ExtremeRavens

The first stirring moment of the NFL’s season opener wasn’t some quarterback mastery or a thundering hit. It was three illegal formation penalties against the Ravens on their first seven plays. Then again late in the second quarter. What gives? The formation fouls were reviewed with teams “extensively” before, during and after training camps, according to Football Zebras, an NFL officiating account with 35,000-plus followers on X. The officiating-focused account said the NFL’s Competition Committee said the “bowing of the linemen” is an advantage in pass rush situations and needed to be addressed. Players must have their helmet aligned with at least the belt line of the center to avoid being flagged. The Ravens were the first victim of greater enforcement. Particularly Baltimore’s right tackle Ronnie Stanley who was responsible for three of the four calls in Thursday’s opening half. Patrick Mekari took the other one. Kansas City did not receive an illegal formation call in the first half. NBC color analyst Cris Collinsworth went as far as to note on the opening drive that the officiating crew was calling the penalty “razor-sharp.” There are three main prongs to the official rulebook on illegal formation: teams must have seven or more players on the line, eligible receivers must be on both ends of the line with all the players between them ineligible and no player may be out of bounds. All five offensive linemen must be aligned before the play otherwise they’re susceptible to a flag for illegal formation and a five-yard penalty. Teams have gotten leeway in the past. Although maybe not Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor who, in 2023, was flagged for illegal formation three times in two weeks in 2023. His 20 infractions worth 140 yards led the NFL by a wide margin. View the full article

Taylor Swift, center, cheers a Kansas City Chiefs touchdown standing next to Ed Kelce, right, during the first half an NFL football gameagainst the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann) Taylor Swift watches as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 05, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) Taylor Swift is seen in a suite during the first half of an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Taylor Swift cheers before the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 05, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Taylor Swift cheers before the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 05, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Taylor Swift is seen in a suite before the start of an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Taylor Swift is seen in a suite before the start of an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 05: Taylor Swift arrives ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs v Baltimore Ravens game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 05, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) Taylor Swift arrives ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs v Baltimore Ravens game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 05, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) View the full article

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A rematch of the AFC championship game will have to wait a little while longer. The start of the Ravens’ season opener against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chief has been delayed to 8:40 p.m., per the NBC broadcast, by lightning near Arrowhead Stadium. Heavy rain and wind started pounding the area shortly before 7:30 p.m. ET, just over an hour before the original kickoff. With flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder, fans and personnel were cleared from the stands and the field. The inclement weather was due to move through the area by around 8 p.m. and fans were allowed to return to their seats, but the players need time to continue their warmups before kickoff. Baltimore is looking to avenge its 17-10 loss in last season’s AFC title game. The highly anticipated matchup also for the first time pits two players who have won multiple NFL Most Valuable Player Awards in Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes. This article will be updated. View the full article

The 2024 NFL season kicks off tonight with a rematch of the AFC championship game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. The highly anticipated matchup between Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead Stadium (8:15 p.m., NBC) will mark the first time that two quarterbacks who have won multiple NFL Most Valuable Player Awards will meet to kick off a season. Follow along here throughout the night for live coverage. View the full article

Most of the Ravens’ rookie class will be out for Thursday night’s NFL season opener against the host Kansas City Chiefs. Safety Beau Brade, cornerback T.J. Tampa, outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, center Nick Samac and wide receiver Devontez Walker were among seven players declared inactive before kickoff at Arrowhead Stadium. Veteran defensive lineman Brent Urban and second-year offensive lineman Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu will also not play. Urban is perhaps the most surprising name, leaving the Ravens with Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Michael Pierce and Broderick Washington along the interior defensive line. Brade, a former River Hill and University of Maryland star, was the only undrafted player to make the 53-man roster, but the Ravens have a deep safety room led by All-Pro Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, Eddie Jackson and seventh-round draft pick Sanoussi Kane. Isaac, a third-round pick, missed practice this week as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Tampa, a fourth-round selection, missed time earlier this offseason after having sports hernia surgery. Walker, a fellow fourth-round pick, dealt with a rib injury during the preseason and did not make a push to unseat veteran Nelson Agholor as the team’s third wide receiver behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Running back Rasheen Ali, a fifth-round pick, was listed as doubtful before the game and later placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the first four games. The Ravens signed linebacker Josh Ross to the active roster and also activated defensive back Ka’dar Hollman and running back John Kelly from the practice squad for Thursday’s game. For Kansas City, former Ravens wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was declared out Wednesday with a separated shoulder. Also inactive are tight end Peyton Hendershot, offensive lineman C.J. Hanson, offensive tackle Ethan Driskell and defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu. View the full article

John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens head coach, arrives before taking on the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 05, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce arrives before the start of an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson warms up before the start of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson catches a ball thrown back to him during warmups before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes warms up before the start of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) View the full article

Gatorade has signed Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to its roster of “the next generation of football greats.” Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player who kicks off the 2024 season Thursday night against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, joins the athletes promoting the sports drink’s ties to football, a relationship that spans nearly 60 years. In a new ad campaign, the brand owned by Pepsi kicks off the NFL season by highlighting “trailblazers on and off the field” including Jackson, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, Gatorade announced in a news release. “Lamar Jackson is a true generational talent and a standout example of what a Gatorade athlete embodies — leadership, perseverance and dedication,” Jeff Kearney, head of sports marketing for Gatorade, said in the release. In addition to the NFL pros, Gatorade has also enlisted flag football star quarterback Diana Flores and fashion designer Kristin Juszczyk as the brand celebrates inclusivity. “From the rise of women’s impact on the sport and the growing spotlight on flag football, to the new era of athlete individualism, football is changing — and Gatorade is using its latest campaign … to help usher in that change,” the release said. Juszczyk, the wife of former Ravens and current San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, has designed a limited-edition capsule collection of Gatorade essentials including a custom duffle bag, towel and water bottle. The items will be available only on Gatorade.com beginning on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | 10 bold predictions for 2024 NFL season: Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, Kyle Hamilton win big Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Derrick Henry and Chiefs’ Travis Kelce take on tigers, battle for Megan Thee Stallion’s favor in new Pepsi ad Baltimore Ravens | The NFL’s first mother-daughter agent tandem is here, forging a path for women: ‘The scene is changing’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens fan guide to 2024 NFL season: Everything you need to know before kickoff vs. Chiefs Baltimore Ravens | Why Chiefs’ blitz wreaked havoc on Lamar Jackson — and how the Ravens can answer it The ad campaign — “You Know We Got ‘IT’’ — launches with a 45-second spot narrated by Jackson that Gatorade envisions as a “new locker room anthem.” The film begins with a voice over that asks: “Do the Ravens have it this year? Can Lamar get it done?” as it zooms in on Jackson in the locker room. He responds: “They’re trying to write us off. Y’all got it?” His Ravens teammates quickly agree as they clap and say “yeahhhhh.” “This campaign is all about the idea that ‘IT’ is an internal mindset that drives you to be your best, which rings true for me,” Jackson said in the release. “I’m hyped for athletes everywhere to think about how their ‘IT’ can help them lock in and be great.” Jackson, 27, has previously done advertisements with Oakley, Bose and Nissan for the car company’s popular “Heisman House” campaign. Last April, he signed a five-year, $260 million extension with Baltimore, which at the time made him the NFL’s highest-paid player in terms of average annual salary. View the full article

