ExtremeRavens

The NFL’s leading rushing attack is about to get even stronger. Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell returned to practice Wednesday in Owings Mills. It marks the first time he has practiced since suffering a torn ACL in mid-December of last season against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Baltimore has 21 days to add him to the roster from the physically unable to perform list or the second-year back will revert to season-ending injured reserve. Asked about a timetable for Mitchell’s return, coach John Harbaugh did not elaborate. “I don’t expect him to be back this week,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been away quite awhile, so you want to get him going, get him moving, get him practicing football and get him ready hopefully within the three-week window.” Harbaugh added that he would need to see good change of direction on cuts, as well as Mitchell being productive while also being able to protect himself. Mitchell, who last season provided a jolt to the Ravens’ rushing attack with his breakaway speed, joins a backfield that already includes the league’s leading rusher in Derrick Henry (873 yards, eight touchdowns) and versatile veteran Justice Hill, whom Baltimore recently signed to a contract extension. However, it remains to be seen if the 5-foot-9, 181-pound speedster who was wearing a brace on his surgically repaired left knee has the same explosiveness he displayed during his rookie year as an undrafted free agent out of East Carolina. Mitchell, who rushed for 396 yards and two touchdowns on 47 carries and caught nine passes for 93 yards in eight games a season ago, tore three ligaments and cartilage in what was described as a “nasty” injury. There was no nerve damage or other complications, however, and five weeks ago Mitchell posted on X that he had reached 20-plus mph while working out. It was initially believed he would not be able to practice until early December, but his return Wednesday signals a possible mid-November return. From Weeks 9 through 16 last season Mitchell, who is the son of former Ravens defensive back Anthony Mitchell, was one of the fastest and best backs in the NFL. His 8.4 yards per carry and 5.9 yards after contact led the league, and he was third in broken tackle percentage and fourth in yards before contact (2.9) during that span. Mitchell’s top speed of 20.99 mph, per Next Gen Stats, was the fastest of any Ravens running back last season. This year, however, he has plenty of competition for carries with Henry averaging 6.5 yards per attempt. In Monday night’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 30-year-old ran for 169 yards on 15 carries, marking the fourth time he’s topped the century mark in the past five games, and he reached a top speed of 21.72 mph during an 81-yard run in the fourth quarter. Consequently, the Ravens have rolled up the most yards in the league during their five-game winning streak, during which they have averaged 35 points and 479 yards per game after totaling 508 yards on Monday night. Baltimore’s 244 rushing yards against Tampa Bay also made them just the fourth team since 1980 to have at least 1,400 rushing yards through seven games. Mitchell wasn’t the only player to return Wednesday in the week’s first practice ahead of Sunday’s game against the Browns in Cleveland. Cornerbacks Arthur Maulet (hamstring-knee) and Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring) were back, though both were limited in the late afternoon walk-through practice, according to the injury report. Armour-Davis also has 21 days to be added to the roster after coming off injured reserve. Several others were missing, though. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Browns will have new QB and new play-caller against Ravens Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata and Marshal Yanda advance in Hall of Fame voting Baltimore Ravens | Bail denied for Ravens fan accused of assaulting Commanders fans in Federal Hill Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: How would you grade the Ravens’ season so far? Baltimore Ravens | NFL is reviewing Ravens’ Roquan Smith’s tackle that injured Bucs’ Chris Godwin Wide receiver Zay Flowers (ankle), cornerbacks Nate Wiggins (shoulder) and Marlon Humphrey (knee), defensive tackle Travis Jones (knee), cornerback T.J. Tampa (ankle) and rookie running back Rasheen Ali (ankle) all did not practice. Linebacker Malik Harrison (groin) and defensive tackle Broderick Washington (knee) were limited. Harbaugh added that he’s hopeful that Humphrey would be available to play Sunday and said all the players currently dealing with injury also have a chance to play. For Cleveland, running back Jerome Ford (knee), linebacker Jordan Hicks (elbow/triceps), safety Ronnie Hickman (ankle), left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee), center Ethan Pocic (knee) and backup defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (personal) all did not practice. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Hicks, Wills and Pocic are “day to day.” Meanwhile, right tackle Jack Conklin (knee) and backup cornerback Tony Brown (ankle) were limited. Defensive end Myles Garrett (Achilles tendon), wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (knee) and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (right finger) were full participants. Stefanski said quarterback Jameis Winston will start Sunday after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Right guard Wyatt Teller (knee) was designated to return for Cleveland. He’s been on IR since Sept. 25. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

BEREA, Ohio — The Browns have changed who’s calling the plays and who’s running them. On Wednesday, Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Jameis Winston will start at quarterback against the Ravens this week after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture last Sunday. Winston will be making his first start since 2022 when he was with New Orleans Saints. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft will be making his 81st career start in the NFL. Winston’s ascension into the starting spot was expected. Stefanski handing over play-calling duties to coordinator Ken Dorsey seven games into the season was a surprise. But with the Browns (1-6) in a freefall and their offense needing a spark after failing to score 20 points in a game this season, Stefanski, a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year, is putting Dorsey in charge of calling the plays. “I’m just always looking at what we can do to just be a little bit better and truth is we have to be better on offense and coach Dorsey is somebody that I rely on very heavily and I just feel like this is the right thing for the team,” Stefanski said. Dorsey, who played quarterback for the Browns, is in his first season on Stefanski’s staff. He was fired as Buffalo’s OC midway through last season. The offense is now in the hands of Winston, who was signed by the Browns to a 1-year, $8.7 million contract as a free agent in March after the team cycled through five quarterbacks last season. Watson ruptured his tendon last Sunday on a running play against the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s scheduled to undergo surgery Friday and will likely need at least six months of rehab. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata and Marshal Yanda advance in Hall of Fame voting Baltimore Ravens | Bail denied for Ravens fan accused of assaulting Commanders fans in Federal Hill Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: How would you grade the Ravens’ season so far? Baltimore Ravens | NFL is reviewing Ravens’ Roquan Smith’s tackle that injured Bucs’ Chris Godwin Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 7: Steelers’ Russell Wilson switch looks genius Winston has been Cleveland’s No. 2 quarterback for most of the season. However, last week he was the No. 3 behind Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who came in for Watson but hurt a finger on his throwing hand in the second half against the Bengals. Stefanski said Thompson-Robinson will practice, but he wants to see how he throws before deciding if he can be Winston’s backup against the Ravens (5-2). On Tuesday, the Browns signed quarterback Bailey Zappe off Kansas City’s practice squad. Zappe made eight starts over two seasons for the New England Patriots, who released him this summer. Winston gives the Browns some experience at the position, but he doesn’t end their problems at quarterback. Watson’s injury could lead to the team selecting a quarterback near the top of next year’s draft. View the full article

Two-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Eli Manning, former NFL Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and prolific tight end Antonio Gates are among the players who advanced to the next stage in voting for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Suggs joined Haloti Ngata and Marshal Yanda as former Ravens advancing to the next step in the process. The Hall announced Wednesday the 50 modern era candidates who advanced from the original list of 167 after voting by a newly created screening committee. The list includes eight players in their first year of eligibility, including Ngata and Suggs, and 10 players who were finalists last year but didn’t get enough support. The full selection committee will next reduce the list of nominees to 25 semifinalists in about four weeks. Then 15 finalists will be picked for the annual meeting before the Super Bowl that will produce the new class. Players must get 80% of votes to get in with between three and five players getting in as modern era candidates. There will also be votes for three seniors candidates, one contributor and one coach with between one and three people from that group getting into the Hall. Leading the group of candidates in their first year of eligibility were Manning, Kuechly, Suggs and postseason kicking hero Adam Vinatieri. The others two key members of Seattle’s Super Bowl-winning team in the 2013 season in running back Marshawn Lynch and safety Earl Thomas, a former Raven; two-time All-Pro guard Yanda; and longtime San Francisco 49ers left tackle Joe Staley. Gates and defensive lineman Jared Allen headline the group of returning finalists from last year along with receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne; offensive linemen Willie Anderson, a former Raven, and Jahri Evans; defensive backs Darren Woodson, Eric Allen and Rodney Harrison; and running back Fred Taylor. Others who played for the Ravens on the list include quarterback Steve McNair (2006-07), wide receivers Anquan Boldin (2010-12) and Steve Smith Sr. (2014-16), tight end Ben Coates (2000) and offensive lineman Erik Williams (2001). Boldin and Smith rank ninth and 11th, respectively, on the Ravens’ all-time receiving yards list. Kuechly and Suggs were among the top defensive players of their era with Kuechly selected as the top defensive player in 2013 and Suggs in 2011. Suggs was one of the top pass rushers in the league over his 17-year career, with his 139 sacks ranking eighth best since they became an official stat in 1982. Suggs had seven double-digit sack seasons in his 16 seasons with Baltimore, including 14 in 2011 when he was selected as the top defensive player in the league and led the NFL with seven forced fumbles. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003 and helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl in the 2012 season. He finished his career in Kansas City where he helped the Chiefs win the Super Bowl in the 2019 season. Ngata played for the Ravens from 2006 to 2014, making five Pro Bowls and winning one Super Bowl. The monstrous defensive tackle played his college football at Oregon, and he played for the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles at the end of his professional career. He finished his career with 515 tackles, including 32 1/2 sacks. Yanda, an eight-time Pro Bowl participant, played for the Ravens from 2007 to 2019. The former Iowa great is among the top offensive linemen to play for John Harbaugh in Baltimore, as Yanda was Pro Football Focus’ top-ranked guard in the NFL in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Manning will look to follow his brother Peyton into the Hall following a standout career with the New York Giants. Manning was picked first overall in the 2004 draft and spent his entire career in New York. He led the Giants to an upset win over the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl following the 2007 season, throwing a game-winning TD pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Browns will have new QB and new play-caller against Ravens Baltimore Ravens | Bail denied for Ravens fan accused of assaulting Commanders fans in Federal Hill Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: How would you grade the Ravens’ season so far? Baltimore Ravens | NFL is reviewing Ravens’ Roquan Smith’s tackle that injured Bucs’ Chris Godwin Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 7: Steelers’ Russell Wilson switch looks genius He led another late TD drive to upset Tom Brady and the Patriots four years later. Manning is one of 13 QBs to win multiple Super Bowls with eight of the nine who are eligible for the Hall getting inducted. Only Jim Plunkett has not been inducted along with more recent players such as Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Patrick Mahomes, who aren’t eligible. Plunkett has advanced in voting for the seniors candidates. Manning was a four-time Pro Bowler but never made All-Pro or led the league in a major statistical category in a season but finished his career with 57,023 yards passing and 366 TDs. His best moments were in those two postseason runs. Manning joined Brady (five), Mahomes (three), Joe Montana (three), Bart Starr (two) and Terry Bradshaw (two) as the only multiple winners of Super Bowl MVP awards. View the full article

The Ravens fan accused of assaulting three Commanders fans in Federal Hill earlier this month, shown in a video that went viral, was denied bail Wednesday. John Callis of Sarasota, Florida, appeared in Baltimore District Court, where Judge LaTina Burse Greene denied his attorney’s request that Callis be held in an outpatient rehab facility along with GPS monitoring. Callis, 24, allegedly assaulted three people after the Ravens-Commanders game in Baltimore on Oct. 13. Now, he’s charged with one count of first-degree assault and three counts of second-degree assault. Together, the charges could have a maximum penalty of up to 55 years. State’s Attorney Twila Driggins recommended Callis be held without bail considering his ties to other states and the potential threat to public safety. She recalled for the court that Callis had been given probation before judgment in an 2021 fight in Towson, as well as a similar punishment for riot and loitering in Delaware. She said two of the October victims, 23-year-old men who attended the Ravens game with their parents, were “humiliated” by the circulating viral video of the assault and worried about Callis’ possible release. Defense attorney Brian Thompson suggested the judge release Callis to outpatient treatment for his yearslong cocaine addiction and alcoholism. The program, OnePromise, buses patients from residential facilities in Overlea to the rehab facility daily, Thompson said, and there would be low likelihood of any potential home-monitoring violations. Greene was familiar with the program and stated that although she wasn’t satisfied with this proposal of outpatient care, she would entertain a motion to modify Callis’ bail status should Thompson find an in-patient program to combine with around-the-clock GPS monitoring and home detention. Callis turned himself into Southern District police earlier this week as a result of negotiations with the state. Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@baltsun.com, 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks. View the full article

