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Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is likely to miss Sunday’s game against the visiting Houston Texans with a hamstring injury, two sources with direct knowledge of the situation told The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday. Given the nature of the injury, he also could be out for up to 2-3 weeks, one of the sources said. Hamstring injuries typically keep a player out for 2-4 weeks, depending on the severity, though a source said that Jackson will try to see if he could return in time for Sunday. The Ravens host the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6 on Oct. 12 before their bye week and a game against the Chicago Bears in Week 8 on Oct. 26. Jackson, 28, suffered the injury during Sunday’s 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. He left the game midway through the third quarter and did not return. The news comes a day after coach John Harbaugh said he had a “pretty good feel” for Baltimore’s rash of injuries, including Jackson’s, but declined to comment on how long the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player and others could be out. Harbaugh will speak to the media on Wednesday. With Jackson likely sidelined, Cooper Rush would start in his place Sunday against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium. Both teams are 1-3 this season. Rush, 31, completed 9 of 13 passes for 52 yards in relief of Jackson. Last season, he completed 60.7% of his passes for 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns with five interceptions in 12 games, including eight starts, for the Dallas Cowboys. “We’ve got a lot of playmakers around him if he’s playing,” Harbaugh said of Rush on Monday. The Ravens’ third-string quarterback is Tyler Huntley, who is currently on the practice squad and likely will be elevated. Losing Jackson, however, is a significant blow for a Baltimore offense that, while struggling to find its rhythm through the first month of the season, is still third in the NFL in scoring. It would also mark the first time that Jackson missed a game because of injury since the 2022 season when a knee injury sidelined him for the final five games of the regular season as well as a wild-card loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Through four games this season, Jackson has completed a career-high 71.6% of his passes for 869 yards and 10 touchdowns with just one interception, which came Sunday against the Chiefs. He has also rushed for 166 yards and a score on 21 carries. Related Articles 5 & Dine: Game-day takeout for your next Ravens watch party Ravens coach John Harbaugh says team’s offense got ‘exposed’ in Chiefs loss 5 stats behind the Ravens’ injury-plagued loss in Kansas City Ravens’ Lamar Jackson injury: John Harbaugh declines to say if QB will miss time Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike will miss rest of season with neck injury Filling that void won’t be easy. The Texans’ defense is No. 1 in the NFL in points per game (12.8), fifth in total yards per game (280.5) and seventh in passing yards per game (178.3). They’re also coming off a 26-0 win over the Tennessee Titans. Things don’t get much easier after that, either. The Rams’ defense ranks in the top 10 in scoring (20.3) and yards per game (284.5). If Rush starts on Sunday, it would be his first start since a 41-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17 last season. In that game, he completed 15 of 28 passes for 147 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Football season is upon us — and if you’re not watching from M&T Bank Stadium, dining options can feel endless. If you’re looking for inspiration for feeding an at-home watch party (or a party of one…) then you’ve come to the right place. The following is a list of five restaurants with the most takeout-friendly food for your next Raven’s watch party. The "Sausage Fest" platter from Das Bierhalle. (Jane Godiner/Staff) Das Bierhalle At Das Bierhalle, find satisfying German-inspired food that lends itself to game-day feasting. The restaurant’s Sausage Fest, which the menu describes as a dish fit “for the true sausage lover,” includes eight sausages and five dipping sausages of a guest’s choosing, served atop a bed of warm, slightly tangy sauerkraut. Each sausage could easily feed one hungry Ravens fan, especially if they opt to nestle it between a kraut-loaded bun; however, a better way to get a sense of the restaurant’s breadth of both “haus-made” and Binkert’s German sausages, is to order a variety and share. While my takeout order only came with seven out of the promised eight sausages, there were plenty of highlights — a well-spiced bauernwurst speckled with mustard seeds and dipped in rosemary-thyme mustard sauce, a lemony veal-based knockwurst that sang in curry ketchup, a jalapeno sausage with pops of bubbly cheddar cheese, and a charred Beyond Sausage alongside garlicky marinara that would make for a filling vegan combo, to name a few. Das Bierhalle offers online delivery and pickup via DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, Seamless, Toast and Uber Eats, as well as pickup by phone order. 9527 Harford Road, Parkville, (410) 668-1011; 119 S Main St., Bel Air, (443) 819-3617. dasbierhallemd.com. Chicken wings from Double T Diner. (Jane Godiner/Staff) Double T Diner It’s no secret that chicken wings are a polarizing topic in Baltimore, and there is no shortage of formidable wingeries in the surrounding area. Ultimately, I ordered from Double T due to its range of locations across the Baltimore area, as well as its ease and speed of delivery. Across the board, Double T wings come out plump and meaty, with tender flats and drums with percussive crispy skin. While wing flavors vary by location, the full roster of sauces includes staples like vinegar-forward hot Buffalo sauce, regional twists like sweet and sticky honey with Old Bay, and herby wildcards like Caribbean jerk, which was more saucy and less spicy than other jerk chicken I’ve tried. Dressings here, like ranch and bleu cheese, are thick, pungent and group-friendly. Double T Diner offers delivery and pickup via Caviar, DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, Seamless, Toast and Uber Eats, as well as pickup by phone order. 6300 Baltimore National Pike, (410) 744-4151;12 Defense St., Annapolis, (410) 571-9070; 14550 Baltimore Ave., Laurel, (240) 280-8688; 9010 Belair Road, Nottingham (410) 248-0160; 1 Mountain Road, Pasadena, (410) 766-9669; 10741 Pulaski Hwy., White Marsh, (410) 344-1020. doubletdiner.com. A spread from Lansdowne Inn. (Jane Godiner/Staff) Lansdowne Inn When it comes to a variety of finger food, few places in The Baltimore area can match the number of options as this Halethorpe restaurant-bar that appears to have an affinity for the deep-fried and cheese-dipped. Options include fried pickle slices in a flaky batter, soft pretzel bites with classic neon-orange nacho cheese, tail-on firebox shrimp with a spicy, mayo-based sauce, and breaded cheese bites made with nuggets of pepper Jack cheese that need to be eaten with urgency in order to stay gooey. While the chicken fingers that I ordered sadly did not arrive in the delivery, the appetizers that did make the trip — bites of crispy, quick dopamine in a sharable format with dunkable sauces — are apt for a pre-game mindless munch. Other sharables on the restaurant’s tall appetizer menu include mozzarella sticks, nachos, shrimp and chips, quesadillas, potato skins and bacon-nacho fries. Lansdowne Inn offers delivery and pickup via Postmates, Slice, Toast and Uber Eats, as well as pickup by phone order. 2710 Hammonds Ferry Road, (443) 201-1111. lansdowneinn.com. A spread from Pupuseria Mama Tana in Reisterstown. (Kevin Richardson/Sun Staff) Pupuseria Mama Tana Salvadorian cuisine has all of the shining components of a watch-party feast — sharable plates, drama-free finger food and plenty of ooey, gooey sauciness and cheesiness to go around. Pupuseria Mama Tana checks all of those boxes and more, with its house-made pupusas of both corn and rice flours. An order of three pupusas de birria, filed with savory shredded beef and served alongside unctuous consomé is easily splitable among friends, while a massive “Pupusa Loca” with cheese, pork, chicken, beans and floral loroco buds, can be easily torn apart by hungry fingers. Singe pupusas are also available a la carte with a vast selection of fillings, including delicate and salty ayote squash con queso. Large-format dishes, like fajitas and rich pollo en crema with homemade tortillas, are available for catering 10 to 20 people with 24 hours’ notice. Pupuseria Mama Tana offers delivery and pickup via Caviar, DoorDash, Grubhub, Seamless, Toast and Uber Eats, as well as pickup by phone order. 4707 Eastern Ave., (410) 327-6262. mamatanabaltimore.com. A spread from Wiley Gunter's. (Jane Godiner/Staff) Wiley Gunter’s If your game-day spread isn’t complete without a pile of nachos, this Riverside restaurant’s menu has you in mind. Choose between four different combinations of toppings (or order them all, as I did): “Chesapeake Pub” style with flakey lump crab and house-made queso, flavorful blackened chicken topped with melted shredded cheese, a mess of meat and bean chili begging for sour cream, and, the biggest curveball, a queso-free seared rare ahi tuna nacho appetizer with guacamole and sriracha sauce. The eatery also has two varietals of another game-day staple: the slider. Choose between “Original” sliders with classic condiments of melted American cheese and thick-cut dill pickles, or an order of dressed-up tenderloin sliders topped with balsamic onions, bacon and avocado. Both leaned on the well-done side (I ordered medium for consistency), but sides of crispy Old Bay fries and ketchup, kept things texturally and flavorfully interesting. Wiley Gunter’s offers pickup only via Toast or by phone order. 823 E Fort Ave., (410) 637-3699. wileygunters.com. Have a news tip? Contact Jane Godiner at jgodiner@baltsun.com or on Instagram as @Jane.Craves. View the full article

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said it postgame from the altar at Arrowhead Stadium. And he needled the point even further Monday afternoon, accusing his offense, which remains one of the highest scoring groups in the NFL, of lacking enough “rhythm.” “This game,” he said, of Baltimore’s 37-20 loss to the Chiefs, dropping them to 1-3 and putting the season on life support, “I think, exposed us.” There were defensive issues that lived under a microscope the first three weekends of the season. Piling injuries didn’t help. But in this one more than any other, onus belongs to the offense. Harbaugh was candid in his assessment. Lamar Jackson orchestrated an opening drive that cruised 70 yards on nine plays in 5:25. They looked unstoppable. What followed, “dictated the game,” Harbaugh said. The Ravens couldn’t execute, made uncharacteristic gaffes and head-scratching play calls that dug them into a well. That’s quite a heel turn for a group that ranked No. 1 in offensive DVOA a year ago and led the league in scoring before Week 4, doing so with an unpredictable cast of playmakers. Comparatively, the group that fell in Kansas City looked unrecognizable — even before Jackson limped off the field because of a tweaked hamstring. “Just go back and break the game down,” Harbaugh said, spending the next three minutes reliving how the game slipped through their fingertips before halftime. On Baltimore’s second drive, already deep into enemy territory, Jackson threw a rare interception, misfiring a throw up the right sideline to tight end Mark Andrews. The Chiefs stormed the backfield, forcing a bad decision and under thrown ball. Harbaugh laid down a hammer of criticism: “I don’t like that play call at all.” There were hands in Jackson’s face on a heavy inside blitz while all his options were 10-plus yards upfield and no check-down plan B. The Ravens didn’t inspire any more confidence their next time out. Two delay of game penalties in a three-play sequence held Baltimore back from catching any sort of redeeming groove. Second-and-10 back at their own 26-yard line “invited a blitz,” Harbaugh said. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo called in the strike. He rushed six. Jackson fled, spun back and flicked the ball into the dirt — an intentional grounding penalty that left them in a near-impossible down and distance. “That was a bad series for us,” Harbaugh said. “We just got to look at it honestly and say, ‘That was not good. We put ourselves in that situation.'” The longtime coach reluctantly turned to the third drive. By then, Kansas City held a 6-point lead. Baltimore’s defense still looked respectable. One right hook and maybe the Ravens could have given themselves a chance. They walked into Arrowhead, Harbaugh said, planning to play aggressively and go for it. Things continued to spiral when it became clear the Ravens and offensive coordinator Todd Monken, “didn’t have a good plan” for such situations. The Ravens started with the ball at their own 32-yard line, under 3 minutes before halftime. Jackson threw two incompletions then scrambled for nine yards on his own. Like the two drives before, Spagnuolo licked his chops, calling a blitz positive a pass was coming. Why? Pass-catching running back Justice Hill was in the backfield – rather than Derrick Henry, who took only four carries for 31 yards in the first half – and Hill motioned out wide pre-snap. Jackson had no time to think and flung the ball out of bounds, a play blown dead before ever taking a breath. “Those are just like turnovers, they’re no different,” Harbaugh said, “because you put your defense on a short field. We got to own all that, understand it. That was bad ball. It can be fixed. We got to fix it going forward.” To make matters worse, Jackson coughed up his second fumble in as many games when he bumped into the back of center Tyler Linderbaum as the pocket closed behind him. The quarterback jogged off the field and promptly unleashed his helmet into the ground, devoid of answers for such a demoralizing half. Related Articles 5 stats behind the Ravens’ injury-plagued loss in Kansas City Ravens’ Lamar Jackson injury: John Harbaugh declines to say if QB will miss time Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike will miss rest of season with neck injury READER POLL: What’s most to blame for the Ravens’ 1-3 start? The Ravens are 1-3. History says they’re a Super Bowl long shot. Issues of a stalling offense and inability to convert in short-yardage situations aren’t completely new this season. There were goal-line lapses and failed third-and-shorts in losses to Buffalo and Detroit. Sunday, particularly the three-drive stretch that Harbaugh recounted, exposed the floor of Baltimore’s offense. Sandwiching Baltimore’s initial scoring drive and a Tyler Loop field goal before halftime, the Chiefs scored 20 straight points. Both sides of the ball were bereft of answers. But as has been the case dating back to early last year, when the defense doesn’t have it, Jackson and company can will a win. That wasn’t the case Sunday. As Harbaugh said, they got exposed. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. Chiefs defensive end Ashton Gillotte, right, rushes against Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum in a 37-20 Chiefs win. The Ravens struggled to find cohesion offensively in the defeat, even before Lamar Jackson tweaked his hamstring. (Reed Hoffmann/AP) View the full article

