ExtremeRavens

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson tries to tackle Commanders’ Mike Sainristil after interception in first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens’ Zay Flowers runs for long gain after a catch against the Commanders in first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens TE Mark Andrews warms up before game against the Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens WR Zay Flowers runs onto field for warm up before game against the Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens QB Lamar Jackson warms up before game against the Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens QB Lamar Jackson warms up before game against the Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens punter Jordan Stout practices during NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy prepares during NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey stretches during NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens punter Jordan Stout practices during NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson practices during NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Fans cheer for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson who enters the field during NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens long snapper Nick Moore practices during NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson spins the football during NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins practices during NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton stretches during NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Indianapolis Colts are sitting second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson for a second straight game with an injured right hip. The Colts (2-3) announced the fourth overall pick out of Florida in the 2023 draft as inactive Sunday against the Tennessee Titans (1-3). That means veteran Joe Flacco will start a second consecutive game. Richardson was sidelined last week in the loss to Jacksonville. He was listed as questionable after practicing all week, though he was limited on both Wednesday and Thursday. Flacco, a former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player with the Ravens, completed 33 of 44 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s loss to the Jaguars. The Colts already had declared Jonathan Taylor out for a second straight week with an ankle sidelining the NFL’s 2021 rushing champ. Indianapolis will have Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly back from the neck injury that kept him out against the Jaguars. The Colts also will have starting defensive end Kwity Paye (quadricep) and Pro Bowl cornerback Kenny Moore II (hip) back as well after they missed last week. This article will be updated. View the full article

The Ravens (3-2) and Washington Commanders (4-1) face off Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium in a matchup of two of the league’s premier quarterbacks in two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and rookie Jayden Daniels. Baltimore is on a three-game winning streak after a 41-38 overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals, while Washington has won four in a row against the Giants, Bengals, Cardinals and Browns. Follow along here for live coverage and analysis. View the full article

The Ravens activated rookie running back Rasheen Ali off injured reserve Saturday ahead of his expected NFL regular-season debut Sunday against the visiting Washington Commanders. Ali, a fifth-round draft pick out of Marshall, will be the No. 3 running back behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill. The Ravens have the league’s top rushing offense this season, averaging 211.2 yards per game, while Henry leads the NFL with 572 yards. In addition to activating Ali, the Ravens elevated outside linebacker Yannick Ngakoue from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. It’s the second elevation for the former Terps star, who would need to be moved to the active roster to be eligible for a fourth game. Ngakoue, who previously played for Baltimore in 2020 after being acquired from the Minnesota Vikings, has 69 career sacks in 124 games. On Friday, the Ravens ruled out a pair of key reserves in outside linebacker Malik Harrison and defensive tackle Broderick Washington. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley and cornerback Marlon Humphrey are questionable. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens rule out 2 key reserves, list 2 starters as questionable vs. Commanders Baltimore Ravens | Ravens will have 2 games on ABC as ‘Monday Night Football’ expands simulcast Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Rashod Bateman responds to criticism with his play: ‘They were wrong about me’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders rivalry? Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels could make it so. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game in Baltimore? Meanwhile, Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. will not play Sunday after missing practice this week with a knee injury. Robinson was downgraded to out Saturday, prompting Washington to elevate running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. from the practice squad. Robinson, a 2022 third-round pick, has rushed for a team-high 325 yards this season, helping Washington rank second in the NFL with 178.4 rushing yards per game. Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols are expected to receive the bulk of the carries in his absence, while rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is second behind Ravens star Lamar Jackson in rushing yards by a quarterback this season with 300. Commanders rookie linebacker Jordan Magee, who was born in Towson and grew up a Ravens fan, was also ruled out Saturday with a knee injury. In corresponding moves, Washington activated defensive end Efe Obada and elevated practice squad cornerback Kevon Seymour, who played the previous three seasons in Baltimore. View the full article

The Ravens will be without defensive tackle Broderick Washington and linebacker Malik Harrison for Sunday’s matchup with the Washington Commanders. Washington (knee) and Harrison (groin) were listed as out on Friday’s injury report. Though neither is a starter, Washington has played 39% of the team’s defensive snaps this year and Harrison 16%. The Ravens will be thin on the defensive line — with only Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Michael Pierce and Brent Urban certain to be active — against an offense that ranks second in the league in rushing. Harrison is also a key special teams contributor. The Ravens also listed left tackle Ronnie Stanley (toe) and cornerback Marlon Humphrey (ankle) as questionable to face the Commanders. Stanley and Humphrey were limited practice participants Thursday and Friday. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens will have 2 games on ABC as ‘Monday Night Football’ expands simulcast Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Rashod Bateman responds to criticism with his play: ‘They were wrong about me’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders rivalry? Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels could make it so. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | The NFL’s hottest ticket this week? Ravens vs. Commanders in Baltimore. Others questionable for the game are starting returner Deonte Harty, who has practiced fully the past two days after missing last Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a knee injury; guard Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, who returned to practice as a limited participant Friday after missing the previous day’s session with a back injury; and rookie running back Rasheen Ali, who could make his Ravens debut after he was a full participant all week coming off a neck injury that landed him on injured reserve. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (groin), guard Andrew Vorhees (ankle) and tackle Roger Rosengarten (ankle/hand) were not listed with injury statuses for Sunday’s game. Cornerback Arthur Maulet, working his way back from knee and hamstring injuries, remains out. The Commanders listed starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. as questionable after he missed the entire week of practice with a knee injury, and coach Dan Quinn told reporters that he will be a game-time decision. Reserve safety Tyler Owens was the only player Washington listed out for the game. View the full article

ABC will simulcast six more ESPN “Monday Night Football” games, including Monday’s AFC East matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets. The addition of the six games means ABC will air 17 this season — 14 simulcasts with ESPN (including two playoff games) and three games exclusively on ABC. The decision to simulcast more games was a joint decision between the NFL and Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC and ESPN. The other added games are Baltimore at Tampa Bay (Oct. 21), Tampa Bay at Kansas City (Nov. 4), Houston at Dallas (Nov. 18), Baltimore at Los Angeles Chargers (Nov. 25) and New Orleans at Green Bay (Dec. 23). The only two Mondays the rest of the regular season in which ABC will not have a game are Nov. 11 and Dec. 2. ABC had games all 18 weeks last season because of an agreement with the NFL since there was no new original fall programming because of the Hollywood writers and actors strikes. With more games on network television, “Monday Night Football” averaged 17.36 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, a 29% increase over 2022. It was the best audience numbers for the league’s seminal prime-time package since 2000. The Super Bowl 57 rematch between Philadelphia and Kansas City averaged 29.03 million. Coming into the season, ABC had eight scheduled simulcasts, including two Saturday Week 18 games and two playoff games, and three exclusive MNF games when there were doubleheaders. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens rule out 2 key reserves, list 2 starters as questionable vs. Commanders Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Rashod Bateman responds to criticism with his play: ‘They were wrong about me’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders rivalry? Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels could make it so. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | The NFL’s hottest ticket this week? Ravens vs. Commanders in Baltimore. It also continues Disney’s move toward putting more sports programming back on ABC. Super Bowl 61 from Los Angeles in 2027 will be on the network and the College Football Playoff championship game will also move to ABC the same year. More games on ABC will also boost the ratings. Kansas City’s 26-13 victory over New Orleans on ESPN averaged 15.91 million, the fourth-most-watched Monday night game not simulcast on ABC. However, the audience was down from the 17.38 million that viewed last season’s Week 5 game between Green Bay and Las Vegas. This week’s game not only includes the quarterback matchup between the Jets’ Aaron Rodgers and Bills’ Josh Allen, it is the first game for the Jets under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich after Robert Saleh was fired following a 2-3 start to the season. View the full article

