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The tenor of M&T Bank Stadium was encapsulated by two fights that broke out midway through the second quarter. Ten people were ejected from the stadium, stadium employee Asut Ames said. The fights reflected the frustration of a fan base that, for the second straight week, filed out of the stadium long before the final whistle. “Fire Harbaugh” chants broke out, boos rained down as the Ravens went into halftime tied at 3, and a loud “Tyler Huntley” chant echoed through the stands in the third quarter as Baltimore failed to score a touchdown in its 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday afternoon. Even before the game, it was clear Ravens fans were growing frustrated with the team — and, at times, each other. Paid attendance for Sunday’s game was 70,055 — the fifth-lowest at M&T Bank Stadium in the past decade — but the stands weren’t nearly that full at any point on the windy and dreary afternoon as many fans decided to stay home. A year ago, Baltimore averaged 71,052 fans per game, the ninth-highest mark in the NFL. The fans who showed up Sunday were displeased with the team’s effort. “The vibes are just really bad. It’s kind of like a heavy cloud over the stadium,” said 30-year-old season-ticket holder Dakota London, of Abingdon. “It’s just not good, man, there’s a bad vibe going around right now.” Several fans said Sunday’s contest was one of the quietest atmospheres they have attended at M&T Bank Stadium. Glen Burnie native Gage Utz said the stadium “felt more empty than it usually is.” Even fans who did attend seemed not to be focused on the game, Utz said. Season-ticket holder Luke Milliken, 25, said he typically sells his tickets for more than $140. He said the market value for Sunday’s game was much lower than usual. “It’s the whole team. They’re not performing on either side of the ball, and they’re trading guys away,” Utz, 24, said. “You see all these other teams, like the 49ers and all these other teams have backup guys, they’re still winning games, and obviously we’re not doing that.” The Ravens’ play did not inspire much confidence for their fan base. Baltimore’s offense was booed off the field after it failed to score from the goal line in the first half. Quarterback Cooper Rush missed several throws, and Zay Flowers fumbled the ball twice (although one was credited to Rush on the handoff). Related Articles The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 17-3 loss to Rams What Tom Brady said about the Ravens during ugly loss to Rams Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-3 loss to Rams to fall to 1-5 Ravens’ free fall continues with embarrassing 17-3 loss to Rams Ravens’ Tavius Robinson breaks foot vs. Rams; Ronnie Stanley leaves early Ontario native Tyler Morwood and his friends made the eight-hour drive from Canada to watch their annual Ravens game. The long-time fans said Sunday was a shocking atmosphere to experience, as they watched another blowout loss. “[Teams] used to come here and know they were going to be in a dog fight. That doesn’t happen anymore,” Morwood, 35, said. “It sucks. We didn’t even get to see a touchdown.” “This is the first time I’ve ever seen this. I’ve never seen people leaving this stadium before [fourth quarter] kicks off. I’ve never seen people leaving like this, and that’s the sign of the time. The wheels have fallen off the wagon, and the wagon’s on fire.” For a team that started with such high expectations, a 1-5 record at the bye week is a sobering reminder of how poorly this season has gone. Running back Derrick Henry admitted the record was bad, but asked fans to stick with the team. “We always appreciate the fans through everything. We know it’s rough right now, they want to see a good product out there, and we haven’t been displaying that,” Henry said. “Them leaving early is a given.” Fans head toward the exits early in the fourth quarter of the Ravens' game Sunday against the Rams. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The upper section of the stadium was nearly 80% empty by the time the game reached the fourth quarter. The concourse was filled with fans exiting early, hoping to beat the traffic instead of watching their team struggle through another loss. Utz and Milliken left their seats in the second quarter, choosing to watch the game from the concourse instead. As the fourth quarter rolled around, they decided to leave, choosing not to spend the remainder of their weekend at M&T Bank Stadium. They made new plans. “Probably just going to try and drown our sorrows at the bars instead of being here,” Utz said. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Baltimore Ravens fans head down to the exits as the Los Angeles Rams continue to dominate during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Most fans heave abandoned their seats with the Baltimore Ravens down against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Seats were empty throughout the afternoon as the Baltimore Ravens play the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Empty seats show in every section as the Baltimore Ravens play the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens fans appear stunned as their team fail to make progress against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens fans express their disappointment with not attempting a field goal or failing to convert on fourth down as a pass by quarterback Cooper Rush is overthrown against the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens fans are speechless after the team fail to pound the ball into the end zone against the Los Angeles Rams on four downs, failing to chalk up a single point during the second quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Empty seats in M&T Bank Stadium during Ravens Rams game in the first quarter. The Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Many empty seats can be seen throughout the seating bowl as the Los Angeles Rams kick off to the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens fans leave the stadium in the fourth quarter. The Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens fans sit quietly late in the fourth quarter as the Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Dejected Ravens fans late in the fourth quarter. The Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)A Ravens fan Rams watches late in the fourth quarter as the Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Fans walk in the concourse at M&T Bank Stadium for the Ravens to play the Rams. (Sam Jane/Staff)There are many empty seats at M&T Bank Stadium for the Ravens to play the Rams. (Sam Jane/Staff)Many empty seats are visible at M&T Bank Stadium during the Baltimore Ravens’ game against the Los Angeles Rams in Baltimore, Maryland. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Many empty seats are visible at M&T Bank Stadium during the Baltimore Ravens’ game against the Los Angeles Rams in Baltimore, Maryland. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Fans shout their displeasure during the Baltimore Ravens’ game against the Los Angeles Rams at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Show Caption1 of 18Baltimore Ravens fans head down to the exits as the Los Angeles Rams continue to dominate during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand View the full article

Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position after a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium: Quarterbacks The Ravens started Cooper Rush until he was replaced by Tyler Huntley in the fourth quarter. The substitution should have been made sooner, but the Ravens wanted to stay with Rush, their $6 million man. The 31-year-old backup overthrew receivers several times on out patterns, and Huntley was under constant duress during his drives. Rush wasn’t effective, completing 11 of 19 passes for 72 yards with an interception. Huntley had no chance, completing 10 of 15 attempts for 68 yards. Grade: D Running backs Derrick Henry showed some life in the running game, gaining 122 yards on 24 carries, and he had some nasty runs that looked vintage. I still don’t know why the Ravens didn’t pound him up the gut on those two straight tush pushes at the goal line right before the end of the half, but I guess they wanted to see what tight end Mark Andrews can do. Andrews, though, is not Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who can squat more than 500 pounds. Justice Hill had five catches for 28 yards as Henry’s backup. Grade: B Receivers Memo to Zay Flowers: Stop fumbling the ball. Being involved in two fumbles during a single game is unacceptable. Worse yet, one was on a jet sweep that was credited to Rush, but it wasn’t a good day for the No. 1 receiver. The rest of the group was quiet as well. Flowers had six catches for 46 yards, but his fumble in the third quarter turned the game in Los Angeles’ favor. Andrews had four catches for 24 yards, but it was more of a small ball passing game. The Ravens need to work DeAndre Hopkins into the offense more often. He had two catches for 20 yards, but cornerbacks have to grab him to defend him. Grade: C- Offensive line The Ravens came out strong and initially knocked the Rams off the ball. They ran on both sides of the line both inside and outside the tackles. But once they got behind 17-3 in the third quarter, their weakness in pass protection was exposed. Rush became more susceptible to pressure because he can’t scramble, and even Huntley had problems with the relentless pressure. It wasn’t a bad day for this group, but nothing to brag about either. One other thing: Stop holding so much. Grade: D Defensive line The Ravens came into the game against an offense that averaged 112.2 rushing yards per game, and they held the Rams to 74 yards on the ground. It was a strong effort, and this group got better this weekend compared with previous games. Even defensive tackle John Jenkins had a sack and fumble recovery when he stripped Matthew Stafford. But by the end of the game, the Ravens were starting to wear down. Jenkins finished with three tackles and Brent Urban (who was evaluated for concussion) also had two. The Rams had only 241 yards of total offense. Grade: B Linebackers Weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson might have had his best day as a pro, finishing with nine tackles including a half sack. Rookie middle linebacker Teddye Buchanan also had nine tackles and finished with a half sack as well. The Ravens though, got caught several times when their outside linebackers dashed inside instead of playing run support. Veteran Kyle Van Noy finished with only one tackle and David Ojabo had zero. Tavius Robinson also didn’t have a tackle and left the game in the first half with what coach John Harbaugh later said was a broken foot. Grade C+ Secondary Stafford threw for 181 yards, but he fooled the Ravens several times on short rollouts and passes into the flat. Overall, this group actually had a clue to where to find the Rams’ receivers because they had a near 15-minute advantage in time of possession, but you never thought the Ravens were in total control. Los Angeles had receivers open across the middle most of the game, and the Ravers were helped because receiver Davante Adams dropped three passes. Stafford’s 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee in the third quarter was embarrassing, and we’ve seen this before against Detroit and Houston. Grade: C- Related Articles For Ravens fans, apathy is setting in: ‘Vibes are just really bad’ What Tom Brady said about the Ravens during ugly loss to Rams Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-3 loss to Rams to fall to 1-5 Ravens’ free fall continues with embarrassing 17-3 loss to Rams Ravens’ Tavius Robinson breaks foot vs. Rams; Ronnie Stanley leaves early Special teams Rookie LaJohntay Wester looked like he was close to breaking one for a touchdown with a 35-yard punt return in the second quarter after his fumble was nullified by a Rams penalty, but he needed to choose the right angle on Los Angeles’ last punt of the day with two minutes left in the game. Jordan Stout only had one punt for 53 yards, and rookie Tyler Loop converted his only field goal attempt of 37 yards in the first quarter. But Loop needs to get more distance on his kickoffs, and Wester shouldn’t have let a punter tackle him on his long return. That’s a big no no. Grade: C Coaching I’m still waiting for some imagination in coordinator Todd Monken’s offense. How about a little razzle-dazzle? How about some double reverses or other trick plays? Give me some imagination, please. Maybe a bomb to Flowers or Hopkins if Flowers didn’t fumble. How about a screen or two to slow the Rams’ pass rush? As for the defense, the Ravens got better this week but the Rams are an undisciplined bunch. Still, L.A. had plenty of time to throw over the middle. The Rams had four sacks and 11 quarterback hurries, while the Ravens had just two sacks and three hurries. Enough said. Grade: D Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley passes as Rams outside linebacker Byron Young closes in during the fourth quarter. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

