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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Trevor Lawrence threw for 371 yards and two touchdowns on his 25th birthday and put Jacksonville in position for a 49-yard field goal with 17 seconds left that gave the Jaguars their first win of the season, 37-34, over the short-handed Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Tank Bigsby ran for 101 yards and two scores for Jacksonville (1-4), which won for the first time since December and extended its home streak against division rival Indianapolis (2-3) to double digits. The Jaguars did so while wearing throwback uniforms on a day the franchise inducted retired coach Tom Coughlin into its ring of honor. It was a much-needed victory for a team that was seemingly on the verge of unraveling. Lawrence and receiver Gabe Davis got into a sideline argument in the first quarter and had to be separated. That frustration followed a mid-week report that said coach Doug Pederson had lost the locker room. Pederson and his players denied any discord and certainly will point to beating Indy as a potential turning point. But the Colts played without several starters, including quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique), running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle), center Ryan Kelly (neck), cornerback Kenny Moore (hip) and defensive end Kwity Paye (quadricep). Joe Flacco, a 39-year-old veteran who beat Jacksonville in Cleveland last season, made it interesting. Flacco completed 33 of 44 passes for 359 yards, with three touchdowns. He directed 42- and 45-second scoring drives to rally the Colts from a 14-point deficit. But Lawrence ended up with the victory, ending a nine-game skid as a starter. He completed 28 of 34 passes, although he did throw his first interception of the season. Lawrence connected with rookie Brian Thomas for an 85-yard touchdown in the second quarter and with Christian Kirk for 61 yards that set up another TD pass. Thomas finished with five receptions for 122 yards. Rookie Cam Little nailed the field goal that sealed it. Coughlin gets a teal jacket The first coach in Jaguars history who was twice fired by the franchise, Coughlin was inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars at halftime. He donned a teal jacket as his name was unveiled inside the stadium. Coughlin helped build the Jaguars from the ground up between 1995 and 2002. He led the expansion team to the AFC title game in 1996 and 1999. He was fired at the end of his eighth season and went on to win two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. He returned to Jacksonville as a football czar in 2017 but was fired in his third season. Coughlin was joined on stage by three fellow Pride members: Pro Football Hall of Fame left tackle Tony Boselli, running back Fred Taylor and receiver Jimmy Smith. Quarterback Mark Brunell and original team owners Wayne and Delores Weaver were not in attendance. “I’m humbled. I’m very proud,” Coughlin said. “For me, it’s never about the individual. It’s always about the team. And I really regret the fact that I could never just stand there for lack of time and read the first staff and the supporters and so on and so forth. I think you’d get a kick out of it.” Key injuries Colts: Right guard Will Fries injured his right leg in the third quarter and was carted off the field with his leg in an air cast. Jaguars: Returner Devin Duvernay left with a hamstring injury. Safety Antonio Johnson dealt with cramping issues. Up next The Colts play at Tennessee next Sunday. The Jaguars travel to London for the first of back-to-back overseas games against Chicago and New England. View the full article

CINCINNATI — Kicker Justin Tucker made a 24-yard field goal late in overtime and the Ravens beat the Bengals, 41-38, in a thriller for their third straight win. It didn’t come without plenty of late drama. Baltimore needed Tucker’s heroics in regulation, as the veteran nailed a 56-yard attempt with 1:35 left to tie the game at 38. In the extra session, with the Ravens in Bengals territory, quarterback Lamar Jackson bobbled and then fumbled a shotgun snap that Cincinnati recovered at Baltimore’s 38-yard line. But three plays later, Bengals kicker Evan McPherson’s attempt to win the game sailed wide left from 53 yards. The Ravens took advantage of their new life. On their next play, running back Derrick Henry (15 carries, 92 yards, TD) raced 51 yards down the left sideline before being dragged down at Cincinnati’s 6-yard line. Tucker won it one play later, giving the Ravens (3-2) their third straight victory over the Bengals and dropping their AFC North rival to 1-4. It was the Ravens’ most unlikely victory over the season after they twice rallied from 10-point deficits. In a wild and entertaining back-and-forth shootout between Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Jackson, the former shredded Baltimore’s leaky secondary with a career-high five touchdown passes (and one ill-timed interception) and completed 30 of 39 passes for 392 yards in both team’s first divisional game. Wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase (10 catches, 193 yards) and Tee Higgins (9 catches, 83 yards) each caught a pair of touchdown passes. But Jackson, the two-time and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, kept leading the Ravens back. He completed 26 of 42 passes for 348 yards with four touchdowns while running 12 times for 55 yards. He put together several key drives in crunch time, including one that went 34 yards in eight plays to set up Tucker’s long game-tying kick inside the final two minutes. Still, it looked like the Ravens would never get the chance. Baltimore’s defense couldn’t stop Cincinnati, which racked up 442 total yards and time and again connected on big plays and consistently converted on third downs when needed. After staking Cincinnati to a 17-14 halftime lead, the former No. 1 overall pick annihilated Baltimore’s defense over the final 30 minutes, throwing for 235 second-half yards and three touchdowns on the Bengals’ first three possessions of the second half. It started when they converted three third downs on the opening possession of the third quarter, highlighted by a 39-yard bomb to Andrei Iosivas from the Ravens’ 41-yard line as the receiver beat cornerback Nate Wiggins and safety Marcus Williams to the corner. Four plays later, Burrow found Higgins wide-open in the end zone for an easy 5-yard score. The Ravens answered right back, with Jackson hitting Zay Flowers on a short pass that went for 15 yards, then connected with tight end Charlie Kolar for a 55-yard gain before former Ravens safety Geno Stone eventually dragged him down at the 4. Two plays later, Jackson lofted the ball to tight end Isaiah Likely in the back corner of the end zone to again cut it to a three-point game. But there was no stopping the Bengals, who drove 70 yards on 12 plays with Burrow hitting running back Chase Brown on a short pass to the left for a 4-yard touchdown. Again, Jackson and the Ravens responded. Baltimore went 92 yards in 10 plays with Jackson leading the Ravens to another touchdown as he hit Kolar again, this time from 2 yards out. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 41-38 OT win over Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals October 6, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens RB Derrick Henry joins elite company with career milestones Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals live updates: Score tied 38-38 in overtime Baltimore Ravens | Ravens mostly healthy ahead of key AFC showdown against Bengals Cincinnati wasted little time answering, however. On its next possession, Burrow threw a short pass to Burrow, who raced 70 yards down the right side for another score that made it 38-28 with 8:54 to go. Jackson’s heroics were on full display on their next drive. After dropping the snap, he scooped up the ball, stiff-armed Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard twice while running to his right, and before reaching the sideline threw across his body and found Likely in the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown pass. The Ravens’ defense finally stiffened, however, with cornerback Marlon Humphrey intercepting Burrow’s attempted pass to Chase on second-and-15 at the Ravens’ 27 to give Baltimore the ball back with 3:02 left, setting the stage for the wild ending. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Week 6 Commanders at Ravens Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 7 View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 41-38 overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Sunday’s Week 5 game at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. Childs Walker, reporter: Good lord. That was a wildly entertaining game featuring miraculous stuff from Lamar Jackson and his playmakers, but the Bengals dictated the flow until Marlon Humphrey stepped up with an interception and Nnamdi Madubuike with a sack on Cincinnati’s last two drives of regulation. Those two massive plays sent the game to overtime. And then, unimaginable disaster: Jackson dropped a shotgun snap in Baltimore territory, seemingly handing Cincinnati a game-winning field goal. But the Bengals handed it back with a bad hold on the kick, and Derrick Henry took it home with a 51-yard romp against a tired defense. What can you say to do justice to a game like that? This is why we watch this maddening sport. The Ravens had specialized in making Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow uncomfortable the previous two seasons, but coordinator Zach Orr could not find the formula this time around. When he sent extra rushers, they rarely got home, and Burrow persistently attacked the right coverage matchups. The Ravens are built to dictate tempo, but they simply did not see the ball much in the second and third quarters. That was in part because they made a string of disastrous mistakes. Tylan Wallace, filling in for an injured Deonte Harty, failed to field a punt and let it trickle down to the Baltimore 2-yard line. A mysteriously unblocked Sam Hubbard dropped Henry for a safety on the very next play. Then, the Ravens called timeout facing third-and-10 with less than a minute to go before halftime. Why didn’t they either let the clock run or force Cincinnati to call a timeout? Instead, Jackson threw incomplete, and the Bengals had time to drive for a touchdown that put them up 17-14, with the ball coming their way to start the second half. Roquan Smith could have swung the game back toward the Ravens but could not haul in a deflection deep in Bengals territory. Burrow made the Ravens pay with a series of third-down completions on a touchdown drive that put Cincinnati up 10. The Ravens were back within three in the fourth quarter, in desperate need of a stop, when Ja’Marr Chase took a short completion 70 yards for a touchdown. How did safety Marcus Williams take that poor a tackling angle against the most dynamic playmaker on the field? But Jackson and the offense did their job, attacking loaded boxes designed to stifle the league’s best running game until, finally, the Bengals broke. Mike Preston, columnist: Cincinnati came into the game desperate for a win, and the Bengals almost pulled it out on the strength of their quarterback, Joe Burrow, and receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. When those three get in a rhythm, they are hard to stop, as Burrow threw five touchdown passes Sunday. The Ravens’ secondary, like in the first two games of the season, appeared confused and gave up short passes to the outside, and the Bengals protected Burrow well after the first quarter. But Lamar Jackson answered Burrow in the second half, matching him big play for big play, and the contest lived up to the hype. Jackson carried the Ravens in the second half, especially when the defense faltered, but he came up short in the magic department with his fumble in overtime. Regardless, the NFL has promoted this type of offensive production for several years. The game met those expectations. C.J. Doon, editor: Holy cow. Game of the year? Game of the year. The overtime alone had more emotional swings than a typical senior year of high school. Lamar Jackson, brilliant all game, lost concentration for a spilt-second and fumbled the snap, giving Cincinnati a chance to win. But Evan McPherson missed a 53-yard field goal attempt after the holder bobbled the snap, and Derrick Henry charged ahead for 51 yards on the next play to set up Justin Tucker for an easy chip shot to win the game. It feels like a lifetime ago now, but the Ravens were down 38-28 with 8:54 to go in the fourth quarter and looked done for. They couldn’t get a stop all game, but Jackson kept them in it long enough for the defense to make two game-changing plays: a interception from Marlon Humphrey and a sack by Nnamdi Madubuike. This might have been Jackson’s best performance of his NFL career given how much was on his shoulders with the Ravens trailing for nearly the entire day. We haven’t seen much of that throughout his career, with Baltimore usually the team protecting the lead. Don’t forget Jackson’s touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely after stiff-arming Sam Hubbard and falling out of bounds, which will live forever on the superstar’s career highlight reel. It was that good. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals October 6, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens RB Derrick Henry joins elite company with career milestones Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals live updates: Score tied 38-38 in overtime Baltimore Ravens | Ravens mostly healthy ahead of key AFC showdown against Bengals Baltimore Ravens | Davante Adams to Ravens? WR makes cryptic Edgar Allan Poe posts on social media Tim Schwartz, editor: What the heck just happened?! It’s at least fitting that both teams missed an opportunity to win the game late. Both quarterbacks were magical Sunday. Burrow cut through the Ravens’ defense like a hot knife through butter. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins put on a show, each catching a pair of touchdown passes, and Baltimore’s defense had no answer until it desperately needed one. Marlon Humphrey’s interception changed the game, and Justin Tucker put away any doubts that he might be washed by nailing a 56-yard game-tying field goal to cap an absolute wild fourth quarter that included four touchdowns. The Ravens surely got some luck by having Evan McPherson miss a field goal attempt in overtime after a stunning fumbled snap by Jackson, but they were probably due for some. It’s hard to overstate how big a win that is — burying the Bengals (1-4) in Cincinnati in a key AFC North showdown despite allowing 442 total yards. Jackson and Ravens were just better when they needed to be. Bennett Conlin, editor: Lamar Jackson is unbelievable, and Derrick Henry serves as the perfect backfield complement. Jackson carried the Ravens to a fourth-quarter comeback, showcasing why he’s one of the most competitive players in the league. As cliche as it sounds, Jackson refused to lose — with a fumbled snap his lone blemish. He made accurate throws, dazzled as a runner and put his team over .500 by playing like the league’s Most Valuable Player. The best teams in the NFL can win in a variety of ways, and the Ravens won a shootout Sunday, leaning on Jackson’s eye-popping skills and seemingly magical ability to avoid being sacked. While fans — and the coaching staff — would prefer both offensive and defensive consistency, Baltimore isn’t the last team this season that will be burned by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Baltimore’s defense gave up way too many points and yards, but Jackson and the offense kept pace in the road affair. Zay Flowers looked fantastic, especially after the catch — Ravens fans can take a break from analyzing Davante Adams’ social media posts — and three tight ends contributed in the passing game. The running game produced just enough to keep Cincinnati’s defense on its heels, with Derrick Henry finding the end zone for the 100th time in his career and effectively icing the game with an overtime scamper. Justin Tucker also stepped up, hitting from 56 yards to tie the game late in the fourth quarter and ending it with a short kick in overtime. Sunday’s win was far from perfect, but the best teams can win despite miscues. The Ravens have rapidly flushed the 0-2 start from their system, winning three in a row. There’s plenty to improve on defense with Washington and Jayden Daniels up next, but a win is a win and Marlon Humphrey’s fourth-quarter interception — plus some field goal luck — proved to be just enough defensive help for Jackson. View the full article