When it was pointed out to Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman that he has created separation on an NFL-best 72.73% of snaps against press coverage this season, he took notice, posting about it on social media Thursday. “It’s to show everybody else, I don’t know, they were wrong about me,” Bateman told The Baltimore Sun. “I don’t know, I’ve been open since I’ve been on the field here. “It proves that I can play ball. I didn’t create this stigma of me not getting the football, and now I’m supposed to defend it. I’m not going to. I’m gonna let the work speak for itself.” Ask any receiver in the league, and you’d be hard-pressed to find one who’d say he’s not open every play. But given Bateman’s numbers and play through the first five games of the season, Baltimore’s mercurial former first-round draft pick has a point. According to ESPN’s open score grade, which measures a receiver’s ability to get open on every route relative to expectations, he has the 10th highest mark in the NFL. In last week’s comeback overtime win over the Bengals, his separation percentage — how often a receiver beats coverage to get open rather than benefiting from a defense more focused on limiting yards after the catch or stopping them short of a first down — was the fourth-best in the league for Week 5 at 86.67%, per PFF. Even coach John Harbaugh acknowledged last month how open Bateman has been, “because he runs such good routes.” Finally, it paid off. Last week, Bateman posted season highs in targets (eight), catches (four) and yards (58). Though hardly eye-popping numbers, he did have a touchdown — the sixth of his NFL career — and converted a third-and-5 in the extra period. On Bateman’s 16-yard second-quarter score, he was indeed open with nary a defender near him as he streaked across the Paycor Stadium turf, gathered in quarterback Lamar Jackson’s short pass on the crossing route and raced into the end zone before sending the ball skyward in a rare display of jubilation. “When I get in the end zone, I feel that type of stuff,” Bateman told The Sun. “I don’t really show a lot of emotion when I play because I know what I bring to the table. I’m hungry right now. I feel really good. It’s the best I’ve been playing in a very long time. I’m very eager to put more on my plate.” Of course, feeding the ball to the fourth-year receiver has sometimes been a challenge. Bateman’s first two seasons were slowed by injuries, which included Lisfranc surgery on his left foot. Going into last season, he struggled with the deaths of his grandmother and a teenaged cousin, as well as lingering foot pain that he believed would lead to another season-ending surgery. This season, however, Bateman says he finally feels healthy. “I feel great,” he told The Sun, adding that this year he’s also wearing cleats that are more snug to help his foot feel more comfortable following the injury. “I feel like I’m a rookie all over again. “I got through the nicks and the bruises and this is actually my first real, true season. People can say what they want, but people are judging me off of time I barely played and barely got opportunities.” “I’m hungry right now,” Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman said. “I feel really good. It’s the best I’ve been playing in a very long time. I’m very eager to put more on my plate.” (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Early in the season, that was again the case. Until last week, Bateman was well down the list of Jackson’s targets. The reasons varied, from other plays being the first read to the Ravens leaning on their running game — thus limiting Jackson to 18 passes in a Week 4 win over the Buffalo Bills and 15 the week before in a victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Last week, nine players had at least one catch for the Ravens. “I love when our guys touch the ball, but what really matters is that we score points,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “I don’t always control that, but I did tell the players, I do truly understand skill players and their value of being able to touch the ball, being able to contribute in that way. “Is it great for us moving forward? [With] morale, practice, opportunities, of course. But ultimately, sometimes the ball finds them, sometimes situations find them, sometimes personnel groupings find them. … It’s great to see all of those guys contribute — the game kind of went that way. It adds to the next week — our guys [are] feeling good about where we’re headed.” None perhaps more than Bateman, who acknowledged that he is acutely aware of the criticism over a perceived lack of chemistry and relationship with Jackson that has hovered seemingly his entire tenure in Baltimore. “It takes time,” Bateman told The Sun. “Everybody is so quick to judge. People who think Lamar and I don’t have a connection or we don’t have a bond is kind of insane to me. Nobody is in here every day. Me and Lamar have been close since I’ve been here.” Still, many have wondered about their dynamic. During voluntary team workouts in the spring, one was often practicing when the other wasn’t. Before players broke for camp, Jackson said receivers had to come to South Florida where he lives if they wanted to train with him. And during training camp, Bateman sometimes sulked when he didn’t get the ball while Jackson sometimes badly misfired when he did try to get it to him. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | The NFL’s hottest ticket this week? Ravens vs. Commanders in Baltimore. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens get 3 starters back during Thursday’s practice; Commanders RB still out Baltimore Ravens | How will Dean Pees help Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr? ‘Could be anything.’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders Week 6 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds But to Bateman, who has 13 catches on 22 targets for 202 yards and two touchdowns this season, that perception is misguided. He added that he was the only receiver to work out with Jackson three years ago, and while the two didn’t get together this offseason, he spent the summer getting his body right in Phoenix, where he worked out daily and took up yoga. “Nobody has ever seen [tight end] Mark Andrews and Lamar train in the offseason ever,” Bateman told The Sun. “And they got one of the best connections in the NFL.” Finally, Bateman, says, he’s excited about having what he hopes is a similar impact. “I know my abilities. I trust my abilities,” he told The Sun. “People can say what they want, but if you wanna know about me, watch the tape. Everything speaks for itself. Since I’ve been here I’ve worked my [butt] off, and hopefully it’ll start to show up.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The one enduring moment from the series was — no other way to put it — traumatic. Dec. 9, 2012: Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III carried on his sharpshooter arm and springy legs the hopes of a city and its wayward football franchise. “The most exciting athlete to come to Washington in 20 years,” longtime Washington Post columnist Tony Kornheiser called him. And there he lay, screaming in agony after a 340-pound train named Haloti Ngata crashed into his hyperextended right leg. Washington would win in overtime that day. Griffin would impress his teammates by trying to go back in the game. But his collision with Ngata, the Ravens’ Pro Bowl defensive tackle, quietly foreshadowed an unraveling that would begin in earnest a few weeks later. Even that disquieting, portentous scene — a scintillating young athlete crumpled on his home field — really had nothing to do with the football team from Washington playing the football team from Baltimore. It did not speak to the stark differences between neighboring cities or to some intraregional war for the same prize. The massive man who knocked Griffin’s knee out of whack just happened to be wearing purple and black. And that’s how it is between the Ravens and the Commanders as they prepare to meet Sunday for just the eighth time in the 28 years since a new football franchise came to Baltimore. Fans, players and coaches all say the same thing: there is no rivalry. These teams, representing Beltways 35 miles apart, do not play each other enough. When they have — the Ravens lead the all-time series 4-3 — it was never with both sides reaching to seize the NFL zeitgeist. Which is why Sunday’s matchup at M&T Bank Stadium is so tantalizing. The Ravens have won three in a row, and with two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson playing some of the most dazzling ball of his career, visions of a Super Bowl trip are again dancing in their heads. But the visitors from Washington will ride in on an even more fervent wave of enthusiasm, because their rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, has District fans back in love with a team that was hard to live with for the past two decades. It’s more than the best game of the weekend, pitting a pair of division leaders. It could be the first chapter of a new era for Beltway (or Parkway, if you prefer) football. The Ravens and Commanders might never be true rivals given that they face off only every four years. But Jackson and Daniels could be poles, north and south, for a region blessed with two thrilling teams. Ticket prices for Sunday’s game — the get-in price soared from $91 at the start of the season to $302 this week, per the resale site TickPick — speak to this brewing enthusiasm. “I think it would be great to have two winning teams in the area,” said 105.7 The Fan radio host Cordell Woodland. “Selfishly, I love the fact that two Black QBs could be the talk of the state. I also love the idea of Baltimore no longer being the only place in the area to watch a winning team.” Woodland grew up a Washington football fan. He talks about the Ravens for a living. For him, one team never had much to do with the other. “Despite the proximity between the two teams, I think most Commanders fans would say the Ravens aren’t on their radar,” he said. “Probably because the two teams are in separate conferences, rarely play and both teams are rarely good at the same time. I will say this game feels different from the past.” Ravens rookie safety Beau Brade agreed. He grew up in Clarksville, in between the cities. Some of his classmates at River Hill High rooted for Washington. So did his dad. For him, the choice of allegiance was obvious. “You watch Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and all of them play, you watch that type of football, and there’s nowhere else to go really,” said Brade, who played for the Terps from 2020 to 2023. Ravens safety Beau Brade rooted for Baltimore growing up, despite his dad being a Washington fan. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Though his house and school were theoretically divided, bragging rights between the local teams never felt like a big deal. “We had more dislike for Pittsburgh, of course,” he recalled. “And on the other side, they had the NFC East, their big rivalries. So there was never a Ravens-Washington like huge rivalry, even though those were the two teams you picked from if you were here.” If Daniels continues to electrify DC while Jackson’s Baltimore show keeps running, well, things could be different. “Most definitely,” Brade said. “Two great quarterbacks with talent like that, it would be huge for both cities and then that would cause, I believe, a rivalry between DC and Baltimore. That would be cool.” The view is similar from the other side of the fence. “I think it’s awesome for the fans,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. “But not for the team. It’s honestly just, it’s not something that we play. You play them every four years, so it’s not like every season twice a year where we just know each other so well.” It’s not strictly accurate to say there was never animus between Baltimore and Washington fans. You sometimes hear older DC football and baseball lovers talk about how Baltimore usually had the better teams and more iconic players in the 1960s and 1970s. The script flipped in the ’80s, when Baltimore lost the Colts and Washington became one of the league’s signature teams under coach Joe Gibbs. Baltimore media outlets covered the Washington juggernaut daily, and plenty of fans, especially in border counties such as Howard and Anne Arundel, transferred their loyalties to the burgundy and gold. Those Baltimore fans who bristled at this sea change focused their ire on Washington owner Jack Kent Cooke, whom they accused of blocking the league’s return to the city. His push to build a stadium in Landover only deepened their distaste. When the Ravens first faced Washington in 1997, there was no two-way rivalry, but there was plenty of chip-on-the-shoulder fury flowing south down I-95. “We want to destroy Washington,” a Club 4100 bartender named Madge Stanley told The Baltimore Sun at the time. “People in Washington don’t think too much about Baltimore one way or another — not like how we feel about them. We want to stick it to them.” Ravens officials, freshly arrived from Cleveland, were shocked when fans at Memorial Stadium booed lustily after they posted a score showing Washington ahead of the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. “That was an eye-opener,” Ravens vice president of relations Kevin Byrne said. “The feelings toward Washington by Baltimore fans transcend a division rivalry.” The Ravens and Commanders don’t have a current rivalry, but success in Washington could have Baltimore fans paying more attention to its regional opponent to the south. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The feeling did not persist. Ravens fans grew settled with their team, which won the Super Bowl in 2000 and made the playoffs 14 times overt the ensuing 22 years. Washington, meanwhile, has made the playoffs six times and won all of two postseason games since the Ravens arrived. Big-name coaches moved in and out on a carousel as DC fans became increasingly disillusioned with owner Daniel Snyder. The Ravens were held up as a model franchise, Washington looked down on as a bumbling mediocrity. When the teams met on the field, no one made a big deal of it. The Ravens won in 1997 (Bam Morris rushed for 176 yards), Washington in 2000, when the Ravens forgot how to score touchdowns for five weeks before taking off to capture the Lombardi Trophy. Baltimore won the next two in 2004 and 2008, with Reed returning a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown in each victory. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | The NFL’s hottest ticket this week? Ravens vs. Commanders in Baltimore. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens get 3 starters back during Thursday’s practice; Commanders RB still out Baltimore Ravens | How will Dean Pees help Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr? ‘Could be anything.’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders Week 6 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Perhaps the Ravens should consider dropping Sunday’s meeting, because they’ve lost to Washington in each of their Super Bowl seasons. That 2012 game — Kirk Cousins rallied Washington from a 28-20 deficit in relief of Griffin — remains the most indelible in the non-rivalry. Washington was on a seven-game winning streak that would carry it to the playoffs, where Griffin would be injured in a demoralizing loss to Seattle. The Ravens clung to contender status, and coach John Harbaugh would fire offensive coordinator Cam Cameron the next day, setting the table for an improbable romp through the playoffs. Baltimore and Washington have split the last two. Jackson threw two touchdown passes and ran for one as the Ravens won, 31-17, in a Covid-emptied FedEx Field in 2020. He was asked Wednesday if he has ever sensed any dislike toward the city to the south. “I don’t know. I’m not out much to know, so I really can’t call it,” Jackson said. “Hopefully, I have fans down there, but I’ve got them here in Baltimore, so it really doesn’t matter.” Baltimore Sun reporter Sam Cohn contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 6 game between the Ravens (3-2) and Washington Commanders (4-1) at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 27, Commanders 20: This one will be a shootout, so don’t be surprised if the score is even higher. The Ravens’ secondary has given up a ton of yards and Washington has one of the league’s weakest run defenses, allowing 5.1 yards per carry to rank 31st. The Commanders’ secondary also ranks 24th in completion percentage allowed (.687). But Baltimore’s defense is also perhaps the most talented that Washington has seen so far, and safety Kyle Hamilton, inside linebacker Roquan Smith and defensive tackles Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones will make enough plays to force Washington into some mistakes. Childs Walker, reporter Ravens 34, Commanders 24: This matchup is one of the most exciting on the NFL calendar, pitting offenses that can blister any opponent on the ground or through the air. The Ravens will have to maintain defensive discipline on the edges and in the secondary to keep Jayden Daniels from going off. The Commanders, with one of the league’s weaker defenses, might have to pick their poison between Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry running and Jackson looking over the top as he did in Cincinnati. Washington’s potent offense won’t be silenced, but it won’t keep up with Jackson and Henry. This is a significant step up for the Commanders, and it will show in the end. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 28, Commanders 21: Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Washington rookie Jayden Daniels have similar styles, and Daniels has already proven he throws a better long ball. But in this game, experience will matter and Jackson is in his seventh season. That will be the marquee matchup, but the game will be determined by the Commanders’ defense. Washington is allowing 130 rushing yards per game, and that is a mismatch against the Ravens’ No. 1 ranked rushing offense. The Ravens aren’t that much better defensively with the No. 31 ranked pass defense, but they aren’t as bad as they appear on the back end. They still seem to have communication problems and were torched last week by the Bengals, but the Ravens will get pressure on Daniels. The Ravens need to step up in the secondary because the Commanders have some good receivers led by Terry McLaurin, and running back Austin Ekeler is a threat out of the backfield. Also, the Commanders’ four wins have come against the New York Giants, Cincinnati, Arizona and Cleveland, not exactly the class of the NFL. C.J. Doon, editor Commanders 31, Ravens 28: Everything on paper suggests the Ravens win, and perhaps easily. Washington’s defense is one of the worst in the NFL, and while the Ravens haven’t exactly looked like the 1985 Bears, they have much more talent on that side of the ball. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry could simply have their way all afternoon, making it impossible for rookie Jayden Daniels and company to keep up. But something is pushing me to pick the Commanders and keep riding the Daniels hype train. Baltimore felt vulnerable enough on defense to bring in longtime assistant Dean Pees this week, and it could take a little more time to sort out the problems in the secondary. Daniels frustrates the Ravens’ pass rush and makes enough big plays to keep Washington within striking distance before leading a late drive for the game-winning field goal. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The NFL’s hottest ticket this week? Ravens vs. Commanders in Baltimore. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens get 3 starters back during Thursday’s practice; Commanders RB still out Baltimore Ravens | How will Dean Pees help Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr? ‘Could be anything.’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders Week 6 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Maryland sets monthly sports betting tax revenue record in September Tim Schwartz, editor Commanders 34, Ravens 30: Who saw this coming from Washington? Jayden Daniels has proved to be everything that franchise needed and more, and the Commanders are a formidable foe. Roquan Smith is right: Daniels hasn’t seen a defense like the Ravens’, but Smith hasn’t seen a quarterback like Daniels either. And the only quarterback playing better than the rookie is … Lamar Jackson. Expect some superb quarterback play Sunday, so sit back and enjoy the shootout. Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 33, Commanders 27: Coming into the season, plenty of people penciled in a win for Baltimore this week. Jayden Daniels’ sizzling start to his NFL career has turned this game into a must-watch matchup between two of the league’s most dynamic quarterbacks. Still, there’s a reason the Ravens and Lamar Jackson are nearly a touchdown favorite. Baltimore is the more complete team, with the Commanders having issues defending the pass. Baker Mayfield and Joe Burrow combined to throw for more than 600 yards and seven touchdowns in their respective matchups with Washington. The Commanders are a legitimate threat to win the NFC East, but the Ravens are a Super Bowl contender. There’s still a gap between these franchises, but it’s shrinking. If there were ever a Ravens-Commanders game to attend, this fits the bill. View the full article

