ExtremeRavens

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) signs fan merch while leaving the field after a win over the Cincinnati Bengals in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle van Noy (53), with safety Alohi Gilman (12) running next to him, returns an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle van Noy (53) returns an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) breaks up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley (82) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle van Noy (53) celebrates with Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Travis Jones (98) and safety Kyle Hamilton (14) after an interception that he handed off to safety Alohi Gilman for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) reacts after an interception by linebacker Kyle van Noy against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) is pushed out of bounds by Baltimore Ravens safety Malaki Starks (24) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens safety Alohi Gilman, right, tackles Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) sacks Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens place kicker Tyler Loop, right, with punter Jordan Stout (11) holding, kicks an extra point during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) throws against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens safety Alohi Gilman (12) celebrates with cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) and safety Ar'Darius Washington (29) after breaking up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks to throw against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left, makes a catch for a touchdown past Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) makes a catch for a touchdown past Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8), right, hands the ball off to running back Derrick Henry (22), left, during of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8), center, carries the ball during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8), center, carries the ball during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) celebrates with quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) A Baltimore Ravens fan adjusts his Santa Claus hat during an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, right, celebrates with tight end Mark Andrews, left, after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens running back Rasheen Ali (26) runs the ball toward the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Deandre Hopkins (10) runs the ball after a reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Deandre Hopkins (10) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle (27) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens safety Malaki Starks (24) breaks up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas (80) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (0), cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) and defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (41) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr., left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) celebrates after a sack against Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks to throw as Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) approaches during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (41) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, right, throws against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, right, is sacked by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson (95) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) reacts after being sacked by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (34) runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) intercepts a pass and runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) View the full article

CINCINNATI — Ravens rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan is feared to have suffered a torn ACL during the first half of the team’s Week 15 game Sunday against the Bengals, two league sources familiar with the situation told The Baltimore Sun. Buchanan suffered the non-contact injury to his right leg while he appeared on punt coverage near end of the first quarter of divisional contest. The expected season-ending injury halts a promising rookie campaign for Buchanan. The fourth-round draft pick out of California, was named a Week 2 starter at inside linebacker, and has starred all season as a fixture across Baltimore’s middle level alongside veteran linebacker Roquan Smith. Buchanan ranks fifth on the Ravens with 639 defensive snaps and third in special teams snaps (233). Buchanan’s 93 tackles are second behind Smith. He was named the NFL’s Rookie of the Month in October. Buchanan, 23, was initially helped off the field by trainers. Shortly after he reached the visitors sideline, Buchanan was then carted off the field and into the locker room at Paycor Stadium. Buchanan, was ruled out immediately with a knee injury, and replaced at linebacker by reserve Trenton Simpson. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Related Articles Ravens put it all together, keep playoff hopes alive with 24-0 win over Bengals Instant analysis from Ravens’ 24-0 win over Bengals in Week 15 Ravens vs. Bengals, Dec. 14, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Bengals live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 24-0 win Ravens defense gets boost with Ar’Darius Washington, Tavius Robinson returns View the full article

The Ravens visited the Bengals in a crucial AFC North clash and came away victorious. Baltimore defeated Cincinnati, 24-0, for the team’s first shutout victory since 2018. Follow along here for postgame coverage and analysis. View the full article

CINCINNATI — The Ravens’ defense is getting reinforcements. Baltimore officially activated safety Ar’Darius Washington and outside linebacker Tavius Robinson from the physically unable to perform list and injured reserve, respectively, on Saturday. After both practiced all week, the moves clears the way for them to play in Sunday’s crucial AFC North showdown against the division rival Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Washington, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon during an offseason workout in May and was once thought potentially lost for the season, hasn’t played since last season. Robinson has been out since suffering a broken foot in a Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Their returns should help against a Cincinnati offense led by quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase that scored 32 points in a blowout of the Ravens on Thanksgiving night in Baltimore. They also come at a critical time for Baltimore (6-7), which is a game back of the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers with only four games remaining in the regular season. A third-straight AFC North title for the Ravens is the most likely path to the playoffs. Washington had a breakout season in 2024, starting 10 games and helping spark a defensive turnaround for a unit that was one of the worst in the NFL until he was inserted into the starting lineup. How he fits into the rotation remains to be seen, but the expectation is Washington will play. In October, the Ravens traded outside linebacker Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman along with a swap of draft picks. That allowed Baltimore to move All-Pro safety and its most versatile and talented defender Kyle Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage while utilizing Gilman and first-round rookie safety Malaki Starks on the back end to shore up what again was a struggling defense. Washington has the versatility to play both safety and in the nickel. “I’m ready to go,” Washington said earlier this week. “Whenever [they] give me the call, whenever they put me out there on the field, I’m going to be ready to go. I didn’t come back early to not play at all.” Related Articles Ravens 2025 High School Coaches of the Year: Sparrows Point’s Nick Burkhardt, Linganore’s Brian Sweene honored Ravens WR Rashod Bateman questionable; Bengals without 2 key starters Ravens vs. Bengals scouting report for Week 15: Who has the edge? Ravens vs. Bengals staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Cincinnati? Josh Tolentino: Ravens’ biggest flaw isn’t an easy fix | COMMENTARY Robinson, meanwhile, has developed into a solid and dependable defender, particularly against the run, in what is his third season. “It feels so good to get back out there,” Robinson said this week. “It was really tough at the start, especially the first couple weeks not be able to do much, watching at home, definitely sucked. There was two ways I could look at it. I could either be frustrated and mad at it, or just attack rehab, and really that’s kind of what I did. Just put my head down and did everything I could to get back as fast as possible.” He now rejoins a group that includes veteran Kyle Van Noy, second-round rookie Mike Green, the recently acquired Dre’Mont Jones and David Ojabo. Before getting injured, Robinson had 17 tackles, including one for loss, and two sacks. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Sparrows Point football coach Nick Burkhardt and Linganore girls flag football coach Brian Sweene were named the 2025 Ravens High School Coaches of the Year, John Harbaugh announced Friday afternoon. Burkhardt, who is also an alum of Sparrows Point, is the first coach from the school to receive the honor in the 29-year history of the award. He did so in what was just his second year at the helm after leading the Pointers to a 10-1 record, the best in school history. “It means everything,” Burkhardt said. “Our community truly is one of kind down in Sparrows Point and to be able to not just for me but bring this spotlight down to our school and our community truly does mean the world to us.” Sweene also said that the honor “means the world.” He is the second recipient of the award after Boonsboro coach Chad Hartman took home the inaugural honor last year. Sweene led Linganore to the Class 2A/1A state title, knocking off No. 1 seed Calvert along the way, with the defense only allowing an average of 8.6 points in five games in the state tournament. Sweene credited the Ravens for helping the sport get off the ground in the state and said that it wouldn’t have happened without their assistance. The NFL also recently announced plans to launch professional men’s and women’s flag football leagues, something that the current generation of high school players can now aim for. Said Sweene: “The fact that they get to play a sport that they cheered on for boys for years is amazing.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. Linganore girls flag football coach Brian Sweene, posing with Ravens coach John Harbaugh, is the 2025 Ravens High School Flag Coach of the Year. (Courtesy of Ravens) View the full article

With time running out on the Ravens’ chances to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021, Baltimore will head into its critical AFC North showdown against the Bengals in Cincinnati about as healthy as it has been all season. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was not listed on the injury report with any afflictions for the first time in over a month, with his only absence this week for a rest day on Wednesday. The only other player on the Ravens’ roster with an injury designation for Sunday’s game is wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle), who is listed as questionable. “It’s just a nagging thing,” coach John Harbaugh said of Bateman’s ankle sprain. “You fight through it, you fight through it, and you can annoy it, I guess is the best way to say it. He has probably just been annoying it.” If Bateman can’t play, that could mean a much bigger role for DeAndre Hopkins, something Harbaugh said that he’d like to do anyway. “I’d like to be using DeAndre more,” he said earlier this week. I don’t think he’s at the stage of his career where he is going to play every play. When he’s out there, you really want to — and we’ve talked a lot about this — trying to be intentional about him being out there for specific purposes and to do the things that he does well, which we all kind of know what those things are. “He’s just become one of my favorite, favorite players ever. We are going to be friends for a long time, and he and I have had a lot of these conversations, but yes, this next game, and these next four games and into the playoffs, let’s get him involved more. We really need to try to do that. We have been trying to do it; we can do it.” Despite the uncertainty of Bateman’s status, the Ravens could also get a boost with the return of safety Ar’Darius Washington and outside linebacker Tavius Robinson, who are officially listed as questionable. Washington has been out since suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the spring, while Robinson has been sidelined since breaking his foot in Week 6. Both practiced fully all week and are likely to be activated from injured reserve on Saturday. The overall mostly good health is also good news for a group that has little margin for error and needs all the help it can get. Baltimore (6-7) has dropped two straight division games and trails the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers by a game with four to play. The Steelers will play the Miami Dolphins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. Related Articles Ravens 2025 High School Coaches of the Year: Sparrows Point’s Nick Burkhardt, Linganore’s Brian Sweene honored Ravens vs. Bengals scouting report for Week 15: Who has the edge? Ravens vs. Bengals staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Cincinnati? Josh Tolentino: Ravens’ biggest flaw isn’t an easy fix | COMMENTARY Why Ravens QB Lamar Jackson continues to miss a practice each week The Ravens, who lost two weeks ago to the Bengals at home, haven’t been swept by Cincinnati since 2021. They have also never lost three straight division games with Jackson at quarterback. If the Bengals (4-9) are to pull off the sweep, though, they’ll have to do so without star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who was placed on injured reserve this week because of a hip/pelvis injury that will require core muscle surgery, as well as standout wide receiver Tee Higgins (concussion), who was officially ruled out Friday. Of course, neither played the last time the two teams met, either. Meanwhile, rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart and safety PJ Jules (ankle) are listed as doubtful. Stewart, a first-round draft pick, has been on injured reserve since suffering a knee injury in Week 9 and is unlikely to come off IR before Sunday. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