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson, right, sacks Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, center, avoids a hit by Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone, bottom, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, front, throws a pass as Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker (9), with Jordan Stout (11) holding, kicks an extra point against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, top, applies a hit on Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) while breaking up a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. Bengals’ Jalen Davis (35) looks on. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, attempts a pass as Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone (22) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman, right, celebrates his first half touchdown with teammates Mark Andrews (89) and Justice Hill (43) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman runs with the ball while scoring on a touchdown catch against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens, back, breaks up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, left, reacts after collecting a sack on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, bottom, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman scores on a touchdown pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens (21) breaks up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, left, runs a route as quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) runs with the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (88) makes a catch in front of Baltimore Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington (29) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow looks to pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, center left, scores on a touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, right, breaks up a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson looks on before running a play against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, right, is hit by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs with the ball as Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) tries to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is tripped off by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, bottom, pushes in for a touchdown run against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson looks on before running a play against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) View the full article

CINCINNATI — Ravens running back Derrick Henry’s resume includes a long list of notable accomplishments during his eight-plus seasons in the NFL. He added two more big ones Sunday against the Bengals that speak as much to his ability as it does his longevity. Henry became just the 32nd running back to top 10,000 career rushing yards during the second quarter of the AFC North showdown. With a 1-yard touchdown plunge in the first quarter, Henry also became only the fifth player in NFL history with at least 10,000 rushing yards and 100 touchdowns from scrimmage in his first 125 career games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith and LaDainian Tomlinson as well as Adrian Peterson. Henry is the 27th player all-time to reach 100 career touchdowns. “[I’m] always grateful for the journey and everyone that’s been a part of it,” Henry said Friday when asked about the 10,000-yard milestone. “I’ve been blessed tremendously, and I’m very thankful to be able to be able to play this long and be able to reach a milestone that big. “All the great ones before me that I idolized — they achieved that accomplishment, so for me to be doing something that the ones that I’ve idolized have done is so cool.” He came into the game needing just 18 rushing yards to reach the increasingly rare mark. The last player to top five figures in career rushing yards was Marshawn Lynch in 2017. “It’s very cool,” Henry said last week. “As a kid I always wanted to play running back and make it to the NFL. “It’s like a kid at a candy store where you can’t believe what’s in front of you achieving that milestone. I’m grateful — grateful for every coach [and] every teammate that helped me get to this part. I’m just very thankful for it all.” Henry, 30, entered the game leading the NFL in rushing with 480 yards on 80 carries for a career-high 6 yards per carry along with five rushing touchdowns and one receiving. His biggest impact has come over the past two weeks. In last week’s blowout win over the Buffalo Bills, Henry had 199 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown run on Baltimore’s first offensive play. The week before, he ran for a 151 yards in a victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals October 6, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals live updates: Cincinnati surges to 17-14 lead at halftime Baltimore Ravens | Ravens mostly healthy ahead of key AFC showdown against Bengals Baltimore Ravens | Davante Adams to Ravens? WR makes cryptic Edgar Allan Poe posts on social media Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals betting guide: Week 5 odds, picks and predictions Henry has twice led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. That included in 2020, when was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year after he ran for 2,027 yards to become just the eighth player to top 2,000 rushing yards in a season. He hasn’t slowed down much, if at all, since. Over the previous five seasons, Henry leads the league in rushing yards (6,115), runs over 10 yards (139) and touches reaching at least 20 mph (22). Last week against the Bills, he hit 21.29 mph on his franchise record 87-yard run for the second-fastest speed by any ball carrier in Week 4. “Derrick’s kind of a unicorn, to be honest, [with] his combination of speed, power [and] durability,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said earlier this year. “He’s thrived in different systems and done different things. He’s won wherever he’s been, and those kinds of guys are rare.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens (2-2) and Bengals (1-3) face off Sunday afternoon in a key AFC North matchup at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. Baltimore has won two straight over the Cowboys and Bills, while Cincinnati is coming off its first win of the season over the Panthers. Follow along here for live coverage. View the full article

The Ravens will enter their first AFC North game of the season remarkably healthy. All 52 players on the active roster practiced Friday in Owings Mills, two days ahead of Sunday’s showdown against the rival Bengals (1-3) at Paycor Stadium. Only cornerback Arthur Maulet (knee/hamstring), who began his 21-day window to return Wednesday, was ruled out on the final injury report of the week after being absent for a second straight day. He suffered a “soft-tissue” setback, according to coach John Harbaugh, who said that Maulet’s return to practice next week will be “day-to-day.” Wide receiver and kick returner Deonte Harty (knee), meanwhile, was listed as questionable despite being a full participant in practice. Left guard Andrew Vorhees (ankle) and running back Rasheen Ali (neck) were also full participants and listed as questionable. Elsewhere in practice, running back Keaton Mitchell, who has been on the physically unable to perform list since the start of the season after tearing his ACL in mid-December, was jogging on a side field. While he is still not close to being activated, two weeks ago Mitchell wrote on X that he was “blessed to see 20+ mph again,” adding that his return would be in due time. Asked Thursday about a timeline on Mitchell’s return, Harbaugh said only that he’s “right on schedule.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Davante Adams to Ravens? WR makes cryptic Edgar Allan Poe posts on social media Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals betting guide: Week 5 odds, picks and predictions Baltimore Ravens | 5 Sunday specials at Baltimore-area restaurants to try during Ravens season Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game in Cincinnati? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justice Hill ‘doing his thing’ alongside NFL’s leading rusher “The schedule was to be back this season,” he said. “He’s not close enough yet to really talk about it, but he’s doing really well.” As for the Bengals, they are largely healthy with coach Zac Taylor telling reporters Friday that edge rushers Trey Hendrickson (neck/back) and Myles Murphy (knee) along with defensive tackles B.J. Hill (hamstring) and McKinnley Jackson (knee) will all play Sunday. Only Murphy was listed as questionable. Cincinnati could however be without cornerback Mike Hilton, who didn’t practice all week after suffering a knee injury during Sunday’s win over the Carolina Panthers. He is listed as questionable. It is likely, however, that the Bengals will be without defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (hamstring), who did not practice this week and is listed as doubtful. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Could Davante Adams be headed to the Ravens? The disgruntled three-time All Pro wide receiver who has asked the Las Vegas Raiders to trade him posted a picture of Edgar Allan Poe on his Instagram Live on Friday afternoon. He then posted a more cryptic Poe quote: “Believe nothing you hear and half of what you see.” Poe, of course, lived on and off in Baltimore and died in the city in 1847. His poem, “The Raven,” also inspired the name of Baltimore’s professional football team. Whether the Ravens can or even would be interested in acquiring the six-time Pro Bowl selection, however, remains to be seen. The Raiders have reportedly asked for a second-round draft pick plus compensation. Baltimore does have a second-rounder among its cache of seven picks in next year’s draft, along with four compensatory mid- and late-round picks. However, acquiring Adams would immediately count $13.5 million against the cap, a number that will decline with each passing week down to $8.6 million at the Nov. 5 trade deadline. The Ravens currently have just $4.3 million in cap space, though they could clear more room by unloading a player as part of the deal and restructuring the contract of quarterback Lamar Jackson or others. The Raiders could also be willing to pay some of Adams’ salary, thus further reducing his salary cap hit. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals betting guide: Week 5 odds, picks and predictions Baltimore Ravens | 5 Sunday specials at Baltimore-area restaurants to try during Ravens season Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game in Cincinnati? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justice Hill ‘doing his thing’ alongside NFL’s leading rusher Baltimore Ravens | Ronnie Stanley’s resurgence key to Ravens’ NFL-leading ground attack: ‘Ron’s done it all’ According to BetCalifornia.com, Baltimore has the fourth-best odds at +1000, or a 9.1% chance, to acquire him. Only the New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints have better odds. NFL Network reported Friday morning that Adams would prefer to go to the Jets to reunite with with his friend and four-time NFL Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers. The Ravens are certainly familiar with Adams, who lit up Baltimore for nine catches for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders’ Week 2 upset of Baltimore. “You know how we feel about our guys,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said when asked about Adams on Wednesday. “I really can’t comment on anybody else’s players. We talked about Davante Adams a couple of weeks ago and I didn’t want to talk anything about him after the game – we had seen enough at that point. We love our guys.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

After an 0-2 start, the Ravens (2-2) are one win and a Steelers loss from pulling into a tie atop the AFC North through five games. How’s that for a potential bounce back? A Baltimore victory coupled with a Pittsburgh defeat is a plausible result, with a Ravens road win at the Bengals (1-3) and a Steelers home loss to the Cowboys yielding +268 odds on FanDuel, one of the sportsbooks legally available in Maryland. A moneyline parlay with +268 odds is hardly a long shot. As for Baltimore winning its game against Cincinnati, the Ravens hold -142 odds to win the game on FanDuel, meaning bettors would need to wager $142 on a Ravens win to profit $100. Baltimore is a 2 1/2-point betting favorite against Joe Burrow and the Bengals on Sunday afternoon, and the total is hovering around 49 points across most sportsbooks. Bettors are bullish on the Ravens winning, according to data from bet-tracking company Pikkit. Just over 75% of Pikkit bettors have wagered on the Ravens to win the game. Points, points and more points Lamar Jackson shared frustration this week with bettors sliding into his DMs and complaining about how his recent statistical performances caused them to lose wagers. Don’t do that, folks. Sports betting is meant to be a form of entertainment, and it’s important to gamble responsibly. Part of responsible gambling means wagering amounts of money you can afford to lose and to stop betting if it’s harming your emotional wellbeing. If you’re messaging Jackson to complain about your bet, it’s time to put your phone down or call 1-800-GAMBLER. We’ll stay away from looking at prop bets this week, perhaps helping keep Jackson’s DMs free of angry betting messages for at least one week. My favorite bet of the Ravens’ Week 5 contest with Cincinnati is over 48 1/2 points. I’m expecting gobs of points Sunday in Cincinnati, as Jackson and Burrow are among the two best quarterbacks in the NFL, and they’re playing well this year. Jackson is the sixth-highest graded quarterback on Pro Football Focus this year, and Burrow checks in at No. 11. The quarterbacks have combined for 12 touchdown passes and just two interceptions this season. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | 5 Sunday specials at Baltimore-area restaurants to try during Ravens season Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game in Cincinnati? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justice Hill ‘doing his thing’ alongside NFL’s leading rusher Baltimore Ravens | Ronnie Stanley’s resurgence key to Ravens’ NFL-leading ground attack: ‘Ron’s done it all’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens rookie running back Rasheen Ali returns to practice Both teams rank in the top 10 in scoring, with the Bengals averaging 30.7 points per game over their past three contests after a sluggish 10-point showing in Week 1. Baltimore, which leads the NFL in yards per game with 429.5, puts up 26.5 points per game and scored 35 against Buffalo in its most recent outing. Defensively, Cincinnati allows 26 points per game, the fifth-worst mark in the NFL. The Bengals’ defense is struggling and banged up, and recent Bengals-Ravens games have a history of being higher scoring. Both of last year’s contests saw more than 50 combined points, even with Baltimore leading the NFL in scoring defense in 2023. Each team’s offense looks to be performing ahead of their respective defense, and Sunday’s weather in Cincinnati — the high temperature is 86 degrees — looks ideal. There’s some wind (approximately 10-15 mph), but the weather shouldn’t negatively affect the chance of an over bet hitting. Best bet: Over 48.5 points (-115 odds on FanDuel) Have a news tip? Contact Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

