ExtremeRavens

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 1: Tackle football Trey Gibson, Severn Run: Gibson led Severn Run to its first victory in program history, a 21-13 win over Wilde Lake. The Wildecats jumped out to a 13-0 lead, but the Wolves rallied to score the final 21 points and move to 1-0 on the season. Girls flag football Alexis Wade, Edmonson-Westside: The Red Storm took down the reigning Baltimore City champion, Dunbar, 19-14. Edmonson-Westside had a strong finish to the 2024 season and picked up where it left off to begin the 2025 campaign. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will not face discipline from the NFL for shoving a Bills fan during Sunday night’s season-opening loss to Buffalo at Highmark Stadium, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Thursday. “The matter has been addressed by the club and there is no further action from the league,” he wrote in a text. Jackson was celebrating with teammates behind the end zone following a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins late in the third quarter when a fan in a red Bills jersey hit Hopkins on the helmet. The same fan also pushed Jackson in the head seconds later, and the quarterback responded by shoving the fan in the chest with both hands. The fan was ejected and has since been “indefinitely banned from Bills and NFL stadiums,” a Bills official told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday. On Wednesday, Jackson apologized to the fan. “It just happened,” he said. “My apologies to whoever that was. Just chill next time. You could talk trash, but keep your hands to yourself.” Ravens coach John Harbaugh also said that general manager Eric DeCosta and team president Sashi Brown spoke with the league about the incident and that he also talked to Jackson. “I’m very confident he understands what he needs to understand,” Harbaugh said. Later, Ravens running back Derrick Henry was nearly hit by a frozen water bottle in the end zone at the other end of the field after scoring on his 46-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. “Stuff like that shouldn’t be happening. It’s not WWE,” Jackson said. “We’re playing football out here. So just keep it to football. I know guys are going to talk trash. I know the opposing team is going to talk trash. Keep it that way. But keep your hands and keep your objects to yourself.” The Ravens will face the Cleveland Browns in their home opener Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans worried by late-game collapse vs. Bills Staff picks for Week 2 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Packers, Eagles vs. Chiefs and more How the Ravens’ renovations to M&T Bank Stadium affect fans: ‘I got screwed’ Mike Preston: Ravens beware, Joe Flacco ‘can still bring it’ | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ View the full article

We asked readers if the Ravens’ shocking loss to the Bills in Week 1 changes their outlook on Baltimore’s season. The Ravens led, 40-25, late in the fourth quarter before allowing 16 consecutive points to lose, 41-40. Here are the results from our online poll: Yes — 64% (326 votes) No — 36% (183 votes) Here’s what some fans have told us about the team’s season-opening loss and future outlook (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): Honestly, I was nervous the whole game. Buffalo was only one big play away (see Henry fumble) from a momentum shift. As for the last five minutes, if you can’t get closer to the quarterback than they did, it is going to be a long season. But no worries, the Commanders have brought in more bandwagon buses. There will be room for us. — Jay Esterson As long as John Harbaugh is the coach, this is who the Ravens are as a team. The Ravens are full of talent but they frequently get out-coached in big games against better coaches. The Ravens will make the playoffs again and choke again. What reason do we have to believe otherwise? Prior performance is the best predictor of future performance. — David Carroll Someone needs to remind the Ravens that the game is for 60 MINUTES!! Last night’s game should rank as one of the WORST LOSSES suffered by a team in the history of the NFL! — Scot Howard Expectations remain the same (i.e., making the playoffs and then finding a creative way to lose to a lesser team). — Dave C New year, new defensive players, and the same old problems. This has been going on for several years. No pass rush, defensive backfield shoddy, and relying on the offense to outscore the opponent. I think this comes down to inferior coaching. Harbaugh can talk all he wants about how good his defense is, but until proven otherwise, it could be a long season considering the quality of Ravens’ opponents. — Robert I was a Ravens season-ticket holder for 26 years, since their inception, starting at Memorial Stadium. I moved to Denver and still watch Ravens religiously. Not impressed with Harbaugh any longer. He hardly ever speaks to coordinators on his headset like other head coaches. His news conferences are totally boring, e.g. “They are a good football team, we played hard, we go to work tomorrow, we have more games to play.” Hold somebody accountable, maybe owner Steve Bisciotti should. If we get to the playoffs and go one and done, I don’t think Lamar Jackson or coaching staff can do it. Thank you for letting me vent my frustrations. — Charles Ignatavicius I am a lifelong Baltimore Colts and Ravens fan in Richmond, Virginia. I am a loyal supporter of the Ravens and say this with respect as I know these players work so hard and give everything for this team and the Baltimore community. I also think the Ravens may have the most talent of any team in the NFL. But something is wrong somewhere, when over a period of several years now you continue to blow big leads in the fourth quarter. Watching the Bills game in the fourth quarter I got this sick feeling that I have seen this movie before. And sure enough, it had the same ending. Not sure what the answer is? — WT Brown Are you kidding? First game of the season, and the Bills got lucky. End of story. The first 3 1/2 quarters of the game the Ravens’ offense was making shockingly amazing plays, anyone remember? This loss is on the Ravens’ defense but it does not alter my high hopes for this immensely talented Ravens team — maybe the best ever — to go all the way this year. They won’t forget the pain from this, and it will just drive them on to greater heights. Watch out next time Bills, and all other haters. Go Ravens! — JD Bills kicker Matt Prater kicks a field goal from the hold of punter Brad Robbins as time expires in the second half of this past week's Bills-Ravens game. The Ravens gave away a 15-point fourth-quarter lead in the loss. (Adrian Kraus/AP) No, if you are interested in the Super Bowl talk, this loss, although disappointing, has no effect on it. Teams in the Super Bowl are mostly those hot at the end of the season, relatively healthy, and have strong leadership. History tells us this. Look at the Ravens’ Super Bowls. Do you really think Kansas City with its loss, won’t be there at the end of the season? My only concern with this loss is it was head to head with Buffalo and could impact playoff seeding. — Stephen Daryl Smith Like the Four Tops record from 1965 “It’s The Same Old Song.” Year after year with the same failures. And what bugs me the most is that after so many mistakes and failures all we hear from Harbaugh is, “We have to work on that.” Like, hello, players get paid not to make those mistakes. The real games start with the playoffs and the Ravens hold on just enough to get there but then DONE. We have a great team overall, and I’m just wondering how long the owner will stand for this … it’s already too long in my opinion. A change NEEDS to be coming. — Jerry Solomon This is becoming a common problem for Harbaugh. He by far leads the league with blown leads late in the game. This is just not coincidence. With the talent he has been given, this should not happen. Bisciotti should be asking Harbaugh some tough questions and demand reasonable answers. — Chuckie The Ravens have the best running attack in the league, great receivers and phenomenal defensive talent. But their coach can’t seem to maximize their talent. He doesn’t get the most from the Jackson/Henry duo. He’s a good-not-great head coach. — Ronald Related Articles Staff picks for Week 2 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Packers, Eagles vs. Chiefs and more How the Ravens’ renovations to M&T Bank Stadium affect fans: ‘I got screwed’ Mike Preston: Ravens beware, Joe Flacco ‘can still bring it’ | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills Why was Derrick Henry on the sideline on the last offensive possession? Why didn’t the defense rush more in the fourth quarter? Why did Hopkins run less than the yards he needed for a first down? Harbaugh blew another game with poor play calling and the defense was terrible. Missed tackles, open receivers, no pass rush. — Tim Malstrom This loss actually gives me more hope. These are things they will clean up … no problem! We have coach John Harbaugh! — Joshua Valladares Until the defense gets it together, we’re in trouble. I know that we’re not in the Ray Lewis or Terrell Suggs era but this defense couldn’t stop a Pop Warner team. I pray there are better defensive days for our Ravens! — Candy Hall No, my expectations are the same. The Ravens will make it to the playoffs and lose. — Andrew K 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 2: Washington Commanders at Green Bay Packers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (12-4 last week): Packers Sam Cohn (11-5 last week): Packers Mike Preston (12-4 last week): Packers Josh Tolentino (11-5 last week): Packers C.J. Doon (10-6 last week): Commanders Bennett Conlin (13-3 last week): Packers Tim Schwartz (11-5 last week): Commanders Patrice Sanders (10-6 last week): Packers Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bengals Cohn: Jaguars Preston: Bengals Tolentino: Bengals Doon: Jaguars Conlin: Bengals Schwartz: Bengals Sanders: Bengals New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Cowboys Cohn: Cowboys Preston: Cowboys Tolentino: Cowboys Doon: Cowboys Conlin: Cowboys Schwartz: Cowboys Sanders: Cowboys Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans worried by late-game collapse vs. Bills How the Ravens’ renovations to M&T Bank Stadium affect fans: ‘I got screwed’ Mike Preston: Ravens beware, Joe Flacco ‘can still bring it’ | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Lions Cohn: Lions Preston: Lions Tolentino: Lions Doon: Lions Conlin: Lions Schwartz: Lions Sanders: Lions New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Patriots Cohn: Patriots Preston: Patriots Tolentino: Patriots Doon: Patriots Conlin: Dolphins Schwartz: Patriots Sanders: Patriots San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: 49ers Cohn: 49ers Preston: 49ers Tolentino: 49ers Doon: 49ers Conlin: 49ers Schwartz: 49ers Sanders: 49ers Buffalo Bills at New York Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bills Cohn: Bills Preston: Bills Tolentino: Bills Doon: Bills Conlin: Bills Schwartz: Bills Sanders: Bills Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Steelers Cohn: Seahawks Preston: Steelers Tolentino: Steelers Doon: Seahawks Conlin: Steelers Schwartz: Steelers Sanders: Steelers Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Rams Cohn: Rams Preston: Rams Tolentino: Rams Doon: Rams Conlin: Rams Schwartz: Rams Sanders: Rams Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Cardinals Cohn: Cardinals Preston: Cardinals Tolentino: Panthers Doon: Cardinals Conlin: Cardinals Schwartz: Cardinals Sanders: Cardinals Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Broncos Cohn: Broncos Preston: Broncos Tolentino: Colts Doon: Broncos Conlin: Colts Schwartz: Broncos Sanders: Broncos Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Cohn: Eagles Preston: Chiefs Tolentino: Eagles Doon: Eagles Conlin: Chiefs Schwartz: Chiefs Sanders: Eagles Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) Wacker: Vikings Cohn: Falcons Preston: Vikings Tolentino: Vikings Doon: Falcons Conlin: Vikings Schwartz: Falcons Sanders: Vikings Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans (Monday, 7 p.m.) Wacker: Buccaneers Cohn: Buccaneers Preston: Texans Tolentino: Texans Doon: Buccaneers Conlin: Texans Schwartz: Buccaneers Sanders: Texans Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders (Monday, 10 p.m.) Wacker: Chargers Cohn: Chargers Preston: Chargers Tolentino: Chargers Doon: Raiders Conlin: Chargers Schwartz: Chargers Sanders: Chargers Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

Chris Santoro, a Ravens season-ticket holder since 2002, was furious at the Dec. 11 email he received from the team, saying that his seats would be moved for the 2025 season. Why? Because of the $489 million in upgrades to M&T Bank Stadium — particularly the addition of premium seating behind the west end zone. “Knowing that some fans may feel negatively impacted is difficult for us, but these projects will allow M&T Bank Stadium to remain a first-class facility for the next decade and beyond,” the team email said. “Please know that we are firmly committed to doing everything we can to make this an easy process and transition.” “I was shocked,” said Santoro, a 44-year-old Baltimore native who has been to nearly every home game for the past 20 years. “I got screwed.” The seating upheaval is largely the result of the addition of a costly, private “Legends Suite” that caters to corporate owners and wealthy fans, offering access to a members-only bar and food service, along with two rows of seats — 160 in total — on the field level. Regular season-ticket holders, who can pay several thousand dollars for their seats, feel as if they’re suddenly second-class fans. The Ravens did not respond to multiple requests asking how many season-ticket holders were moved before the 2025 season. Team president Sashi Brown said they “spent a lot of time limiting the impact on the bowl seats for season-ticket holders,” which Chad Steele, the Ravens’ senior vice president of communications, echoed in an emailed statement to The Baltimore Sun. “As is often the case with large-scale stadium modernizations, impact to seating bowl are unavoidable,” Steele said. “We worked diligently with our architects to minimize the changes to and limit the number of seats affected by our renovations. Where fans were affected, our team collaborated directly with them to deliver solutions and ensure a smooth transition.” But that’s little comfort to longtime fans like Santoro, who says the team offered him either a payout for his tickets or corner seats — an option he said that he specifically asked to avoid. He’s holding onto the tickets this year despite being relocated with the hope of watching a Super Bowl contender, but he plans to consider selling them once the season ends. “The suites aren’t for fans. All the money is getting dumped into corporate stuff. None of that money is going directly to benefit any fan in that stadium,” Santoro said. Anthony Rosso feels the same way. The 52-year-old Glenwood native has held season tickets since 1996 and owned 16 seats along the field level in the west end zone for years. Until this season. Rosso and his family were informed by the Ravens that their seats would be moved back eight rows to make room for the Legends Suite renovations. Rosso, who attends games with his 84-year-old father, Joe, pleaded with a team representative over the phone. He said nothing compared to the field-level view — watching his children celebrate with players after a touchdown or hearing the pads collide near the goal line. “We were extremely disappointed. We didn’t have any say in it,” said Rosso, who is keeping his tickets. Anthony Rosso, 52, of Glenwood, and his father Joe Rosso, 84, of Catonsville. They’ve held 16 season-tickets in the field level rows of the west end zone since 1996 — until this year when the Ravens moved them back eight rows to accommodate the addition of the Legends Suite, a new premium seating option. (Sam Jane/Staff) In 2022, the Maryland General Assembly passed a law that increased the Maryland Stadium Authority’s bond issuing authority to $1.2 billion, to be split evenly between Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium. The state earmarked $434 million in public money for the renovations to M&T Bank Stadium, which are expected to be completed in 2026. But because the project ran over budget because of increased construction costs and design changes, the Ravens will kick in $55 million, with the MSA reimbursing them up to $35 million. Brown said most of the team’s money was spent on technology in the upper concourse and plazas in the main concourse. The use of tax money for the implementation of luxury seating and a pricier option to view games is a trend among professional sports teams. The Jacksonville Jaguars are spending $775 million to upgrade their stadium, while the Carolina Panthers are spending $650 million of state funds to renovate theirs. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans worried by late-game collapse vs. Bills Staff picks for Week 2 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Packers, Eagles vs. Chiefs and more Mike Preston: Ravens beware, Joe Flacco ‘can still bring it’ | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills “A lot of these experiences we’re creating [are] commonplace now,” Ravens senior vice president of marketing Brad Downs said at a September stadium tour. “This helps keep us competitive.” Reimbursable projects by MSA will include concourse improvements, including more bathrooms, according to the contract the MSA and team signed. Nonreimbursable renovations include the retail store at the west end of the stadium, LED videoboards and “ancillary work,” which is estimated to cost $20 million. Brown said at a February state meeting that a majority of renovations are expected to be completed in August. At that meeting, Bill Marker — a longtime Baltimore resident — provided the one public comment. Marker lamented the slashing of federal government jobs, public education and the allocation of the state’s funds to luxury seating. “Certainly the picture that Mr. Marker paints is not one that most of us would support if this was, in fact, a vote to allocate additional funding to the Ravens,” state comptroller Brooke Lierman said at the February meeting. “But this is not allocating additional funding to the Ravens. This money has already been voted on and allocated from a special fund to support bonds by the general assembly, signed by the governor, several years ago. “If this was a vote by the General Assembly now to allocate additional money to the Ravens when we have so many other needs, that would be certainly not be one I would support.” The Champions Club is one of the new premium clubs at M&T Bank Stadium and part of the improvement projects taking place at the stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The Champions Club is one of the new premium clubs at M&T Bank Stadium and part of the improvement projects taking place at the stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The new Legends Suite at M&T Bank Stadium caters to corporate owners and wealthy fans, offering access to a members-only bar and food service, along with two rows of seats — 160 in total — on the field level. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)Construction takes place at the North Plaza at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The Legends Suites at M&T Bank Stadium. Suite holders can watch the game from two rows of seating directly on the field. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The Legends Suites at M&T Bank Stadium. Suite holders can watch the game from two rows of seating directly on the field. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)Tickets for The Trust, a new luxury club at M&T Bank Stadium, are sold out for the season. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The Trust is one of the premium clubs at M&T Bank Stadium and part of the improvement projects taking place. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The Trust is one of the new premium clubs at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The Trust is one of the premium clubs at M&T Bank Stadium and part of the improvement projects taking place. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)Dave Benfield, left of Bel Air, and son Kyle stand in their Field seats before the start of the preseason game between the Ravens and the Colts at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Dave Benfield, left of Bel Air, and son Kyle stand in their Field seats before the start of the preseason game between the Ravens and the Colts at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)A wide view of the Blackwing Suites before the start of the preseason game between the Ravens and the Colts at M&T Bank Stadium last month. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)TV screens on the lower wall of the Legends Suites seats at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Show Caption1 of 14The Champions Club is one of the new premium clubs at M&T Bank Stadium and part of the improvement projects taking place at the stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)Expand The state has some control over how the Ravens spend the money. The contract says the MSA will provide the team with “input, comments and decisions throughout the construction.” The organizations have agreed to nominate a bipartisan agent to monitor the renovations. An MSA spokesperson said the team has not used any “payments associated with the $35 million contribution for the Reimbursable Projects under the [contract].” But a large portion of the state’s funding will likely be targeted toward fans with larger pockets. There will be three exclusive clubs and one premium suite seating. The Legends Suite costs $400,000 for the entire season and at least $40,000 to attend one game, and it comes with 16 tickets and four VIP parking passes with food and beverage included. There’s also the Champions Club, The Raven, presented by T. Rowe Price, and The Trust, presented by M&T Bank. The clubs feature a variety of amenities, including both of the franchise’s Super Bowl rings, an Ed Reed Super Bowl jersey and decorations from the Ravens’ championship runs. The Trust and The Raven are sold out for the 2025 season. The Champions Club costs $4,000 per season pass, and attendees need to have a separate ticket elsewhere in the stadium. Some fans are pleased with some of the changes. Ed Whitesell, of Halethorpe, said that adding easier transportation access to upper levels, increased restroom options and the new retail store are all worthy upgrades. The Ravens also added more than 12,000 square feet of new videoboards to the main concourses, five new venues within the new north plaza, including a sports bar concert venue and the “Flock Friendly Fare “ — a food menu that includes 11 items under $5. Still, some fans are upset with the allocation of funds. “I don’t really see where they improve the game experience for the average fan,” Montgomery County native and season-ticket holder Robin Ficker, 82, said. Baltimore isn’t unique in making these types of upgrades across the NFL. But for a stadium just 27 years old — and often ranked among the league’s best — the timing felt puzzling, for some fans. “I think that was a waste,” Ficker said. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Ravens president Sashi Brown discusses the latest M&T Bank Stadium improvement projects on Tuesday. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) View the full article

In Week 15 of the 2012 regular season, then-Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco threw an interception that Denver cornerback Chris Harris Jr. returned 98 yards for a touchdown with 30 seconds left in the first half. Flacco tried to run Harris down, but missed a shoestring tackle. The result was Flacco lying flat on his face and motionless as the Broncos went on to secure a 34-17 victory. The only thing missing was movement, because everyone might have thought that Flacco was a snow angel. But two weeks later, he started to put together one of the best postseasons in NFL history as the Ravens went on to beat the San Francisco 49ers, 34-31, in Super Bowl XLVII. If there is any doubt, ask Ozzie Newsome, the Hall of Fame tight end with the Cleveland Browns (1978-90) and later the architect and general manager of the Ravens (2002-18) who built two Super teams in Baltimore before becoming executive vice president/player personnel in 2019. “I don’t know if Steve Young had those kind of numbers with the 49ers, but I can’t recall anyone posting numbers like Joe,” Newsome said. “He got into a rhythm and on the same page with Jim Caldwell and what Jim wanted to do, and Jim played into that.” Flacco, 40, will be the starting quarterback for Cleveland on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium for the Ravens’ home opener. A lot of visiting teams back away from player introductions, but Flacco would probably command a standing ovation. In four playoff games in 2012-13, he passed for 1,140 yards and 11 touchdowns, which tied him with Kurt Warner and Joe Montana for the most touchdown passes without an interception in a single postseason. His 117.2 passer rating tied him for third place with Young in a Super Bowl-winning postseason. Along the way, Flacco beat Indianapolis in a wild-card game, followed by Denver, which was favored by nine points, and then New England in the AFC championship game. He became the second quarterback to beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in the same postseason since both became starters. That’s not bad for a quarterback from the University of Delaware who was selected with the 18th pick of 2008 draft — or a player who was the team’s second option. The Ravens tried to trade for Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, but he was selected as the third overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons. Needless to say, it worked out extremely well for the Ravens. Flacco went 96-67 in the regular season and 10-5 in the postseason in 11 years in Baltimore before being traded to the Broncos in 2019, one year after the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson in the first round. “Joe had arm talent, first and foremost,” Newsome said. “That made him a first-round pick. That’s what carried us in the playoffs. You could see the fire in him, but his demeanor was the same. Joe was still Joe.” His nickname was “Joe Cool.” Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and coach John Harbaugh celebrate their victory over the Patriots in the AFC championship game in January 2013. (Staff file) The only Ravens quarterback in team history who had a stronger arm was Vinny Testaverde, the former University of Miami star who lasted for two years in Baltimore. Flacco, though, was a gunslinger in the 2012 postseason, which was quite unusual considering the Ravens changed offensive coordinators after a Week 14 loss to Washington. Harbaugh fired Cam Cameron and replaced him with Caldwell, the quarterbacks coach who had previously been the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2009 to 2011. It was a perfect marriage. It coincided with a rough beginning as the Ravens tried to sign Flacco to a contract extension before the start of the 2012 season. “We just couldn’t get it done,” Newsome said of the extension talks. “We were sure he could lead us, and he was well respected in the locker room, and that’s a major key. But who can predict if he was going to be a Super Bowl-winning quarterback?” Flacco was 12 of 23 for 282 yards and two touchdowns in the Ravens’ wild-card game, a 24-9 win over Indianapolis in Baltimore. He threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns against Denver in the divisional round, and then had 240 yards and three touchdowns in the Ravens’ 28-13 win over the Patriots in the AFC championship game. But it was in Denver where Flacco earned icon status. Facing a third-and-3 with less than 45 seconds remaining and no timeouts, Flacco threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to late receiver Jacoby Jones to send the game into overtime. It became known as the “Mile High Miracle.” The Ravens eventually won, 38-35, in double overtime. It’s still one of the greatest touchdown passes in NFL history, right up there with the “Immaculate Reception.” In fact, the pass was thrown so high that it seemed to have dew on it when it reached Jones’ hands. Baltimore held off a late comeback bid to beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl, and Flacco was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after completing 22 of 33 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns. He was given a Chevrolet Corvette and later a six-year, $120.6 million contract, a record at the time. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans worried by late-game collapse vs. Bills Staff picks for Week 2 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Packers, Eagles vs. Chiefs and more How the Ravens’ renovations to M&T Bank Stadium affect fans: ‘I got screwed’ Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills But the “Mile High Miracle” pass was his claim to fame in Baltimore. Newsome acknowledged that he was packing his bag and headed to the elevator to what he thought would be the losing locker room. “In terms of looking back, what an amazing run, and what an era for the Ravens, the ‘Joe Flacco era,'” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said this week. “In the early part of his career, was with Ray [Lewis], Ed [Reed] and those guys in the later part of his career with another set of guys. He’s iconic, I think, in Baltimore football history. I respect that and admire that and still keep in touch with him, except not this week. “This week, it’s not about that for us as a football team, it’s about us getting prepared for a good quarterback that knows how to play the game, [who’s] capable of making plays against you, and we’re going to have to be at our very best to defend against Joe and the whole offense.” It was a remarkable run, one that will go down in Baltimore history like the so-called “Greatest Game Ever Played” between the Colts and Giants for the 1958 title or the city’s Super Bowl wins in 1971 and again in 2000. But if the Ravens think that they will walk over Flacco on Sunday, Newsome suggests otherwise. They’d better beware and heed his warning. “I tried to trade up and get Matt Ryan,” Newsome said, “so I was sitting there in the bottom of the first round or wherever, and we took Joe. We had sent a contingent of coaches and scouts to watch him and they all came back glowing. Cam had plans to utilize Joe and that arm talent. We had four or five people go up there, and they said Joe was putting on a show and had a great workout. “When you have arm talent, you don’t lose that. Aaron Rodgers is still playing because he has arm talent. It’s like being a great pitcher. Unless you have some type of injury or surgery, that arm talent never goes away. He can still bring it.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The longest-tenured Ravens defender sat at his locker Wednesday engulfed by cameras and recorders. On the heels of a head-scratching collapse in Buffalo, Marlon Humphrey, calmly, gave his two cents about what went wrong. “We’re just not mature enough as a team yet,” Humphrey said, those words landing with a thud. He went on to say: “It’s very clear we’ve got great players on both sides of the ball but defensively we have to work on our maturity. It doesn’t matter what our offense is doing. We have to go out there and win the game.” The ninth-year cornerback remembered looking up at the scoreboard with the Ravens clutching a 15-point lead over the Bills. There were about five minutes remaining. He turned to Roquan Smith, linebacker and fellow defensive leader, to say, “Hey, let’s go win this game.” What unfolded over those final minutes has dominated NFL discourse this week. Josh Allen converted a fourth down into a miraculous touchdown, Baltimore’s unstoppable offense went stale and Allen’s Most-Valuable-Player-caliber heroics piloted Buffalo to a season-opening 41-40 win. The Ravens defense, meanwhile, played a significant role in letting slip what ESPN Analytics deemed a 99.1% chance at victory. At one point, safety Kyle Hamilton looked up at the scoreboard to see that Allen had thrashed them for nearly 400 passing yards and felt sick to his stomach. Coach John Harbaugh said his “No. 1 disappointment” was their inability to keep Allen in the pocket. Humphrey has been one of the most vocal defensive leaders when it comes to articulating the state of the organization. The two-time All-Pro selection has been the flag bearer in the fight to get Baltimore’s defense back to being “feared.” When the team hit its nadir last November, he waxed openly about the standard. When they lost in Buffalo in January, he was blunt that the message was, “We lost. Get over it.” Only they could control how they respond, he posited. And after a Week 1 loss, Humphrey was blunt. “The current problem on the team,” he said, “is the defense.” Humphrey was adamant that he feels as if the group is together and well-equipped to rebound. Baltimore’s defense has a good mix of veteran leadership, highly paid stars and top draft picks. The team’s voice of reason wasn’t particularly a star Sunday night. He managed four tackles, eighth most on the team. Pro Football Focus graded him a 47.3 on defense and 52.7 in coverage. Ravens coach John Harbaugh speaks to the media after practice Wednesday. Harbaugh's team allowed an NFL-worst 41 points in its season opener. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) His frustration, and thus the lack of maturity Humphrey alluded to, is that “everyone wants to make a play. … Do your job and if a play comes to you to make, make it. I think working on maturity comes in practice.” When the defense gets disjointed, it falls apart. That’s something this group has preached going back to their troubles from last year. Humphrey’s message coming out of their 0-1 start? They can’t afford to “protect this guy or that guy.” If the Ravens are going to avoid a poor defensive start like 2024, “it’s not going to be a situation where somebody’s been doing something wrong and nothing gets said.” There’s an attitude shift in the locker room. One teeming with urgency. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills Ravens injury report: Star DT misses practice; 2 others still sidelined Browns WR Jerry Jeudy on threat of Ravens’ defense: ‘No challenges’ Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Ravens film study: Looking at 5 problems they need to address Humphrey let out a laugh in disbelief just thinking about it. So many of the plays Baltimore saw in practice leading up to Week 1 showed up as they anticipated Sunday night. They were in “perfect calls” for much of the night. Some of that is a lack of execution based on what defensive coordinator Zach Orr is feeding for a given play. And some of that means how the Bills orchestrated their offense. Either way, the Ravens felt prepared enough to win. “That’s why the loss hurts so bad,” Humphrey said, “because we knew exactly what they were gonna do in a couple different situations and all 11 guys couldn’t get together.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Derrick Henry had just fumbled, injecting a shot of life into the Bills and their crowd with just over three minutes remaining Sunday night in Orchard Park, New York. Meanwhile, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson needed a dose of pickle juice. Jackson, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player who last season became the first player to pass for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 900, was cramping in both of his calves. According to a study in the National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine, ingesting small amounts of pickle juices relieves cramps within 35 seconds. Though findings are mixed, it does so by sending a neurological signal to the muscle and quickly influencing nerve pathways, rather than having to wait for the electrolytes or sodium to be absorbed into the blood. Jackson’s calf cramps came at a critical moment. After the Bills scored four plays later to pull within two points of a Ravens team that was desperately clinging to the lead, Baltimore was soon faced with a decision: Whether to punt or go for it on fourth-and-3 from its own 38-yard line with 1:33 remaining. The Ravens punted, of course, and 93 seconds later, Matt Prater’s 32-yard field goal sailed through the uprights to complete the improbable and unbelievable comeback, 41-40. In the aftermath, many questioned whether the Ravens should have gone for it. “If I weren’t cramping, we definitely would’ve have gone for it, I believe,” Jackson said Wednesday. It strangely wasn’t the first time that the quarterback has been in that situation. In a December 2020 home win over the Browns, Jackson left the sideline late in the third quarter and headed to the locker room to deal with cramps to first his forearm and then his legs. He eventually returned to the field with two minutes to play in the game and threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Related Articles Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens injury report: Star DT misses practice; 2 others still sidelined Browns WR Jerry Jeudy on threat of Ravens’ defense: ‘No challenges’ Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Ravens film study: Looking at 5 problems they need to address Jackson later led the game-winning drive that ended with a 55-yard field goal from Justin Tucker and soon the Willis Reid comparisons started to pour in. This time, he never got the chance. After the Ravens punted, Bills quarterback Josh Allen drove Buffalo 66 yards in nine plays to set up the winning kick as time expired. It also wasn’t the only odd circumstance surrounding Jackson that night. After connecting with DeAndre Hopkins on a 29-yard touchdown pass late in the third, the quarterback shoved a Bills fan after being hit on the helmet by the fan amid the scoring celebration. The fan first first hit Hopkins in the head then pushed Jackson’s helmet. Jackson responded by pushing the fan back into the crowd with both hands. “I [saw] him slap D-Hop, which I wasn’t feeling. Then he slapped me. And he was talking [smack]. So I forgot where I was in that moment,” Jackson said afterward. The fan was ejected from the game and has since been indefinitely banned from all NFL stadiums. On Wednesday, coach John Harbaugh said that general manager Eric DeCosta and team president Sashi Brown spoke with the league about the incident and also talked to Jackson. No discipline for Jackson is expected. “I’m very confident he understands what he needs to understand,” Harbaugh said. Jackson, who said that he hadn’t heard directly from the league, concurred. “It just happened,” he said. “My apologies to whoever that was. Just chill next time. You could talk trash, but keep your hands to yourself.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Nnamdi Madubuike hasn’t missed a regular-season game in three years, but the Ravens’ star defensive tackle sat out Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury. Coach John Harbaugh said that he expects Madubuike back Thursday, which should put the two-time Pro Bowl selection in line to play in Baltimore’s home opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Madubuike collected the Ravens’ only sack in a 41-40 loss against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. He also recorded a team-high five pressures and a nearly 30% pass-rush win rate, which was the highest among NFL interior defensive lineman. The 27-year-old defensive tackle was seen receiving treatment Sunday night, although he played 59 snaps and did not seem to leave the field for an injury at any point. In other injury news, tight end Isaiah Likely was seen on a side field going through an individual workout Wednesday. Likely’s been held out of practice since the start of August, when he had surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot. It’s doubtful that the tight end will play against Cleveland this week, with a Week 3 Monday night matchup against the Detroit Lions a more realistic target for his return. Second-year tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden was elevated from the practice squad for the season opener against the Bills. That seems like a probable move for Sunday’s game, as Mitchell-Paden showed positional versatility, repping at tight end and fullback in his 15 snaps. Mitchell-Paden’s elevation is even more likely considering fullback Patrick Ricard (calf) didn’t practice again Wednesday. The 31-year-old veteran hasn’t practiced since Aug. 14, although Harbaugh said that Ricard could return to practice this week. Cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) was also limited Wednesday. The 28-year-old former Green Bay Packers star played 33 snaps in his team debut against the Bills and largely struggled after nursing a knee injury all offseason. Meanwhile, none of Cleveland’s players missed Wednesday’s practice because of injury. Five were limited: guard Joel Bitonio (rest), offensive tackles Jack Conklin (eye, elbow) and Dawand Jones (knee), defensive tackle Michael Hall (knee) and cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder, Achilles tendon). There was an intriguing absence, however. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins met with the NFL on Wednesday to discuss his arrest on domestic battery charge. Judkins, a second-round draft pick from Ohio State, was arrested in July, but prosecutors made the decision to drop the charges last month. The league could still opt to discipline Judkins, however. The former Ohio State star hasn’t practiced with the Browns since June and was the last of the second-round rookies to sign his deal. Judkins is expected to practice with the team Thursday, coach Kevin Stefanski said. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Related Articles Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills Browns WR Jerry Jeudy on threat of Ravens’ defense: ‘No challenges’ Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Ravens film study: Looking at 5 problems they need to address View the full article

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy is coming off a disappointing season opener, but his confidence hasn’t wavered. In fact, Jeudy doesn’t see any reason to be worried about a Ravens defense that allowed 497 total yards and 41 points in an epic Week 1 collapse against the Buffalo Bills. When asked what challenges Baltimore’s defense and its notable names in the secondary present, the 26-year-old former Alabama star gave a blunt answer. “No challenges,” he told reporters Wednesday. It’s a bold statement from a wide receiver who not only led the league with 13 drops last season but had a pass bounce off his hands that was intercepted and dropped a crucial fourth-down pass in Cleveland’s 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Quarterback Joe Flacco’s pass to Jeudy over the middle late in the third quarter should have converted a second-and-16 in Cleveland territory, but the ball was tipped into the air on Jeudy’s diving attempt and was picked off by safety Jordan Battle. That led to a go-ahead 35-yard field goal by Evan McPherson, which proved to be the decisive points. “Flacco did a good job. The two turnovers were unfortunate picks,” said Jeudy, who still led the Browns with five catches for 66 yards. “We had them in our hands.” Despite Cleveland outgaining its in-state and AFC North rivals 327-141 and holding the ball for more than 35 minutes Sunday, that turnover, another interception that bounced off the hands of wide receiver Cedric Tillman and two missed kicks by Andre Szmyt ultimately cost the Browns a chance for a stunning Week 1 upset. Now Cleveland heads to Baltimore on Sunday with a chance to hand the Ravens a second consecutive loss in what will be Flacco’s first game at M&T Bank Stadium with the opposing team. Baltimore is licking its wounds from a shocking night in Orchard Park, New York, in which a defense that said all offseason that it wanted to be “feared” again wilted late against reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen, who delivered the fourth-most passing yards in the fourth quarter this century with a whopping 251 in the final 15 minutes. Safety Kyle Hamilton said the performance made him sick to his stomach. “We know what we have and that’s all that’s important,” Ravens rookie safety Malaki Starks said when asked about Jeudy’s comments. “Like I said, we want to continue to get better. We didn’t have the outcome that we wanted last game but that doesn’t define us. We got a great group so I’m excited.” On paper, Sunday’s game is still a mismatch, with the Ravens considered a Super Bowl contender and the Browns a candidate to finish with the league’s worst record. The spread favors the Ravens by 11 1/2 points, and in Jeudy’s mind, “that’s disrespectful.” Related Articles Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills Ravens injury report: Star DT misses practice; 2 others still sidelined Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Ravens film study: Looking at 5 problems they need to address “But at the end of the day, if they think Baltimore can beat us like that, we’re gonna have to prove another thing,” said Jeudy, who made a combined 11 catches for 142 yards in two games against the Ravens last season as the teams split the series. Perhaps Jeudy is feeling confident in Flacco getting a measure of revenge against the team that drafted him out of Delaware in 2008 and which Flacco led to a Super Bowl title in the 2012 season with one of the best playoff runs by a quarterback in NFL history. Jeudy himself knows a thing or two about revenge games, catching nine passes for a career-high 235 yards in his first game back in Denver last season after the Broncos traded him for a pair of late-round draft picks. “He’s still got a lot left in the tank,” Jeudy said of Flacco. “You’ve seen it on Sunday. He’ll make a completion driving down the field, giving his guys opportunities. He’ll make the right reads. I feel like he’s still got a lot left.” Flacco said Wednesday that he still has “nothing but love for the people in that facility and the people in that city” and is excited to play again in Baltimore with friends and family from New Jersey making the short drive in. Jeudy, on the other hand, doesn’t want the pleasantries to get in the way of beating the Ravens. “As a competitor, of course you want to be able to dominate your former team,” Jeudy said. “That’s what you play for.” Baltimore Sun reporter Sam Cohn 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. View the full article