That Ravens’ winning streak is falling further into the rearview mirror. They’ve now dropped two straight, both crucial matchups to division opponents, and the only obvious path to the playoffs requires winning out. Baltimore’s uphill climb starts Sunday afternoon at Paycor Stadium for a rematch against the Bengals. The forecast calls for wool socks and mittens. Who will have the advantage? Ravens passing game vs. Bengals pass defense In Lamar Jackson’s first six games, he threw 15 touchdown passes and one interception. The Ravens were 1-5, toiling through tempestuous waters, but the quarterback play was expectedly sharp. In four games since returning from a hamstring injury, while dealing with a host of other lower body pains, Jackson has thrown only one touchdown pass compared with four interceptions. He has played shockingly subpar football. At least below the ridiculously high bar we judge a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player on. He’s the centerpiece of a wider inefficient offense that’s forgivable in wins against lesser teams and plagued Baltimore in losses against decent clubs. When the Ravens and Bengals met on Thanksgiving, Cincinnati owned, by some metrics, the worst defense of the last half-century. But that group held Baltimore to 14 points and forced five turnovers. Three of them were from Jackson. The Ravens weren’t much better 10 days later. Mark Andrews said this week that he’s excited to “start being the team that we are.” But it’s Week 15. This might just be who they are this year. EDGE: Bengals Bengals passing game vs. Ravens pass defense After the bye week, the Ravens reeled off five straight wins by holding opponents to less than 20 points. Here were the quarterbacks they muted: Chicago’s Caleb Williams, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy, Cleveland’s Dillon Gabriel (then Shedeur Sanders) and the New York Jets’ Tyrod Taylor. Not exactly a menacing list. But the Pro Bowl-caliber passers have picked apart the Ravens. Such was the case early in the year; the likes of Josh Allen, Jared Goff, Patrick Mahomes, C.J. Stroud and Matthew Stafford. It’s happening again, with the schedule feeding Baltimore a healthy Joe Burrow, who passed for 261 yards and two touchdowns in their first meeting. EDGE: Bengals Ravens running game vs. Bengals run defense Two things can be true: Derrick Henry hasn’t burst into space the way we’ve become accustomed to over his Hall of Fame career and the Bengals aren’t the team to keep it that way. According to Next Gen Stats, Henry has forced a missed tackle on only 17.1% of his carries this season. That’s the second lowest rate among 41 running backs with at least 100 carries. It’s also his lowest since at least 2018. Henry has been hit behind the line of scrimmage on half of his carries this year, the seventh-highest rate among that same group. He’s still top-four in the NFL in generating yards after contact. Meanwhile, the Bengals rank last in the NFL in contacting running backs in the backfield, about one-third of attempts. On Thanksgiving, Henry touched the ball just 10 times. An extensive line of questioning followed about his lack of involvement in the loss considering that he scored Baltimore’s first touchdown. Harbaugh fairly explained that it was a product of how the game unfolded. Against Pittsburgh, Henry went 94 yards on a season-high 25 carries, his most in a game since late 2023. This matchup could be a beneficial one for Henry if he gets more than 10 touches and the offense stays on schedule. EDGE: Ravens Related Articles Ravens vs. Bengals staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Cincinnati? Josh Tolentino: Ravens’ biggest flaw isn’t an easy fix | COMMENTARY Why Ravens QB Lamar Jackson continues to miss a practice each week Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice; 2 pass catchers limited Ravens DT Travis Jones agrees to 3-year, $40.5 million contract extension Bengals running game vs. Ravens run defense The Bengals don’t run the ball much. Who can blame them? They have one of the best receiving duos in the NFL and, when healthy, a dynamite quarterback to deliver them the ball. Chase Brown and Samaje Perine are no backfield slouches, but Cincinnati play callers won’t lean on them to decide a game, as evidenced by their combined four rushing touchdowns this season. There’s one outlier on the list. Two weeks ago, the Bengals ran the ball 33 times, 10 more carries than their next most in a single game. Cincinnati’s 128 yards on the ground were the most Baltimore’s front has let up since Week 5, when an injury-riddled defense did nothing to slow down Houston. EDGE: Bengals Ravens special teams vs. Bengals special teams Tyler Loop missed an extra point attempt in Pittsburgh, something he hadn’t done since Week 1. But he’s been perfect on all nine field goal attempts, all within 50 yards, over the past four games. The rookie isn’t being called upon to win games or show off his boot to save a drive, but he’s been admirably consistent when the Ravens get down near the red zone and stall out. Can’t ask for much more than that. Cincinnati could be a daunting task for the Texas native who kicked at the University of Arizona. Special teams coordinator Chris Horton said they “won’t be able to replicate the things that you see up in this [AFC North]. It’s different. When that wind gets to howling, and it’s really cold, it’s a lot different. But, he’ll be fine, man. He’s a young guy, and he’s on the right track. I think he’s playing his butt off.” The Bengals own the fifth-best special teams expected points added per play in the NFL (20.6) — far better than Baltimore’s 15th place mark (2.7). While it’s been a strong year for the Ravens’ third phase, the edge goes to Cincinnati, particularly for a chilly home game. EDGE: Bengals Ravens intangibles vs. Bengals intangibles Well, the Ravens are playing for their lives and the Bengals are essentially playing for pride — the pride of crushing Baltimore’s playoff hopes. Here’s how the two sides spoke about this week, this matchup and the vibes umbrella over each team. Burrow spent his 29th birthday reflecting. His team’s playoff odds, by percentage points, can be counted on one hand. After missing a chunk of this season because injury, he waxed eloquently about his desire to have fun. “I’ve been through a lot and if it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for? So that’s the mindset I’m trying to bring to the table.” Winning is included in that calculation. But that’s the mindset of someone who knows he won’t be playing deep into January. On the other hand, Kyle Hamilton, knowing that the Ravens are on the ropes, invoked some of the best Cinderella stories in recent memory. Like Carlos Alcaraz’s miraculous French Open comeback. Or Rory McIlroy leaving short his would-be winning putt on the 18th green at The Masters, only to win it on the first playoff hole. Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen had an impressive second-half turnaround this year. So did LeBron James’ Cavaliers, famously climbing back from down 3-1 to win the 2016 NBA Finals. Conversely, Hamilton pointed out, the Patriots went undefeated in 2007 and lost in the Super Bowl. “So, it’s not about how you get there, it’s just a matter of you getting there; I think the mindset that we have to have is kind of like that,” he said. “It’s going to be a heck of a story; that’s what we’re telling ourselves.” EDGE: Ravens Prediction What have the Ravens done to give anyone confidence that a turnaround is imminent? Two weeks ago, they scored 14 points against a bad Bengals defense and let Joe Burrow torch them for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Last week, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers picked apart their defense and the Ravens missed out on three chances at lead-changing, fourth-quarter touchdowns. It’s possible Baltimore proves us wrong and flips a switch with the kind of dominant showing it’s capable of. But we haven’t seen that version in weeks. The Ravens seem destined to watch their playoff odds shrivel up in Sunday’s frost at the hands of a team whose only motivation is spoiling Baltimore’s year. Bengals 27, Ravens 21. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 15 game between the Ravens and Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati: Brian Wacker, reporter Bengals 31, Ravens 17: Joe Burrow might not be having any fun, as he said earlier this week, but the Ravens have too often been a welcome tonic for those searching for a cure. The Bengals quarterback is also too good and would like to do nothing more than put a dagger in Baltimore’s season, which feels like it’s hanging by the thinnest of strings. The Ravens’ own offense, meanwhile, has been oft discombobulated and far too allergic to touchdowns once it gets in the red zone, even against struggling defenses. Cincinnati hasn’t swept Baltimore since 2021, but that’s where this is headed. That was also the last time the Ravens missed the playoffs. Sam Cohn, reporter Bengals 27, Ravens 21: What have the Ravens done to give anyone confidence that a turnaround is imminent? Two weeks ago, they scored 14 points against a bad Bengals defense and let Joe Burrow torch them for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Last week, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers picked apart their defense and the Ravens missed out on three chances at lead-changing, fourth-quarter touchdowns. It’s possible that Baltimore proves us wrong and flips a switch with the kind of dominant showing it’s capable of, but we haven’t seen that version in weeks. The Ravens seem destined to watch their playoff odds shrivel up in Sunday’s frost at the hands of a team whose only motivation is spoiling Baltimore’s season. Mike Preston, columnist Bengals 24, Ravens 21: I am not picking the Ravens until they prove that they can beat a top-caliber quarterback. Cincinnati is ranked No. 32 in overall defense, allowing 410.5 yards per game. Its run defense is also last, giving up 155.5 yards per game. But the Ravens won five straight earlier this season by beating up on rookie or inexperienced quarterbacks, and the Bengals have some top playmakers in quarterback Joe Burrow and receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Josh Tolentino, columnist Bengals 27, Ravens: 21: The Bengals deploy the NFL’s 32nd-ranked defense and 30th-ranked rushing offense. Does any of that matter against the visiting Ravens? Baltimore’s offense is riding a season-long funk, while its defense has struggled against quality passers. During the team’s two-game losing streak, the Ravens’ defensive line has generated zero(!) sacks and just 11 pressures across 85 dropbacks from Joe Burrow and Aaron Rodgers. The five-game win streak was commendable, but now the real pressure is on. Until the Ravens put together a complete offensive showing, reminiscent of the first three quarters in the season opener at Buffalo, it’ll be difficult to trust Lamar Jackson and company over the season’s final stretch. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 26, Bengals 23: This can’t be how the season ends, right? Those upcoming matchups against the Patriots, Packers and Steelers are far too juicy for Baltimore to slip two games below .500 and be all but eliminated from postseason contention with a loss this weekend. Some fans might already be thinking about 2026 and the potential upgrades across the roster, but the story of this season has yet to be written. That Week 18 trip to Pittsburgh seems all but destined to be a winner-take-all showdown for the AFC North. The Ravens have a long way to go before that becomes a reality, but they’ll find a way to escape Cincinnati with a win on a last-second field goal and keep their faint hopes alive a little bit longer. Related Articles Ravens vs. Bengals scouting report for Week 15: Who has the edge? Josh Tolentino: Ravens’ biggest flaw isn’t an easy fix | COMMENTARY Why Ravens QB Lamar Jackson continues to miss a practice each week Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice; 2 pass catchers limited Ravens DT Travis Jones agrees to 3-year, $40.5 million contract extension Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 34, Bengals 28: I’m going back to the well one more time. If the Ravens lose again, I will have officially lost hope in their 2025 season. Baltimore averaged more yards per play than Cincinnati in a loss two weeks ago, but five turnovers ruined its chance of winning. In the loss to the Steelers, the Ravens outplayed Pittsburgh between the 20s. They stunk in the red zone and lost by five, in part because of questionable officiating. The Ravens are not that far off from playing winning football, and in a weak AFC North, that means they still have a chance. If they lose Sunday, however, it’s time to call it. I think they keep hope alive for another week, and Miami upsets Pittsburgh on Monday to make the AFC North race even spicier. Tim Schwartz, editor Bengals 28, Ravens 24: The Ravens’ season is hanging by a thread, and I haven’t seen anything from them over the past few weeks that makes me believe they are going to turn it around and win the AFC North. The Bengals, despite having the leakiest defense in football, look like a better team than the Ravens right now. That says a lot. Baltimore’s offense looked better against the Steelers last weekend, but it’s still a shell of what we expected it to be with a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player under center. The good news for the Ravens is that the Steelers play a fairly difficult schedule the rest of the way, too, so it’s still possible that the division is decided in Pittsburgh in Week 18. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 37, Bengals 31: The Ravens are struggling to get into the playoffs. Looking at the road ahead and the games left to play, if Baltimore can’t get past this game with a win, it has no chance. View the full article