The Ravens beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 41-31, on Monday night for their fifth straight victory after starting the season 0-2. Lamar Jackson is the current betting favorite to win his second straight NFL Most Valuable Player Award and third overall, but the defense — which was the league’s best a season ago — has continued to struggle. We want to know your thoughts on the team through Week 7. Under the poll, tell us what you think and we may use our take on the Ravens 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

When Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin suffered an ankle injury in the final minute of Monday night’s loss to the Ravens, ESPN’s production crew deemed the play too gruesome to replay on the national broadcast. Godwin — who is expected to have surgery later this week on what is believed to be a dislocated ankle that would likely sideline him for the rest of the season — had his lower leg rolled over by Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith. That tackle is now being reviewed as a potential hip-drop tackle, according to an NFL source with direct knowledge of the league’s review, a banned play that, if substantiated, could result in a fine for the two-time All-Pro and captain of Baltimore’s defense. In March, teams unanimously voted to ban the hip-drop tackle, citing an injury rate 20 times higher than a normal tackle. A hip-drop tackle occurs when a defender wraps up a ball carrier and rotates or swivels his hips, the league says, unweighting himself and dropping onto the ball carrier’s legs. Schefter posted on X that Smith’s tackle had all the makings of the banned move. Hip-drop tackles result in a 15-yard penalty and automatic first down when called, but through Week 7, it has yet to be called during a game. Smith was not immediately penalized although the play is more commonly addressed in the following days. Players can receive a warning letter but could be subject to a fine. Smith has already been fined once this season for unnecessary roughness after a horse collar tackle on Chiefs running back Isaiah Pacheco, but the Ravens linebacker won his appeal of that fine. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 7: Steelers’ Russell Wilson switch looks genius Baltimore Ravens | What Joe Flacco, Ed Reed and Bill Belichick said about the Ravens on the ‘ManningCast’ Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-31 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 41-31 win over Buccaneers | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson dazzles to lead Ravens past Buccaneers, 41-31, for 5th straight win The Washington Post’s Mark Maske reported that league leaders at an NFL owners’ meeting last week deemed there had been 22 plays up for review of a hip-drop tackle this season. Though no flags have been thrown, seven players have been fined. Baltimore is no stranger to the hip-drop tackle. It’s why tight end Mark Andrews missed two months of the season last year, having been pulled down by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson last November. Andrews’ injury reignited the argument for the NFL to ban it. After Smith’s tackle on Monday, Godwin’s left leg was put in an aircast and he was carted off the field. “It doesn’t look good,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles told reporters postgame. The 28-year-old was on pace for a career-best season; through seven weeks, he ranked second in the NFL in recovering yards (576) and first in receptions (50). Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will recap the best and worst from around the league. Here are our winners and losers from Week 7: Winner: Russell Wilson In the beginning of Sunday night’s game, it felt like Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made the wrong decision. Making his first start of the season after being sidelined by a calf injury, Wilson struggled as the Jets took a 15-6 lead midway through the second quarter. The Pittsburgh crowd grew restless as Justin Fields, who played well enough to lead his new team to a 4-2 start, watched from the sideline. How did Wilson respond? By leading the Steelers to 31 unanswered points in a 37-15 victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Jets. The 35-year-old Wilson finished 16-for-29 for 264 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score, providing a lift for an offense that had been good but not great with Fields under center. Most notable was Wilson’s connection with wide receiver George Pickens, who benefitted from Wilson’s downfield aggressiveness with five catches for 111 yards and his first touchdown of the season. The emergence of the enigmatic receiver is huge, considering he’s talented enough to be a true No. 1 target but has struggled to be consistent with his effort and attitude. Of course, Wilson doesn’t deserve all the credit. Undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop Jr. had two huge interceptions that led directly to a pair of Steelers touchdowns, including a one-handed grab over the middle that helped Pittsburgh cut the lead to 15-13 at halftime. Bishop later picked off a pass that bounced off Jets wideout Garrett Wilson and returned it all the way to the 1-yard line, setting up Pittsburgh for an easy touchdown and a 23-15 lead. The Steelers also recorded their second blocked field goal of the season late in the third quarter to keep it an eight-point game, leading to players mobbing special teams coach Danny Smith on the sideline. The defense held wide receiver Davante Adams to just three catches for 30 yards in his Jets debut, frustrated Rodgers all night and allowed just 54 rushing yards. In the end, it was a stroke of genius for Tomlin, who wasn’t shy about how he felt about making the bold switch to Wilson. “That’s why I’m well compensated,” the NFL’s longest-tenured coach said. Loser: San Francisco 49ers It might be time to write off the 49ers as serious Super Bowl contenders. That probably seems like an overreaction to Sunday’s 28-18 loss to the Chiefs, but mounting injuries have robbed this team of its best players. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending knee injury Sunday, joining running back Christian McCaffrey, safety Talanoa Hufanga, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and linebacker Dre Greenlaw on the sideline for an extended period of time. Wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings were also out against Kansas City, leaving tight end George Kittle and running back Jordan Mason as quarterback Brock Purdy’s top playmakers. Unsurprisingly, the offense struggled to score, going 2-for-4 in the red zone and 2-for-11 on third down while Purdy threw three interceptions. At 3-4, it’s going to be an uphill battle for San Francisco to even make the playoffs. Every team in the NFC North has a better record and point differential, while the Seahawks, Buccaneers, Falcons, Cowboys, Eagles and Commanders are also ahead in the standings. Each of the Niners’ next six opponents are .500 or better, and their remaining schedule is the eighth toughest in the league, according to FTN Fantasy’s DVOA. Although the roster is unquestionably among the league’s best when healthy, San Francisco is simply running out of time. Even if McCaffrey returns, the 49ers might already be too far down the standings to make a playoff run and could decide to prioritize his long-term health instead. Over the past three years, the Niners have ranked second, third and fifth in overall efficiency as measured by DVOA. This year, they’re 11th, including one of the league’s worst special teams units. The margin for error is slim, and coach Kyle Shanahan might not be able to overcome it. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown in a dominant 28-3 win over the Giants on Sunday. (Al Bello/AP) Winner: Saquon Barkley Barkley said it wasn’t a “revenge game,” but he sure played like it was. In his return to MetLife Stadium on Sunday, the star running back rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles’ dominant 28-3 win over the Giants. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, those 176 yards are the second most by any player in NFL history in a game against his former team. In six seasons in New York, Barkley eclipsed 170 rushing yards in a game just once, with 189 in an overtime win over Washington in 2019. Playing behind a much better offensive line, Barkley is on pace for nearly 2,000 rushing yards, making his three-year, $37.5 million deal he signed this offseason look like a steal. That’s a number the Giants were unwilling to offer, and unsurprisingly it has come back to bite them. Owner John Mara feared as much when he told general manager Joe Schoen on “Hard Knocks” earlier this year that “I’ll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia.” Mara’s worst nightmare was realized when Barkley took a handoff 55 yards to set up the Eagles’ first touchdown early in the second quarter. The former Penn State star reached a career-high 21.93 mph on the run, according to Next Gen Stats, the second-fastest speed by a ball carrier this season. If the Giants had any doubt that Barkley lost a step, he showed that he might only be getting better. Related Articles NFL | Staff picks for Week 7 of 2024 NFL season: Texans vs. Packers, Chiefs vs. 49ers and more NFL | Baltimore Police investigating video of man in Ravens jersey assaulting Commanders fans in Federal Hill NFL | Maryland sets monthly sports betting tax revenue record in September NFL | Some fans frustrated by light rail crowds after Baltimore events, but many still ride NFL | Meet Tini Younger, a social media chef and Ravens fan with over 9 million followers He even took the high road when asked about his feelings of returning to his old stadium, despite seeing fans burning his Giants jersey in the parking lot before the game. “To be honest, I’m so happy this game’s over,” Barkley said. “I don’t think I should get — besides today — any more questions about the Giants. But like I always said, I’m thankful for that organization. They’re the team that drafted me. I still got nothing but love and respect for all the guys over there, but I’m happy to be an Eagle.” There’s really no way to defend the Giants letting Barkley go. Running back contracts have historically been a bad investment, but elite players are worth the price, as the Ravens are finding out with Derrick Henry. Barkley was the face of the franchise, and without him, the Giants have one of the worst offenses in the league. They only won one playoff game with him on the roster, but that was hardly his fault. Why not keep one of the best players on the team, regardless of circumstances? Even setting aside everything Barkley meant to the fans, the locker room and the community, failing to secure a long-term deal and letting him hit free agency was penny-wise and pound-foolish. The Giants are paying the price. Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