As football season ramps up, the specials begin appearing on menus and chalkboards en masse: beer buckets, BOGO burgers, bottomless pitchers, 99-cent wings. Baltimore has Ravens fans to feed, and its bars and restaurants clamor to lead them to barstools with the juiciest bargains. To make the most of the season, here are five Baltimore-area establishments with Sunday specials, some branded for game day and some just a good deal: A sampling of specials for football fans offered at Atlantic Food & Spirits in Catonsville include, clockwise from left, mushroom flatbread, honey and Old Bay wings, Buffalo chicken flatbread, and traditional Buffalo wings. On Sunday game day and Monday Night Football, specials include $5 off all flatbreads, $10 chicken wings, and $1 Maryland Bay oysters. (Amy Davis/Staff) Atlantic Food & Spirits The large amount of space at Catonsville’s Atlantic Food & Spirits allows for multiple kinds of experiences: lively dinner with friends on the deck, date night in the dining room, a quick trip to the adjoining liquor store or Sunday football in the bar. At the latter, game day drink specials include $5 Natural Lights, $5 National Bohemians, $10 bucket specials and $6 crushes, according to a promotional menu provided by management. The Aperol crush was particularly refreshing, less bitter than the traditional spritz but not as sweet as a typical crush. Also in the bar for game days, Maryland bay oysters are buck-a-shuck — this applies on Thursdays, too — and chicken wings go for $10 with eight sauce choices. I went with fried with honey Old Bay, and the thick crunch was a toothsome delight with the subtle sauce, leaving a small pool of honey on the plate. Thin-crusted flatbreads are $5 off the normal range of $14 to $22 in variants like buffalo chicken and gruyère-rich mushroom. In addition, crab nachos are a fan favorite, my server said. Thin wontons serve as chips, loaded with jumbo lump crab, roasted tomatoes and corn, cheese sauce, everything bagel seasoning and scallions. For dessert, doughnut holes cooked with duck fat are balanced by a deep red wine maple sauce. 2205 Frederick Road, Catonsville, 410-441-3954, atlanticfoodandspirits.com The Strongman pizza at HomeSlyce HomeSlyce Somehow, HomeSlyce — boasting six locations in the region — feels like both a sports bar and a classy pizza joint. A league of televisions at the downtown location inspired a rambunctious crowd during the US Open when I visited, but the red, lightly stylish interiors set the scene for intentional and refined pizzas. Every day has a special, and on Sundays, it’s a 12-inch premium pizza and six wings for $25 (or upgrade the pizza to 16 inches for $35), as well as 20% off with a student ID. “Premium” here does not mean the lackluster discount pizzas but actually 15 strong options. Take the Falafelicious pizza, which features hummus, roasted red peppers, red onions, mozzarella, slightly spicy sauce and falafel. HomeSlyce smartly just used bits of the falafel to get touches of crispiness instead of weighing the whole pie down. Likewise, the Salmon Catch has fat chunks of fish complemented by lemony mozzarella and ricotta, banana peppers, roasted tomatoes and garlic butter. Crusts are thin but not at all floppy, sturdy enough to hold the unusual toppings. The wings also exceeded expectations for cheap eats: extra large and in flavors like the heat-plus-sweet mango habanero and bayou Cajun. 336 N. Charles St., 443-501-4000; 3333 N. Charles St., 443-315-4046; 900 S. Kenwood Ave., 443-501-4000; 1711 York Road, Timonium, 410-616-4360; 12186 Clarksville Pike Ste.17-18, Clarksville, 443-552-0200; 9400 Snowden River Parkway Ste. 127,128, Columbia, 443-491-4000; homeslyce.com Johnny’s in Roland Park. (Baltimore Sun file) Johnny’s The upscale Foreman Wolf outpost in Roland Park is far from a sports bar, but fans can nab seats in sight of a television and enjoy half-priced bottles of wine after 4:30 p.m. during dinner service on Sundays. The wine list is helpfully divided into sections like “Salty & Crispy Snacks” and “Burgers & Red Meat,” and my server seemed thrilled to be asked for pairings. She went for bold ones like a red (the ripe Mas de Boislauzon Vin de France “La Chaussynette”) with fish (perfectly pan-seared Atlantic salmon with green beans and charred-onion agrodolce). Zardetto brut prosecco cut through the fry on moist fish and chips, and grüner veltliner harmonized with shellfish. Go for the fried oysters — which remained luscious inside their cornmeal dredge and are served with “Old Bayoli” — over the steamed PEI mussels, which were blander than their bright-orange tomato-pepper broth would imply. 4800 Roland Ave., 410-773-0777, johnnysdownstairs.com Little Havana in South Baltimore. (Baltimore Sun file) Little Havana Although there are TVs for football indoors, brunch at South Baltimore’s Little Havana is best enjoyed outside in view of the Patapsco River and Baltimore skyline, sipping one of the unlimited bloody marys or mimosas. Bottomless brunch drinks run $20 per person from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays, and in my experience, the staff is generally pretty relaxed about procuring outdoor seats and not rushing you out of them on a nice day. The menu combines American breakfast foods with Latin influences, with dishes like the Papas Bowl, made up of roasted potatoes with sofrito, fried eggs and jalapeño crema, or the Santiago Wrap with scrambled eggs, chorizo, pico de gallo and cheese, plus sweet potato fries and mojo sauce. 1325 Key Highway, 410-837-9903, littlehavanas.com Crucchy Chorizo Tacos from Papi's Tacos located at 3820 Falls Road.Kenneth Lam / Baltimore SunChorizo tacos from Papi’s Tacos. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Papi’s Tacos The rules are strict for the Sunday special at Papi’s Tacos, located in Fells Point, Hamden, Waltherson, Towson and Ocean City, but the value is worth it for hungry guests. At the bar only, get all-you-can-eat tacos for $20 from 5 p.m. until close. They come in chicken tinga, “gringo” beef, chorizo or veggie, and the first four must be the same base, though diners can mix it up with two of the same kind at a time after that, according to staff. To-go boxes are forbidden, but these tacos are piled high and will leave you full into the next meal or two. Navigating hers, my dining partner said, “It’s so full I can’t even tell where the [tortilla] is.” Should you need more food than this, the yuca frita has a great fried crust, though soft inside, with a pico salad, or the mole poblano enchiladas will warm the soul as it gets colder. But the esquites could have had more seasoning, and some of the fruity margaritas lean toward the overly saccharine. 1703 Aliceanna St., 443-438-9144; 3820 Falls Road, 443-449-5796; 4801 Harford Road, 443-835-2071; 826 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, 443-275-2546; 1500 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, 443-664-8611; papistacojoint.com Have a news tip? Contact Kendyl Kearly at kkearly@baltsun.com. View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 5 game between the Ravens (2-2) and Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati: Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 27, Bengals 20: Baltimore has rediscovered its identity by turning back the clock and leaning on its running attack. Don’t be surprised if they do the same against the Bengals, who are 25th in rushing yards allowed per game (145.5) and 18th in yards per carry allowed (4.4). Cincinnati is also 27th in points allowed per game (26). But with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, they also have enough firepower to put up points on the Ravens. Running back Zack Moss also tormented Baltimore’s defense when he was with the Colts last season. But it won’t be enough to keep up with a Ravens team that is hitting its stride offensively. Childs Walker, reporter Ravens 30, Bengals 24: As long as the Bengals have Joe Burrow throwing to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, they’ll be a threat. They’re better than their 0-3 start, especially on offense. The Ravens don’t want to spot Cincinnati a lead and have the game turn into a throwing contest. The good news for the Ravens is they have the right playmakers to punish a Cincinnati defense that has lost a lot of talent over the last few years. Led by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, they’ll try to follow the same script that worked against the Cowboys and Bills. The Bengals won’t be the team to stop them. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 33, Bengals 28: For the third straight week, the Ravens will play a defense that can’t stop the run. The Bengals are tied for 25th in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing 145.5 yards per game, and that bodes well for running back Derrick Henry (480 yards, averaging 6 yards per carry) and quarterback Lamar Jackson (380, 7.5). Cincinnati is ranked 11th in pass defense, but the Bengals have given up big plays over the top in previous years. That should work in the Ravens’ favor because this game has the potential to be a shootout. Cincinnati has Joe Burrow at quarterback and his receivers, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, can make big plays against a Ravens secondary that has struggled in coverage. The Ravens, though, finally have a speedy cornerback in rookie Nate Wiggins, even though he still struggles in man coverage and uses his hands too much at the line of scrimmage. Regardless, the Ravens have a more complete team and should win. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 31, Bengals 20: The Bengals’ offense sure looks scary when Ja’Marr Chase is playing at full speed, but their defense might be one of the worst in the league, especially against the run. Here comes Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, who bulldozed the Bills last week to push Baltimore’s league-best average to a staggering 220.3 rushing yards per game. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken should lean on that punishing ground game to sustain long drives and keep Joe Burrow and Cincinnati’s offense off the field. If the Ravens stick to that script, this should be a comfortable division win on the road, a rarity in the AFC North. Don’t rule out another head-scratching Baltimore turnover or a defensive mistake making it closer than it should be, though. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justice Hill ‘doing his thing’ alongside NFL’s leading rusher Baltimore Ravens | Ronnie Stanley’s resurgence key to Ravens’ NFL-leading ground attack: ‘Ron’s done it all’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens rookie running back Rasheen Ali returns to practice Baltimore Ravens | Ravens sack leader Kyle Van Noy named AFC Defensive Player of the Month Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about Derrick Henry, Marcus Williams and more | COMMENTARY Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 28, Bengals 21: The Ravens have found their stride on offense and defense, looking much like the team that finished with the best record in the NFL during Sunday night’s thrashing of the Bills at M&T Bank Stadium. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry have proved to be as dynamic together as we thought they might on paper, and the Bengals’ defense has allowed 16, 26, 38 and 24 points in their four games this season (and that 16 came against the Patriots, who have one of the NFL’s worst offenses). Baltimore should have no problem moving the ball in Cincinnati. Slowing down Joe Burrow, who looked much better in Week 3 (albeit against the lowly Panthers), is a taller task. Ja’Marr Chase looks as explosive as ever, and Tee Higgins should look better as he puts a hamstring injury behind him. We’ve seen the Bengals’ offense put up some big numbers against Baltimore, but consider me a believer in the Ravens’ defense being able to match up well against those star wide receivers this time. Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 35, Bengals 24: The Bengals have struggled defensively this season, but they’ve also faced high-powered offenses led by star quarterbacks (Patrick Mahomes and Jayden Daniels) in two of their three losses. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, Lamar Jackson doesn’t offer a reprieve. It’s hard to see how a defense ranking last in the NFL in pass rush grade and ninth-worst in tackling (Pro Football Focus) will stop Jackson and a Ravens offense seemingly hitting its stride. Look for Baltimore to find success in both the running and passing game Sunday against Cincinnati. The Bengals will need to keep up on the scoreboard, but I’m not sure they can. View the full article