On Thursday, the Ravens celebrated defensive tackle Travis Jones, a 2022 third-round draft pick who signed a three-year extension worth up to $40.5 million with $25 million in guaranteed salary. Jones’ new deal is considered relatively team-friendly for a productive interior lineman with respectable numbers this season. Solid work, Eric DeCosta. Let’s not escape reality, though. Too often this season, the Ravens’ offensive and defensive lines have been pushed around. The lack of beef is perhaps Baltimore’s most glaring flaw. Quarterback Lamar Jackson already has surpassed his 2024 season sack total, up to 29 from 23, despite playing in seven fewer games. During the team’s recent two-game skid, Baltimore defensive linemen have produced zero sacks and a measly 11 pressures over 85 combined dropbacks (12.9% pressure rate) by quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Aaron Rodgers. Yikes. Here comes Burrow again on Sunday. “We know that when you’re playing a quarterback of this caliber, any misstep, any wrong hesitation, [Burrow] is going to make you pay more times than not,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “We have to execute, and then we have to get the football…we have to execute better on third down and then we have to get more takeaways.” All fine teaching points. The Ravens, though, desperately need help in the trenches. It’s difficult to imagine them correcting their season-long issues over the next month. Let’s play the hypothetical game for a second. Related Articles Why Ravens QB Lamar Jackson continues to miss a practice each week Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice; 2 pass catchers limited Ravens DT Travis Jones agrees to 3-year, $40.5 million contract extension Staff picks for Week 15 of 2025 NFL season: Bills vs. Patriots, Lions vs. Rams and more Mike Preston: Talk is cheap. The Ravens need better defense. | COMMENTARY What if the Ravens reel off four consecutive wins to close the season and clinch the AFC North title, along with a playoff berth? What if the Steelers collapse, and provide a postseason path for Baltimore? What if? Can you really trust the defensive and offensive lines in high-stakes January football? Behind Jones, the Ravens rely on 36-year-old John Jenkins (4,464 career defensive snaps), 34-year-old Brent Urban (2,655 snaps), and rookie CJ Okoye as primary depth. The lack of pressure up front has forced safety Kyle Hamilton into a three-level defender. Super Bowl-winning teams often have elite offensive and defensive lines, armed with pass-rush dominance. The Ravens have an outside shot at making the playoffs, but if they somehow reach that stage, will it be because of elite trench play? It’s OK to be realistic. The Zach Orr-led defense, at least, deserves slight grace. Losing pressure leader Nnamdi Madubuike, a $98 million defensive tackle, in Week 2 was gut-wrenching. His season-ending neck injury has caused an assortment of personnel issues with Baltimore consistently struggling to generate pressure, especially from the interior. There were more than a handful of options, albeit at hefty price tags, available around the trade deadline to help with Madubuike’s loss, but Baltimore only added safety Alohi Gilman and defensive end Dre’Mont Jones. Both have been productive pieces, but the defense still lacks game-wrecking pressure. Once touted as the NFL’s best roster, DeCosta’s group has been exposed. Elite pass rush and pass protection requires hardcore investment. Since taking over Ozzie Newsome’s post as general manager in 2019, DeCosta has overseen seven NFL drafts. During that span, DeCosta has made 13 premium selections (first- or second-round picks), with five (38.4%) of those picks dedicated to the offensive and defensive lines: defensive end Odafe Oweh (2021 first round), center Tyler Linderbaum (2022 first round), outside linebacker David Ojabo (2022 second round), right tackle Roger Rosengarten (2024 second round) and outside linebacker Mike Green (2025 second round). Among that group, only Linderbaum and Rosengarten have developed into full-time starters still with the team. Oweh started and produced a career-high 10 sacks in 2024, but he had zero sacks through his first five games this season, and the Ravens bid him farewell in an Oct. 7 trade that sent Oweh to the Chargers in exchange for Gilman. Ojabo has just 4 1/2 career sacks, including just a 1/2 sack in 2025 over 554 defensive snaps across four seasons. The jury is still deliberating on Green, who leads the team with 2 1/2 sacks as a rookie. The 2024 FBS leader in sacks (17 at Marshall) experienced a quick accession into the starting lineup because of Oweh’s trade, plus a midseason injury to fellow pass rusher Tavius Robinson. DeCosta has hit on a couple of mid-round selections dedicated to the trenches such as Jones and Madubuike, a 2020 third-round pick, but he’s also whiffed on plenty others. Newsome, meanwhile, often struck gold with finding productive pass rushers in the middle of the draft (see: Pernell McPhee, Za’Darius Smith, Matthew Judon, Paul Kruger, etc.) At some point in the near future, it’ll be time for DeCosta and company to get back to the drawing board. Free agency and the NFL draft will present opportunities to rebound once more. The Ravens on Thursday at least secured one important piece to the future. Extending Jones was sensible business. He’s earned it, and he’s one of the few interior linemen investments that has paid off. But Sunday’s matchup against Burrow in Cincinnati, along with the month ahead against consecutive above-average passers, will more than likely continue to expose the truth Baltimore currently faces. No matter how this wild season concludes, the Ravens need help and more beef in the trenches. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