Tom Brady has seen a lot of football. What he’s not very familiar with is bad Ravens football. The seven-time Super Bowl champion was on the call providing color commentary for FOX Sports on Sunday afternoon and saw Baltimore limp to a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at M&T Bank Stadium. It’s the first time that the Ravens have lost four straight since 2021 and just the second time in franchise history that the team has lost five of its first six games. Needless to say, the Ravens team that Brady saw on the field Sunday is a far cry from the groups led by Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs and later Lamar Jackson during his 23-year career in New England and Tampa Bay. Here’s a sample of what Brady had to say about the Ravens and their continued struggles to begin the season: On Ravens’ offense “Don’t put too much on Cooper Rush’s plate. … Be this physical, tough Baltimore team that they’ve always been.” “If I’m [offensive coordinator] Todd Monken, especially after Cooper Rush throws that interception, let’s run the big fella [Derrick Henry] as much as we can. Let’s force them to stop him first and then see if they can stop some other things.” “What’s really impressed me so far is this offensive line has really displaced the line of scrimmage. You call it resetting the line of scrimmage in their own defensive backfield. Every handoff, I’m just seeing all those purple jerseys on the Rams’ side of the football. That’s a great thing to see if you’re calling plays for the Ravens.” “It’s just simple execution. If we make our blocks, we stay on them and we fit those defenders head up, we’re going to give Derrick a chance to get going.” On Zay Flowers’ first fumble “You just have to understand, all these bodies are pursuing you. When you got east and west, sideline to sideline, you’re not really gaining any ground on the defense and they’re just hunting that ball out. That’s what good coaches will teach you.” On Derrick Henry “When he can stay on his track and not stop his feet in the hole, he’s impossible to get on the ground.” “He’s not necessarily a jump-cut type runner. He needs to see his spot and hit it.” On Ravens’ defense “Baltimore’s defense has struggled this year in so many different areas. Certainly third downs has been one of the key issues. Coach Harbaugh said we just can’t get them off the field on third down. A lot of that’s been their limitations, giving up explosive plays. When you get to third-and-9 in the NFL, you’re banking on getting them off the field 80% of the time.” “NFL coaching is all about solving problems. You saw it on a weekly basis, sometimes you saw it on a play-by-play basis.” “Love the way they’ve come out and been so physical today.” On Mark Andrews “He’s such a reliable target and has been that way with Lamar. He needs to be that way when Lamar is not in there as well. … It’s different. When you come in with a new quarterback, there are a lot of unseen body language things that need to happen in the passing game for solid execution.” On playing with backup QB Cooper Rush “It’s a different style. He’s more of a pocket passer, which is a very different style of offense than what Lamar’s running. And you don’t install two offenses, you install one. So Todd Monken is tasked this week with cherry picking things from the Lamar offense that will actually work with Cooper Rush.” “The quarterback has to take control of the protection. [The defenders are] already up there at the line of scrimmage. You probably think they’re coming, you redirect the line to protect and you’re able to stand in there and make a throw.” “Just not super comfortable in the pocket. If you get clean pockets and you’re running from those, well, there’s a sense of unsettling footwork that’s happening in his head.” On Rams’ goal line stand “They have this guy [Henry] who I would probably want to give the ball. I love Mark Andrews, but [the tush push quarterback sneak is] just a hard thing. You don’t practice that much. The ball’s not in his hands [often].” Related Articles Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-3 loss to Rams to fall to 1-5 Ravens’ free fall continues with embarrassing 17-3 loss to Rams Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley, Tavius Robinson exit game vs. Rams with injuries Ravens vs. Rams, October 12, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Rams live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 17-3 loss “If you have a 250-pound back [Henry] who’s been the best back in the NFL in the last 10 years, my version of this if I’m Todd Monken is let me just give it to him and try to let him go over the top and see if they can stop him.” “If you can’t get a yard, you don’t deserve to win.” “They miss [fullback Patrick] Ricard. Just not enough physicality at that position. [Left guard Andrew] Vorhees doesn’t do his job. And instead of even giving Derrick a chance to go over the top, it’s stopped 2 yards in the backfield.” On offense with Huntley “You just don’t want it to become too much of passing game. He hasn’t had any reps this week. Now all of the sudden it’s like, ‘Here’s the whole offense.’ Still have to manage the quarterback position a bit and I like the idea of these dual-threat type runs with [Justice] Hill in the backfield or Henry or some of these quick rhythm passing throws to the perimeter. Some screen plays. Anything to get Huntley in rhythm.” On 4th straight loss “Very deflating for this team for so many reasons. And you see it on Harbaugh’s face right there. You know it’s just been a total morale killer for six weeks of the season. Hopefully they get Lamar back. The division isn’t great.” “All is not lost. I know that’s a narrative sometimes when you come into these bye weeks. Everything’s ahead of us. But for this team, it truly is. They’re getting their best player back. Some of these defensive players are getting healthy. There’s no margin for error at this point going forward. But they are the Ravens, and they usually figure it out.” On Ray Lewis meeting before the game “Where are you Ed Reed? Where are you Terrell Suggs? I want a piece of you too.” “It still hurt me more than it hurt Ray I’m sure when I hit him right there.” “Ray wouldn’t always say the nicest thing to me. I’m glad we’re friends post career. Not someone I want on my bad side.” “It is nice to be in Baltimore and not be sore on my flight home.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. Former Patriots quarterback and current FOX Sports announcer Tom Brady jokes around with former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis on the field before the Ravens' 17-3 loss to the Rams. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6 of the NFL season on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium: Brian Wacker, reporter The Ravens simply can’t get out of their own way. Three cracks from the Rams’ 1-yard line yielded no points. Three turnovers and three failed fourth-down attempts. It looked early on as if Baltimore might be able to ride the legs of running back Derrick Henry to a possible if not improbable victory. Even as he became the first runner to crack the 100-yard mark against the Rams this season, though, it was only a matter of time before the cracks in this team would prove too much to overcome. Without Lamar Jackson, the offense has been disjointed. The offensive line has been a sieve. The defense mostly contained quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Kyren Williams and receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, but the hard truth is this not a very good team, both in scheme and execution, and there are serious questions as to whether they have the leadership and ability to pull out of this spiral. Mike Preston, columnist The mediocre NFL was on display Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium and it seemed like neither team wanted to win. It was an awful game played by two poorly coached teams. The major difference was that Matthew Stafford was the Rams’ starting quarterback, and even though he didn’t play well, the Rams had enough on offense to overcome Baltimore, which was without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson for the second straight week because of a hamstring injury. The difference in the game occurred at the start of the third quarter when the Rams came out in a hurry-up offense to spark a nine-play, 76-yard drive that was highlighted by a 3-yard touchdown run from running back Kyren Williams. On the Ravens’ next offensive series, receiver Zay Flowers fumbled. That led to another Rams touchdown, this time in two plays that covered 21 yards. Game over. The Ravens had several opportunities, but they don’t have enough firepower at this point. This was a game they could have won. Josh Tolentino, columnist The Ravens finally halted their four-week long takeaway drought … only to commit three of their own turnovers, which proved to be detrimental to their fate, another ugly home loss that featured more empty seats and boos from the sparse crowd in attendance. Sure, Lamar Jackson was out for his second consecutive game, but veteran Cooper Rush was handed a pretty handsome contract for a backup quarterback to avoid disasters like this. His outing (11 of 19 passing for 72 yards, one interception, one fumble, zero touchdowns) underscored a rough day for the Ravens offense and coordinator Todd Monken, as Baltimore inexplicably failed to score on three consecutive attempts from the 1-yard line near the end of the first half. The defense shored up a bit, limiting the Rams’ high-powered offense to just 17 points — and 14 of those were scored off a pair of second-half turnovers. This loss falls squarely on the offense, which claims to boast so much firepower, and coach John Harbaugh, whose team continues to get in its own way. Sam Cohn, reporter The Ravens had every chance to put points on the board and make this game competitive (a two-score fourth-quarter deficit felt like an unscalable mountain). Los Angeles’ defense helped them convert multiple third downs with penalties. Derrick Henry had his best day since Week 1. Baltimore’s defense forced their first turnover since Week 2. But the Ravens insisted on making life tough for themselves. They couldn’t convert on three tries from the goal line. And even with the Ravens’ defense holding Los Angeles — one of the league’s top-scoring offenses — to less than 20 points, their offense couldn’t match the pace. Maybe they should have turned to Tyler Huntley sooner. Either way, the Ravens are taking one collective sigh of relief to finally be at the bye week. It’ll be a chance to completely reset, physically and emotionally, before confronting razor-thin margins of salvaging this season. Sam Jane, reporter Fans in M&T Bank Stadium have had enough. Two fights broke out, “Fire Harbaugh” chants emerged and boo birds rang down throughout the game. The Ravens failed to score a touchdown, and despite improved play on defense, lost by multiple scores for the third consecutive week. Baltimore is now 1-5, which is a precarious spot to be in despite the eventual return of quarterback Lamar Jackson. For the second straight week, the game ended with a nearly empty stadium. As one fan put it, “the vibes are horrible right now.” C.J. Doon, editor I thought last week was going to be rock bottom for the Ravens. I underestimated just how bad things could get. This was about as depressing a performance from a John Harbaugh-coached team that I can remember. Cooper Rush didn’t look like he belonged on an NFL field. The Ravens couldn’t get 1 yard at the goal line during an embarrassing sequence of failed tush pushes and Derrick Henry runs. The beleaguered defense gave an inspired effort but still couldn’t get off the field enough on third down. It ultimately didn’t matter with how inept the Ravens’ offense was. It’s a backup quarterback behind a two-time NFL MVP, yes, but the Rush signing might be one of the worst moves general manager Eric DeCosta has ever made. He was brought in to steady the ship if Lamar Jackson went down and has only made things worse. This roster should be good enough to at least be competitive, and yet the Ravens’ have looked hopeless. Zay Flowers fumbled twice Sunday, and he’s supposed to be the reliable No. 1 target. DeAndre Hopkins, at age 33, looks like he has the most fight of any of the pass catchers. That’s a huge problem, but far from their biggest. Jackson might come back after the bye, and that will be a huge boost. But is the Ravens’ season already over? The cracks that Jackson has papered over are starting to show, leaving little faith that his eventual return will be enough to propel this team to the playoffs. Something’s rotten here. Harbaugh has pulled his teams out of ruts before, but this feels like a canyon too large to overcome. Related Articles Ravens’ free fall continues with embarrassing 17-3 loss to Rams Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley, Tavius Robinson exit game vs. Rams with injuries Ravens vs. Rams, October 12, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Rams live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 17-3 loss Ravens cut undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery III to open space on roster Tim Schwartz, editor The Ravens are toast. This team looks so uninspired it’s almost hard to watch. It took an above-average first half and a pathetic first 30 minutes from the Rams to simply be tied at 3. Once Los Angeles realized they were playing the Ravens and their no-good, awful, sleepy defense, they found the end zone. Once would be enough with Cooper Rush and company on the other side. At least Derrick Henry got the ball and gave them some resemblance of hope early. But Rush missed wide-open receivers, threw a terrible interception early and got benched in the fourth quarter. Deservedly so. The bye week comes a week too late for Baltimore, which will need to shake things up in a big way to get their season back on track with Lamar Jackson likely to return in two weeks. But this team has so many problems beyond who is under center that it’s difficult to see their path to the postseason. Bennett Conlin, editor The Ravens miss Lamar Jackson. They had some of the ingredients needed to beat the Rams on Sunday, with an early turnover forced and Derrick Henry going over 100 rushing yards. But Cooper Rush is not Jackson, obviously. The Ravens’ backup quarterback struggled to operate the offense efficiently for the second consecutive week, and it cost Baltimore. Jackson’s best traits are seemingly everything. He runs and passes in a way we’ve never seen in the NFL. Rush’s best trait Sunday? His hard count. That’s not a lot for offensive coordinator Todd Monken to use. Nobody on either side of the ball picked up the slack. Sunday wasn’t Monken’s fault. It wasn’t John Harbaugh’s, either. Rush was dreadful, and his teammates didn’t do enough to pick up the slack. Zay Flowers can’t fumble twice if Baltimore wants any chance against a Super Bowl contender. Baltimore might make coaching changes during the bye week because coaches often take the brunt of the blame and defensive coordinator Zach Orr wasn’t blameless this week, but Sunday’s loss was largely on the players — and maybe general manager Eric DeCosta for thinking Cooper Rush was a worthwhile way to spend offseason dollars. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