Through four weeks, the Ravens own the NFL’s top rushing attack. Baltimore has gashed opposing defenses on the ground, averaging 220.3 rushing yards per game, including consecutive 270-plus yard performances. While Derrick Henry has the lion’s share of those yards, fifth-year running back Justice Hill is also doing his part. Hill, who recently signed a two-year, $6 million contract extension, brings a different dimension to the Ravens’ backfield. At 5 feet 10 and 195 pounds, Hill isn’t the physical bruiser that his 6-2, 247-pound counterpart is. However, Hill is a dynamic receiving threat who challenges opposing defenses with his shiftiness and explosiveness. “He has improved as a player. He was a good player coming in, kind of a speed back,” coach John Harbaugh said. “You saw him as a third-down back. Nothing gets this guy down. There’s nothing that can break him. He just keeps coming in and he’s got a smile on his face. He works hard. A really smart person. Understands the game, understands the entire offense. You could probably line him up at every position and he’d know what to do for sure, every skill position at least. He probably knows the blocking schemes too.” The former Oklahoma State standout showed off his smarts and speed Sunday night in prime-time with a team-high six receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown in a commanding 35-10 win over the Buffalo Bills. Sixty-six of those yards came after the catch, particularly effective on screens and swing passes. “He’s explosive,” quarterback Lamar Jackson said of Hill. “I believe he showed it last year. He was showing glimpses of it last year, but this year, he’s just taking it to whole another level. I don’t know if it’s because he got paid or something, but he’s doing his thing right now. I’m loving it.” With the Ravens ahead 14-3 in the second quarter, Hill showcased that dynamism. Lined up on Jackson’s right, he sprinted out of the backfield on a wheel route. Hill faked with a step inside and then quickly shifted outside, leaving Bills linebacker Dorian Williams in the dust for a 19-yard score. “It was fun,” Hill said. “It was a good play. My teammates have seen me do that in practice, so it was nothing new to the guys. It was fun that it finally happened in a game.” The veteran running back delivered in another critical situation later in the game with the Ravens ahead 21-10 in the third quarter. Facing a third-and-7 at the Bills’ 26-yard line, Hill caught a pass in the flat from Jackson and broke multiple tackles to keep the drive alive, setting up first-and-goal. One play later, Jackson sprinted in from 9 yards out. Hill’s presence has been particularly valuable with running back Keaton Mitchell, who burst onto the scene last year with similar explosiveness, on injured reserve. Mitchell suffered a torn ACL in Week 15 last season and has not yet been activated from injured reserve. While he moves closer to returning, Hill has bolstered the Ravens’ big-play ability in the backfield with 14 carries for 76 yards and 18 catches for 161 yards. But he’s not satisfied. “I want to grow in every aspect, not just one or two areas,” Hill said. “So, overall, I’ve just gotten better at running the ball, processing a little faster, slowing things down in my mind. Also, pass blocking and catching. So, I’ve improved at pretty much everything.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game in Cincinnati? Baltimore Ravens | Ronnie Stanley’s resurgence key to Ravens’ NFL-leading ground attack: ‘Ron’s done it all’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens rookie running back Rasheen Ali returns to practice Baltimore Ravens | Ravens sack leader Kyle Van Noy named AFC Defensive Player of the Month Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about Derrick Henry, Marcus Williams and more | COMMENTARY Jackson’s talent as a runner further compounds the challenge opposing defenses face in slowing down the Ravens’ run game. Henry and Hill’s complementary skill sets make his life easier as a quarterback. Defenses are forced to respect the versatile elements of the Ravens’ backfield. It’s a challenge that cornerback Marlon Humphrey and the Ravens’ defense face in practice every day. It pushes them to get better, but as Humphrey said, “I see the nightmares that other teams face.” Heading into their first divisional matchup in Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon, that versatility will be a key element against a banged-up Bengals defense. “I can just put the ball in those guys hands and let those guys work,” Jackson said. “And then, when I have to throw the ball, I’ll work. Those guys help out with blocking as well, not just running the ball. Justice just had a touchdown catch. Derrick Henry just had a touchdown catch as well. So, they’re doing it all right now.” View the full article

Fifteen minutes after Thursday’s two-hour practice in Owings Mills, Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley and rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten, were still at it, drenched in the sweat and stains of another day’s labor and engaged with one another, hands on shoulder pads, pushing and pulling. Rosengarten, fresh off his first start in Baltimore’s dominating 35-10 win Sunday over the Buffalo Bills, was looking to glean some insight on balance and hand placement from the ninth-year veteran and one-time All-Pro. “Ron’s done it all,” Rosengarten told The Sun. “He’s been at the highest level for a really long time, so every piece of information I can get from him, I’ll take it.” Through the first month of the season, the Ravens’ young offensive line with three new starters has taken it, too. The criticism has at times been fierce, particularly after losing to the Chiefs in Kansas City in the season opener and following a mistake-filled defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium. From a string of mind-numbing penalties to lackluster performances, their struggles permeated through the team’s. But over the past two weeks, the group has seemed to find its footing. It started with a 28-25 road win over the Dallas Cowboys in which the Ravens gashed them for 274 rushing yards, including 151 from running back Derrick Henry. Against the Bills, another 271, including 199 from Henry, who ripped off an 87-yard touchdown run on Baltimore’s first offensive play to set the tone. While it has been a group effort, no one has perhaps stood out more than Stanley, both in his play and his leadership. “Ronnie Stanley deserves so much credit,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week. “He’s really having a good year, and he’s got a lot of football left in him. I expect him to keep improving. I think he’s going to keep on the rise. “A lot of times, he was singled up out there in pass protection and just did a really good job. In the run game, reach blocks, down blocks, had some good cutoff blocks, screen blocks; he had a couple really good screen blocks that sprung some screens. So, yes, it was good.” And much improved from last season. Last year, Stanley missed four games because of a knee injury, including both against the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals, who the Ravens play Sunday at Paycor Stadium. But even when he was on the field, he didn’t perform to the level he expected, which is why the Ravens went so far as to rotate him down the stretch of the regular season. In June, Stanley acknowledged that his play last season was “killing him.” It was hurting the Ravens, too, which is why in March they restructured the five-year, $98.75 million contract he’d signed in 2020. Doing so cleared salary cap space but also sent a message after Stanley missed 36 games during that span because of injuries. Ronnie Stanley, right, has helped mentor younger offensive linemen like right tackle Roger Rosengarten. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) And that message apparently sunk in. “I thought it was very motivating to get back to what I expect myself to be,” Stanley said Thursday. “The performance I had in the past were always something that gave me something to work harder and make sure I never go back to that place I was.” Instead, he’s returned to the form that made him one of the best at his position. Stanley ranks first in pass-block win rate, according to ESPN analytics, and his PFF grade of 88.3 ranks second among all offensive tackles in the league, trailing only Jordan Mailata of the Philadelphia Eagles. In all, he has allowed just four pressures and no sacks and his 3.2% pressure rate allowed ranks sixth in the NFL going into Week 5. Unsurprisingly, the rest of the offense has flourished alongside him. The Ravens lead the NFL yards per game (429.5), rushing yards (881) and Henry leads all rushers with 480 yards and a career-high of 6 yards per carry. He is also fourth in yards before first contact (3.84), while Baltimore ranks fifth in points per game (26.5). And perhaps no single play has crystallized the unit’s improvement more than Henry’s 87-yard touchdown for what was the longest run in franchise history. “I don’t think it’s any magic pill,” Stanley said. “I just think it’s hard work. It’s just a cumulation of consistency and guys coming in every day and working hard. When you do that, a lot is going to get better.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game in Cincinnati? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justice Hill ‘doing his thing’ alongside NFL’s leading rusher Baltimore Ravens | Ravens rookie running back Rasheen Ali returns to practice Baltimore Ravens | Ravens sack leader Kyle Van Noy named AFC Defensive Player of the Month Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about Derrick Henry, Marcus Williams and more | COMMENTARY That includes Stanley, who has been a constant presence at practice since the voluntary workouts in the summer and into the first month of the season. He’s also fitter and healthier and been a leader among the group — if not by voice, then by example. “Ronnie just kind of goes about his business,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “He’s more cerebral than he is vocal. [He] just really understands what we’re trying to do, [and] what he’s trying to do, and what he’s trying to accomplish. “So, those things he really gets it.” So, too, it seems do the Ravens, who four games into the season seem to have found their offensive identity and have succeeded because of their offensive line rather than in spite of it. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

For the second straight day, the Ravens designated a player to return from the injured reserve list. Rookie running back Rasheen Ali was limited in practice Thursday, his first action since being placed on the injured reserve in September following a neck injury. Ali, a fifth-round pick out of Marshall, will add depth to a Ravens backfield leading the NFL in rushing with 220.3 yards per game. Special teams coordinator Chris Horton also has a role in mind for the rookie after Ali’s extensive work with the unit during the preseason. Ali’s speed and elusiveness make him a potential asset in the return game. In college, he returned five kickoffs for 173 yards and a 97-yard touchdown. ”He was trending in the right direction,” Horton said. “When his time comes, it’s going to be our job to have him ready to play Ravens special teams football.” Baltimore is also waiting for the return of second-year running back Keaton Mitchell, who averaged 8.4 yards per carry last season. Mitchell, who is recovering from knee surgery, is expected to return at some point this season, although an official return timeline is to be determined. Cornerback Arthur Maulet, who was designated to return Wednesday, was the only missing player from practice Thursday as he battles knee and hamstring injuries. Both Ali and Maulet are in their respective 21-day windows to be added to the active roster or placed on the season-ending injured reserve list. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game in Cincinnati? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justice Hill ‘doing his thing’ alongside NFL’s leading rusher Baltimore Ravens | Ronnie Stanley’s resurgence key to Ravens’ NFL-leading ground attack: ‘Ron’s done it all’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens sack leader Kyle Van Noy named AFC Defensive Player of the Month Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about Derrick Henry, Marcus Williams and more | COMMENTARY Elsewhere on the injury report, offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees was limited in practice for the second straight day with an ankle injury. Defensive lineman Michael Pierce (shoulder), Brent Urban (neck) and linebacker Chris Board (ankle) were all full participants in practice Thursday. As for the Bengals (1-3), the team’s injury statuses remained the same as Wednesday’s update. Quarterback Joe Burrow (right wrist), tight end Tanner Hudson (knee), defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr. (thumb) and guard Cordell Volson (ankle) were all full participants in Thursday’s practice. Cincinnati’s defense continues to deal with injuries, as cornerback Mike Hilton (knee) and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (hamstring) both missed Thursday’s practice. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson (neck/back), defensive tackle B.J. Hill (hamstring) and linebacker Germaine Pratt (ankle) were all limited participants. View the full article