With Lamar Jackson’s big performance and a few familiar faces helping call the game, Monday night’s 41-31 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was like a Ravens party. Former Ravens stars Joe Flacco and Ed Reed and former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick — an Annapolis High graduate, special assistant with the Baltimore Colts and son of a longtime Navy assistant coach — joined the “ManningCast,” ESPN’s alternative broadcast led by brothers and former quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning. The format, which does not include a play-by-play announcer, allows the Mannings and guests to comment on the game and share their knowledge and experience in real time. On Monday night, there was a lot of admiration for Jackson, a few criticisms of the Ravens and plenty of stories of Baltimore history. Here’s a sampling of what was said: Bill Belichick On facing the Ravens’ offense: “You have to do a good job of tackling Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry all game long. These guys really wear people out in the fourth quarter.” On Lamar Jackson’s development: “Lamar’s improved a lot. I think his pocket presence and poise [have] improved greatly. He’s not as quick to run; he’ll stand in there and make the throws. He was much quicker to bail out earlier in his career. His vision down the field is better in the pocket, too, reading the rush.” On the Ravens’ biggest weakness: “This is the biggest problem for the Ravens, their overall pass protection. When they have to throw and pass block, that’s where they’ve had the most trouble. … When they can’t stay on track and they have to pass protect, whether it’s blitz pickup or just getting beat. … It’s just bad protection.” On the Ravens’ defense: “I don’t think they feel very comfortable in man-to-man. Too many big plays, too many missed tackles.” “The Ravens have given up more downfield passes than any other team in the league. Dean Pees joined them this week. Of course, Dean has a ton of experience. Coached for me in New England, also coached at the Ravens, Tennessee, Atlanta. He’s got a ton of experience, and I think in the long run that’s a good move to give a young defensive staff. They lost three guys off that staff; [Zach] Orr’s a pretty young coordinator. I think Dean will give them a presence in the secondary and maybe help that defense out over the long run.” On Ray Lewis: “The Ravens went to Baltimore [from Cleveland], and I didn’t. I made a trade [as Browns coach] in ’95 to get an extra draft pick in the ’96 draft, and it turned out [the Ravens] took [Jonathan] Ogden with the first pick in the draft and it turned out to be Ray Lewis with the second pick [No. 26 overall]. What a great career he had. Tremendous player. Went down to work him out when I was with the Patriots in ’96 as an assistant on Coach [Bill] Parcells’ staff and spent the day down there in Miami with Ray. It was a really impressive workout. Tremendous person; really, really smart player. Very fast. I was amazed at how fast and explosive he was for his size. He gave us a lot of problems with the Patriots.” On the Lewis and Ed Reed tandem: “You see one instinctive player on a team, it’s just rare, and it’s so impressive. When you have two of them on the same defense with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, honest to God between those two guys it was like they were in the offensive huddle.” DOUG KAPUSTIN / Baltimore SunRavens coach John Harbaugh watches his team work out indoors at the team’s Owings Mills training facility in 2008 with safety Ed Reed, a franchise legend. (File) On what made Reed great: “Everything. Where do you start? Run force, tackling, man-to-man coverage, blitzing, disguise, he was great in the deep part of the field. Great speed, range. Nobody got his hands on the ball more from anywhere, 105-, 108-yard return interceptions. And then, punt blocking. When we played against him, we had a different punt protection whenever he was in the game to make sure he was double-teamed. Luckily he wasn’t in there on every punt rush. There were times when we played against him where he didn’t rush a punt the entire season, but if he came in the game, we were doubling him. He had his own punt protection. Only player I’ve ever done that against in my entire career.” “I told Tom [Brady], ‘Never release the ball without knowing where he is on the field.’ Not that I had to tell him that; he knew that. You have to know where Ed Reed is when you release the ball. He would start 2 yards from the line of scrimmage, ended up being 35 yards deep. Or he’d start 20 yards deep and blitz, and get there. I had so much respect for him as a player. He was so hard to play against.” On Ravens’ third-down offense: “They were 3-for-11 against the Chiefs in the AFC championship game, so that’s something they really worked hard on all offseason and they’re the top team in the league now.” Peyton Manning On linebacker Roquan Smith: “When I look at Roquan Smith, I see a lot of similarities with Ray Lewis. His leadership, he’s in full control out there. He’s around the ball all the time.” On Marlon Humphrey’s interception in the end zone: “Why are we throwing? They’re playing Cover 4, you got 6 yards on the run play before. They’re dropping all these defenders, they’re building a picket fence. Like Jimmy in Hoosiers, right in the end zone. Run the ball!” On Justice Hill’s touchdown catch-and-run: “Screen into the blitz. They blitz the two outside backers. Couldn’t have a better call at a perfect time. You want them to blitz on screens. You got four [offensive] linemen out!” On Lewis: “Ray is so nice to me now, but when we were playing, never that nice to me. Always hitting me, always knew our snap count, always knew which way we were running it. He’d get this running start and drive me into the ground. But now we’re like best friends. Ray, where was that friendship when we were playing?” Joe Flacco On being a backup QB: “When you’re on the sideline as the backup, you have some nerves. If somebody told me to come replace one of you guys, man, I don’t know what I’d come down with, but I’d run away as far as I could.” On the Colts’ season: “I don’t think we’ve played our best football. We’re working on playing a complete game with the offense and the defense, but I think we’re playing one good side of the ball at a time and getting the job done.” On rooting for the Ravens or not: “I don’t know how you guys felt when you played, but I literally wish all other 31 teams could lose somehow. So whatever team I’m on, I’m all for. I don’t root for a single other quarterback, I don’t root for a single other team, so right now I’m on the Colts and that’s about all I can muster up.” On being older than five current NFL coaches, including Colts’ Shane Steichen: “I still view myself as the player and them as the coach no matter what the age difference may be. It really can be hard sometimes with a younger coach to feel like he can coach you. I hope that’s not the case, and it’s definitely not the case with Shane. We actually graduated high school in the same year, but I think I got him by six months or so. It actually makes for a pretty cool relationship.” On what stood out about rookie Lamar Jackson: “The competitor in him. When he took that field, you could see he was in the exact spot he wanted to be. Everything else kind of went out of sight, and he went out there and just played football.” Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore SunJoe Flacco, right, spoke glowingly on “Monday Night Football” about Lamar Jackson’s competitive spirit. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) On Jackson’s development as a passer: “That’s the one thing about him. Even if he misses a guy here or there, like I said he’s in the exact spot he wants to be. He doesn’t let anything faze him. He just goes out there and he rips it and he’s not in his head, he’s not thinking about those things, he’s exactly what you want to be on Sundays. He’s just out there playing football. He’s done all the preparation and he goes and competes and you can see that when he’s on the field. He’s able to take the easy ones, and when he has to actually use the stuff that he’s been gifted and all that, he just does it naturally.” On coach John Harbaugh and the culture in Baltimore: “I didn’t know any better when I first got there. Whatever I saw, that was the NFL to me. But I’ll tell you what, he set the tone right away. He set the expectations high, and then he held everyone accountable. Just from being around him, he gets as much as he possibly can from everyone in that building. I think when you work in that building, and you’re working for him, you know that you can be the best version of yourself. I think that’s probably what he does best. He drives everybody and can kind of stand back and see everything from over the top and see what needs to be done. And then he knows how to build a tough football team. Everyone always wants to know, what is it about Baltimore? I know it’s 2024 and football is changing a little bit, but toughness still matters and I think they do a great job of going and getting tough football players.” On Jackson’s TD pass to Rashod Bateman: “If you’re going to roll the coverages like that, you might get some guys out of place every now and then. I think the big thing with that is, you better get pressure. Because if you don’t get pressure on the quarterback, when you run that many defenses, eventually you go through your progressions, you’re gonna find somebody.” On the “Mile High Miracle” in the 2012 postseason: “That was the first time I’ve ever beaten [Peyton], that game right there. We just got pummelled a couple weeks before that in Baltimore. I will say, that was the most electric locker room and overall postgame feeling that I’ve ever had in my life. I think I was talking to my mom on the bus two hours later, and I was still screaming at the top of my lungs. I’m sorry that I had to say that in this setting, but it was insane.” “But the next year [Peyton] came back and threw seven touchdowns on us, so take that, you know?” On the Ravens’ defense during his time in Baltimore: “Earlier in my career, there were games that were easier than practice. Harbaugh was a new coach, so we got an extra minicamp. So as soon I got drafted, I showed up for a mandatory minicamp. I had no clue what I was looking at out there. If I knew I had a 9 route, I took five steps and threw it. And if it went out of bounds, it was, ‘OK, I survived the play, I didn’t throw a pick.’ Guys out there were just so insane. Terrell Suggs is lining up right here, Haloti Ngata, there’s fights going on, Ed Reed’s in the back end, you’re looking at Ray Lewis. It was absolutely insane.” “I remember 2008, it looked like they were having parties on the field. That’s how good they were, and how much fun it looked like they were having.” Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Ray LewisBaltimore Sun photo by Lloyd FoxThe Ravens are known for elite-level defense led by players like Ed Reed, left, Terrell Suggs, center, and Ray Lewis. Joe Flacco remembers how hard it was to practice against the trio. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) On his dad calling him dull: “I am glad that that’s all he said. If you knew him, and the amount that he could say, and what may come out of his mouth, then you’d be happy if that’s what he said. He would talk to you for three hours and say the craziest stuff you’ve ever heard in your life. So dull, I’m totally fine with.” On jokingly being called a dual-threat QB for his recent 21-yard run: “If it can get me a couple extra passing yards somewhere in there because a defense has to think of prepping for something like that, I’m all for it. That’s the last thing I need. I could barely call the play in the huddle after that, so I don’t need too much of it.” Ed Reed On competing vs. Peyton and Eli: “We were competing, brother. Y’all two are from Louisiana just like me. We’re very competitive people when it comes to sports. That’s what it was about. It was about bringing that out of each other. You were trying to score touchdowns, bro.” On Ravens’ performance: “They’re playing good ball. They started off slow, started to turn things around, started to get some turnovers going. You know, that’s expected a little bit on the road sometimes. But you got to win road games.” On how he would defend Jackson: “I played against Michael Vick. Lamar is 2024’s Michael Vick. We’re gonna do what we do as a unit, not what we do as an individual. I’m gonna do my job to make sure that we do our job against him. You have film of us playing against Michael Vick. Now, I would tell you this: Michael Vick’s my brother, and we didn’t always get the best of him.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 7: Steelers’ Russell Wilson switch looks genius Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-31 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 41-31 win over Buccaneers | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson dazzles to lead Ravens past Buccaneers, 41-31, for 5th straight win: ‘Ultimate competitor’ Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 41-31 win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers On playing for Harbaugh: “Coach is about tradition. I think Joe said a lot of it as well. With his system, what he stood for, what he stands for, his family, his dad. He was born to do football. Some people are just born to play it, like you guys. It’s in his blood. He’s a coach, man. That’s my guy.” On playing quarterback in high school: “I threw more interceptions than I caught. We actually ran the Wing-T and I wasn’t playing on offense as much. I actually won a quarterback challenge my senior year. I knew I could have played quarterback. That’s what helped me going against you guys. I knew how to play quarterback, I knew the movement of the ball, I knew the angles, the mathematical geometry going on out there.” On comparing Roquan Smith to Ray Lewis: “I love Roquan, that’s my guy, man. He’s a student of the game. But I’m not about to sit here and compare Ray Lewis to anybody. With all respect, bro, that’s my brother.” Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

The Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson played an overwhelming offensive game to overcome an array of mishaps in a 41-31 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on “Monday Night Football.” Here are five things we learned from the game: Lamar Jackson’s precision against pressure spoke to his powerful evolution It was three years ago, another prime-time game in Florida. Jackson’s Ravens were supposed to roll over the Miami Dolphins, but Miami defensive coordinator Brian Flores suspected he knew an antidote to the spectacular young quarterback. Jackson dropped back 50 times that Thursday evening, and the Dolphins lined up in Cover 0 on 31 of them, determined to discombobulate him with extra rushers firing from every angle. A frazzled Jackson took four sacks, threw an interception and averaged a paltry 5.5 yards per attempt in a shocking 22-10 loss. On Monday, the Buccaneers tried a less extreme version of the same approach. The Ravens had to know Todd Bowles, one of the blitz-happiest defensive minds in the sport, would try to disrupt them with pressure. But they did not seem prepared the first time they got the ball. On second-and-long at the Buccaneers’ 40-yard line, Tampa Bay’s best edge rusher, Yaya Diaby, cut inside rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten (seemingly thrown off by a stunt) to drop Jackson. On the next play, safety Antoine Winfield Jr. blitzed up the middle, and three different blockers failed to pick him up. Jackson was buried again, and the Ravens punted the ball back to Tampa Bay’s scorching offense. Another Sunshine State disaster seemed afoot. But we weren’t watching the Jackson of three years ago. He and coordinator Todd Monken, who seem to be living on the same page midway through their second season together, knew precisely what to do. “No conversations really have to be had when Lamar Jackson is your quarterback,” wide receiver Rashod Bateman said. “If he stays poised, we stay poised.” Jackson picked up his tempo and almost seemed to invite the orange jerseys bearing in on him, knowing he would rapidly decode the picture in front of him and flick the ball where it belonged. He hardly missed against the blitz, averaging more than 10 yards per attempt when Bowles sent an extra rusher. Some of those were simple dumps to Justice Hill, but that was half the point. Jackson did not hold the ball and try to make miracles where he could win with simple efficiency. When he hit Bateman perfectly in stride for a 49-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter, it was apparent no throw was beyond him. Jackson is a two-time Most Valuable Player who long ago redefined our understanding of the term dual-threat quarterback. But we’ve never seen him throw the ball this consistently or command an offense this completely over a seven-game stretch. His statistics — 68.1% completions, on pace to clear 4,000 passing yards for the first time, 15 touchdown passes against two interceptions — are appropriately gaudy. As he flirted with perfection on another Florida night against another defense eager to swarm, we witnessed just how much he has grown. The backfield combination of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry has proven confounding for opposing defenses. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty) We’ve never seen a Ravens offense like this All they needed was a crack, two Baker Mayfield interceptions in the second quarter to let them get their noses in front. With that, the Ravens were Secretariat at Belmont, running away from a very good opponent. They came into Monday night as the most efficient offense in the NFL and one of the most efficient through six games in the last half-century. Against a solid Tampa Bay defense, they were even better, piling up 508 yards at the remarkable rate of 9.4 per play. We’ve seen great offense in the Jackson era, most notably in 2019, when the Ravens led the league in scoring and became the first team in NFL history to average more than 200 yards rushing and passing per game in the same season. Fearsome as that attack was, it did not burst from the gate with the same gusto as this 2024 edition. The Ravens built their identity around impossibly stingy defenses led by larger-than-life talents such as Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs. Those guys carried offenses that all too often struggled to get out of second gear. Consider the script fully flipped, because this offense has all the gears. We covered Jackson, who’s clearly playing better than he did last year in winning his second MVP trophy. But his targets are so much more varied now, with Zay Flowers as a viable No. 1 receiver, Bateman tearing the top off defenses and Hill turning dump-offs into chunk gains. Not to mention tight end Mark Andrews (three touchdowns over his last two games) is back in the thick of the offense. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews caught a pair of touchdown passes in the 41-31 win over the Buccaneers. (Chris O’Meara/AP) For more than a half against Tampa Bay, it seemed the passing game would have to do the heavy lifting. Derrick Henry hadn’t touched the ball much, and the Buccaneers were actually outrushing the sport’s top ground attack. But we’ve learned that only a fool would judge Henry’s night based on one half. Keep sending him at the edge of a defense and it will crumble. His 81- and 39-yard runs set up second-half touchdowns, the latter of those Henry’s own 13-yard catch. The Ravens have employed some great backs over the years but never one who felt so inevitable. They had 69 rushing yards at halftime Monday and ended the night with 244 to Tampa Bay’s 125. That’s the Henry effect. It’s difficult for an NFL offense to be consistently grinding and explosive. The Ravens are both. The Ravens’ defense needed a turnover to stop the bleeding; Marlon Humphrey delivered The Buccaneers wanted the ball to start the game, a reflection of their confidence in Mayfield. They quickly faced third-and-3 in their own territory, but the Ravens couldn’t get set, and Mayfield hit running back Rachaad White in stride with a short swing pass that turned into an 18-yard gain. The Ravens knew this would be Tampa Bay’s formula, knew they’d have to be fundamentally sound, and right away, they failed. Five plays later, Mayfield found Mike Evans alone in the end zone for a 25-yard score. It was the worst possible start for a pass defense that, after seven games, is indisputably the Ravens’ Achilles heel. Mayfield diced them again on Tampa Bay’s second drive. Only a hold in the red zone saved the Ravens from surrendering another touchdown. With the Buccaneers eating up ground at more than 6 yards per play, the Ravens needed a takeaway to halt the onslaught. Those have been in short supply this year for a defense that created more turnovers than any team in 2023. Humphrey had been responsible for a vital interception in Cincinnati, and he was the one who swooped in unseen to snare a Mayfield pass in the end zone, just when Tampa Bay seemed poised to score again. Marlon Humphrey’s interceptions flipped momentum for a Ravens defense that started the game poorly. (Jason Behnken/AP) Had he not stepped in at that moment, the Ravens’ offense might never have seized center stage. On Tampa Bay’s next drive, Mayfield, facing third-and-13, looked downfield for his top target, Chris Godwin. Humphrey was right there again to wrap his hands around a contested ball and pin it to his shoulder before it could hit the ground. He hurt his knee on the play, a rotten reward for stellar work. But the Ravens went from down 10-7 to up 17-10 at halftime largely because of Humphrey. This was not a game to ease worries around a defense that again surrendered far too many easy yards. Even with Evans out for the second half after he hurt his hamstring, Mayfield threw for 370 yards and led three fourth-quarter touchdown drives. The Ravens seemed on the verge of a dominant second half after they built a three-score lead, but coverage lapses and poor tackling allowed Tampa Bay to keep nibbling away. “It’s just the big pass plays,” coach John Harbaugh said. “There’s too many big pass plays.” If their defense is going to crack so often, they’ll need turnovers and timely stops on third down and in the red zone. Humphrey supplied enough Monday for the Ravens to survive. Justice Hill remains the quiet hero of a very loud offense Facing second-and-goal from the 18 after a sketchy holding call wiped out a touchdown, Jackson flicked a screen to Hill in the face of four oncoming rushers. Hill, working behind a phalanx of huge bodies, picked his way through traffic to give Baltimore its first lead, 14-10, late in the second quarter. It was the perfect play to punish Tampa Bay’s aggression, and Hill was the ideal man to finish it. ESPN announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman seemed puzzled that Henry wasn’t on the field as the Ravens rallied with their up-tempo, pass-first attack. But those who’ve watched the Ravens all year know Hill is their go-to back in the two-minute offense. He’s not only a dangerous yards-after-catch threat when Jackson needs to dump the ball quickly; he’s the blocker the Ravens trust to impede blitzing defensive backs and linebackers. While Derrick Henry receives the majority of headlines, Ravens running back Justice Hill has excelled in Baltimore’s backfield this fall. (Julio Aguilar/Getty) Hill excelled in both roles Monday, catching three passes for 44 yards (in addition to his touchdown, an 18-yard scamper later on third down set up a Justin Tucker field goal) and helping give Jackson the time he needed to dial in against Tampa Bay’s pressure. Henry is a phenomenon, deservedly showered with attention for the back-breaking dimension he has brought to Baltimore. Sometimes, however, it’s Hill who’s best suited to help Jackson unlock a defense. He and Henry complement one another beautifully. The Ravens really might be the NFL’s best if they cut out the absurd mistakes That game shouldn’t have gotten anywhere near tense after the Ravens went up 34-10 late in the third quarter. Their offense couldn’t be stopped. Their pass rush had Mayfield on his heels. Their superiority was established. They just can’t help flirting with nonsense. First, an overly casual backward pass from Jackson that tipped off Zay Flowers’ hand and turned into a fumble. Cornerback Zyon McCollum appeared to return it for a touchdown but was down by contact when he recovered the ball. No matter for the Buccaneers. Mayfield needed just five plays to find White for a touchdown that cut it to 34-18. The Ravens seemed to drop the hammer again with an eight-play touchdown drive to make it 41-18. But Mayfield answered back, setting up an onside kick that was Tampa Bay’s only shot to keep breathing. The Ravens were the only team to have allowed a successful onside kick all season. So it defied belief when Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin made the ball hop perfectly over several members of the “hands” team and into the arms of defensive back Tavierre Thomas. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 7: Steelers’ Russell Wilson switch looks genius Baltimore Ravens | What Joe Flacco, Ed Reed and Bill Belichick said about the Ravens on the ‘ManningCast’ Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 41-31 win over Buccaneers | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson dazzles to lead Ravens past Buccaneers, 41-31, for 5th straight win: ‘Ultimate competitor’ Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 41-31 win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers Seven plays later, White strolled into the end zone, no Ravens defender having bothered to cover him on a 23-yard catch-and-run. Somehow, it was 41-31, and they stared down the barrel of another onside kick. McLaughlin again made the football dance to his tune, but Flowers leaped to snare that one, and the game was effectively over. Nonetheless, this weird string of follies evoked memories of the Ravens’ maddening loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and their near-collapse against the Dallas Cowboys. Jackson looked bemused on the sideline. Fans screamed about poor coaching on social media. The joys of a largely dominant performance and a five-game winning streak were tempered by nonsense. The Ravens were the best team in the league going into last year’s playoffs. They’re not as balanced but arguably scarier in 2024, set up to go on a hellacious run with the offensively challenged Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos next on their schedule. But they’ve got to cut back on the penalties (a problem again Monday after two clean games), the blown coverages and the special teams brain farts. They will kick themselves for years to come if they allow this loose play to keep them from the greatness that’s so plainly within reach. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. Week 8 Ravens at Browns Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 10 1/2 View the full article

Here’s how the Ravens (5-2) graded out at every position after beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 41-31, in Week 7 on Monday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Quarterback Lamar Jackson had some difficulties with blitzes and pass protection on the Ravens’ first drive, but they adjusted well. Jackson moved well and looked as comfortable as he ever has both inside and outside the pocket. He completed 17 of 22 passes for 281 yards and five touchdowns. Jackson was close to perfect for most of the game, and his 49-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman showed great touch. Jackson finished with a passer rating of 158.1 and his long ball efficiency, if it continues, will help this team in the postseason. Grade: A Running back The Ravens didn’t use running back Derrick Henry much in the first half, but he performed well in the second, including an 81-yard run in the third quarter down the left sideline. Henry also had a 39-yard run in the fourth quarter as Baltimore wore down the Bucs in the final 30 minutes. Henry finished with 169 yards on 15 carries and had a 13-yard touchdown catch in the right flat in the fourth quarter. The Ravens also got a strong game from backup Justice Hill, who had three catches for 44 yards. Hill had one strong catch-and-run on his 18-yard touchdown on a screen pass in the second quarter. Grade: A Offensive line Tampa Bay was supposed to provide a stiff challenge up front, especially with nose tackle Vita Vea back in the starting lineup, but after a poor first possession, the Ravens dominated for almost the entire game. The Ravens had great balance as far as the run-pass ratio, but this group pounded the Bucs into submission, especially in the second half. The Ravens were strong up the middle with guards Patrick Mekari and Daniel Faalele and center Tyler Linderbaum, and that was the area in which the Bucs were expected to dominate. The only criticism is the penalties that halted drives and put the team in poor field position. Grade: B+ Receivers The Bucs couldn’t stop the Ravens. Receivers were wide open on just about every route imaginable. Actually, it was ridiculous. Tight end Mark Andrews had four catches for 41 yards, including touchdown receptions of 9 and 4 yards. Bateman had the long touchdown reception but also led the Ravens with four catches for 121 yards. There were times when the Ravens were in predictable situations, but Tampa Bay still couldn’t stop them, especially Hill. Tight end Isaiah Likely had two catches for 17 yards and the Ravens averaged 16.5 yards per catch. Grade: A- Defensive line It was surprising that the Bucs ran so well against the Ravens. It wasn’t pretty stuff, either, basically just straight dives and a few counters as Tampa Bay finished with 125 yards on 30 carries. Tampa Bay got movement off the ball, but the Bucs struggled in the red zone, which is why they fell behind early. As the game wore on and the Ravens got a big lead, this group was able to put a lot of pressure on quarterback Baker Mayfield, who threw two interceptions. But there is a lot of pride among this group, and it can’t be happy with the overall production. Grade: C Linebackers Middle linebacker Roquan Smith was all over the field, and he provided big hits that seemed to rattle Tampa Bay, especially in the second half. He led the Ravens with 18 tackles, 11 solo. Weakside linebacker Trent Simpson also had a strong game, making his presence felt with eight tackles and several pressures on Mayfield. Outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy (two pressures, one sack) and Odafe Oweh (one sack) also had several pressures, but they didn’t get after Mayfield until the Buccaneers were forced to pass. The linebackers played well, and this group had to because Tampa Bay had success running the ball into the second and at times the third level of the defense. The linebackers still struggle covering running backs. Grade: B- Secondary The Ravens finished with two interceptions and both were by cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who later exited with a knee injury. The veteran made a good read on one, but the other was just a poor read by Mayfield. Rookie Nate Wiggins had a strong game and knocked down two passes, but there were several opportunities for the Ravens to finish with two or three more interceptions. Cornerback Brandon Stephens still struggles, as does safety Marcus Williams. They just don’t come up with big plays. Safety Kyle Hamilton finished with 11 tackles and at times was a force in the secondary, but other times he was exposed in coverage as was the rest of the secondary. It will be interesting to see how much improvement this group will make in the coming weeks. Grade: C Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson dazzles to lead Ravens past Buccaneers, 41-31, for 5th straight win: ‘Ultimate competitor’ Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 41-31 win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey suffers knee injury after 2 interceptions vs. Bucs Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews ‘grateful’ to break Todd Heap’s receiving TD record Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Buccaneers, October 21, 2024 | PHOTOS Special teams The Ravens had kickoff returns of 37 and 35 yards, which was a major plus as far as field position. Justin Tucker converted on field goal attempts of 28 and 52 yards, so there are no longer questions about his leg strength. Jordan Stout averaged 43.5 yards on two punts. The Ravens didn’t have any punt returns. Grade: B+ Coaching Offensively, the Ravens beat up and beat down the Bucs. Coordinator Todd Monken’s offense rolled up more than 500 total yards, and the Ravens were balanced with 30 runs versus 22 passes. Defensively, the Ravens continue to struggle. They had problems matching up with running backs out of the backfield, and that goes as far back as the season opener against Kansas City. The Ravens still struggle in coverage on the back end, and there was belief that might improve with adviser Dean Pees being around the team for the second straight week. Overall, the Ravens have won five straight and will most likely win a sixth against Cleveland on Sunday. Grade: B Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