The NFL season is back, so let’s have a little fun. From a surprise Super Bowl winner to a historic MVP season to a few statistical records, here are 10 bold predictions for the 2024 campaign: 1. The Giants finish with the league’s worst record Let’s start off with a mild take. The Giants have the third-worst odds of winning the Super Bowl and a projected over/under of 6.5 wins, according to Vegas Insider, so there is not much public confidence in a successful season. But New York went 6-11 last year with a combined 11 starts from veteran Tyrod Taylor and undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito at quarterback. How much worse could it be? Here’s your reminder that Daniel Jones is back. After declining to select a quarterback in April’s draft, the Giants are sticking with the 2019 first-round pick and his $47.9 million cap hit. In five seasons as the starter, the last of which was limited to six games because of a torn ACL, Jones has a 22-36-1 record and one playoff win. While he showed flashes as a rookie and in Year 1 with coach Brian Daboll, there’s scant evidence that he can become an above-average starter — despite being paid like one. For all the flashy names on this roster, including rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and newly acquired pass rusher Brian Burns, there are just as many holes. Star running back Saquon Barkley is gone, the offensive line is ranked 29th by Pro Football Focus and the secondary was in such dire need of help that veteran Adoree’ Jackson was signed a week before the season opener. If Jones gets hurt again, it’s Drew Lock and DeVito behind him. The Giants have a chance to exceed expectations if Jones improves, Nabers is a star and their young players take a step forward, but this roster looks more like a contender to receive the first overall draft pick than post a winning record. 2. The Chargers win a playoff game in Jim Harbaugh’s first season Whether it’s the University of San Diego, Stanford, the San Francisco 49ers or Michigan, Harbaugh has built a winner wherever he goes — and it usually happens quickly. While the Chargers’ roster was in rough shape after the firing of coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco, Harbaugh brought in some familiar veterans and a promising draft class led by Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt. Word has already spread about how he’s changed the culture of a consistently mediocre franchise with his “enthusiasm unknown to mankind.” Of course, there are plenty of reasons why Los Angeles might struggle. Star quarterback Justin Herbert has been dealing with a foot injury and hasn’t had a full offseason to learn offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s system. Joshua Palmer is the leader of an underwhelming group of wide receivers. Pass rusher Joey Bosa has played 14 games in two years. Who knows how long former Ravens running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards will stay healthy. But we’re choosing to believe in the mystique of Harbaugh. Last year, the Chargers went 3-8 in games decided by seven or fewer points. Based on their point differential, they were closer to a seven-win team than 5-12. According to ESPN, Harbaugh went 17-7 in games decided by seven or fewer points during his time with the 49ers, and he’s coming off a College Football Playoff national championship. The coaching upgrade alone should put this team in the playoffs with a serious chance to pull off an upset. 3. Lamar Jackson wins a second straight MVP Award This might not sound bold, but consider the historical precedent. Jim Brown, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers are the only players to win back-to-back NFL Most Valuable Player Awards, and only six players have ever won it three or more times. A third trophy would put Jackson in the same company as Rodgers, Favre, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Johnny Unitas. The betting odds reflect Jackson’s uphill climb to repeat. He’s listed as the seventh favorite at 16-to-1, according to Vegas Insider, well behind Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. But when we consider that recent MVP voting patterns have largely honored the best player on the best team, Jackson should always be in contention. He’s 58-19 as a starter in the regular season, and the Ravens had the best record and the best point differential in the league last year. With Derrick Henry now in the backfield and an exciting group of pass catchers around him, not to mention a very talented defense, what’s stopping a slimmer, faster and more confident Jackson and the Ravens from dominating again? Bold prediction: Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton wins NFL Defensive Player of the Year. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) 4. Kyle Hamilton is named Defensive Player of the Year The last safety to win this award was Pittsburgh Steelers legend Troy Polamalu in 2010. Since then, New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (2019) is the only defensive back to do it. Sacks have become the sexy stat for voters, with defensive linemen winning four straight DPOY Awards and nine of the past 10 overall. So why should Hamilton get any love? Because there might not be a better all-around defender in the league. In his breakout All-Pro season, the Ravens’ 2022 first-round pick recorded 10 tackles for loss, four interceptions, three sacks and 13 passes defended as one of the key cogs in a defense that led the league in sacks, takeaways and fewest points allowed per game. Those aren’t gaudy numbers by any means, but it’s hard to find a player who can rush the passer, cover receivers and make big hits all over the field the way Hamilton can. According to Pro Football Focus, Hamilton was the only safety to earn pass-rush and coverage grades over 90 in 2023. He’ll have to be even more impressive to win this award in 2024, and that starts with splash plays. The former Notre Dame star’s tipped pass to himself for an easy pick-six against the Cleveland Browns will forever live on Hamilton’s highlight tape, but he’ll need more of those plays week after week — and particularly in high-profile, prime-time games — to get the voters’ attention. He certainly has the talent to do it. 5. CeeDee Lamb is the first player to eclipse 2,000 receiving yards Here are the other receivers on the Dallas Cowboys’ roster: Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Ryan Flournoy and Jalen Brooks. The Cowboys have Pro Bowl tight end Jake Ferguson, but who do you think Dak Prescott is throwing the ball to? Ezekiel Elliott? Last season, Lamb comfortably led the league with 135 catches — 16 more than Miami’s Tyreek Hill and Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown. He finished just 50 yards behind Hill for the receiving yards crown with 1,749, which alone ranks ninth in NFL history. This offseason, he was rewarded with a four-year, $136 million deal. Calvin Johnson has come the closest to reaching 2K, finishing with 1,964 yards with Matthew Stafford and the Lions in 2012. Thanks to the addition of a 17th regular-season game and Dallas’ desire to air it out — Prescott finished fourth in the league with 590 pass attempts last year — there’s a good chance we see history this year. Bold prediction: Is it so crazy to think that Jets running back Breece Hall can’t eclipse 2,000 yards from scrimmage and perhaps take a run at Chris Johnson’s NFL record of 2,509? (Adam Hunger/AP) 6. Breece Hall sets the single-season yards from scrimmage record Playing behind a terrible offensive line and catching passes from Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian and Tim Boyle, Hall ranked fourth in the league with 1,585 yards from scrimmage (994 rushing, 591 receiving). And that was just a year removed from a torn ACL that prematurely ended his rookie season. This year, he’ll have a healthy (for now) Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and a revamped offensive line that brought in Tyron Smith, John Simpson, Morgan Moses and 11th overall draft pick Olu Fashanu. Is it so crazy to think that Hall can’t eclipse 2,000 yards from scrimmage and perhaps take a run at Chris Johnson’s NFL record of 2,509? To do it, he’ll need a much higher volume of rushing yards. Johnson ran for 2,006 yards that 2009 season, making him at the time just the seventh player in league history to eclipse the 2K mark. In 2019, Christian McCaffrey joined Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk as the only players to record at least 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. Last year, Hall only had one game in which he eclipsed both 50 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards — a Week 16 win over the Washington Commanders in which he had 20 carries for 95 yards and 12 catches for 96 yards. He’ll need more of those performances to have a chance at setting the record. 7. The 49ers fail to win a playoff game San Francisco has reached at least the conference championship game in four of the past five seasons, including two trips to the Super Bowl. Why would that change all of a sudden? For starters, the NFC West should be much better this season. The last-place Arizona Cardinals have a healthy Kyler Murray and standout rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The Seattle Seahawks have a talented offense and a defensive mastermind in new coach Mike Macdonald. The Los Angeles Rams lost superstar defensive lineman Aaron Donald but brought back the nucleus of one of the league’s best offenses. The 49ers ended up bringing back stars Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams after a puzzling offseason of contract negotiations and have the league’s best play-caller in coach Kyle Shanahan, but the hangover for the Super Bowl loser has historically been too much to overcome. Questions about the offensive line and running back Christian McCaffrey’s calf injury could hurt what has been one of the league’s most efficient offenses in the Shanahan era. New defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen is a first-time play-caller, and the defensive line is not as fearsome as it used to be. And are we totally sure Brock Purdy is as good as last year’s numbers suggest? He came in at No. 12 in Mike Sando’s annual quarterback tiers list, a notable jump from last year, but there are still questions about whether he’s just a product of Shanahan and a strong supporting cast. San Francisco nearly lost in the divisional round last season before rallying to beat the Packers in the final minutes, then had to overcome a 24-7 deficit against the Detroit Lions in the NFC title game. They won’t be so lucky this year. Bold prediction: Jalen Hurts and the Eagles miss the playoffs in 2024. (Chris O’Meara/AP) 8. The Dolphins and Eagles miss the playoffs This prediction is not an indictment of quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts, but rather their supporting casts. While the Eagles have one of the league’s most talented rosters, reported dysfunction between Hurts and coach Nick Sirianni last season sent Philadelphia spiraling from 10-1 to an embarrassing wild-card-round exit. Jason Kelce, a future Hall of Fame center, retired. Vic Fangio is the team’s third defensive coordinator in three seasons. There are major question marks at linebacker and in the secondary. On paper, Miami seems destined for a great season. Tagovailoa has another year with coach Mike McDaniel and receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Speedy running back De’Von Achane is healthy. Anthony Weaver brings his Ravens influence as defensive coordinator. So why does it feel like the whole operation is so fragile? For one thing, the offensive line remains a concern, especially along the interior. Bradley Chubb is still recovering from a torn ACL, Jalen Ramsey is dealing with a hamstring injury and defensive end Jaelan Phillips is on a snap count after returning from a torn Achilles tendon. Since the league expanded to 32 teams in 2002, roughly six teams that made the playoffs fail to return the following year. Count the Dolphins and Eagles among that group. 9. Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels lead their teams to the playoffs Could this year have shades of 2012? That season, rookie quarterbacks Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson all led their respective teams to the playoffs, while Ryan Tannehill’s Dolphins finished second in the AFC East at 7-9. Like Luck and Griffin, Williams and Daniels went 1-2 in the draft and have plenty of promise. Williams entered perhaps the best situation for a No. 1 overall pick in history with a Bears team that inherited its pick from the Carolina Panthers and vastly improved its roster this offseason. Daniels, who followed Williams as the Heisman Trophy winner, takes over for a franchise that finally has some hope after an ownership change, the introduction of a new coaching staff and an influx of steady veterans. Williams plays in the same division as two of the NFC’s top favorites in the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, but his playmaking ability combined with an exciting group of pass catchers that includes DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze gives Chicago a chance to compete. The Bears’ defense, led by pass rusher Montez Sweat and cornerback Jaylon Johnson, could also be among the league’s top 10. In Washington, there are more question marks. Daniels has a true No. 1 receiver in Terry McLaurin and a reliable pass-catching running back in Austin Ekeler, but little depth behind them. Tight end Ben Sinnott and receiver Luke McCaffrey are promising but unlikely to become impact players as rookies. The offensive line has been overhauled, but there are no potential blue-chip players beyond right guard Sam Cosmi. That said, Daniels could be an immediate game-changer thanks to his rushing ability and touch on deep throws, propelling coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense to new heights. It’s a longshot, but in a quarterback-driven league, a pair of budding stars could surprise. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Derrick Henry and Chiefs’ Travis Kelce take on tigers, battle for Megan Thee Stallion’s favor in new Pepsi ad Baltimore Ravens | The NFL’s first mother-daughter agent tandem is here, forging a path for women: ‘The scene is changing’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens fan guide to 2024 NFL season: Everything you need to know before kickoff vs. Chiefs Baltimore Ravens | Why Chiefs’ blitz wreaked havoc on Lamar Jackson — and how the Ravens can answer it Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Chiefs staff picks: Who will win Thursday’s season opener in Kansas City? 10. The Seahawks win the Super Bowl Yes, the Seahawks. Here’s why. 1. Macdonald transforms the defense from one of the league’s worst to one of its best, thanks in large part to a breakout season from defensive back Devon Witherspoon, a bounce-back year for cornerback Tariq Woolen and a monster rookie debut from first-round pick Byron Murphy II. 2. Geno Smith plays like a top-10 quarterback. The 33-year-old veteran continues his late-career renaissance by throwing for 4,500 yards and 35 touchdowns to a standout group of pass catchers. Jaxon Smith-Njigba becomes one of the league’s premier young receivers to complement DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. 3. Kenneth Walker III stays healthy and becomes one of the NFL’s most explosive running backs, averaging more than 5.5 yards per carry while making a push to win the league’s Offensive Player of the Year Award. 4. Third-year outside linebacker Boye Mafe has a career season, recording 15 sacks as the leader of a pass rush that ranks near the top of the league in pressure rate thanks to Macdonald’s scheme. Remember, Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy combined for 18 1/2 sacks last season in Baltimore. There you have it. Now let’s get to kickoff. View the full article