Lamar Jackson stepped out of the field house, jogged down the turf ramp and onto the practice field on a chilly Thursday afternoon in Owings Mills. It’s his new normal, returning to action after missing the previous day’s session, something that has occurred for five straight weeks and shows no signs of changing as the Ravens’ season hangs in the balance. At this point in the year and after a succession of injuries — hamstring, knee, ankle, toe — he views the weekly day off as a necessity for his 6-foot-2, 208-pound frame. “I feel like rest days are one of the most important things when you’re recovering from any injury,” Jackson said Thursday. Asked if he thinks the missed practices have impacted his play or led to a rash of turnovers of late, he said no, instead pointing to some of them being the result of tipped passes. Over the past month in particular, however, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player has endured the worst stretch of his career. Jackson hasn’t reached a 60% completion rate in any of his past four outings. He has also thrown four interceptions, fumbled three times and at one point went three straight games without producing a touchdown — the longest span of his career — before ending that drought with one passing and one rushing touchdown last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also had an interception in that game, completed just 54.3% of his passes, struggled in the red zone and in the final two minutes of the game and the Ravens lost for the second week in a row after getting blown out on Thanksgiving night at home by the Bengals. Have Jackson’s absences made things more challenging for what has been an incongruous offense, particularly in those critical situational moments? “I think any time a player, especially your quarterback, is not able to practice — you’re talking not only the mental side of it but the timing with the receivers and then the physical part of it — there are some challenges with that,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said Thursday. “It’s not just Lamar, it’s any player that misses time, and you’ve got to find a way to overcome that.” That’s been an insoluble constant for the quarterback and consequently the offense. It has also been something Baltimore has needed to balance. “There’s no science to it,” coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week. “You want to have everybody practicing every day; that’s your goal as a coach, but it’s a long season. These guys go through a lot; Lamar as much as anybody. “He has the ball in his hand every play; he is making plays; he’s doing what he does; he’s competing like crazy. So, there are going to be times when he is just not going to be up for practice. It’s just not going to be the best way to go about doing it, and that’s a conversation between Lamar [and] the trainers. We’re involved in that to some degree, but what’s best for him to be ready to play his best on Sunday, that’s really what matters. So sure, you’d rather have everybody practicing all the time, but if it’s not the best thing to practice, because you want to get your body right, I think you have to respect that as a coach. I know you have to respect that as a coach, so I respect Lamar and his judgment.” Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice; 2 pass catchers limited Ravens DT Travis Jones agrees to 3-year, $40.5 million contract extension Staff picks for Week 15 of 2025 NFL season: Bills vs. Patriots, Lions vs. Rams and more Mike Preston: Talk is cheap. The Ravens need better defense. | COMMENTARY Date and time of Ravens-Packers Week 17 game at Lambeau Field announced Jackson, meanwhile, hasn’t blamed his performance this season on injuries, saying that if he’s in a game he should be able to do all the requisite and typically exceptional things he usually does. Still, he needs to rest when he can get it, he said. When he’s not at practice, he said, he looks at film afterward. During practices he is not participating in, he said he sometimes watches from the team’s adjacent treatment room, which looks out on the practice fields. Now comes a trip to Cincinnati for a rematch. A game back of the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers and the likely path to the playoffs being through a division title, the Ravens (6-7) know little-to-no room for error and can’t afford another loss, particularly in the division. The last time the two teams met, Jackson completed just 17 of 32 passes with no touchdowns, one interception and two fumbles against what has been one of the worst defenses in the NFL all season. He said this time that the Ravens have to avoid turnovers and put more than 14 points on the board. “I feel like we just played them yesterday, but looking forward to new results, different ending,” Jackson said. He also said he feels healthy, perhaps buoyed by the extra days off over the past five weeks. Said Jackson: “I feel good.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned to practice Thursday, one day after missing his usual reps for a rest day. It marked the fifth straight week that he has missed one midweek practice. The Ravens won the first three games and have lost the past two, now facing an all-important divisional foe in the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday while trailing the Pittsburgh Steelers by one game for the AFC North lead. As coach John Harbaugh put it, “To say we control our own destiny, that’s only if we win.” The Ravens (6-7) figure to be near full strength. Jackson was a full practice participant. He’s battled various lower body injuries this season but this was the first week in a month that he was listed without a specific ailment. Jackson said that when he’s not on the field, he’s still watching closely while getting treatment or ensuring he’s not missing mental reps. “I have eyes everywhere,” he joked. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who missed Wednesday’s practice with a shoulder injury, appeared to move comfortably in limited reps a day later. He wore an obvious wrap under his pads. The Ravens’ stickiest defensive back is a crucial chess piece heading into a matchup against one of the NFL’s best quarterback-receiver duos. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle) and tight end Mark Andrews (glute) were each limited participants Thursday. The severity of each injury and their availability for Sunday will become clear by Friday afternoon. Two established defenders could each return this weekend: outside linebacker Tavius Robinson broke his foot in Week 6, while safety Ar’Darius Washington is awaiting his season debut in his return from a torn Achilles tendon. Both Robinson and Washington practiced uninhibited Thursday and said that they’re ready to play this weekend. Meanwhile, running back Keaton Mitchell and cornerback Nate Wiggins seem to have avoided major injuries. Mitchell looked a bit gimpy after an explosive run against the Steelers. Two years removed from major knee surgery, Mitchell heading to the medical tent was an unnerving scene. But tests came back negative. He was back on the field this week, ramping up to full participation. Wiggins suffered a foot injury during a Thanksgiving loss to the Bengals. He did not play the second half but was limited through most of last week. Wiggins played in 94% of the team’s snaps last weekend, was limited Wednesday and was a full go by Thursday. Related Articles Ravens DT Travis Jones agrees to 3-year, $40.5 million contract extension Staff picks for Week 15 of 2025 NFL season: Bills vs. Patriots, Lions vs. Rams and more Mike Preston: Talk is cheap. The Ravens need better defense. | COMMENTARY Date and time of Ravens-Packers Week 17 game at Lambeau Field announced Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton unwavering in title belief: ‘Gonna be a heck of a story’ The Bengals, nearing mathematical elimination from the postseason, officially placed star defensive end Trey Hendrickson on the injured reserve after he had core muscle surgery. Safety PJ Jules (ankle) was the only other absentee Thursday. Wide receiver Tee Higgins (concussion) was limited for a second consecutive day. Each of the three other players listed on the injury report — linebacker Shaka Heyward (fibula), defensive end Joseph Ossai (shin) and defensive end Shemar Stewart (knee) — were full participants again. Stewart hasn’t been on the practice field since Week 9. Cincinnati’s first-round draft pick, if healthy enough to go Sunday, would be a notable boost for that defensive front. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

With around two dozen Ravens players slated to hit free agency this offseason, Baltimore addressed one of its biggest needs on Thursday. Defensive tackle Travis Jones has agreed to a three-year extension, the team said Thursday. The deal is worth $40.5 million and includes $25 million guaranteed, a source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Baltimore Sun, and keeps Jones in Baltimore through 2028. “‘Big Trav’ is an ascending player and having him continue to man the middle of our defense is very exciting,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement. The signing is also notable not just because Jones has been one of Baltimore’s top players this season and a foundational part of the defense, but because of the uncertainty surrounding Nnamdi Madubuike, whose future is unclear because of a season-ending neck injury. Jones, a 2022 third-round draft pick from Connecticut, has ascended into one of the league’s better young nose tackles. A two-year starter, he has 34 tackles, including six for loss, 1 1/2 sacks and a fumble recovery in 12 games this season. The signing comes after Baltimore signed tight end Mark Andrews to a three-year extension last week after signing safety Kyle Hamilton, running back Derrick Henry and receiver Rashod Bateman to extensions over the past handful of months. Jones’ situation was also unique. According to ESPN, the NFL Players Association had filed a grievance over Jones’ contract status and the hearing was slated for Thursday. Jones reportedly would not have been an unrestricted free agent because of failure to report to training camp by the mandatory date, which led to him not accruing a full season. Had Jones lost the grievance, he would have been a restricted free agent and Baltimore could have used a second-round restricted free agent tender, which would have been worth about $6 million. Instead, the new deal got done and the grievance was dropped. Still, there are several items DeCosta still has to do deal with. Related Articles Staff picks for Week 15 of 2025 NFL season: Bills vs. Patriots, Lions vs. Rams and more Mike Preston: Talk is cheap. The Ravens need better defense. | COMMENTARY Date and time of Ravens-Packers Week 17 game at Lambeau Field announced Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton unwavering in title belief: ‘Gonna be a heck of a story’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from another midweek practice Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard, outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Dre’Mont Jones, safety Alohi Gilman and right guard Daniel Faalele are just some of the notable players who are scheduled to be free agents in 2026. There is also, of course, quarterback Lamar Jackson’s contract. Jackson’s salary cap number will rise to $74.5 million next season, unless the deal can be reworked or he is signed to an extension. But at least for now, one item is off the checklist in what figures to be a busy next few months for DeCosta and the Ravens. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers and FOX45’s Patrice Sanders pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 15: Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (7-7 last week, 139-67-1 overall): Buccaneers Sam Cohn (8-6 last week, 138-68-1 overall): Buccaneers Mike Preston (6-8 last week, 134-72-1 overall): Buccaneers Josh Tolentino (7-7 last week, 139-67-1 overall): Buccaneers C.J. Doon (5-9 last week, 128-78-1 overall): Buccaneers Bennett Conlin (9-5 last week, 138-68-1 overall): Buccaneers Tim Schwartz (6-8 last week, 124-82-1 overall): Buccaneers Patrice Sanders (7-7 last week, 129-77-1 overall): Buccaneers Cleveland Browns vs. Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bears Cohn: Bears Preston: Bears Tolentino: Bears Doon: Bears Conlin: Bears Schwartz: Bears Sanders: Bears Arizona Cardinals vs. Houston Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Texans Cohn: Texans Preston: Texans Tolentino: Texans Doon: Texans Conlin: Texans Schwartz: Texans Sanders: Texans New York Jets vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Jaguars Cohn: Jaguars Preston: Jaguars Tolentino: Jaguars Doon: Jaguars Conlin: Jaguars Schwartz: Jaguars Sanders: Jaguars Related Articles Mike Preston: Talk is cheap. The Ravens need better defense. | COMMENTARY Date and time of Ravens-Packers Week 17 game at Lambeau Field announced Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton unwavering in title belief: ‘Gonna be a heck of a story’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from another midweek practice Army-Navy Game arrives in Baltimore with Ravens who lived its stakes Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Cohn: Chargers Preston: Chiefs Tolentino: Chargers Doon: Chargers Conlin: Chiefs Schwartz: Chargers Sanders: Chargers Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bills Cohn: Patriots Preston: Patriots Tolentino: Patriots Doon: Bills Conlin: Bills Schwartz: Bills Sanders: Patriots Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Giants Cohn: Giants Preston: Commanders Tolentino: Commanders Doon: Commanders Conlin: Giants Schwartz: Giants Sanders: Giants Las Vegas Raiders vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Eagles Cohn: Eagles Preston: Eagles Tolentino: Eagles Doon: Eagles Conlin: Eagles Schwartz: Eagles Sanders: Eagles Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Broncos Cohn: Broncos Preston: Broncos Tolentino: Broncos Doon: Packers Conlin: Packers Schwartz: Packers Sanders: Packers Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Rams Cohn: Rams Preston: Rams Tolentino: Rams Doon: Lions Conlin: Lions Schwartz: Rams Sanders: Rams Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Panthers Cohn: Panthers Preston: Panthers Tolentino: Panthers Doon: Panthers Conlin: Panthers Schwartz: Panthers Sanders: Panthers Indianapolis Colts vs. Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Seahawks Cohn: Seahawks Preston: Seahawks Tolentino: Seahawks Doon: Seahawks Conlin: Seahawks Schwartz: Seahawks Sanders: Seahawks Tennessee Titans vs. San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: 49ers Cohn: 49ers Preston: 49ers Tolentino: 49ers Doon: 49ers Conlin: 49ers Schwartz: 49ers Sanders: 49ers Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) Wacker: Cowboys Cohn: Cowboys Preston: Cowboys Tolentino: Cowboys Doon: Vikings Conlin: Cowboys Schwartz: Cowboys Sanders: Cowboys Miami Dolphins vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Monday, 8:15 p.m.) Wacker: Steelers Cohn: Steelers Preston: Steelers Tolentino: Steelers Doon: Steelers Conlin: Dolphins Schwartz: Dolphins Sanders: Dolphins View the full article