The Ravens’ season isn’t over. But four weeks in, it’s tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Here are five stats that grapple with the gravity of an early season loss, 37-20 to the Chiefs, which could prove to be an inflection point of an all-important season: 88,095,531 One injury after another. The Ravens entered the weekend already down three starters. They’d lose five more by sunset — those five are making a combined $88,095,531 this season. Four of them rank top-6 on the team’s payroll. Most crucially, was the hamstring injury that sidelined star quarterback Lamar Jackson in the third quarter. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (calf) and Nate Wiggins (elbow) all exited early, too. This was a team that survived the last two seasons with unusually good health in a sport where injuries are a given. Seems that good fortune is catching up to them, derailing the beginning of what was once such a promising year. “I’m concerned,” coach John Harbaugh said, his team now 1-3, “but I’m not overwhelmed by it.” 42 It has been 42 games over a span of 32 months, dating back to mid-January 2023, since the Ravens lost a football game by more than eight points. They’ve played their fair share of tight contests, and curb stomped plenty of overmatched foes, but, according to NFL writer Scott Kacsmar, this team held the sixth longest streak in NFL history of keeping losses to one-score affairs. “[There] haven’t been a lot of teams in Ravens history, since 1996, to underachieve to the point where fans felt disappointed in the season as a whole,” All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton said. “And I feel like as of right now, in Week 4, obviously a long way to go in this season, we’re disappointed, and I’m sure the fans are disappointed, too. We have to get it fixed. We have to put a product and a team on the field that fans are proud to say they root for, proud to say they spend money on tickets to come to the games and support us.” 8-42-5.3 Derrick Henry was given only eight carries, which he turned into 42 yards, an average of 5.3 yards per attempt. That’s the fewest times the future Hall of Famer has been handed the ball in a single game as a Raven, and his second lowest single-game rushing yards. “He’s a beast and we were able to take care of him there,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. There were a few eyebrow-raising instances where the Ravens were in short-yardage situations with their bellcow back over on the sideline. The one fans might remember best was on fourth-and-1 in the second quarter. Backup running back Justice Hill motioned out of the backfield, telegraphing a pass, and the Chiefs sent a heavy blitz that gave Jackson no time before he chucked the ball out of bounds. “Maybe we have to do a better job of game-planning in those plays,” Harbaugh said. “That’s what I would say. I think that we need to put our guys in better positions and give them opportunities to make plays in those situations, because in a game like this, you have to be aggressive, you have to go for stuff. We didn’t get it done.” Ravens running back Justice Hill celebrates after scoring in the team's 17-point loss to the Chiefs. Despite Hill's late rushing touchdown, the Ravens barely gave their talented running backs the ball in Sunday's defeat. Derrick Henry had just eight carries. (Charlie Riedel/AP) 2.33% After Sunday night’s loss, the Ravens rank second to last in the NFL in sack percentage (2.33%), the amount of sacks divided by the amount of dropbacks faced. Only the Carolina Panthers are worse through four weeks. Baltimore’s depleted defensive front struggled mightily to disrupt Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Tavius Robinson accounted for the only Ravens sack, forcing Mahomes down after about four seconds. Beyond that, Mahomes was only hit thrice (compared to the eight QB hits on Jackson). According to Pro Football Focus, he had an average of 2.70 seconds to get rid of the ball, nearly four-tenths of a second longer than his average this year. Even then, Mahomes had no issue in the quick game, completing 17 of 22 for 142 yards and 3 TDs under 2.5 seconds, his most quick TDs since Week 1, 2022, per Next Gen Stats. Related Articles Ravens coach John Harbaugh says team’s offense got ‘exposed’ in Chiefs loss Ravens’ Lamar Jackson injury: John Harbaugh declines to say if QB will miss time Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike will miss rest of season with neck injury READER POLL: What’s most to blame for the Ravens’ 1-3 start? The Ravens are 1-3. History says they’re a Super Bowl long shot. 11 How about one positive figure? Seems like a while ago, and a drive that will be long forgotten in the lore of this Ravens loss, but Baltimore’s opening drive cruised 70 yards on nine plays, capped by an 11-yard passing touchdown to Hill. That was the last semblance of the high-octane Ravens offense we remember, moving the ball forward on 8 of 9 plays. Here’s how the next five drives unfolded before halftime: interception, three penalties that forced a third-and-a-mile, a failed fourth-and-one passing attempt, a Jackson fumble and a 43-yard field goal. “I mean that’s play calling,” Harbaugh said. “I am not going to sit here and say I’m happy about it, at all. I am sure that [offensive coordinator] Todd [Monken] is not happy about it either. None of us are.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

A day after Ravens quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson suffered a hamstring injury in a 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, coach John Harbaugh on Monday did not say if Jackson would miss any time. “I got a pretty good feel with all the injuries,” he said, “but not commenting on them today.” Jackson suffered a hamstring injury midway through the third quarter Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium and did not return. Harbaugh also said that he could not say with certainty on which play Jackson suffered the injury but hinted that it could have been an accumulation of plays. He also said that Jackson was unable to go back into the game. “There was no way he was gonna go back in the game,” he said. “The injury precluded it. “I know Lamar. If he could have gone in the game, he would have been in the game. That’s how Lamar is. But I can assure you that he would not have been able to go back in the game under any circumstance.” Jackson was not made available to reporters after the game because he was receiving treatment, a team spokesperson said. He was sacked from behind by Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis on his final play of the game and remained on the bench, occasionally flexing his right leg. Though Jackson did not speak afterward, he was seen leaving the locker room with a significant limp. Even before being injured, Jackson struggled against Kansas City’s blitz. He was pressured on 48.1% of his dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats, the highest rate since Week 4 in 2023. That pressure helped result in a pair of turnovers, with Jackson throwing an interception in the first quarter and losing a fumble in the second when he ran into center Tyler Linderbaum. Related Articles Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike will miss rest of season with neck injury READER POLL: What’s most to blame for the Ravens’ 1-3 start? The Ravens are 1-3. History says they’re a Super Bowl long shot. 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 37-20 loss to the Chiefs Mike Preston: Ravens’ Lamar Jackson disappears in pivotal moment | COMMENTARY Before Sunday, Jackson had not turned the ball over this season. Jackson, 28, also hasn’t missed a game because of injury since 2022 when a knee injury kept him out of the final five games of the regular season as well as a wild-card playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. If he can’t play Sunday against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium, Cooper Rush will make his first start for the Ravens. Rush, 31, completed 9 of 13 passes for 52 yards in relief of Jackson on Sunday. He appeared in 12 games and started eight for the Dallas Cowboys last season, going 4-4 while throwing for 1,844 yards with 12 touchdown passes and four interceptions. Jackson’s injury comes at a particularly concerning time. The Ravens (1-3) are off to their worst start since 2015 when they also lost three of their first four and went on to finish 5-11. Only 35 of 252 teams that have started a season with one win in their first four games have gone on to make the playoffs, and only the 2001 New England Patriots, who switched to Tom Brady as their starting quarterback, started 1-3 and won the Super Bowl. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens’ injury news has gone from bad to worse. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike will miss the rest of the 2025 season, coach John Harbaugh said Monday. The confirmation came two days after Baltimore placed the 27-year-old on injured reserve with a neck injury and less than 24 hours after Harbaugh said he could not provide insight on the decision to put the former third-round pick on injured reserve. When asked if the neck injury could be career-threatening, Harbaugh said, “Yeah, that’s a good question. … I’m trying to explain it in the best way I can, in terms of what I’m allowed to tell you. A lot of that are things that he needs to address with you guys, you know, in his time. I really can’t speak for him. Wouldn’t want to. Those are questions that would be best answered by him going forward, and he may be still getting some information on that as well, but leave that for him to answer.” Losing Madubuike for the season is a crushing blow to a defense that is already the worst in the NFL, allowing 33.3 points per game. It’s just the latest in a series of injuries that have depleted Baltimore’s defense. Roquan Smith (hamstring), cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (calf) and Nate Wiggins (elbow) were all knocked out of Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, while defensive tackle Broderick Washington Jr. (ankle) was also placed on injured reserve on Saturday. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) and Travis Jones (knee) were inactive. Madubuike, whom the Ravens drafted 71st overall out of Texas A&M in 2020, has been an ascendant force in recent years with 5 1/2 sacks in 2022 and a team-high 13 a year later, which was also tops among all interior linemen in the NFL. Last season, Madubuike’s sack total dipped to 6 1/2, but he was one of the most double-teamed linemen in the league. Through two games this season, he had a team-high two sacks along with 10 pressures. Madubuike has also been a stalwart, appearing in 55 straight games before suffering the injury. His last start came Sept. 14 against the Browns. Harbaugh said adding a defensive lineman to the roster is “always something that would be on the table.” This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles READER POLL: What’s most to blame for the Ravens’ 1-3 start? The Ravens are 1-3. History says they’re a Super Bowl long shot. 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 37-20 loss to the Chiefs Mike Preston: Ravens’ Lamar Jackson disappears in pivotal moment | COMMENTARY Fire John Harbaugh? Ravens are too beat up for drastic measures. | COMMENTARY View the full article

The Ravens’ season is teetering. Baltimore got crushed by the Chiefs, 37-20, in Kansas City to fall to 1-3, and lost two-time NFL Most Valuable Player quarterback Lamar Jackson to a hamstring injury in the process. Several other prominent Ravens are injured, too. What is most to blame for Baltimore’s disastrous start to the 2025 season? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