One yard, three tries. First, it was Ravens tight end Mark Andrews on consecutive tush-push plays. Then, a handoff to Derrick Henry that went backward 2 yards. Baltimore’s inability to cross the Los Angeles Rams’ goal line on three straight cracks at the end of the first half Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium was emblematic. Of an offense that has looked dysfunctional without injured quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson, its struggles the closer the ball gets to the end zone, but mostly a floundering Super Bowl favorite that is spiraling with five losses, including four in a row in its first six games. The Ravens (1-5) turned the ball over three times, failed to convert three of four fourth-down tries, and even with Derrick Henry (122 yards, 24 carries) becoming the first running back to crack the 100-yard rushing mark against the Rams this season, stumbled their way through a 17-3 loss to Los Angeles (4-2). Baltimore held Matt Stafford to 17 of 26 passing for 181 yards and one touchdown, while running back Kyren Williams had 50 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, but it didn’t matter. Not for a Ravens offense that managed just 296 total yards, including just 72 through the air on 11 of 19 completions from backup Cooper Rush, who was also intercepted once and fumbled once before being replaced early in the fourth quarter by Tyler Huntley, who finished 10-for-15 passing for 68 yards while running for 39 yards on three carries. And even when Huntley sparked the offense and the crowd, it turned out to be short-lived. After driving Baltimore from its own 11-yard line to the Rams’ 15, the offensive line collapsed and Huntley’s fourth-and-10 desperation toss to Rashod Bateman fell incomplete. On his knees after the ball had fallen harmlessly to the ground, he put his hands out in helplessness. It was a scene that had repeated throughout the day. At one point, as the Ravens were on their way to failing to punch it in from the 1-yard line, Henry threw his hands up in exasperation. Later, after Zay Flowers, whose fumble at his own 36-yard line early in the third quarter to set up a touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee two plays later, spiked his helmet in disgust. The frustration was palpable all afternoon, at least for those who bore witness with a stadium that had a lot of empty seats in the upper level at kickoff. Still, for the first 30 minutes, it felt like a game between two teams dueling to see which one could do less with more. Baltimore’s struggles on both sides of the ball have been well-documented, with a defense that hasn’t been able to stop anyone and an offense that has been out of sync and lackluster without Jackson. The Rams, meanwhile, have had a habit of playing down to teams this season, and it showed in their opening two series. First, they marched 57 yards to the Baltimore 8-yard line only for Stafford to inexplicably misfire on two straight passes to an open Adams, first across the back of the end zone and then on a fade. Then, Josh Karty doinked a 26-yard field goal try off the right upright in what’s been a continuation of their special teams woes. But not to be outdone, Baltimore turned the ball over on its next possession as Rush made an ill-advised late throw across the middle to a well-covered Flowers, and it was intercepted by Quentin Lake. Related Articles Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-3 loss to Rams to fall to 1-5 Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley, Tavius Robinson exit game vs. Rams with injuries Ravens vs. Rams, October 12, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Rams live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 17-3 loss Ravens cut undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery III to open space on roster The comedic back and forth continued one play later, with defensive tackle John Jenkins bullying his way through the middle of the Rams’ offensive line to strip-sack Stafford and recover the fumble. The Ravens couldn’t capitalize, though. On a fourth-and-3 from the Rams’ 34, rather than attempt a field goal in the breezy conditions, they decided to go for it. Rush’s fade up the right side sailed over the blanketed Flowers. That eventually led to a 36-yard field goal by Karty to even things early in the second quarter. Baltimore had a chance to surge ahead just before the half, but its ineptitude from near the goal line reared its ugly head again. After a 36-yard punt return by Wester — whose fumble on the first attempt was wiped out by a penalty on the Rams — the Ravens eventually worked their way to the 1-yard line and were poised to finally find the end zone. Except they couldn’t get across the goal line on two straight tush-pushes with Andrews and a handoff to Henry. Coming into the week, Baltimore scored a touchdown on goal-to-go situations just 67% of the time, and that number rose with its fourth failure in seven attempts. It also marked the first time in three years that the Ravens had gone consecutive weeks without scoring a touchdown in the first half. Now, they are in more unfamiliar territory: In last place in the AFC North, three games back in the win column of the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. The bye week can’t get here soon enough for the Ravens. They will get healthier with Jackson expected and others expected to return. Without Jackson, the Ravens have gone 4-11 and lost five straight in that span. They also haven’t scored more than 17 points in any of those games. The question is, will they have enough time to recover? Only four teams in NFL history have started 1-5 and gone on to make the playoffs, with the Commanders (7-9) in 2020 the most recent to do so. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. A dejected coach John Harbaugh looks on after the Ravens turned the ball over on downs at the goal line in the second quarter. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

The injury bug continued to bite the Ravens. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and edge rusher Tavius Robinson (foot) both exited Sunday’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Rams and are questionable to return. Defensive end Brent Urban also entered concussion protocol. Stanley was sitting on the bench with a towel on his head during the second quarter. Reserve tackle Joseph Noteboom replaced Stanley midway through the frame. The two losses along the defensive line are testing their depth. Baltimore entered the game with only four active interior defensive linemen: Travis Jones, Urban, John Jenkins and C.J. Okoye. But the Ravens’ defense played one of their best halves of the season Sunday, holding the high-powered Rams’ offense to just three points. Jenkins forced and recovered a fumble on Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Rams also lost two crucial pieces. Puka Nacua — the NFL’s leading wide receiver — exited the game with a foot injury. He is questionable to return but returned to the sideline with a helmet and was seen warming up. Nacua injured his foot on a deep pass to the end zone in the first half, as he limped off the field with support and went into the locker room. Rams backup running back Blake Corum (ankle) is also questionable to return after getting his ankle rolled on. Sunday was a hometown reunion for Corum, who played high school football at St. Frances. Corum returned to the sideline and was sprinting up and down the sideline with less than two minutes to go in the first half. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Related Articles Ravens vs. Rams, October 12, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Rams live updates: Game tied at 3-3 at halftime Ravens cut undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery III to open space on roster Joe Flacco confident stepping in as Bengals’ starting quarterback Craig Heist, longtime sports broadcaster in Baltimore and Washington, dies View the full article

Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush warms up before the game against the Rams at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley warms up before the game against the Rams at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton warms up before the game against the Rams at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens’ Keondre Jackson warms up before the game against the Rams at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Former Patriots quarterback and current announcer for FOX Sports Tom Brady jokes around with former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis on the field before the Ravens play the Rams. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Former Patriots quarterback and current announcer for FOX Sports talks to former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti on the field before the Ravens play the Rams. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

The Ravens (1-4) host the Los Angeles Rams (3-2) on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium seeking to end a three-game losing streak before their Week 7 bye. Baltimore will once again be without star quarterback Lamar Jackson, with Cooper Rush making his second straight start. Kickoff is 1 p.m. on FOX. Follow along here for live coverage and analysis. Pregame updates View the full article

The Ravens continue to shake up one of the league’s worst defenses. Baltimore on Saturday waived undrafted rookie safety Reuben Lowery III, the team announced Saturday, creating an open spot on the 53-man roster as the Ravens (1-4) prepare to host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in a pivotal game ahead of their Week 7 bye. In a corresponding move, the Ravens signed defensive tackle C.J. Okoye from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Okoye, a 6-foot-6, 370-pound lineman from Nigeria who came up through the NFL’s International Pathway Program, helps reinforce a defensive line that is missing Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) and Broderick Washington Jr. (ankle). Okoye, who has seven tackles in two games this season, was down to his last practice squad elevation. Lowery, a 23-year-old former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga standout who was one of three undrafted rookies to make the initial 53-man roster after impressing during training camp and the preseason, started and played 70 snaps on defense in the Ravens’ 44-10 loss to the Houston Texans last Sunday. The 5-foot-9, 192-pound safety filled in for injured All-Pro Kyle Hamilton alongside first-round draft pick Malaki Starks and struggled, earning a 41.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. The move comes only a few days after the Ravens acquired safety Alohi Gilman in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers and signed veteran defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the practice squad. Gilman is expected to play Sunday, but Gardner-Johnson was not elevated as the Ravens activated Tyler Huntley to back up Cooper Rush with Lamar Jackson being ruled out for the second straight game. Safety Keondre Jackson was also elevated from the practice squad and will likely contribute on special teams. In addition to Lamar Jackson, the Ravens ruled out four players for Sunday’s game against the Rams: linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring), fullback Patrick Ricard (calf) and wide receiver Devontez Walker (oblique). That means that two additional players will need to be inactive Sunday. Baltimore Sun reporter Brian Wacker contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. Related Articles Joe Flacco confident stepping in as Bengals’ starting quarterback Craig Heist, longtime sports broadcaster in Baltimore and Washington, dies Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, 5 others ruled out for game vs. Rams Ravens vs. Rams staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens vs. Rams scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? View the full article

CINCINNATI — New Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco said he wouldn’t still be playing at 40 years old if he wasn’t confident he could play at the level of a starter. After the Bengals traded for him on Tuesday and immediately tabbed him as their starter, they’re counting on Flacco being correct. “I think the best way for me to do it is just keep simple,” Flacco said. “I think a lot of the times when you’ve played a lot of ball, and when you’ve been around a lot of ball, you can get to the point where you overcomplicate things and you just, you’re just making things harder on yourself. “So honestly, I think my experience, in this regard, is going to help me, in the sense that I don’t have all the answers. Just keep it simple.” Flacco opened the year as the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback, but was benched last week for rookie Dillon Gabriel. The Bengals were looking for a quarterback following Joe Burrow’s toe injury in Week 2 and Jake Browning’s struggles the last three games. That put the wheels in motion for a trade between the two AFC North rivals. “A lot of the times when you’re going through things as a player, you just adapt,” Flacco said. “You go with it. I think with everything in life, when things happen to you, you’re like all right, how do we go forward? What’s the next step?” Flacco’s next step has been learning a new offense on the fly. Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Flacco’s football IQ and professionalism have helped him hit the ground running. Flacco also faced this week’s opponent, the Green Bay Packers, when Flacco was with the Browns three weeks ago. Flacco completed 21 of 36 passes for 142 yards with one interception and no touchdown passes in Cleveland’s 13-10 victory over the Packers on Sept. 21. “You don’t want to just go get anybody, you want to get somebody you think fits our offense and complements our receivers well and has experience,” Taylor said. “A veteran guy who has real playing experience, bonus that he’s played in this division. His skill set complements our receivers and I think gives everybody a lift here after three losses. “We’re trying to push through it and guys have done a great job of that, but I think this is just a lift of, ’Hey, we’re willing to do anything to go find a way to win.’” Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is questionable for Sunday because of illness. He participated in the walkthrough, but was not present at the practice. Taylor didn’t elaborate further on Chase’s status for Sunday. Flacco hasn’t had much time to gel with his new receivers, including Chase and Tee Higgins, but he said that can be overblown. “You can’t overthink it,” Flacco said. “I know everything you like to talk about all that and the chemistry and everything. Those guys are two of the best in the world at what they do. If you can’t throw to them and get on the same page as them, then you are in trouble.” View the full article