The two most glaring numbers for the Ravens’ defense so far this season are passing yards allowed and sacks. The Ravens are ranked No. 26 in pass defense, allowing 236 yards per game, and rookie outside linebacker Mike Green leads the team in sacks with 2 1/2, as well as 11 quarterback hurries. A rookie? That pretty much tells the story of the success, or the lack of it. For the past two seasons, there is always this speculation, more of a myth, that the Ravens’ defense has improved during the year, particularly in the second half, but that hasn’t been the case. It’s more talk than anything else. But instead of yapping so much, the Ravens need to start playing better — stacking wins and getting prepared to play a list of impressive quarterbacks in the final four games of the regular season. “But it’s not hard, but it’s a little annoying — not from you guys, but for myself having to get up here every week and be like, ‘We need to turn it on. We need to turn it on.’ It’s been like that ever since Week 1,” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said Wednesday. “It’s time that we go out and do it, and there’s no excuses that are to be made at this point.” Preach, brother. “But like I said, it is a lot of talk,” Hamilton said. “We can stand up here and tell you our plan every week, but it’s a matter of us going out there and actually executing it.” The Ravens have the Bengals and Joe Burrow on Sunday in Cincinnati followed by New England’s Drake Maye, an NFL Most Valuable Player award candidate, then Green Bay’s Jordan Love. They finish with a season-ending second altercation with 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who completed 23 of 34 passes for 284 yards in Pittsburgh’s 27-22 win in Baltimore on Sunday. It wasn’t exactly a vintage performance from Rodgers, who has won four NFL MVP Awards, but you get the picture. Top-tier quarterbacks have had their way with the Ravens this season. Buffalo’s Josh Allen passed for almost 400 yards in the season opener and Detroit’s Jared Goff and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes each had passer ratings above 100 against Baltimore. Houston’s C.J. Stroud completed 23 of 27 attempts and had four touchdown passes in the Texans’ rout of the Ravens on Oct. 4, and Detroit’s Matthew Stafford was 17 of 26 for 181 yards in the Rams’ win in Baltimore a week later. Pessimism is one thing, but so is realism. The Ravens’ defense improved a year ago because it was playing against quarterbacks such as Cleveland’s Bailey Zappe, the New York Giants’ Tommy DeVito and Tim Boyle and Pittsburgh’s Russell Wilson (twice). The Ravens went on a five-game winning streak this season going against the likes of Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy, Cleveland’s Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders and the New York Jets’ Tyrod Taylor. That’s not exactly a group that produces fear in NFL circles. The worst part is that the Ravens still look lost in coverages at times. Opposing teams are running free in the flats and it’s been that way since the start of the season. Remember Kansas City’s Isiah Pacheco catching an 8-yard touchdown pass in the left flat in the second quarter? Or Houston receiver Nico Collins catching a 10-yard touchdown pass from Stroud in the same quarter in the right flat? How about Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Warren hauling in a 38-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter in the right flat of Sunday’s game as he went untouched? That shouldn’t be happening this late in the season. Everybody at M&T Bank Stadium knows that once a receiver like the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase or Pittsburgh’s DK Metcalf draws cornerback Marlon Humphrey to the outside, opposing quarterbacks will likely throw deep. Chase had seven catches for 110 yards in Week 13, and Metcalf had seven catches for 148 yards last Sunday. Isn’t there some way that the Ravens can rotate a safety to that side of the field, or are they still concerned about any possible threat over the middle? At least the Bengals deserve some credit. They put Chase in the slot and he might motion anywhere. Bengals wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley tries to catch a pass while Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey defends. Opposing teams have tested Humphrey in recent weeks, throwing deep against the Baltimore cornerback. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) “We do match up sometimes in the slot,” Hamilton said of Chase. “They move around so much and that’s part of the reason why they have success, you never know where he is going to be at. You try to scheme your offense and scheme your defense, or whatever it may be, so your best players can shine, and that’s what they do very well.” It’s pretty amazing to watch what goes on during games. What’s even more befuddling is that the Ravens can’t come up with any answers. They still have tackling problems (see cornerback Nate Wiggins) and both inside linebackers, Roquan Smith and rookie Teddye Buchanan, struggle in pass coverage. A lot of it, though not all of it, comes down to rushing the passer. Regardless of whether a team has Deion Sanders or Richard Sherman at cornerback, they can only cover so much space in a limited time. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike is tied for second on the team in sacks (two) despite playing in only two games. It just shows how far the Ravens need to go to get this defense back on track. They can come up with all the assortments of exotic blitzes against rookies like Sanders and Gabriel, but that doesn’t work versus veterans like Rodgers and Stafford. Been there. Seen that. Related Articles Date and time of Ravens-Packers Week 17 game at Lambeau Field announced Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton unwavering in title belief: ‘Gonna be a heck of a story’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from another midweek practice Army-Navy Game arrives in Baltimore with Ravens who lived its stakes Ravens film study: Missed opportunities hurt Lamar Jackson in Steelers loss The last time the Ravens saw Burrow was on Thanksgiving. The Bengals won, 32-14, as Burrow completed 24 of 46 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Maye is only 23, but he’s a major story in the NFL this season, guiding the Patriots to an 11-2 record while completing 71.5% of his passes with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. Love is 9-3-1 with Green Bay this season with 22 touchdown passes to just four interceptions. And then there is Rodgers, who worked the game clock to perfection Sunday, draining it down to every second before the snap of the ball. He controlled the tempo of the game for Pittsburgh. It’s an uphill climb for the Ravens. Can they pull it off and win the AFC North title? Of course, especially with some help from the Steelers. But they won’t get any help from the upcoming slate of quarterbacks. It’s a good upcoming group, not like the inexperienced signal callers the Ravens faced earlier in the season. The quarterbacks have changed, and so have the parameters. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