One team in NFL history started its season 1-3 and went on to win the Super Bowl. The group was led by perhaps the greatest quarterback of all time. The New England Patriots found themselves sitting at 1-3 in 2001, which is the same situation the Ravens find themselves in this year after an ugly 37-20 loss to the Chiefs. New England overcame an injury to starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe in Week 2 of the 2001 season, as backup Tom Brady led them to an 11-3 record in his starts. Brady, of course, went on to win the first of his seven Super Bowl titles that year. That New England team rallied after starting 1-3 (and 3-4) to put together a spectacular finish to the season. The Patriots won 11 of their final 12 games, including the postseason. Of the 11 wins, seven came by one possession and three came in overtime. Baltimore can certainly point to that New England team as an example for hope after its 1-3 start, which has also included notable injuries. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was among the key contributors to exit the Chiefs loss with an injury, and star defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike landed on injured reserve last week with a neck injury. “I believe we’re going to be a good football team,” coach John Harbaugh said Sunday. “We’re just not a good enough football team yet.” Still, history suggests an uphill climb for this Baltimore team. Since 1990, 35 teams have made the postseason after starting 1-3, with only the 2001 Patriots hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Since the playoff field expanded to 14 teams in 2020, just five teams have started 1-3 and made the playoffs. One of those teams, the Washington Football Team in 2020 benefited from a woeful NFC East. Washington started its season 1-5 and made the playoffs as a 7-9 division champion. With the Pittsburgh Steelers at 3-1, it seems unlikely the Ravens can count on winning the AFC North with a losing record. Baltimore still gets both of its head-to-head meetings with Pittsburgh, though. The Bengals, expected to be an AFC North contender, are 2-1 (and play Monday night) but without quarterback Joe Burrow, who could miss most of the season with turf toe. The Browns are just 1-3 with a head-to-head loss to the Ravens. Betting odds reflect Baltimore’s sluggish start, but the oddsmakers are far from done with Baltimore. Once the Super Bowl betting favorite this season, the Ravens now hold the fourth-shortest odds to win the title. It’s a notable drop through four weeks, but sportsbooks aren’t ready to say it’s a lost season. Harbaugh isn’t either. “There’s football to be played, and there’s a division to be won,” Harbaugh said. “We’ve got to find a way to become good enough to win it.” Winning the division wouldn’t guarantee a deep playoff run that fans, players and coaches so desperately want. Of the five teams to make the playoffs since 2020 after a 1-3 start, none made it past the divisional round. It’s rare that a legitimate Super Bowl contender opens the season with three losses in its first four games. Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 37-20 loss to the Chiefs Mike Preston: Ravens’ Lamar Jackson disappears in pivotal moment | COMMENTARY Fire John Harbaugh? Ravens are too beat up for drastic measures. | COMMENTARY Ravens’ defense is struggling like never before: ‘Got to get it fixed’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 37-20 loss to Chiefs Baltimore faces another 1-3 team falling well short of expectations in Week 5. The Houston Texans, who made the playoffs a season ago, started 0-3 before beating the Titans on Sunday for their first victory. “I’m thinking about, ‘How can we beat the Texans?” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said after Sunday’s loss. Both sides desperately need a win, and history says it’s a championship elimination game, if the teams haven’t already played themselves out of a realistic shot of winning it all. No team has ever won the Super Bowl after a 1-4 start to their season. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

The now 1-3 Ravens found a new nadir, losing to the Chiefs, 37-20, in a game that ended with more questions than answers. Here are five things we learned: Suddenly, the entire Ravens season hangs in the balance There he sat, the two-time Most Valuable Player, sulking on the bench with a hat replacing his helmet and tape swaddling an ice pack against his hamstring. Lamar Jackson looked over his left shoulder, up to the big screen at Arrowhead Stadium, the stadium where so many of his demons live, and watched helplessly. An injury yanked him from a long-shot chance at a comeback. Instead, backup Cooper Rush checked in for the final minute of the third quarter as Baltimore limped to the finish line, dropping the Jackson-era Ravens to 1-6 against the Chiefs and 0-4 at Kansas City. Coach John Harbaugh couldn’t offer much intel postgame. He could only say that it didn’t appear season-ending, while across the hall, his star quarterback limped out of the locker room to get medical treatment. The entirety of this Ravens season — which began with Super Bowl projections for a deep and talented roster — hinges on Jackson’s status. Perhaps Week 4 will be remembered as a blip in time, a loss that proves unsubstantial. Or, there’s a world where it’s immortalized as that fateful September Sunday when the Ravens’ hopes of a playoff run were flushed by an all-too-familiar opponent. Jackson hasn’t missed a game because of injury since 2022, sidelined for the last six weeks of that regular season and a playoff game for a PCL injury in his knee. He has missed one game since — an innocuous Week 18 matchup in 2023 with the division race wrapped up. Baltimore is 4-9 when Jackson has been sidelined over the past six seasons. Even before the injury on Sunday, Jackson didn’t look ready to get the monkey off his back. He fled back from a blitz in the first quarter and flung a duck to Mark Andrews against the right sideline that fell short, into the waiting hands of linebacker Leo Chenal — Jackson’s first interception this season. His turnover woes worsened a quarter later when he bumped into center Tyler Linderbaum and coughed up the football. In all, he completed 14 of 20 passes for 147 yards with one touchdown while taking three sacks. Jackson’s teammates love to lean on the truism that this team can do anything with No. 8 at the helm. If they’re without him for any considerable amount of time, it’s hard to fathom them going anywhere. Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens’ Lamar Jackson disappears in pivotal moment | COMMENTARY Fire John Harbaugh? Ravens are too beat up for drastic measures. | COMMENTARY Ravens’ defense is struggling like never before: ‘Got to get it fixed’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 37-20 loss to Chiefs Ravens lose Lamar Jackson to injury in 37-20 loss to Chiefs, fall to 1-3 ‘Something’s wrong’ with the defense The messaging has spiraled at record pace. Four weeks ago, the Ravens deemed themselves a team capable of striking fear in opposing offenses, returning to the standard set by their predecessors. Before Week 2, Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey bluntly called the defense immature and, after a second loss, “just not very good.” Now, with most metrics showing Baltimore in the cellar of the league, All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton took to the dais inside Arrowhead Stadium Sunday night bearing a new look of despair: “The product that we’re putting on the field right now is not up to par,” he said. “Obviously, something’s wrong.” It was clear in Week 1, when the defense played a lead role in Buffalo’s 15-point comeback. Week 3 showed this team might not have what it takes against the cream of the NFL crop, like the Bills and Lions. Sunday night stamped what we now know to be true, which is this defense doesn’t have what it takes to be a legitimate contender — at least not right now. The Ravens only stopped the Chiefs from scoring twice in nine drives. One was a missed Harrison Butker field goal from 56 yards. The other forced backup quarterback Gardner Minshew into a fourth-and-long inside the game’s final four minutes. And Kansas City converted on all four of its fourth-down tries, one-upping Detroit’s 3-for-3 line last week. Such leaky defense this time culminated in the most lopsided Ravens loss since Oct. 24, 2021, against Cincinnati. As Hamilton maturely put it, “there haven’t been a lot of teams in Ravens history, since 1996, to underachieve to the point where fans felt disappointed in the season as a whole.” The latest disappointment marked the first time in franchise history that the Ravens have allowed 133 points four games into a season. Sunday night, those issues didn’t discriminate against any one position group. Xavier Worthy torched the secondary with five catches for 83 yards, the most of any single receiver against the Ravens thus far. Mahomes, who clocked his best outing of the year by throwing 270 yards and four touchdowns, spread the ball around to nine pass catchers. Five of them went over 25 yards. Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, center, is congratulated by quarterback Patrick Mahomes after scoring a touchdown Sunday against the Ravens. (Charlie Riedel/AP) The secondary couldn’t do much to consistently contain them and the front failed to pressure one of the few escape artists in the same conversation as Jackson. Mahomes looked unbothered, perched back there in the pocket, protected as if his offensive line were a moat. Baltimore sacked him once (Tavius Robinson) and hit him thrice. Mahomes’ average time to throw was 2.70 seconds, according to Pro Football Focus, up four-tenths of a second from his season mark. “There were way too many times in this game where the Chiefs did what they do well,” Harbaugh said, “they get into third-and-short. And our goal was to try to keep them to third-and-six plus, and that just consistently did not happen.” Somewhere along the way, the Ravens must have ticked off the football gods. Their injury luck has been disastrous. By the fourth quarter of a must-win game against a fellow AFC juggernaut, the Ravens defense matched one of the game’s most brilliant quarterbacks with three practice squad elevations, an undrafted rookie and four more non-starters. The Chiefs punished that group, and the subsequent injury-filled one to follow, in total, for 382 yards of offense and four passing touchdowns. By game’s end, the Ravens’ injury report included 10 starters: Jackson, left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), fullback Patrick Ricard (calf), defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), defensive end Broderick Washington (ankle), nose tackle Travis Jones (knee), outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (hamstring), linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), Humphrey (hamstring) and Nate Wiggins (elbow). Not all of it unraveled at Arrowhead. On Wednesday, the Ravens practiced without the entirety of their interior defensive line. By week’s end, Madubuike and Washington both wound up on injured reserve, meaning they won’t return for at least another three weeks. Jones practiced but was later ruled out. Van Noy was unable to go, too. That left Brent Urban, C.J. Okoye and Josh Tupou, all of whom were on the practice squad, veteran John Jenkins, and rookie Aeneas Peebles to hold down the fort. “That’s a part of the game,” said running back Justice Hill, who accounted for both of Baltimore’s touchdowns. “Not everything can be sunshine and rainbows.” It certainly wasn’t this weekend. Humphrey hurt his calf on a touchdown throw to JuJu Smith-Schuster in the second quarter and never returned. T.J. Tampa, who was once a bubble defensive back but has played well in spurts this season, slid up the depth chart. As did undrafted rookie Keyon Martin. Shortly after, Smith limped off the field (under his own power). Trenton Simpson backfilled there, weeks after losing his starting job to rookie Teddye Buchanan. And Stanley, who was limited in practice this past week, exited early after trying to play through an ankle injury. When CBS Sports sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson asked Harbaugh at halftime about the slew of injuries, the longtime coach flashed a fallacious smile, “Next man up. We’re playing well.” By night’s end, his defense leaned primarily on rookies and glorified minor leaguers. Lamar Jackson no longer believes the Chiefs are his ‘kryptonite.’ Steve Spagnuolo might disagree. Fourth-and-1 with three minutes before halftime. Harbaugh took a risk to go for it from their own 41-yard line. The ball was snapped and one-Mississippi later, there were three red jerseys ready to topple Jackson. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who is considered the mastermind behind rattling this two-time MVP, sent a six-man rush that forced Jackson to his back heel, flinging a no-shot ball out of bounds. Even before the injury, Jackson and the offense appeared as out of sorts and mistake-prone as they have all season. On the drive before, they were flagged three times on a four-play sequence. Two of them were delay of game penalties, no doubt influenced by the roars of Kansas City’s noisy, bright-red pressure cooker. Harbaugh called that “really out of character for us.” The third was intentional grounding on a second-and-long that saw Jackson scramble for his life and dirt the ball 16 yards behind the line of scrimmage. They punted two plays later, and the Chiefs turned it into points. After a first-drive touchdown that looked like an effortless ride upfield, the offense had difficulty getting started. Longer-yardage situations left offensive coordinator Todd Monken straying away from the run, despite the ground game being “a big part of the plan” going into Sunday, according to Harbaugh. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is sacked by Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, left, in the first half Sunday. (Ed Zurga/AP) Derrick Henry finished with just 42 yards on eight carries, his fewest attempts and second-fewest yards in a single game as a Raven (at least he didn’t fumble). “Yes, I mean that’s playcalling. I am not going to sit here and say I’m happy about it, at all,” Harbaugh said. “I am sure that Todd is not happy about it either. None of us are. You have to look at that and decide what you want to run there, in some of those circumstances and situations. “Maybe we just need better plays, plays that are going to pop open. Maybe we have to do a better job of game-planning in those plays. That’s what I would say. I think that we need to put our guys in better positions and give them opportunities to make plays in those situations, because in a game like this, you have to be aggressive, you have to go for stuff. We didn’t get it done.” Baltimore’s offense has been at the top of the league for so long because of Jackson. But it seems Spagnuolo still has his number. Ravens are 1-3 with a steep climb ahead of them Take out the panic button. Set it on the table. Flip up the glass covering, like it were the “Deal or No Deal” buzzer. Don’t touch it. But keep it within arm’s reach. The Ravens’ season will be defined by how they respond to this 1-3 start, their worst since 2015. How concerned is Harbaugh? “I’m concerned,” he said, “but I’m not overwhelmed by it. The three losses are against probably three of the top teams in the league, for sure. That’s just the hand we’ve been dealt, but it doesn’t really matter. We have to win the next game. And then once you win the next game, then you have a chance to start stacking some wins.” He’s right. Their schedule eases up from here, staring down three teams with a combined six wins after four weeks. All of which are in Baltimore. And they have the luxury of an early bye to address the unusually cruel health issues. But it’s worth reckoning with the fact that chances like this don’t come along often. The Ravens, who are judged by how they match up against the upper echelon of the league, failed at their last chance to take down a Goliath. They’re now 1-6 against the Bills, Chiefs, Eagles and Lions dating to the start of last season. So yes, they’re right to narrow their view of this season to one week at a time. As Robinson put it, “You have two hours where we could sit here and drown in the water, or we can pick ourselves up.” The overwhelming response out of the visiting locker room was, “There’s still a lot of season left.” “Bring it on,” Henry said. “We are 1-3. Nobody is going to come out and do it for us.” They have to. Their season depends on it. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Ravens were down 20-10 at halftime, and it was the perfect time for quarterback Lamar Jackson to finally escape the encompassing shadow of Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes. Then he disappeared. Poof. Gone. Jackson left the game late in the third quarter and was replaced by backup Cooper Rush because of a hamstring injury, and there is no doubt about Jackson’s ailment. But imagine the headlines on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” if Jackson had brought the Ravens back and they won in Kansas City, where the Chiefs are nearly unbeatable. Hold the presses! Instead, the Ravens were blown out, 37-20, at Arrowhead Stadium. Now, Mahomes has a 6-1 record against Jackson, and this was really a beatdown. As for the highly anticipated showdown between Mahomes and Jackson, Mahomes was the winner, completing 25 of 37 passes for 270 yards and four touchdowns. He finished with a passer rating of 124.8. As for Jackson, he was 14 of 20 for 147 yards with one touchdown, one interception, one fumble and a passer rating of 86.9. “No, I don’t have any updates on the seriousness of injuries right now. There’s nothing that looks like it’s [going to be] season-ending, by any stretch, for anybody,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “But we’ll have to look at those injuries tomorrow and see where we’re at going forward.” Jackson started the game off strong as the Ravens went 70 yards on nine plays in an opening drive that lasted 5:25. It was finished on an 11-yard screen pass in the middle of the field to halfback Justice Hill as the Ravens took a 7-0 lead. That must have annoyed Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who started calling blitzes and keeping a spy on Jackson if he escaped through the line of scrimmage. Throughout the game, Jackson was sacked three times and hit on eight other occasions. Then he started to unravel, much like he did against Detroit last week on “Monday Night Football.” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is sacked by Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery. Jackson was sacked three times after taking seven sacks in a loss to the Lions. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player completed 12 of 18 passes in the first half for 108 yards, but he didn’t appear comfortable. Twice he was called for delay of game penalties, and once he was called for intentional grounding. That should never happen, not if the coach or the quarterback are paying close attention. Despite those problems, there was a belief that Jackson would overcome those setbacks and that this offense would become magical again with Jackson leading the way. It never happened. Mahomes opened the third quarter with a six-play, 65-yard touchdown drive, connecting on an 11-yard touchdown pass with Tyquan Thornton. Jackson answered with an eight-play, 56-yard march that was finished by a 32-yard field goal from Tyler Loop. This appeared to be a shootout, and maybe with a turnover or two, the Ravens might get back in the game. That was wishful thinking. Throughout the game, and even last week against the Lions when they sacked him seven times in a 38-30 loss, Jackson never took over. In that time, he has been hesitant, holding the ball too long. There were times when he could have run but chose not to. There have been times in those games when he should have just thrown the ball away instead of taking a sack and losing yards, but he certainly isn’t the same Jackson I’ve seen in his first seven seasons. His feet appear slower, but that might all come down to the decision-making process. Instead of a shootout, it was the Mahomes show again. He now appears comfortable in that offense, especially with receiver Xavier Worthy back on the field after missing virtually the first three games with a shoulder injury. Related Articles Fire John Harbaugh? Ravens are too beat up for drastic measures. | COMMENTARY Ravens’ defense is struggling like never before: ‘Got to get it fixed’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 37-20 loss to Chiefs Ravens lose Lamar Jackson to injury in 37-20 loss to Chiefs, fall to 1-3 Instant analysis from Ravens’ disastrous 37-20 loss to Chiefs The expectations are just as high with Jackson because he is the best dual-threat quarterback in NFL history, and the Ravens have loaded him up with top receivers such as Rashod Bateman, Zay Flowers and DeAndre Hopkins and tight end Mark Andrews. Yet, something is missing. It’s obvious that the running game has been lacking with Derrick Henry, who had only 42 yards on eight carries Sunday against Kansas City. The offensive line has struggled in the past two weeks, especially guards Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees and right tackle Roger Rosengarten. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley tried to play on a bad ankle but only lasted a quarter against Kansas City. Despite all of those problems, including the defensive line missing three starters, I just expected more from Jackson because he has been carrying this team for years now. Regardless of Andy Reid being a better big-game coach than Harbaugh or Spagnuolo always coming up with some new defensive maneuver that throttles Jackson, I thought it was the perfect time for him to step out of Mahomes’ shadow. But it never happened. Mahomes showed why he is the best quarterback in recent history, possibly only second to Tom Brady. And Jackson showed that he still has some growing pains, even though he missed the perfect chance to replace Mahomes at the top of the proverbial food chain, much like Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen did against Jackson in the Ravens’ season-opening loss to the Bills. Allen showed up. Jackson didn’t. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, left, and Patrick Mahomes meet after the Chiefs' 37-20 victory over the Ravens on Sunday. (Charlie Riedel/AP) View the full article