Craig Heist, a longtime sports broadcaster covering teams in the Baltimore and Washington area, has died. Heist was an anchor and reporter for 106.7 The Fan in D.C. and a postgame host on the Nationals Radio Network since 2013. He has also appeared on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network as a guest panelist and occasional host of Nats Talk. The Orioles, Ravens, Nationals and Commanders all paid tribute to Heist on social media Friday. The cause of death was not immediately announced. “Above all, Craig was a husband, friend, and sports lover,” 106.7 The Fan said in a statement posted on X. “Press boxes across the DMV will never be the same without his wide smile and infectious laugh. We will keep his family in our thoughts.” Heist attended Kenwood High School in Baltimore County and graduated from Salisbury University in 1983. He began his broadcasting career at WKHI in Ocean City covering local college and high school sports including play-by-play and color for Salisbury football, according to the Nationals’ website. He worked for WTOP for 14 years before moving to 106.7 The Fan. Over the past 30 years, he has covered Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA, NHL and college basketball for several national networks. He was a three-time winner of the Maryland Sportscaster of the Year, voted on by his peers. “Heisty was the absolute best,” ESPN’s Clinton Yates posted on X. “When I first started at WTOP, he was there and was an institution. Always was supportive, energetic, enough of a crank and knowledgeable in literally everything.” Heist was a longtime fixture at both Nationals Park and Camden Yards, where the Orioles said that he covered the team for more than 35 years. In a statement, Nationals owner Mark Lerner said that Heist “was a friend to all who met him, and we will profoundly miss his kindness, enthusiasm and passion for baseball.” “I can’t begin to fathom the press box at either Nationals Park or Camden Yards without Craig Heist in his usual second-row perch,” wrote Mark Zuckerman, who covers the Nationals for MASNsports.com. “Aside from only a handful of occasions (always involving another local sporting event), he covered every single home game for both teams for decades.” “He was one of a kind and so helpful and kind to me (and so many others),” WNST reporter Luke Jones posted on X. “Baseball season won’t be the same without him.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Lamar Jackson was absent from Ravens practice for a third straight day this week on Friday in Owings Mills as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Jackson, who missed last week’s game against the Houston Texans, is expected to miss his second straight game when Baltimore hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. It would mark the first time since 2022 that the quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player has missed consecutive games because of an injury. Eighth-year veteran Cooper Rush is expected to start in his place for a second consecutive game with Tyler Huntley backing him up. Last week, Rush completed 14 of 20 passes for 179 yards was intercepted three times in a disastrous 44-10 loss at home to the Houston Texans. He was also 9 of 13 for 52 yards in relief of the injured Jackson during Baltimore’s 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 4. The only other players missing from practice for Baltimore on Friday were linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) and wide receiver Devontez Walker (oblique). Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring) was working on a side field at the start of the viewing period but joined the defensive backs for drills at the end of the open portion of practice. Coach John Harbaugh is scheduled to speak to reporters after practice. The final injury report of the week with game statues will also be announced later Friday. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Ravens vs. Rams staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens vs. Rams scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? Ravens talked up takeaways all offseason. Where are they? | COMMENTARY The Ravens’ defense added reinforcements. Will it be enough? Ravens trade targets: 5 players who could bolster defense, plus 1 wild card View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 6 game between the Ravens and Los Angeles Rams at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Brian Wacker, reporter Rams 24, Ravens 13: The Ravens’ defense has already produced three AFC Offensive Players of the Week this season. Now it welcomes quarterback Matt Stafford and star wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams along with standout running back Kyren Williams, who is capable of being an effective pass catcher as well. Baltimore will benefit from having some of its defensive players back and not starting five rookies like it did in last week’s blowout loss to the Houston Texans, but there haven’t been any signs that the defense is about to turn things around from being the worst in the league. Add quarterback Lamar Jackson still being out and the Rams boasting a tough, physical defensive front and this has all the makings of being another tough week for the Ravens before a much-needed bye. Sam Cohn, reporter Rams 35, Ravens 17: The Ravens should be healthier than they were last week, but not by a lot. Assuming Kyle Hamilton is a go, that at least puts the green dot back on the helmet of an experienced defensive leader. Baltimore will still rely on rookies all over the field against one of the league’s best offenses, but there should be far fewer communication issues Sunday. If the so-so Texans can hang 44 points on the Ravens in Baltimore, a much better Rams offense shouldn’t have trouble finding the end zone. I do think a second try for Cooper Rush, one against a softer secondary, will yield a more respectable offensive showing from the home team. Either way, the “urgency is high” line won’t be enough to win this game. Any shot at Baltimore turning its season around will have to wait until after the bye week. Mike Preston, columnist Rams 30, Ravens 20: A lot of West Coast teams play poorly when they travel to the East Coast, but the Rams last played on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 4 and have had a long time to rest. In addition, the Ravens are still a banged-up team with injuries potentially keeping starters such as quarterback Lamar Jackson and middle linebacker Roquan Smith out for another week. Also, the team’s best defensive lineman, Nnamdi Madubuike, is out for the season with a neck injury. If the Ravens win, it would be a major upset. Anything can happen in the NFL, but not Sunday, not after last week’s disaster in a humiliating loss to Houston. Josh Tolentino, columnist Rams 27, Ravens 21: Baltimore’s offensive ceiling looks capped without star Lamar Jackson, and coordinator Todd Monken’s play-calling has felt short on creativity. Tailback Derrick Henry is riding four straight games under 50 rushing yards for the first time in his career, and Monken’s recent sequencing doesn’t suggest that Henry will suddenly break loose. Coming off his three-interception outing, Cooper Rush is now going to be asked to trade scores with Matthew Stafford and early MVP favorite Puka Nacua going up against the NFL’s worst-ranked defense? Whew. The one wild card could be the weather. With steady rain in the forecast, a possession-heavy game could tilt in Baltimore’s favor if it can finally lean on Henry and control tempo. Even then, the Ravens’ takeaway drought and soft zone defense that lacks consistent pass rush spells trouble without Jackson to save the day. This feels like another setback that could force some tough internal conversations heading into the bye. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 23, Rams 20: Let’s lean into the unpredictably of this week-to-week league. Nobody thought that the Browns would beat the Packers or that the Giants would upset the Eagles. Any given Sunday, right? There’s really nothing for the Ravens to hang their hat on right now, and the Rams boast clear advantages across the board. Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Kyren Williams against this Baltimore defense is a recipe for disaster. But the Ravens are slowly getting healthier, added a trusted veteran in Alohi Gilman and get another week of first-team reps with backup quarterback Cooper Rush. Plus, Derrick Henry is due for a breakout game, right? (Behind this offensive line, maybe not.) With the forecasted nor’easter perhaps serving as an equalizer and potentially slowing down the Rams’ passing attack, I’m calling my shot and predicting a statement performance from Zach Orr’s unit. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson expected to miss Sunday’s game vs. Rams Ravens vs. Rams scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? Ravens talked up takeaways all offseason. Where are they? | COMMENTARY The Ravens’ defense added reinforcements. Will it be enough? Ravens trade targets: 5 players who could bolster defense, plus 1 wild card Bennett Conlin, editor Rams 27, Ravens 14: Do the Ravens even think they can win this game? Without Lamar Jackson, this feels like a “hope-for-the-best” game for Baltimore. If the Ravens pull the home upset, great. If they don’t, heal up during the bye week and try to make a postseason push against a weak schedule in Weeks 8 through 18. Winning this game could be the spark for Baltimore’s turnaround. Realistically, however, the Ravens will be outclassed Sunday before regrouping during their much-needed week off. Given the Ravens’ defensive woes, they might be rooting for the forecast to include as much rain as possible. Tim Schwartz, editor Rams 28, Ravens 14: Rock bottom is still a few days away. The Ravens head into this one still battered and without quarterback Lamar Jackson, and based on how the offense looked last week without him, I don’t have much hope for a drastic improvement over a much better Rams team. Even if Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey return, Los Angeles’ playmakers have the edge. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams make one of the NFL’s best wide receiver tandems, and who is going to slow down running back Kyren Williams? I don’t see the tide turning yet for Baltimore. Maybe after the bye week and Superman returns under center. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 24, Rams 21: This is unprecedented territory for the Ravens. Betting money would go with the Rams, but I’m going to keep the faith. People are already talking about playoff implications. At this point, the Ravens’ best opportunity to get to the playoffs is to win the division … which is no small task. The Ravens need to take it one step at a time and hope that builds up to playoff possibilities. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

The Ravens are 1-4, having been thumped by the Texans last week in one of the most lopsided losses of the John Harbaugh era, and now face a much tougher test in hosting the Los Angeles Rams (3-2) before a needed bye week. Who will have the advantage Sunday afternoon? Ravens passing game vs. Rams pass defense Baltimore’s quarterback, which has long been a pillar of consistency and high-level play, is now one big, fat question mark. With Lamar Jackson sidelined by a hamstring injury for a second consecutive week, can Cooper Rush course-correct after throwing three interceptions without a touchdown? Is there a chance Rush struggles early against Los Angeles’ middle-of-the-pack secondary and third-string quarterback Tyler Huntley checks in? Coach John Harbaugh didn’t rule out the possibility. “We’ll consider everything,” he said, earlier this week. Either way, Los Angeles’ secondary may be susceptible to a Baltimore backup putting points on the board. Just ask Mac Jones, San Francisco’s backup who threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns. Not to mention the 49ers were without their top-three receivers and All-Pro tight end. A cornerback or a safety will be Los Angeles’ biggest need before the trade deadline. A team that leans more into zone coverage and allows completions underneath benefits a quarterback like Rush who gets rid of the ball quick. That’s not to say this game is trending toward a shootout, but it’s a softer pass defense than Houston’s and Rush wouldn’t be the first backup to take advantage. EDGE: Ravens Rams passing game vs. Ravens pass defense Five first-round picks. That was the selling point for Baltimore’s secondary a month ago. Last week, two of them were replaced by undrafted rookies in a battered secondary that made Houston’s offense look like a juggernaut. Los Angeles has a better quarterback, better offensive line and better pass catchers, accounting for the league’s second most potent air raid (289.6 yards per game) and passing touchdowns (11). Baltimore should be getting reinforcements back on defense. They also brought in safeties Alohi Gilman and CJ Gardner-Johnson. Expect Gilman to debut on Sunday, Gardner-Johnson maybe not. Even at full strength, that group hasn’t proven they can contain elite offenses. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, coming off a 389-yard, three-touchdown showing, could have a field day. As could Puka Nacua, who leads the NFL in receiving yards (588), receptions (52) and receiving first downs (31). EDGE: Rams Ravens running game vs. Rams run defense Three quarters into the season, Derrick Henry appeared poised for another monster season. That small sample size made it feel like we would all be diligently tracking his pacing toward a 2,000-yard season. Henry fumbled in that fourth quarter, coughed the ball up twice more in the next two games and has been a non factor the past four weeks. Opposing defenses have shushed Henry to 50 or fewer yards in four straight games. That happened once all last year. Even in Jackson’s absence, the offensive line struggled to open lanes for Henry. Fullback Pat Ricard’s longer-than-expected absence because of injury has exacerbated the issue. Los Angeles isn’t the team to run amok on. The Rams rank top 10 in bottling up opposing ground games, allowing 93.6 yards per game and 3.5 per attempt, which is the third best mark in football. After beefing up their interior defensive line this offseason, signing run-stuffer Poona Ford, they’re No. 1 in fewest explosive plays allowed. The Rams are the only team through five weeks to have not allowed a run of at least 20 yards, according to TruMedia. EDGE: Rams Rams running game vs. Ravens run defense “I thought we would just play our run defense better than we did,” Harbaugh said, Sunday afternoon after a twist-the-knife loss to the Texans. “It was not up to standard.” That’s been a troubling theme among a whole host of defensive issues this season. At least last year, when Baltimore’s defense struggled, the issues were singular to the secondary. This group’s problems start up front, tied for the second most rushing touchdowns allowed (8) while letting up the NFL’s fourth most yards per game (146.4). Recency bias diminishes the value of Kyren Williams out of Los Angeles’ backfield. Like Henry did in Buffalo earlier this season, three quarters of an elite outing were washed away with a fumble in a crucial spot. Williams’ came inside the 5-yard line, feet from a game-winning touchdown when the ball was jarred loose against the 49ers. “I put this all on me, honestly,” he said, afterward. And yet, Williams sixth among NFL running backs in rushing success and first-down rate, according to TruMedia. After a mini bye week (that game was played last Thursday night), expect an even hungrier Williams. EDGE: Rams Ravens special teams vs. Rams special teams Consider this stat: The Ravens’ expected points added on special teams through five weeks is 3.5. That ranks 12th in the NFL, among 18 teams in the green. The Rams, on the other hand, sit third to last (-16.9). It gets worse. Los Angeles is 22nd in net yards, 21st in punt return yards allowed, 19th in kickoff return yards, 25th in field goal percentage and 29th in extra-point kick percentage. In two Los Angeles losses, special teams have been significant crutches, accounting for a minus-17 point differential between missed kicks and a blocked field goal for a touchdown. The Ravens have had their issues – a penalty on punt team that negated a 60-plus yard kick and a missed extra point in a 1-point loss Week 1. But nothing worthy of sounding the alarm bells when the team has far bigger fish to fry. EDGE: Ravens Ravens intangibles vs. Rams intangibles The Ravens arrived at Week 1 with enough talent to convince outsiders perhaps they could be 5-0 by this point. Instead, they’ve free fallen to 1-4 with omniscient questions about the state of affairs. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is a blocked field goal and questionable fourth-down play call from being 5-0. Both teams have fallen short of where they could and should be – one evidently more worse for the wear. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson expected to miss Sunday’s game vs. Rams Ravens vs. Rams staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens talked up takeaways all offseason. Where are they? | COMMENTARY The Ravens’ defense added reinforcements. Will it be enough? Ravens trade targets: 5 players who could bolster defense, plus 1 wild card As has been the case with the Ravens the past two weeks, expect injuries to play a prominent role. Baltimore got some good news with Hamilton, Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten back to full practice participants. But they’ll still be without their two-time Most Valuable Player at quarterback and an All-Pro cornerback, linebacker, fullback and defensive tackle. The Ravens look like a shell of themselves right now. EDGE: Rams Prediction Offensive coordinator Todd Monken had the right idea. The Ravens, which topped the league in nearly every statistical category last season, are “in a rut,” he said. But a rut is “usually small.” At 1-4, history argues it’s more than that. Only 16 teams have ever made the playoffs after such an unruly start. If it gets worse, Monken said, “then maybe it’s a ditch. And then maybe it’s a canyon. But right now, we consider that a rut.” Houston hung 44 on Baltimore while a Jackson-less offense looked anemic. Perhaps Los Angeles’ defense allows for a few more points piloted by the backup quarterback but this team is hurdling toward canyon status. Rams 35, Ravens 23. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn View the full article