Tickets for Sunday’s game between the Ravens and Washington Commanders have increased by 232% from the start of the NFL season, according to a social media post from online ticketing marketplace TickPick. Entering the start of the season, the cheapest tickets for the game were $92 on TickPick’s website. As of Thursday afternoon, TickPick shared that the “get-in price” was $301. Only the Las Vegas Raiders’ home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday rivals that number. The surge in fan interest comes as the Commanders exceed preseason expectations. Washington was optimistic it could improve from its 4-13 season last year, but the Commanders weren’t expected to match last year’s win total through five weeks. Washington is 4-1 behind new coach Dan Quinn and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner at LSU, Daniels leads the NFL in completion rate (77.1%) and is the front-runner to win Offensive Rookie of the Year while simultaneously inserting himself in the NFL Most Valuable Player Award conversation. Washington is off to its best start through five games since 2008, and the Commanders lead the NFC East by a game over the Dallas Cowboys. It’s early in the season, but the Commanders join the Chiefs, Texans and Vikings as teams with at least four wins. Baltimore, which started 0-2, looks like it’s back to form as one of the NFL’s top franchises. A fourth-quarter comeback against the Bengals last week moved the Ravens’ winning streak to three games. They’ve been particularly successful offensively in 2024, leading the NFL in yards per game (447.6) and ranking second in points per game (29.4) behind the MVP-level play of quarterback Lamar Jackson. Only Daniels and the Commanders (31) score more points per game so far this season. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens get 3 starters back during Thursday’s practice; Commanders RB still out Baltimore Ravens | How will Dean Pees help Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr? ‘Could be anything.’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders Week 6 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Maryland sets monthly sports betting tax revenue record in September Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 6 of 2024 NFL season: Lions vs. Cowboys, Bills vs. Jets and more The matchup between Jackson and Daniels is being viewed as one of the most intriguing quarterback duels of Week 6 in the NFL. The two possess similar ability to run and pass well, but their equally entertaining playing styles have stark differences. Using the secondary ticket market as a guide, the game with the Commanders is drawing more fan interest than other upcoming home games. Tickets are available on StubHub, another online ticketing marketplace, for as low as $118 for Baltimore’s Nov. 3 game vs. the Denver Broncos. A Thursday night game vs. the Bengals a few days later has StubHub tickets for $115. Tickets for the Philadelphia Eagles’ visit to M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 1 are available for as low as $278, which is still less than the $288 tickets currently available on the platform for Sunday’s game with Washington. Sunday marks the third home game of Baltimore’s season. The Ravens are 1-1 at M&T Bank Stadium, losing to the Raiders and beating the Buffalo Bills in a blowout on national television. Have a news tip? Contact Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

Three Ravens starters who were absent from practice Wednesday returned as limited participants Thursday. Coach John Harbaugh chalked up the absences of wide receiver Rashod Bateman (groin), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (toe) and cornerback Marlon Humphrey (ankle) to “normal after-game-type-of-things that you deal with at this point in time of the season.” All said, the Ravens (3-2) have remained fairly healthy through five weeks heading into Sunday’s 1 p.m. clash with the Washington Commanders (4-1), who hold the second best record in the NFC and haven’t lost since Week 1. Bateman hasn’t been a focal point of the Ravens’ offense but has proven to be a strong complementary piece. He caught three passes for 28 yards and logged his first touchdown of the season against the Dallas Cowboys, then tallied another four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown versus the Cincinnati Bengals. Stanley has been a consistent force along the offensive line, playing 99% of snaps and ranked by Pro Football Focus as the second-best pass blocking tackle in football. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The NFL’s hottest ticket this week? Ravens vs. Commanders in Baltimore. Baltimore Ravens | How will Dean Pees help Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr? ‘Could be anything.’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders Week 6 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Maryland sets monthly sports betting tax revenue record in September Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 6 of 2024 NFL season: Lions vs. Cowboys, Bills vs. Jets and more Humphrey was an unlikely hero in a Bengals game littered with star power. He came up with the late interception that sent the game to overtime. He left the stadium in a walking boot but looked comfortable in individual drills Thursday. Defensive tackle Broderick Washington (knee) and cornerback Arthur Maulet (knee/hamstring) each did not practice for the second consecutive day, while reserve guard Sala Aumavae-Laulu was absent for the first time with a back injury. Returner Deonte Harty (knee) and tight end Charlie Kolar (toe) were full participants. Right tackle Roger Rosengarten (hand/ankle) was a limited participant both days of practice this week. As for the visiting Commanders, running back Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday. Defensive end Clelin Ferrell (knee) was limited Thursday, while outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. (illness) and running back Austin Ekeler (heel) were listed as full participants. Defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis was out with an illness. Wide receiver Noah Brown (groin) and safety Quan Martin (neck) were limited participants for the second straight day. Guard Nick Allegretti (ankle) returned Thursday and was limited. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

When Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr would catch up with Dean Pees this summer, the two often left it at personal exchanges and family updates with some football sprinkled in. But through those conversations, Orr could sense a longing to return to football from his 75-year-old former coach. “Even though he was retired, he still had that fire in him,” Orr said. “He still wanted to be around ball. He still has a passion for it.” The Ravens hired Pees this week in a senior advisor role ahead of facing their beltway rivals and winners of four straight, the Washington Commanders. That game kicks off at 1 p.m. on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. Orr, one of the youngest coaches in the league at 32 years old, said he envisions Pees having a game day role, but they have not yet finalized plans for their newest coaching addition. Pees previously served as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator from 2012 to 2017, which included the organization’s last Super Bowl title in February 2013. Most recently he served as defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons in 2021 and 2022. He was in a similar role with the Patriots before arriving in Baltimore and with the Tennessee Titans after he left. “He’s been really successful as a football coach,” Orr said. “So I think, a person who knows the culture and knows the organization and is still willing to teach and learn, I think he could really help coming in.” Orr played linebacker under Pees from 2014 to 2016 before his career was cut short by a rare congenital spine condition. The lasting memory that has influenced the first-year coordinator’s approach was the way Pees built relationships with his players. Orr is a players’ coach. Much of that is Pees’ influence, he said. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The NFL’s hottest ticket this week? Ravens vs. Commanders in Baltimore. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens get 3 starters back during Thursday’s practice; Commanders RB still out Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders Week 6 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Maryland sets monthly sports betting tax revenue record in September Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 6 of 2024 NFL season: Lions vs. Cowboys, Bills vs. Jets and more Coach John Harbaugh called Pees “a good sounding board and mentor for Zach.” Orr didn’t lay out a specific vision for how Pees could help. Rather, that they can lean on Pees’ experience and his point of view. “It can be big picture, it could be with position, it could be anything,” Orr said. Baltimore’s defense has been a sore spot through five weeks — albeit against the toughest strength of schedule to date, according to Pro Football Focus. The Ravens’ remaining 12 games rank 23rd in that category. Nonetheless, the defense needed a facelift. The Ravens rank 26th in points allowed per game (25.2), 19th in yards (340.6) and 30th in passing yards (280.2), as well as 31st in completion percentage allowed (.672). They coughed up a fourth-quarter lead in a loss against the Raiders, nearly did so in a win over the Cowboys and were thrashed by the Bengals in an overtime victory. As safety Kyle Hamilton said earlier this week, Orr “could’ve easily been like, ‘No I’m going to fix it in-house.’ To be humble enough to bring someone in who knows what they’re doing … he’s a great guy, knows ball so it’s good to have him here. It’s just another set of eyes. It’s not like he’s going to start calling the defense.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

It’s been years since the Washington Commanders (4-1) were involved in one of the most highly anticipated NFL games of the week, but that’s the case when the NFC East leaders visit the Ravens (3-2) on Sunday. It doesn’t hurt that the game pins two of the most exciting quarterbacks in the NFL against each other. Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson has the better professional resume, which makes sense given his years of playing experience. Jackson is a two-time Most Valuable Player Award winner, leading the Ravens to a winning record every season as the franchise’s starting quarterback. He’s rushed for over 5,500 yards, as he’s closing in on Michael Vick’s record for most career rushing yards by a quarterback at 6,109. Washington’s Jayden Daniels is no slouch, either. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is off to a blazing start in the first five games of his NFL career, completing a league-best 77.1% of his passes. Daniels holds the fifth-shortest odds to win NFL MVP (+1100 on FanDuel), a remarkable feat for such a young player. Jackson holds the second-shortest odds (+650) behind only Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes (+230). Daniels is the most popular bet to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, with 22% of bets placed on FanDuel in the award’s futures market being on the Commanders rookie, according to a FanDuel spokesperson. Daniels is the heavy favorite to win the honor, currently holding odds of -250. Sunday’s game is more than just a stellar quarterback battle, though. It’s a showdown between two division leaders who play home games in the same state. While the on-field rivalry hasn’t been much over recent years, fans in the region are particularly excited for this game. The interest carries over to bettors, too. More bets have been placed on Ravens-Commanders than any other NFL game this week as of Thursday afternoon, according to a DraftKings spokesperson. What are the odds? John Harbaugh’s squad is nearly a touchdown favorite against Dan Quinn’s bunch. Spread: Ravens -6.5, via FanDuel Total: 51.5 points Baltimore moneyline: -300 (wager $300 to profit $100) Commanders moneyline: +245 On the season, the Ravens are 3-2 against the spread, while the Commanders are an impressive 4-1. Minnesota is the league’s only team that has covered the spread in every game this season, as the Vikings are a perfect 5-0. Ravens make a statement The Commanders have been phenomenally fun with Daniels at quarterback. Still, there’s a gap between the teams. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Maryland sets monthly sports betting tax revenue record in September Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 6 of 2024 NFL season: Lions vs. Cowboys, Bills vs. Jets and more Baltimore Ravens | Comparing Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels is a ‘disservice.’ They’re different. Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Why covering the NFL is so different now | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Commanders QB Jayden Daniels is difficult to stop. Here’s how the Ravens plan to do it. Baltimore is the second-highest rated team this season on Pro Football Focus, and the Ravens are second in DVOA. The Ravens have the makings of a Super Bowl contender, with a collapse against the Raiders and a last-second incompletion the two faults keeping this team from being 5-0. As for the Commanders, they have wins over the Giants, Bengals, Cardinals, and Browns. Those teams are a combined 6-14 this season. The Commanders are winless against teams with winning records, losing to Tampa Bay by 17 on the road to open the year. Two of Baltimore’s three wins came against teams currently with winning records, including a 35-10 blowout of the Bills and a win over the Cowboys in which they led by 22 points in the fourth quarter. This game is understandably being hyped as a game of the week, but can the Commanders hold up against one of the best teams in the NFL? Best bet: Ravens -6.5 Have a news tip? Contact Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

The return of the NFL season — and a strong start for the two franchises playing in Maryland — isn’t just good news for fans. It’s also good news for the state’s sports betting industry. Interest in the red-hot Washington Commanders (4-1) and Ravens (3-2) trickled down to the sports betting industry in September, as Maryland posted its most lucrative month of sports betting tax revenue generation since the state legalized sports betting in November of 2021. The early-season NFL interest also coincided with the stretch run for the Orioles, who ended their regular season last month. Marylanders wagered $532.9 million on legal sportsbooks in September, which led to $9.4 million of tax revenue coming back to the state, according to figures released by the state’s lottery Thursday. The monthly tax revenue figure is more than $1 million higher than the previous monthly record of $8.2 million, which was set in January. Tax revenue created by Maryland sports betting goes to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, and those funds benefit public education programs. “We’re encouraged that the sports wagering market continues to generate additional funding to support schools, and at the same time we also encourage everyone to be responsible about their betting,” Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin said in a news release. “Mobile wagering apps have tools that allow you to set limits on your activity. If you bet, please enjoy it in moderation and leave room to simply have fun watching the games and being a sports fan.” Maryland is home to 11 legal mobile sportsbooks and 12 retail sports betting facilities. Major operators in the state include BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel. Fanatics Sportsbook also operates in Maryland, and it has a retail sportsbook at the Commanders’ Northwest Stadium, but that location only generated about $75,000 of tax revenue in September. The majority of bets placed in Maryland come via online platforms, rather than in-person wagers. Related Articles Gambling | Clark Construction selected for preliminary Pimlico rebuild contract Gambling | Janon Fisher III, champion steeplechase rider, dies DraftKings and FanDuel are the most-used betting apps in Maryland. DraftKings accounted for $3 million in tax revenue creation in September, while FanDuel paced all sportsbooks by accounting for $4.8 million. Maryland bettors wagered more than $405 million on the two betting apps in September, the first month of the NFL season. Football typically drums up the most sports betting interest across all U.S. states. It’s no surprise that Maryland’s previous monthly sports betting tax revenue record came in January, when the Ravens hosted three games, including two playoff games. Baltimore narrowly missed out on a Super Bowl appearance, which would’ve generated massive betting interest across the state. Given the early season success of both the Commanders and Ravens — each team leads their respective division — it’s possible Maryland could break its September tax revenue record next month when the lottery releases October sports betting figures. The Ravens also host the Commanders on Sunday, in a game that should generate buzz from fans and bettors across the state. The Orioles’ two playoff games took place on the first two days of October, adding to the state’s potential betting frenzy. Have a news tip? Contact Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 6: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (9-5 last week; 47-31 overall): 49ers Childs Walker (9-5 last week; 41-37 overall): 49ers Mike Preston (7-7 last week; 41-37 overall): 49ers C.J. Doon (9-5 last week; 43-35 overall): 49ers Tim Schwartz (8-6 last week; 48-30 overall): 49ers Bennett Conlin (7-7 last week; 40-38 overall): Seahawks Jacksonville Jaguars at Chicago Bears (Sunday, 9:30 a.m.) Wacker: Bears Walker: Bears Preston: Bears Doon: Bears Schwartz: Bears Conlin: Bears Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Packers Walker: Packers Preston: Packers Doon: Packers Schwartz: Packers Conlin: Cardinals Houston Texans at New England Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Texans Walker: Texans Preston: Texans Doon: Texans Schwartz: Texans Conlin: Texans Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Buccaneers Walker: Buccaneers Preston: Buccaneers Doon: Buccaneers Schwartz: Buccaneers Conlin: Buccaneers Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Eagles Walker: Eagles Preston: Eagles Doon: Eagles Schwartz: Eagles Conlin: Eagles Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Colts Walker: Colts Preston: Colts Doon: Titans Schwartz: Colts Conlin: Titans Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Chargers Walker: Broncos Preston: Chargers Doon: Broncos Schwartz: Broncos Conlin: Chargers Pittsburgh Steelers at Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Steelers Walker: Steelers Preston: Steelers Doon: Steelers Schwartz: Steelers Conlin: Steelers Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Falcons Walker: Falcons Preston: Falcons Doon: Falcons Schwartz: Falcons Conlin: Falcons Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Lions Walker: Lions Preston: Lions Doon: Lions Schwartz: Lions Conlin: Lions Cincinnati Bengals at New York Giants (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) Wacker: Bengals Walker: Bengals Preston: Bengals Doon: Bengals Schwartz: Bengals Conlin: Bengals Buffalo Bills at New York Jets (Monday, 8:15 p.m.) Wacker: Bills Walker: Bills Preston: Bills Doon: Bills Schwartz: Bills Conlin: Jets View the full article