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When the final seconds ticked away to yet another early-season defeat, the visitors’ sideline at Arrowhead Stadium looked more like a treatment room than a football bench. The Chiefs’ red sea roared all around them, and the Ravens’ bench felt like an emergency room. It looked like a meltdown. It sure felt like one, too. As the reigning AFC champions piled on in the second half of Sunday’s 37-20 win, the predictable cry started to ripple across social media from Ravens Flock. Fire John Harbaugh. Fire defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Somebody must pay. I get the impulse. The Ravens’ defense, once a league-wide trademark of dominance, just suffered another beatdown from a Super Bowl contender that entered Sunday with a season-high of 22 points scored in a game. Kansas City turned what should have been a back-and-forth boxing match into its personal backyard track meet, punctuating Baltimore’s soft zone and missed tackles with Patrick Mahomes’ wide grin that flashed so often across the video boards. If you’re a fan who watched from home or braved the trek to Kansas City only to witness Baltimore drop its third game in four tries, frustration comes naturally. But firing Harbaugh or Orr right now would be the wrong kind of dramatic overreaction. This doesn’t feel like willful incompetence or a veteran coach who’s lost the locker room. Rather, this is a team facing adversity head-on, crushed beneath injuries and an unforgiving opening schedule. Those facts matter. Just look at Sunday’s injury list. Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens’ Lamar Jackson disappears in pivotal moment | COMMENTARY Ravens’ defense is struggling like never before: ‘Got to get it fixed’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 37-20 loss to Chiefs Ravens lose Lamar Jackson to injury in 37-20 loss to Chiefs, fall to 1-3 Instant analysis from Ravens’ disastrous 37-20 loss to Chiefs Lamar Jackson favored his hamstring. Ronnie Stanley sat with his ankle wrapped. Roquan Smith winced through his own hamstring injury. Marlon Humphrey clutched his calf, while Nate Wiggins was carted to the locker room, where he was presented with a sling for his right elbow. Add all those names to an already bruised roster that played without Nnamdi Madubuike, Kyle Van Noy, Jaire Alexander, Patrick Ricard, Travis Jones or Broderick Washington. Said running back Derrick Henry: “The ‘injury bug’ is real right now for us.” For all the early heat Harbaugh is facing, he has built his Baltimore tenure on steadiness through storms like this. The Ravens are no strangers to slow starts in September. Baltimore has lost at least two of its first five games in each of the past four seasons. Harbaugh’s accomplished teams, though, tend to find their stride when the calendar flips. None of that excuses their latest loss, but it provides the kind of historical context that separates an emotional reaction from a rational decision. Consider the gantlet they just endured: Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit and now Kansas City. At least three opponents with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. That’s an early-season buzzsaw for any NFL team, let alone one that’s as beat up as Baltimore. The Texans (1-3) loom next Sunday at home, representing a get-right spot for the Ravens. If Baltimore limps into its bye in Week 7 with five losses, we can revisit the conversation. Until then, calls for pink slips feel like an overreaction given the team’s health. The same should be said of Orr, the second-year defensive coordinator. Ravens running back Justice Hill is tackled by Chiefs cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace. Baltimore lost the Week 4 matchup, 37-20, to fall to 1-3. (Reed Hoffmann/AP) The Ravens entered the Week 4 matchup ranked dead last in total yards allowed. The Chiefs only piled on. It was embarrassing work by the visitors, but did you notice the members of the defensive huddle in the second half? “Baltimore’s Josh Tupou stops Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt for a 1-yard gain,” the press box announcer said during the third quarter. Josh Tupou? The 31-year-old defensive tackle who was signed off the street three days before kickoff, playing meaningful snaps in what some described as an AFC championship preview? C’mon. Removing Orr, 33, in late September won’t magically regenerate healthy hamstrings or elbows. It would only add chaos to a unit already scrambling for bodies. Give him some grace down six defensive starters, including his entire starting defensive line. “Obviously, you’re losing multiple All-Pro guys, and that’s not going to help a defense,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. Just last year, the Ravens were in a familiar spot, bottom dwellers in the league’s defensive rankings. But Orr, in his debut campaign as the team’s top defensive coach, made in-season adjustments and the schedule softened up. All that led to the Ravens finishing with a respectable 10th-place ranking in total defense. There’s value in believing that Orr and the defense can turn it around again. Reinforcements, such as 2024 sack leader Kyle Van Noy, also appear to be on the mend. Van Noy returned to practice for the first time this week since suffering his hamstring injury Sept. 14. He participated in an on-field workout before he was ultimately ruled out before kickoff. John Jenkins, a 36-year-old veteran defensive tackle who has played for seven NFL franchises and for accomplished coaches such as Sean Payton and Pete Carroll, backed both Harbaugh and Orr. “Man, we’re going to work [for them]. Those are great leaders,” Jenkins said. “We’re going to do what we can to fulfill our jobs and they’re going to keep leading the way and we’re going to keep on following. Whatever they need us to do, we’re going to keep on trying and trying to do the jobs that they require us to do.” Baltimore fans deserve to be angry. They’ve watched a once-proud defense look helpless and a roster built for the playoffs stumble out of the gate. But anger doesn’t necessarily have to mean panic. The NFL, after all, is a week-to-week league. For now, the Ravens need bodies back and proper in-season adjustments, not heads to roll. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