New Ravens running back Derrick Henry is sometimes called “King Henry” due to his dominance on the football field. But before his debut with the team Thursday night, football fans will see him fighting for dominance in another (fictional) arena. Henry, who previously played for the Tennessee Titans, appears in a Gladiator-themed Pepsi commercial slated to run before and during Thursday’s broadcast of the Ravens-Kansas City Chiefs game. The ad finds him in the Colosseum alongside fellow football stars Travis Kelce, a running back for the Chiefs, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson as they battle tigers — but not each other — and seek the favor of an empress portrayed by rapper Megan Thee Stallion. The commercial also stars actors Jake Lacy and Lamorne Morris as bewildered Pepsi drinkers transported to the ring to watch as the action unfolds (“I really gotta stop thinking about the Roman Empire,” Morris quips.) The Ravens-Chiefs game will air on NBC and WBAL Channel 11 at 7 p.m. View the full article

Edy Lawson-Jackson was done waiting. She had been pushing off her dreams of becoming a sports and entertainment lawyer for decades — since 1989, to be exact. That’s when she first started interning at a law firm with a sports entertainment attorney. “I got a little view of what goes on behind the scenes and what’s involved,” Lawson-Jackson said. “And I just knew I couldn’t get into it at that time.” An ambulance sat outside the building as a group of prospective lawyers took the Pennsylvania bar exam. It was July 1993. Jackson-Lawson had obtained her juris doctor degree from Howard University, and she was also in the final month of her pregnancy with her first child. She was experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions during the two-day exam, but passing the bar was the first step in her journey of becoming a sports agent. So, she pushed through. “Listen,” Mark Jackson, her ex-husband says, “it was impressive. I don’t know how else to describe it. That’s a commitment. In fact, they had an ambulance, because she could’ve delivered early … and they may have needed to take her to a hospital. “It’s tenaciousness.” And one of the many traits that Lawson-Jackson passed on to their daughter, Samira Jackson, who was born in August 1993. Lawson-Jackson passed the bar exam on her first try, and Jackson did, too. Lawson-Jackson, a Baltimore native and a 1986 graduate of Baltimore City College, gained her NFL Players Association contract adviser certification in November 2010 on her first attempt. Twelve years later, so did Jackson. When the Silver Spring native earned her certification in October 2022 and joined her mother at Affiliated Sports Advisors (ASA), the pair made history. They became the first mother-daughter tandem to become sports agents in America — a dream both deferred and unexpected. When Samira Jackson, left, earned her certification and joined her mother, Edy Lawson-Jackson, at Affiliated Sports Advisors, the pair made history. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) “When I saw an opportunity … I said, ‘I’m going to get into the sports field. … I’ve been wanting to do something with sports all my life,’” Lawson-Jackson said. “I love watching sports. I love playing sports. I’ve got my daughter involved in sports. I was like, ‘I’m going to do this. I’m going to go ahead and take the exam to be a certified contract adviser for the NFL.’ “I said that I’ve waited long enough, and I’m gonna do it.” Of the 994 certified NFL agents, 88 are women, the NFLPA said. That means women account for approximately 8.9% of the approved contract advisers. Chineze Nwagbo, the NFLPA’s director of player programs and engagement, explained that while the number of women is still very limited, their impact is increasing. The lifelong Ravens fans were just working at the AFC championship game between Baltimore and the Kansas City Chiefs in January. “Edy is a great example, which means Samira will be two times better,” Nwagbo said. “We always hear of generational wealth, but in this case it’s generational opportunity, so I’m not surprised that they’re the first ever.” Neither the lack of women, nor how few agents are successful, nor the money required to stay in the game deterred the mother and daughter. Annual agent fees and insurance cost $3,000. The certification exam is another $1,200. For a player that will go undrafted, an agent spends a minimum of $20,000. That includes dinners, travel, lodging, training and more, the pair explain. And for a first-round lock, agents are clearing upward of $250,000. “We like guys like us who are gonna bust their [butt], work hard and get the job done,” Jackson said. “We want someone who’s going to be defiant, against the numbers. “We want underdogs who were told, ‘You can’t do it.’ Who were told, ‘Maybe it’s not for you.’ Who were told, ‘At best, maybe you’ll get a shot.’ And then they go on, and they excel, and they stay humble and rooted in gratitude.” Jackson, who joined Markham Law Firm as an associate attorney this month, has always known that she wanted to be a lawyer. Malachi Fuller, a former classmate at the University of Maryland and CEO of a creative agency, said it was obvious since they met as sophomores in statistics class. He remembers how prepared Jackson was and just how closely she paid attention to the details. Greg Linton, a mentor and fellow agent at ASA, said Jackson has always put her best foot forward. “Anything that Samira puts her mind and heart to, it’s a matter of when, not if,” Linton said. “You’re Samira, was failure ever an option?” While Jackson always knew she wanted to become a lawyer, her mother wasn’t so set in that regard. Initially, Lawson-Jackson, who grew up on Baltimore’s east side, wanted to be a ballerina, then a gymnast and finally landed on becoming an acrobat in the circus, both she and her older sister, Celest Swann, recalled. Lawson-Jackson used to sell parking spaces in her parents’ driveway for Baltimore Colts games and walk through the parking lot of Memorial Stadium to get to City. That’s where she fell in love with Latin and her classical studies, in addition to her extracurriculars as a member of the band, a part of the track and field team and ultimately, homecoming queen. Soon, writing, language and history became Lawson-Jackson’s interests, and that eventually evolved into her deciding to be a lawyer. The 56-year-old started her solo practitioner family law practice — the law office of E.A. Lawson-Jackson, LLC — in July 1999. Even though she dreamed of working in sports and entertainment law, those years working in family law proved invaluable. Atlanta Falcons defensive end Demone Harris cosigned that sentiment. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent signed a futures contract with the Falcons this January — one of five current contracts Lawson-Jackson has negotiated. When Harris was going through his divorce, he turned to her. She found out what he needed to do and connected him with the right lawyer to represent him. “I truly believe that she’ll be there for me when that time comes for me to take the next step in my career,” said Harris, a Super Bowl champion last season with the Chiefs. “She really does care.” Defensive lineman Demone Harris’ deal with the Atlanta Falcons is one of five current contracts agent Edy Lawson-Jackson has negotiated. (Terrance Williams/AP) Linton explained that, oftentimes, he defers to Lawson-Jackson, and she leads the conversations with players or their families. They’ve been working together for eight years and joined forces when they realized how often they were exchanging ideas. The colleagues have known each other for more than a decade, after Linton offered to help Lawson-Jackson. David Blackburn, who joined the Ravens as a scout in 2007 before becoming the team’s director of college scouting in 2022, introduced Lawson-Jackson to Linton, as well as Eric DeCosta, Baltimore’s general manager, when he was still an area scout. Lawson-Jackson was connected with Blackburn thanks to former City classmate Darren Sanders — the Ravens’ longtime security director who died in 2021. These relationships helped Lawson-Jackson begin her career, which continued to include a plethora of connections to her hometown. Her first client, Justin Wells, who signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2012, attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. Tight end Bruce Figgins was the first player Lawson-Jackson signed to the Ravens. Shaquil Barrett, who briefly attended City, was one of her first clients to make an active roster, and she represented the two-time Super Bowl champion while he was with the Denver Broncos. “[Blackburn and Sanders] made it possible for me to even be doing what I’m doing,” Lawson-Jackson said. The people closest to Jackson and Lawson-Jackson believe they are the right pair to be the first. Both women have been through their respective shares of rejections and naysayers. Mark Jackson specifically recalled a time during his daughter’s first year at St. Thomas University’s Benjamin L. Crump College of Law. Jackson was told by a female faculty member that she wasn’t cut out to be a lawyer. “This is just outrageous, but in law school … after her first year, [she] suggested that Samira doesn’t have the stuff to be an attorney … she doesn’t have the capacity,” Mark Jackson said. “As you might imagine that was devastating to Samira … and we had to encourage her again, keep her on track, keep her focused, keep her remembering who she is and what her capabilities are. “Don’t let anyone stand in the way of your vision, because they may see it differently than you see yourself.” So, neither Lawson-Jackson nor Jackson have come off their respective or conjoined tracks. Even when they’ve been propositioned at the combine, not taken seriously or dismissed, they persevere. And that perseverance has paid off. Where some might overlook or underestimate these women, it takes only one validation — someone seeing what they’re trying to do — that reminds them that pursuing this dream is the right decision. “I just got a call from someone I had met at the combine years ago,” Jackson says, “He was a scout back then, and he left me a voicemail, and said, ‘Hey I’m no longer scouting, but I remember meeting you back at the combine over a decade ago. I remember that you were a young woman who meant business, and I’m back in the D.C. area. I’m looking to do X, Y, Z. … I always knew you were going to do great things and gonna make it.’ “That message meant a lot to me, because you get a lot of the opposite. … The scene is changing. And spaces where women were typically excluded, now we’re entering and excelling. Said Lawson-Jackson: “And I would hope that men reading this article will say, ‘You know what? I want to contribute to this change, as well.’” View the full article