The comparisons between the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels are inevitable. Both are dynamic, electrifying and elite quarterbacks who are as dangerous with their legs as they are with their arms. They both won a Heisman Trophy in college and both are Black. And they are also the only two players in NFL history to have averaged 200-plus passing yards per game and 50-plus rushing yards per game. But to liken them as identical performers would be like saying there was little difference between Picasso and Van Gogh — and to paint them with too broad a brush. “It’s tough to compare anyone to Lamar,” Washington tight end Zach Ertz said. “He’s a two-time MVP. One of the best players in the league for a very long time. Jayden just had his fifth game in the league. We got all the confidence in the world that he’s gonna be in that conversation for a long time. But I think it’s a disservice to both players, honestly.” It would also in many ways be inaccurate. For one, there are inherent differences by the simple fact that Jackson, 27, is in his seventh year in the league. Daniels, 23, is in his first after the Commanders selected him with the second overall draft pick out of LSU this past April. For another, there are stylistic differences that stand out in ways both nuanced and more noticeable. “I would say Lamar has got the ability to probably do more arm-angle wise,” former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky told The Baltimore Sun. “He can get a little bit more creative with his throwing. Jayden’s a little bit more mechanically structured or repeatable.” Which perhaps helps explain why Daniels has had immediate success. With 1,135 passing yards and 300 rushing yards, he’s the first player with 1,000-plus passing yards and 250-plus rushing yards in his first five career games. As a result, Washington is averaging an NFL-best 31 points per game, with its 3.37 points per drive also tops in the league and third-best by any team in the first five games of a season since 2000. (The Ravens, meanwhile, rank second in scoring offense at 29.4 points per game.) While Orlovsky added that Jackson can make “pretty ridiculous” throws from some of the positions he’s in (like his touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely against the Bengals last week), he said that Daniels’ mechanics are more “refined” than Jackson’s were at this point of his career. Of course, Jackson’s play has been nothing to sneeze at. His 1,206 passing yards, nine touchdowns and one interception are ahead of where he was through five games last season, when he became just the youngest player to win a second MVP Award. But how he’s doing it has also stood out, with Jackson “throwing more receivers open” than in the past, Orlovsky said. “Lamar might be able to drive the ball more,” he said. “Lamar probably has a stronger arm when it comes to that. But both have strong NFL arms and for a guy that, you know, we’re talking about in comparison to a two-time MVP … the fact that that’s even a remote conversation is jarring.” There are other differences, too. While their rushing numbers are similar — Jackson has 363 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to Daniels’ 300 yards and four scores — how they have achieved them aren’t quite the same. Daniels, for example, has rushed for 244 yards on scrambles, according to Next Gen Stats, with Washington having called 20 designed runs that have added up to 62 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson, on the other hand, is tops in the league with 30 designed runs for 221 yards and two scores. Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels “creates problems in different kinds of ways,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images) As for how the two coaches see their respective opponent? “[Daniels] creates problems in different kinds of ways,” the Ravens’ John Harbaugh said. “He can throw it — he’s throwing the ball downfield at a very efficient rate. He’s hitting all of the quick-out throws, the RPO [run-pass option] throws and the quick-game throws very effectively — he gets the ball out fast on those throws. “And then, if it’s not there, he’s creating plays on the run with his legs. He’s not just running, which he is running, but he’s also throwing on the run and making plays that way.” And Washington’s Dan Quinn? “I would say the second play to begin for both of them, when they can get outside the pocket on a drop-back pass — that, to me, both of them have incredible traits to do that,” the former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator said when asked how the quarterbacks are unique. “So, the same 50-yard pass that we saw from Jayden to Terry, we’ve seen that both of them had the same long runs in that same space. So, is the coverage standing back? Are they coming up? “Both of them can process things really quickly to get in the right play into the right spot. Offensively, they are both different in the systems that they’re in. But I thought both teams really feature them on the things that they do best.” For Daniels, that means getting the ball out quickly to his first read, Ravens All-Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith said. Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu, meanwhile, said seeing Daniels at practice is like watching a veteran at work. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 6 of 2024 NFL season: Lions vs. Cowboys, Bills vs. Jets and more Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Why covering the NFL is so different now | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Commanders QB Jayden Daniels is difficult to stop. Here’s how the Ravens plan to do it. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: The Black quarterback is here to stay | COMMENTARY When it comes to the two quarterbacks, however, both are unsurprisingly willing to sink into the narrative and compare one another. And though they are not close, there is a mutual respect. “I’m a fan of his, and how he plays the game, how he approaches the game,” Daniels said. “But we’re two different quarterbacks, two different styles. “I appreciate what he’s done for the sport and what he’s done for the African-American quarterbacks.” As for Jackson, he said he didn’t watch much of Daniels in college but did see enough that he would have voted for him for the Heisman Trophy. He also agrees with the rookie when it comes to comparisons. “He’s his own player, he’s his own man, at the end of the day,” Jackson said. “We’re just trying to make a name for ourselves, not anyone else.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer fans’ questions in the middle of each week throughout the Ravens season. After a 41-38 overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Baltimore (3-2) is riding a three-game winning streak and tied for first place in the AFC North. Here’s Preston’s take on a handful of questions from readers: (Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.) In 2019, early in the season the Ravens brought in linebackers L.J. Fort and Josh Bynes and traded for cornerback Marcus Peters, and it helped stabilize the defense, leading to a 14-2 regular season. What do you think the Ravens need to do to stabilize the ‘D’ this time around? — Paul in Orlando Paul, there is no magic formula this time around. It’s hard to find a shutdown cornerback at any time, especially when a team like the Ravens might be a player or two from reaching the top. Hopefully, rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins matures to the point where the Ravens can match him up with any receiver, like they did against Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb and the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase. He didn’t look like Deion Sanders out there, but the experience can only help. When I watch the Ravens play on the back end, safety Marcus Williams isn’t very aggressive. Strong safety Kyle Hamilton is good near the line of scrimmage, but not so dominant in space when he has to cover. Brandon Stephens needs to turn and locate the ball, while fellow cornerback Marlon Humphrey likes to freelance and has problems on the outside as opposed to playing inside. Coordinator Zach Orr’s scheme could use some adjustments as well, but after watching the Ravens in the first five games, I just don’t see a lot of talent back there. When that happens, the pass rush is crucial, and maybe that will get better as the season rolls along. Unfortunately, the Ravens didn’t get a lot of pressure on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow last Sunday. It could be different this week, though, against the Commanders and rookie Jayden Daniels. The Ravens, though, are bringing back Dean Pees, 75, as a senior advisor, which speaks volumes about the trouble this defense is having with Orr and its talent. In looking at the schedule, what are your thoughts on the Ravens extending this three-game winning streak into something more significant? Or which team could pose a problem to that idea? — Ed Helinski from Auburn, New York Ed, the Ravens need to win and dominate in the first half of the season. It’s not the most difficult schedule coming up with games against Washington, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Denver and Cincinnati. But the second half is more difficult because the Ravens play three games during a 15-day stretch followed by three games in 11 days in the final four games of the season. That’s when a lot of players might get banged up, and there is little time to rest. It’s important for the Ravens to go 8-2 or 8-3 early in the season. They have the offensive talent to go on a roll, but there is concern about the defense. What NFL coaches are considered the best at clock management? Asking for a friend. — Jim Britt from Weyers Cave, Virginia Sorry, I can’t answer that question because I cover the Ravens for most of the season, and really don’t get extensive looks at other teams. With that said, Kansas City’s Andy Reid is excellent late in games, and part of that is because of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. There have been doubts about coach John Harbaugh’s poor clock management over the past decade, and unfortunately he hasn’t gotten any better. In the AFC North, I’ve watched enough Pittsburgh games to know that Mike Tomlin is sound in every facet of the game. Denver’s Sean Payton has done a pretty good job through the years, and the Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay and San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan have been sound as well. Mike, with the NFLPA announcing their request to stop player interviews in the locker rooms, I was wondering how your and The Baltimore Sun’s coverage of the Ravens has changed throughout the years. Do you still have personal relationships with some players, or has it changed? With the players and the Ravens promoting themselves on social media, how have you adapted to that trend? — Dan H from Elkton, Maryland Dan, that is an excellent question. I’ve been covering the NFL since 1987, and once the Ravens moved here for the start of the 1996 season, owner Art Modell treated the media like we were part of the team. That, however, turned out to be the end of the era as far as developing close relationships with players. I had a coworker named Gary Lambrecht who covered the team with me for The Sun, and we would spend hours a day in the locker room hanging out with players. My favorites were always the offensive linemen, such as Jeff Blackshear, Wally Williams, Orlando Brown Sr. and Jonathan Ogden, and defensive linemen such as Rob Burnett, Michael McCrary, Tony Siragusa and Sam Adams. We’d fight, argue, dog cuss each other and laughed a lot. If a player started ragging on you, you had to get on his case as well. Players respected that because it showed you couldn’t be intimidated. That’s the name of the game in the NFL. I remember when defensive backs like Samari Rolle would rag on you if you wore shorts above your knees. There was never any mercy in an NFL locker room, and sometimes it could be a very cold place. But overall, it was so much fun. I can’t mention the names of any players, but we’d hang out, crack jokes and even went to dinner. There was once a story in Sports Illustrated that claimed reporters really never got to know players on the roster. I disagreed then and even more now. I still talk and speak with a lot of the former Ravens who played in 2000 and later, such as Williams, Ogden, McCrary, Peter Boulware, Jamie Sharper and occasionally Matt Stover. I remember once when Brown Sr., a.k.a. Zeus, threatened to beat me up and had to be restrained by Ogden. I remember when Gary and I got in an argument with Siragusa while running back Errict Rhett was taping a segment for Fox 45 TV with Steve Davis, and Rhett stopped the interview to give props to me and Gary for standing our ground and not backing down. We each still have a copy of the video. The locker room was the media’s domain as well. Now, I hear about players wanting to stop doing interviews in the locker room. It’s all gotten out of hand, especially because of social media. Because of tweets and podcasts, players believe they can do their own thing. I can eventually see the day, and it’s not far off, when newspapers and TV stations stop traveling and covering road games, especially those played at night. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 6 of 2024 NFL season: Lions vs. Cowboys, Bills vs. Jets and more Baltimore Ravens | Comparing Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels is a ‘disservice.’ They’re different. Baltimore Ravens | Commanders QB Jayden Daniels is difficult to stop. Here’s how the Ravens plan to do it. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: The Black quarterback is here to stay | COMMENTARY I can also see the day when in-house websites become the primary source of covering a team, especially because of the customary positive spin. As a journalist, I’ve always thought it was good for the rooting public to get to know players on the roster. In the 1950s and 1960s, that wasn’t necessary because a lot of the players lived in various communities. They owned shops, restaurants and car dealerships in the area. Those days are gone, as well as the long stays in the locker room. The new wave of coaches prefer it that way, because the less the public knows, the better. That’s why interviews are restricted to a certain time frame. It’s sad that we really never get to know the players we cover, but NFL teams prefer it that way. We live in a generation in which a lot of the young folks are about themselves, which is why they spend more time taking selfies instead of helping others. I guess you can tell, Dan, that you struck a nerve. But after a couple of decades in this business, times have changed and not for the better. It’s only going to get worse. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Lamar Jackson’s time to enjoy football as a fan is sparse. Aside from watching film of his upcoming opponents, highlights and online clips are most of what he gathers from the rest of the NFL. Jayden Daniels has populated Jackson’s social media feed for the past few weeks. The Ravens quarterback said it’s hard to escape constant updates about how Washington’s rookie sensation is tearing through opposing defenses. If Jackson had a vote for the Heisman Trophy, the award he won at Louisville in 2016 and Daniels won last year at LSU, it would have been cast for the current Commanders star. “I’m glad teams are accepting that now,” Jackson said when asked about the evolution of his position. “Guys have proven they can step into the league and do what they’re supposed to do.” The dynamic quarterbacks will be on the same field Sunday when the Ravens, winners of three straight, host the Commanders, who have won four in a row. The NFL has yet to solve Daniels, who’s logged 1,435 total yards and eight total touchdowns through his first five games. The Ravens hope to be one of the first to do it. Baltimore is historically one of the NFL’s best teams against rookie quarterbacks — John Harbaugh is 23-7 against them since he became the coach in 2008. This is the Ravens’ first test against one this season. Daniels presents a difficult matchup for a Ravens defense that has yet to get going, and the No. 2 overall draft pick has succeeded in some areas Baltimore has conversely struggled in. The Commanders’ 31 points per game lead the NFL (the Ravens rank second with 29.4). Washington also has the best third-down conversion rate in the league, while the Ravens’ defense has allowed the 11th most third-down conversions. The Commanders are top five in total offense, while the Ravens’ defense has allowed the second-most passing yards per game through five weeks. “Just hit him. Just get in his face and hit him,” defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike said. “That’s the approach every week. Just stop his confidence, stop whatever he feels like is gonna work and try to make him one-dimensional. That’s when you can really have fun.” Teams are throwing on more than 67% of their offensive plays against the Ravens, the second-highest rate in the NFL. That’s in contrast with what Washington does. The Commanders pass at the lowest rate in football, and Daniels’ 131 attempts this season rank 24th. How do the Ravens plan to slow down Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels on Sunday? “Just hit him. Just get in his face and hit him,” defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike said. (Kim Hairston/Staff) But when the rookie does drop back to pass, it usually results in a big gain. His 8.5 yards per pass attempt ranks second in the NFL behind only San Francisco’s Brock Purdy. And the Ravens have been as susceptible as any defense in allowing those game-changing plays. “Especially against somebody like him, it’s just a matter of decreasing those plays happening,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “I feel like other than that, we’re having pretty good games.” “Stopping any explosives, I think that’s really the challenge,” cornerback Brandon Stephens said. “They hit a lot of explosives, not only in the pass game but the run game. We gotta limit those.” To help slow Daniels and future opposing quarterbacks, the Ravens brought in Dean Pees as a senior advisor for the defense this week. The 75-year-old, who’s been away from the league since 2022, will be with the team in practices throughout the week and on game days, Harbaugh said. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 6 of 2024 NFL season: Lions vs. Cowboys, Bills vs. Jets and more Baltimore Ravens | Comparing Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels is a ‘disservice.’ They’re different. Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Why covering the NFL is so different now | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Commanders scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: The Black quarterback is here to stay | COMMENTARY In some ways, the Ravens are already prepared to face a quarterback like Daniels. Their defense battled Jackson in practice almost every day this summer, and although they don’t go live against each other as much once the season starts, they remember the discipline required to contain a dual threat like Daniels. The Commanders are 4-1 for the first time since 2008 and in first place in the NFC East through five weeks. Their rookie quarterback, the early favorite for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, is largely why. But, as Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith said, “he definitely hasn’t seen a defense like ours.” Have a news tip? Contact Taylor Lyons at tlyons@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/TaylorJLyons. View the full article