Eventually, pregame speeches and words of “we’ll be better” start to wear thin. Kyle Hamilton said it best after the Ravens surrendered 37 points, 382 total yards and four passing touchdowns in their 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. “It’s a lot of talking,” the All-Pro safety said. “We just have to go do it.” The Ravens can preach that they will inevitably improve, but the numbers tell a more realistic picture. They have one of the worst defenses in the NFL and in the team’s proud history. There’s a lengthy list of ugly metrics that highlight the defense’s struggles, but these three stick out. The 133 points allowed through four games are an organizational record. The 2001 Patriots are the only team in league history that started 1-3 and won the Super Bowl. And no defense in the NFL has struggled more at defending the run and pass. There’s a chance that the defense regresses even further, given the disastrous string of injuries that it has already endured this season. Cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (calf) and Nate Wiggins (elbow) and linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) exited Sunday’s game early and did not return. Those three joined edge rusher Kyle Van Noy (hamstring), defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) and defensive tackles Broderick Washington (ankle) and Travis Jones (knee) as players who have missed time this season. That’s eight key players who have been injured within the first four games. “Obviously, you’re losing multiple All-Pro guys, and that’s not going to help a defense,” Hamilton said. The injuries clearly took a toll Sunday. An already struggling pass rush was nonexistent, the secondary failed to cover long enough after Humphrey exited, and Kansas City’s running game found plenty of room. The Chiefs became the latest offense to control the line of scrimmage against the Ravens, a shocking contrast with the team’s typical standard. Kansas City gave star quarterback Patrick Mahomes plenty of time to throw, as he was sacked only once and was able to attack downfield. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player completed 25 of 37 passes for 270 yards and four touchdowns as the Chiefs scored their most points since Sept. 24, 2023. “We’ve got to become consistent, stopping the run up front. That’s gotta be more consistent,” coach John Harbaugh said. “There were many times in this game that the Chiefs did what they did well, which is to get to third-and-short. … That just consistently did not happen.” Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster scores during the first half Sunday against the Ravens. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Mahomes and the Chiefs’ downfield passing attack had scuffled this season, entering Sunday averaging just 20 points per game and ranking 11th in offensive efficiency per DVOA. Not against the Ravens. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy returned from a shoulder injury and immediately made an impact, recording a team-leading five receptions for 83 yards while adding two carries for 38 yards. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr failed to address the problems that plagued the team in its Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions. He often only brought four rushers, and when he blitzed, Mahomes picked the Ravens apart. Their zone defense was shredded and Kansas City targeted cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Humphrey with Worthy, who used his blazing speed to gain separation. Baltimore also did not force a turnover, something Orr and the players said was a priority this offseason. The Ravens have not generated any turnovers outside of the two they forced against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2. “As a whole defense, I don’t think we’re playing bad,” Hamilton said. “I know it’s crazy to say that. Guys are wanting to do it so bad. It’s just a matter of fine-tuning little things.” Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens’ Lamar Jackson disappears in pivotal moment | COMMENTARY Fire John Harbaugh? Ravens are too beat up for drastic measures. | COMMENTARY The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 37-20 loss to Chiefs Ravens lose Lamar Jackson to injury in 37-20 loss to Chiefs, fall to 1-3 Instant analysis from Ravens’ disastrous 37-20 loss to Chiefs Orr’s reputation as a defensive coordinator continues to slip. In each of his two seasons as play-caller, the Ravens have started slowly. If Baltimore’s defense doesn’t elevate its play, Orr’s job security will come under even greater scrutiny. “We’ve got to get it fixed. We know that,” Hamilton said about the unit’s struggle. The defense’s effort seems to be affecting the entire team. Harbaugh was much more aggressive this week in going for it on fourth down after passing on the opportunity against the Lions. The Ravens went 1-for-4 on those critical plays, sliding to 2-for-6 on fourth down tries this season. Baltimore’s opponents are 9-for-11 on fourth down attempts, with the Bills, Lions and Chiefs a perfect 8-for-8. Concern over Baltimore’s defense has reached extreme levels after Week 4. The unit isn’t performing well, and opposing teams show little fear. The Ravens are running out of options — and words — to turn things around. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position after a 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Quarterback For the past three weeks, quarterback Lamar Jackson has struggled by holding onto the ball too long and refusing to run. Regardless of the team’s record, the Ravens need him to take charge and it has to be done offensively. Jackson completed 12 of 20 passes in the first half for 108 yards, but at times seemed disinterested. He had two delay of game penalties and was called for intentional grounding. Jackson left the game with a hamstring injury before the fourth quarter, but for the first time since he was drafted almost eight years ago, he wasn’t a factor. Backup Cooper Rush was simply a dink-and-dunk quarterback. He had no presence. Grade: D- Running backs The good news is that running back Derrick Henry didn’t fumble for the first time in four games this season. He rushed eight times for 42 yards, but the Ravens had no running game. Again. Backup Justice Hill played well in third-down situations, but that was basically in a lost cause. It might be time for the Ravens to put in Keaton Mitchell to see if he can provide a spark. Nothing from nothing leaves nothing. The Ravens aren’t getting much on the ground, which means they will get even less through the air. Hill had a 71-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, but that was long after the outcome had been decided. Grade: D Offensive line This group couldn’t create many running lanes against a Kansas City rushing defense that was average at best. The Ravens didn’t have much consistency after their first scoring drive of the game, which was nine plays and 70 yards that was finished by an 11-yard pass from Jackson to Hill. Without a running game, the Ravens struggle in pass protection, which they did Sunday — especially guards Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele and right tackle Roger Rosengarten. This group is too big and bulky to finesse teams, and the group lacks quickness. The Ravens gave up three sacks and allowed Jackson or Rush to be hit eight other times. After last week’s game against Detroit in which the Ravens allowed seven sacks, this was another forgettable game. Grade: F Receivers The Ravens had 23 catches for 199 yards and averaged 8.7 yards a catch. This group isn’t bad, but Jackson seems lost while dropping back at times, or he doesn’t have time to throw. Slot receiver Zay Flowers had seven catches for 74 yards and tight end Mark Andrews had seven for 30, but the Ravens need to work outside receiver Rashod Bateman into the scheme more. He had only one catch for 24 yards, and the rest of the group was barely in play. Grade: C Defensive line Who were these masked men playing for the Ravens? It was a bizarre group, and the Ravens played just about everybody available, including backups John Jenkins, Aeneas Peebles, Tavius Robinson, C.J. Okoye and Brent Urban. In all honesty, it was like the Kansas City varsity playing against the Ravens JV. The Chiefs rushed for 118 yards on 32 carries and kept the Ravens off balance most of the game with running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. Grade: F Linebackers The defensive line was already banged up, and the Ravens had even less of a chance when middle linebacker Roquan Smith left the game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. Rookie Teddye Buchanan had seven tackles to lead this group, partially as a backup to Smith, but the Ravens took a pounding inside with Buchanan as well as weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson (4 tackles). They weren’t any better on the outside with Robinson (3 tackles) and Odafe Oweh (5 tackles), and the Ravens still don’t have a bonafide pass rusher on the outside. Until they acquire one or Kyle Van Noy returns from a hamstring injury, they don’t have a top guy on the outside. Even with Van Noy, the Ravens don’t have a pass rusher they can count on in crucial passing situations. Grade: F Secondary Apparently, the Chiefs studied Ravens vs. Lions film because they singled out cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Several times they sent receiver Xavier Worthy in motion, but they also had him on the outside with Humphrey one-on-one and the results weren’t pretty. Kansas City also used tight end Travis Kelce on the inside against Humphrey. Rookie safety Malaki Starks (2 tackles) will be a good player one day, but he isn’t ready for prime-time teams like the Lions and Chiefs. Safety Kyle Hamilton led the Ravens in tackles with eight. Kansas City did basically whatever it needed or wanted to do to win this game. Kansas City had 382 total yards of offense but could have added more. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes looked very comfortable. Grade: F Related Articles Ravens lose Lamar Jackson to injury in 37-20 loss to Chiefs, fall to 1-3 Instant analysis from Ravens’ disastrous 37-20 loss to Chiefs Ravens QB Lamar Jackson exits vs. Chiefs with hamstring injury Ravens lose 5 key players vs. Chiefs as injury woes continue Ravens TE Isaiah Likely returns but defense severely shorthanded vs. Chiefs Special teams Kansas City dominated the Ravens in return yards, especially on kickoffs. The Chiefs had four returns for a total of 132 yards and returns of 34, 47, 30 and 47 yards, several of those resulting in eventual touchdowns. It was basically a disaster. Tyler Loop converted on field goal attempts of 43 and 32 yards, and he even went a game without having a penalty on kickoffs. But it didn’t help because the Chiefs dominated in the return game. Grade: D Coaching In the past, Ravens coach John Harbaugh has always rallied his teams after a big loss, but the Ravens were no match for Kansas City. Mahomes and Kansas City coach Andy Reid kept the Ravens totally off guard, and the Chiefs used an assortment of running plays and then attacked the Ravens over the middle in the passing game. Offensively, the Ravens came out strong, but that disappeared after the first scoring drive. Once Jackson left the game, the spirit of this offense died with him. This is where coaching needs to kick in and take over. Grade: D Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Ravens coach Jim Harbaugh watches from the sideline during the first half of his team's 37-20 loss to the Chiefs. The Ravens are 1-3 to start the 2025 season. (Charlie Riedel/AP) View the full article