The NFL is back. The Ravens and Chiefs kick off the 2024 season Thursday night in Kansas City, with Arrowhead Stadium hosting the league opener for the second straight year after quarterback Patrick Mahomes and company won their second straight Super Bowl title. Whether you’re a diehard fan or just tuning back in to Ravens games, here’s what you need to know before the new season starts: What’s new for the Ravens? A lot. After going an NFL-best 13-4 in the regular season and reaching the AFC championship game, the Ravens lost several players, coaches and staff members to rival teams while also bringing in a star running back and a promising draft class. Here’s a quick look at some of the notable players and coaches who have come in and out this offseason: IN Running back Derrick Henry: Already a legendary player for both his career production and rare combination of size and speed, the 6-foot-3, 247-pound former Alabama and Tennessee Titans star might be the missing piece for a high-powered offense that struggled to run the ball when it mattered most last season. Wide receiver-kick returner Deonte Harty: The Baltimore native and former Archbishop Curley star returned home this offseason, signing a one-year deal with the Ravens. Harty was an All-Pro kick returner as an undrafted rookie in 2019 and has averaged 25.2 yards per kick return and 10.4 yards per punt return in his career. Cornerback Nate Wiggins: The former Clemson star surprisingly fell to the Ravens at No. 30 overall despite being one of the fastest players in the draft. He could develop quickly into the shutdown corner the team has been looking for. Right tackle Roger Rosengarten: While left tackle Ronnie Stanley has solidified his side of the line with a strong offseason, Rosengarten and Patrick Mekari have battled to start at right tackle. At 6-5 and 316 pounds, Rosengarten might not be stout enough yet to hold up against NFL linemen, but the former Washington star’s athleticism could be an asset. Wide receiver Devontez Walker: While Zay Flowers has star potential and Rashod Bateman has earned the team’s trust in the form of a contract extension, there’s room for another receiver to soak up targets from quarterback Lamar Jackson. The former North Carolina standout has impressive speed, but he didn’t show in training camp or preseason games that he’s ready to make an immediate impact. Outside linebacker Adisa Isaac: The Ravens used a third-round pick on Isaac, making another big investment in a young pass rusher. The former Penn State star has been hampered by injuries thus far, with a hamstring ailment keeping him out Thursday, but he could push his way into the rotation sooner than later. Safety Beau Brade: The former Maryland and River Hill star made the team as an undrafted free agent thanks to a standout training camp and preseason. Playing for the Ravens is a dream come true for the Howard County native, who could be part of the secondary rotation and have a role on special teams. Safety Eddie Jackson: The two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Chicago Bears signed a one-year deal in the offseason to serve as a rotational piece in a deep secondary. The 30-year-old veteran has 15 interceptions and 10 forced fumbles in seven seasons. OUT Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald: After leading a dominant defense that became the first in NFL history to rank first in sacks, takeaways and points allowed last season, the 37-year-old was hired as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Linebacker Patrick Queen left the Ravens to sign with the Steelers this offseason. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) Inside linebacker Patrick Queen: The 2020 first-round pick blossomed in his fourth season in Baltimore, earning Pro Bowl honors. But with the Ravens committing $100 million to fellow linebacker Roquan Smith, Queen became a free agent and signed a three-year, $41 million deal with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.: He played just one season in Baltimore, but the three-time Pro Bowl selection was a big part of the Ravens re-signing Jackson last offseason and provided a steady veteran presence while enjoying his most productive season since 2019. After being released in a cost-cutting move, the 31-year-old signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Miami Dolphins. Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney: The 2014 No. 1 overall pick had a resurgent season in Baltimore, recording 9 1/2 sacks while serving as a mentor to the Ravens’ young pass rushers. He was so good that he became a big-ticket free agent, signing a two-year, $20 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. Running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards: The longtime backfield pairing in Baltimore signed with the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason to reunite with former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman and play for Ravens coach John Harbaugh’s younger brother Jim. Offensive linemen Morgan Moses, John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler: Moses, a right tackle, and Simpson, a left guard, will be blocking for the New York Jets and quarterback Aaron Rodgers after being traded and signing as a free agent, respectively. Zeitler, who earned his first Pro Bowl nod last season, is expected to start at right guard for the Detroit Lions after the Ravens decided not to bring the 34-year-old veteran back. Safety Geno Stone: Thrust into more playing time last season after a series of injuries, Stone recorded an AFC-best seven interceptions. The 2020 seventh-round pick was rewarded with a two-year, $14 million deal from the rival Cincinnati Bengals. Wide receiver-kick returner Devin Duvernay: The two-time Pro Bowl selection had his least productive year as a receiver in 2023, catching just four passes for 18 yards, but the Jacksonville Jaguars surprisingly gave the 27-year-old a two-year, $8.5 million deal for what he can do as a returner. Is anyone hurt? So far, the Ravens have largely avoided the injury bug that has often struck in recent seasons. Here’s a look at who’s sidelined, and for how long: Running back Keaton Mitchell: The undrafted rookie became an overnight sensation last season, averaging 8.4 yards per carry and 10.3 yards per catch in seven games. Then he tore his ACL in mid-December. He’s expected to be sidelined for at least the first four games after starting the season on the physically unable to perform list. Cornerback Arthur Maulet: The 31-year-old veteran became a dependable slot defender in his first season in Baltimore and put together an outstanding training camp before being sidelined to have arthroscopic knee surgery. Harbaugh said the injury is not “season-ending,” but Maulet might not be back until at least October. Running back Rasheen Ali: The rookie fifth-round draft pick suffered a stinger in the preseason opener and was limited with a neck injury at practice this week. He’s doubtful to play Thursday. Cornerback Trayvon Mullen: Because of various injuries, the 2019 second-round pick and cousin of Lamar Jackson has yet to play in a game for the Ravens after being claimed off waivers in January 2023. The 26-year-old was placed on season-ending injured reserve after dislocating his shoulder in the preseason finale. Running back Owen Wright: The Bethesda native and former undrafted free agent out of Monmouth is out for the season after breaking his foot in the preseason finale. Wright, who spent all of last year on the practice squad, was battling to be the No. 3 running back. What other names should I know? Coach John Harbaugh: With New England Patriots legend Bill Belichick no longer employed, Harbaugh is the league’s second-longest tenured coach. In his 16 seasons in Baltimore, the Ravens have been one of the league’s most successful franchises, going 160-99 with 10 playoff berths and one Super Bowl title. But Harbaugh’s teams haven’t returned to the big game since winning it all at the end of the 2012 season, going 3-6 in the postseason over that span. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr was promoted this offseason to replace Mike Macdonald. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Defensive coordinator Zach Orr: The 32-year-old former Ravens linebacker will call plays for the first time as an NFL assistant after being promoted from inside linebackers coach. Orr got into coaching after his playing career ended prematurely because of a rare congenital spine condition and has quickly become a rising star. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken: It’s Year 2 in Baltimore for the longtime NFL assistant, who helped Jackson win MVP in 2023 but faced fierce criticism after the Ravens struggled to run the ball in the AFC championship game loss to the Chiefs. Jackson’s mastery of Monken’s scheme will play a big role in determining the team’s success. Middle linebacker Roquan Smith: After being acquired from the Bears in the middle of the 2022 season, Smith has established himself as one of the league’s premier defenders to continue a proud legacy in Baltimore. The 2023 All-Pro is a trusted and vocal leader, often delivering the pregame speech on the field. Safety Kyle Hamilton: The 2022 first-round draft pick became a star in his second season, earning All-Pro honors with his ability to blitz, make open-field tackles and fly to the ball in coverage. He’ll be a Swiss Army knife for a defense that likes to use three-safety looks. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike: After leading all NFL interior linemen with 13 sacks last season, Madubuike signed a massive four-year extension worth $98 million with $75.5 million guaranteed. With the rest of the Ravens’ pass rushers either older or unproven, Madubuike — who recently changed his first name to honor his Nigerian heritage — is an important piece for a defense with high expectations. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey: The three-time Pro Bowl selection lost weight this offseason and is finally healthy after having foot surgery last August and dealing with various injuries throughout the 2023 season. This year could be his last to prove he should stay in Baltimore after signing a lucrative five-year extension in 2020. Outside linebackers Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo: Oweh, a 2021 first-round pick, and Ojabo, a 2022 second-round selection, were high school teammates in New Jersey who bonded over their Nigerian roots. After a promising offseason, they’ll be counted on to not only stay healthy but lead a pass rush that led the league in sacks last year. Inside linebacker Trenton Simpson: After Queen’s departure, the former Clemson star steps in next to Smith in the middle of the defense. The 2023 third-round pick had a season to learn and develop, but the pressure is on to fill big shoes and keep one of the league’s top defenses humming. Wide receiver Zay Flowers: The 2023 first-round pick set a franchise rookie record with 858 receiving yards last season. In Year 2, he’s expected to be the Ravens’ top target and potentially blossom into a Pro Bowl-caliber player. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman: Despite coming off a season in which he recorded just 367 receiving yards and one touchdown, the 2021 first-round pick received a two-year contract extension worth nearly $13 million. If he develops chemistry with Jackson, Bateman has the talent to be a much more productive playmaker. Tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely: While Andrews has been Jackson’s favorite target since entering the league together in 2018, he’s coming off a severe ankle injury that kept him out for a large chunk of last season. Likely, meanwhile, is poised for a bigger role on offense after impressing as Andrews’ replacement at the end of last season. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley: The 30-year-old veteran is now five years removed from his All-Pro peak in 2019, but he’s looked impressive in practice and is determined to prove he can still play at a high level after struggling last year and taking a pay cut this offseason. Fullback-tight end Patrick Ricard: The Ravens’ offense has performed much better when Ricard is on the field thanks to the four-time Pro Bowl selection’s ability to block and create mismatches. Where do the Ravens rank in the NFL? Similar to last season. The Chiefs are the favorites to win a record third straight Super Bowl title at 5-to-1 odds, according to Vegas Insider, followed by the San Francisco 49ers (6-1), who Kansas City beat in overtime for last year’s championship. The Ravens have the third-best odds to win it all at 10-1, followed by the Detroit Lions (12-1), Philadelphia Eagles (12-1), Cincinnati Bengals (13-1), Buffalo Bills (16-1), Houston Texans (16-1) and Green Bay Packers (16-1). Can Lamar Jackson win another NFL Most Valuable Player award? Jim Brown, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers are the only players to win back-to-back NFL MVP Awards, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see Jackson claim the trophy again. With his ability to put up huge passing and rushing stats and the Ravens likely to contend for the league’s best record again, Jackson meets the two most important prerequisites when considering recent voting patterns. Put simply, the award goes to the best player on the best team. But he’s far from the favorite to repeat. Mahomes has the best odds at 5-1, according to Vegas Insider, followed by Bills quarterback Josh Allen (8.5-1), Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9-1), Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (10-1), Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (10-1) and Packers quarterback Jordan Love (14-1). Jackson is a distant seventh at 16-1 — the same odds as 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy — but he wasn’t considered one of the favorites this time last year, either. The Rams and Cowboys line up for a kickoff under the new NFL rules. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/TNS) Why do the kickoffs look so weird? In an attempt to inspire more kickoff returns and cut down on injuries from high-speed collisions, the NFL is experimenting with a new format that looks drastically different from previous years. Without going into too much detail (which you can find here), the kickoff will more closely resemble a running play with blockers and defenders lining up within five yards of each other. The strangest part is the kicker standing alone behind his team and the returners lining up in the 20-yard “landing zone” behind their blockers. Only the kicker and returners can move until the ball is touched or hits the ground. Perhaps most importantly, onside kicks are no longer permitted until the fourth quarter. The kicking team must also declare its intention to try an onside kick, removing the element of the surprise. Who else do the Ravens play? After Thursday night, the Ravens return home to M&T Bank Stadium to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 15. It’s one of Baltimore’s few Sunday afternoon home games in a schedule that includes five prime-time matchups and a Christmas Day playoff rematch against the host Houston Texans. Ravens 2024 schedule * – Flexible scheduling games Week 1 (Thursday, Sept. 5): at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m., NBC Week 2 (Sunday, Sept. 15): vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 1 p.m., CBS Week 3 (Sunday, Sept. 22): at Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m., Fox Week 4 (Sunday, Sept. 29): vs. Buffalo Bills, 8:20 p.m., NBC Week 5 (Sunday, Oct. 6)*: at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m., CBS Week 6 (Sunday, Oct. 13)*: vs. Washington Commanders, 1 p.m., CBS Week 7 (Monday, Oct. 21): at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m., ESPN Week 8 (Sunday, Oct. 27)*: at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m., CBS Week 9 (Sunday, Nov. 3)*: vs. Denver Broncos, 1 p.m., CBS Week 10 (Thursday, Nov. 7): vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video Week 11 (Sunday, Nov. 17)*: at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m., CBS Week 12 (Monday, Nov. 25): at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 p.m., ESPN Week 13 (Sunday, Dec. 1)*: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m., CBS Week 14 (Sunday, Dec. 8): Bye week Week 15 (Sunday, Dec. 15)*: at New York Giants, 1 p.m., CBS Week 16 (Saturday, Dec. 21)*: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:30 p.m., Fox Week 17 (Wednesday, Dec. 25): at Houston Texans, 4:30 p.m., Netflix Week 18 (TBD)*: vs. Cleveland Browns, TBD View the full article