While the Ravens are looking ahead to Sunday’s divisional showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals, the stellar September play of one Raven was still a focus across the NFL on Thursday. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month after recording nine quarterback hits, eight tackles, seven tackles for loss and six sacks in September. Van Noy won the monthly honor despite suffering a fractured orbital bone in the team’s season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. Van Noy, the first Raven to win the award since linebacker Roquan Smith in 2022, put an exclamation point on his award-winning month with a strip sack of Bills quarterback Josh Allen to blow up a trick play in the second half of the Ravens’ 35-10 win. “It’s awesome to play with the group of guys we have in that room,” Van Noy said of his fellow pass rushers. “We all hold each other accountable and [coordinator] Zack [Orr] has been putting together some great plans together. It’s been fun.” Van Noy’s award is just a snippet of the success seen from Baltimore’s pass rushers. The group is playing well in what is becoming a complete unit for the Ravens under Orr, the team’s first-year defensive coordinator. “I’ve been benefitting from everybody,” Van Noy said. “Travis [Jones] is having an outstanding year and with him and [Nnamdi] Madubuike taking on double teams and creating havoc, it allows me to be able to do my job.” Van Noy, who leads the Ravens with six sacks and was the only NFL player to record multiple sacks in three or more games in September, is being supported on the outside by fellow pass rusher Odafe Oweh, who has registered 3 1/2 sacks of his own early in the season, showing the explosiveness and ability expected of him after being selected 31st overall in 2021. “We’ve always known about his talent and work ethic,” Orr said. “Now to see him healthy and making plays for us is great. He’s been good for us this entire season.” On the interior, Jones has been productive, clogging up holes and providing opportunities for his teammates to focus on playing downhill and being disruptive in their roles. “Travis Jones has been getting better every single year,” Orr said. “I think this year is going to continue to be a breakout year for him — he pops on the film and he’s a rock in there on the interior. Edge guys know that that helps those guys out.” Kyle Van Noy has led a Ravens pass rush that has 13 sacks through four games. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Van Noy specifically has been able to focus on simply rushing the passer, even adding in suggestions to help out the young coordinator. “All he does is come here and work every single day in the classroom and on the field,” Orr said. “He’s one of the smartest players I’ve personally been around — he knows a lot of football. And he understands situations and understands offenses. It’s a credit all to him that we can do different things with him, because he can handle it and execute it at a high level.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game in Cincinnati? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justice Hill ‘doing his thing’ alongside NFL’s leading rusher Baltimore Ravens | Ronnie Stanley’s resurgence key to Ravens’ NFL-leading ground attack: ‘Ron’s done it all’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens rookie running back Rasheen Ali returns to practice Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about Derrick Henry, Marcus Williams and more | COMMENTARY Now, Orr’s unit looks to the battle against a familiar face as quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals host the Ravens on Sunday. Flanked again with his two receiving weapons on the outside in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals rank ninth in the NFL in scoring at 25.5 points per game. Their passing attack, which averages 236 yards per game, ranks sixth in the NFL. “I think the biggest challenge is not letting [Burrow] know where to go with the football, and then really trying to switch stuff up on him,” Orr said. “He’s a really good football player; he’s really smart.” Despite the challenges the Bengals pose, Orr and Van Noy are confident the defense can show up and compete fresh off a big win and award-winning September performance. The Ravens held Buffalo’s high-powered offense to just 10 points last weekend. Van Noy believes the defense’s best is yet to come. “It’s only a matter of time, it’s going to come alive,” Van Noy said. “We’re going to have a game where it’s going to pop and everyone’s going to eat.” View the full article

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer fans’ questions in the middle of each week throughout the Ravens season. A week after the Ravens (2-2) held off the Dallas Cowboys, they crushed the Buffalo Bills, 35-10, on “Sunday Night Football” for their first signature victory. Here’s Preston’s take on a handful of questions from readers: (Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.) How surprising was it to see the Ravens easily dispose of Buffalo on Sunday night? — Ed Helinski I thought the Ravens would win, but not totally dismantle Buffalo. The Bills have been a soft team for years, but they also seemed ill-prepared to play the Ravens. They have had some injuries on defense, especially at linebacker, but they weren’t ready for a physical team like the Ravens. Days before the game, I thought it might come down to Josh Allen versus Lamar Jackson, but once the Ravens defense took running back Cook out of the game, the Bills had no other playmakers. Their receivers ran pretty vanilla routs and the Ravens manhandled Buffalo’s defensive line. The Ravens also hammered Buffalo’s offensive line, and the trick play to Allen showed the desperation of the Bills to manufacture points. I thought the Ravens might win by four to seven points, but the 35-10 final was impressive. But the season is still young. I never thought Buffalo was the best team in the NFL or even in the AFC. It’s way too early to make that claim, just as it is to say Baltimore is the best team in the conference. We will see at the end of the 2024 season. I like Todd Monken, and his first 20 scripted plays to start the game are usually spot-on. However, it feels like his play-calling becomes questionable when we have a lead. For example, we opened the second half Sunday night with two consecutive three-and-outs, with the first drive consisting of three straight pass plays — even though we had been dominating with the run. I understand that the defense has also struggled in the second half, but I believe they wear down because the offense can’t sustain drives. What are your thoughts on the Ravens’ second-half struggles? — Orlando from Hanover Orlando, the Ravens opened the third quarter with three straight passing plays and maybe that’s because they learned that starting Buffalo safety Taylor Rapp was out of the game after he tried to tackle running back Derrick Henry earlier. If a team faces second-and-10 and third-and-10, they really have no other choice but to throw. They ran Henry twice in the next series, but 5 of his yards on first down were nullified because of a false start penalty, and then Jackson was sacked on third-and-10. Maybe Monken was trying to send a message to his team that the Ravens were going to come out and be aggressive instead of trying to run down the clock with the running game. Overall, I thought Monken called a great game and the Ravens finished with more than 400 yards of total offense. Offensively, the Ravens have to be more opportunistic and run some time off in the fourth. As for the fourth-quarter collapses by the defense, most of the starters didn’t play in the preseason. A team can do all the conditioning it wants, but nothing replaces 60 minutes of game time on Sunday. I saw the Ravens, especially their secondary and especially in the first three games in the fourth quarter, get tired. They were also replacing three defensive assistant coaches, and it has probably caused some confusion in the secondary. Plus, few of the playmakers stepped up. Jackson and Zay Flowers did in the Dallas game to secure the victory, but that wasn’t the case in the first two games. Against Buffalo, the Bills weren’t much of a threat after early in the third. Mike, you have stated that wide receivers in the NFL are divas. (I find it ironic that Marquise “Hollywood” Brown’s greatest success was under a Greg Roman offense, yet he still demanded a trade). Assuming that the Ravens continue their run-first mentality on offense, how does the coaching staff balance team success with the diva whispers from the receivers? — Dan H. from Elkton I’m sure some of the receivers aren’t happy about their lack of production, but that will change week to week just like it did for Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce. Right now, who can complain? The Ravens have won two straight games with a strong running attack. Only tight end Mark Andrews, because of previous standout years, has earned the right to complain. Veteran receiver Nelson Agholor knows his role is limited and fellow wideout Rashod Bateman should just play and be quiet. Tight end Isaiah Likely might be a star someday, but he has only been productive for one season when Andrews got hurt last year. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 5 of 2024 NFL season: Cowboys vs. Steelers, Bills vs. Texans and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Bengals scouting report for Week 5: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Lamar Jackson responds to social media criticism: ‘Trying to win games … not to help people’s parlay’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens have perfect practice attendance, Bengals battling key injuries ahead of divisional clash Baltimore Ravens | Can (and should) the Ravens trade for Davante Adams? Here’s what to know. Fortunately for the Ravens, they don’t have any divas at receiver. Flowers touched the ball a lot in the first two games, maybe too much, but he is only in his second year. Before a receiver can become a diva, at least make a Pro Bowl team once or twice. If not, just be quiet and play. If that doesn’t happen, there are always other options for coach John Harbaugh to fill positions. This Ravens team is not star-studded, and the best athlete on the team, Jackson, prefers to win more than anything else. So far, he hasn’t complained about his statistics. The receivers should follow his lead. Because of his past workload and age, I thought that the Ravens stated that Derrick Henry was going to run the ball 10 to 20 times a game. Obviously, he is now assuming a larger workload. Do you think Henry can last a full season carrying that large workload, even though Justice Hill has performed well in his limited snaps? Keaton Mitchell can’t return soon enough. — Bob in North Carolina Bob, it’s all about balance. Again, I’m not talking about the run-pass ratio being even, but a team has to be versatile in its attack. Against Kansas City and Las Vegas, the Ravens had to throw more because both teams had strong defensive lines. Against Buffalo and Dallas, the Ravens attacked with the running game because they could physically handle both teams, and that will probably happen Sunday versus Cincinnati. The running game sets up the play-action passes as well as the run-pass options for Jackson, and that’s when the Ravens are at their best. It makes no difference if you run or throw the ball, just win — whatever it takes. Jackson has already proven that he can win a lot of games in the NFL with both his legs and arm, and that makes the Ravens offense diversified. A team needs that type of confidence headed into every game, and the Ravens have enough tools to be successful. Ravens safety Marcus Williams celebrates after recovering a fumble against the Cowboys in Week 3. (Ron Jenkins/Getty) Through four games now, I’ve RARELY seen safety Marcus Williams make a play, let alone an impact play. Is that a product of how Zach Orr has him positioned on the back end? Or he just isn’t the impactful player anymore that Eric DeCosta paid a lot of money for? — Paul in Orlando Williams has battled injuries the last couple of seasons, but every player can’t be a star. The Ravens have several on defense in middle linebacker Roquan Smith, outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, end Madubuike and safety Kyle Hamilton, and Williams fits nicely into the mix as a role player. Has he been overpaid during his time in Baltimore? Yes, but he played well during his five years in New Orleans which earned him the five-year, $70 million contract to bring him here to Baltimore in March of 2022. Williams plays a decent center field and really is a free safety. Hamilton plays more near the line of scrimmage as a strong safety and this secondary needs to get better. Hamilton needs to improve in coverage on the back end, especially in open-field tackling, and yes, Williams can have more impact. Cornerback Brandon Stephens always had great position, but never turns to look for the ball. Even Smith struggled early in the season, so there is time for a turnaround. There were a lot of people who wrote cornerback Marlon Humphrey off last year and he has played surprisingly well at times on both the inside and outside. Maybe Williams can play at a high level again. Have a question for Mike Preston? Email sports@baltsun.com with “Ravens mailbag” in the subject line and it could be answered in The Baltimore Sun. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (10-6 last week; 38-26 overall): Buccaneers Childs Walker (8-8 last week; 32-32 overall): Falcons Mike Preston (9-7 last week; 34-30 overall): Buccaneers C.J. Doon (9-7 last week; 34-30 overall): Falcons Tim Schwartz (12-4 last week; 40-24 overall): Buccaneers Bennett Conlin (9-7 last week; 33-31 overall): Buccaneers New York Jets at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 9: 30 a.m.) Wacker: Vikings Walker: Vikings Preston: Vikings Doon: Vikings Schwartz: Vikings Conlin: Jets Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bears Walker: Bears Preston: Bears Doon: Bears Schwartz: Bears Conlin: Bears Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Texans Walker: Bills Preston: Texans Doon: Bills Schwartz: Bills Conlin: Texans Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Jaguars Walker: Jaguars Preston: Colts Doon: Colts Schwartz: Colts Conlin: Colts Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Patriots Walker: Patriots Preston: Patriots Doon: Patriots Schwartz: Patriots Conlin: Patriots Cleveland Browns at Washington Commanders (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Commanders Walker: Commanders Preston: Commanders Doon: Commanders Schwartz: Commanders Conlin: Commanders Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Broncos Walker: Broncos Preston: Broncos Doon: Broncos Schwartz: Broncos Conlin: Broncos Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: 49ers Walker: 49ers Preston: 49ers Doon: 49ers Schwartz: 49ers Conlin: 49ers Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Packers Walker: Packers Preston: Rams Doon: Packers Schwartz: Packers Conlin: Packers New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Seahawks Walker: Seahawks Preston: Seahawks Doon: Seahawks Schwartz: Seahawks Conlin: Seahawks Related Articles NFL | Ravens vs. Bengals scouting report for Week 5: Who has the edge? NFL | Ravens’ Lamar Jackson responds to social media criticism: ‘Trying to win games … not to help people’s parlay’ NFL | Ravens have perfect practice attendance, Bengals battling key injuries ahead of divisional clash NFL | Can (and should) the Ravens trade for Davante Adams? Here’s what to know. NFL | Ravens film study: How Derrick Henry leads NFL in rushing with Pat Ricard’s help Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) Wacker: Steelers Walker: Steelers Preston: Steelers Doon: Cowboys Schwartz: Cowboys Conlin: Cowboys New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs (Monday, 8:15 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Walker: Chiefs Preston: Chiefs Doon: Chiefs Schwartz: Chiefs Conlin: Saints View the full article