The Ravens eked out a 41-38 thriller in Cincinnati. The Commanders blew out the Browns. Who will have the edge when these high-scoring teams meet Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium? Ravens passing game vs. Commanders pass defense The Ravens had to throw to stay within shouting distance of the Bengals after going down 10 in the third quarter. Lamar Jackson and his receivers were up to the task, connecting for 235 yards and three touchdowns in the second half and overtime. Jackson flashed his unique ability to make something out of nothing when he dropped a snap, stiff-armed a would-be tackler, scrambled toward the sideline and threw across his body to tight end Isaiah Likely in the end zone. All of his key targets, from Likely to Mark Andrews (four catches on five targets, 55 yards) to Rashod Bateman (four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown) to Zay Flowers (seven catches for 111 yards), made vital plays to keep the Ravens moving as they rallied for an improbable victory. Jackson had attempted just 33 passes over his previous two games, so the Ravens showed their offense, No. 1 in the league in DVOA and yards per play, could be great in a different way. Their pass protection held up well despite the fact Cincinnati knew they would throw on almost every play. They’re likely to stick with their line configuration from the last two games — rookie Roger Rosengarten at right tackle and Patrick Mekari at left guard — even if original starting guard Andrew Vorhees (ankle) is healthy enough to suit up against Washington. Jackson will go against a Washington defense that ranks 27th in DVOA against the pass but just played its best game of the season in beating the Browns and struggling quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Commanders sacked Watson seven times and held him to 125 yards on 28 attempts. Coordinator Joe Whitt’s defense blitzes on 27.5% of dropbacks and ranks 14th in the league in pressure rate, per Pro Football Reference. Defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. (three sacks, nine quarterback hits) is Washington’s top edge rusher, and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen is a threat from inside. But the Commanders are unusual in that inside linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu are just as important to their pass rush as the big guys upfront. The Commanders are vulnerable in the secondary, where cornerbacks Mike Sainristil and Benjamin St-Juste are average at best in coverage. They have not intercepted a pass through five games. EDGE: Ravens Commanders passing game vs. Ravens defense Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has transformed Washington’s offense into one of the league’s best — first in scoring and third in yards per play. After a relatively ragged start, the Commanders have averaged 38 points over their last three victories. Daniels, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft, is remarkably accurate (77.1% completions) but not at the expense of looking downfield (8.7 yards per attempt). He has thrown an interception in each of his last two games and completed just 14 of 25 passes against a Browns defense that was the toughest he’s faced. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin (23 catches on 36 targets, 303 yards) is easily Daniels’ top playmaker. He also likes to target tight end Zach Ertz and running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler. Washington’s offensive line, led by left tackle Brandon Coleman and center Tyler Biadasz, has given Daniels time to work. The rookie is a threat to extend any play, so the Ravens will have to be disciplined about boxing him in. Coordinator Zach Orr’s defense will try to bounce back from a rough day in Cincinnati, where Burrow (30 of 39 for 392 yards, five touchdowns) had his way after he got into rhythm with wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. All three Bengals stars were at the top of their game, but the Ravens made their lives easier with coverage lapses and poor tackling. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey and defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike stepped up with an interception and a sack, respectively, to help get the game to overtime, but the Ravens will need better performances from Humphrey, cornerback Nate Wiggins, safety Marcus Williams and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh to hold Daniels in check. Oweh and Kyle Van Noy will have to set tough edges, and safety Kyle Hamilton could be Orr’s ace in the hole monitoring the elusive quarterback’s movements around the line of scrimmage. Daniels’ passing efficiency drops against pressure, but he has punished blitzes with his scrambling, so it will be interesting to see how often Orr sends extra rushers. The Ravens will try to find creative ways to use safety Kyle Hamilton to confuse Washington’s rookie quarterback. (Kim Hairston/Staff) EDGE: Commanders Ravens running game vs. Commanders run defense The Bengals smothered the line of scrimmage with eight defenders in hopes of forcing the Ravens to beat them through the air. The strategy worked early as the Ravens averaged just 3.1 yards per carry in the first half while Cincinnati moved out to a 10-point lead. But the Ravens still ended up outrushing the Bengals 175 yards to 71, with Derrick Henry’s 51-yard run in overtime providing an exclamation point for their comeback. The Ravens easily lead the league in rushing and yards per carry and have outgained opponents by an average of 151 yards per game. Jackson is averaging 6.8 yards per carry, Henry 6.0 and Justice Hill 4.9 for an attack that’s ahead of the historic pace the Ravens set in 2019. They’ll go against a Washington defense that has allowed 130 yards per game (22nd in the league) and 5.1 yards per carry (31st). Will Whitt and Commanders coach Dan Quinn make the same choice the Bengals and load up to counter Baltimore’s ground force? Washington does have an excellent pair of linebackers in the aforementioned Wagner and Luvu, but its defense is softer upfront with tackles Allen and Daron Payne and ends Armstrong and Clelin Ferrell grading as average to poor run defenders, according to Pro Football Focus. EDGE: Ravens Commanders running game vs. Ravens run defense The Ravens have always had an elite running game with Jackson, no matter who’s taking the handoffs, and we’re seeing the same phenomenon with Daniels, whose Commanders rank second in rushing and fourth in yards per attempt. The rookie quarterback, averaging 60 yards per game and 5.3 per attempt, is a threat on designed runs and scrambles. He draws considerable attention, opening the way for Robinson and Ekeler to run with career-best efficiency. Linebacker Roquan Smith, right, and the rest of the Ravens defense has performed well against the run this season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Washington has rushed for at least 200 yards in three of its four victories and will challenge a Baltimore defense that has limited opponents to 60.4 yards per game and 3.1 yards per carry. The Ravens have imposing run defenders at all three levels, from Travis Jones walling off the interior to Roquan Smith roving the middle to Hamilton coming up from the secondary. Teams have abandoned the run against them, but the Commanders won’t. Their balanced offense will present a new test for Orr’s group. EDGE: Even Ravens special teams vs. Commanders special teams Justin Tucker eased worried minds when he made a 56-yard field goal to push the Bengals game to overtime. Tucker had missed wide left from 53, 56 and 46 in the Ravens’ first three games, but the most accurate kicker in league history was perfect in the clutch in Cincinnati despite breezy conditions. On the flip side, the Ravens made a pair of return mistakes with Tylan Wallace and Chris Collier filling in for injured starter Deonte Harty. Wallace’s error was costly; he failed to field a punt that rolled out at the 2-yard line, and the Bengals dropped Henry for a safety on the next play. Because of such miscues, the Ravens rank an unfamiliar 23rd in special teams DVOA. Justin Tucker’s 56-yard field goal against Cincinnati was the longest made kick of the season for the longtime Ravens kicker. (Andy Lyons/Getty) The Commanders rank 10th in DVOA. Kicker Austin Seibert has made all 12 of his field goal attempts (none from 50 yards or more) since he replaced Cade York after Washington’s opener. Ekeler has averaged an impressive 31.8 yards on six kickoff returns, and Olamide Zaccheaus has averaged been equally good on punts, averaging 18.3 yards. EDGE: Commanders Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 6 of 2024 NFL season: Lions vs. Cowboys, Bills vs. Jets and more Baltimore Ravens | Comparing Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels is a ‘disservice.’ They’re different. Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Why covering the NFL is so different now | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Commanders QB Jayden Daniels is difficult to stop. Here’s how the Ravens plan to do it. Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: The Black quarterback is here to stay | COMMENTARY Ravens intangibles vs. Commanders intangibles The Ravens pushed their winning streak to three with that wild win in Cincinnati, and they’ll look to solidify their spot atop the AFC North as they put an 0-2 start behind them. Coach John Harbaugh faced sharp criticism for his clock management at the end of the first half against the Bengals, but he has the team where it was expected to be after a difficult early schedule. Harbaugh’s Ravens have generally overwhelmed rookie quarterbacks who come to M&T Bank Stadium, though Daniels is playing better than most. Jackson has lost just one career start against an NFC team. The Commanders are one of the hottest teams in the league in Quinn’s first season, riding a four-game winning streak marked by offensive explosions. Daniels has brought real hope to a fan base that suffered for decades under previous owner Daniel Snyder. The Ravens will present the greatest test to date for this burgeoning juggernaut. EDGE: Ravens Prediction Surprise! This matchup is one of the most exciting on the calendar, pitting offenses that can blister any opponent on the ground or through the air. The Ravens will have to maintain defensive discipline on the edges and in the secondary to keep Daniels from going off. The Commanders, with one of the league’s weaker defenses, might have to pick their poison between Jackson and Henry running and Jackson looking over the top as he did in Cincinnati. Washington’s potent offense won’t be silenced, but it won’t keep up with Jackson and Henry. This is a significant step up for the Commanders, and it will show in the end. Ravens 34, Commanders 24 Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

After Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson fumbled the snap in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Bengals, he stiff-armed defensive end Sam Hubbard while rolling to his right and at the same time directed tight end Isaiah Likely. Jackson threw back across his body and completed a 6-yard touchdown pass for one of the greatest plays in team history. As spectacular as it was, seeing such highlight-reel plays in the NFL is becoming more common. This, according to Ravens executive vice president of player personnel Ozzie Newsome, is aided in part because of the evolution of the Black quarterback. More sensational plays from quarterbacks are expected Sunday when the Ravens meet the Washington Commanders at 1 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium. On one side is Jackson, who at 27 has already won two NFL Most Valuable Player Awards. On the other is 23-year-old Jayden Daniels, the clear front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year. They are among 18 Black quarterbacks to start a game this season, many of whom are ranked among the best in the 32-team league. “It’s fun to watch,” said Newsome, who with the Ravens became the league’s first Black general manager in 2002. “It’s like having a point guard or Steph Curry running your offense. You see similar plays every Sunday with [Kyler] Murray in Arizona or elsewhere around the league. You look at the number of quarterbacks drafted this year, I think the game has evolved to where you need an athlete at quarterback regardless if he is Black or white. “Josh Allen is white, but he is an athlete who makes plays with his feet. The game has evolved because there is so much speed on defense that you need to have an athlete at the quarterback position.” The increase in starting Black quarterbacks has pushed a lot of old stereotypes to the side. Both Newsome and James Harris, who with the Bills in 1969 became the second Black player to start at quarterback in pro football, remember when Black quarterbacks supposedly lacked football intelligence and weren’t considered great pocket passers or great leaders. Each points to different moments when that narrative changed. For Harris, who worked in the Ravens’ front office with Newsome from 1997 through 2003, it was when Doug Williams won the Super Bowl with Washington in the 1987 season. Williams threw for 340 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-10 victory against the Broncos. “I think it was because so many people all around the country remembered that day and saw it. That certainly had a big impact,” Harris said. “Then Warren Moon ended up as a Hall of Famer and Michael Vick being the first player picked. That win created more opportunities for others to play in a passing offense and to play quarterback.’’ Newsome points to when then-Houston Oilers coach Jeff Fisher selected Steve McNair with the third overall pick in the 1995 draft, making him the highest-drafted Black quarterback in NFL history. Baltimore Sun photo by John MakelyThe success of former Titans quarterback Steve McNair helped usher in a new era of Black quarterbacks. (Staff file) McNair appeared in the playoffs four times with the franchise, which became the Tennessee Titans, including its run to the Super Bowl in 2000. McNair was selected to the Pro Bowl three times and was an All-Pro and Co-MVP in 2003. “You had guys like Randall Cunningham and Warren Moon, guys sprinkled in who were having success, but I think that opened things up and the colleges went to wide-open football and the majority of high schools were really starting to produce African-American quarterbacks,” Newsome said. “Around the early 2000s, it started to take off.” Until then, NFL offenses were predictable. Most teams used one or two running backs and only occasionally used three receiver sets. Defenses had taken over, starting with the 1970s Steelers and the mid-1980s Bears then the 2000 Ravens, and that’s when the league shifted its rules to favor the offense to get more scoring. Attack mode was in; the old read and react was out. “The college game got inundated with a lot of African-American quarterbacks,” Newsome said, “and from that led to them becoming more readily able to play in the National Football League. I think colleges started to open up their offenses because they didn’t necessarily want their guy just to sit in the pocket. Then it became a numbers game. Instead of defenses having an 11-on-10 advantage, it became 11-on-11 because you had to account for the quarterback. That allowed for more wide-open offenses and allowing a quarterback to become more of an athlete than just a statue.” Like all the others who have played in the NFL, quarterbacks come in various shapes and sizes and have strengths and weaknesses. Jackson is great at improvising and has decent arm strength, even though the pass to Likely was a rocket. He has improved his accuracy greatly inside the red zone. Kordell Stewart, who played for the Steelers from 1995 through 2002, was also great at providing a lift when plays broke down. Current Pittsburgh backup quarterback and former Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson has a reputation for throwing a great deep ball while Donovan McNabb, Randall Cunningham and McNair were good all-around performers. Moon, a Hall of Famer, was simply a gunslinger, one of the best pure throwers to ever play the game. Maybe the best of them all is Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion and MVP of the big game. Despite that, you still hear terms about how NFL offenses have become “street ball.” That is true to some degree, but it’s better to have a scoring threat outside the pocket than to have a stationary target inside it. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and former NFL MVP Cam Newton have played key roles in developing the next Black quarterbacks. “Young quarterbacks know that they can become the next Lamar or Dak Prescott,” Newsome said. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has only one thing left to prove | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 41-38 win over Bengals | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about Derrick Henry, Marcus Williams and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: The Ravens are getting their swagger back | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about blown leads and more | COMMENTARY It wasn’t until 2017, when Geno Smith replaced Giants legend Eli Manning late in that season, that all 32 teams had started at least one Black quarterback in their history. Harris pointed out that Black backup quarterbacks were hard to find for a while in the NFL. Despite the current trend, modern players still remember and talk about pioneers such as Fritz Pollard, one of the first two Black NFL players in 1920, Jimmy Raye, Eldridge Dickey, Marlin Briscoe, Williams, and of course, Harris, one of the greatest storytellers in NFL history. “First of all, I’m happy for them, and I’m impressed with their play,” Harris said. “We always had guys to play the position and all we’ve ever asked was just for an opportunity to play, and so many who were outstanding players were denied. Many were just as good as the players today. “But it seems like we’re at the point where a Black quarterback has not only arrived, but is here to stay.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, wide receiver Zay Flowers and safety Eddie Jackson were merely trying to have a quiet dinner Saturday night in Cincinnati. Then a Bengals fan interrupted. The unidentified woman could be seen on Flowers’ Instagram telling the group that the Bengals were going to “beat your a– tomorrow,” with Jackson smiling and responding multiple times “it’s her fault.” Less than 24 hours later, the two-time and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player delivered his signature performance of the season to date, passing for 348 yards and four touchdowns along with rushing for 55 yards as he rallied the Ravens from a pair of 10-point fourth-quarter deficits to a wild 41-38 overtime victory. For his performance, Jackson on Wednesday was named the AFC’s Offensive Player of the Week. After Wednesday’s practice, he expounded on the interaction with the fan. “I almost cursed,” cracked Jackson, who said another woman had approached the table earlier and told him that she was a Louisville fan but also a Cincinnati fan, adding that she was “nice” about it. But the other fan apparently went a little too far in Jackson’s eyes. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Nobody has slowed down Ravens RB Derrick Henry. Can the Commanders? Baltimore Ravens | 3 Ravens starters miss Wednesday’s practice ahead of Commanders game Baltimore Ravens | Ravens bringing back former defensive coordinator Dean Pees in advisory role Baltimore Ravens | Photos show aftermath of I-95 crash involving Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins Baltimore Ravens | Ravens film study: Inside Lamar Jackson’s ‘fabulous play that will go down in history’ “I got mad,” he joked Wednesday. “She gonna be the reason we end up winning. I wonder how she felt after that? “Just be a fan next time. Just let us play. Let the [players] do the talking.” The victory was the third in a row for the Ravens and catapulted them into a first-place tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. Jackson’s latest performance has also launched him into the MVP conversation again. Through five games, he has 1,030 passing yards, four touchdown passes and two interceptions along with 265 rushing yards and four scores. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