There’s all kinds of pressure on Lamar Jackson — to deliver on his draft night promise of winning a Super Bowl, to the kind he faced in last year’s AFC championship game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The two are not mutually exclusive. On the quarterback’s two most spectacular plays of that game, what Baltimore didn’t do against the Chiefs’ blitz was a microcosm of the 17-10 defeat at M&T Bank Stadium. What lessons the Ravens have learned in the seven months since will be on display Thursday night in a rematch to open the NFL season at Arrowhead Stadium. But if Baltimore is going to move forward by showing it is capable of beating the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, a look back sheds light on one key area: the blitz. To wit, long before Jackson spun free of a would-be sack against a five-man blitz and hit Zay Flowers for a 30-yard touchdown pass to answer Kansas City’s opening score, the receiver was open in the flat with plenty of room to run. Two possessions later, Jackson stunningly caught his own pass for a 13-yard gain after Justin Reid batted the ball skyward, but it was the quarterback failing to drop back that prevented him from completing an easy lob over the charging safety to wide-open running back Justice Hill in the flat. Those were just two of the several plays Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner honed in on in his eponymous YouTube channel, QBConfidential. “I think so many of these guys have gotten used to bailing themselves out with athleticism,” Warner told The Baltimore Sun this week. “No matter how talented you are, it’s a tough world to live in. “For Lamar, we know how great he’s been. I think this is one area where he can improve, whether it’s his mindset and what he’s doing or whether it’s his challenging of the coaches to give him answers and not expecting to have to bail the team out with his greatness. … They’re going to have to handle pressure better. It wasn’t all Lamar — Lamar made some great plays against pressure — but they weren’t finished on the other end.” Having an answer with what Warner calls hidden yardage goes a long way, he says, especially against a team like the Chiefs. Last season, Kansas City blitzed Jackson on 43.5% of his drop-backs, per TruMedia, which was above the Chiefs’ 37% rate going into the game. It was an amount that Jackson said afterward surprised him, though the Houston Texans blitzed him a whopping 75.9% of the time the week before in the divisional round. And while Jackson was somewhat successful against the Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s five-man pressures, he struggled even more when they brought at least six rushers. That included on his own catch-and-run against Kansas City’s “blitz zero,” and two plays later when tight end Isaiah Likely ran an out-and-up rather than cutting the route off. The latter didn’t appear to be an option as Likely wasn’t looking back, but Jackson was nearly sacked before getting a pass off that fell incomplete. Other throws, meanwhile, were simply off the mark, including one to Flowers in the flat as Jackson failed to set his feet and an inside fade to Nelson Agholor that was beyond the wideout’s reach. By comparison, Warner pointed out how Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes often handled the Ravens’ myriad blitzes by making quick decisions and having “hot” route options, particularly in the first half. “Patrick is special because he does it all,” says Warner, adding that Mahomes could also go down as the best quarterback in NFL history, so it’s a tough comparison. “In a game like that, when you don’t make a couple of those big plays playing against Patrick Mahomes, you lose. That’s just the fact.” When Jackson was asked earlier this week about the challenge of the Chiefs’ blitz, he said it was more than that. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The NFL’s first mother-daughter agent tandem is here, forging a path for women: ‘The scene is changing’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens fan guide to 2024 NFL season: Everything you need to know before kickoff vs. Chiefs Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Chiefs staff picks: Who will win Thursday’s season opener in Kansas City? Baltimore Ravens | Hollywood Brown out for Chiefs, no Ravens starters on injury report for Thursday’s NFL opener Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about pass rush, coordinators and more | COMMENTARY “It was all type of things that went on in the game that we felt like could’ve worked for us, went our way,” Jackson said. “We missed certain things throughout the game. It was all type of things. I just can’t pinpoint them blitzing us, because we picked them up sometimes, here and there. All type of things we could’ve done better that game.” He’s not wrong, of course. That the Chiefs blitzed Jackson and likely will do so again also shouldn’t be a surprise. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player ranked in the top seven in opposing blitz rate each of the past three seasons, including first two years ago. So what’s the solution? “It’s going to take ID’ing those pressures when they’re coming, ID’ing how we pick them up or to block them or to throw off them if they’re hots … and then executing,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Sunday. “That’s what it takes. When a team comes after you and blitzes, you’ve got to meet them. You’ve got to meet them where they stand, stand your ground and attack them. That’s what you have to do. So we’ve been working hard at that. We always have, and looking forward to seeing how we do.” View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Thursday’s season opener between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Brian Wacker, reporter Chiefs 23, Ravens 17: Questions on the offensive line, sweeping coaching changes, a first-year starter at inside linebacker and Arrowhead Stadium at night? None of that portends a successful outcome for Baltimore. Derrick Henry will get a lot more than six carries and Lamar Jackson and a defense that is still one of the top units in the league will keep the Ravens in it. But the combination of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, speedy rookie receiver Xavier Worthy and the mastery of coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will be too much to overcome. Childs Walker, reporter Ravens 26, Chiefs 24: Normal rules of quality go out the window with a Thursday night opener. Just look at last season, when the Chiefs dragged their feet through a home loss to the Detroit Lions. The Ravens will be hyped to face their nemesis and seem unlikely to keep their Derrick Henry-powered running game in the holster this time around. Patrick Mahomes, meanwhile, will start without a full set of targets. The Ravens will pull the upset in a battle that won’t tell us much about what might happen if these teams meet again in January. Mike Preston, columnist Chiefs 21, Ravens 18: Until proven otherwise, the Chiefs will stack the line of scrimmage and force quarterback Lamar Jackson to beat them downfield with the passing game. That strategy has paid off well against the Ravens in the postseason for the past six years. The Ravens are on the road playing in perhaps the loudest stadium in the NFL, and the Chiefs will be celebrating last year’s Super Bowl win as they try to three-peat. If there is one team that could pull the upset, it would be Baltimore, but Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes is a miracle worker. This should be an interesting game. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 24, Chiefs 23: This feels like the best time to meet the Chiefs at Arrowhead. Wide receiver Marquise Brown is out, and it’s unknown how well speedy rookie Xavier Worthy will connect with Patrick Mahomes in his first game. Tight end Travis Kelce has been a thorn in the Ravens’ side, but he’s about to turn 35 and is going to get plenty of attention from Baltimore’s deep group of defensive backs. The question is whether new defensive coordinator Zach Orr can have as much success as Mike Macdonald did in shutting down the Chiefs’ offense for the majority of the AFC championship game. This is a huge test for Orr and the Ravens’ young pass rushers, who must be relentless in their pursuit of a special scrambler like Mahomes. Of course, it will be fascinating to see what Derrick Henry looks like running behind a largely unproven offensive line with three new faces. Lamar Jackson and Henry are good enough to overcome subpar blocking, but for how long? This Chiefs defense is formidable at all three levels, and coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has had Jackson’s number with this game serving as another data point in the star quarterback’s ability to beat the blitz. It might take an explosive play or two from Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman or Isaiah Likely to flip this game in the Ravens’ favor — or perhaps a few long runs from the slimmer and faster two-time NFL Most Valuable Player. It always feels like a coin flip when Jackson and Mahomes meet, and this should be no different. In the end, the Ravens are fueled by the sting of last year’s heartbreaking playoff loss and prove that they’re the team to beat in the AFC until an inevitable rematch in January. Put me down for a game-winning field goal by Justin Tucker as a measure of revenge for last year’s beef with Kelce. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The NFL’s first mother-daughter agent tandem is here, forging a path for women: ‘The scene is changing’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens fan guide to 2024 NFL season: Everything you need to know before kickoff vs. Chiefs Baltimore Ravens | Why Chiefs’ blitz wreaked havoc on Lamar Jackson — and how the Ravens can answer it Baltimore Ravens | Hollywood Brown out for Chiefs, no Ravens starters on injury report for Thursday’s NFL opener Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about pass rush, coordinators and more | COMMENTARY Tim Schwartz, editor Chiefs 27, Ravens 24: So they meet again. All eyes will be on this AFC championship game rematch, and it’s hard to believe Kansas City would lose its season opener two years in a row. The Ravens had plenty of roster (and coaching) turnover and might need a little time to hit their stride. Facing Mahomes and the Chiefs on the night they receive their Super Bowl rings and raise another banner in front of a sold-out Arrowhead Stadium is a tall task for Baltimore. Anytime these two teams square off, one should expect a close game. It will be no different tonight, but I’ll take the Chiefs by a hair. Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 24, Chiefs 20: Fair or not, Lamar Jackson receives plenty of criticism for his 2-4 postseason record. In the regular season, however, Jackson’s 58-19 mark as a starter puts his winning percentage (75.3%) on par with Mahomes’ (77.1%) in non-playoff games. Jackson is historically great as a regular-season underdog, going 12-1-1 against the spread in his career, according to ESPN’s Stats & Information. Defending Super Bowl champions are 0-3 against the spread in Week 1 over the past three years, with two outright losses. While the Chiefs might still three-peat, give me Kansas City opening with a loss for the second consecutive season. View the full article

