful play since the season opener against Kansas City. It’s great the Ravens have this wonderful and top-ranked offense, but on Sunday there was a glimpse of what might happen if quarterback Lamar Jackson doesn’t bring his A-game. “It was a tough situation coming in here,” Harbaugh said. “I think our guys handled all of that pretty well — we operated pretty well. We didn’t do enough; we didn’t make the plays; we didn’t make the calls that we need to make to win the game, and that’s really what it boils down to.” The Ravens had no running game, even with Derrick Henry, who had 11 carries for 73 yards. His long run of 39 yards came in the first half. Without the play-action passing game and run-pass options, the Ravens struggle to be effective. Jackson tried to bring the Ravens back with late-game heroics, but that wasn’t enough. Not even he could overcome the Ravens’ problems in the secondary. Right now, it’s the difference between being a possible Super Bowl contender to one that needs its quarterback to put on a Superman cape every week. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

It was a big day for Jameis Winston and his “unwavering faith.” Thrust into the starting lineup for the first time since 2022 after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon last week, the journeyman quarterback led the Browns to a dramatic 29-24 win over the Ravens on Sunday in Cleveland. Though he was the beneficiary of four dropped interceptions by the Ravens’ secondary — including one by safety Kyle Hamilton that could have sealed the win for Baltimore — Winston finished 27 of 41 for 334 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-winning 38-yard pass to Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds left. When asked to describe the win, just Cleveland’s second of the season after a five-game losing streak, Winston cited his faith during his postgame interview with CBS’ Amanda Balionis. “Unwavering faith,” he said. “Ultimate belief. Depending on the Lord, and depending on the Lord should have been first. He gets all the glory. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for this win.” He then shouted out a “white boy from Detroit,” rapper Eminem, and quoted some of the 15-time Grammy Award-winning artist’s most famous lyrics. “He said, ‘You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity lasts once in a lifetime.’ … I’m just grateful. I’m grateful that the Lord provided me with this opportunity, I’m grateful for my teammates, my coaches and these amazing fans.” In his postgame comments with reporters in Cleveland, Winston said it was “by the grace of God” that Hamilton dropped his overthrown pass just one play before he hit Tillman deep down the middle of the field for the go-ahead touchdown. “When situations like that happen, you always sit back and you’re like, ‘Man, I still got stuff to work on.’ Because it could have been a matter of whatever,” he said. “Who knows how we would feel right now if that [interception] would have happened? But I’m so grateful that was an ‘if.’ And ifs and woulds and shoulda-couldas don’t mean nothing in this game.” Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Here’s how the Ravens (5-3) graded out at every position after a 29-24 loss to the host Cleveland Browns (2-6) on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field. Quarterback If the Browns’ defensive players could catch, Lamar Jackson would have been intercepted four times in the first half alone. Jackson had an off day and made some poor decisions while rolling to his right and throwing back across the middle of the field. That’s a major no-no in the NFL. The Ravens had several drops that would have padded Jackson’s stats, but he also missed a wide-open Zay Flowers on a deep pass near the end zone early in the second quarter and tight end Isaiah Likely wide-open in the middle of the field early in the fourth. Rashod Bateman also dropped what should have easily been a big gain on third-and-14 in the fourth quarter. Jackson completed 23 of 38 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns and finished with a passer rating of 101.8. He led the Ravens on a 91-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, but he couldn’t deliver the game-winning score in the final minute. Grade: C+ Running backs If the Ravens have a strong running game, it opens up the play-action passing game and creates scoring opportunities. The Browns kept running back Derrick Henry under control for most of the game as he rushed 11 times for 73 yards, but one of those attempts netted him 39 yards. Backup Justice Hill wasn’t much of a factor as either a runner or a receiver. Henry had 47 yards on five carries in the first half but wasn’t a factor in the second. Jackson tried to carry the Ravens, but his heroics were too little, too late. To succeed, the Ravens’ running game has to complement the passing game. Grade: C Offensive line The Ravens had trouble with the Browns’ pass rush, particularly defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo, who could play inside or outside. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley, as expected, had problems with end Myles Garrett, one of the better and more complete players in the NFL. But the Ravens also struggled inside, especially center Tyler Linderbaum trying to handle nose tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. Tomlinson got penetration against Linderbaum several times to ruin plays up the middle, especially the toss to Henry, who tried to cut back up the middle. The false start or illegal formation penalties are getting old. The Browns had three sacks. Grade: C- Receivers The Ravens had success at times, but not enough to carry the offense, especially without a strong running game. They dropped too many passes, from Nelson Agholor to Bateman. The Ravens averaged 12.4 yards per catch, including 16.4 by Flowers, who had seven catches for 115 yards. Mark Andrews had five catches for 36 yards and a touchdown and fellow tight end Likely had four for 47 yards, but the Ravens weren’t consistent enough downfield as Jackson was hit 10 times and flushed from the pocket on many occasions. The Ravens like to get Hill involved in the passing game, but he only had one reception for 14 yards. Grade: C Defensive line The Ravens were fairly successful in slowing Cleveland’s running game as the Browns had 80 yards on 23 carries, but halfback Nick Chubb rushed 16 times for 52 yards and had some punishing runs. There were times when he refused to go down. The Browns also did a nice job of having quarterback Jameis Winston throw short and quick, and the Ravens never adjusted. Baltimore had two sacks, but never got consistent pressure. Nnamdi Madubuike finished with two tackles and reserve end Brent Urban (who left with a concussion) had one, but the rest of this group didn’t have a tackle. Michael Pierce also exited with a calf injury. For the Ravens to be successful, this group has to get more pressure from the middle of the line. They were solid, but not dominant. Even if these guys just get their hands up to block passing lanes, it would be helpful. Grade: C Linebackers Middle linebacker Roquan Smith led the group with eight tackles but he didn’t dominate in the middle. In fact, he hasn’t played exceptionally well all season. Weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson finished with four tackles, including one for a loss, but he wasn’t much of a factor, and the same can be said of outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Odafe Oweh and Malik Harrison. Oweh and Van Noy combined for five tackles and zero sacks. Regardless of how badly the secondary performed, it makes it even worse when a team can’t get pressure. Grade: C- Secondary Does any player occupy the middle of the field for the Ravens? The Browns were open over the middle all afternoon, from intermediate to deep routes. The Ravens tried to play zone and man-to-man coverage, but nothing worked. The only time the Ravens had success or got consistent pressure on Winston was when safety Kyle Hamilton blitzed off the edge. Hamilton finished with 10 tackles and safety Eddie Jackson also had 10. Safety Marcus Williams was benched. Cornerback Brandon Stephens had trouble with several of the Browns’ receivers, and the Ravens also gave Cleveland too much cushion on the outside. The Ravens’ defensive backs dropped four interceptions, including a drop by Hamilton that could have sealed the win late in the fourth quarter. The Ravens need some more direction, and this poor showing was not because cornerback Marlon Humphrey was out because of a knee injury. Grade: D- Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ defense collapses in 29-24 loss to Browns, ending 5-game winning streak Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 29-24 loss to Cleveland Browns Baltimore Ravens | Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah carted off field after collision with Ravens RB Derrick Henry Baltimore Ravens | Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington starts in place of Marcus Williams vs. Browns Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Browns, October 27, 2024 | PHOTOS Special teams Justin Tucker made a 49-yard field goal attempt in the first half, but his 50-yard try sailed wide left with 13:03 remaining in the game. There will be questions about his leg strength again. Cleveland must have noticed something about the Ravens’ return game because their kickoffs were short and the Ravens averaged just 22.3 yards on six returns, including a long of 24 yards. Jordan Stout averaged 52.3 yards on four punts, including a long of 64 yards. He also put one inside the Browns’ 20-yard line. Grade: C Coaching This became a vintage Ravens performance in which they come in and play down to the caliber of their competition. Offensively, the Ravens did well enough to win but made some boneheaded decisions early in the game by going for it on fourth-and-1 with 8:48 left in the first quarter instead of attempting a field goal. They also put Henry in the Wildcat to take a direct snap, which makes no sense. Why not have Henry and Jackson in the same backfield, which puts more pressure on a defense? The Ravens also tried a quarterback sneak with backup tight end Charlie Kolar, which led to a false start, and then attempted a shovel pass to Likely on first-and-goal in the second half. They tried to get too cute. As for the defense, this group is downright ugly. With or without adviser Dean Pees, this secondary can’t get out of its own way except to disappear quickly for postgame interviews. Grade: C- Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