The Ravens spent the entire offseason and summer talking about takeaways, forming their so-called identity around the idea that the defense isn’t truly dangerous until it snatches the football away. Five games in, that identity has yet to surface. Baltimore has just two takeaways, tied for second-fewest in the league and ahead of only the winless New York Jets. In all four of their losses, the Ravens have come up empty in the turnover column. At the current rate, Baltimore is on track to finish the season with just seven takeaways, which would tie the NFL record for fewest in a single season, set by the San Francisco 49ers in 2018. “That’s crazy,” second-year defensive Zach Orr said Thursday of Baltimore’s takeaway drought dating nearly a month to Sept. 14. Crazy indeed. Takeaways, after all, have served as a foundation for the franchise’s most successful teams and most especially during both of the Ravens’ Super Bowl seasons. In 2000, the Ravens led the NFL with an overwhelming 49 takeaways, while in 2012, they tied for 10th with 25 takeaways en route to Baltimore’s second Lombardi Trophy. Those dominant, memorable defenses caused havoc and created extra possessions time and time again. This year’s defense, well … isn’t creating or stopping anything. Entering Week 6, the Ravens rank 32nd in the NFL in scoring defense (35.4 points per game), 31st in total defense (408.8 yards allowed per game), 31st in pass defense (262.6) and 29th in run defense (146.4). The lack of takeaways also is reflection of a unit that is struggling making impact plays elsewhere. The Ravens’ seven passes defensed are the fewest in the AFC North and second fewest in the conference. When the Ravens aren’t disrupting passing lanes, they’re often pushed down the field. Baltimore is credited with 38 missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, and has surrendered 121 first downs, most in the NFL. Orr suggested that early down failures as a root cause for many of the defense’s issues. “We have to get teams into more true drop-back situations,” he said. “Right now, we’re just letting offense be too comfortable, which is our own problem. So we have to be better at making offense uncomfortable by getting stops on early downs and forcing them into situations where they have to force the ball.” Two weeks ago, coach John Harbaugh said that he “wasn’t worried about our defense. Bitterly disappointed, sure. But we will be ready to play. I promise you.” Since then, the Ravens have added two more ugly defeats, only worsening their league-worst defensive ranking. The 177 points allowed by Baltimore are the most surrendered by any team in NFL history through the season’s first five weeks. The revolving door of personnel across the defense’s three levels hasn’t helped; five rookies started in last week’s historically embarrassing 44-10 home loss to Houston. But Orr, 33, still sees hope if his players show more urgency. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr addresses the media Thursday. Orr's unit has forced just two turnovers in five games. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) “I see that guys are in position for the most part,” he said. “Now it’s just time for us to go make our plays, like pull the trigger. Just being where I’m supposed to be at — it’s not good enough. Take chances. That’s the only way you’re going to make plays, is to take chances. ‘Scared money doesn’t make money.’ “We’re just encouraging our guys to go trust yourself … go make the play. I think that’s why we’re so confident that we can get this thing turned around, but we have to start doing it.” Some much-needed assistance could be coming soon. Veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who signed to the practice squad this week, has 18 career interceptions. Only a handful of players in the league have the reputation for being a ball-hawk like Gardner-Johnson. If he can get up to speed quickly with Orr’s scheme and avoid causing unnecessary controversy, Gardner-Johnson could provide a necessary spark. The Ravens also acquired safety Alohi Gilman (252 career tackles, 21 passes defensed, five interceptions, four forced fumbles) this week in a trade that sent 2021 first-round pick and underwhelming defensive end Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers. Baltimore’s defense currently doesn’t possess a defining trait. Because of the unit’s lack of competence, the offense has little room for error. Consider that a daunting task for an offense currently missing star quarterback Lamar Jackson because of a nagging hamstring injury that’s expected to sideline him for a second straight week this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson expected to miss Sunday’s game vs. Rams Ravens vs. Rams staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens vs. Rams scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? The Ravens’ defense added reinforcements. Will it be enough? Ravens trade targets: 5 players who could bolster defense, plus 1 wild card Still, 12 regular-season games remain. Several predictor models and major sportsbooks still favor Baltimore to win the AFC North, a sign of belief in its softer post-bye schedule — and in Jackson’s expected return. Optimism only goes so far. Orr, viewed by many as an occupant on the hot seat, urgently suggests that the Ravens need to take more chances to create momentum swings, starting with the Rams on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. As polarizing a subject he’s developed into over the course of his brief tenure as the defense’s top coach, Orr is correct. Baltimore’s most dominant defenses once turned games with a single punch. Through the first 1 1/2 months of the season, the Ravens can’t land one. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr said Thursday that he isn’t worried about job security, even as criticism seems to grow exponentially by the week. “Yes, I’m able to block that out,” he said. “I’m just focused on this Sunday.” For one, midseason coordinator changes are rare. For another, coach John Harbaugh said after an embarrassing 44-10 loss to the Houston Texans last week that parting ways with the 33-year-old second-year coordinator is not “the answer,” among other votes of confidence he has cast over the past month. Orr’s defense has also been besieged by injuries — five starters were missing last week, forcing him to play a pair of undrafted rookies among other first-year players. He now has reinforcements after Baltimore signed polarizing but talented safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the practice squad Tuesday and then added veteran safety Alohi Gilman a few hours later as part of a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers involving underperforming outside linebacker Odafe Oweh. The hope is that their additions could solve several problems for a defense that has the potential to be the worst in NFL history, with the Ravens on pace to surrender 602 points this season. One of the biggest concerns entering the season was who would be the team’s third safety after Ar’Darius Washington suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in May. The additions bring experience, at least some familiarity and could provide more flexibility, including most notably allowing safety and “unicorn” defender Kyle Hamilton to be moved around and deployed closer to the line of scrimmage, a role that he was most impactful in during 2023 when he was selected as an All-Pro. “We obviously know ‘K-Ham’ can play all across the secondary, and he’s very effective everywhere else, not just in the back end, but up close to the line of scrimmage,” Orr said. “So, the better players that you’re able to put back there in the back end definitely frees him up. I’m excited to see if the guys can get caught up to speed by Sunday and see what we can do.” Sunday’s opponent — the Los Angeles Rams — should offer a stern test. Through five games, quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 66.7% of his passes for 1,503 yards and 11 touchdowns with just two interceptions for a passer rating of 107.3. Star wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams have accounted for a combined 74 of those completions, 945 yards and five scores, while dynamic back Kyren Williams has added 368 rushing yards and one touchdown to go with 21 catches for 118 yards and three scores. While it still remains to be seen how soon Gardner-Johnson will play for Baltimore — he would need to be elevated from the practice squad and the Ravens’ two elevations are likely to be No. 3 quarterback Tyler Huntley to back up Cooper Rush with Lamar Jackson still sidelined along with a defensive lineman for what is also a depleted unit — Gilman is expected to be on the field immediately alongside rookie first-round pick Malaki Starks as well as Hamilton. It should help, too, that Gilman has experience, both with Baltimore’s scheme and playing alongside Hamilton. Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander hugs safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson during practice. Both are new additions to the secondary who have yet to prove themselves in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Gilman, 28, was a key member of the Chargers’ top-tanked defense last season. Los Angeles’ defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, also succeeded former Ravens’ defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald in the same role at Michigan when Macdonald was in Ann Arbor and runs a similar scheme to what Orr inherited when Macdonald left to become the Seattle Seahawks’ coach in 2024. Gilman was also a senior and team captain at Notre Dame during Hamilton’s freshman season with the Irish. “When Coach Minter and Coach [Jim] Harbaugh came to the Chargers, there was a lot of Ravens film that we watched,” Gilman, who also played at Navy before transferring to Notre Dame, said. “[We were] trying to learn a little bit about the techniques, schemes, personnel and whatnot. So, a lot of carryover, a lot of crossover. Obviously, every coordinator has their own philosophies, techniques or small things that they like to add their wrinkles to.” During his five seasons with Los Angeles, Gilman appeared in 73 games (39 starts) and had 252 tackles, five interceptions and 21 pass breakups. Gardner-Johnson, meanwhile, brings even more experience. A 2019 fourth-round draft pick by the Saints, he spent his first three seasons in New Orleans before being traded to Philadelphia. In 2022, his six interceptions tied for the most in the league as he helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl. After a year with the Detroit Lions in 2023, he returned to the Eagles in 2024, again tallied six interceptions and was a key contributor in their championship run that ended with a 40-22 victory over the Kanas City Chiefs. From 2021 to 2024, he had 16 total interceptions. “He brings it,” Harbaugh said of Gardner-Johnson. “He’s a ‘bring it’ attitude guy. He’s a physical player, a lot of juice and a lot of energy. [He’s] a veteran guy who knows how to play the game. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson expected to miss Sunday’s game vs. Rams Ravens vs. Rams staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens vs. Rams scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? Ravens talked up takeaways all offseason. Where are they? | COMMENTARY Ravens trade targets: 5 players who could bolster defense, plus 1 wild card “I think our team is better because of that.” The 27-year-old also has a lot of baggage. After the Eagles’ Super Bowl win, he posted an Instagram story directed at Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his relationship with Taylor Swift. There was also reportedly locker room friction with his former team, the Texans, who released him after just three games this season. On Thursday when asked by The Baltimore Sun why he signed with the Ravens, he said they were his “only option.” Now the only question is whether Gilman and Gardner-Johnson will help turn things around for a struggling defense. The belief internally, of course, is that they can and that the defense is close. “I think guys are in the right position, now it’s just time for us to go make our plays, like pull the trigger” Orr said. “Just being where I’m supposed to be at, it’s not good enough. Take chances.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said on Monday that “everything’s on the table” when it comes to trying to salvage what has been a sinking ship through the first five games of the NFL season. A day later, general manager Eric DeCosta signed polarizing but talented safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, then a few hours later traded 2021 first-round draft pick and underperforming outside linebacker Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers for another safety, veteran Alohi Glman. The two moves should be an immediate boost to a banged-up secondary that up until now had lacked depth and experience. They are also probably not the last that will be made in the coming weeks and ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline. Asked Wednesday if Baltimore will continue to look at who could be available via trade or free agency, Harbaugh responded in the affirmative. That’s particularly true when it comes to the pass rush, which he said has to be better. “The guys [we currently have] will be in there, and their reps will ramp up,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll see how they handle it and see if they can get to the quarterback. Then, I’m sure until the trade deadline, those are going to be conversations that will be had.” Getting to the quarterback has been one of the Ravens’ biggest problems so far. After leading the NFL in sacks in 2023 and tying for the second-most last season, Baltimore is tied for the second-fewest in the league this year. Only the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears have fewer than the Ravens’ six sacks. By dealing Oweh, the Ravens didn’t detract from that total. He has zero, which, along with being in the final year of his contract, made him one of the few defensive assets that Baltimore would be able and willing to trade. Oweh, 26, was second on the team with 10 sacks last season, but after bulking up in the offseason he hasn’t looked like the same player, ranking 33rd in pressure rate (11%), per TruMedia. He also unsurprisingly sounded like he was happy to move on after not getting a contract extension last year, a sign that this would be his last season in Baltimore. “I was really trying to get an opportunity to be in a new system and prove what I can to people that are really trying to see that,” he told reporters in Los Angeles. “so I have a little animosity on my back.” Still, Oweh’s departure means that the Ravens have one less body to try to manufacture sacks from. Add to the calculus that they lost disruptive defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike for at least the rest of this season because of a neck injury, and the problem only worsens. There is, however, a silver lining. After trading Oweh, the Ravens are now $14.34 million under the salary cap, per Over the Cap, thus providing the financial wherewithal to make another move or two at least. The most pressing needs? Edge rusher and defensive line. Here is a look at some potentially available options, including some who likely aren’t. Jaelan Phillips, EDGE With the Dolphins also floundering at 1-4 but even less likely to pull out of their tailspin, Miami figures to be sellers at the deadline. In the final year of a contract that will pay him $13.25 million this season, Phillips, the former first-round pick out of the University of Miami, is certainly a viable option. He’s also probably only a slight upgrade over Oweh with only one sack this season and a lengthy injury history. Still, he was a player the Ravens liked coming out of college and perhaps the 26-year-old would be rejuvenated in a new setting. Phillips has 24 career sacks, which included 8 1/2 as a rookie in 2021, seven in 2022 and 6 1/2 in just eight games in 2023 before injuries took root. Though he has just one sack this year, he has a pressure rate of 17.3%, per Pro Football Focus. There could also be competition, with the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys among teams in need of a proven pass rusher. Dolphins outside linebacker Bradley Chubb could be an affordable option at pass rusher. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman) Bradley Chubb, EDGE Like Phillips, Chubb has a significant injury history — and he’s older at age 29. He also is an attractive option given a cheap price tag after his contract was reworked this offseason, paying him just $1.255 million in salary with much of his compensation converted to a signing bonus. His price tag in 2026 would likely make him a salary cap casualty for Miami this offseason, so jettisoning him ahead of the deadline makes sense. Chubb has four sacks this year and was a game-wrecker before suffering a season-ending knee injury against the Ravens in Week 17 of 2023 that also sidelined him all of last season. For his career, he has 43 1/2 sacks across six-plus seasons in Denver and Miami, though this season he also has just 10 pressures in 103 pass rush snaps. Azeez Ojulari, EDGE With the Eagles losing Ogbo Okoronkwo for the year to a triceps injury in Week 4 and Nolan Smith Jr. on injured reserve and likely out until around Week 9, Ojulari has gone from healthy scratch to starter for Philadelphia. The former New York Giants second-round pick played 46% of the defensive snaps last week and logged three tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit. Still, the Eagles could perhaps be willing to deal the 25-year-old who signed a one-year, $3 million contract in the offseason after four years and 22 sacks in 46 games with the Giants. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and DeCosta like splashy moves, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see either make one. Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell previously played for the Ravens and almost returned last year in a trade. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Calais Campbell, DE The former Raven nearly returned to Baltimore at the trade deadline last year until Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stepped in at the 11th hour to prevent the trade. Now, Campbell is with the Arizona Cardinals after signing a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the team that drafted him and also tried to trade for him last season. With the Cardinals at 2-3 and in last place in the NFC West, could they look to deal the 18-year veteran? Despite turning 39 in September, Campbell is still producing with three sacks along with 11 pressures, per PFF, and an overall grade of 76.1, which ranks 17th among defensive linemen. Last year’s potential deal for Campbell involved a fifth-round pick, which the Ravens are slated to have four of in 2026. Quinnen Williams, DT With Madubuike lost for the year, veteran Broderick Washington Jr. still on injured reserve and the Ravens’ defensive line struggling to cause any sort of disruption, adding to the group with a player of Williams’ pedigree could provide a jolt. It also seems unlikely that New York would be willing to part with the defensive star, who has 40 career sacks in six-plus seasons (though only one this year). He also signed a four-year, $96 million extension in July of 2023, so such a maneuver would likely require the Jets eating a healthy amount of money. It would also cost the Ravens some significant draft capital, something they’ve typically been reticent to part with. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson expected to miss Sunday’s game vs. Rams Ravens vs. Rams staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens vs. Rams scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? Ravens talked up takeaways all offseason. Where are they? | COMMENTARY The Ravens’ defense added reinforcements. Will it be enough? Christian Wilkins, DT Desperate times perhaps call for desperate measures. Wilkins hasn’t played in a game since Week 5 of last season. His release by the Las Vegas Raiders was also shrouded in controversy over his foot injury recovery and a disagreement over another surgery. He would be another big personality in a locker room that already includes Jaire Alexander and Gardner-Johnson, among others. On the upside, he’d also cost very little on a one-year prove-it deal. But if Baltimore hasn’t signed him by now, it seems unlikely it would do so, especially with so many questions surrounding his health. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Each week during the high school football season, The Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore Ravens will select one tackle football and one girls flag football Coach of the Week. Here are the winners for Week 5: Tackle football Tom Montag, Guilford Park: In his third season, Montag has led the Panthers to a 5-0 start and is coming off a 45-12 win over Atholton. They feature an electric running game, led by Maryland’s public-school rushing leader, Tyler Lee, and are averaging 39 points per game. Guilford Park faces Oakland Mills on Saturday in a battle of unbeatens. Girls flag football Bijyon Foster, Digital Harbor: Foster led the Rams to their fourth win of the season, a 15-6 victory over Western. They’ve doubled their win total from last year, and their only loss this season came by a point to Dunbar. Through five games, Digital Harbor has allowed only 21 points. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson expected to miss Sunday’s game vs. Rams Ravens vs. Rams staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens vs. Rams scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? Ravens talked up takeaways all offseason. Where are they? | COMMENTARY The Ravens’ defense added reinforcements. Will it be enough? View the full article