ASHBURN, Va. — Who inside the Washington Commanders’ practice facility can replicate the size and skill of the Ravens’ 30-year-old All-Pro running back, who stands 6 feet 3, 247 pounds and treats oncoming NFL defenders like pesky school children? “Nobody,” coach Dan Quinn said, “to put it very bluntly.” Much of Sunday’s pageantry, when the Ravens (3-2) and Commanders (4-1) kick off at 1 p.m. in Baltimore, will spotlight the quarterback battle of reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson and rookie standout Jayden Daniels. But the Commanders, who are on a four-game winning streak, are fully aware of the challenge Derrick Henry presents. Through five weeks, Henry leads the league in rushing yards (572), is tied with the Los Angeles Rams’ Kyren Williams for the most rushing touchdowns (six) and has the second most carries (95). His 318 yards after contact also rank second. Each week’s performance has somehow outdone the previous one. According to Next Gen Stats, Henry has two of this season’s top-10 remarkable rushes — a statistic quantifying when a ball carrier greatly defies expectations using tracking data to predict how many yards a rush should gain at the moment of handoff. His 87-yard opener against Buffalo tops the list, and his 51-yard closer at Cincinnati is No. 9. The combined expected rushing yards of those two plays was only 12 yards. “Going through the scout team and going through the week and evaluating tape, how do you drill it? Is it the same as playing live? Hell no,” Quinn said. “There’s no one on our team that can simulate him for practice. But you can work the technique, and that’s what you have to do.” What makes Henry a unique case, in Quinn’s eyes, is the trifecta of ways he can knock defenders onto their backs, out of their shoes or leave them in his rearview mirror. Nearly a decade into his career, Henry can still stiff-arm tacklers into the grass (like when he open-palm thumped a Raiders defender in Week 2), bulldoze at the goal line (like his first-quarter score versus the Bengals) and use his jab step can drop a defender out of position (like his 87-yard burst). “When you’re thinking, ‘Hey, I’m going to go take my shot at him,’ he puts a foot in the ground to make you miss,” Quinn said. “And so that’s to me what makes part of his superpower. … You better have a really good tackling plan.” Commanders defensive lineman Daron Payne said what separates Henry is his use of speed and size in getting to the outside. If they can funnel him between the tackles, “that’s how we’re gonna contain him.” Cardinals running back James Conner is tackled by Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner, defensive tackle Daron Payne and others on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona. (Ross D. Franklin/AP) Bobby Wagner has had his fair share of run-ins with Henry when the former was in Seattle and the latter was with the Tennessee Titans. The preparation for Henry, according to the nine-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, is different than any other running back in the league. He quipped that just watching film of all those stiff arms is how he’s preparing. Fellow linebacker Frankie Luvu added, “I feel like you just gotta pack all of your tools.” “He’s one-of-one,” said Wagner, Washington’s leading tackler. “He can do it all.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Lamar Jackson sheds light on exchange with Bengals fan who crashed his dinner Baltimore Ravens | 3 Ravens starters miss Wednesday’s practice ahead of Commanders game Baltimore Ravens | Ravens bringing back former defensive coordinator Dean Pees in advisory role Baltimore Ravens | Photos show aftermath of I-95 crash involving Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins Baltimore Ravens | Ravens film study: Inside Lamar Jackson’s ‘fabulous play that will go down in history’ The Commanders’ defense ranks in the bottom half of the league through five weeks. Pro Football Focus graded their run defense a 60.3 so far this season, which ranks 19th out of 32 teams. Before suffocating Cleveland on Sunday, they were the worst in the NFL in opponent third-down conversion rate. They had eight sacks over four games. Then against the middling Browns, the Commanders sacked quarterback Deshaun Watson seven times and forced Cleveland to punt on seven of 13 possessions, with a fumble and turnover on downs mixed in. “We knew we had some things we wanted to get exactly right,” Quinn said. “Tackling was right up at the top of the list for me. The best teams, defensively, you hear ’em before you see ’em. And I think communication has certainly ramped up. … We got a long way to go but in terms of them playing together and knowing the energy that we’re looking for and the physicality that we want, we’re definitely taking steps. We’re just getting warmed up. And we got a lot of work to do.” Games like Sunday’s come down to tackling and ball hawking, according to Quinn. Slowing down Henry will require every bit of that. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Wide receiver Rashod Bateman, left tackle Ronnie Stanley and cornerback Marlon Humphrey were among six Ravens not practicing Wednesday as the team ramped up preparations to host the NFC East-leading Washington Commanders on Sunday. Bateman, who caught four passes for 58 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens’ overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, was listed with a groin injury on the team’s first injury report of the week. He missed the beginning of his rookie season in 2021 because of groin surgery. Stanley, who is performing at a Pro Bowl level and has played 99% of the team’s offensive snaps after an injury-filled 2023, was absent with a toe injury. Humphrey, whose late interception helped push the Bengals game to overtime, is dealing with an ankle injury. He wore a walking boot in the postgame locker room in Cincinnati. “They’re all normal after-the-game-type things they’re dealing with,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Lamar Jackson sheds light on exchange with Bengals fan who crashed his dinner Baltimore Ravens | Nobody has slowed down Ravens RB Derrick Henry. Can the Commanders? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens bringing back former defensive coordinator Dean Pees in advisory role Baltimore Ravens | Photos show aftermath of I-95 crash involving Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins Baltimore Ravens | Ravens film study: Inside Lamar Jackson’s ‘fabulous play that will go down in history’ Linebacker Malik Harrison with a groin injury, defensive tackle Broderick Washington with a knee injury and cornerback Arthur Maulet with knee and hamstring injuries also did not practice Wednesday. Returner Deonte Harty (knee), tight end Charlie Kolar (toe) and right tackle Roger Rosengarten (hand/ankle) were listed as limited participants. Guard Andrew Vorhees, who has missed the last two weeks with an ankle injury, was a full participant as was rookie running back Rasheen Ali, who’s coming back from a neck injury. For the Commanders, running back Brian Robinson Jr. (knee), defensive end Clelin Ferrell (knee) and outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. (illness) didn’t practice. Running back Austin Ekeler (heel), wide receiver Noah Brown (groin) and safety Quan Martin (neck) were limited participants. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

The Ravens are turning back the clock in an effort to spark their struggling defense. Baltimore has hired its former defensive coordinator, Dean Pees, for a senior advisor role, a source with direct knowledge confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. Pees, 75, is a longtime NFL assistant who was the Ravens’ defensive coordinator from 2012 to 2017. While the Ravens have won three straight following an 0-2 start, their defense is 26th in points allowed per game (25.2) and 19th in yards allowed (340.6). Baltimore’s pass defense in particular has struggled, ranking 30th in passing yards allowed per game (280.2) and 31st in completion percentage (67.2). First-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr is also familiar with Pees, having played for him in Baltimore before a neck condition cut the linebacker’s career short. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Photos show aftermath of I-95 crash involving Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins Baltimore Ravens | Ravens film study: Inside Lamar Jackson’s ‘fabulous play that will go down in history’ Baltimore Ravens | New details emerge from Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins’ crash involving Lamborghini Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 5: Ravens’ Lamar Jackson is the ‘best player in the league’ Baltimore Ravens | Joe Flacco reflects on 2018 season: ‘I did not want to let Lamar get out there’ Pees has spent 18 years in the NFL, beginning as linebackers coach for the New England Patriots in 2004 and most recently as defensive coordinator of the the Atlanta Falcons, where he spent two seasons before retiring for a third time following the 2022 season. He was also the head coach at Kent State from 1998 to 2003 and the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Miami University from 1983 to 1986 when Ravens coach John Harbaugh was a player there. Harbaugh is scheduled to speak with reporters Wednesday afternoon following practice. The Athletic was first to report the news. 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

Photos released by Maryland Transportation Authority Police show Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins’ Lamborghini rolled onto its side on Interstate 95 after a September crash that prompted the cornerback to miss the team’s home opener in Baltimore. Police photos from the evening of Sept. 11 show Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins’ Lamborghini Ursa rolled over on northbound Interstate 95 ahead of the Fort McHenry Tunnel. (Maryland Transportation Authority Police) The package of photos released through a public records request by The Baltimore Sun also includes a brief witness statement written by Wiggins, who said he was driving and had been trying to get into the “last lane” before the crash caused his Lamborghini Urus to flip over. Wiggins’ passenger, fellow rookie Ryan “Bump” Cooper Jr., also wrote a witness statement but kept it to three words: “I was sleep.” A police photo shows damage to an Acura RDX that was hit by a Lamborghini operated by Ravens rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins in a Sept. 11 crash on Interstate 95. (Maryland Transportation Authority Police) The Sept. 11 crash on northbound I-95 just ahead of the Fort McHenry Tunnel caused “disabling damage” to both Wiggins’ vehicle and the Acura RDX that his vehicle struck. The photos show the Acura upright with some damage around its right-rear wheel, but Wiggins’ Lamborghini is seen resting on its side in the shoulder. Police wrote in a crash report that Wiggins’ vehicle had struck the Acura after the cornerback was “cut off by an unknown vehicle.” The 21-year-old had previously described that vehicle as an “18-wheeler” that “clipped” him, resulting in his Lamborghini being “totaled.” Police placed Wiggins at fault in the crash but did not issue any citations, according to the report. Authorities wrote in their report that Wiggins, Cooper and the four people in the Acura had suffered “no apparent injury” in the crash. Wiggins, however, was listed with a neck injury on the Ravens’ injury report following the crash, as he missed the team’s home opener against the Las Vegas Raiders and about a week of practice. Police photos from the evening of Sept. 11 show Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins’ Lamborghini Ursa rolled over on northbound Interstate 95 ahead of the Fort McHenry Tunnel. (Maryland Transportation Authority Police) View the full article