CLEVELAND — The Ravens came roaring into Sunday’s AFC North showdown against the floundering and wounded Browns riding a five-game winning streak and the strength of the NFL’s best offense. They limped out of it shaking their heads over mistakes and missed opportunities while looking nothing like the Super Bowl contender they seemed shaping up to be. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston, making his first start since 2022, completed 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns, including a 38-yarder to a wide-open Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to lift the Browns to a shocking 29-24 upset. The loss dropped the Ravens to 5-3 while the Browns improved to 2-6. Baltimore had its opportunities, right until the end. As good as Winston looked against a beleaguered Ravens secondary that has struggled all year and was without two starting cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (knee) and Nate Wiggins (shoulder/illness), Ravens quarterback and Most Valuable Player candidate Lamar Jackson wasn’t as sharp as usual, posting a season-worst completion percentage of 60.5% and taking a season-high three sacks. Still, he drove Baltimore to the Browns’ 24-yard line in the final seconds and had a chance to be the hero before his final heave into the end zone fell incomplete. Jackson finished 23 of 38 passing for 289 yards with two touchdowns while running eight times for 46 yards. He led a six-play, 91-yard scoring drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Derrick Henry with 2:36 remaining. But the bigger story was what the Ravens didn’t do and the wilting of their defense. Baltimore safety Eddie Jackson, starting in place of the struggling Marcus Williams, dropped at least two would-be interceptions. Fellow safety Kyle Hamilton dropped another on the Browns’ final possession before Winston and Tillman connected on the next play. The Ravens’ vaunted running attack never got going, either, as Henry finished with 73 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Worse yet was the Ravens’ defense, which surrendered 400 total yards, including over 300 yards passing. Even kicker Justin Tucker, who righted his season after missing several kicks early in the year, came up short on a 50-yard attempt that would’ve tied the game at 20 early in the fourth quarter. For the first 30 minutes, it looked like this one might come down to the end. The Ravens managed 149 yards, including only 84 yards passing, in the first half. They were unsuccessful on four third-down attempts and one fourth-down try. Jackson had just 95 yards on 9 of 14 passing, while Henry managed 47 yards on five carries, with 39 coming on one run. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 29-24 loss to Cleveland Browns Baltimore Ravens | Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah carted off field after collision with Ravens RB Derrick Henry Baltimore Ravens | Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington starts in place of Marcus Williams vs. Browns Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Browns, October 27, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Browns live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s 29-24 loss There were also several curious decisions: A failed direct snap to Henry on fourth down, a false start on tight end Charlie Kolar after he lined up under center, an awkward shuffle pass to tight end Isaiah Likely, among others. Baltimore was coming off a season-high 41 points and 508 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night but looked nothing like that team six days later. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Week 9 Broncos at Ravens Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 9 1/2 Browns tight end David Njoku, left, scores a touchdown after a catch over Ravens safety Eddie Jackson in the third quarter Sunday in Cleveland. (Sue Ogrocki/AP) View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 29-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Sunday’s Week 8 game at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland. Brian Wacker, reporter: The story of this game was missed opportunities, defensive mistakes and curious coaching decisions. Put another way, issues that have plagued the Ravens all season. On defense, the secondary continues to give up wide-open catches and not generate a pass rush. On offense, the Ravens never got the running game going and Lamar Jackson never got in a rhythm. Baltimore also committed drive-killing penalties and had too many self-inflicted wounds to overcome. Childs Walker, reporter: We’re seeing too much confusion and not enough playmaking from a Ravens’ defense that allowed the league’s least efficient offense to move freely on Sunday afternoon in Cleveland. There’s no reason to have faith they’ll come up with clutch stops. Their best defender, Kyle Hamilton, dropped the easiest interception possible. Eddie Jackson was dusted for a go-ahead touchdown pass on the next play. That about sums up where they stand eight games into the season. Could Lamar Jackson’s offense pick up the slack as it had over the previous five games? They came up with too little, too late this time. The Ravens dropped too many passes (Nelson Agholor one and Rashod Bateman two) on third down, squandered too many points with poor execution and strange plays calls in the red zone. They wasted a 77-yard opening drive when they inexplicably called a direct snap to Derrick Henry on fourth-and-1, taking the threat of Jackson out of the equation. The Ravens reached the red zone again on their second drive, but Jackson overshot a wide-open Zay Flowers streaking toward the goal line. They gave the hapless Browns an opening to build a lead and build confidence. The Ravens started the day without cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins, and injuries to Brent Urban and Michael Pierce quickly thinned out their defensive line. We saw the flaws that have haunted them all season — no pressure from the four-man rush, too many receivers open between the hash marks, a failure to convert interception chances. The worst offense in the league moved the ball up and down the field on them. Hamilton saved the Ravens’ bacon early, blowing up a screen in the red zone to force a field goal in the first quarter and stripping Jameis Winston to set up Jackson’s touchdown strike to Agholor just before halftime. But Winston had their number in the second half. Mike Preston, columnist: There were two things that were going to happen in this game. Because the Browns were starting a new quarterback in Jameis Winston, the Ravens were either going to get a great effort from Cleveland or a pitiful performance from a team that had been demoralized and had recently been threatened by its owner to move its stadium to the suburbs outside the city. Well, Cleveland gave a strong effort. The Ravens have a lot of holes on defense, particularly with coverage in the middle of the field. Lamar Jackson had an average day and at times tried too hard to be a too much of a hero, but he was good enough to rally the Ravens with one fourth-quarter scoring drive. In the end, he couldn’t lead another, as his final pass fell incomplete in the end zone. But this game wasn’t about the success of the Ravens’ offense, rather their glaring weaknesses on defense. Sam Cohn, reporter: Missed chance after missed chance after missed chance to potentially close out a sixth consecutive win. The Ravens’ secondary had three clear drops, most consequentially from All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton that would have iced the game. Jameis Winston uncorked a 38-yard long ball for a go-ahead touchdown on the next play that put him over 300 yards — that said it all. Baltimore has one of the NFL’s best offenses, and the past four weeks it’s masked how troubling the defense has been. In fairness, this Ravens defense was depleted, but it shows how near-perfect the offense needs to be if they’re going to make a playoff run. Lamar Jackson kept plays alive and threw for nearly 300 yards with two touchdowns but was left spiking his helmet after the final play. C.J. Doon, editor: Stunning. Despite all the mistakes and dropped passes on both offense and defense, it didn’t feel like the Ravens would lose until the clock finally expired. That 38-yard touchdown pass from Jameis Winston to Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds left was reminiscent of that Tyler Boyd catch that ended the Ravens’ playoff hopes at the end of the 2017 season. Just an unbelievable turn of events for a defense that couldn’t get out of its own way all afternoon. Lamar Jackson played heroically, carrying the Ravens with his usual flair and uncanny elusiveness. Without him, this game is not even close, and yet they had a shot to win on the final play. But you can tell by Jackson’s reaction at the end of the game, slamming his helmet to the turf in frustration, that this is not a game the Ravens should ever lose. After such a promising five-game winning streak, old fears about a disappointing defense, untrustworthy receivers and a lack of commitment to the running game (11 carries for Derrick Henry?) reared their ugly heads. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah carted off field after collision with Ravens RB Derrick Henry Baltimore Ravens | Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington starts in place of Marcus Williams vs. Browns Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Browns, October 27, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Browns live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s 29-24 loss Baltimore Ravens | Ravens shuffle banged-up secondary with CB Nate Wiggins ruled out vs. Browns Tim Schwartz, editor: After five straight wins, the Ravens were due to lay an egg. It’s simply become a twisted routine for one of the best teams in the NFL to lose to one of the worst. Lamar Jackson led a masterful six-play, 91-yard go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter only for the defense to miss yet another opportunity to change the game by allowing Jameis Winston to lead a late scoring drive. Kyle Hamilton will have nightmares about dropping that would-be game-ending interception on the play before Winston’s game-winning touchdown pass. All of Baltimore’s early-season woes shined in this one, but the four dropped picks by the secondary was the difference for me. Winston tried his best to give this one away and the Ravens politely declined. Awful, awful loss to a lowly division foe that could come back to haunt them. Or maybe they will win five in a row again. It’s truly anybody’s guess which Ravens team shows up each week. Bennett Conlin, editor: There aren’t words that do this loss justice. I can’t remember seeing an NFL team drop so many catchable passes and interceptions. Kyle Hamilton and Eddie Jackson had their hands on game-changing interceptions, only to let them fall through their hands. Rashod Bateman dropped a chunk play, with the ball bouncing off his facemask. That’s an ugly and avoidable loss for Baltimore, with just about every season-long concern about the team showing back up. Justin Tucker looked shaky on longer kicks, the defense struggled to contain a backup quarterback, the offensive line let up too much pressure