TAMPA, Fla. — The lights inside Raymond James Stadium went dark to start the fourth quarter on Monday night as is customary for Buccaneers prime-time games. But the Ravens had turned them out long before that. In a game billed as a showdown between superstar quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield and a pair of explosive offenses, only one managed to show up. Jackson completed 17 of 22 passes for 281 yards and five touchdowns and Derrick Henry ran for 169 yards and caught a touchdown pass as the Ravens overcame an early 10-0 deficit with 34 straight points en route to a 41-31 victory over the Buccaneers. With the win, Jackson improved to 23-1 against the NFC and 18-5 in prime time, the best mark of any quarterback since the NFL merger in 1970. It also keeps the Ravens (5-2) tied atop the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers while putting another notch on Jackson’s belt as he seeks to become just the eighth player to win three NFL Most Valuable Player Awards, which would place him alongside Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers. More importantly for Baltimore, it won its fifth in a row with its league-best offense continuing to roll — and a much-beleaguered pass defense mostly shutting down the high-octane Buccaneers’ offense until the home team rallied late. After Tampa Bay moved down the field with ease and jumped out to a 10-0 lead behind a 25-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Mike Evans and a 23-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin, Baltimore bounced back with five straight scoring drives beginning in the second quarter. Among them was a 9-yard strike to Mark Andrews early in the second, the 42nd career touchdown catch for the star tight end whose score broke Todd Heap’s franchise record for receiving touchdowns. It was also just the beginning for the high-powered Ravens. On Baltimore’s next possession, Jackson dumped a short screen to running back Justice Hill, who, behind a convoy of blockers, scored from 18 yards. After a pair of Justin Tucker field goals from 28 and 52 yards, the Ravens kept rolling with Jackson lofting a 49-yard touchdown pass to receiver Rashod Bateman, who easily beat cornerback Zyon McCollum to the back corner of the end zone. Jackson then hit Andrews for another score, this time from 4 yards late in the third quarter for a 34-10 advantage. Five of the Ravens’ seven scoring drives took six plays or fewer. Meanwhile, after Mayfield torched the Ravens early, he struggled for much of the night, especially after Evans went out with a hamstring injury midway through the second quarter. He went just 1 of 4 for 15 yards with two interceptions the rest of the first half and after leading three fourth-quarter scoring drives with the game out of reach finished 31 of 45 for 370 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 41-31 win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey ruled out with knee injury after 2 interceptions vs. Bucs Baltimore Ravens | Tight end Mark Andrews passes Todd Heap for Ravens receiving TD record Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Buccaneers, October 21, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Buccaneers live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s 41-31 win Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey had both interceptions in the second quarter, including one in the end zone with the Buccaneers on the Ravens’ 3-yard line. Humphrey injured his knee, however, on the second interception and did not return. It didn’t matter. Tampa Bay scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough. Already up 17, Baltimore leaned on Henry to finish. Backed up to the Ravens’ 4-yard line, he broke free down the left sideline for an 81-yard run to the Buccaneers’ 11. The 30-year-old became the third player in the past 30 years with multiple 80-yard runs through seven games in a season, joining Barry Sanders (1994 and 1997) and Chris Johnson (2009). By the time the Buccaneers recovered an onside kick with 3:45 remaining, it was too little, too late. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Week 8 Ravens at Browns Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 8 1/2 Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey had two interceptions in the second quarter before being ruled out with a knee injury Monday night against the Buccaneers. (Chris O’Meara/AP) View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 41-31 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Monday night’s Week 7 game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Brian Wacker, reporter: The Ravens have the best offense in the NFL led by perhaps the best player int he NFL. Coach John Harbaugh said last week that Lamar Jackson is playing the best football of his career, and he’s not wrong. Jackson was in total command. Even when Baltimore fell behind 10-0, he was unbothered and shredded Tampa Bay’s secondary. Then Baltimore leaned on the legs of NFL leading rusher Derrick Henry to help salt away the victory. The final score wasn’t indicative of the Ravens’ dominance, though it was helped by the Buccaneers losing All-Pro receiver Mike Evans to injury in the second quarter. That said, the defense is still having issues, from communication and uncertainty to letting teams climb back into games. That’s a dangerous formula come playoff time and against opponents that have better defenses than the Buccaneers’, which is middle of the pack, but Baltimore should be happy to get out of Tampa with an otherwise mostly impressive victory. Childs Walker, reporter: The Ravens have never had an offense like this. You give them a crack, as Baker Mayfield did with a pair of second-quarter interceptions, and it becomes almost impossible to keep up. Lamar Jackson threw impeccably in the face of pressure. Rashod Bateman, Justice Hill and Mark Andrews all left defenders eating dust on touchdowns. Derrick Henry broke another tired defense with an 81-yard run in the third quarter. They were ruthless against a quality opponent that jumped ahead 10-0. After succumbing to Tampa Bay’s pressure on their first drive, the Ravens adjusted beautifully with an up-tempo attack designed to punish that aggression. They picked off extra rushers, giving Jackson time to dial in. The reigning NFL Most Valuable Player excelled as a high-volume passer for the third straight week (11-of-14 for 181 yards and two scores in the first half). The Ravens did not seem prepared on defense early. They knew Mayfield would throw quickly and count on his receivers to roll up yards after the catch. But they neither prevented his targets from breaking free nor tackled them immediately. Tampa Bay also made a concerted effort to challenge the league’s top run defense and found more success than any previous Ravens opponent. This was a balanced offense doing as it pleased — 6.4 yards per play in the first half — until Marlon Humphrey picked off Mayfield in the end zone midway through the second quarter. The Ravens needed big plays to cure what ailed their defense, and Humphrey delivered, making a terrific catch for a second interception on the Buccaneers’ next drive. Those two turnovers gave the Ravens the opening they needed to nudge ahead. Mike Preston, columnist: If the Ravens could pass block up front, they had a good chance of winning the game. It didn’t turn out that way on the team’s first possession as quarterback Lamar Jackson was sacked twice, but the Ravens improved and had very few problems with the Bucs’ blitzes for most of the game. The Ravens simply wore down Tampa Bay with both the passing and running games. The Ravens did a nice job of moving Jackson in the pocket in passing situations and then ran the game’s best closer, Derrick Henry, in the second half. The Bucs came into the game allowing 252.3 passing yards per game, and Jackson easily sliced up Tampa Bay’s defense. The Bucs lost receiver Mike Evans early in the game with a hamstring injury, and that cost them on offense. Unfortunately, Evans doesn’t play defense, and Tampa Bay had no way of slowing down the Ravens offensively. There are still some questions about the Ravens’ defense, but this game was over late in the third quarter as the Ravens went up 34-10. At least in the second half, the Baltimore’s defense completely shut down the Bucs’ offense, and quarterback Baker Mayfield looked a lot like the Mayfield most football fans saw in Cleveland. Sam Cohn, reporter: It was a rocky start, but each week it becomes more clear how dominant this Ravens offense is. Lamar Jackson threw five touchdown passes, including his deepest pass of the season on a 49-yard score to Rashod Bateman (58.3 yards in the air, per Next Gen Stats), Derrick Henry left a quiet first half behind him and rushed for 169 yards on 15 carries, and the once-quiet Mark Andrews scored in his second straight game. This game was expected to be a shootout, and Baltimore came prepared. With 150 yards and a touchdown on the ground, Baltimore became the first team in the Super Bowl era to eclipse both marks in each of its first seven games. The Bucs were one of the last in a brutal stretch of white-hot offenses on the Ravens’ schedule, and despite allowing 31 points, the offense did plenty for a fifth straight win. C.J. Doon, editor: This offense is truly something to behold. After a sluggish start, the Ravens looked like they could be in trouble playing on the road against a high-powered offense that could go shot-for-shot with them. Then Lamar Jackson simply took over, leading the Ravens to 34 straight points to put the game out of reach. We’ve said it ad nauseum, but this is the best version of Jackson we’ve ever seen. He’s in complete command of the offense, taking what the defense is giving him while also taking shots downfield and picking up big chunks with his legs. That 49-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman, his longest of the season, is pretty much the only thing that’s been missing. His passer rating fell short of being perfect by a fraction of a point, but for all intents and purposes, this was a perfect night from Jackson. About the only thing you can nit-pick is the play of the defense, both early and late in the game. In the first quarter, Baker Mayfield led two straight long scoring drives and was on the verge of a third before throwing an inexplicable interception in the end zone right to Marlon Humphrey. Then, after holding the Bucs in check for most of the night, Tampa Bay marched 70 yards in 2:46 to make it 41-24, recovered the onside kick and scored five plays later to make it a 10-point game. It was an ugly ending to what was otherwise a dominant performance and raises some questions about a defense that has yet to find its form. Big plays are still a problem. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson dazzles to lead Ravens past Buccaneers, 41-31, for 5th straight win Baltimore Ravens | Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey ruled out with knee injury after 2 interceptions vs. Bucs Baltimore Ravens | Tight end Mark Andrews passes Todd Heap for Ravens receiving TD record Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Buccaneers, October 21, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Buccaneers live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s 41-31 win Tim Schwartz, editor: In the words of Michael Scott, how the turntables. Tampa Bay jumped all over Baltimore early for a 10-0 lead, and it looked like it could be a long night for the visitors. Then Baker Mayfield threw an interception to Marlon Humphrey, then another, and that little bit of wiggle room was all the Ravens needed to turn this into a rout. Lamar Jackson is perhaps playing the best ball of his career right now. He looks to be in total control, probably because he’s in Year 2 of Todd Monken’s offense, and it’s fun to watch him grow as a passer. Most importantly, he’s getting all of his playmakers involved, which opens the door for back-breaking runs from Derrick Henry, the game’s best closer. The defensive backfield is the lone weak spot on the roster right now, especially is Humphrey’s knee injury is deemed serious. They get a reprieve Sunday with a trip to Cleveland, then again the following week against Denver and its rookie quarterback, Bo Nix. The Ravens have won five straight and it should be seven when the Bengals roll into Baltimore for another prime-time game Nov. 7. Bennett Conlin, editor: Baltimore’s offense is a thing of beauty. The Ravens entered Week 7 first in offensive DVOA and yards per game, as they’re undoubtedly one of the most dangerous offenses in the league. They delivered on the deserved hype yet again. While the Ravens’ rushing attack was one of the major stories from the first six weeks of the season, it was Lamar Jackson and the passing attack that impressed most Monday. Of course, Henry still went over 100 yards on the ground. Rashod Bateman had a breakout performance, surpassing 100 receiving yards and reaching the end zone. He’s delivering as Baltimore’s No. 2 receiver, and Mark Andrews is becoming a favorite red-zone target again. He caught two touchdown passes, giving him three in the past two games. The offense’s array of weapons makes it borderline unfair to defend. Tampa Bay’s defense stood no chance. Baltimore’s defense started slow, but a pair of Marlon Humphrey interceptions energized the unit. He left with a knee injury, but the rest of the defense stood tall after the first couple of Tampa Bay drives. Mike Evans leaving with a hamstring injury provided a reprieve for the Ravens’ inconsistent secondary, and the Ravens took advantage of one of the NFL’s best wide receivers exiting early. Baltimore is cruising, winning five in a row. With Cleveland next, the winning streak could easily grow to six Sunday. View the full article