Despite mounting criticism, Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr said Thursday that he isn’t concerned about his job security. Orr said that he’s able to “block [the criticism] out” and isn’t worried about the growing calls for him to be replaced. The former Ravens linebacker said the critiques would have bothered him last year, but his renewed faith has changed his perspective. “Everything that’s going to happen is going to be written,” Orr said. Questions about Orr’s future as defensive coordinator have grown after Baltimore’s defense surrendered more than 35 points for the third straight game in a Week 5 loss to the Texans. Some fans have clamored for senior defensive assistant and secondary coach Chuck Pagano to replace the 33-year-old Orr. Pagano, 65, was the Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2011 and went 53-43 as the Indianapolis Colts’ coach from 2012 through 2017. The Ravens’ defense is among the worst in the NFL this season, as they have allowed the most touchdowns, passing yards and rushing yards in franchise history through five weeks. The defense has forced two punts and no turnovers over the past two games, and one of the punts came after the Texans removed their starters. But coach John Harbaugh once again reaffirmed his support for Orr earlier this week, echoing the defense he offered after the Texans game. Following that loss, Harbaugh said that firing the assistant coach was “not the answer.” He called Orr “strong” Monday. “He’s honest, forthright and doesn’t hide anything,” Harbaugh said. Orr said that he was focused on Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Baltimore will face another strong offense, as the Rams’ quartet of quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Kyren Williams and wide receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua is among the best in the NFL. The Rams rank second in the NFL in total yards and passing yards per game and first in Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA), but they have the No. 15 scoring offense. Baltimore also just traded away one of its top pass rushers, Odafe Oweh, to shore up its secondary with the addition of safety Alohi Gilman. Orr said that his defense would have to be “more creative” to generate more pressure from one of the league’s worst pass-rushing units. The Ravens focused on block destruction at Thursday’s practice, as Orr said that he wasn’t satisfied with how the defense was shedding blockers. He also noted takeaways were an emphasis, as Baltimore’s two forced turnovers are tied for 31st in the NFL. Only the winless New York Jets have forced fewer turnovers. Players have defended Orr throughout the season, saying that he isn’t the root of the defense’s struggles. Safety Kyle Hamilton has vehemently backed Orr, while other players said execution was the cause of the defense’s issues. “You just got to weather the storm,” undrafted rookie linebacker Jay Higgins IV said. Related Articles Ravens injury report: Lamar Jackson absent; Humphrey and Ricard practice READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans want coaching changes amid poor start Staff picks for Week 6 of 2025 NFL season: Lions vs. Chiefs, Bears vs. Commanders and more The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 1-4 start to 2025 season Larry ‘Wes’ Henson, Ravens superfan known as ‘Captain Dee-Fense,’ dies Harbaugh said that he believes this year’s defensive issues are more fixable than last year’s, when the Ravens also got off to a slow start. Baltimore’s defense ended the season as a top-10 unit, despite starting the year as one of the worst defenses in the league. “Guys are in position for the most part,” Orr said. “Now it’s the time for us to go make our plays. Pull the trigger. Just being where [you’re] supposed to be at, ain’t good enough. Take chances, the only way someone is going to make plays is by taking chances. “Scared money don’t make money.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

The Ravens welcomed two much-needed players back to the practice field. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey and fullback Patrick Ricard both returned to practice Thursday in Owings Mills after absences. It was Ricard’s first practice since Aug. 14. Coach John Harbaugh said Ricard’s calf injury was initially expected to sideline the fullback for two to three weeks, but Ricard aggravated the injury, keeping him out for additional time. Harbaugh said earlier this week he hoped Ricard would return for the Ravens’ home contest against the Chicago Bears on Oct. 26, which is after the team’s bye week. It seems unlikely that he will play this week against the Los Angeles Rams, but his return to practice is a welcome sign for the team’s offense, which has struggled of late. But the Ravens are still banged up at other positions. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, linebacker Roquan Smith, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and guard Ben Cleveland all were missing from practice during the portion open to the media Thursday. Jackson is expected to miss his second straight game this week against the Rams with a hamstring injury. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans want coaching changes amid poor start Staff picks for Week 6 of 2025 NFL season: Lions vs. Chiefs, Bears vs. Commanders and more The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 1-4 start to 2025 season Larry ‘Wes’ Henson, Ravens superfan known as ‘Captain Dee-Fense,’ dies Ravens’ offense out of rhythm amid ‘shocking’ 1-4 start: ‘Trust each other’ View the full article