No Ravens starters appeared on the final injury report for Thursday night’s season opener, with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown the only key player on either side declared out for the rematch of last season’s AFC championship game. Ravens rookie running back Rasheen Ali was listed as doubtful after a neck injury limited him in practice all week. Veteran John Kelly is the top candidate to be elevated from the team’s practice squad to serve as No. 3 running back behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about pass rush, coordinators and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Chiefs scouting report for Week 1: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Chiefs season opener a ‘tone-setter’ that ‘everybody is going to be watching’ Baltimore Ravens | How waves and a bridge help Ravens coach John Harbaugh juggle grief and football Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers put in the offseason work that could turn into breakout season Rookie edge rusher Adisa Isaac, who has not practiced since the team’s second preseason game because of a hamstring injury, was the only Raven listed as out for the opener in Kansas City. Brown, the former Ravens pass catcher who signed a one-year deal with the defending Super Bowl champions in the offseason, has been dealing with a shoulder injury. Chiefs coach Andy Reid had already said he was unlikely to face his former team. Kansas City listed eight other players, including All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, on its injury report, but all were full practice participants throughout the week, and none carry an injury status for the game. View the full article

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer fans’ questions throughout the Ravens season. Baltimore begins its season Thursday night against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Here’s Preston’s take: (Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.) There is an agreement among fans and pundits that the offensive line will be the biggest question mark for the Ravens this season. Which position group will have the second most “make or break” influence on this year? — zot on X It will be the edge rushers or outside linebackers. Neither Odafe Oweh nor David Ojabo are proven, and in recent years the Ravens have shown they can’t win without a strong pass rush from the outside. Nnamdi Madubuike had a team-leading 13 sacks a year ago, so they’ll get good pressure up the middle. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy had nine sacks last season, but he’ll have to play without Jadeveon Clowney, who had 9 1/2 sacks but is now with the Carolina Panthers. Both Oweh and Ojabo played well in college, but they haven’t played their best games in the NFL yet. The Ravens are hoping the young group rises to the occasion along with outside linebacker Tavius Robinson, a second-year player out of Mississippi. Two questions: 1. Ben Cleveland seemed to have played well at right guard last season. In your eyes, is he a backup at this point? 2. What are your thoughts on Travis Jones? People seemed high on him as a rookie, but it seems like there’s little excitement today. — Words of Josh on X Jones has played well in training camp, but he was pushed around in preseason games. I was disappointed with his performance, but the Ravens are in a modest rebuild with young players. The 2022 third-round draft pick has great size at 6 feet 4 and 338 pounds, but Jones is in Year 3, so it’s time for him to step up. Cleveland has great size and is a space eater as a run blocker, but his pass blocking has always been suspect. He has gotten better through the years. I think he is a good stop-gap player, but not a full-time starter in the NFL. We can expect some regression on defense from last year because of lost players and coordinator Zach Orr’s debut. On the other hand, it is Year 2 for Todd Monken’s offense and the Ravens added Derrick Henry. Which will have a bigger impact this season? — zot on X I’ve been impressed with Monken’s offense so far in training camp. I can’t go into detail, but I’ve seen some good stuff. With both Monken and quarterback Lamar Jackson entering a second season, I think things will be a lot smoother. I hope Monken gets on Jackson more this season because coach John Harbaugh coddles Jackson too much and I think that has been a problem since Day 1. Monken, on the other hand, appears to get on everyone, even though both coaches should have been harder on Jackson in the AFC championship game. As for Orr, I don’t know what to expect and who he will listen to the most, Harbaugh or the players. One thing for sure, he is one of the most well-liked coaches that has ever walked through The Castle. He is well-respected by everyone. Almost anyone you speak with expects him to be a head coach one day, and that’s sooner than later. It is always exciting when a new season starts, but I am concerned that the Ravens will regress this season. Will they win the division again? — Yaye Essayas I think the Ravens win the AFC North. It’s a quarterback-driven league, and the Ravens return Jackson, who won his second NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 2023. Both Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson are attempting to come back from injuries and no one knows for sure how Russell Wilson will fit into the Pittsburgh offense. By the end of last season, the Ravens had the best team in the NFL. But they panicked offensively in the AFC championship game and have a lot of young players who need to step up this season. The key will be getting off to a strong start because the second half of the schedule is brutal with all those games played in a short amount of time. But just like most teams in the NFL, the Ravens have a shot. They just have to stay healthy and get hot at the right time like Kansas City did a year ago. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Chiefs scouting report for Week 1: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Chiefs season opener a ‘tone-setter’ that ‘everybody is going to be watching’ Baltimore Ravens | How waves and a bridge help Ravens coach John Harbaugh juggle grief and football Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers put in the offseason work that could turn into breakout season Baltimore Ravens | Super Bowl or bust? Lamar Jackson’s Ravens know no one remembers the runner-up. In your opinion, what’s the worst scenario for a pro player? The MLB, NHL or NBA trade deadline or NFL cutdown day? My money’s on the NFL. The other leagues have minor league affiliates and overseas options, whereas lots of NFL players have nowhere to go besides home. — Ed Helinski Sorry, Ed, when you are playing a sport at the highest level there is no worst scenario. Players waived by NFL teams have several options around the league, or they can continue to play on the semi-pro level or in Canada. Regardless, none of the players cut from any of the major leagues make those big salaries, but that’s the risk for anyone attempting to play pro sports. It’s the dream world. Some players make it, some don’t. It’s great to dream big, but the reality for most of these guys, especially coming from small colleges in football, is in the back of their minds. Of the sports you mentioned, the NFL is the toughest. Have a question for Mike Preston? Email sports@baltsun.com with “Ravens mailbag” in the subject line and it could be answered in The Baltimore Sun. View the full article