Marlon Humphrey’s best game of the season was cut short. The Ravens defensive back intercepted Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield twice in the second quarter on Monday night. A knee injury that occurred after he collided with rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins late in the first half knocked Humphrey out of the game. Humphrey’s first interception saved a Bucs touchdown on a ball thrown directly to Humphrey’s face mask in the back of the end zone. That turnover helped set up Baltimore’s go-ahead scoring drive after an ensuing 59-yard pickup from Rashod Bateman. On the following Bucs possession, Humphrey grabbed an under-thrown pass intended for Chris Godwin near midfield for his team-best fourth interception of the season. “It’s been huge,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh told ESPN sideline reporter Laura Rutledge before the half. “That’s been our two stops. Turnovers are big.” Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers also had an early injury scare but returned to the field later in the first quarter. Flowers planted and cut then had his right ankle rolled up on. He was wincing in pain his whole way over to the sideline, where he fell to the ground and was checked on by team trainers after a 19-yard pickup. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, will be without All-Pro receiver Mike Evans the rest of the night. Evans was a limited participant in practice last week nursing a hamstring injury. He scored the game’s first touchdown then appeared to aggravate his right leg injury. Evans was ruled out for the remainder of the game – a significant loss for the Bucs. Tampa Bay safety Tykee Smith – another key cog for the NFC South leaders – was ruled out with a concussion after a tackle on Ravens running back Justice Hill. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

With his second-quarter touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night, tight end Mark Andrews became the Ravens’ all-time leader in career receiving touchdowns with 42. It took the veteran tight end seven seasons to reach that mark, passing tight end Todd Heap, who took a decade to reach 41. Andrews is also one touchdown shy of tying Ray Rice for the second most overall touchdowns in team history. Rice had 43, trailing only fellow running back Jamal Lewis’ 47. Andrews caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Jackson for Baltimore’s first score of the night. Heading into commercial break, ESPN play-by-play announcer Joe Buck made note that Baltimore would love to have Andrews return to being a prominent piece of the offense. He had only 13 catches through the first six games, including a pair of games with no catches. Andrews didn’t score his first touchdown of the year until last week’s win over the Washington Commanders. “It felt great to get in the end zone and help impact in that way,” Andrews said last week. “Usually, it doesn’t take me six games to get in there, but yeah, that was a fun one.” His previous long drought was in 2021, when it took Andrews five weeks to score his first touchdown. This scoreless drought for Andrews stretched back to Week 8 of last year. Quarterback Lamar Jackson and fellow tight end Isaiah Likely both told Andrews he had to get one come Week 6. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Justice Hill #43 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with Patrick Mekari #65 after running the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs the ball past Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead (3) to score a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) A \bal fan reacts during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) scores a touchdown against Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Sterling Shepard #17 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers catches a pass for a two-point conversion against Ar’Darius Washington #29 of the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens hands the ball to Derrick Henry #22 during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) celebrates with running back Derrick Henry (22) after Henry’s passing touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) intercepts a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker (9) kicks a field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens catches a pass for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) advances toward the end zone to score a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) celebrates scoring a touchdown against Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Mark Andrews #89 of the Baltimore Ravens catches a pass for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens hands the ball to Derrick Henry #22 during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens is tackled by K.J. Britt #52 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) outruns Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead (3) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Rashod Bateman #7 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates his 49-yard touchdown catch with Lamar Jackson #8 during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (92) is fouled against Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) Rashod Bateman #7 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after catching a 49-yard pass from Lamar Jackson #8 for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Justice Hill #43 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after running the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens is pressured by Chris Braswell #43 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Mark Andrews #89 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates his touchdown catch with Tyler Linderbaum #64 during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens scrambles during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after running the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) and quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrate after Bateman’s touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) celebrates scoring a touchdown against Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates his touchdown catch with Lamar Jackson #8 during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) celebrates after intercepting a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (43) runs toward the end zone to score a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is taken down by Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (92) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson (95) tackles Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) is stopped by Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker, rear, after a reception during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Justice Hill #43 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter \atb at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens scrambles during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Ravens fans gather at Mother’s Federal Hill Grille to watch Monday night football with the Ravens against the Bucs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) during an NFL football game against the , Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit) Ravens fan Darryl Hill, left, of Baltimore, cheers a Ravens touchdown as he and other gather at Mother’s Federal Hill Grille to watch Monday night football. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) can’t hang on tot he would-be touchdown catch as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens (21) defends during an NFL football gam, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit) Mark Andrews #89 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with Lamar Jackson #8 after catching a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) celebrates his touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) scores a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) during an NFL football game against the , Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) limps on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) runs the ball past Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby (0) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) scores a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) and linebacker Roquan Smith (0) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) Chris O'Meara/ The Associated PressBaltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) warms up before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) warms up before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) warms up before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) View the full article

The Ravens (4-2) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) meet on “Monday Night Football” to wrap up Week 7 of the NFL season. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson enters with a 22-1 record against NFC opponents and a four-game winning streak this season, while quarterback Baker Mayfield leads one of the league’s top passing attacks. Follow along here for live coverage and analysis. View the full article

The man who Baltimore Police say assaulted two Commanders fans on camera in a viral video last week turned himself in Monday morning, according to police and his defense attorney. John Callis, 24, surrendered to Baltimore Police’s Southern District station based on an agreement negotiated with authorities, his attorney Brian Thompson said. His case was not immediately available in online court records on Monday. Baltimore Police, who said last week that they had obtained a warrant for Callis’ arrest on assault charges, confirmed that Callis was in police custody Monday, but did not provide further details. Thompson said shortly after 1 p.m. that his client had not yet seen a court commissioner. The video of the Oct. 13 encounter, which followed a Ravens-Commanders matchup at M&T Bank Stadium, depicts a man — identified by police as Callis — wearing a Ravens jersey punching one man wearing a Commanders jersey in the face before throwing another man in a Commanders jersey against a brick wall in Federal Hill. Police said both of the victims were 23-year-old men. This story may be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Dan Belson at dbelson@baltsun.com, 443-790-4827, on X as @DanBelson_ or on Signal as @danbels.62. View the full article

They scored 100 points over three games, and the Ravens needed almost every one of them to get past the AFC’s top two seeds and the NFC’s No. 2 seed to win the Super Bowl. Every so often, you’ll hear some lunkhead claim that Joe Flacco was carried to a Lombardi Trophy by the vaunted Baltimore defense. Anyone who watched those 2012 playoffs knows different. The defense, with Ed Reed in his penultimate season and Ray Lewis playing his final games in the wake of tearing his triceps, was hanging on by the end. It was Flacco’s hot hand, paired with the playmaking talents of Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones and Ray Rice, that took the Ravens to the promised land. This offensive outburst was so memorable in part because it was so unusual for a franchise built on punishing, cocky defense. That 2012 run is pertinent to 2024 because we’re again watching a Ravens team carried by its offense — in this case a historically potent machine led by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. The Ravens have moved the ball so efficiently in recent weeks that they’ve inspired two questions: Is this the best offense in franchise history, and can it get them to the Super Bowl if their defense and special teams continue to underwhelm? They’re assembling an impressive statistical case: first in yards per play, first in rushing and yards per carry, first in passing yards per attempt, first in first downs, fourth (a hair out of first) in points per game. Jackson is off to the best start of his career, making a case to win his third NFL Most Valuable Player award. Henry leads the league in rushing by almost 100 yards; he’s also first in rushing touchdowns, rushes of 20-plus yards and rushes for first downs. More complex metrics, designed to measure efficiency by looking at every play in context, are just as bullish on the Ravens. They rank second in expected points added, sightly behind the Washington Commanders offense they just outscored. They’re an easy first in DVOA and one of the best 25 offenses through six games in the past 46 seasons (that’s as far back as DVOA goes). Their balance is even rarer; they’re one of just seven teams in 46 years to lead the league in both passing DVOA and running DVOA through six games. “That’s pretty good,” said DVOA creator and FTN Fantasy writer Aaron Schatz. Of the 22 teams in Schatz’s database that he had above 30% in offensive DVOA through six games, only two won the Super Bowl but nine made it to the final game. “It still takes a lot of luck, no matter how good you are,” he said. “Not to mention, you have to get past Kansas City.” When he looks at the whys behind the Ravens’ success, he sees Henry’s remarkable speed and tackle shedding at age 30, the surprisingly effective play of an offensive line that was expected to be the team’s weakness and Jackson’s leveling up. Schatz took plenty of heat from Baltimore fans when he was the lone voter not to put Jackson first in MVP balloting last season. “Lamar’s playing better than last year,” he said. “I got in a lot of trouble with the Baltimore fans, but this year, he’s the MVP so far.” Ravens running back Derrick Henry leads the league in rushing by almost 100 yards. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) You won’t gain a lot of traction asking the team’s offensive stars to describe how great everything is going. They’re aware of the growing hype, and the vibes are impeccable, but the closest they’ve come to bragging was Jackson describing their “pick your poison offense” after last Sunday’s win over Washington. Asked about the recent acclaim for his offense, Jackson noted that a few weeks ago, critics questioned whether he and Henry could find an identity together: “People are going to say whatever they want to say. We were just 0-2, and [they were saying] we were the worst offense in the league. … Each and every week, there’s going to be something, we just have to focus on being the best offense that the Ravens have ever had.” Asked if he thinks this could be the best offense he has played on, Henry said, “I think you’ve got to put the work in to have the opportunity to get to that point.” Perhaps the show is easier to appreciate from the sideline. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton was asked Wednesday what would keep him up at night if he had to face his team’s offense. “I was actually just talking to [defensive coordinator] Zach Orr about that today,” he said. “Just watching our offense operate out there, I was like, ‘How would you stop Zay Flowers?’ And he just gave me like an, ‘I don’t know. Good thing we don’t have to worry about it.’” Leave it to outside voices to describe the reasons the Ravens cannot be stopped. ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky criticized them as too predictable early in the year. But on a recent episode of “Get Up,” he explained how Henry is winning games before the first whistle because coordinators feel compelled to put an extra defender in the box to counter No. 22. “This is easy for Lamar Jackson,” Orlovsky said. There are three previous offenses in the conversation for best in franchise history. With the caveat that sweeping judgments based on six games are often misguided, none of them were this good this early. The dark horse is the 1996 offense led by quarterback Vinny Testaverde, which led the league in yards per play and DVOA. The Ravens went 4-12 because their defense was as inefficient as their offense was efficient and they ran into bad luck against a tough schedule. But Testaverde filled the air above Memorial Stadium, with wide receivers Derrick Alexander and Michael Jackson as his primary targets. Last year’s offense, with Jackson winning his second MVP, also deserves mention. That team finished first in rushing, third in in yards per play and fourth in DVOA and demolished a series of playoff-bound opponents. But it’s the 2019 offense that stands out as the best from the Jackson era and the best in franchise history to date. The Ravens easily led the league in scoring, set an all-time rushing record and became the first team in history to average at least 200 rushing yards and 200 passing yards per game. Jackson broke out to win his first MVP in his first full season as the team’s starter, rushing for 1,206 yards and throwing 36 touchdown passes. They didn’t have a running back to match Henry, but Mark Ingram II and Gus Edwards averaged more than 5 yards per carry, and the offensive line featured three Pro Bowl selections in Ronnie Stanley, Marshal Yanda and Orlando Brown Jr. When Jackson was asked Sunday if the Ravens’ current offense is the most balanced of his career, he pointed to 2019 as a comparison. Even in a disastrous playoff loss to Henry’s Tennessee Titans, the Ravens rolled up 530 yards of offense. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR/KR Deonte Harty placed on injured reserve; 2 others ruled out vs. Buccaneers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Ben Cleveland lands full-time role on kick blocking unit: ‘Whatever it takes to get on the field’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens CB Arthur Maulet inching toward return, could provide ‘midseason competition’ Baltimore Ravens | Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield pokes fun at Ravens’ Mark Andrews: ‘He’s a weirdo’ Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens Joe Flacco, Ed Reed to be guests on ManningCast for ‘Monday Night Football’ Which brings us to the second question: Are the 2024 Ravens, hindered by one of the league’s worst pass defenses through six games, balanced enough to win the Super Bowl? Previous Ravens teams rated exceptionally well by DVOA, including the 2023 version, were more balanced, ranking near the top in offense, defense and special teams. Schatz believes that’s the best formula for winning championships because it gives a team more answers to the questions posed by top opponents in the postseason. That said, if he had to be top-heavy in one area, he’d choose offense. “Offense is more consistent and predictable than defense,” he said. “If you have the No. 1 offense and the No. 13 defense, it’s more likely your defense will improve than the other way around.” When he looks down the Ravens’ road, he expects them to slip a little on offense but move up on defense and special teams. That formidable blend, combined with a schedule that’s relatively easier than those faced by the two NFC contenders (Minnesota and Detroit) ahead of the Ravens in overall DVOA, explains why Baltimore has the best odds to win the Super Bowl, according to Schatz’s projections. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