If the Ravens are going to make the playoffs — a thought four months ago that some might have considered absurd — they are likely going to have to win most if not all of their remaining four games. Among them is a showdown against the surging Green Bay Packers. That Week 17 game at Lambeau Field will take place on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 8 p.m., it was announced on Wednesday. The game will be exclusively streamed on Peacock with Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Kathryn Tappen (sideline reporter) on the call. It will be broadcast locally on NBC (WBAL). The time and date of the game, along with a handful of others, had not been previously released by the league to allow for flexible scheduling of contests with the most compelling matchups with playoff implications. It will also be Jackson’s first game at Lambeau. That maiden visit also comes at a critical time. The Packers (9-3-1) have won four straight and have a slim lead over the Chicago Bears in the NFC North. Baltimore (6-7) has dropped two in a row, is a game back of the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers and travels to Cincinnati to face the Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow on Sunday. A loss to the Bengals, who beat the Ravens just two weeks ago on Thanksgiving night in Baltimore, would be a significant blow to the Ravens’ playoff chances. It’s also feasible that they could be out of it entirely by the time they get to Wisconsin, though much of that of course depends on the Steelers. Baltimore’s most likely path to the postseason is as division champs, and the Steelers will play the Ravens in Pittsburgh in Week 18. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from another midweek practice Army-Navy Game arrives in Baltimore with Ravens who lived its stakes Ravens film study: Missed opportunities hurt Lamar Jackson in Steelers loss Watch Episode 15 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law The Ravens can still make the NFL playoffs. Here’s the path. Whatever happens between now and then, it will mark the Ravens’ first game at Lambeau since November 2017. Baltimore won, 23-0, against Packers backup quarterback Brett Hundley on the strength of the five turnovers it forced along with Joe Flacco throwing for 183 yards and one touchdown with one interception. The Ravens’ most recent game against the Packers, however, was in December 2021 when then-Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes in a 31-30 victory at M&T Bank Stadium that clinched a division title for the Packers. Jackson did not play in that game because of a sprained ankle, while Tyler Huntley nearly lead the Ravens back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit with an 8-yard touchdown run with 42 seconds remaining before his 2-point conversion pass fell incomplete. That loss was the third of what ended up being six straight for the Ravens. It was also the last time they failed to make the playoffs. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens’ season has been a roller coaster of emotions and thought exercises. A 1-5 start followed by five straight wins and then two straight losses for a team once thought to be a Super Bowl contender will do that. An NFL season lasts but only so long, though. Each of the past two weeks, players have talked about that particular game being a “must-win” or having a “playoff” feel. Then they went out and botched both, first with five turnovers in a Thanksgiving night debacle against the Cincinnati Bengals then with an offensive and defensive meltdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. All of it has brought Baltimore to its current conundrum and chilly reality. With only four games remaining, the Ravens are a game back of the AFC North-leading Steelers and could very well have to win out in order to capture the division title, which is almost certainly their only path to the postseason. So now what about this week’s rematch with the Bengals being a must-win? All of it got Ravens safety and the team’s most introspective thinker probing a new approach as he laid awake in bed. Kyle Hamilton then invoked a string of recent champions in a variety of sports and went off on an aside during lunch. “Our perspective changes every time we win or lose a game,” he said Wednesday. “I’m probably gonna go off on a tangent here a little bit. “I was thinking just about all the sports and champions I’ve seen recently and how they got there, and it kind of put things in perspective for me.” He then invoked the near-fall and rise of some of the all-time greats. First, he brought up Carlos Alcaraz, who was down three match points to Jannik Sinner in the fourth set of this year’s French Open final before rallying to force a fifth set and eventual five-plus hour victory for a second straight title at Roland Garros. Then he pointed to Rory McIlroy missing a pair of short par putts to lose last year’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst and a putt on the 72nd hole of this year’s Masters before winning in a playoff for his first Green Jacket to complete the career Grand Slam. Also on the list were Max Verstappen, who looked like he wouldn’t even finish in the top 3 or 4 of F1’s championship and now has a chance to win the title, and LeBron James, whose Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from a 3-1 NBA Finals deficit against the Golden State Warriors to win the 2016 title. “It never really is this Cinderella, fairy-tale season that it’s gonna be,” Hamilton said, noting each of the victor’s tribulations along the way. “The Patriots won all those games [in 2007] and lost in the Super Bowl and nobody really cares about the undefeated record up until that point. “It’s not about how you get there. It’s just a matter of you getting there.” Of course getting there could be Baltimore’s primary problem. Especially for a defense that ranks 22nd in points (24.6) and 25th in yards (349.3) per game and is coming off giving up a season-high 284 passing yards to 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers and what up until last week had been a largely listless offense. Instead, Baltimore’s once league-best defense that is largely intact from two years ago has this season been a welcome antidote for opponents’ ailments. Offensively, things have been even more stunning. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, who missed another Wednesday practice this week, has gone five straight without topping 58.6% passing. He also hasn’t been the same dynamic and explosive threat with his legs, averaging a career-low 30.7 yards rushing and 5.2 yards per carry, his lowest mark since his rookie year. The offensive line has been below average and consequently so have the Ravens, who rank 19th in yards (325.9) and 13th in points (23.9) per game. “We’re still not playing our best football by any means,” tight end Mark Andrews said Wednesday. “The type of games we’re playing in are winnable games. We’re very close to doing our thing and we have so much talent, it’s just about coming together, doing our job, offense scoring points, defense balling out and special teams doing their job.” Andrews also dismissed the notion that Baltimore’s offense is still searching for its identity. “Throughout the games there’s been mistakes,” he said. “It’s everybody. I think we just clean those up and good things are gonna happen. At times I think we’re moving the ball really, really well. “I think we haven’t played our best ball, and that’s gonna come.” Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson absent from another midweek practice Army-Navy Game arrives in Baltimore with Ravens who lived its stakes Ravens film study: Missed opportunities hurt Lamar Jackson in Steelers loss Watch Episode 15 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law The Ravens can still make the NFL playoffs. Here’s the path. Time is running out, though. Still, Hamilton believes they can turn things around, the way Alcaraz, McIlroy, Verstappen and James did. “I think the mindset we have to have is kind of like that,” he said. “All these great sports feats have come with challenge and we could be another story along that road. “That’s kind of the mindset I feel like we’ve taken upon ourselves right now. It’s kind of the mindset we need to have, have to have to have in order to get where we want to go. It’s gonna be a heck of a story, as we were telling ourselves.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

This has become the norm in Owings Mills: Lamar Jackson did not practice Wednesday for the Ravens. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player and superstar quarterback has popped up on the injury report each week for the past five with various lower-body injuries. At one point, Jackson acknowledged he might regularly forgo one midweek practice. “There’s no science to it,” coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week. “You want to have everybody practicing every day; that’s your goal as a coach, but it’s a long season. These guys go through a lot; Lamar as much as anybody.” Jackson’s status for Sunday’s game in Cincinnati will become clearer later this week. In a loss to the Steelers on Sunday, which dropped Baltimore to 6-7, Jackson threw for 219 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Harbaugh thought he looked more nimble in the win. Jackson thought so, too. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie was the only other player absent on a gloomy Wednesday afternoon. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Related Articles Army-Navy Game arrives in Baltimore with Ravens who lived its stakes Ravens film study: Missed opportunities hurt Lamar Jackson in Steelers loss Watch Episode 15 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law The Ravens can still make the NFL playoffs. Here’s the path. Ravens’ John Harbaugh laments poor 4th-quarter execution in Steelers loss View the full article