We asked readers if they think the Ravens should make any coaching changes after the team’s 1-4 start to the season. Here are the results from our online poll: Yes, fire coach John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Zach Orr — 39% (630 votes) Yes, fire Orr — 35% (559 votes) No — 14% (227 votes) Yes, fire Harbaugh — 9% (146 votes) Other (respond in comments) — 3% (42 votes) Here’s what some fans said about Baltimore’s need for coaching changes (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): When you take the drastic measure to overhaul your coaching staff midseason, you need a plan. These guys were thinking Super Bowl a month ago. We will have to suffer through this for 2025. 2026 will probably see some major changes, possibly Castle management infrastructure included. Ownership might be the only people we can trust at this point. — Bobby Harbaugh will see the end of his tenure, if he can’t turn this season around in some fashion, but the front office will give him the due respect to his overall resume and let him finish out the year. They won’t make that drastic a change midseason. That being said, Zach Orr’s time needs to be up in Baltimore for Harbaugh to be able to salvage this season, and Harbaugh needs to recognize that. I think most Ravens fans would agree that for any turnaround to happen, this team needs to go back to its core identity. The defense is the biggest glaring problem each game this season, something that is supposed to be at the core of the Ravens’ identity. — Matthew Shorb I think the Ravens need to clean house after the season is over, and this includes some in the front office. — Jim Rudolph The Ravens have now given up 177 points in 5 games. The 2000 Ravens gave up 165 points in 16 games. Obviously, injuries are a problem, but all teams have injuries. But Harbaugh continues to say “We have to … .” He has been saying this nonsense for years. Coach speak. He hand-picked his inexperienced defensive coordinator over many other well-qualified and experienced defensive coordinators who were available. After the debacle against the Texans, I’m afraid what will happen against the Rams. But of course our coach and fellow players follow the company line and say positive things. If the Rams blow out the Ravens, during the bye week Orr will have to be replaced and Harbaugh’s job will be on the line at the end of the year. What a tremendous disappointment this has been for the Ravens after all the optimism we all had at the beginning of the season. Someone has to be held accountable. By the way, our offensive coordinator and general manager do not get a free pass. Are you listening Mr. Bisciotti? — Robert Something is terribly wrong with the defense. Harbaugh, with his 17 years of experience has no idea what to do. Maybe his messaging is getting stale. — Charles Ignatavicius Fire Harbaugh and Orr, and if it’s possible hire Jon Gruden out of retirement. He’ll right the ship. — Russell C. Schalk Jr. I think the Ravens need to make significant changes beginning at the top with general manager Eric DeCosta. To me, it seems like the Ravens are nearly at their salary cap and nothing to show for it other than losing in the first round of playoffs. I don’t think Lamar Jackson is that good to win a Super Bowl, at least in Baltimore. I say fire Decosta — What has he done? Fire Harbaugh. It is time for a change. Trade Lamar. Time to move on. Release Ronnie Stanley. That’s way overdue. Stop signing players that are at the end of their careers. — Richard This is an organizational collapse. This is deep to be impacting the team in all aspects. This is ownership with the assistance of outside consultation. This may have been in the coaches’ hands to sort out, but it’s now well past that moment. Coaches have lost the locker room. Need an example close to home? The Warehouse is in a similar situation. — Todd Otis There has been an accumulation of bad decisions this team has made over the past several years leading to where we are today. DeCosta and management decided to invest in receivers and skill players at the expense of the big studs you have to have on the interior line. Somehow they thought that they could get by with backups and fifth- and sixth-round draft picks on the offensive line and defensive front. Every time Jackson takes a snap he is running for his life. This defense is terrible. They were terrible before the injuries. This is no longer the intimidating, feared defense of old. Then add bad play calling to the mix. I mean, fourth-and-1 in a game critical situation and Derrick Henry standing on the sideline? A lot of people are doing a poor job. I don’t think there is a quick fix. Major changes need to be made. Not sure firing the coaches will solve this problem. — WT Brown They need to relieve Orr and the OL coach of their duties and get tougher on these backups and some so-called starters on the offensive line and show the defense some film of how a good defense plays and actually HIT somebody when top starters are on the field. The Texans were! — William G. Shinham Jr. The problem with the Ravens is not a coaching issue. The problem with the Ravens is a TALENT issue. They don’t enough talent to compete with the better teams in the NFL. Lamar helps but he doesn’t block and tackle. Lamar isn’t going to have twenty carries a game. We are two or three drafts away from a competitive team. — Danard Smith I believe that Orr is over his head and was made defensive coordinator too soon in his coaching career. I also dislike the offensive play calling. While Todd Monken has helped Lamar Jackson improve as a quarterback, I think that his play calling tends to be too conservative sometimes. John Harbaugh should be given amother year to get things straightened out with new coordinators. If things don’t substantially improve next year, he should be let go. — Henry Gilligan Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr, shown in January, has drawn criticism from some fans during the team's 1-4 start. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Harbaugh is an incredible leader of men, and his level-headedness and long-term perspective have led to a consistently high-performing team for 17 years. He also seems like a high-character guy who’s just good for the franchise. However, he is a poor X’s and O’s coach, a terrible game manager, doesn’t call plays, is overly loyal to bad coaches and is stubborn when it comes to players — how is Ben Cleveland not getting some game day snaps with how poorly the two guards are playing? Lamar saved his job once, and he needs another miracle to turn this season around or it’s probably time for him to go. Injuries don’t excuse the fourth-quarter collapse against the Bills or the drubbings we took from Detroit and KC. Orr is just plain bad … He was not ready for this role, and it’s time to call it what it is and let him go. There needs to be a shakeup during the bye week, and he is the obvious choice for change. — Jimmy Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater! That just exacerbates a difficult situation. Harbaugh needs to have a challenging heart-to-heart with Orr and give him and the rest of the offensive coaches a “here’s what’s going to happen” deadline. No need further upsetting the difficult situation with firings. — Ed Cramer Love it. No other organization deserves a disastrous outcome more than the Baltimore Ravens the worst organization in the pro sports world. Both from a professional and a moral level. — Bill Related Articles Ravens injury report: Lamar Jackson absent; Humphrey and Ricard practice Staff picks for Week 6 of 2025 NFL season: Lions vs. Chiefs, Bears vs. Commanders and more The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 1-4 start to 2025 season Larry ‘Wes’ Henson, Ravens superfan known as ‘Captain Dee-Fense,’ dies Ravens’ offense out of rhythm amid ‘shocking’ 1-4 start: ‘Trust each other’ The coaching staff cannot take all the blame. Yes, it could improve but it’s not their responsibility to bring in TALENT, which the team lacks on both the defensive and offensive lines. This has been in the making for several years and did not occur overnight … The coaches and injuries will take the blame but one must look a little higher up the food chain to lay the real blame. — Jon No coach can save this team. The offensive line stinks without a healthy left tackle, as the rest are average to below average, and the same is true for the defensive line. — Jerome This team was poorly constructed and that starts with the GM. Eric DeCosta has done a horrible job with this roster. However, just as we saw with the Orioles, management will go before the front office does, because they need a scapegoat. Sure, injuries have played a big part, but Orr is in over his head, and Monken is not far behind. No creativity on either side of the ball, and Harbaugh’s message has gotten stale. They didn’t adequately replace Patrick Mekari or Michael Pierce, and it shows. Time for a change. — Burt Wills The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers and FOX45’s Patrice Sanders pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 6: Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (5-9 last week, 51-26-1 overall): Eagles Sam Cohn (7-7 last week, 54-23-1 overall): Eagles Mike Preston (6-8 last week, 52-25-1 overall): Eagles Josh Tolentino (7-7 last week, 54-23-1 overall): Eagles C.J. Doon (8-6 last week, 49-28-1 overall): Eagles Bennett Conlin (4-10 last week, 46-31-1 overall): Eagles Tim Schwartz (6-8 last week, 45-32-1 overall): Eagles Patrice Sanders (5-9 last week, 46-31-1 overall): Eagles Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets (Sunday, 9:30 a.m.) Wacker: Broncos Cohn: Broncos Preston: Broncos Tolentino: Broncos Doon: Broncos Conlin: Broncos Schwartz: Broncos Sanders: Broncos Dallas Cowboys vs. Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Cowboys Cohn: Cowboys Preston: Cowboys Tolentino: Cowboys Doon: Cowboys Conlin: Cowboys Schwartz: Cowboys Sanders: Cowboys Arizona Cardinals vs. Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Colts Cohn: Colts Preston: Colts Tolentino: Colts Doon: Colts Conlin: Colts Schwartz: Colts Sanders: Colts Related Articles Ravens injury report: Lamar Jackson absent; Humphrey and Ricard practice READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans want coaching changes amid poor start The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 1-4 start to 2025 season Larry ‘Wes’ Henson, Ravens superfan known as ‘Captain Dee-Fense,’ dies Ravens’ offense out of rhythm amid ‘shocking’ 1-4 start: ‘Trust each other’ Seattle Seahawks vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Seahawks Cohn: Jaguars Preston: Seahawks Tolentino: Seahawks Doon: Seahawks Conlin: Seahawks Schwartz: Jaguars Sanders: Seahawks Los Angeles Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Chargers Cohn: Chargers Preston: Chargers Tolentino: Chargers Doon: Chargers Conlin: Chargers Schwartz: Chargers Sanders: Chargers Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Steelers Cohn: Steelers Preston: Steelers Tolentino: Steelers Doon: Steelers Conlin: Steelers Schwartz: Steelers Sanders: Steelers New England Patriots vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Patriots Cohn: Patriots Preston: Patriots Tolentino: Patriots Doon: Patriots Conlin: Patriots Schwartz: Patriots Sanders: Patriots Tennessee Titans vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Raiders Cohn: Raiders Preston: Raiders Tolentino: Titans Doon: Raiders Conlin: Raiders Schwartz: Titans Sanders: Raiders San Francisco 49ers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Buccaneers Cohn: Buccaneers Preston: Buccaneers Tolentino: 49ers Doon: Buccaneers Conlin: Buccaneers Schwartz: Buccaneers Sanders: Buccaneers Cincinnati Bengals vs. Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Packers Cohn: Packers Preston: Packers Tolentino: Packers Doon: Packers Conlin: Packers Schwartz: Packers Sanders: Packers Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Cohn: Lions Preston: Chiefs Tolentino: Lions Doon: Lions Conlin: Chiefs Schwartz: Lions Sanders: Chiefs Buffalo Bills vs. Atlanta Falcons (Monday, 7:15 p.m.) Wacker: Bills Cohn: Bills Preston: Bills Tolentino: Bills Doon: Bills Conlin: Bills Schwartz: Bills Sanders: Bills Chicago Bears vs. Washington Commanders (Monday, 8:15 p.m.) Wacker: Commanders Cohn: Bears Preston: Commanders Tolentino: Bears Doon: Commanders Conlin: Commanders Schwartz: Commanders Sanders: Commanders Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