The Ravens will be without wide receiver and kick returner Deonte Harty for at least the next four games. Harty, who hasn’t practiced all week because of a knee injury, was put on injured reserve Saturday, coach John Harbaugh said Saturday. The injury is not expected to be season-ending, he added. With the 26-year-old Baltimore native and former Archbishop Curley star out for the next month, wide receiver Tylan Wallace, among others, is likely to fill his role beginning Monday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wallace has just one punt return this season for 11 yards and let another one go against Cincinnati that the Bengals downed at the Ravens’ 2-yard line that led to a safety when running back Derrick Henry was tackled in the end zone on the next play. But Wallace also provided one of the more memorable moments of last season when he returned a punt for a walk-off touchdown in overtime against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14. Harty, meanwhile, has appeared in five games for the Ravens this season and has eight punt returns for 85 yards, including a long of 16, and four kickoff returns for 98 yards with a long of 31. Baltimore will also be without rookie running back Rasheen Ali (ankle) and linebacker Malik Harrison (groin) against Tampa Bay with both ruled out in the final injury report of the week. Defensive tackle Broderick Washington (knee), who was limited in practice all week, is doubtful. Harbaugh did say, however, “there’s a chance” that cornerback Arthur Maulet (knee/hamstring) could be activated for the game. Maulet, who is listed as questionable, returned earlier this month after starting the season on injured reserve. The Ravens have until the middle of next week to add him to their active roster or else he would be placed on season-ending injured reserve, though he is expected to be activated before his 21-day window closes. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Ben Cleveland lands full-time role on kick blocking unit: ‘Whatever it takes to get on the field’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens CB Arthur Maulet inching toward return, could provide ‘midseason competition’ Baltimore Ravens | Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield pokes fun at Ravens’ Mark Andrews: ‘He’s a weirdo’ Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens Joe Flacco, Ed Reed to be guests on ManningCast for ‘Monday Night Football’ Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens have faced one top QB after another. It gets easier soon. For the Buccaneers, starting cornerback Jamel Dean (hamstring) along with tight end Payne Durham (calf) and wide receivers Rakim Jarrett (knee) and Kameron Johnson (ankle) have all been ruled out. However, wide receiver Mike Evans, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury and didn’t practice Thursday and Friday and was limited Saturday, was taken off the injury report and is expected to play Monday. Defensive tackle Vita Vea, meanwhile, was added to the injury report with a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable. Also questionable are running back Rachaad White (foot), defensive lineman Earnest Brown IV (ribs) and wide receiver Trey Palmer (concussion), though all three were full participants in practice Saturday. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Ben Cleveland has a new job for the Ravens. After appearing in 43 games, including seven starts, in his three-plus seasons in Baltimore, the oft-maligned offensive lineman will be on the Ravens’ field goal/extra point block team going forward. “I think he’s earned himself a full-time role,” special teams coordinator Chris Horton Jr. said Friday. “It’s an opportunity to get him out there and let him play.” The move comes after Cleveland blocked a field goal attempt in the second quarter of the Ravens’ eventual 30-23 win over the Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday. The idea first percolated about two weeks ago when Cleveland, once a possible candidate for the starting right guard spot in training camp, approached Horton with the idea of joining the field goal and extra point teams. With defensive tackle Broderick Washington out of last week’s game with a knee injury, that helped clear the way for the 6-foot-6, 360-pound lineman’s heroics. “That’s cool to be put into a position to possibly have an impact on this team and give us a chance to win in a tight game,” said Cleveland, who got the news after Friday’s practice in Owings Mills. “Seeing it pay off that quick with the turnaround has been awesome.” He also had a feeling the block was coming. “I told [defensive tackle] Travis [Jones] after the first one. I came off the field, I was like, ‘Travis, we’re gonna get one of these kicks,'” said Cleveland, a 2021 third-round draft pick. “I don’t even know what happened. I blacked out. I was just excited. It wasn’t something I’d done since high school.” It turns out it was also something he’d done well for Stephens County High School in Toccoa, Georgia, where he estimated that he blocked about “10 to 15” kicks during his time there. After his block against Washington, Cleveland said one of his friends FaceTimed him on his way home from the game asking if it was indeed him who’d gotten a piece of Austin Seibert’s 52-yard attempt with the Ravens up 17-10 in the final seconds of the second quarter. Text messages from family and friends started pouring in as well. “I felt it hit my finger, and as soon as I turned around I saw it twirling to the side and thought, ‘That thing ain’t going in,'” Cleveland said. “It wasn’t a good block-it-and-take-it-back-for-a-touchdown block. It was just enough. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens CB Arthur Maulet inching toward return, could provide ‘midseason competition’ Baltimore Ravens | Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield pokes fun at Ravens’ Mark Andrews: ‘He’s a weirdo’ Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens Joe Flacco, Ed Reed to be guests on ManningCast for ‘Monday Night Football’ Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens have faced one top QB after another. It gets easier soon. Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Can Ben Cleveland play defense, too? | COMMENTARY “I didn’t even come off the ground. I thought I did, but I didn’t. It’s a lot of luck at the end of the day. It’s about having your hand in the right place at the right time.” The same could be said about Cleveland’s circuitous route to unexpected defensive darling and his new role. Horton said he’d never used an offensive lineman in that capacity with the Ravens, but Cleveland’s mammoth size made sense. Then the 26-year-old did the rest. “I absolutely did not expect it to be that way,” Cleveland said. “But whatever it takes to get on the field and help this team win. Whatever they want me to do, I’ll do. Hell, I’ll go out there and kick the field goals if they want me to.” View the full article

Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet practiced on back-to-back days for the first time all season. The veteran was again a limited participant Friday. His status remains unclear for Baltimore’s “Monday Night Football” showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium, but coach John Harbaugh said practices Thursday and Friday would determine that. Baltimore has until Wednesday to activate Maulet on its 53-man roster. Last season, Maulet recorded 37 tackles, a pair of sacks and an interception in 14 games. After an impressive training camp, the 31-year-old veteran tweaked his hamstring in his first practice back from arthroscopic knee surgery. His return could reshuffle snap counts in the Ravens’ secondary and possibly bolster a group which has struggled thus far against some of the league’s top quarterbacks. “It’s a deep, talented group,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “It is what it is, what we’ve done so far this season but we’re still a very talented group. And it’s gonna be tough to try to find different ways to get guys on the field. It’s good though. I think it brings a good midseason competition of, who can go out there and go do what?” Otherwise, there were no surprises on Friday’s attendance sheet. Defensive lineman Brent Urban returned to the field but was limited after missing Thursday’s practice because of illness. Wide receiver and kick returner Deonte Harty (knee), rookie running back Rasheen Ali (ankle) and linebacker Malik Harrison (groin) were the team’s lone absences. Harty returned two kicks and a punt Sunday against the Washington Commanders but has yet to practice this week. Special teams coordinator Chris Horton said it’s been “complicated” getting the former Archbishop Curley star in a rhythm, but “Harty’s our guy and we believe in him. When he’s healthy and he’s in the right place, we know he can be a difference-maker for us.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Ben Cleveland lands full-time role on kick blocking unit: ‘Whatever it takes to get on the field’ Baltimore Ravens | Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield pokes fun at Ravens’ Mark Andrews: ‘He’s a weirdo’ Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens Joe Flacco, Ed Reed to be guests on ManningCast for ‘Monday Night Football’ Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens have faced one top QB after another. It gets easier soon. Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Can Ben Cleveland play defense, too? | COMMENTARY The Ravens have had a fairly fortunate run of health as they chase their fifth consecutive win. Tampa Bay isn’t in the same boat. Wide receiver Mike Evans was reportedly working with a trainer on the side during the open portion of Friday’s practice. The five-time Pro Bowl selection hasn’t practiced this week nursing a hamstring injury but is expected to play Monday night. The other key absences for Tampa Bay this week included cornerback Jamel Dean (hamstring), tight end Payne Durham (calf) and receiver Kameron Johnson (ankle). Center Graham Barton (hamstring), defensive lineman William Gholston (knee), wide receiver Rakim Jarrett (knee) and running back Rachaad White (foot) were all limited again Friday. Tampa Bay did get a few contributors back to full participation: outside linebacker Chris Braswell (shoulder), defensive back Christian Izien (elbow/groin), receiver Trey Palmer (concussion) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot). View the full article