and the receivers dropped catchable passes. Baltimore somehow dropped several easy interceptions, any of which could’ve been the difference. Even Lamar Jackson missed a few throws that would’ve led to chunk plays, putting a dent in his MVP candidacy. It was not a clean performance from the Ravens, who had looked much sharper the last five weeks. The Ravens have no need to panic sitting at 5-3 overall, but losing to previously 1-6 Cleveland could’ve been avoided and will sting. There were so many missed opportunities by the Ravens, and losing to both Las Vegas and Cleveland will damage playoff seeding — should Baltimore stay on track and make the postseason. If the Ravens want to win the AFC North and make a deep postseason push, they need to fix their weaknesses in a hurry. Improved defensive health would be a good start. Baltimore played without cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins. Defensive tackles Michael Pierce and Brent Urban left with injuries, too. Baltimore’s defense, which is questionable when fully healthy, can’t afford to be without so many of its top players. The Ravens should’ve won Sunday, though, and injuries can’t be an excuse for losing to a bad Cleveland team. View the full article

Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was carted off the field after suffering a neck injury in a collision with Ravens running back Derrick Henry in the third quarter of Sunday’s AFC North matchup. Owusu-Koramoah, who wears a soft Guardian Cap to help absorb such contact, was quickly tended to before being placed on a backboard and carted off the field. He was later ruled out with a neck injury and taken to a local hospital but does have movement in all of his extremities. The 6-foot-2, 247-pound Henry was not hurt on the play. Fans in Huntington Bank Stadium in Cleveland let out “JOK” chants as their 24-year-old defensive leader went back to the locker room holding a hand up to the crowd. He had a team-high seven tackles with three tackles for loss before the injury. Between Owusu-Koramoah and cornerback Denzel Ward, who was ruled out with a head injury in the first half, Cleveland is without two of its best defensive players. Ward has already suffered five concussions in his career, most recently during training camp this summer. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

A depleted Ravens secondary that ranks last in the NFL defending the pass has even more personnel intrigue: Ar’Darius Washington started at safety in place of Marcus Williams on Sunday. Williams had started all seven games at safety, ranking sixth on the Ravens in tackles (25) with two pass deflections and a fumble recovery. But he’s struggled this year along with the secondary, ranking 76th among safeties with a 46.8 grade in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. The 28-year-old Williams, who signed a five-year, $70 million free agent deal in 2022, had played 98% of the defensive snaps to begin the season but remained on the sideline without a helmet during each of the Cleveland Browns’ first few offensive drives. Washington, a 2021 undrafted free agent, has been a limited contributor, playing 31% of the defensive snaps entering Sunday. He had a pass deflection against the Kansas City Chiefs and a season-high six tackles against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. He’s starting next to Kyle Hamilton as the Ravens chase a sixth straight win. Baltimore’s defense is already without Marlon Humphrey (knee) and Nate Wiggins (shoulder/illness) at cornerback. The secondary has been a contentious area for a defense trying to live up to its league-leading group from a year ago. In Cleveland, the Ravens are facing a quarterback in Jameis Winston making his first start since 2022 with play-calling duties having been handed off from coach Kevin Stefanski to offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey this week. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Browns, October 27, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Browns live updates: Score tied 3-3 in second quarter Baltimore Ravens | Ravens shuffle banged-up secondary with CB Nate Wiggins ruled out vs. Browns Baltimore Ravens | Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey doubtful vs. Browns; WR Zay Flowers returns to practice Baltimore Ravens | Ravens LB Roquan Smith fined for hip-drop tackle; Bucs WR Chris Godwin reacts on Instagram “We’re kind of looking at it as a blessing in disguise, because what we’ve trying to preach the last couple weeks is we obviously have got to know our opponent, know the personnel to have the best plan to defeat them, but it’s really about us and our rules and our fundamentals and playing that,” first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “So, obviously, they’ve got a quarterback who you don’t have much film on this year, with these type of players, in this system, and you’ve got a new play caller, who hasn’t called plays with this personnel, so it’s definitely going to be a little bit of unknown, but that just makes us focus on our job even more.” Ravens defensive lineman Brent Urban was also ruled out with a concussion in the second quarter. The decade-long veteran has played in five games this season, lining up for 26% of the defensive snaps. Defensive tackle Michael Pierce also exited in the second quarter with a calf injury. He walked off the field with trainers but was later ruled out for the game. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article