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lamar Jackson limped to the sideline and threw his helmet in disgust Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. The frustration late in the third quarter was a perfect summation of a long afternoon, for the Ravens’ quarterback and a banged-up Baltimore defense that only got more depleted as the day wore on against the Chiefs. A little more than a year after the two teams played a thriller that went down to the end (and a toenail), the drama was sucked out of this one long before the clock hit zero. Only unanswered questions remain. The Chiefs (2-2) rolled to a 37-20 victory in the critical AFC showdown, dropping the Ravens to 1-3 for their worst start to a season in a decade. Worse yet for Baltimore, Jackson suffered a hamstring injury after being tackled from behind by defensive end George Karlaftis. It was one of a handful of injuries on the day for the Ravens, who entered the game without four defensive starters because of injuries and lost three more along the way, including cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf), inside linebacker and defensive play-caller Roquan Smith (hamstring) in the second quarter and cornerback Nate Wiggins (elbow) in the fourth. Coach John Harbaugh did not have an update on Jackson’s status after the game but said that it “doesn’t look like it’s season-ending by any stretch” for any of the injured players. Jackson was not made available to reporters after the game, with a Ravens official saying that he was receiving treatment for the injury. The quarterback did eventually emerge from the locker room and had a significant limp as he exited. “Those are the challenges that you do face from time to time,” Harbaugh said of the spate of injuries. “It’s tough in a game like this against a really good team on the road, but you gotta try to find a way to win anyway.” Now the question is how much winning they’ll be able to do going forward, particularly if Jackson or others are out for any extended period. With the defeat, the Ravens, who entered the year as the favorites to win the Super Bowl, are off to their worst start since 2015, when they finished 5-11. How they will respond this time remains to be seen, but only 35 of 252 teams that have started a season with one win in their first four games have gone on to make the playoffs. Only the 2001 New England Patriots, who switched to Tom Brady as their starting quarterback, started 1-3 and won the Super Bowl. Baltimore came into Week 4 with the NFL’s top offense but looked like anything but for a second straight week. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo sent a series of blitzes and used a spy on Jackson, who completed 14 of 20 passes for 147 yards with a touchdown and his first interception of the season while running six times for 48 yards. The Ravens’ defense was leaky again, too. Two days after safety Kyle Hamilton said that Ravens fans had been spoiled over the years, Sunday’s performance led to a lengthy apology afterward. “The product that we’re putting on the field right now is not up to par with what the Ravens have been in the past and been in the recent past,” he said unprompted to begin his postgame news conference in a speech that lasted about two minutes. “I think we know that. We’re trying our best to correct it, but obviously something’s wrong, so it’s up to all of us to try to fix that.” He also said he used a “poor choice of words” when calling Ravens fans spoiled. “Meant in the sense that that Ravens fans been accustomed to great defense, great teams, haven’t been a lot of teams in Ravens history since ’96 to underachieve to the point where fans felt disappointed in the season as a whole,” he said. “We gotta get it fixed.” Related Articles The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 37-20 loss to Chiefs Instant analysis from Ravens’ disastrous 37-20 loss to Chiefs Ravens QB Lamar Jackson exits vs. Chiefs with hamstring injury Ravens lose 5 key players vs. Chiefs as injury woes continue Ravens TE Isaiah Likely returns but defense severely shorthanded vs. Chiefs That was evident early and often. The Chiefs scored on their first four possessions and did not punt until they led 37-13 midway through the fourth quarter. After the Ravens easily sliced through Kansas City’s defense on the game’s opening possession, covering 70 yards in nine plays that ended with a dump-off from Jackson to Justice Hill over the middle for an 11-yard score, the Chiefs had their way. They scored on a pair of field goal attempts before Patrick Mahomes (25 of 37 passing, 270 yards, four touchdowns) threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster and an 8-yard scoring pass to Isiah Pacheco in the second quarter for a 20-7 lead. Meanwhile, Spagnuolo, who has continuously vexed Jackson over the years, did so once more. That included a blitz late in the first quarter that led to an interception by linebacker Leo Chenal on a pass up the sideline intended for tight end Mark Andrews and another on fourth-and-1 from the Ravens’ own 41 with three minutes to go in the first half that resulted in Jackson’s pass sailing into the sideline incomplete. Derrick Henry also had just four carries — all in the first half — for 31 yards. Six plays later, the Chiefs found the end zone again. Then, their defense struck again. On the Ravens’ next possession, Jackson was sacked for a 2-yard loss and lost the ball in the process, with linebacker Drue Tranquill recovering the fumble at the Ravens’ 47. Kicker Harrison Butker missed a 56-yard field goal attempt, while the Ravens’ Tyler Loop tacked on a 43-yarder of his own to end the half and cut the deficit to 20-10, but that was as close as Baltimore would get. Ravens coach John Harbaugh, left, argues a call with referee Greg Gautreaux in the first half. (Reed Hoffmann/AP) With the Ravens already down their entire starting defensive interior, with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike placed on injured reserve on Saturday and Travis Jones (knee) inactive, along with outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (hamstring), more injuries piled up. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) and linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) were ruled out in the third quarter before Jackson and Wiggins went down. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) started after being a game-time decision but exited in the first quarter and did not return. The Chiefs marched 65 yards in six plays on their opening possession of the second half, ending in a touchdown reception by Tyquan Thornton before another touchdown pass from Mahomes to former Ravens star Marquise “Hollywood” Brown in the fourth. Meanwhile, three times the Ravens faced third- or fourth-and-1 in the game, and they opted to throw each time. They didn’t convert any of them. “That’s play calling,” Harbaugh said. “I’m not gonna sit here and say I’m happy about it at all. I’m sure [offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s] not happy about it, either. None of us are. “Maybe we just need better plays. We need plays that are gonna pop open.” Mahomes improved to 6-1 all-time against the Ravens, while Jackson fell to 1-6 and 0-4 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Ravens’ 133 points allowed over the first four games are a franchise high. “It’s a long season,” Harbaugh said. “But the short term, it’s a challenge right now. “I’m concerned, but I’m not overwhelmed by [the 1-3 start]. Doesn’t really matter, we gotta win the next game.” This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench after being replaced by Cooper Rush during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench after being replaced by Cooper Rush during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench as his leg is worked on during Sunday's game against the Chiefs. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench after being replaced by Cooper Rush during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson watches from the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) is helped off the field after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush looks to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop, left, tries to tackle Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Nikko Remigio (81) during a kickoff return during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Ashton Gillotte, right, rushes against Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum (64) while trying to get to Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush (15) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster (9) is tripped up by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Mike Green (45) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Baltimore Ravens defensive end Brent Urban (97) tries to block a pass from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) is knocked out of bounds by Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) makes a catch for a first down while being defended by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson (35) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson heads off the field following an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) hugs Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) following an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) dodges past Baltimore Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin (38) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson gets tackled by Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis in the third quarter. Jackson would leave the game after the play with a hamstring injury and did not return in the 37-20 loss in Kansas City, Missouri. (Reed Hoffmann/AP)Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (80) scores a touchdown while being tackled by Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson heads off the field following an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)Ravens coach Jim Harbaugh, left, talks on the sideline with line judge Brian Perry in the second half. (Charlie Riedel/AP)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson heads off the field following an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)Baltimore Ravens place kicker Tyler Loop (33) makes a 43-yard field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (43) slips past Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Chiefs defensive back Chamarri Conner tackles Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the first half Sunday in Kansas City, Missouri. Jackson exited the contest in the third quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return. (Reed Hoffmann/AP)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) as Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum (64) watches during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, left, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (43) celebrates after scoring as teammate Tylan Wallace (16) watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City ChiefsSunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, right, scores past Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (43) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace (30) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) is congratulated by teammate Patrick Mahomes (15) after scoring during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Show Caption1 of 31Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench after being replaced by Cooper Rush during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Expand View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4 of the NFL season on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium: Mike Preston, columnist This game went almost as expected with defensive end Nnamdi Madubuike and tackles Travis Jones and Broderick Washington injured. Maybe the defense was going to play a little harder because of the “next man up” mentality, but the Ravens weren’t going to win this game, not with receiver Xavier Worthy back in the Kansas City starting lineup. Regardless, the Ravens have been fortunate to play the past two years without any major injuries, but it seems to have caught up with them this season. This game was basically over once starting quarterback Lamar Jackson went out of the game with a hamstring injury near the end of the third quarter. Ravens coach John Harbaugh has to make some interesting decisions. Does he stick with second-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr for the rest of the season and allow the Ravens time to heal, or does he go with another top assistant, such as secondary coach Chuck Pagano, who was previously the coach of the Indianapolis Colts? Pagano was brought in during the offseason to bolster the secondary, but that has been a major part of the problem. The Ravens should just stay the course and see what happens. To rock the boat at this time might cause a major player revolt. The Ravens can still go on a nine- or 10-game winning streak because the NFL is an awful league. Once the Ravens get through the first 10 games, the schedule becomes easier. Josh Tolentino, columnist Kansas City left Baltimore’s battered defense in ruins. The Chiefs, who hadn’t topped 23 points all season, erupted for 37 in a must-win spot. Patrick Mahomes faced little resistance against a defense shredded by injuries. Baltimore generated minimal push at the line of scrimmage and was repeatedly beat to the punch. The Chiefs scored on seven of their nine drives; Kansas City punted just once, while Harrison Butker missed a 56-yard field goal attempt to account for the team’s other two non-scoring possessions. To make matters worse, the Ravens witnessed Lamar Jackson (hamstring), Ronnie Stanley (ankle), Roquan Smith (hamstring), Marlon Humphrey (calf), and Nate Wiggins (right arm) all exit the contest with injuries. The Ravens entered the season believing they were capable of bullying their way to conference supremacy. It’s a long season, but one month in, the Ravens sit at 1-3 and face serious questions about the team’s direction. Sam Cohn, reporter The Ravens are down bad. The latest nadir of what has been a downtrodden season came when the broadcast panned to Lamar Jackson sitting on the bench, gazing up at the scoreboard. A hat sat atop his head. Tape wrapped his hamstring. And backup Cooper Rush checked in with Baltimore trailing 30-13. It was seemingly the final straw in a game stockpiling the injury report with starters, All-Pros and playmakers. This season is on life support. The schedule gets easier from here, but there is every reason to worry about where the Ravens go from here if their health doesn’t improve. Grab the panic button and cautiously hold your hand above it while we await injury news. C.J. Doon, editor Even John Harbaugh’s worst nightmare couldn’t have imagined this. Key players keep dropping like flies. His defense, led by hand-picked coordinator Zach Orr, is hemorrhaging points week after week. Lamar Jackson suddenly can’t avoid a sack and coughed up a pair of ugly turnovers and inexplicably threw the ball away on fourth down before exiting with a hamstring injury. The offensive line is getting run over. Even Derrick Henry can’t be trusted amid a run of uncharacteristic fumbles. At one point Sunday, the Ravens’ defense had five rookies on the field. With Nnamdi Madubuike, Kyle Van Noy, Broderick Washington and Travis Jones already sidelined and Marlon Humphrey, Roquan Smith, Ronnie Stanley and Nate Wiggins exiting early Sunday, the team that experienced the best health in the NFL last season is suddenly being torn apart. How drastic will the changes be? It’s not out of the question that the Ravens will want to shake up the coaching staff after such a dreadful start to the season. Injuries are a huge part of the problem, but the Ravens have been uncharacteristically blown off the field in back-to-back weeks. Doing nothing would be a sign of complacency. For a team that prides itself on being tough and resilient, it will have to practice what it preaches to get out of this rut. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson exits vs. Chiefs with hamstring injury Ravens lose 3 key players vs. Chiefs as injury woes continue Ravens TE Isaiah Likely returns but defense severely shorthanded vs. Chiefs Ravens vs. Chiefs live updates: Baltimore trails 37-13 with Lamar Jackson out Ravens place Nnamdi Madubuike on injured reserve in major blow to defense Tim Schwartz, editor What a disaster. The Ravens’ season is teetering on the edge of a nightmare, and it’s not even October. Lamar Jackson is hurt — how seriously is yet to be determined — and he joined Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and Ronnie Stanley on the sideline. Baltimore is 1-3. The defense stinks. The offense looks totally out of sync. Jackson isn’t the all-time dynamic playmaker he has been throughout his career — dare I say he’s lost a step? Maybe it would be an overreaction to fire defensive coordinator Zach Orr or even coach John Harbaugh, but someone needs to be held accountable for this truly awful start to 2025. Bennett Conlin, editor The Ravens had some of the best injury luck in the NFL in 2024. It’s safe to say that luck is gone. The absences of three key interior defensive linemen coupled with Ronnie Stanley, Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins exiting early would be hard for any team to overcome in a road game against the Chiefs. Adding a Lamar Jackson injury into the mix is nightmare fuel. The Ravens are going to have to figure out how to successfully navigate life with injured contributors. The defense looks abysmal, and it had issues before the rash of injuries. What might it look like in coming weeks with some of its best players unavailable? At best, Baltimore will enter its bye week 3-3 if it can beat the Texans and Rams in consecutive weeks. At worst, the Ravens will come out of their bye with a losing record. Jackson’s superhuman talent means the Ravens can (and likely will) make a playoff push, assuming his hamstring injury isn’t a major issue. But fans should be worried about this team, especially if Jackson misses any time. They’ve spotted the Bills and Chiefs head-to-head wins, so even if they rally to make the postseason there’s a good chance that their path to a Lombardi Trophy will include road games against at least one of Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. It’s not a lost season yet, but between the results and injuries, it’s hard to imagine a worse start to the year for the Ravens. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson exited with a hamstring injury in the third quarter of Baltimore’s critical matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Jackson was ruled questionable to return as the game entered the fourth quarter with Baltimore trailing, 30-13. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player appeared to injure his hamstring on the final play of a Ravens’ drive. He was tackled from behind by Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis and ran off the field without a noticeable limp. Jackson threw his helmet on the sideline in frustration and sat on the bench. Cooper Rush entered in relief. Jackson was 14-for-20 for 147 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception before exiting. He also added 48 rushing yards on six carries. He did not return to open the fourth quarter. He remained on the sideline for the rest of the game. The Ravens were ravaged by injuries in Sunday’s contest. Multiple starters — cornerback Marlon Humphrey, linebacker Roquan Smith, cornerback Nate Wiggins and offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley all exited the game early. Jackson’s injury ended the Ravens’ slim comeback hopes. Jackson’s never injured his hamstring before and has only missed 10 games in his career. The Ravens’ upcoming schedule includes a home matchup with the Houston Texans (1-3) next week and the Los Angeles Rams (3-1) the following week. Baltimore is on the verge of dropping to 1-3, as it trails 37-13 against Kansas City in the fourth quarter. Only a handful of 1-3 teams have ever made the conference championship game and if Jackson were to miss any time, the team’s playoff hopes becomes much murkier. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

Left tackle Ronnie Stanley exited with an ankle injury in the first quarter of the Ravens’ critical clash against the Kansas City Chiefs and is questionable to return. Stanley missed practice for most of last week with an ankle ailment and was listed as questionable entering the game. He tested his ankle before the contest and was able to suit up as a game-time decision. Stanley is the Ravens’ longest-tenured player and protects Lamar Jackson’s blindside. Amid the offensive line’s struggles, Stanley was playing relatively well to begin the season. Reserve swing tackle Joseph Noteboom replaced Stanley. Noteboom, whom Baltimore signed this offseason, has starting experience. He appeared in 14 games and started eight in 2023, and also started multiple games for the Los Angeles Rams last season. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Related Articles Ravens TE Isaiah Likely returns but defense severely shorthanded vs. Chiefs Ravens vs. Chiefs live updates: Baltimore marches to early 7-3 lead Ravens place Nnamdi Madubuike on injured reserve in major blow to defense Ravens vs. Chiefs staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Kansas City? Ravens injury report: 2 key players could return vs. Chiefs View the full article