The Ravens smashed the Bills on Sunday Night Football. The Bengals finally picked up their first win of the season against the Panthers. Who will have the advantage when these AFC North rivals meet Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati? Ravens passing game vs. Bengals pass defense The Ravens continued their low-volume, high-efficiency passing against the Bills, with Lamar Jackson completing 13 of 18 for 156 yards and two scores. He has attempted just 33 passes over the last two weeks, the lowest two-game total of his NFL career. That means every significant pass catcher on the team, from Zay Flowers to Mark Andrews to Isaiah Likely, is seeing the ball less than expected. The one exception against Buffalo was running back Justice Hill, who caught all six passes thrown his way. Those included a 19-yard touchdown grab and a twisting 17-yard catch-and run that extended a vital touchdown drive in the third quarter. Hill has become an essential complement to Derrick Henry and a favorite target for Jackson when he needs to beat pressure with quick throws. Fewer passes have meant less burden on an offensive line that struggled against elite pass rushers in the Ravens’ opening pair of losses. Rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten performed well in his first career start against the Bills as Patrick Mekari shifted to left guard to fill in for injured Andrew Vorhees. Might this alignment stay in place even if Vorhees is ready to face the Bengals? Rosengarten projects to start at tackle for years to come, so there’s good reason for the Ravens to keep feeding him opportunities. The Ravens will face a Cincinnati defense that has struggled to generate pressure, ranking 31st in the league in sacks and pressures per dropback. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson (three sacks, six quarterback hits) remains the team’s top pass rusher but hasn’t gotten much help from defensive end Sam Hubbard or defensive tackle B.J. Hill. The Bengals have allowed 6.1 yards per attempt and rank 26th in DVOA, down from 19th in 2023. They lost starting cornerback Chidobe Awuzie after last season and Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates III the year before that. Their replacements, including former Ravens safety Geno Stone, haven’t been as good. Jackson diced up the Bengals in a pair of Ravens wins last year, completing 67.7% of his passes for four touchdowns and no interceptions. EDGE: Ravens Bengals passing game vs. Ravens pass defense Despite Cincinnati’s 0-3 start, quarterback Joe Burrow’s statistical lines have been vintage over the last two weeks. His No. 2 target, Tee Higgins, is back after missing the first two games, and Ja’Marr Chase (19 catches on 24 targets, 300 yards, three touchdowns) remains one of the league’s elite wide receivers. Burrow took eight sacks over the first three games, and the Ravens will surely try to attack rookie right tackle Amarius Mims, who’s filling in for injured veteran Trent Brown. Former Raven Orlando Brown Jr. has done a solid job protecting Burrow’s blind side. The Ravens have done an excellent job keeping Burrow off-balance and reluctant to look downfield since he torched them in a pair of 2021 blowouts. Former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald did it with disguised coverage schemes and well-timed pressure. Successor Zach Orr’s plan against Burrow will be one of Sunday’s key stories. Orr flooded the field with extra defensive backs against the Cowboys and Bills and showed a deft touch for varying his pressures, using cornerback Marlon Humphrey, for example, as an effective blitzer against Josh Allen. Allen made a few great throws against the Ravens but finished 16-of-29 for 180 yards and no scores. He faced steady harassment from edge rushers Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy and defensive tackle Travis Jones, all of whom are off to outstanding starts. Safety Kyle Hamilton’s versatility around the line of scrimmage could also be a major factor against Cincinnati. After struggling to hold leads in their previous two games, the Ravens put Buffalo away with a pair of back-breaking sacks from Van Noy and Oweh in the third quarter. EDGE: Even Ravens running game vs. Bengals run defense The Ravens destroyed their last two opponents on the ground, outrushing the Cowboys and Bills by a combined 545 yards to 132. They’re averaging 6.4 yards per attempt, easily the best in the league. Jackson remains the orchestrator and a devastating threat (77 yards per game, 7.5 yards per attempt), but this is the first time he has worked with a running back who scares defenses as much as he does. Henry went 87 yards on his first carry against Buffalo and finished the night with 199 rushing yards. He’s on pace to exceed 2,000 for the season while averaging a career-high six yards per attempt. A young offensive line that struggled to open holes in the first two weeks asserted its size and power against the Cowboys and Bills. Center Tyler Linderbaum is playing at an All-Pro level. Fullback Patrick Ricard and tight ends Likely and Andrews have done the grunt work to give Henry his favored outside running lanes. The Ravens will look for another dominant performance against a defense that ranked 28th in DVOA against the run in 2023 and ranks 22nd so far this season. The Bengals have allowed 145.5 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry against ground attacks that do not measure up to Baltimore’s. They have a pair of good linebackers in Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt but badly miss D.J. Reader, who was their dominant interior run defender for years. The Ravens lead the NFL in rushing yards through the first four weeks of the season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) EDGE: Ravens Bengals running game vs. Ravens run defense The Bengals ran for just 144 yards over their first two games, but porous run defenses from Washington and Carolina helped them pick up the pace over the last two. They said goodbye to longtime running back Joe Mixon in the offseason, replacing him with Zack Moss, who’s averaging 46.8 yards per game and 3.9 per carry. Moss has carried more than backup Chase Brown, but Brown has been more efficient, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Burrow is no threat on designed runs but can scramble well enough in a pinch. The Ravens always played well against Mixon and have smothered opposing ground games this year, holding them to 58 yards per game and three yards per carry, both league-best totals. They didn’t miss nose tackle Michael Pierce (shoulder) against Buffalo, in part because the 6-foot-4, 338-pound Jones is emerging as a star. Hamilton has done his best work this year against the run. All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith is off to a slow start by his standard but still leads the team in tackles. EDGE: Ravens Ravens special teams vs. Bengals special teams Justin Tucker didn’t attempt a field goal against the Bills after missing one wide-left in each of the Ravens’ first three games. Fans will watch anxiously the next time the greatest kicker in NFL lines up, especially if it’s from 50 yards or more. Punter Jordan Stout has performed much better (57.1% inside the opponent’s 20-yard line for the season) since he shanked a key kick in the Ravens’ collapse against the Raiders. Deonte Harty is averaging a solid 11.6 yards on punt returns. Cincinnati kicker Evan McPherson has made nine of 10 field goal attempts, including all three from 50 yards or beyond. The Bengals rank 26th in special teams DVOA because they’ve gotten little from their return game and have struggled in kickoff coverage. EDGE: Ravens Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 5 of 2024 NFL season: Cowboys vs. Steelers, Bills vs. Texans and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Lamar Jackson responds to social media criticism: ‘Trying to win games … not to help people’s parlay’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens have perfect practice attendance, Bengals battling key injuries ahead of divisional clash Baltimore Ravens | Can (and should) the Ravens trade for Davante Adams? Here’s what to know. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens film study: How Derrick Henry leads NFL in rushing with Pat Ricard’s help Ravens intangibles vs. Bengals intangibles The Ravens-Bengals rivalry has swung wildly in recent seasons. Cincinnati won a pair of blowouts in 2021 and ended the Ravens’ season (with Jackson out) in 2022. Baltimore bounced back to win both meetings (with Burrow getting hurt in the second) last year. Cincinnati started 0-3, so coach Zac Taylor and his top stars will treat this as a must-win game. The Ravens are riding high coming off their season-best performance against Buffalo and could make their 0-2 start a distant memory with a win in Cincinnati. “We don’t want to listen to the good stuff,” coach John Harbaugh said after the Bills win, signaling that he wanted the Ravens looking ahead instead of enjoying what they’d done. They won’t overlook the Bengals given the feisty history between these teams and the built-in importance of any AFC North game. They have played well in Cincinnati the last two seasons, making life uncomfortable for Burrow. EDGE: Ravens Prediction As long as the Bengals have Burrow throwing to Chase and Higgins, they’ll be a threat. They’re better than their 0-3 start, especially on offense. The Ravens don’t want to spot Cincinnati a lead and have the game turn into a throwing contest. The good news for the Ravens is they have the right playmakers to punish a Cincinnati defense that has lost a lot of talent over the last few years. Led by Jackson and Henry, they’ll try to follow the same script that worked against the Cowboys and Bills. The Bengals won’t be the team to stop them. Ravens 30, Bengals 24 Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson does not care about your parlay or his stats. But “every day,” he told The Baltimore Sun, he gets direct messages on social media from those who have a vested interest in his numbers. This week, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player apparently had enough. “We human, too,” he said Wednesday in Owings Mills. “We’re trying to win games. … not to help people’s parlay. “I don’t believe we go into games worried about stats, either. We worried about the ‘W’ column. … We don’t dwell on parlays, but I see a lot of people like to make comments in our comments section and in our [direct messages], but then when we address them in the DM they want to make it public. It is what it is. We trying to win.” Jackson added the prevalence of messages he receives over his stats and fans’ bets that are linked to them has “become a thing” since betting became more prominent in the NFL. In recent years, the league has embraced gambling through partnerships with companies such as DraftKings and FanDuel, among others. The quarterback’s response came two days after he sounded off on X and three days after the Ravens’ 35-10 blowout of the Buffalo Bills in which he attempted just 18 passes and threw for just 156 yards. “This is a “TEAM” sport I’m not out here satisfied when I threw for 300yds but took a L,” he wrote on X. “If I throw for 50 yds and we WIN, that’s wtf matters. Yall stop commenting on our socials about the yds yall fan duel or parlays ain’t hit.” Two weeks ago, Jackson threw the ball just 15 times for 182 yards in Baltimore’s 28-25 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Last season, Jackson attempted fewer than 21 passes in a game only once (Week 4 against the Browns in Cleveland, who the Ravens beat 28-3) and averaged 28.56 pass attempts per game on his way to career highs in passing yards and completion percentage. This season, he’s averaging 27 passes per game, a number that would be even lower if not for his 41 attempts in the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, who never trailed after the second quarter and twice led by 10 in the second half. Since taking over as the full-time starter in 2019, Jackson has averaged fewer than 27 passes per game only twice: his 2019 MVP season and in 2020. Other oddities stand out as well. Most notable is the lack of receiving production from tight end and security blanket Mark Andrews, who has just six catches for 65 yards so far. That includes being shut out each of the past two games. “Sometimes you might not get the ball,” Jackson said. “We got all these great guys on our offense that’s helping us win games, including Mark. Mark is playing a huge role right now for us doing what he’s doing; blocking, running routes, running guys out. … He’s just being a team player right now.” It’s hard to argue with the success, particularly amid a turnaround from an 0-2 start to wins in each of the past two games, including against the previously unbeaten Bills. Through the first four weeks of the season, the Ravens have the No. 1 offense in defense-adjusted value over average and are averaging 7 yards per play. Baltimore also ranks fifth in scoring (26.5 points per game) and first in yards per game (429.5). Jackson has passed for 858 yards and five touchdowns with one interception and rushed for 308 yards and two more scores. Only eight players have a higher expected points added per play than Jackson’s mark of plus-0.17. Meanwhile, Derrick Henry leads the NFL in rushing and is fourth in the league in average yards before contact (3.84). “We’re just playing chess not checkers out there on that field,” Jackson said of the Ravens’ versatility. “That’s basically what is with our offense. … It’s hard to defend us.” Still, there’s no stopping the comments, and Jackson is hardly the only target of them. “I can definitely say [fans] go over the line with them,” wide receiver Rashod Bateman told The Sun. “Out of all the people on this team, I can promise you I have [gotten them]. I’ve dealt with all the negativity from the fans, Baltimore, fans across the world.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens have perfect practice attendance, Bengals battling key injuries ahead of divisional clash Baltimore Ravens | Can (and should) the Ravens trade for Davante Adams? Here’s what to know. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens film study: How Derrick Henry leads NFL in rushing with Pat Ricard’s help Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders in Week 6 isn’t getting flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Here’s why. Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: The Ravens are getting their swagger back | COMMENTARY He added that the criticism can be difficult, and so can finding the balance between having an impact and dealing with not getting the ball. Bateman, who has just nine catches for 144 yards and a touchdown, said it’s a “slippery slope as a receiver, especially when you’re open.” “It’s tough,” he told The Sun. “But you have to do what’s best for the team. “We know as a receiver we’re not getting everything that we want right now. Hopefully those opportunities change.” What’s unlikely to change, however, at least for the moment, are the flood of messages. “We seen what it was the first two games,” Jackson said. “It was like ‘What are the Ravens doing? The Ravens are the worst team in the NFL.’ We were seeing all type of crap. We just win these games and it’s like ‘We’re the team to beat.’ No we just play football. “It don’t really matter, we just go out there with a winning mentality.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