The storied Army–Navy Game is returning to Baltimore this weekend, and for Ravens safety Alohi Gilman, it brings back the one moment he would do anything to feel again. “If I could go back and relive just one more [game], that would probably be it,” Gilman recently told The Baltimore Sun. Gilman is one of two current Ravens who’ve experienced the rivalry from the inside. His path ran through the Naval Academy. Rookie fullback Lucas Scott came from the other sideline at Army. Their college careers never intersected, but their journeys at the respective service academies, including their involvement in the rivalry, helped shape them in similar ways. With one of college football’s most historic traditions arriving Saturday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium, those memories come rushing back for a couple of alumni, who now occupy stalls inside the home locker room of the city’s professional football team. Gilman, 28, and Scott, 22, understand the weight and pressure that comes with playing in the 126th edition of the iconic rivalry. Both players know how much Saturday will mean to the players on the field and to the thousands who served the country after participating in the mid-December tradition. They also know how quickly a full season’s work can suddenly turn into either immense pride or unforgettable heartbreak. Gilman learned just that during his lone season as a freshman in 2016, when Army halted Navy’s 14-year win streak. The defensive back recorded eight tackles in the 21-17 upset loss. Afterward, he witnessed something he had never seen before. “Guys were crying,” Gilman said. “My teammates, legit crying. It meant that much. It’s an amazing rivalry. It’s special to be part of.” Gilman grew up in La’ie on the North Shore of O’ahu. He committed to Navy, mainly because former coach Ken Niumatalolo also hailed from the same town in Hawaii. As a freshman, Gilman played in all 14 games, earned All-American Athletic Conference honorable mention and finished second on the team with 76 tackles. Thousands of miles away from home, he felt he had found a path that fit both his identity and career goals. Months later, the rules and regulations changed. A Department of Defense decision during the Donald Trump administration required service academy athletes to fulfill a minimum two-year military commitment before pursuing professional sports. Trump will be in attendance Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium. “It was a tough decision,” Gilman said of leaving Navy. “They changed the rule after I got there that if I wanted to go pro, I had to serve first. Which is different from when I first got there, guys had an opportunity to go pro.” Gilman transferred to Notre Dame, where he recorded 168 tackles over two seasons and served as a captain. He also formed a close bond in South Bend with fellow safety Kyle Hamilton that has carried into their time with the Ravens. Although his football journey took him away from Annapolis, Gilman will always cherish his time with the academy and his lone experience in the Army-Navy game. “There is a brotherhood that is built there that you carry for the rest of your life,” Gilman said. “You talk about rivalries, that was big-time, one of the best traditions in the sport.” Scott recalls those life-changing moments, too. Related Articles Ravens film study: Missed opportunities hurt Lamar Jackson in Steelers loss Watch Episode 15 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law The Ravens can still make the NFL playoffs. Here’s the path. Ravens’ John Harbaugh laments poor 4th-quarter execution in Steelers loss Ravens-Patriots game Dec. 21 in Baltimore flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football’ He watched the game growing up, remembering it as the only college football matchup still on television after championship weekend. During his college recruitment, he specifically pointed to the Army-Navy as a sticking point, comparing the game with any other stage he might reach. “You are not playing in front of 70,000 to 100,000 people at a smaller school,” he said. “One of the reasons why I committed was to be able to play in that game. So much tradition and history. It definitely sways you. “I think it is the best game in college football. There is so much respect on each side, but also so much will and drive to want to beat each other.” Army went 2-2 against Navy in Scott’s four years at West Point. In 2022, Army won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy by beating both Air Force and Navy. The Black Knights did not play in a bowl game that year, so those victories represented their season’s punctuation mark. “Beating Navy was an awesome way to send off the seniors,” Scott said. Ravens fullback Lucas Scott, right, goes through a drill during training camp. Scott played in four Army-Navy games during his college career. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Last year’s memories aren’t so fond for Scott, a member of the Ravens’ practice squad. Army posted one of its best seasons in program history, but lost, 31-13, to Navy. The disappointment still lingers between Scott and his former teammates, a group of self-described ‘lifelong brothers,’ he hopes to reunite with this weekend. “That loss kind of felt like a big failure,” Scott said. “It’s an amazing game, it’s awesome that Baltimore is hosting it. Last year was obviously a heartbreak, especially with the season we had, to go out there and lose like that. “But it’s an amazing game, it definitely plays a role in why people commit to Army or Navy or Air Force, it’s to serve and play on that beautiful stage. Just so much tradition and history involved, it definitely sways you. It’s awesome to be part of.” Scott’s versatility as a former offensive lineman and tight end helped him land in Baltimore, where he has been learning under five-time Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard. Scott’s coach at Army, Jeff Monken, also is the cousin of Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Like Gilman, Scott pointed to the strong sense of brotherhood that is established as athletes at service academies. “The best of friends I have ever met came from Army,” he said. “They will be there for me the rest of my life. They are like family to me.” Navy (9-2, 7-1 American Athletic Conference) leads the all-time series 63–55–7, although Army (6-5, 4-4) has won six of the last nine meetings. Recent history, though, shows records don’t mean much at all. The pageantry, tradition and competitiveness attached to Army-Navy reigns. Gilman and Scott continue to carry their respective memories into every day they spend as teammates. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson dropped back to pass, had Mark Andrews wide-open in the left flat for a critical first down late in the game and instead passed over the middle to DeAndre Hopkins short of the sticks. Watching from his couch, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and Super Bowl 34 Most Valuable Player Kurt Warner noted that had Jackson had a better “pressure plan” to handle the blitz and gotten the ball to the tight end, it was “game over.” That was 14 weeks ago in a crushing season-opening one-point loss to the Buffalo Bills. Yet, Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, many of the same missed opportunities plagued Jackson and Baltimore again, this time in a critical AFC North defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers as much as the right hand of the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, among some shoddy officiating and a multitude of miscues by others. The Ravens are just a game back in the division and can assure themselves of a third-straight division title and playoff spot by winning their remaining four games, but the common threads between that Week 1 collapse and their most recent outing are as astonishing as they are pernicious. The tape, as coaches often say, doesn’t lie. What the NFL’s All-22 film revealed Being compared to second-year Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is not a compliment. That’s who ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky invoked, though, while also calling many of Jackson’s misfires against the Steelers “egregious” during an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” this week. While Jackson was almost entirely brilliant in that Bills game — despite his decision on the Ravens’ final offensive play — he has been anything but for most of the season and especially lately. In his past five games, Jackson has failed to reach a 60% completion rate, the longest such stretch of his career. He also went three straight without producing a touchdown for the first time before breaking that skid with a passing touchdown and a score on the ground against Pittsburgh. Still, as Orlovsky said, Jackson is getting caught from behind more than he ever has before and Baltimore’s offense looks “broken.” There were plenty of examples. Final series of the game: Trailing by 5 points with 1:56 remaining, the Ravens took over at their own 26-yard line with one time out. Then it took 57 seconds to run two plays. On the game’s final play, Jackson was sacked from behind by linebacker Alex Highsmith. “It wasn’t good enough,” coach John Harbaugh said of the operation. “I’ll just leave it at that. Suffice to say that we have to be better in those situations. “We weren’t in the right spot all the time. We had to flip a formation one time, basically, the one time that the clock was running on us; we had to change the side that we were aligned on.” Second-to-last possession: On a fourth-and-5 from the Steelers’ 8 with 2:28 remaining, receiver DeAndre Hopkins flashed open in the back of the end zone. Jackson, avoiding the rush, threw over the middle, but Andrews, well-covered on the crossing route, couldn’t haul it in the pass, which was also tipped slightly. Who the pass was intended for, though, is unclear. Harbaugh said Monday that he hadn’t yet talked to Jackson about the play and said he wasn’t sure who he was trying to throw to. First quarter: On the fifth play of the game, Flowers raced down the right sideline and got behind safety and former Raven Chuck Clark. Jackson hit him for a 31-yard gain. But the ball had drifted too far toward the sideline — perhaps from a breeze and/or bad footwork — and Flowers had to contort his body to make an over-the-shoulder catch. A few plays later, Flowers had to slow down to try to catch an end zone fade on third down that was consequently broken up by cornerback Brandin Echols. On Baltimore’s second possession, Jackson scrambled up the middle before sliding for a 4-yard gain. He has said often in the past he doesn’t like to slide and often hasn’t. That hasn’t always been the case lately, though, and had the quarterback, who has dealt with hamstring, knee, ankle and toe injuries, stayed on his feet, there was a sizable opening ahead and to his right. Of course, later in the quarter, Echols raced around the massive Faalele and easily sacked Jackson. Related Articles Watch Episode 15 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law The Ravens can still make the NFL playoffs. Here’s the path. Ravens’ John Harbaugh laments poor 4th-quarter execution in Steelers loss Ravens-Patriots game Dec. 21 in Baltimore flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football’ NFL admits to blown call in Ravens loss, but Harbaugh still unsatisfied Other throws that were badly off-target in the opening quarter included a rollout to the right in which Flowers was open and Jackson again threw erratically to the sideline and incomplete as well as a crossing route late in the quarter that Jackson was incomplete on with the ball behind Flowers. Still, the belief in the building is that the Ravens can turn things around. “He is Lamar Jackson, and he is that great of a player,” Andrews said last week. “So, [I have] full confidence in him, always and forever.” Jackson is also aware of what little margin for error remains. “I feel like each and every week there’s no room for error,” he said. “You just have to lock in and put it all on the line.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Episode 15 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law is here. Preston and Coleman discuss the Ravens’ disappointing 27-22 loss to the Steelers to fall into second place in the AFC North. You can watch it weekly, posting every Tuesday during the NFL season on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

So, you’re saying there’s a chance? It didn’t feel that way Sunday afternoon inside the home locker room at M&T Bank Stadium. Lamar Jackson’s face flushed from the agony of defeat. His teammates couldn’t believe what had transpired. Most fled the scene rather quickly after the Ravens’ 27-22 loss to the Steelers. But with four games left, one game back in the AFC North, coach John Harbaugh was quick to remind them, “the season is not over.” Baltimore still controls its own destiny. Those margins, however, are slim. The cleanest playoff push requires the Ravens win each of their final four games: at Cincinnati, home versus the Patriots, at Green Bay, then a shot at vengeance in Pittsburgh. It’s been weeks of chatter treating each game like it was a playoff game. They’ve essentially reached survive and advance territory. After losing to the Steelers, Baltimore’s playoff odds dropped from 60.9% to 28.9%, per ESPN. The New York Times playoff simulator sank its chances from 64% to 27%. After Sunday’s loss, the message in the locker room was simple: “We just need to win some games. That’s kind of it,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. If the Ravens beat the Bengals next week and the Steelers in Week 18, they can afford to drop one, either versus the Packers or Patriots. But they would need some help in the form of a Steelers loss to one of the Dolphins, Lions or Browns this month. If the Ravens beat the Bengals next week and the Steelers in Week 18, but lose to the Packers and Patriots, they can still sneak through the back door of the playoffs. Pittsburgh would need to lose two of their next three in a relatively soft schedule. What if the Steelers completely implode? Based on what we saw Sunday – Aaron Rodgers throwing for 284 yards and a touchdown and wide receiver DK Metcalf torching a respectable defense for 148 yards on seven catches – that’s unlikely. Although not impossible considering they ended last year on a four-game skid. As of now, the Steelers have a 70% shot to clinch a spot in the postseason, per The Times. But if the Browns and quarterback Shedeur Sanders beat the Steelers, or the Steelers lose both games after that, the Ravens can afford to lose in Cincinnati. If that’s the case, they Ravens need to win out in the final three games. Are you following? If it were up to the Ravens, they’d simplify all this by winning the games in front of them. “I really am not trying to think about the playoffs,” running back Derrick Henry said. “Finish the season strong, and then see where we land.” Related Articles Watch Episode 15 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Ravens’ John Harbaugh laments poor 4th-quarter execution in Steelers loss Ravens-Patriots game Dec. 21 in Baltimore flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football’ NFL admits to blown call in Ravens loss, but Harbaugh still unsatisfied Ravens OL Ben Cleveland suspended 3 games by NFL after pleading guilty to DUI If Baltimore beats the Bengals, Packers and Patriots, and the Steelers drop each of their next three, Week 18 loses its punch. The Ravens will have earned a third straight AFC North title before ringing in the new year. Any scenario for the Ravens making the playoffs at seven or eight wins requires a Pittsburgh collapse and more help from the rest of the division. Cincinnati finishes their season at Miami, then hosting the Cardinals and Browns. But the Bengals are playing better than either of the two division leaders. It would take a lot. But the Ravens do, technically, still have a chance. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Despite the string of officiating snafus, fair and not, that complicated the Ravens’ comeback chances Sunday afternoon, they still had a shot. Two shots, in fact, to spin a game-winning drive in their 27-22 loss to the Steelers. Both came up empty in a stretch that coach John Harbaugh said, “wasn’t good enough. Just leave it at that.” Baltimore took over possession with five minutes, 41 seconds left in the fourth quarter. A 19-yard Derrick Henry rush and 33-yard pass to Zay Flowers did most of the dirty work getting upfield. Then Isaiah Likely’s go-ahead touchdown catch was ruled incomplete after official review. Two plays later, the Ravens sat five yards from the end zone. It was third-and-2. Confusion ensued on a crucial short-yardage situation. Jackson flipped the play at the line of scrimmage. Henry jumped from the right side of his quarterback to his left. There appeared to be some exchange with center Tyler Linderbaum as the play clock wound down to its final ticks. Flowers was sent in motion, Henry took a handoff and was stuffed three yards back. Officials flagged left guard Andrew Vorhees for illegal formation. The whole try was thwarted by a self-inflicted mishap. “It’s crazy that that happened,” Harbaugh said. The longtime coach said postgame he considered using a timeout; he still had all three in his pocket. A day later, Harbaugh was more definitive that if he were given a re-do, he would have called off the play. There was some miscommunication between offensive coordinator Todd Monken and quarterback Lamar Jackson, according to Harbaugh. “We got to take responsibility for that on the coaching side,” he said. “I’ll take responsibility for that one. Shouldn’t happen.” The Ravens were pushed back to a fourth-and-5. Jackson threw an incomplete pass that deflected off Mark Andrews’ hand in the end zone and the drive was nullified. Likely’s overturned touchdown will haunt lowlight reels. But letting that third-and-2 crumble became one of the night’s most underrated missed opportunities. Baltimore finished the night two of six in the red zone. At 44.90%, the Ravens now own the third worst red zone scoring percentage in the NFL. The offense, as it has for the better part of this season, looked out of sync a stone’s throw from scoring. Why? “I don’t know at this point,” wide receiver Rashod Bateman said. And still, they had one more shot Sunday afternoon. Pittsburgh’s three-and-out near the 2-minute mark, their third in as many fourth quarter drives, gifted the Ravens one minute, 56 seconds to save their season. Sloppy football burned the next minute, leaving the Ravens stuck at their own 26-yard line. Penalties and a lack of obvious urgency hurt their chances down the stretch. They inched toward the red zone with nine seconds left ready for a shot to win it. Jackson dropped back 12 yards behind the line of scrimmage, Alex Highsmith took a wide angle around the pocket and chased him down for a game-winning sack. Related Articles Ravens-Patriots game Dec. 21 in Baltimore flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football’ NFL admits to blown call in Ravens loss, but Harbaugh still unsatisfied Ravens OL Ben Cleveland suspended 3 games by NFL after pleading guilty to DUI 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 27-22 loss to the Steelers Mike Preston: Ravens could learn something from Aaron Rodgers | COMMENTARY “Divisional game that just came down to the last second and the last minute,” Jackson said after the game. “we have to finish and find a way to put some points on the board. They beat us by 5 points. We have to find a way to get a touchdown on that last drive.” Failure to execute down the stretch made the difference between sole possession of first place in the AFC North and what is now a 6-7 record heading into Cincinnati with their season on life support. “Suffice to say,” Harbaugh said, “we have to be better in those situations.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The Ravens’ Dec. 21 game against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium has been moved from 1 p.m. to “Sunday Night Football” on NBC, it was announced on Monday evening. It takes the place of the Cincinnati Bengals’ game at the Miami Dolphins, which will now be played that Sunday at 1 p.m. on CBS. With the Bengals dropping to 4-9 after Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills and needing to run the table to even have a chance to make the playoffs, the Ravens-Patriots game is much more compelling, with two-time NFL Most Valuable Player and quarterback Lamar Jackson going against MVP candidate Drake Maye in a matchup between one team just hoping to get into the playoffs and the other vying for the top seed in the conference. ​​The game will be the first between the two rivals who at one time took turns vying for conference supremacy. They have met just four times since 2016. Each team has won twice, with the Ravens winning their most recent contest, 37-26, at Gillette Stadium in September 2022. The Ravens also won their most recent meeting in Baltimore, 37-20, in 2019. The Ravens (6-7), who will play in Cincinnati on Sunday, are looking to bounce back after a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday that dropped them a game behind the AFC North-leading Steelers. The Patriots (11-2) are coming off a win over the New York Giants last week and are tied for the best record in the AFC. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