Watch the “Overtime” segment of the third episode of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law. The longtime sports columnist answers reader questions from Baltimore Sun subscribers after the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills. The Ravens return to action Sunday against Joe Flacco and the Browns. Missed the second episode of the pod? Watch here. Have a question for Preston about the Ravens? Message us at sports@baltsun.com. You can watch the BMore Football Podcast weekly, posting every Tuesday during the NFL season on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr “tried everything” against the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen on Sunday night in Orchard Park, New York. Man. Zone. Blitzing. Coming off the edge. Showing on the edge and dropping off. “We just didn’t really get them stopped in the last two drives at all,” Harbaugh said Monday afternoon. “And you know the plays that happened, so we didn’t execute a couple times.” Though the last two drives will stand out because Baltimore became the first team in 278 games to score 40-plus points and rush for at least 235 yards and lose, there were plenty of other errors and questions. The film reveals the cracks and concerns. Here’s a look at the five biggest issues that stood out. Where were Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy? Last season, Oweh and Van Noy racked up career highs in sacks, with 10 and 12 1/2, respectively, and Baltimore tallied the second-most in the league. Sunday at Highmark Stadium, they were mere shadows under the lights. Each had just two pressures on Allen, per Pro Football Focus, and the Ravens sacked the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player just once. Oweh ranked 20th in pass rush win rate among edge defenders at 16% with a win rate of just 7% off the edge, per ESPN analytics, while Van Noy, 34, didn’t factor in the top 20. Baltimore was also collectively bad, ranking 30th in pass rush win rate at 19%. Only the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears were worse in Week 1. Second-round rookie Mike Green, who led college football with 17 sacks in 2024, was a nonfactor as well, logging zeroes, save for one tackle, on his 26 defensive snaps. Only the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles perhaps have a better offensive line, and Allen is as elusive as he is difficult to bring down, so that should be taken into account. But the Ravens need to get to the quarterback. “There’s a lot of really good things that we learned about our team — a lot of things that I’m really happy about and excited about. And there’s a lot of things that you learn, and it’s like, ‘Oh boy, we have to go to work on that,’” Harbaugh said. “I would say pass rush lanes — that’s something that we’ve got to go to work on. It’s not just four lanes. There’s different patterns that we use, and we just weren’t as good as we need to be at that.” Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy, left, warms up before Week 1 against the Bills. The Ravens' pass rush was subpar in their season-opening loss to the Bills. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) Jaire Alexander needs the practice Flashy two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander was torched by Allen much of the night but particularly down the stretch. On the Bills’ final drive he gave up a 32-yard gain to Joshua Palmer on one play and on the next yielded 25 more to Keon Coleman, whom Alexander tripped up by his shoestrings as he was flailing to the ground when he would have been better off letting him score. Those were just the obvious struggles. Near the end of the first half, Alexander gave up a good chunk of cushion to Khalil Shakir that resulted in a 26-yard gain. But when it came to the tape, Buchanan appeared to mostly outperform Simpson, who at times was out of position or struggled to make tackles with just one on the game. One sequence that stood out for the rookie came late in the first half when he made a nice tackle on running back James Cook for a short gain down the Ravens’ 7-yard line. One play later, he helped contain Shakir and the Bills had to settle for a field goal. Of course, it was also Buchanan who linebacker Roquan Smith was chewing out following tight end Jackson Hawes’ 29-yard gain down the middle to the Ravens’ 1-yard line with under three minutes to play. Buchanan appeared to have been confused with his responsibility on the coverage and it led to an Allen touchdown that pulled the Bills to within 2 points. Related Articles Cleveland radio host blasts Ravens for celebrating 30th anniversary vs. Browns Watch Episode 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law 5 & Dine: What to eat at Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium Ravens came close to making NFL history on Kyle Hamilton’s risky lateral 5 stats behind the Ravens’ unbelievable Week 1 collapse against Bills Special teams and details still a problem Rookie kicker Tyler Loop made both field goal attempts from 52 and 49 yards. Then he missed a critical extra point. On kickoffs, he had some impressive positional kicks. He also had one that didn’t reach the landing zone to give the Bills the ball at their own 40 after Baltimore had just gone up 27-13 and seemed to be in command of the game. There was also the opening kickoff, on which Tylan Wallace and Keyon Martin struggled to get off their blocks, thus allowing Brandon Codrington to return it 41 yards to midfield. Then midway through the fourth quarter and the Ravens up by 15, Simpson incredibly and uncontrollably slammed into a punt that Jordan Stout had dropped at the Bills 1-yard line. The touchback gave Allen plenty of breathing room and the quarterback then drove Buffalo 80 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown that kept hope alive. It was just one of many small plays that had a big impact. “There are a bunch of things that turn up, but when you lose the game, that’s when you start adding them up where it could have made the difference,” Harbaugh said. “We all have to just learn from that. You just have to learn from those things, otherwise it’s a wasted opportunity.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens will celebrate the team’s 30th anniversary at Sunday’s home opener against the Browns. Cleveland radio host Andy Baskin considers the timing of the event to be “a giant middle finger” to Browns fans. “I just think it’s kind of horse you-know-what that they’re doing this against the Browns,” Baskin said Tuesday on “Cleveland’s Talking Heads,” a show on 92.3 The Fan. “I understand that they probably wanted to do it in their season opener, and I get that, but did you really have to pick the Cleveland game to do this? You want to talk about poking the bear on this one.” Baskin takes exception to celebrating the 30th year of the Ravens’ existence against the Browns. In 1996, Browns owner Art Modell moved the franchise from Cleveland to Baltimore. The team’s name was swapped from Browns to Ravens, and the Cleveland Browns franchise returned in 1999 as an expansion team with different players. Since returning in 1999, the Browns have just three 10-win seasons. They have more winless seasons (one, 2017) than AFC North titles (zero). “It’s such a wound because we haven’t had success since then,” Baskin said. The Ravens have won a pair of Super Bowls since their creation in 1996, and they’re the AFC North favorite this year despite an 0-1 start. “The problem I have with the whole thing is, I care, people my age care, anyone that rooted for the Browns more than 30 years ago cares,” Baskin said. Baskin suggested he can’t be the only Browns supporter who feels the same way, although his cohost, Jeff Phelps, pushed back on Baskin’s idea. Phelps didn’t feel the timing was mean-spirited, but rather a scheduling coincidence that put the Browns in Baltimore for the franchise’s home opener in the Ravens’ 30th season. “What a bunch of clowns the Ravens are,” Baskin said. “Yes, good organization. Yes, we love Ozzie [Newsome] for what he did in Cleveland, but did they really have to pick this game to celebrate their 30th season?” Planned celebrations for the franchise include pregame recognitions of the first Ravens season in 1996 and a halftime show featuring franchise legends. Fans attending the game will also receive a “Ravens Forevermore” flag commemorating the team’s 30th season in existence. “They should’ve spent 30 years in prison for this,” Baskin said. “Ravens Forevermore” is a brand campaign the team plans to use throughout the 2025 season. “Our 30th season is just the start,” Ravens senior vice president of marketing Brad Downs said in an August news release. “The Ravens have solidified themselves as a pillar of Baltimore sports over the last three decades, and this year’s team is excited to add to that remarkable legacy.” “The next line should be, ‘the legacy of how we stole a team from Cleveland the same way Indianapolis stole a team from us,’” Baskin said. Related Articles Watch Episode 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law 5 & Dine: What to eat at Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium Ravens came close to making NFL history on Kyle Hamilton’s risky lateral 5 stats behind the Ravens’ unbelievable Week 1 collapse against Bills John Harbaugh says Ravens need to be more ‘thoughtful’ with late leads The Baltimore Colts, of course, moved to Indianapolis in 1984 in a move that surprised and angered Baltimore football fans. For Ravens fans, Sunday’s game offers a chance to reminisce. Not only about the start of the franchise, but also about its quarterback lineage. The Browns named Joe Flacco their starter ahead of the 2025 season. He famously won a Super Bowl in Baltimore before being replaced by Lamar Jackson. The switch worked well for the Ravens, as Jackson has won a pair of MVPs as the Ravens’ signal-caller while Flacco has bounced around franchises as his career winds to an end. Jackson, however, is still looking for his first Super Bowl. The Ravens are big favorites Sunday, favored by 11 1/2 points over the Browns. “Man, I hope the Browns stick it right to them this weekend,” Baskin said. “I’ve never wanted them to win more than I do this week.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

Episode 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law is here. Preston and Coleman react to the Ravens’ shocking 41-40 loss to the Bills and look ahead to Week 2’s matchup with Joe Flacco and the Cleveland Browns. You can watch it weekly, posting every Tuesday during the NFL season on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The start of football season means the return of well-loved concession stand bites — and the debut of new dining options — at the Baltimore Ravens’ home M&T Bank Stadium. As the stadium reaches the finish line of an infrastructure renovation totaling about $489 million, the stadium has rolled out its official lineup of concessions. Menu items include preexisting fan favorites such as The Ravenous Chicken fried chicken boxes, upgrades to game staples like hot dogs and entirely new concession additions. Prices of new offerings range considerably, from an expanded $5-and-under Flock Friendly Fare menu to exclusive options available at the stadium’s new members-only clubs. “We want to make sure that our fans can come and enjoy themselves but also feel like they’re able to get a good price,” said Jessica Gomes, vice president of hospitality strategy at M&T Bank Stadium, at a Tuesday media tour. Whether you’re looking for a budget meal or a highbrow dining experience, here are five concession stand items at M&T Bank Stadium that you might flock to when catching a Ravens game. Popcorn dusted with the Blackbird seasoning is one of the food items available this year at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Flavor-dusted popcorn This season, M&T Bank Stadium’s popcorn has gotten dressed up, with a slight dusting of the stadium’s proprietary Blackbird seasoning. The seasoning doesn’t obstruct the nostalgic flavor of classic stadium popcorn but rather accentuates it with a smoky, peppery bite; citrus notes; and the occasional whole fennel seed. This year, you’ll find Blackbird seasoning on almost everything at the stadium — including on chicken items, house-made kettle chips and various condiments. A box sells for $1.99, earning it a spot on the 11-item Flock Friendly Fare menu. Vegan hot dogs at M&T Bank Stadium are one of the food items available this year. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Upgraded hot dogs Hot dogs are nothing new at M&T Bank Stadium (or any stadium, for that matter), but this season, they’ve gotten an upgrade with all-beef franks made by national brand Bovine & Swine. Make no mistake — these are hefty dogs, encased in natural beef and with less of the sponginess and artificial meatiness you might find in an inferior product. The original hot dog goes for $3.49, making it another addition to the Flock Friendly Fare menu. The size serves the hot dogs well, especially when they’re topped with a variety of ingredients for the stadium’s rotating “Hot Dog of the Game.” On Tuesday, M&T Bank Stadium Executive Chef Adam Lizak presented the Baltimore Dog, topped with crispy sticks of fried bologna, lightly caramelized onions and mustard spiked with more Blackbird seasoning. Eating plant-based? The stadium also sells vegan dogs, which taste like well-spiced Italian sausages with a bit of the starchy aftertaste you might expect from a meat substitute, topped with pickled onions for, as Lizak said, “a little pop.” Sticky Blackbird wings at M&T Bank Stadium are one of the food items available this year. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Member-exclusive wings As a part of its renovation project, the stadium has also debuted three new members’ clubs — and at The Raven, located near the 50-yard line and designed in honor of Edgar Allan Poe, guests will find premium chicken wings, coated in a sticky, sweet sauce infused with, you guessed it, more Blackbird seasoning. The wings themselves are mild, with a delicate sweetness and a light hand on the seasoning mix. On-the-side ranch dressing is on the thinner side but unnecessary for wings without any heat. (It’s a more natural fit for the rainbow carrot crudité served with them.) The wings’ standout quality, as with the new hot dogs, is their plumpness. If you’re like me, you’ll need to take several bites on one side of the drumette before you hit bone — a virtual anomaly in the world of wings. French fries at M&T Bank Stadium are one of the food items available this year. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Seasoned potato wedges Another vessel for Blackbird seasoning is the stadium’s western-style potato wedges, which are fluffy and meaty on the inside with a percussive crunch, thanks to a light coating on the fries. An order of wedges goes for $3.49, putting it on the Flock Friendly Fare menu and making it a complement for a new Flock Friendly $4.99 BBQ Chicken Sando, a massive square of pizza from the Ravens’ new brand Charm Crust, or an unctuous corned beef stack on marble rye from the stadium’s new O Line Provisions deli concept. Compared to the stadium’s Blackbird kettle chips, the French fries boast more heartiness, sustenance and textural variety for game-day munching. Western Maryland Lemonade at M&T Bank Stadium is one of the drink items available this year. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Local lemonade To wash down all of the new concessions at the stadium, the Ravens have partnered with Western Maryland Lemonade — proclaimed the “official lemonade of the Baltimore Ravens.” It’s a mild, hydrating beverage that might benefit from a bit more tartness but would hit the spot on a hot Sunday afternoon. For sweet bites to pair with the sweet sip, the stadium carries ornately decorated cupcakes, banana pudding and melt-in-your-mouth rock candy sticks from local Baltimore sugar shop Sistahs’ Sweets. Have a news tip? Contact Jane Godiner at jgodiner@baltsun.com or on Instagram as @Jane.Craves. View the full article

Perhaps lost in the Ravens’ hectic 41-40 collapse against the Bills was a risky decision made by safety Kyle Hamilton on a 2-point conversion attempt. With the Ravens leading 34-25 early in the fourth quarter, the Bills attempted a 2-point try to pull within seven. Hamilton intercepted Allen’s pass, effectively ending Buffalo’s chances of making it a one-possession game. Well, that’s until he pitched the ball from the 1-yard line back to linebacker Kyle Van Noy in the end zone. Hamilton’s decision brought into play the little-known 1-point safety. Yes, a 1-point safety. If Van Noy had been tackled or taken a knee in the end zone after Hamilton pitched the ball back to him, the Bills would’ve received one point. Unlike a traditional 2-point safety that would occur during regular game play, the Ravens still would have received the ball on the ensuing kickoff. Fortunately for Baltimore, Van Noy took the ball just out of the end zone and took a knee at the 2-yard line. The linebacker ended the play instead of trying to create a long return — if the Ravens returned the intercepted pass for a score, it would’ve resulted in two points in their favor. The potential for a 2-point play in Baltimore’s favor is why Hamilton tossed the ball to a teammate, but tossing the ball back into the end zone created a risk. Coach John Harbaugh was seen on the TV broadcast speaking to Hamilton as he came back to the sideline. Baltimore’s coach liked the interception, but he hated the desperate attempt for an unneeded return. Harbaugh felt the decision was a mental mistake by the fourth-year professional. “I just questioned whether he actually went to Notre Dame or not,” Harbaugh said at his Monday news conference. There has never been a 1-point safety in the NFL, but Hamilton came close to making the historic error. Harbaugh says he doesn’t expect the NFL’s highest–paid safety to take that risk twice. “I thought that was one of the most foolish things I’ve ever seen,” Harbaugh said. “He agreed, and it should never happen again.” The Ravens got away with that fourth-quarter miscue, but others in the final five minutes handed them their first loss of the season. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. Related Articles 5 stats behind the Ravens’ unbelievable Week 1 collapse against Bills John Harbaugh says Ravens need to be more ‘thoughtful’ with late leads Ravens coach John Harbaugh defends late 4th-down decision vs. Bills READER POLL: Does Ravens’ collapse vs. Bills alter your expectations for the season? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills View the full article

There were two kinds of football fans late Sunday night. Some saw the Ravens’ three quarters of dominance build a two-possession lead and figured that was enough, they could guess the ending and chose to go to sleep. The rest stayed up to witness the Bills crawl back and win 41-40 in an instant classic. Here are five stats that help explain the nearly unfathomable loss the Ravens suffered on Sunday night: 99.1% With four minutes, 48 seconds left, the Bills had the ball just inside the red zone. It was third-and-10. They trailed by 15 points. At that point, ESPN analytics gave the Ravens a 99.1% chance to win. A Buffalo comeback was, by that measure, nearly impossible. Josh Allen found wide receiver Joshua Palmer for an 8-yard pickup that gave them a fourth-and-short. Then the reigning Most Valuable Player took off out of the pocket flinging a prayer toward the end zone, answered by Keon Coleman who corralled a tipped ball in the back of the end zone — the starting blocks of what proved to be an improbable ending. According to NextGenStats, it was the 13th-most improbable comeback by any team over the last decade. Buckle your seatbelts for this next one: ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg pointed out that since the turn of the century teams trailing by 15-plus points in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter have won three times of 2,316 games. 277 There have been 277 games in the history of the NFL where a team scored 40-plus points and rushed for at least 235 yards. That couples the regular season and the playoffs. On Sunday night, the Ravens became the first team to eclipse those lofty offensive marks and lose, dropping such teams to 277-1. “The offense put up 40 points,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “No way that we should be in that position as a defense. I don’t know. We just need to figure out how to win games. We are winning them for 45 minutes, but you have to win for 60 minutes.” 155.8 As anyone inside the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills will tell you, with Lamar Jackson, the Ravens always have a chance to win. The two-time MVP quarterback can famously drum up magic from a broken play, like his 15-plus-yard backward scramble that he turned into a 19-yard gain. NextGenStats clocked him traveling 75.9 yards on that play. Jackson finished with impressive marks in the win: 209 passing yards completing 14 of 19 attempts two scores and no turnovers. According to The 33rd Team, Jackson was blitzed on 10 of his 22 drop backs. He never seemed rattled. Jackson clocked a nearly perfect 155.8 passer rating completing 7 of 9 for 140 yards and a touchdown. ESPN NFL analyst Seth Walder pointed out that Jackson’s 94.0 quarterback rating was the highest QBR in a losing effort since Week 9 of 2022. All that for naught in an instant classic. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is pressured by Bills defensive end Javon Solomon in Sunday's loss to the Bills. Jackson performed well in the Week 1 game, but the Ravens' defense faltered in the fourth quarter. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) 251 Allen put on a fourth-quarter masterclass, aided by a gassed Ravens defense. He ripped through the secondary without much resistance. Allen’s 251 yards in the fourth quarter were the fourth most of any quarterback this century, according to ESPN’s Ben Solak. The final frame showing landed behind Drew Brees with 294, in 2008; Ben Roethlisberger with 264, in 2010; and Dan Prescott with 254, in 2020. Of the top-five finishers on that ridiculous list of performances, Allen was the only one to win the game. To add insult to improbable Baltimore injury, Allen became the first player to have 250-plus passing yards and a pair of rushing scores in any single quarter in NFL history. Related Articles John Harbaugh says Ravens need to be more ‘thoughtful’ with late leads Ravens coach John Harbaugh defends late 4th-down decision vs. Bills READER POLL: Does Ravens’ collapse vs. Bills alter your expectations for the season? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills Josh Tolentino: Ravens show vs. Bills that some things never change | COMMENTARY 41 The Bills kicker who sank the game winner was 41-year-old Matt Prater, a veteran picked up off the street three days before the game. Prater had been staying game ready kicking field goals in an empty high school stadium. Buffalo called him when Tyler Bass, an organizational mainstay, landed on the injured reserve. Prater barely knew his teammates’ names. Allen admitted that he met Prater in the locker room on Friday. The quarterback found the kicker after a 32-yard try split the uprights sealing the comeback win and shouted, “”Hey! Welcome to Buffalo baby!” Sure, it was Allen and running back James Cook who did most of the damage out of the backfield. Wide receiver Keon Coleman figured to play an important role in this game. No one could have anticipated Prater – who was drafted in 2007, when the two quarterbacks were starting middle school – would be the one to decide a victor. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

John Harbaugh isn’t ignorant of the allegations that, when it comes to fourth-quarter collapses, the Ravens are in a league of their own. During his Monday news conference following an agonizing 41-40 defeat at Buffalo that prompted a late night of crunching film to figure out where his team went wrong, the Ravens’ longtime coach alluded to a number courtesy of The Athletic’s Mike Sando: Since 2022, seven teams have led at least 20 games by 9-16 points in the fourth quarter. Baltimore has played in 31 and lost six of them, four more than the next most. “That’s too many,” Harbaugh said, an acknowledgment of concern furrowing his eyebrows. “I don’t care how many two-score leads you have.” Here are those six fourth-quarter, double-digit crumbles: Week 2 vs. Miami in 2022; Week 6 at New York Giants in 2022; Week 12 at Jacksonville in 2022; Week 10 vs. Cleveland in 2023; Week 2 vs. Las Vegas in 2024; and Sunday night’s Week 1 loss in Orchard Park, New York. Half of them came in 2022. They’re averaging one per year since. According to the Associated Press, under the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL, the Ravens have squandered 17 double-digit, second-half leads. That’s the most for any coach since at least 1991. Harbaugh acknowledged the need for some semblance of change. “I do believe that we need to be really thoughtful on how we decide that we’re going to approach those situations going forward,” he said. “Let’s give it some thought. Let’s give some thought to our play calling. Let’s give some thought to our defensive play calling. Let’s give some thought to our mindset, like how we’re going to talk to one another.” On Sunday night, the Ravens clung to a 15-point lead in the game’s final four minutes — a figure that will be rehashed ad nauseam all week, if not longer. That’s because Buffalo then scored 16 straight points in three scoring drives against a sputtering defense while playing keep-away from the Ravens’ stalling offense. Harbaugh said Sunday night, “We’ve had situations where we have done that in the past, but there have been too many of them.” He added on Monday morning: “We’re two scores up. We’re trying to keep a lead against Josh Allen or any of these great quarterbacks in this league. What’s our mindset on defense? How are we going to approach this? How are we going to talk to one another on the sideline to try to find a way to get the win? History will remember this comeback for the snowball of Ravens errors that left the door open for Buffalo to come crashing through. Related Articles READER POLL: Does Ravens’ collapse vs. Bills alter your expectations for the season? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills Josh Tolentino: Ravens show vs. Bills that some things never change | COMMENTARY Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s historic night overshadowed by fumble: ‘Put the loss on me’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-40 loss to Bills There was rookie kicker Tyler Loop’s errant extra-point try that he chalked up to “bad timing.” Then, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie dropped what would have been a game-altering interception. On the next Bills possession, they moved the sticks on a pair of third downs and scored a touchdown on fourth down. Derrick Henry fumbled the ball back on the ensuing possession. A Bills touchdown, then Ravens three-and-out in 32 seconds, preceded Buffalo cruising into field goal range to put the game to bed. “We’re banging our heads on the wall about it at this point,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “We just need to figure out how to win games. We are winning them for 45 minutes, but you have to win for 60 minutes.” What’s Harbaugh’s philosophy when his team holds a lead in the fourth quarter, consciously or subconsciously, knowing their past propensity to cough it up? “My philosophy always, on offense, is the best way to burn clock is to get first downs,” Harbaugh said. “That’s the best way to burn time.” A Ravens offense that finished the night averaging 8.6 yards per play — nearly a first down every snap — moved the chains just three times in the fourth quarter. On their final three drives, a fumble sandwiching two punts, Baltimore moved the chains only once. Pundits will take a microscope to Harbaugh’s conservative choice to punt rather than go for it on fourth-and-3 on the Ravens’ 38-yard line as a bullet point in the argument for poor decision-making, although that choice wasn’t an obvious decision, even in hindsight. Defensively, the Ravens couldn’t do much to slow down the often-mystifying quarterback play of Josh Allen. He threw for 251 yards in the fourth quarter alone. Harbaugh said they “tried everything.” They went man, zone, blitzed, burst off the edge, showed one thing and dropped to another. None of it worked. It left Baltimore vulnerable to a double-digit fourth-quarter unraveling. No. 6 since 2022, in part defining their shortcomings. “It becomes a game scenario,” Harbaugh said, “that we need to be really intentional about going forward.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