All 52 Ravens were present on the practice field Wednesday afternoon for the first time this season ahead of Sunday’s divisional matchup in Cincinnati. “We understand how valuable that is. How rare that is,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I just think the guys are working really hard too. Guys work super hard, they practice hard. They work hard in the weight room. The weight staff and training staff has all done a great job.” Both left guard Andrew Vorhees and nose tackle Michael Pierce returned after missing last week’s commanding win over the Bills. Vorhees didn’t practice last week because of an ankle injury, while Pierce was out with a shoulder injury. Pierce returned to full participation Wednesday, while Vorhees was limited. Their potential returns to the lineup would give the Ravens a boost in the trenches Sunday. In Vorhees’ absence, the Ravens reshuffled their offensive line Sunday night. Veteran Patrick Mekari moved from right tackle to left guard, while rookie second-round draft pick Roger Rosengarten stepped in at right tackle, making his first career start. The reconfigured offensive line performed well as the Ravens rushed for 271 yards in a 35-10 win over the Buffalo Bills. Linebacker Chris Board (ankle) and defensive end Brent Urban (neck) were both limited participants in practice. Cornerback Arthur Maulet (knee/hamstring) returned as a limited participant, opening his 21-day window to return to the active roster after spending the first four weeks on injured reserve. The 31-year-old Maulet would be a welcome addition to the secondary that struggled in the season’s first three games but is coming off its best performance of the season. The veteran defensive back appeared in 13 games last season with 37 total tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception. “He’s a great leader,” Harbaugh said. “Arthur is one of those guys, you feel his energy even when he’s not playing. On the sideline, he was into it. He was flying around. He knew all the calls, was coaching guys up. He was looking forward to coming back. It’s a little bit of a process. You’ve been down for four or five weeks. He’s going to have to ramp his way back in. We’ll see day to day here how he does with that, but it’s great to have him out here.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Can (and should) the Ravens trade for Davante Adams? Here’s what to know. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens film study: How Derrick Henry leads NFL in rushing with Pat Ricard’s help Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders in Week 6 isn’t getting flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Here’s why. Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: The Ravens are getting their swagger back | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 4: Ravens show how quickly things can change For the Bengals (1-3), quarterback Joe Burrow (right wrist), tight end Tanner Hudson (knee), defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr. (thumb) and guard Cordell Volson (ankle) were also full participants. However, the Bengals’ defense remains banged up at all three levels. Three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson (neck/back), defensive tackle B.J Hill (hamstring) and linebacker Germaine Pratt (ankle) were all limited. Meanwhile, cornerback Mike Hilton (knee) and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (hamstring) didn’t practice. The Bengals opened the practice window for a pair of defensive linemen on injured reserve with knee injuries in defensive end Myles Murphy, a 2023 first-round pick, and defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson. View the full article

Davante Adams has asked the Las Vegas Raiders to trade him, and on paper adding the explosive three-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver to a Ravens roster that already includes Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry might sound like a dream scenario that general manager Eric DeCosta should pursue. According to BetCalifornia.com, Baltimore has the fourth-best odds at +1000, or a 9.1% chance, to acquire him. Only the New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints have better odds. In reality, however, it’s unlikely Adams, who torched Baltimore in Week 2 with nine catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, will end up a Raven. Here’s why: Salary cap and capital The biggest hurdle that would prevent the Ravens from landing Adams is financial. Baltimore is already tight on salary cap space, with just $4.3 million in room, per Over The Cap. Adams, meanwhile, would immediately count $13.5 million against the cap, a number that will decline with each passing week down to $8.6 million at the Oct. 31 trade deadline. That means the Raiders would likely have to eat some of his remaining salary and the Ravens would need to extend his deal, which currently includes $36 million and $37 million due in 2025 and 2026, respectively. That’s a lot for a player who will turn 32 in December. The Ravens already have a ton of money tied up in a handful of players, including Jackson, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, safety Marcus Williams, tight end Mark Andrews and inside linebacker Roquan Smith. Several of their players will be free agents in 2025, too, including tackles Ronnie Stanley and Patrick Mekari, fullback Patrick Ricard and cornerback Brandon Stephens. Stephens is one player they’ve already said they’d like to keep. The Raiders, meanwhile, have reportedly told teams they would consider offers that include a second-round pick and additional compensation. Baltimore has a second-round draft pick next year, but it is one of only seven selections (not including compensatory picks) they currently have, and they have long been reticent to unload draft capital. They also don’t have much in the way of players they could or would want to move to clear enough cap space as part of the deal that wouldn’t hurt their chances of reaching the Super Bowl. Awkward fit Simply put, Adams is a player who demands the ball. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens film study: How Derrick Henry leads NFL in rushing with Pat Ricard’s help Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders in Week 6 isn’t getting flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Here’s why. Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: The Ravens are getting their swagger back | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 4: Ravens show how quickly things can change Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh still isn’t worried about Mark Andrews | NOTES Over the past six seasons before this one, he’s had at least 149 targets every year but one. He’s also caught at least 100 passes in all but one season during that span. Last season, Zay Flowers led Baltimore in catches (77) and receiving yards (858) on 108 targets. Now in his second year, he’s on pace to eclipse that target share. The Ravens already have enough hands to feed between Flowers, Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Rashod Bateman, so adding Adams to the mix would only make that more difficult. And now that they’ve started to lean into their running game with Jackson only throwing the ball 18 and 15 times the past two weeks, adding a receiver who publicly calls for targets would be problematic. Baltimore could trade Bateman, who signed a cap-friendly two-year extension this past offseason, but DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh have been bullish on seeing him succeed here. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Four games into his Ravens career, Derrick Henry is leading the NFL in rushing yards, averaging a career-high 6 yards per carry. He also has the young season’s longest run at 87 yards. Much of that damage has come over the past two weeks, with 151 yards against the Dallas Cowboys followed by 199 against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night at M&T Bank Stadium. Both were victories and both demonstrated that the second year of Todd Monken’s offense is becoming less about spreading things out and more about taking a step back to perhaps take a giant leap forward. After sputtering to an 0-2 start, Baltimore seems to have found its identity in a familiar way. “We didn’t start the way we wanted to, but like I told those guys, this is why I came here, because of the culture,” Henry said. “Our back is against the wall, 0-2, we just kept believing.” For good reason. Henry, 30, tore through Buffalo for 199 yards. Nine of those runs went for at least 5 yards, including three that covered 25 or more with all of them leading to touchdowns. But Henry was hardly alone in his success, as fullback Pat Ricard and a much-criticized and makeshift offensive line paved the way. He did the rest. Here’s a look at how on his three biggest runs of the night: Distance: 87 yards Down: First-and-10, Baltimore 13-yard line When: 11:02, first quarter Result: Touchdown It was the first snap of the night for the Ravens’ offense, and it had a feeling all week what was going to happen. From the pistol formation, Baltimore ran a “crunch” concept, which uses a combo of a guard trap block and a “wham” block to create an opening for the back, and executed it perfectly. With Ricard and tight end Mark Andrews in a snug split to the right of rookie tackle Roger Rosengarten, center Tyler Linderbaum blocked linebacker Dorian Williams, while Rosengarten went inside-out on defensive end Greg Rousseau and right guard Daniel Faalele down-blocked to the inside on tackle DaQuan Jones. But the biggest block came from Ricard, who came across the formation to block defensive tackle Ed Oliver. With Henry pressing the edge as he took the ball, that allowed Andrews to get a few yards downfield to block safety Taylor Rapp and kept cornerback Rasul Douglas in contain to the outside. From there, Henry did the rest. Distance: 38 yards Down: Second-and-7, Buffalo 40-yard line When: 13:39, fourth quarter Result: First down With Likely and Andrews lined up left of Stanley, Agholor the lone receiver split right to the short side of the field and Ricard in a classic fullback position in the I-formation, this was another example of the Ravens’ power game. And even with the Bills having seven defenders in the box, they still didn’t have an answer. As Jackson took the snap from under center, he turned to his right and tossed the ball back to the left to Henry. Out in front of the back, Stanley shuffled left to pick up linebacker Nick Morrow, Andrews locked up defensive end Dawuane Smoot and Likely got downfield to block cornerback and Baltimore native Christian Benford. That left Ricard leading the way through the massive hole, and he promptly took out charging linebacker Baylon Spector with Henry planting and turning inside before juking back to the outside of Ricard, who also swallowed up Hamlin. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders in Week 6 isn’t getting flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Here’s why. Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: The Ravens are getting their swagger back | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 4: Ravens show how quickly things can change Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh still isn’t worried about Mark Andrews | NOTES Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ defense played ‘lights-out’ in prime-time blowout against the Bills Meanwhile, Linderbaum was already 12 yards downfield burying his defender before safety Cole Bishop came from the far side of the field to force Henry to briefly cut back inside before he was dragged down by Douglas from behind. Four plays later, Henry plunged into the end zone off right tackle and fumbled the ball right before the goal line. Fittingly, Ricard recovered it in the end zone for the final blow. A week earlier, Cowboys outside linebacker Micah Parsons said that if defenses followed Ricard, that’s where the ball is often going. That was the case again Sunday against the Bills. “It shows that I’m like at the point of attack,” Ricard said. “So, I have to make sure that I am moving them. Because if they think the ball is going where I’m going — which is not the case every time but sometimes — I have to make sure that I’m running full speed, hitting the guy, moving him so the back has the lane. “It’s pretty cool that I’m getting noticed like that.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Week 5 Ravens at Bengals Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 2 1/2 View the full article