A day after the Ravens suffered a crushing defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, the NFL admitted that it got wrong one of three controversial calls that went against Baltimore. In the second quarter, defensive tackle Travis Jones was flagged for unnecessary roughness on long snapper Christian Kuntz as he charged through the gap during a Chris Boswell field goal. It was ruled that the contact rose to being unnecessary against a defenseless player and that any forcible contact can’t be made, referee Alex Moore explained in a pool report after the game. But that was incorrect, the league said in a call on Monday initiated by coach John Harbaugh, Ravens assistant and former NFL referee Tony Michalek and general manager Eric DeCosta. “They told me I had permission to state this, that it was a wrong call,” Harbaugh said of the call with NFL rules analyst and club communications liaison Walt Anderson and senior vice president of officiating administration Perry Fewell. “It should not have been called. “It has to be forcible conduct with the head and neck area. That’s the rule. It’s not forcible contact with a defenseless player. It’s not whether you run a player over, trying to block a field goal. That has nothing to do with it. It’s forcible contact to the head and neck area.” The Steelers accepted the penalty, took the field goal off the board and scored a touchdown on the next play to take a 17-3 lead and went on to win 27-22. The final tally was also impacted by an apparent Isaiah Likely touchdown that would have put the Ravens in front with just under three minutes remaining in the game that was overturned by replay. The tight end hauled in a 13-yard pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone, landed on his right foot, took another step with his left and then just before taking a third step had the ball stripped out of his extended hands by cornerback Joey Porter. Likely had the ball extended throughout the catch but the ball squirted from his grasp after taking two steps but not a third and a touchdown was called. NFL vice president of instant replay Mark Butterworth said in the pool report that Likely obtained control and had both feet in bounds but did not have an “act common to the game” proceeding it, which would have been getting a third step down. Less than 24 hours later, Harbaugh was still not satisfied with the ruling or explanation. “Am I comfortable? No,” he said. “Do I think it needs more clarification? Yeah. It’s about as clear as mud right now. That’s how I feel about it. “It didn’t clear anything up, it didn’t make it any easier to understand either one of the two calls. They’re very, very hard to understand how they get overturned. But they did, and that’s where it stands.” Asked if he thought the overturned touchdown cost the Ravens the game, he said, “You never know what costs you a game.” The other call Harbaugh was referring to was when quarterback Aaron Rodgers appeared to have a batted pass intercepted at the line of scrimmage by linebacker Teddye Buchanan at Pittsburgh’s 32-yard line with 7:01 remaining in the game and Baltimore trailing 27-22. Initially, it was ruled that Buchanan had possession of the ball as he pulled it from the quarterback’s grasp with the two men falling to the ground. But replay overturned the call, ruling that Rodgers was down with possession of the ball. “The offensive player had control of the ball as he was going to the ground,” Butterworth said. “There was a hand in there, but he never lost control of the ball and then his knees hit the ground.” Related Articles Ravens’ John Harbaugh laments poor 4th-quarter execution in Steelers loss Ravens-Patriots game Dec. 21 in Baltimore flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football’ Ravens OL Ben Cleveland suspended 3 games by NFL after pleading guilty to DUI 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 27-22 loss to the Steelers Mike Preston: Ravens could learn something from Aaron Rodgers | COMMENTARY When Harbaugh was asked if he questioned why the Likely play was ruled not a catch but that Rodgers play was ruled one, he said that was part of the conversation with the league. “You’re going to the ground, you have to have control of the football, you have to survive the ground when you make a catch,” he said Monday. “I mean, that’s what a catch is. You can’t say the time element’s like that and he satisfies the time element when you’re going to the ground. The time element doesn’t apply to going to the ground. It’s pretty clear cut.” While there also wasn’t much solace in the explanations, Harbaugh stopped short of blaming the calls on the outcome. He also pointed to a number of other shortcomings by the Ravens, from its lackluster final drive inside the last two minutes of the game to two blown defensive assignments on a touchdown pass to running back Jaylen Warren that ended up being the decisive score, among others. “We move on,” Harbaugh said. “It’s our job to make it right. You’re not going to expect everything to go your way. “If we become the type of team that overcomes these types of things then you become the type of team that can go far.” At 6-7 and a game back of the Steelers in the AFC North with just four remaining, however, time is running out on just how far they can go. The Ravens, who have won the division each of the past two years and haven’t missed the playoffs since 2021, have just a 27% chance of reaching the postseason, according to the New York Times/The Athletic playoff simulator. The most likely scenario would be by winning the AFC North, with a less-than 1% chance to make it as a wild-card team. Baltimore will next play the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely watches the football escape his grasp in a 27-22 loss to the Steelers. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

Ravens offensive lineman Ben Cleveland has been suspended for three games by the NFL for violating the league’s Substances of Abuse Policy, it was announced Monday night. Cleveland, 27, was arrested in Georgia in February on suspicion of driving under the influence, with a breathalyzer showing a blood alcohol level of 0.178, more than double the legal limit. Last month, he pleaded guilty to one count of DUI and was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, according to court documents. He was also ordered 40 hours of community service to be completed within six months of sentencing, not to consume any alcoholic beverage or drugs unless prescribed, and to attend and complete a DUI risk reduction program and victim impact panel, according to the documents. Cleveland was also ordered to serve 24 hours in jail, but was credited for time served. A third-round pick out of Georgia in 2021, Cleveland has seen his playing time cut in recent years. He has appeared in 10 games this season, almost entirely on special teams. The Ravens did not respond to a message seeking comment. Cleveland was stopped at 10:25 p.m. on Feb. 12 in Milledgeville, about 90 miles southeast of Atlanta, after police observed his black Ford F-250 failing to maintain its lane, weave between the lines and nearly go into a ditch, according to the arrest report. The 6-foot-7, 315-pound lineman told police he had “approximately 3-4 beers” and was coming from a nearby country club but had not consumed any alcohol within two hours, the report said. However, he failed at least one field sobriety test and was issued a breathalyzer at the scene. He was then arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to maintain his lane. Despite the arrest, Baltimore re-signed the veteran and former starter in March to a one-year deal worth $1.17 million shortly after he became a free agent. While the Ravens’ offensive line has struggled this season, Cleveland has not managed to get a foothold among the starting five or in the rotation. He has also been surpassed in the depth chart by third-round rookie Emery Jones Jr. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Ravens’ John Harbaugh laments poor 4th-quarter execution in Steelers loss Ravens-Patriots game Dec. 21 in Baltimore flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football’ NFL admits to blown call in Ravens loss, but Harbaugh still unsatisfied 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 27-22 loss to the Steelers Mike Preston: Ravens could learn something from Aaron Rodgers | COMMENTARY View the full article