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely will make his season debut Sunday against the Chiefs. Likely, 25, underwent foot surgery at the beginning of August, returned to practice just over a week ago and was a full participant for the first time Friday. His return should be a boost to an offense that already leads the NFL in points per game (37). In last year’s season opener against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, Likely had nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets. He also appeared to have scored a potential game-tying touchdown with no time left before replay overturned the call with his toe coming down out of bounds in the back of the end zone. For his career, Likely has 108 catches for 1,261 yards and 59 touchdowns over three seasons and has quickly become a favorite target for quarterback Lamar Jackson. Less encouraging for the Ravens (1-2) is the news that they will be without defensive tackle Travis Jones (knee), who is one of seven inactive players. Already, Baltimore is without fellow defensive tackle and Pro Bowl selection Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), who was placed on injured reserve Saturday along with fellow defensive lineman Broderick Washington. The Ravens also made outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) inactive. The 34-year-old sack leader from last season did go through an on-field workout early Sunday afternoon and appeared to be moving well, but he did not practice earlier in the week and was limited on Friday. Other inactive players for Baltimore include cornerback Jaire Alexander, fullback Patrick Ricard, running back Keaton Mitchell, rookie offensive tackle Carson Vinson and rookie safety Reuben Lowery III. Related Articles Ravens vs. Chiefs live updates: Baltimore marches to early 7-3 lead Ravens place Nnamdi Madubuike on injured reserve in major blow to defense Ravens vs. Chiefs staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Kansas City? Ravens injury report: 2 key players could return vs. Chiefs Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell: ‘Hell yeah’ he’s frustrated about not playing For the Chiefs, defensive end Mike Danna (left hip), cornerback Kristian Fulton (left ankle), running back Elijah Mitchell, tight end Jared Wiley, receiver Jason Brownlee, center Hunter Nourzad and defensive tackle Brodric Martin are inactive. As expected, wide receiver Xavier Worthy (right shoulder) is active, as is star defensive tackle Chris Jones. Jones was attending a family funeral Sunday in Mississippi and was flying back in time for the game, according to reports. He took off from Mississippi around 2:30 p.m. ET for the hour-long trip and was expected to be a “little late” for pregame warmups, but should arrive in time for kickoff. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens (1-2) and Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) face off Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium in a pivotal Week 4 matchup with both teams looking to get back on track after surprisingly slow starts. Kickoff is 4:25 p.m. on CBS. Follow along here for live coverage and analysis. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

The Ravens will be without Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike for the foreseeable future. Days after coach John Harbaugh said that he was “concerned” about a neck injury that has sidelined Madubuike since a Week 2 win over the Cleveland Browns, the Ravens announced Saturday that the 27-year-old former third-round draft pick will be placed on injured reserve. That will keep Madubuike out for at least the next four games, beginning with Sunday’s showdown against the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Baltimore also placed defensive tackle Broderick Washington (ankle) on injured reserve. To reinforce the defensive line, the Ravens signed defensive end Brent Urban to the 53-man roster and elevated defensive tackle C.J. Okoye and nose tackle Josh Tupou from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. Though not a surprise, the loss of Madubuike is a crushing one for a defense that has been one of the worst in the NFL over the first three weeks of the season. Baltimore is ranked second-to-last in points allowed per game (32) and last in yards allowed per game (415). It also ranks 30th in rushing yards allowed per game (149) after giving up 224 on the ground in a 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday. Madubuike, whom the Ravens drafted 71st overall out of Texas A&M in 2020, has been a disruptive force in recent years. In 2022, he broke through with 5 1/2 sacks and a year later led the team with 13 sacks, which was also tops among all interior linemen in the NFL. Last season, Madubuike’s sack total dipped to 6 1/2, though he was one of the most double teamed linemen in the league, drawing extra attention on 233 snaps, per Next Gen Stats. Through two games this season, he had a team-high two sacks along with 10 pressures. Madubuike has also been a steady presence in the lineup, appearing in 55 straight games before suffering the injury. In his last start on Sept. 14 against the Browns, he logged 43 snaps. How Baltimore will deal with his loss remains to be seen, but he will not be easily replaced. Fourth-year defensive tackle Travis Jones should help, though he has has just 3 1/2 sacks and one pressure on his career. He has also been dealing with a knee injury this past week. Ravens rookie Aeneas Peebles practices against fellow defensive lineman Brent Urban. Both will be counted on to step up in Nnamdi Madubuike's absence. (Surya Vaidy/Staff) The Ravens have veteran John Jenkins and sixth-round rookie Aeneas Peebles as well and earlier this week signed veteran defensive linemen Taven Bryan and Tupou. The 6-foot-6, 370-pound Okoye, a product of the NFL’s International Pathway Program from Nigeria, has never played in a regular-season game. Tupou, 31, played three games with the Ravens last season. Harbaugh praised Jenkins for his performance against the Lions and will be counting on the 6-3, 360-pound veteran for more snaps. “His reps will go up, for sure, and he’s ready,” Harbaugh said Friday of the 13-year pro. “He’s practiced really well, and he’s a decorated vet and a really good player. He’s done a great job, so we’re expecting a really good game from him. Whether the Ravens look to fill Madubuike’s void via trade also remains to be seen. This year’s trade deadline is Nov. 11 after Week 10. Madubuike’s loss also stings financially. Last offseason, the Ravens signed him to a four-year, $98 million contract extension that included $75.5 million in guarantees and $53.5 million at signing. Related Articles Ravens vs. Chiefs staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Kansas City? Ravens injury report: 2 key players could return vs. Chiefs Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell: ‘Hell yeah’ he’s frustrated about not playing Will Taylor Swift be at Ravens game against Chiefs this week? The Ravens’ defense is struggling. Advanced stats paint an ugly picture. “[Nnamdi] is one of the best defensive tackles in the entire NFL and a cornerstone on our defense,” general manager Eric DeCosta said at the time. The deal at the time made him the second-highest paid interior defensive lineman in the league behind only since-retired Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald. The move came after Madubuike was the first Raven to reach double digits in sacks since Terrell Suggs in 2017 and after he tied an NFL record with a streak of 11 straight games with at least half a sack in 2023. Last season, Madubuike had 56 pressures, per Pro Football Focus, to go with 43 tackles, including 11 for loss. He also had a pass breakup. For his career, Madubuike has 30 sacks and 203 tackles over five-plus seasons in Baltimore. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 4 game between the Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Brian Wacker, reporter Chiefs 24, Ravens 20: At the start of the season, I would have liked Baltimore’s chances a lot more. A lot has changed in three weeks, though. The worrisome rate at which the Ravens’ defense is hemorrhaging yards and points combined with a slew of significant injuries, including to Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy, will be problematic against a Chiefs offense that gets speedy receiver Xavier Worthy back this week. Add defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s history of making Lamar Jackson look even just a little less elite along with left tackle Ronnie Stanley dealing with an ankle injury and there’s reason to think that the game might not even be this close. Perhaps Derrick Henry will help control the clock by gashing Kansas City on the ground and propel the Ravens to victory, but there’s too much stacked against Baltimore at this point to have such singular confidence. Sam Cohn, reporter Chiefs 31, Ravens 24: Four weeks ago, I predicted that the Ravens would split road games at Buffalo and Kansas City. No way they’d win both, I thought, but surely they could take one. This Ravens team isn’t playing like the juggernaut, Super-Bowl-bound group most figured it would be. So I’m shifting my prediction. The schedule gets easier from here and they’ll be fine by season’s end, but another loss at Arrowhead will haunt the Ravens throughout the season, making them easy fodder for pundits for an inability to beat the top dogs. The Ravens’ league-best offense will put points on the board, but it won’t be enough to overcome defensive injuries and lapses. As Lamar Jackson said this week, the only way to overcome issues elsewhere will be to “put more points on the board.” He can’t win them every game. Mike Preston, columnist: Chiefs 27, Ravens 24: Both teams are in search of wins. The Ravens are trying to rebound from a tightly contested loss to Detroit on “Monday Night Football,” while the Chiefs had an easier time against the winless Giants. Losses for both teams have come against quality opponents. Kansas City has lost to the Chargers and Eagles while Baltimore has suffered setbacks to the Bills and Lions. This game is virtually a toss-up because the Chiefs have struggled offensively while the Ravens have had defensive problems. It’s hard to win in Kansas City because of the culture and the crowd noise, but look for the Ravens’ receivers to come up with some big plays against cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. The Chiefs, though, have quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and it appears that the offense has gotten it together before it faces a Ravens defense that was humiliated a week ago. Take Mahomes at home. He has a 5-1 record against Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Josh Tolentino, columnist Chiefs 27, Ravens 24: The banged-up Ravens might boast the more talented roster, but recent trends make it difficult to trust them in Kansas City. Baltimore has been outcoached in both of its losses, and now it faces Andy Reid, one of the league’s ultimate in-game chess masters. This contest would’ve carried more juice if both teams had winning records, but there’s still plenty of drama attached. The Ravens’ defense lacked a backbone against Buffalo and Detroit, crumbling over and over again in key moments. While it wouldn’t be a shock if Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and company clean up costly mistakes, it won’t matter until the defense finally shows up. Patrick Mahomes is lacking playmakers, but will that really matter against this version of the Ravens’ defense? C.J. Doon, editor Chiefs 23, Ravens 20: It’s rare to see a “must win” game in Week 4, but that’s what this feels like. In NFL history, only the 2001 Patriots started 1-3 and won the Super Bowl (and that included a quarterback swap to Tom Brady). We’ve seen Baltimore start slowly and go on a run with Lamar Jackson before, but this team does not feel nearly as solid as those previous iterations. The Chiefs’ offense has looked almost as bad as the Ravens’ defense through three games, but Patrick Mahomes is pretty good at doing more with less, and he gets Xavier Worthy back this week. Given Baltimore’s nonexistent pass rush and the rash of injuries along the defensive front, it’s going to be tough to slow down the two-time MVP for a full 60 minutes. If it’s a close game late, I know which team I trust more. Related Articles Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell: ‘Hell yeah’ he’s frustrated about not playing Will Taylor Swift be at Ravens game against Chiefs this week? The Ravens’ defense is struggling. Advanced stats paint an ugly picture. Ravens vs. Chiefs scouting report for Week 4: Who has the edge? Mike Preston: It’s put up or shut up time for Ravens’ defense | COMMENTARY Bennett Conlin, editor Chiefs 34, Ravens 31: At full health on a neutral field, give me the Ravens. But playing on the road without Nnamdi Madubuike puts Baltimore in a tough spot. While the Ravens have reason to believe that they should be 2-1 or 3-0, so do the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes’ ability as a scrambler — he’s averaging 6.9 yards per carry this season — makes me worried about how this up-and-down Baltimore defense will fare in a tough road spot. The Ravens might have the most talented team in the NFL, but they’re also 1-5 against the Chiefs, Bills, Eagles and Lions since the start of the 2024 season. Make it 1-6, and look for the pressure to heat up on defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 27, Chiefs 21: I said after Monday night’s loss to the Lions that I would not be taking the Ravens against a top-tier opponent again. But here we are. The Ravens can’t start 1-3, can they? Baltimore has started slow the past few seasons before reeling off a dominant stretch, and with how talented this team is, I suspect that will happen again. It must start Sunday afternoon in Kansas City. Another disappointing performance would open the gates for coaches to be fired — perhaps for good reason. But I expect the Ravens will be ready to play a full 60 minutes and for Derrick Henry to bounce back in a big way. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 30, Chiefs 27: The Ravens are coming off a disappointing loss in prime time. There are a lot of questions surrounding the defense and its lack of playing up to the standard that has been set for years. The Ravens usually bounce back after a loss and that expectation hasn’t changed. Unfortunately, they face Patrick Mahomes, and the Chiefs are 1-2 as well. Chiefs Kingdom will be loud, but there’s no better place for the Ravens to bounce back than in Kansas City. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