Baker Mayfield just misses his best friend. In a tongue-in-cheek conversation with ESPN reporter Jenna Laine on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback said his former Oklahoma teammate won’t talk to him during the season — even before they face off on “Monday Night Football” when the Ravens visit Raymond James Stadium. “Even though Mark and I are best friends, him and I don’t talk in season,” Mayfield said jokingly. “He’s a weirdo. He can’t exactly separate friendship and football, so he struggles with that on a year-to-year basis. So there’s a few months at a time where we’re friends again. But for right now, no.” While this will be the first time the friends face off since the Panthers’ 13-3 loss to the Ravens on Nov. 20, 2022, at M&T Bank Stadium, Mayfield — who is 3-6 in his career against Baltimore — still hasn’t heard from his former teammate. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Ben Cleveland lands full-time role on kick blocking unit: ‘Whatever it takes to get on the field’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens CB Arthur Maulet inching toward return, could provide ‘midseason competition’ Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens Joe Flacco, Ed Reed to be guests on ManningCast for ‘Monday Night Football’ Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens have faced one top QB after another. It gets easier soon. Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Can Ben Cleveland play defense, too? | COMMENTARY “It hurts. It hurts my feelings,” Mayfield said. “That guy was in my wedding and won’t talk to me. It hurts my feelings. Just gotta be honest.” Mayfield took the opportunity Thursday to jokingly question if Andrews has changed because of what he called “a very serious girlfriend.” ESPN said that Andrews has been dating social media ambassador Elena Yates since the summer of 2023. “Some people think he’s gone soft,” Mayfield said. “I’m not one of those people, but the people are murmuring. There’s whispers out there.” If there was any doubt about Mayfield’s true feelings for his friend-turned-rival, he ended his news conference with a simple “Love you, Mark.” Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

When the Ravens play the Buccaneers in Tampa on Monday night, there will be some familiar faces on the broadcast. Former Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco and safety Ed Reed will be guests on ESPN’s ManningCast. It will be the first appearance on the show for the former Ravens stars, who helped lead the team to its second Super Bowl title in February 2013. The 39-year-old Flacco, who was named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player after one of the best postseason runs in league history, is now a backup for the Indianapolis Colts, while Reed, 46, spent 11 seasons with Baltimore and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019. The show, which is hosted by brothers Peyton and Eli Manning, is in its fourth season and airs on ESPN+ and ESPN2 opposite ESPN’s traditional broadcast of the game. The two former quarterbacks provide analysis and insight during the game while featuring a wide range of guests. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Ben Cleveland lands full-time role on kick blocking unit: ‘Whatever it takes to get on the field’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens CB Arthur Maulet inching toward return, could provide ‘midseason competition’ Baltimore Ravens | Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield pokes fun at Ravens’ Mark Andrews: ‘He’s a weirdo’ Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens have faced one top QB after another. It gets easier soon. Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Can Ben Cleveland play defense, too? | COMMENTARY It is also one of two Ravens games that will include the ManningCast this season, with the other slated for Nov. 25 when Baltimore travels to Los Angeles to play the Chargers in a game pitting brothers John and Jim Harbaugh against one another after the Chargers hired Jim as their coach earlier this year. Flacco has appeared in three games (two starts) for the Colts this season while filling in for injured starter Anthony Richardson and has completed 71 of 108 passes for 716 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception. Indianapolis won two of those games, including a 20-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans last week. Now in his 17th season, Flacco recently reflected on the end of his time in Baltimore, when a hip injury allowed rookie Lamar Jackson to take over as the Ravens’ starter for good in 2018. Flacco was traded to the Denver Broncos that offseason. “Man, I did not want to let Lamar get out there, that’s for sure,” Flacco said. “That was my team. And that was very hard mentally for me. I pushed it as far as I could in terms of trying to let them convince me to go out there and play. But at the same time, you don’t want to put your future career in danger.” Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft who missed time with rib and oblique injuries, is expected to start Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

On Thursday, safety Kyle Hamilton — the unequivocal leader of Baltimore’s secondary — stood beside his locker and listed the gantlet of quarterbacks the Ravens have played thus far: Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels. Perennial playoff contenders and an eye-popping rookie, all one after the other. “Going against all these different kinds of quarterbacks is who we’re gonna see in the playoffs,” Hamilton said, “so I think it’s good to have that experience to know how different people play.” The Ravens’ secondary has been their defense’s weakest spot. By average passing yards allowed, they’re in the cellar of the league — No. 32 in total yards allowed (1,789), passing plays of 20-plus yards (28) and passes for first downs (88). Hamilton even suggested last week, at times, it felt as if their progress plateaued. At the same time, the defensive group finding its footing has been at the mercy of NFL schedule makers. Baltimore entered this season with the league’s second-toughest schedule, determined by the winning percentage of each teams’ 2023 opponents. Remarkable quarterback play has been at the forefront of each matchup, worthy of its own highlight reel. There was Daniels, on Sunday, having floated a touchdown pass through a barely ajar window to veteran receiver Terry McLaurin. Before him, Burrow spiraled a few into pockets only his two illustrious receivers could grab them. Allen arrived in Baltimore as the early front-runner for NFL Most Valuable Player. Last month, All-Pro Davante Adams submitted himself for toe-drag of the year with an improbable catch from Gardner Minshew during the Raiders’ fourth-quarter comeback. Mahomes picked apart Baltimore’s secondary, too, with heavy reliance on Rashee Rice. And Prescott had five receivers tally over 40 yards. This exhausting stretch of the Ravens facing top-tier quarterbacks complemented by exceptional pass catchers is almost over, with the middling Denver Broncos and dumpster fire Cleveland Browns on the horizon. But first, they have Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on “Monday Night Football” at Raymond James Stadium. Mayfield holds the league lead in passing touchdowns with 15, including seven in just the past two games. He’s also fourth in completion rate (70.9%) with a dynamic receiver tandem of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans at his disposal. Henceforth, the Ravens have the 20th-easiest schedule over the next 12 weeks, according to Pro Football Network. They’ll face only one other team currently in ESPN’s top-10 power rankings when they go to Houston in Week 17. The rest of the schedule isn’t necessarily easy, with another meeting against Cincinnati, two games against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers and one road trip versus the much-improved Los Angeles Chargers. But the gantlet is behind them. Hamilton thinks the front-loaded schedule has been beneficial. In his mind, the secondary has grown since Week 1. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton says the secondary is improving, even if the stats suggest the unit is a major weakness. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) “I would say we’re a little more cohesive,” Hamilton said. “A couple of new guys in the group, like Nate [Wiggins] and Eddie [Jackson]. [It’s] nothing negative against them; it just takes a little time to jell with those guys, playing in a game, and I feel like we’re at a good spot right now.” Wiggins played sparingly against the Chiefs, then was inactive against the Raiders because of a concussion. The rookie has since started three of the past four games. Coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week that he’s noticed opposing teams targeting Wiggins “because he’s young, like they would anybody, but he’s held his own really well. I think he’s only going to continue to improve.” Jackson signed with the Ravens on a one-year deal in July. The 30-year-old two-time Pro Bowl selection has made two starts and has seen his snap count seesaw. Pro Football Focus graded both he and Wiggins in the low 50s. Marcus Williams, meanwhile, has struggled in the third season of his five-year $70 million deal, ranking 78th of 83 safeties in PFF grade. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Can Ben Cleveland play defense, too? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Buccaneers scouting report for Week 7: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Buccaneers staff picks: Who will win Monday’s game in Tampa? Baltimore Ravens | Ex-Ravens OLB Tyus Bowser discusses $4.5 million grievance against team Baltimore Ravens | As Lamar Jackson MVP hype heats up again, Ravens QB wants to ‘win in February’ Is there any relief in soon escaping to a less dazzling part of the schedule? “No,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said ahead of beating Washington. “There is no relief. It feels like, every week, we get up here, and we’re playing one of the top offenses, one of the top quarterbacks. But we’re a confident group, still; that’s what I’m saying inspires me. We know what we’ve done in really good ways, and we know what we’ve done that hasn’t lived up to the standard. “We know if you cut on the film, I highly doubt that you’ll see that we don’t have good players, we don’t have good schemes, [and] we don’t have good coaches. We’ve just got to be consistent, and that’s what we’re chasing.” Monday won’t be any easier on the Ravens’ secondary. But perhaps some relief might be ahead. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer fans’ questions in the middle of each week throughout the Ravens season. After a 30-23 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Baltimore (4-2) is riding a four-game winning streak entering a “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here’s Preston’s take on a handful of questions from readers: (Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.) It was great to see Lamar “spread the wealth” with more passes to Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews on Sunday. Why did it take so long when we have so many weapons? — Jamie Myers If you go back to the first two games, the Ravens played against two teams with quality defensive lines in Kansas City and Las Vegas. It wasn’t a good matchup for the Ravens, especially starting two young players on the offensive line. In those two games, quarterback Lamar Jackson was sacked six times. Those things happen. It’s like the Ravens’ secondary matched up against the Bengals’ wide receivers: There are times when you have to compensate or make adjustments for your weaknesses. In the past four games, the Ravens have played four bad run defenses in Dallas, Buffalo, Cincinnati and Washington. They have made all of them pay by using running back Derrick Henry, which sets up the play-action passing game. The last two teams tried to stack the line of scrimmage, but Jackson has done well getting all of his receivers involved in the passing game. I don’t think it took Jackson long, it was just a matter of strengths versus weaknesses, and him having time to throw. If you’re going to beat the Ravens, you better have a good defensive line and some good cornerbacks. Kansas City has those ingredients, along with Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, but there are few others that can provide that challenge to the Ravens. There’s always been so much talk about how big and strong Ben Cleveland is. He’s now been added to the field goal defense team and came up with a big block. His teammate, Tyler Linderbaum, mentioned that the team “should be able to find a role for him.” With that, do you think the Ravens could (or should) try him out on the defensive line, much like Patrick Ricard — who was pretty good there — at the beginning of his Ravens career? — Martin D. Sorry, Martin, Ricard is athletic. He can play fullback, tight end or H-back. Cleveland is a bonafide offensive lineman. Because he is tall, he was a fit for special teams on the field goal block unit. But go back and look at the film. It’s not like he had the vertical leap of Michael Jordan. He can play several positions on the offensive line, but defensive linemen have to be runners. Believe me, Big Ben is no runner. Has Brandon Stephens ever actually gotten his head turned around to SEE and defend a pass? The guy is just guessing at when and where the ball will be there. — Eric from Bel Air, Maryland I have this argument with a certain person all the time. He tells me Stephens always gets beat on the first move, but has great recovery speed, yet that doesn’t allow him to turn and find the ball. I don’t believe that. He is always in position to make a play but never locates the ball. I see a lot of college players performing the same way. In the old days, they used to tell cornerbacks that once the receiver turns to look for the ball, you turn as well. I guess the techniques have changed because a lot of players coming out of college never look for the ball. Next time, watch a college game and let me know what you see. Maybe with Dean Pees, 75, as the adviser, he will make Stephens turn and play the ball. It’s frustrating watching him play because he always seems to have great position. The Ravens have appeared to right the ship and are on a four-game winning streak. In your estimation, can the Ravens extend it to an eight-game winning streak in the next four weeks? — Ed Helinski from Auburn, New York Can they? Yes. Will they? I don’t know. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Buccaneers scouting report for Week 7: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Buccaneers staff picks: Who will win Monday’s game in Tampa? Baltimore Ravens | Ex-Ravens OLB Tyus Bowser discusses $4.5 million grievance against team Baltimore Ravens | As Lamar Jackson MVP hype heats up again, Ravens QB wants to ‘win in February’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens mostly healthy, Buccaneers have crowded injury report ahead of ‘Monday Night Football’ It sounds like a cliche, but the NFL really is a week-to-week league. The Ravens can win the next four against Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Denver and Cincinnati. Right now, I don’t see any defense that can stop the Ravens. I’m not claiming they have this high-powered offense, but the Ravens have a physical style and presence. The emphasis around the NFL is on having a sophisticated passing attack, and these are some of the worst defenses I have seen in quite a while. I very seldom have seen tight ends and receivers so wide-open. Teams don’t hit anymore, and rules have cut down on the amount of contact in games. If the Ravens fix their secondary, they have as good of a chance to play for the championship as any other team. It’s wide-open, but I’ve said this from the start of training camp: The road to the Super Bowl goes through Kansas City. Nothing has caused me to change my mind yet. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article