The Ravens are in dire straits. When a team starts unloading former first-round draft picks, like the Ravens did Tuesday in trading outside linebacker Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers, or bringing in a polarizing player like veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, they are in deep need. The Ravens find themselves in that situation with a 1-4 record having lost to Buffalo, Detroit, Kansas City and even Houston. Yes, the lowly Texans. So, it’s time for panic, and that’s what the Ravens have done. They haven’t been this desperate for talent since they traded for disgruntled Los Angeles Rams cornerback Marcus Peters in 2019. In that situation, the Ravens at least got a couple of good years out of Peters before he started acting weird again. But Ravens coach John Harbaugh is now in the position in which he had to do something. Combined with the Ravens committing 31 penalties for 194 yards, Harbaugh has to get rid of players who aren’t productive, and Oweh was the perfect choice. But before we go into the next third of the season, The Baltimore Sun looks back on the first five games and gives out position-by-position grades. Parents wouldn’t be happy if their children came home with this this report card. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has played well enough to win in most of the four games he started before suffering a hamstring injury. He has completed 71.6% of his passes for 869 yards with 10 touchdowns and one interception. He started off slow in the Cleveland game but played well enough in the second half to win. The problem is that Jackson has been under duress for most of his first four games, having been sacked 15 times. When he hasn’t been hurried, he holds onto the ball too long instead of throwing it away when outside the pocket. Jackson hasn’t been caught from behind throughout his NFL career, but he has been run down several times this season, which means he might be a step slower. Backup Cooper Rush started last week against Houston. He has completed 23 of 33 passes for 231 yards, but he threw three interceptions Sunday that led to 10 points by the Texans. It’s a much different offense without Jackson stretching defenses on the perimeter. Grade: B Running backs It hasn’t been a good year so far for starter Derrick Henry. He has been held to 50 or fewer rushing yards in four straight games and has only 317 yards on 64 carries this season with a long of 49 yards. He has three fumbles, which have severely limited the offense in the first five games. The Ravens haven’t used Justice Hill much either, with the No. 2 back recording only nine carries for 72 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown in garbage time against Kansas City. He does have 13 catches for 113 yards, an indication that the Ravens have trailed in most of their games. The Ravens decided to use Keaton Mitchell against Houston after he had been a healthy scratch in the first four games. Mitchell, though, might have been used more as a decoy than a weapon because of his outside speed. So far, Baltimore’s running game has been almost nonexistent after having been the NFL’s top rushing team for several seasons. To be successful, the Ravens need more run production. Grade: D Offensive line In years past, the forte of this group has always been run blocking, but the Ravens haven’t had much success with that or pass blocking. The running game has produced only an average of 115.6 yards per game, middle of the pack in the NFL. If the Ravens can’t run, they struggle in pass protection. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley has been sidelined most of the past two games with an ankle injury, and the Ravens can’t afford to have him out much longer. Everyone else in the starting group has struggled, including guards Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele and tackle Roger Rosengarten, who had a superb rookie season a year ago. Even center Tyler Linderbaum performed poorly against the Texans, whiffing on six or seven blocks while leaving his feet. The Ravens aren’t making blocks into the second level because they aren’t getting any movement on initial contact. Grade: D- Ravens wide receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman practice in Owings Mills. Consistency is key for Baltimore's pass catchers. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Receivers Besides Jackson, this has been the best unit on offense, but consistency has been a problem. Slot receiver Zay Flowers has been a weapon, catching 28 passes for 377 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens have used DeAndre Hopkins (7 catches for 158 yards) sparingly, as he seems to be on a pitch count. Maybe the Ravens are saving him for later in the season since he is a veteran. Tight end Mark Andrews has come up with some clutch catches, having hauled in 17 receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns, but like most of this group he disappears from the game plan. Part of the problem has been the lack of a running game, which could help the play-action passing attack, but the Ravens have struggled in that area as well. Outside receiver Rashod Bateman could help, but he needs to be more involved in the offense. Bateman only has 10 catches for 112 yards and one touchdown this season. Grade: C Defensive line The Ravens won’t have starting defensive end Nnamdi Madubuike for the rest of the season because of a neck injury, but they were giving up a lot of yards on the ground before he went out. The Ravens have the 29th-ranked run defense in the NFL, allowing 146.4 yards per game. Right now, it doesn’t matter who the Ravens put up front. Nose guard Travis Jones, who is playing for a contract extension, is getting beat, and so are reserve linemen Broderick Washington Jr. (now on injured reserve), John Jenkins, Brent Urban and rookie Aeneas Peebles. The worst part is that none of them are keeping opposing offensive linemen off the middle and weakside linebackers. The Ravens have very little pass rush, and that’s one thing they could count on from Madubuike. Grade: D Linebackers Middle linebacker Roquan Smith (34 tackles) is expected to miss his second straight game Sunday against the Rams, but he was struggling before his hamstring injury. The league is in search of fast and mobile linebackers, but the middle man has to be able to shock and shed, and Smith hasn’t been able to get off blocks. Well, that is the case for just about all of the Ravens’ linebackers, including rookie Teddye Buchanan, who appears to have replaced Trenton Simpson at weakside linebacker before Smith’s injury forced him to the middle. Buchanan leads the team in tackles with 40, and Simpson has 21. The Ravens need to use Simpson as a pass rusher, which he did at Clemson. Kyle Van Noy has played reasonably well on the outside, but the Ravens don’t have a full-time bonafide threat at the position and only have six sacks this season. This team can change things up and run different kinds of stunts, but the Ravens need a player who can win one-on-one matchups and even go through double or triple teams if necessary. Grade: F Related Articles Larry ‘Wes’ Henson, Ravens superfan known as ‘Captain Dee-Fense,’ dies Ravens’ offense out of rhythm amid ‘shocking’ 1-4 start: ‘Trust each other’ Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh on Odafe Oweh trade: ‘He’s a lot like Khalil Mack’ Ravens’ Rashod Bateman apologizes for interception: ‘It wasn’t a give-up’ Ravens expect new safety Alohi Gilman to be available vs. Rams: ‘Good fit’ Secondary This group has no clue. Fans can keep calling for secondary coach Chuck Pagano to become the defensive coordinator, but there is something missing from this unit. Either the coaching staff isn’t relaying the message, or this group isn’t accepting it. It’s bizarre watching cornerbacks hunch their shoulders in doubt because they don’t know where to line up or who they are supposed to cover. That’s something you see in the preseason or very early in the regular season, but not after two or three games. Missed tackles? This group misses a lot of them every game. It’s embarrassing. Safety Kyle Hamilton might be the best tackler on the team with 31, and it will be interesting to see how the Ravens use him as more of an outside linebacker for the rest of the season. Rookie safety Malaki Starks (34 tackles) has played reasonably well but still isn’t ready for prime time. Nate Wiggins has been solid, but not spectacular and nickel cornerback Marlon Humphrey has been victimized several times this season. Grade: F Special teams Rookie Tyler Loop has been nearly perfect on field goal attempts, converting 8 of 9 with his one miss from 55 yards against the Texans. He needs to improve on getting more distance on his kickoffs. Punter Jordan Stout has averaged 50 yards on 16 punts and hit a long of 63 yards, but he needs to work on his consistency as well. The Ravens, though, are giving up too much on kickoff returns, allowing an average of 26.7 yards. But they are allowing only 5.4 yards on punt returns. Grade: C+ Coaching Fans in Baltimore have very little patience for defensive coordinator Zach Orr, and it’s understandable. The Ravens have the worst defense in the NFL and can’t stop anything. They are ranked No. 31 in overall defense, allowing 408.8 yards per game. But this is about much more than defense. The offense has been good, but not consistent, with or without Jackson. Without Jackson, there hasn’t been much imagination, such as trick plays or double reverses. Give me something. Even with Jackson, there have not been a lot of slants, quick passes or screens to counter the pass rush. All of it comes down to the coach, and John Harbaugh is fully aware. The Ravens are either going to find energy with Harbaugh or not have enough as this season unfolds. There is no middle ground because Harbaugh has been the coach since 2008. It will be interesting to see how this will unfold. Grade: D Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Larry “Wes” Henson, the Ravens superfan known as Captain Dee-Fense and a retired Naval cryptography technician, died of cancer Oct. 5 at University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata. The Waldorf resident was 75. Born Larry Llewellyn Henson in Baltimore, and raised on Eutaw Place, he was the son of Irvin Henson, a Schmidt’s Bakery worker, and his wife, Alverta. He was a graduate of Northwestern High School, where he played football and basketball. He picked up the name Wes in tribute to NBA’s Wes Unseld, who played for the old Baltimore Bullets and its successor teams. He met his future wife, LaVerne Rondon, while in high school. They married in 1971 and were soon sent by the Navy to Guam. He was a cryptography technician and had other assignments in Japan, Iceland and Panama. After 15 years in military service, he joined a private defense contractor in Northern Virginia and settled in Southern Maryland. “He was easygoing,” his wife said. “He liked family events and going out to eat. He liked his seafood, steak and potatoes.” Mr. Henson was also a motivational speaker who addressed groups. Wes Henson, aka Captain Dee-Fense, was one of three in the inaugural class to be inducted into the ESPN Hall of Fans. (Kim Hairston/Staff) “He stressed the importance of being there for your children,” said his daughter, Chandra Wilson. “He also loved the military, and he tried to be at airports when service personnel were coming back from overseas. As a grandfather, he loved taking his grandson Raymond to BWI to watch planes land and take off.” Mr. Henson was an ardent football fan and followed the old Baltimore Colts and the Canadian Football League’s Baltimore Stallions in the mid-1990s. As soon as an NFL franchise moved to Baltimore, he became an extraordinary Ravens fan. He was a constant presence at games, greeting fans in his signature attire. A 2012 Baltimore Sun story described his Navy captain’s hat, aviator shades, military tags dangling from his neck, purple and white spikes and chains wrapped around his shoulders, purple and white camouflage pants, signature “Dirty Towel” tied around his waist, wrists wrapped in sweatbands and torn koozies, and black combat boots with purple laces. That year, he was inducted into the inaugural three-member class of the ESPN Hall of Fans. “…he regards [this] as a tremendous honor, even bigger than his 2002 induction into the fans’ section of the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” The Sun story said. He recalled that one day, a little girl of about 8 stopped him and asked about a shirt he was wearing that said “Defense.” “‘Hey, mister, are you, like, the captain of the defense?’” he said. He then went to Wal-Mart and bought letters he ironed onto the back of fatigues. And he got cute with the spelling and the hyphen. “Captain Dee-Fense” was officially born, the story said. “All of a sudden, I was some kind of defensive [football] genius,” he said. “Down at the Inner Harbor, I was getting interviewed on Channel 11 and Channel 5. They were asking, ‘Captain D, what do you think about this defense and that one?’” Over the years, he found himself with thousands of Facebook fans. His beaming smile appeared across Baltimore on M&T Bank billboard advertisements. Related Articles Richard Donald Nevin, Baltimore detective turned fraud investigator, dies Baltimore Ravens superfan Captain Dee-Fense has died Kenneth Allen Bourne Jr., Baltimore civic leader and banker, dies Dr. Deborah Hebb, Baltimore obstetrician who delivered more than 5,000 babies, dies Zeke Marshall, former standout St. Paul’s School basketball player, dies Mr. Henson sat in section 513, row 17 at home games. He became a goodwill ambassador for the team and often left his seat to wander throughout the stadium, stopping to sign autographs, pose for pictures and chat with fans. He also made scores of appearances for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Children’s Miracle Network, and at the Purple Dames’ Food Drive, Pets on Wheels and the Relay for Life in Perry Hall. Mr. Henson enjoyed reading inspirational and self-help books. Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, Steve Siebold and Barbara Pease were among his favorite authors. He said his personal philosophy was making himself a better person so he could help others. “At the end of the day, that’s what life is about,” he said in 2012. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, LaVerne Rondon Henson; two daughters, Donella Oleston, of Federal Way, Washington, and Chandra Wilson, of Howard County; five sisters, Mae Jones, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Marsha Bannister, Marlene Makle, Serena Henson and Michelle Henson, all of the Baltimore area; and two grandchildren. Plans for a funeral are pending. Have a news tip? Contact Jacques Kelly at jkelly@baltsun.com. View the full article

It was May 2023, just three months into Todd Monken’s tenure as Ravens offensive coordinator after helping guide Georgia to a second straight national championship. Quarterback Lamar Jackson during OTAs cooed about the new scheme being “smooth” and having “the keys” to an explosive offense. Five games into 2025, though, it has looked more like a Ferrari broken down on the side of the road, passers-by wondering what possibly could have happened. After a historic 2024 in which Baltimore became the first team in NFL history to pass for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 3,000 in the same season en route to leading or ranking near the top of the league in every major statistical category, its offense has struggled to get out of neutral through the first month-plus of this season. Though the Ravens rank sixth in points per game (28.2), they are 23rd in yards per game (311.6), 23rd in red zone scoring (53.3%) and 13th in third down conversions (40.38%). “All of this is kind of shocking to me personally, even the organization not just myself,” wide receiver Rashod Bateman said. “Fans got every right to feel how they feel. They expect excellence and it’s our job to deliver that and we’re not upholding the standard right now, so we deserve all the criticism. We take it, we’ll handle it. We just gotta fix it.” It was Bateman who was the intended target of backup quarterback Cooper Rush’s third interception of an embarrassing 44-10 defeat to the Houston Texans last week. Thinking the ball had already been thrown away he didn’t run through the route, he said. Bateman apologized Wednesday but also said that it encapsulated how things have gone this season. “That kind of just summed up the game and summed up how we felt,” he said. “That play wasn’t going to change anything, but I could have went a little harder and made it better than what it looked like. Just a [bad] day all around for us, and we’re just trying to be better all around.” How or whether they will remains to be seen. The Ravens are averaging a league-worst 50 plays a game, down from 62.3 last year. Against the Texans, they managed just 40 plays. By comparison, three weeks ago in a loss to the Lions, Detroit had one drive that went 18 plays. To borrow from the longtime lottery ad slogan, you can’t win if you don’t play, or in this case have enough plays. “The game planning is part of that, how we put that together,” coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday as Baltimore tries to dig itself out of a 1-4 start with a game against the Los Angeles Rams up next Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. “We’ve worked hard on that this week. “We’ve gotta do better on first down especially. First and second down [and] be in more manageable third down.” Part of the problem is that the Ravens are trying to start the engine without the man who possesses the keys, quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson, who missed last week’s game with a hamstring injury and is likely to miss Sunday’s as well. Rush was intercepted three times against the Texans and is expected to get the start against the Rams. “L is one of the greatest for a reason,” running back Justice Hill said. “Obviously he’s hard to replace. He makes some bad plays good. Whenever he’s not there, some of those bad plays get magnified. He has a really good knack of not making a bad play worse and making bad plays turn into good ones, so obviously we miss that. But we believe in and trust Cooper to distribute the ball and run the offense. “He’s a pro. He’s done it before. He knows his strengths and I think if we play to his strengths and call the game like that and make plays for him and protect him I think we’ll have no issue.” But even before Jackson was injured there were signs that the offense, despite being largely intact from last season (with the exception of losing versatile offensive lineman Patrick Mekari in free agency and tight end Isaiah Likely and fullback Patrick Ricard to injury), was not in sync. Ravens running back Derrick Henry, shown during a Week 3 loss to the Lions, has failed to reach 50 rushing yards in each of the past four games. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Up front, the offensive line has labored to create running lanes for Derrick Henry. In 2024, he averaged 2.41 yards before contact per rush, which helped spark the second-most rushing yards (1,921) in the league. This year, that number is down almost three-quarters of a yard and consequently he has rushed for 50 or fewer yards in each of the past four games. “It comes down to blocking people,” Harbaugh said. “Hopefully we’ll create situations where we’ll create a little bit of space.” Perhaps that will also unlock a passing game that has likewise been in a funk, especially without Jackson. But even before he was lost to injury, Harbaugh and Monken spoke about a lack of rhythm to its flow. Be it an ill-timed pre-snap penalty on an early down, a run play that goes nowhere and puts them off schedule or a historically bad defense that puts more pressure on the offense to keep up with opponents, something hasn’t been right, including in the passing game. Aside from third-year Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers (28 catches, 377 yards, one touchdown) and tight end Mark Andrews (17 catches, 150 yards, 2 TDs), no player is averaging more than 2.6 catches per game. Bateman, who had career highs in touchdowns (nine) and yards (756) last season, has just 10 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown so far this season. Three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins is tied for the team lead with two touchdown receptions but is averaging just 14.1 snaps per game. Monken has said so many weapons at his disposal is a good problem to have, but to some extent it perhaps has just been a problem. Related Articles Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh on Odafe Oweh trade: ‘He’s a lot like Khalil Mack’ Ravens’ Rashod Bateman apologizes for interception: ‘It wasn’t a give-up’ Ravens expect new safety Alohi Gilman to be available vs. Rams: ‘Good fit’ Ravens punter’s wife goes TikTok viral after trying to fit into his uniform Ravens injury report: Lamar Jackson still missing; Kyle Hamilton returns “We still got a lot of work to do, a lot of growing to do,” Bateman said of the offense, which he said performed poorly against the Texans. “That’s what we’re focused on right now. “I just feel like we gotta trust each other, trust the plan, trust who we got in and at the end of the day we just gotta do our job. It sounds simple, but at the end of the day that’s what it boils down to.” Now the only question is can they fix it? The Rams are near the middle of the pack in points allowed per game (21.4) but can be stingy in their way. They have surrendered the 10th fewest yards per game this season (309) and are third in yards per rush allowed (3.5). Baltimore also knows history is not on its side. Only four teams in NFL history have started 1-5 and still made the playoffs. Motivation, at least, has not been a problem, according to Harbaugh. “They’re completely motivated to get the win this week,” he said. “The main thing you gotta focus on is how to do it. You gotta go play a certain way.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article