To go, or not to go; that was the question. It was the one the Ravens were facing late Sunday night in Orchard Park, New York, where they were clinging to a two-point lead over the Bills and facing fourth-and-3 from their own 38-yard line with 1:33 remaining. It was the one still lingering uneasily less than 24 hours after a stunning collapse and 41-40 defeat. Go for it, get it and the game is over. Go for it, don’t get it and the Bills are sitting pretty already in range for a go-ahead field goal. Or, don’t go for it, punt and rely on the defense to stop quarterback and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen, who was inevitable down the stretch at Highmark Stadium. By now, the NFL world and beyond know which door Ravens coach John Harbaugh chose. Allen and the Bills, of course, made Harbaugh pay for his decision to punt and put the ball in Allen’s hands. “I did think about going for it,” Harbaugh said after the game. “If it’s fourth-and-3, if you don’t get it, they’re in field goal range. So, I think punting it is probably what most people would do there.” On Monday and with the benefit of hindsight, not much had changed for the man in charge of making such decisions. “I don’t think you could sit there and say, ‘Well, I should’ve been more aggressive,” Harbaugh said in his day-after debriefing in Owings Mills. “I don’t think you can definitively say that’s the right thing either. You can’t really say that for sure. Because you could make that choice and could easily be having the conversation the other way.” The analytics suggested the choice wasn’t that difficult. Related Articles READER POLL: Does Ravens’ collapse vs. Bills alter your expectations for the season? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills Josh Tolentino: Ravens show vs. Bills that some things never change | COMMENTARY Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s historic night overshadowed by fumble: ‘Put the loss on me’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-40 loss to Bills According to data guru Ben Baldwin and his Fourth Down Bot, going for the first down on what he had as a fourth-and-2 would have increased the Ravens’ chances of winning to 84%, up from 76% from punting. They also had a 60% chance of being successful, according to the model. ESPN analytics suggested a nearly identical outcome and still favored Baltimore trying to pick up the first down on fourth-and-3 and even a little beyond that distance. But instead of the Ravens going for it, like they had deep in their own territory late in the first half of a game against the Chargers last season, Harbaugh opted to punt. Jordan Stout booted a 42-yard kick that went out of bounds on the 20. Nine plays later, 41-year-old Matt Prater knocked in the game-winning field goal as time expired. From where the second-longest tenured coach in the league sat, though, it wasn’t quite so simple. “The ball gets batted down there it’s, ‘Why didn’t you just give it to [running back] Derrick [Henry] or put it in [quarterback] Lamar’s [Jackson] hands and let him run it?’ That’s the catch-22 of the whole conversation,” he said. It was a choice, Harbaugh also said, that had to be made quickly and with multiple variables. “You gotta say, ‘Do we have a call we really like? Do we have a call we love here?’” he said. “Because you have to send the punt team out or you’re gonna have a delay of game, or have to send the offense out or you’re not gonna get the play off.” Ravens coach John Harbaugh, left, talks with an official before Sunday night's game against the Bills. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) The Ravens were flush with three timeouts, so even if they didn’t get a first down, they could have used said timeouts to stop the Bills from running the clock down to a few seconds, then kicking the game-winner. Harbaugh also said he would have had to use one of those timeouts to get the play in before the play clock expired, however. There was also the matter of Jackson, who said after the game that he was cramping at that point. “If I wasn’t, everybody in here knows I would’ve been trying to go for a fourth-and-3,” the star quarterback said. He wasn’t the only option, either. Henry tore through the Bills’ defense most of the night, racking up 169 yards and two scores on 18 carries. The Bills had also largely stymied Baltimore’s ground attack late in the fourth, which essentially left Harbaugh with an existential choice. Did he trust his defense enough to stop a player that it struggled to contain for much of the evening? Or could he live with putting the ball in the hands of his best player — Jackson — and live with the outcome? Last season against the Chargers, he chose offense. The circumstances were different, but not so much to be cast aside. Trailing 17-10 late in the second quarter and facing a fourth-and-1 from their own 16, the Ravens called a direct snap to tight end Mark Andrews, who surged forward to successfully convert the first down. Baltimore eventually went on to win, 30-23. Like then, the numbers favored the bold this time. There were also the plays leading up to it to consider. On first down, Henry picked up just 1 yard. On second down and with Henry on the sideline, receiver Zay Flowers took a read-option from the quarterback and gained no yards. On third down, Jackson’s pass to receiver DeAndre Hopkins picked up 6 yards. That left the decision then to Harbaugh. “I’m not shying away from putting our defense out there,” Harbaugh said. “If you get stopped on fourth-and-3, it’s, ‘Did you think about punting the ball, putting your defense out there and giving them a chance to win the game?’ That would’ve been the next conversation because they would’ve been in field goal range already. “I trust our defense, and I’m going to trust our defense in a lot of big situations because our defense is going to be really, really good. I know there’s doubt about that right now, but I guarantee our defense is going to play really good defense.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens collapsed. Again. Baltimore led the Bills by 15 points with less than four minutes remaining in Sunday night’s game in Orchard Park, New York, but fell apart in a stunning 41-40 loss. Did the shocking defeat alter your expectations of the Ravens for the rest of the season? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

The Ravens lost their season opener on a night that will surely be reviewed as a Game of the Year candidate. This one, a stunning comeback by the Buffalo Bills, 41-40, happened in the same building where Baltimore’s playoff hopes crumbled seven months ago. Here are five things we learned from the game: Ravens are still ‘banging their heads’ trying to close out games Just past the five-minute mark, the Ravens clung to a 40-25 lead. The offense was clicking, marking the first 40-point outing of the NFL season. The only issue was that the second was right on their tail. All the Ravens had to do was close the door and twist the lock. What ensued over the next five minutes of game play was practically unfathomable. And still, par for the course for a reputation the Ravens are struggling to shed. “I don’t want the Ravens to be known as a team that gets up big and blows the lead,” said Kyle Hamilton, newly christened as the highest-paid safety in NFL history. “It’s not who we are and we got to prove that to everybody else because as of right now that’s what we’ve been doing.” Since 2021, the Ravens have lost eight games in which they held a win probability of at least 90%, which is three more than the next closest team. That’s according to ESPN. This one was particularly gutting. It was supposed to be a dish of revenge. For three quarters they were serving it cold, converting improbable third downs that yielded even more ridiculous touchdowns while holding an offense piloted by the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player at arm’s length. What followed was a medley of divine intervention and downright lackluster football. Bills quarterback Josh Allen jetted out of the pocket and flicked a throw toward the end zone. Dawson Knox’s outstretched hand tipped the ball ever so slightly near the goal line, softening the ball’s flight path and sending it careening into Keon Coleman’s hands — a lucky bounce and impressive catch calling all the fans who fled for the exits scrambling back to their seats for an eight-point game. Two plays into Baltimore’s next possession, running back Derrick Henry fumbled the ball away — a first for the future Hall of Famer since Week 11 last year. He later told his teammates, “put the loss on me. I own it like a man.” Buffalo needed only one minute to spin that into a touchdown. The football gods intervened again. In that same corner of the end zone where Mark Andrews dropped a 2-point conversion along with the Ravens’ season, Allen went right over there for his own game-tying try. Buffalo’s attempt was shut down on a pass well-defended by cornerback Nate Wiggins. As if Martin Scorsese or Christopher Nolan interjected to direct the ending, the Ravens went three-and-out and handed the ball back to the Bills, who stormed upfield and won the game on a field goal courtesy of a kicker who was staying game ready at an empty high school field two weeks ago. Add Sunday night to that growing screenshot of before and after score bugs that circulates on social media after every blown Ravens lead. Even if this game didn’t carry the same weight as the playoff loss, it left the locker room dismayed all the same. “We’re banging our heads on the wall about it at this point,” Hamilton said. “We just need to figure out how to win games. We are winning them for 45 minutes, but you have to win for 60 minutes.” Added Henry: “This one is definitely going to sting for a while. It’s Week 1. We still feel that we should have won, but it’s over now. We’re just focused on getting better, deciding on the things we need to work on and go to work. We look forward to the next one.” And Jackson: “We’ll probably let it linger tonight and then forget about it, because we’re going to have to get prepared for the Browns, our divisional rival.” Ravens running back Derrick Henry runs for one of his two touchdowns in Sunday's loss to the Bills. Henry finished the game with 169 rushing yards and one costly fumble. (Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP) Derrick Henry still has juice, despite crucial gaffe Lamar Jackson sprinted toward the end zone cupping his hands like he was holding something valuable, tasking himself with the prized delivery. After Henry broke free for a 30-yard touchdown in the first quarter, a thundering stiff arm on the way there, Jackson slammed an invisible crown down atop the 31-year-old’s head. Henry finished with 169 yards on 18 carries and two mystifying touchdowns that embody what he means to this offense: The second half of perhaps the best one-two punch in the league, worthy of a second teammate pretending to crown him on the sideline after the next touchdown. And yet, his night will be overshadowed by a costly, uncharacteristic error. Henry coughed up the ball shortly before the two-minute warning. He fumbled thrice all last year. This one, jarred loose by defensive lineman Ed Oliver, was a right hook to the gut. Henry forked the ball over to an offense teeming with new life — one that would ride enough momentum to close the gap of a 15-point deficit. Buffalo found the end zone four plays after the fumble, hanging a gray cloud over an otherwise exceptional individual performance. Henry, in totality, did the thing he has done for the entirety of his short Ravens career. Ignore those who say he’s too old and continue to dominate. As ESPN’s Mina Kimes pointed out on X, “even the nerds have abandoned the usual carries/age arguments when it comes to him. Like everyone just acknowledges he isn’t a real person.” Hard to argue with that after watching Henry run all over a top half of the league run defense who packed the box for a lot of the night. Baltimore’s run game was projected to be a strength, as it was last year. As it has been for much of the John Harbaugh era. The trio of Henry, Jackson and Justice Hill accounted for the best rushing attack in the NFL last year. Postulating how offensive coordinator Todd Monken might have fun including a healthy Keaton Mitchell (a healthy scratch Sunday night) was a fun exercise. No matter. Henry showed how unstoppable Baltimore’s offense can be when it leans on him. Remember that picture DeAndre Hopkins posted in February 2020 of him, Jackson and Henry, dreaming about what an offense with all three might look like? Five years later we have an answer. Jackson glided in for one touchdown and threw a pair. Hopkins endeared himself to Ravens fans with a ridiculous one-handed grab. And the bell cow back bulldozed for two scores. Consider his historical context: With Henry’s 107th career rushing touchdown, he passed Jim Brown for sixth on the NFL’s all-time list. Sunday marked the second time in Henry’s career in which he ran for 120-plus yards on fewer than 10 carries which, according to ESPN, is tied for the most by any player this century. Later, on Henry’s 49-yard carry, he hit a top speed of 19.84 mph. The old guy’s still got it. Henry, who scoffs at any suggestion that the age-induced-decline might be imminent, doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander is called for interference in Sunday's loss to the Bills. Alexander struggled in his Ravens debut. (Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP) Defense isn’t close to being the feared group they aspire to be This could still change. There’s time to fix it. But outside of a few stone-walling plays on third down and red zone stands, Baltimore’s defense did not appear to be the “feared” group they have preached all offseason. The game that set off that specific discourse from cornerback Marlon Humphrey felt eerily similar to this one. It was the primetime matchup against Cincinnati in November. That one fell Baltimore’s way, 35-34. This one didn’t, marred by a comeback that stung even worse when a high-octane offense exposed the flaws in the defense. The biggest lesson the Ravens’ defense learned when they lost to Buffalo in the playoffs was the importance of forcing takeaways. Three takeaways to none can all but guarantee victory. Senior secondary coach Chuck Pagano did the math, saying three would give a team a 90-plus-percent chance at victory. His group nearly forced two Sunday night: Malaki Starks let slip what would have been an acrobatic, highlight reel pick on the first drive, then an interception by Chidobe Awuzie that was called back after officials ruled it touched the grass first. Not only did the Ravens fail to forcefully steal the ball away, they barely managed to get hands on Allen, albeit sparring with a top-tier offensive line. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike accounted for Baltimore’s only sack, compared with two by the Bills. Allen and all his mastery cut up a gassed Ravens defense in the fourth quarter, using all parts of the field to seamlessly drive down the field and mount a comeback. His 251 passing yards in the fourth quarter marked the fourth best final frame this century. Teams don’t fear defenses that watch offenses — even premiere ones — meticulously pick them apart in the fourth quarter. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: Ravens show vs. Bills that some things never change | COMMENTARY Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s historic night overshadowed by fumble: ‘Put the loss on me’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-40 loss to Bills Ravens fall apart late in shocking season-opening loss to Bills, 41-40 Instant analysis from Ravens’ stunning 41-40 loss to Bills in season opener “We talked about it all offseason how we struggled last season at the beginning,” Hamilton said. “Then [we said], ‘It’s a new year, and it’s a new team,’ and then we come out here and do that. We are saying the same things. Well, we are saying something different, but we are doing the same things.” At one point, Hamilton’s eyes floated up to the scoreboard. He saw Buffalo hung 497 yards on them. Allen threw for 394 yards (251 in the fourth quarter) and two touchdowns without a turnover. Those numbers made Hamilton sick to his stomach. This defense still has the ceiling to be that of which they aspire. The talent is littered all over the field. Tyler Loop’s one miss proves critical He’s going to want one back. Tyler Loop doinked an extra point try and the Ravens lost by one point. That’s the unfortunate, mathematical reality of being an NFL kicker. Welcome to the league, rookie. Loop was sharp otherwise, as many expected him to be. The sixth-round pick was nearly perfect through training camp and showed off noticeable leg strength throughout the preseason. Expecting him to perfect would have been a fool’s errand. But Loop made his first big league kick, a 52-yarder, then slipped on the chip-shot extra point. It was the kind of kick that in the moment, particularly after a touchdown by Henry that erected the 15-point lead in the first place, can be brushed aside. It doesn’t come back to bite until Buffalo creeps back into the game. Then you start looking at the scoreboard and counting on your fingers how it might play out. “It was with my start to the ball,” Loop explained postgame. “I was just back there and kind of [had] a mental lapse in the process and kind of went, ‘Oh, here we go’ and not the smooth process we’ve been working on, and it broke.” Loop, maturely, pocketed it as a learning experience. “Every team in the NFL is a good team,” Loop said. “If you don’t show up and bring your A-game every day, someone’s going to beat you.” The first 6 weeks of the schedule are intimidating. It just got that much tougher. Skipping over a Week 2 home opener against the Browns, the schedule doesn’t get any easier. Beating the Bills would have provided a bit of insurance going into a home game against Detroit, a familiar foe in Kansas City at Arrowhead, then a pair of home games against the Texans and and Rams. That’s five playoff teams from a season ago in six weeks for a team that, despite being considered one of the best in the NFL with pundits galore picking them to be in the Super Bowl, has historically struggled to get off to a clean start. Just last year, the Ravens opened the season 0-2 when Isaiah Likely’s shoe was half a size too big and they delivered a clunker against Las Vegas before getting on track to a historic regular season. Bills coach Sean McDermott, left, and Ravens coach John Harbaugh, right, greet at midfield following Sunday's thriller. The Ravens lost, 41-40, after leading by 15 points late in the fourth quarter. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) “You’ve got to fight those negative thoughts off because at the end of the day,” left tackle Ronnie Stanley said, “it’s not gonna help you win the next week.” Sunday night was a confounding loss for these Ravens. One that, for folks who have followed the team closely these past few years, feels all too familiar. A game this early doesn’t put a bow on a season one way or the other. The Ravens thumped Buffalo in Week 4 last year then laid an egg at Highmark Stadium three months later. The long view is this loss leaves the Ravens playing catch up for the conference’s top seed and the right to home-field advantage. In the short term, the Ravens can’t afford to drop a game. And losing at Kansas City becomes all the more costly if Baltimore is ever going to dethrone the AFC’s dynasty. “Hopefully you learn from it and keep getting better; you get better throughout the course of the season and become the team you’re going to be,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a long journey.” Maybe avoid the unfiltered sports talk radio discourse this week. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Ravens had Buffalo buried. Up big, 40-25, in the fourth quarter with the once-deafening home crowd silenced and thousands of Bills fans already filing for the exits. All Baltimore had to do was close. Instead, the Ravens collapsed. Again. Jaire Alexander’s defensive pass interference cracked the door. Tyler Loop’s missed extra-point attempt pushed it slightly. Derrick Henry’s fumble busted everything open. It was Alexander who played a key role in allowing Josh Allen to march the Bills back from the dead. What should have been a statement win to open the season turned into another nightmare, a 41-40 unraveling that looked far too familiar. This wasn’t just a bad loss. It was a flashing red warning sign for a franchise that’s been incapable of closing big games in critical moments. The Ravens have now lost eight games since 2021 in which they, at one point, had a win probability of at least 90%, according to ESPN research. That’s three more than the next closest team. Eight times Baltimore has been in total control in just the past four seasons, only to hand it away. On Sunday night, the Ravens’ latest collapse didn’t feel like an anomaly. That’s because the signs were there before the eventual collapse. Alexander’s penalty in the second quarter put the Bills in a prime position to trim Baltimore’s lead. At the end of the first half, the defense allowed a last-second sideline completion that gave Buffalo exactly one second for a field goal to bring them back within one possession. Throughout, though, the Ravens still looked like the better, more talented team. But their mistakes kept them from burying the Bills time and time again. By the fourth quarter, Henry, who dominated to the tune of 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns, coughed up the ball in a crucial spot. The Bills scored a few plays later, although Allen was unable to find Keon Coleman on a 2-point conversion attempt, temporarily preserving Baltimore’s 40-38 lead at the two-minute warning. Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s historic night overshadowed by fumble: ‘Put the loss on me’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-40 loss to Bills Ravens fall apart late in shocking season-opening loss to Bills, 41-40 Instant analysis from Ravens’ stunning 41-40 loss to Bills in season opener Henry’s magic disappeared on the ensuing drive, when he was stopped for a 1-yard gain. The Ravens went three-and-out during the contest’s most critical point. By the time Allen was carving up Alexander and the secondary moments later on the game-winning drive, the disastrous outcome felt inevitable. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Henry’s first half was dominant, a stark contrast to the downhill running that Baltimore lacked here in January. Quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson played “great,” in coach John Harbaugh’s eyes, spreading the ball, managing tempo and moving the chains with his right arm and legs. For three-plus quarters, the Ravens looked like bullies to a Bills team that went 8-0 at home last season. And yet, with the game in its hands, Baltimore let it slip away. Super Bowl contenders don’t lose games like this. Not when they’re up 15 with less than four minutes left. Certainly not when the opponent’s fans are streaming toward the parking lot. The best teams slam the door shut. They bury this bugaboo in a season in which many in the football world predicts them to host the Lombardi Trophy. The Ravens didn’t. Ravens coach John Harbaugh, right, and Bills coach Sean McDermott shake hands after Sunday night's game. “We're disappointed, but we’ll be fine,” Harbaugh said after the stunning defeat. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) A collapse like this couldn’t have come at a worse time, either. Buffalo marked the first test of a six-week gantlet with the Ravens now staring down the Browns, Lions, Chiefs, Texans and Rams before the bye. Five playoff teams from a year ago by mid-October. “We’re disappointed, but we’ll be fine,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll get back to work. This is how the NFL works. It’s a tough league. You play tough games in tough environments. Hopefully we learn from it and keep getting better. You get better over the course of the season and become the team you’re going to be. It’s a long journey.” The Ravens wanted to open strong. Instead, they’ll carry a crushing loss and the same old questions into the rest of the six-week storm. Jackson and Alexander insisted the Ravens will use the next 24 hours to reflect on the loss before turning their attention toward their Week 2 opponent, a Cleveland squad led by Joe Flacco. Those feelings weren’t in unison across the visitors’ locker room. “This one stings,” Henry said. “It’s going to sting for a while.” Last season’s 0-2 start dug Baltimore a hole it eventually climbed out of. But in reality, the team’s biggest issues, such as not finishing in critical spots, lingered. Their latest defeat in prime time marked another entry in that uneasy category. Buffalo’s game-winning chip-shot field goal came from Matt Prater, a veteran signed off the street days before kickoff, representing another indignity in a collapse already full of them. The Ravens had Buffalo beaten. The scoreboard suggested it, the fans in the aisles nearly confirmed it. But Sunday night’s final scene with red fireworks shooting into the air and shocked white jerseys retreating indoors with their head bows said otherwise. Until the Ravens prove they can finish consistently, it really won’t matter what the calendar says. September or January, Baltimore’s ending still looks the same. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) warms up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) runs past Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) fumble the ball as he is hit by Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs for a touchdown past Buffalo Bills safety Cole Bishop (24) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates after a touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates after a touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) stands on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) runs against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is pressured by Buffalo Bills defensive end Javon Solomon (56) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (92) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Show Caption1 of 18Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) warms up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Expand View the full article

Ninety-nine percent of Sunday night was a reminder of how lucky the Ravens are to have Derrick Henry. He broke several rushing records, scampered for two touchdowns and carried Baltimore’s offense for the majority of the game. But most people aren’t going to remember Henry’s historic performance. Instead, it’ll be his only blemish — a fourth-quarter fumble that preceded the Ravens’ historic collapse in their 41-40 season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York. “I gotta take care of the ball. I told my teammates after the game to put the loss on me,” Henry said. Henry dominated before that costly mistake. He tallied more than 150 rushing yards and averaged more than 9 yards per carry. It felt as though almost every time Henry touched the ball, he reached the second and sometimes third level of the Bills’ defense. He ran untouched on his 46-yard fourth-quarter touchdown. With Baltimore up eight points and 3:10 left on the clock, it turned to Henry. Then Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver quickly penetrated into the backfield and got his arms around the running back. He ripped at the ball and forced Henry to fumble, leading to a Buffalo recovery and ensuing touchdown. That play wasn’t the ultimate deciding factor in Sunday’s game, though. The Ravens’ defense allowed 497 total yards after saying all week how prepared they felt entering the first game. Newly signed cornerback Jaire Alexander was relentlessly targeted in the fourth quarter, surrendering chunk play after chunk play. Rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed an extra point attempt. “When the offense puts up 40 points, no way we should be in that position,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. Some of those plays are understandable. Bills quarterback Josh Allen is the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player and Buffalo has built a stellar surrounding cast around him. The Bills have one of the best late-game offenses in football and have played in tight, intense games throughout Allen’s tenure. That’s why Henry’s fumble came as a complete shock. He’s one of the best running backs in NFL history at protecting the football, fumbling just 21 times on 2,373 career carries. That means that every time Henry totes the rock, he has a 0.88% chance of coughing it up. “If I take care of the ball, I feel like it’d be a different situation,” Henry said. Ravens running back Derrick Henry fumbles the ball as he is hit by Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver in the fourth quarter Sunday in Orchard Park, New York. (Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP) Just like tight end Mark Andrews’ drop on a 2-point conversion attempt in the postseason, it was one of Baltimore’s most reliable players letting it down in the game’s final moments. Since 2021, the Ravens have lost eight games in which they had a win probability of at least 90% at one point during the game, according to ESPN’s Benjamin Solak. That’s three more than the next closest team. “You got to make plays to get off the field and you got to stay on the field,” coach John Harbaugh said. It’s the first game Baltimore has lost when Henry has rushed for more than 100 yards. In a contest that featured so many offensive fireworks, Henry reminded everyone that he’s one of the greatest running backs of this generation. Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills Josh Tolentino: Ravens show vs. Bills that some things never change | COMMENTARY The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-40 loss to Bills Ravens fall apart late in shocking season-opening loss to Bills, 41-40 Instant analysis from Ravens’ stunning 41-40 loss to Bills in season opener He finished the second quarter with more than 100 yards for the sixth time in his career, which is tied for the second-most such performances in the NFL since 1991. Henry’s 107 career rushing touchdowns moved him to sixth all-time, passing Hall of Famer Jim Brown. He tied Walter Payton for the most 150-yard rushing games by a running back at least 30 years old. It was the seventh time that he’s rushed for that many yards in the past two seasons. Henry shouldn’t be this good. Not when he’s 31 years old — an age that running backs typically fall off a cliff — or when he’s accumulated more than 4,000 carries in his football career spanning high school, college and the NFL. But the veteran continues to redefine the position. It’s a cruel twist that his performance Sunday ended with him taking responsibility not for a defining road win over a fellow Super Bowl contender, but for a devastating loss that he’ll carry the weight of himself. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position after a 41-40 loss to the Bills in their season opener: Quarterback Lamar Jackson was content to dink and dunk for most of the first half, but he threw some nice crossing routes to slot receiver Zay Flowers. He also showed good touch on the 29-yard touchdown pass to veteran DeAndre Hopkins down the right sideline in the third quarter. Most damaging to Buffalo were Jackson’s keepers on option runs off the perimeter. Most teams keep a player outside to keep Jackson inside the tackles, but he took advantage of the Bills for 70 yards on six carries. Jackson finished with a passer rating of 144.6 to go with 209 yards and a pair of touchdown passes, but even that wasn’t good enough. Grade: A Running backs Buffalo wanted no part of Derrick Henry. At 6-foot-3 and 252 pounds, he ran both inside and outside, several times bouncing outside on tosses. Henry, though, showed good vision with several cutback runs, and he finished with two rushing touchdowns and 169 yards on 18 carries. There were times when it seemed as if Buffalo defensive backs purposely took the wrong pursuit angles because they wanted no part of Henry. But Henry’s fourth-quarter fumble led to a touchdown that brought the Bills within 40-38 with just under two minutes left. The Ravens couldn’t reboot the offense on the next series. Grade: A- Offensive line There were only a few instances in which the Ravens were beaten up front. This group dominated the Bills and got a good push off the ball. But the Ravens still need to make some improvements. Right tackle Roger Rosengarten needs to step up his game, and center Tyler Linderbaum still struggles with big nose guards over top of him. Both Linderbaum and Rosengarten had problems with defensive end Joey Bosa at times, as well as defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who finished with three tackles for loss and a sack. Both players came up big for the Bills late in the game, even though the Ravens dominated up front for nearly 3 1/2 quarters. The Ravens will learn from this, but Sunday night still seemed like a wasted effort. Grade: B Receivers This group was the best on the field. The Ravens worked the short passing game to perfection for most of the first half and then shifted to more middle-of-the-field passing in the second. The Bills couldn’t contain Flowers, who had seven catches for 143 yards and a touchdown. Hopkins had a nice one-handed touchdown catch down the right sideline in the third quarter, and at times it looked as though the Ravens were running a seven-on-seven passing drill. The Ravens also got a strong effort from tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden, a practice squad call-up who was Henry’s lead blocker on several runs around the corner. But not even this group could save the Ravens from a pending disaster. Grade: A Defensive line The Ravens had a good mix up front, and they held Buffalo to 54 rushing yards in the first half. But they couldn’t get a lot of pressure on quarterback Josh Allen when it counted. When they did, he was elusive and brought the Bills back in dramatic fashion. End Nnamdi Madubuike had six tackles and nose guard Travis Jones finished with three. But when the game counted the most, Buffalo outscored the Ravens, 22-6, in the fourth quarter. One touchdown came off a Ravens turnover, but that’s when great players make big plays. Buffalo finished with 497 yards of total offense. Grade: C- Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills Josh Tolentino: Ravens show vs. Bills that some things never change | COMMENTARY Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s historic night overshadowed by fumble: ‘Put the loss on me’ Ravens fall apart late in shocking season-opening loss to Bills, 41-40 Instant analysis from Ravens’ stunning 41-40 loss to Bills in season opener Linebackers The Ravens shuffled a lot of players in and out of the lineup, which at times included rookies Teddye Buchanan and Mike Green. But an old problem resurfaced. When this team needs a sack in crunch time, who is going to be the outside linebacker to deliver? Green might one day become that player, but probably not in his rookie season. Middle linebacker Roquan Smith led the Ravens in tackles with 10, but he has problems in pass coverage. Weak-side linebacker Trenton Simpson struggled getting off run blocks for most of the game and finished with one tackle compared with three for Buchanan. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy had a strong game and finished with three tackles and one quarterback hurry, and backup outside linebacker Tavius Robinson was decent. The Ravens need a stronger presence on the outside, a game-changing pass rusher. Grade: C Secondary Maybe it was an omen when Buffalo drove 48 yards in four plays at the end of the first half, which resulted in a 43-yard field goal by Matt Prater. Because in the final quarter, when the Ravens should have taken over, they had virtually nothing. All this talk about a rebuilt secondary was just that: talk. Cornerback Nate Wiggins struggled, and so did Jaire Alexander, who missed two weeks of practice toward the end of training camp. He looked bad and slow. Both safeties, Kyle Hamilton (nine tackles) and rookie Malaki Starks (seven tackles), played well and controlled the middle of the field. Nickel back Marlon Humphrey also had a strong game with four tackles. But there is still something missing from the back end of this defense. It might be communication, because even though the group played in preseason, this was the first time they were on the field for a full 60 minutes. The unit played well when Buffalo used its vanilla offense, but in crunch time, they didn’t get it done. In fact, we’ve seen this act before, like at the beginning of last season. Grade: D Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander, left, is called for pass interference on Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer. Alexander struggled in his Ravens debut. (Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP) Special teams Rookie Tyler Loop converted on field goal attempts of 52 and 49 yards, but he did miss an extra point try. The Ravens gave up kickoff returns of 41 and 31 yards as both Brandon Codrington and Ty Johnson averaged 27.6 yards per return. The Ravens’ Rasheen Ali averaged 27.8 yards on six kickoff returns, but they got very little from rookie punt returner LaJohntay Wester. He only fielded one punt for 6 yards. Backup safety T.J. Tampa Jr. had two special team tackles. Grade: B Coaching Offensive coordinator Todd Monken had the Bills completely off balance for most of the game. He ran dives up the gut and tosses to the outside. The Ravens had a good mix of passes both short and intermediate, and the defense played well enough to win before the fourth quarter. Regardless, every team wants to win the first game. It’s a big relief, but the Ravens have to wait until game No. 2 to experience a victory. They wanted to avenge last year’s divisional playoff loss to the Bills, but Buffalo wasn’t having it at Highmark Stadium, which will be torn down after the season. Maybe the Ravens can win here in the new stadium. Regardless, they put a lot of time and effort into this defense, including adding free agents and assistant coaches. Yet, in crunch time, they faded. That’s not good enough. The prevent defense prevented nothing. Grade: B Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Ravens running back Derrick Henry runs for a touchdown during the first half of Sunday's 41-40 loss to the Bills. The Ravens' offense graded out well in its first game of the season, but the defense struggled against the Bills' explosive offense. (Adrian Kraus/AP) View the full article

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A little more than seven months after the Ravens’ painful loss to the Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs, they found a new low Sunday night. With Buffalo kicker Tyler Bass placed on injured reserve just days before the season opener at Highmark Stadium, 41-year-old Matt Prater, signed to the practice squad, came off the couch and made a 32-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Bills to an improbable 41-40 victory. The kick capped a nine-play, 66-yard drive in the game’s final 93 seconds — the same amount of time that was left when Ravens tight end Mark Andrews dropped a would-be game-tying 2-point conversion the last time the teams met in January. The stakes were higher than, but this loss was even more inexplicable. Unlike the last time, there was no snow, but there were plenty of stars Sunday night at Highmark Stadium. Once again, both teams provided a heavy dose of drama. With Baltimore clinging to a 40-32 lead after a rare fumble by Derrick Henry that the Bills recovered, quarterback Josh Allen plunged into the end zone from a yard out to set up a chance to tie the score. But when Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins broke up a 2-point pass intended for Keon Coleman in the corner of the end zone, it looked as if the Ravens might survive. They found a way to let victory slip from their grasp — again. It was a matchup that had the sizzle of a heavyweight fight, with the NFL’s two most recent Most Valuable Player Award winners, Allen and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, going toe-to-toe in a rematch of January’s thriller. The star quarterbacks did not disappoint. Jackson completed 14 of 19 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns and added 70 rushing yards and a score on six carries. Allen did what he does best, too, scrambling, surviving and keeping his team in it, completing 33 of 46 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns while adding 30 rushing yards and two scores on 14 carries. But Allen was at his best late. He went 11-for-14 with 166 passing yards and a touchdown in the final 7:16. For much of the night, it looked as if the Ravens had finally moved past their foibles. Related Articles Instant analysis from Ravens’ stunning 41-40 loss to Bills in season opener Ravens QB Lamar Jackson shoves Bills fan who hit him on helmet Ravens’ DeAndre Hopkins turns first target into highlight reel TD catch Ravens vs. Bills live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s shocking 41-40 loss Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell surprise scratch for season opener vs. Bills Henry finished with 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, while receiver Zay Flowers added a career-high 143 yards on seven catches and another score. Baltimore has perhaps the best roster in the sport, and everywhere Jackson turned, another big-time player was making a big play in a big game. First, it was the future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back. Henry, at age 31, continues to defy reality and was burying defenders when he wasn’t leaving them in his dust. With Baltimore trailing 7-3 early in the second quarter, he raced through the right side of the line, and when Cole Bishop came running toward him, the 6-foot-2, 252-pound Henry swatted the safety to the turf like a gnat on his way to a 30-yard gallop for the score. His 107th career rushing touchdown moved him to sixth all-time as he surpassed Jim Brown. That was just the beginning. With Buffalo hanging on early in the fourth and Baltimore clinging to a nine-point lead, Jackson delivered a dazzling body blow, escaping a wave of Bills defenders on a third-and-10 from his own 35 with the swiftness of Houdini and emerged 19 yards downfield. One play later, Henry delivered what appeared to be a knockout blow, racing 46 yards down the left sideline for the touchdown that made it 40-25 with 11:42 left. Instead, Baltimore’s revamped defense — from players to coaching changes — couldn’t hold up in the end. The Ravens squandered a pair of 15-point leads, both in the fourth quarter. The loss also puts them in a hole in the AFC North, one game behind the Steelers and Bengals with the Browns and former Baltimore Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco coming to town next week at M&T Bank Stadium. Now the question is how and if the Ravens can bounce back after another familiar defeat. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (92) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is pressured by Buffalo Bills defensive end Javon Solomon (56) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) runs against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) stands on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates after a touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates after a touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Show Caption1 of 15Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Expand View the full article