A highly anticipated showdown between the Ravens and Commanders is staying put. The Beltway neighbors are scheduled to play at 1 p.m. on Oct. 13 at M&T Bank Stadium, and it will remain that way with the game not being moved to “Sunday Night Football.” NBC was interested in flexing the game to its prime-time window at 8:20 p.m., but CBS protected the contest, two sources with direct knowledge of the situation told The Baltimore Sun. Under NFL flex rules, up to two games between Weeks 5 and 10 can be moved from Sunday afternoon to Sunday night with 12 days’ notice required. Networks can also protect one game per week. Tuesday is the deadline to announce any changes to the Week 6 Sunday night game, which currently has the New York Giants (1-3) hosting the Cincinnati Bengals (1-3). The Ravens-Commanders game also can’t be moved to the 4:25 p.m. time slot on CBS because FOX has the exclusive doubleheader that week with the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Detroit Lions in the later window. A desire to showcase the Ravens (2-2) and NFC East-leading Commanders (3-1) and their respective star quarterbacks, two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson and No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels, in prime time had obvious and tantalizing appeal, however. Baltimore is starting to find its rhythm as perhaps one of the best teams in the league with two straight wins, including a 35-10 demolition of the previously undefeated Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. Washington, meanwhile, has won three in a row thanks in large part to the electrifying play of the rookie Daniels, who has passed for 897 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for 218 yards and four scores and has the highest completion percentage (.821) through his first four games of any quarterback in NFL history. The Ravens-Commanders game is also the marquee contest on CBS’ slate that week. The other Week 6 games at 1 p.m. for the network are the Houston Texans at New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts at the Tennessee Titans. The two 4:05 p.m. games are the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers at the Denver Broncos. Moving the game to Sunday night also would have meant a sixth prime-time game for the Ravens this season. Already, Baltimore has played the Chiefs in Kansas City and hosted the Bills in prime-time over the first four weeks and still has night games against the Buccaneers in Tampa (Oct. 21), at home against the Bengals (Nov. 7) and at the Chargers (Nov. 25). The Ravens will also play on the road on Christmas Day for a second straight year, this time against the Texans. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: The Ravens are getting their swagger back | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 4: Ravens show how quickly things can change Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh still isn’t worried about Mark Andrews | NOTES Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ defense played ‘lights-out’ in prime-time blowout against the Bills Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 35-10 win over the Buffalo Bills Despite the proximity between Baltimore and Washington, the meeting between the teams is a rarity. Though they play annually in the preseason, the Ravens and Commanders have met just seven times since 1997 during the regular season and haven’t played since 2020. In that most recent game, Jackson ran for a 50-yard touchdown and threw for two scores to lead the Ravens to an easy 31-17 win at then-FedEx Field in Landover. But in the most recent meeting in Baltimore, Washington beat the Ravens, 16-10, in 2016 behind a stingy defense and an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown by Jamison Crowder. Overall, the Ravens have won four of the seven meetings. Baltimore’s next game is at Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon. Washington hosts the Cleveland Browns. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Those dark clouds hovering over Baltimore two weeks ago now have some light shining through them. Baltimore went into panic mode after the Ravens opened this season with two straight losses to Kansas City and Las Vegas. But after two straight wins, including a 35-10 victory over the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills on Sunday night at M&T Bank Stadium, a sense of calm has taken over. The Ravens (2-2) are a .500 team in a league where a team’s future can be changed overnight or in one play. Gone are the days when a team could physically dominate like the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers or the Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s. There are no super teams anymore. Two teams remain undefeated — Minnesota and Kansas City — but how long can the Vikings remain unbeaten with Sam Darnold as the starting quarterback? Even the league’s Superman, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, will struggle to win an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl title without speedy receivers Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Rashee Rice, who are out for the foreseeable future because of injuries. That’s why coach John Harbaugh and the Ravens want to remain on an even keel despite all the smooching from both the local and national media after pummeling the Bills. The Ravens have been through this before as recently as last season when they had the league’s best record before losing to the Chiefs, 17-10, in the AFC championship game in Baltimore. “We know what’s possible, we know what we’re capable of, but we have a long way to go, and we have a lot of work to do,” Harbaugh said. “And we’re just four games in, and we have 13 more regular-season games to play. And where the season goes, it’s going to be defined by what we do in the next 13 games plus.” Harbaugh knows how to apply the brakes. It appears the Ravens have found an offensive identity by riding running back Derrick Henry, who ran for 151 and 199 yards the past two weeks against Dallas and Buffalo, respectively. Henry might go for more than 200 yards against a poor Bengals defense on Sunday in Cincinnati, but it’s not strictly about the Ravens being so run-oriented. Balance is the key for Baltimore. It’s something both Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Todd Monken have spoken about several times the past two years. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has been nearly perfect in the past two games as a game manager with Henry as the primary playmaker, which has set up the play-action passing game and run-pass options. Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, right, strip-sacks Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the third quarter Sunday night. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) But this will change in the postseason. Opposing defenses will crowd the line of scrimmage to take away Henry and force Jackson to beat them downfield with his arm. Can Jackson lead the Ravens to a title that way? He hasn’t in the previous six years, but that could change. Maybe by the postseason both guards, Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele, will have developed as pass blockers and give Jackson more time to throw. He’ll need it. “Yes, we’ve got some momentum going,” Henry said. “There’s still things that we can get better at that we’re going to focus on and get better at, but it’s a long season. We got off to a great start last week, then didn’t finish the way we wanted to. We’re still progressing, still working and still looking to get better.” Defensively, the Ravens eased some concerns against the Bills. They jumped out to a 21-3 halftime lead, but once Baltimore went three-and-out on its first offensive series of the third quarter, it seemed another late collapse was possible. But Buffalo never mounted a serious threat after its first possession of the second half. The Ravens dominated the Bills and their small ball passing game as Buffalo finished with only 155 passing yards and 236 yards of total offense. The Bengals will be more of a challenge for the Ravens with quarterback Joe Burrow, receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase and tight end Mike Gesicki. But the win over Buffalo should give some much-needed confidence to the Ravens’ defense, which had to go through some growing pains after replacing three top assistant coaches from a year ago. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders in Week 6 isn’t getting flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Here’s why. Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 4: Ravens show how quickly things can change Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh still isn’t worried about Mark Andrews | NOTES Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ defense played ‘lights-out’ in prime-time blowout against the Bills Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 35-10 win over the Buffalo Bills “We’re still in the building phase, still trying to get better every single week,” running back Justice Hill said. “It’s still early in the season and we’ve got a lot of great opponents coming up. We’re just going to keep stacking up good practices and good games.” The swag is starting to build, and that’s a big part of the psyche here in Baltimore. So far, the AFC North has been disappointing and not lived up to its reputation of being the NFL’s toughest division. Pittsburgh (3-1) will eventually become a .500 team again and both Cleveland and Cincinnati have been embarrassments to the state of Ohio. That’s good for fans here, because local folks live with a chip on their shoulders from an inferiority complex being next to major cities like Washington and Philadelphia. But after Sunday night in the beatdown of Buffalo, fans found something to get excited about again. Like the team itself, the confidence is back. The sun is starting to shine again. Finally. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-227-2943 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will recap the best and worst from around the league. Here are our winners and losers from Week 4: Winner: Ravens Never underestimate how quickly things can change in the NFL. After starting 0-2 with a dumbfounding home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Ravens looked lost. Penalties kept piling up, the offense couldn’t find its identity and the defense suffered from glaring lapses in communication. Even a bounce-back win over the Dallas Cowboys didn’t feel good after Baltimore gave up 19 straight points in the fourth quarter and nearly coughed up a huge lead. So what happened when the league’s hottest team came to M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday night? The Ravens dominated, of course. After all the agita about Derrick Henry’s role in the offense through the first few games, the four-time Pro Bowl selection exploded for 199 rushing yards in a 35-10 win over the Buffalo Bills, highlighted by an 87-yard touchdown run — the longest in Ravens history — on the team’s first play from scrimmage. Through four weeks, pending Monday night’s doubleheader, Henry leads the league in rushing yards (480) and is tied for first in rushing touchdowns (five). During their slow start, it was fair to wonder whether the Ravens belonged in the NFL’s elite tier. This was a team that lost several key players and coaches from last year’s 13-4 group and was starting to feel the effects of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s big contract extension. The roster simply wasn’t as good as it had been in years past, and maybe the rest of the league was catching up to them. A noticeable step back by kicker Justin Tucker, tight end Mark Andrews and linebacker Roquan Smith from their heights as some of the best players at their respective positions didn’t inspire much confidence, either. Now, that all seems silly. When the Ravens are clicking, with Henry and Jackson gashing the defense on the ground and through the air and the defense harassing the front-runner for NFL Most Valuable Player into one of his worst performances in years, they look like a Super Bowl contender. Consider this: Before Sunday night, the Bills hadn’t lost by more than six points in a regular-season game since 2021, the longest such streak in NFL history. Safety Kyle Hamilton said the Ravens didn’t win the Super Bowl on Sunday, but they certainly took a big step toward doing so. Loser: New York Jets The Jets allowed negative passing yards at halftime and still lost. Let that sink in. In a sloppy, rain-soaked game, New York’s offense was simply dreadful. Breece Hall, the running back many picked near the top of their fantasy football drafts, had 4 yards on 10 carries. Garrett Wilson, blanketed for most of the day by Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, had five catches for 41 yards. Aaron Rodgers averaged just 5.4 yards on 42 passing attempts and was sacked five times. Give credit to Denver’s defense, which is shaping up to be one of the league’s best. Coordinator Vance Joseph is blitzing at one of the league’s highest rates and getting home, as Denver ranks second in the league in sacks (16) behind only the Minnesota Vikings. The front seven, led by breakout star Zach Allen at defensive end, has been disruptive. But the Jets can’t lose to a team with an offense as anemic as Denver’s, no matter the circumstances. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix didn’t have a completion longer than 2 yards until his first pass of the second half, and the Broncos went 3-for-14 on third down while averaging just 3.3 yards per play. Somehow, the Jets were just as bad, getting three field goals from Greg Zuerlein until he missed a potential game-winning kick from 50 yards with 47 seconds left. New York committed 13 penalties for 90 yards, and that was with nine days to prepare. It looked like the Zach Wilson-led Jets, which is probably the worst thing you could say about a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels, left, leaps into the end zone for a touchdown Sunday against the Cardinals. (Rick Scuter/AP) Winner: Washington Commanders Jayden Daniels has arrived. In his return to Arizona, the former Sun Devils star picked apart the Cardinals’ defense, completing 26 of 30 passes for 233 yards with a touchdown and an interception while rushing for 47 yards and a score in a dominant 42-14 win. The rookie has been one of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks, and he’s only four games into his pro career. In fact, Daniels’ 82.1% completion rate is the highest mark in any four-game span in any player’s career since 1950. And this might be the best stat of the season so far: Through four games, Daniels has led the Commanders on more scoring drives (23) than he’s thrown incompletions (19). Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury deserves plenty of credit for tailoring his scheme to Daniels’ skill set. After his failure as a head coach in Arizona, Kingsbury took time away from the game and came back rejuvenated, much to the delight of his players and fellow coaches. Washington seems to finally have some belief not only because of its franchise quarterback, but the infrastructure around him. It’s early, but it’s not crazy to think that the Commanders (3-1) could contend for the NFC East title and make the playoffs. Loser: Jacksonville Jaguars It’s getting harder and harder to believe that the Jaguars can turn this season around. Coming off a 47-10 blowout loss to the Bills that dropped them to 0-3, Jacksonville put together perhaps its best performance of the season. It forced the Texans to punt on five straight possessions in the second half and led 20-17 with 3:51 to go. Surely this was the moment. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh still isn’t worried about Mark Andrews | NOTES Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ defense played ‘lights-out’ in prime-time blowout against the Bills Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 35-10 win over the Buffalo Bills Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston on Ravens’ 35-10 win over Bills | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Derrick Henry on the offensive line | VIDEO Then the Jags gained just 1 yard and burned 57 seconds off the clock before punting the ball away. Houston answered with a nine-play, 69-yard drive, taking the lead for good on a 1-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Dare Ogunbowale with 18 seconds left. Jacksonville had a chance to extend the lead in the fourth quarter after a 58-yard run by Tank Bigsby to the Houston 4-yard line, but two runs by Bigsby, an incomplete pass by Trevor Lawrence and a run for no gain by Lawrence turned the ball over on downs. Coach Doug Pederson brushed off questions about his job status after the game, but it feels inevitable that there will be a change of leadership soon. Pederson was brought in to get the most out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, but the 2021 No. 1 overall pick has regressed and is missing throws he should make given his talent level. The 1992 San Diego Chargers are the only team to come back from an 0-4 start to make the playoffs, so the season is effectively over. Now it’s about figuring out which players and coaches deserve to stay on the next iteration of the team. View the full article