Sunday’s showdown between the Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium pits two teams with identical 1-2 records but at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to health. While the defending AFC champion Chiefs head into the critical showdown almost entirely injury free, Baltimore is in rougher shape. Already without defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) for a second straight game, the Ravens also ruled out veteran defensive tackle Broderick Washington (ankle) along with fullback Patrick Ricard (calf), who hasn’t practiced since mid-August. Without Madubuike and now Washington, that will mean an increase in snaps for veteran John Jenkins, who played 49% of the defensive snaps in Monday’s 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions. “His reps will go up, for sure, and he’s ready,” coach John Harbaugh said of Jenkins. “He’s practiced really well, and he’s a decorated vet and a really good player. He’s done a great job, so we’re expecting a really good game from him.” On a more positive note for Baltimore, however, tight end Isaiah Likely, who has yet to play this season after undergoing foot surgery at the beginning of August, fully practiced Friday and is listed as questionable. “He’s practiced one week, but he looked really good, so is he ready to go in there, in this game, against those guys and play at the top, top level and help us win the game, or is somebody else more suited?” Harbaugh said when asked about Likely’s availability. “But, he could do it. He looks good to me. I think he looks good, and we’ll just have to see if it’s the best thing for us on Sunday, and we haven’t really decided that yet.” In last year’s game against Kansas City, Likely scored what was initially ruled a touchdown with no time remaining that would have given Baltimore a chance to tie or win the game before the call was overturned by replay with Likely’s toe coming down out of the back of the end zone. He had nine catches on 12 targets for 111 yards and a touchdown in that game. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who missed Monday’s game against the Lions with a hamstring injury, practiced for the first time this week, but was limited. Still, he is listed as questionable and has a chance to play Sunday. “It would mean a lot,” Harbaugh said when asked what it would mean to have Van Noy back after missing just one game. “We’ll just see where he is at and how he’s doing.” Pro Bowl Left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, returned in a limited capacity and was working on a side field during the open portion of practice Friday. He is also questionable. Joe Noteboom, who made 35 starts in seven seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, would likely step in if Stanley can’t play. “He is doing well,” Harbaugh said of Stanley. “He’s kind of in that day-to-day world right now, so we’ll see. He’s working hard to be there on Sunday.” Related Articles Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell: ‘Hell yeah’ he’s frustrated about not playing Will Taylor Swift be at Ravens game against Chiefs this week? The Ravens’ defense is struggling. Advanced stats paint an ugly picture. Ravens vs. Chiefs scouting report for Week 4: Who has the edge? Mike Preston: It’s put up or shut up time for Ravens’ defense | COMMENTARY Defensive tackle Travis Jones (ankle) is listed as questionable, but did practice in a limited capacity for a second straight day after not practicing Wednesday. More concerning, though, could be how long Madubuike will be out for. On Friday, Harbaugh did not provide a timeline. “He’s out for this game,” he said. “That’s as far as I can state with certainty at this point.” Meanwhile, Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna (quad) is listed as doubtful, while reserve cornerback Kristian Fulton (ankle) and rookie defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte (elbow) are questionable. No one else has an injury designation for the game. Kansas City will also have speedy receiver Xavier Worthy back after a shoulder injury kept him sidelined the past two games. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

For three weeks, Keaton Mitchell has been mathematically eliminated from the Ravens’ game day roster — a truth that was harder to fathom watching the now-healthy running back cut up defenses in the preseason. “We just don’t have the spot right now,” coach John Harbaugh said. Baltimore carries three running backs for any given game. Two of those spots are reserved for starter Derrick Henry and backup Justice Hill. The third belongs to an insurance back relegated to special teams, which Harbaugh said “tilts the scale” in favor of second-year pro Rasheen Ali. Even after teammates and coaches lauded Mitchell’s post-surgery return to form, the 23-year-old former undrafted free agent is still waiting his turn for meaningful snaps. Is it frustrating? “Hell yeah,” the soft-spoken Mitchell said, his voice shooting up like a flare. “But it is what it is. Whenever they call my name, that’s when it’s gonna happen. I’m always ready.” Mitchell and Ali are comparable, speedy kick return options who play different positions on the punt team. Mitchell is a gunner, buried on the depth chart behind wide receiver Tez Walker and rookie cornerback Keyon Martin. Ali plays the slot, a blocking position on one end of the line of scrimmage. That special teams disparity is the primary influence in Baltimore finalizing its active roster. “It’s not so much that [Mitchell is] not getting better at the things that he needs to get better at,” special teams coordinator Chris Horton said, “it’s just like, ‘Where do we plug and play in that?’ That’s kind of how I see it.” Ali has 10 kick returns this season 272 yards, fourth most in the NFL with fewer attempts than any returner ahead of him. The 2024 fifth-round draft pick’s longest return was a 43-yarder, also a top-10 mark in the NFL this season. “Sheen’s doing a great job, obviously,” Mitchell said. “He doing good.” Ali went into the team’s concussion protocol after getting dinged up on the opening kickoff against the Cleveland Browns. He did not return and showed up at practice the next week wearing a red noncontact jersey, which could have opened the door for Mitchell. But Ali was back to full go a day later, avoiding any serious injury. Related Articles Will Taylor Swift be at Ravens game against Chiefs this week? The Ravens’ defense is struggling. Advanced stats paint an ugly picture. Ravens vs. Chiefs scouting report for Week 4: Who has the edge? Mike Preston: It’s put up or shut up time for Ravens’ defense | COMMENTARY Lamar Jackson vs. Patrick Mahomes is one-sided. The Ravens QB doesn’t care. In the preseason, Mitchell made light work of the Colts with 68 yards on nine carries and a touchdown. He was sidelined with a hamstring injury but returned to practice in the week leading up to the season opener. Horton called Mitchell a “heck of a kick returner” but was transparent in that the breadth of Ali’s job gives him the advantage. In addition to special teams, there’s also what Mitchell can do as a running back. In eight games during the 2023 season before he tore his ACL, he averaged 8.4 yards per carry and 10.3 yards per reception with two touchdowns as a change-of-pace option next to Gus Edwards. Mitchell was limited to just 15 carries for 30 yards in two games last season as he worked his way back from a significant knee injury, but he posted during the offseason that he hit 22.4 mph during a workout. “He looks good,” Harbaugh said during minicamp in June. “He looks way better than he did at the end of last season just as far as movement. I have hopes for him. I expect him to be really good.” Through three games, the Ravens rank 12th in the NFL with 122.7 rushing yards per game, with Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson leading the way. But Henry has rushed for 50 yards or fewer in each of the past two games while fumbling three times over the first three weeks, a surprising problem that he’s vowed to fix immediately. Running backs coach Willie Taggart said before that season that “we can try to find different ways to get [Mitchell] the football so he can do his thing,” but so far, it hasn’t happened. “I would have loved to have had [Mitchell] out there the last three games,” Harbaugh said. “But when he’s out there, we’re going to be excited to have him. He’s on our team and he’s practicing well. He had a great week of practice and really looked good. So yes, that’s part of the dilemma with the numbers.” Baltimore Sun reporter Sam Jane contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

While Taylor Swift is living “The Life of a Showgirl,” she can still be cautious about her public appearances. The pop star has been spotted at numerous Kansas City Chiefs games, supporting her fiance and tight end Travis Kelce. As the Ravens prepare to face the team at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday and amid security concerns, will we see Swift on screen? Swift was seen at the Chiefs’ Sept. 14 home game behind a barrier, just days after the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk sparked increased fears of public gun violence. Swift secured a restraining order against her alleged stalker this week, The Los Angeles Times reported, and last year, she canceled “Eras Tour” shows in Vienna after the CIA uncovered plans to attack fans at the concert. Swift is also set to release her newest album “The Life of a Showgirl” on Oct. 3. She is expected to appear on “The Graham Norton Show” on the release day and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Oct. 5. (L-R) Ashley Avignone, Taylor Swift, Alana Haim and Este Haim attend Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) Swift made her debut as an NFL WAG — wives and girlfriends — in September 2023 for her first game in Kansas City. Since then, she has attended many Chiefs home and away games while juggling the tail end of “The Eras Tour” and writing new music. Baltimore is sentimental to Swift, she said last month on the New Heights podcast hosted by Kelce and his brother, former Eagles center Jason Kelce. (Jason made his own Baltimore appearance Monday, suiting up in a Marching Ravens uniform to play the saxophone at the game.) Swift recalled the “magical” moment of celebrating the Chiefs’ AFC Championship win on the field of the M&T Bank Stadium last year. “It’s one of my most cherished memories because I was so proud of you,” Swift told Travis Kelce. Related Articles Colorado’s best mountain towns for live music fans Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs now sober and humbled, his lawyers tell judge as they ask for lighter sentence 5 & Dine: 5 food trucks worth chasing after Baltimore County festival Willie Nelson and Neil Young highlight 40th Farm Aid concert Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, musicians reach 3-year agreement after strike authorization “The Alchemy” off her latest album, “The Tortured Poet’s Department,” is a love song seemingly inspired by her NFL love story and, possibly, the celebration in Baltimore. The song depicts the celebration of a win with a lots of football imagery. “Where’s the trophy? He just comes running over to me,” the bridge says. Have a news tip? Contact Abigail Olear at aolear@baltsun.com. View the full article

When Marlon Humphrey spoke with teammates about bringing the Ravens’ defense back to its historic prominence, this certainly wasn’t what he envisioned. Through three weeks, Baltimore’s defense has regressed more than any other unit in the NFL compared with last season, according to most major metrics. The Ravens’ success rate, third-down defense and expected points added (EPA) per play have significantly dropped. They’re last in the league in yards allowed, have surrendered the second-most points in the league and have given up the third-most rushing yards per game. And while last year’s unit also stumbled out of the gate, this season’s defensive start is far more concerning. The Ravens’ defense held offenses to a 42% success rate and 0.065 EPA per play through three weeks last season. This year, that number has jumped to 48.6% and 0.129 EPA per play, respectively. “I don’t think last week is who we are,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. It starts with the defensive line. Baltimore’s defense is getting bullied at the line of scrimmage, something fans are not accustomed to seeing. Opponents’ EPA per rush is at a whopping 0.14 per rushing play, according to RBSDM.com. That means, on average, every time the team runs the ball against the Ravens, it adds 0.14 expected points. Since 2016, the Ravens have never finished a season allowing a positive EPA per rush. Over that span, Baltimore leads the NFL by holding opponents to an average of minus-0.133 EPA per carry. Baltimore has faced two dominant rushing offenses, though. The Lions and Bills both are top-five rushing attacks so far this season. But Cleveland — averaging just 86.7 rushing yards per game, the fourth-lowest mark in the NFL — still found some success against the Ravens with 115 yards on 22 attempts. Not having Nnamdi Madubuike certainly hurts Baltimore’s rushing defense. But with his return looking more and more questionable, it doesn’t appear as though reinforcements are on the way in the immediate future. Hamilton said missed tackles are the biggest issue in the run defense. The Ravens have already surrendered 200 yards after contact this season — the most through three games in John Harbaugh’s 18 years as coach. “Just own the mistakes and look at it and try to find every detail of how we can be better,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “Do we like it? No. Are we frustrated about it? Yes. But it’s about what we do going forward.” Screenshots from RBSDM.com But even when the Ravens force teams into third-down situations, they have struggled. Opponents are converting third downs nearly 45% of the time against Baltimore, its lowest mark over the past decade. A lack of pass rush certainly contributes to that. In the Week 3 loss to the Lions, quarterback Jared Goff was never sacked and rarely pressured. Bills quarterback Josh Allen had plenty of time in the pocket to dissect the Ravens’ secondary. Orr also said that stopping teams on third down starts with winning early downs. Baltimore ranks fifth-worst in the league in first and second-down success rate, allowing Detroit to consistently set up manageable third downs. Related Articles Ravens vs. Chiefs scouting report for Week 4: Who has the edge? Mike Preston: It’s put up or shut up time for Ravens’ defense | COMMENTARY Lamar Jackson vs. Patrick Mahomes is one-sided. The Ravens QB doesn’t care. Ravens Week 3 high school football Coaches of the Week Kyle Hamilton defends Zach Orr: ‘Ravens fans can be a little bit spoiled’ “You look at the second half [the Lions] weren’t in third-and-long. It’s tough to defend any offense when you’re living in third-and-short, third-and-medium,” Orr said. “You live in that type of world, especially against a good offense, they’re gonna make you pay.” Luckily for the Ravens, their schedule eases up after this week’s trip to Kansas City. They will face only two teams currently in the top 10 for scoring offense — the Vikings and Bears — over the next seven weeks. Hamilton said the “sky isn’t falling.” He defended Orr, saying “we’ve been through the fire before. We’re going through it again.” While he’s right that Baltimore’s season is far from over, the defense must quickly address the problems that have plagued it early on. If not, the Ravens won’t reach the heights they’ve set for themselves this year. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article