The Chiefs won the Super Bowl, 25-22, over the San Francisco 49ers. The Ravens lost to Kansas City, 17-10, in the AFC championship game. Who will have the advantage when these AFC powers meet Thursday night in the NFL season opener? Ravens passing game vs. Chiefs pass defense Lamar Jackson won his second NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 2023, completing 67.2% of his passes for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. As in Jackson’s other MVP season, the Ravens ranked low in total passing (21st) but high in efficiency (fifth in yards per attempt and pass DVOA). Jackson will work with a familiar set of targets, led by tight ends Mark Andrews (45 receptions, six touchdowns in just 10 games) and Isaiah Likely and wide receivers Zay Flowers (team-high 77 catches for 858 yards as a rookie) and Rashod Bateman. Of particular interest will be offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s efforts to scheme up production for Andrews and Likely when they’re on the field together and the state of Jackson’s chemistry with Bateman, who was open far more than he saw the ball last year. Jackson’s protection will also be worth watching with three new starters on the offensive line. Coach John Harbaugh has not announced his lineup, but Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees are expected to step in for Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson at right and left guard, respectively, with Patrick Mekari and rookie Roger Rosengarten competing to replace Morgan Moses at right tackle. The Ravens will face a Chiefs defense that held them in check for most of the AFC championship game, sacking Jackson four times and picking him off once. Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s group, led by All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, excelled at bringing pressure and preventing chunk plays throughout last season, ranking fifth in DVOA against the pass. Spagnuolo will stress Ravens blockers by sending extra rushers from all directions. He’ll need to, because much of his secondary is shaky. Kansas City traded starting cornerback L’Jarius Sneed in the offseason and struggled to find a good replacement this summer. Safeties Justin Reid and Bryan Cook will also be vulnerable if Jackson has time to probe. EDGE: Chiefs Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce pulls in a pass for a touchdown as Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton defends during the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Chiefs passing game vs. Ravens pass defense Patrick Mahomes solidified his position as the best player in football by leading a team that had struggled (relatively speaking) for much of the regular season to a third Super Bowl win in five years. The Chiefs ranked just eighth in pass DVOA and did not have a single pass catcher exceed 1,000 yards. But tight end Travis Kelce and No. 1 wide receiver Rashee Rice stepped up to catch 19 of 20 balls thrown their way in the AFC championship game win over the Ravens. Though Kelce’s production slipped last season, his sixth-sense connection with Mahomes remains unmatched, and he’s dangerous when Kansas City needs a clutch third down. The Chiefs upgraded Mahomes’ targets in the offseason, signing former Ravens wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (not expected to play in the opener because of a shoulder injury) and using a first-round pick on Texas receiver Xavier Worthy, who might challenge former Chief Tyreek Hill’s status as the NFL’s fastest playmaker. Kansas City’s offensive line, led by Pro Bowl center Creed Humphrey, is solid but will rely on a rookie left tackle in second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia. Mahomes will test a Baltimore pass defense that ranked first in DVOA, allowed just 4.7 yards per attempt and picked off 18 balls last season. The Ravens lost their most productive edge rusher in Jadeveon Clowney but re-signed breakout interior rusher Justin Madubuike (team-high 13 sacks and 33 quarterback hits) and will depend on a deep secondary led by All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton and rounded out by a potential shutdown cornerback in first-round pick Nate Wiggins. First-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr, who’s replacing his friend and mentor Mike Macdonald, will jump into the fire against the most creative quarterback in football and one of the game’s greatest offensive minds in Chiefs coach Andy Reid. EDGE: Even Ravens running game vs. Chiefs run defense We’ll get our first look at Derrick Henry, the most productive running back of the last decade, playing off Jackson in a ground game that ranked first in DVOA last season. The Ravens said goodbye to their top short-yardage threat in Gus Edwards and oft-injured J.K. Dobbins in favor of the 30-year-old Henry, who averaged 4.2 yards per carry and scored 12 touchdowns for the struggling Tennessee Titans last year. The change will require adjustments from both sides as Henry will likely be asked to carry out of shotgun formations and take mesh option handoffs more than he ever was in Tennessee. But the idea of his speed and power complementing Jackson’s elite (821 yards, 5.5 yards per carry in 2023) elusiveness is tantalizing. Justice Hill (4.6 yards per carry in 2023) will serve as the change of pace. If the team’s young offensive line struggles out of the gate, it might be here more than in pass protection if what we saw in the preseason was any indication. The Ravens will face a Kansas City defense that ranked just 27th in DVOA against the run last year. Linebackers Nick Bolton and Leo Chenal are solid in the middle, but Jones was merely a decent run stuffer while fellow defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi struggled. The Ravens famously failed to take advantage of this relative weakness in the AFC championship game, attempting just 16 runs for 81 yards. EDGE: Ravens Chiefs running game vs. Ravens run defense The Chiefs return Isiah Pacheco (935 yards, 4.6 per carry in 2023) as their primary ground option. He carried 24 times for just 68 yards in the AFC championship game. The Chiefs don’t design many runs for Mahomes (389 yards, 5.2 per carry in 2023), but he remains a dangerous scrambler, especially when they need a clutch third down. The Ravens, led by All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith and a seasoned defensive line, ranked seventh in rush DVOA last season and held the Chiefs to 2.8 yards per carry in the AFC championship game. They did make a major change at the other inside linebacker spot, letting Pro Bowl selection Patrick Queen leave in free agency and replacing him with 2023 third-round pick Trenton Simpson, who played just 46 defensive snaps as a rookie. Simpson has all the tools to succeed, but don’t be surprised if the Chiefs pick on him in his first start. EDGE: Ravens Ravens special teams vs. Chiefs special teams The Ravens ranked third and the Chiefs sixth in special teams DVOA last season, and this game will match up perhaps the two best kickers in the world in Justin Tucker (32 of 37 on field goal attempts in 2023) and Kansas City’s Harrison Butker (33 of 35, including 5 of 5 from 50 yards or beyond, in 2023). The league’s new kickoff rules will present a wild card for both teams, with the Ravens also turning to a new primary returner in 2019 Pro Bowl selection Deonte Harty. The speedy rookie Worthy could be a weapon for the Chiefs on punt returns. EDGE: Even Ravens intangibles vs. Chiefs intangibles It’s difficult to argue the Chiefs don’t have the Ravens’ number after they upset the AFC’s No. 1 seed at M&T Bank Stadium with a Super Bowl trip on the line. Kansas City has won four of five meetings in the Jackson-Mahomes era, with the Ravens’ lone victory coming in a 36-35 thriller in 2021. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about pass rush, coordinators and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Chiefs season opener a ‘tone-setter’ that ‘everybody is going to be watching’ Baltimore Ravens | How waves and a bridge help Ravens coach John Harbaugh juggle grief and football Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers put in the offseason work that could turn into breakout season Baltimore Ravens | Super Bowl or bust? Lamar Jackson’s Ravens know no one remembers the runner-up. The Chiefs, aiming for an unprecedented three-peat, will be the AFC’s top dog until someone knocks them off decisively. With Mahomes, they’re never out of any game, and with Reid, their schemes never seem to grow stale for long. The Ravens were the league’s best regular-season team in 2023, but all the confidence they built could not get them over the hump in January. Jackson and Harbaugh face Super Bowl-or-bust expectations, and an opening win in Kansas City isn’t likely to change that. EDGE: Chiefs Prediction Normal rules of quality go out the window with a Thursday night opener. Just look at last season, when the Chiefs dragged their feet through a home loss to the Detroit Lions. The Ravens will be hyped to face their nemesis and seem unlikely to keep their Henry-powered running game in the holster this time around. Mahomes, meanwhile, will start without a full set of targets. The Ravens will pull the upset in a battle that won’t tell us much about what might happen if these teams meet again in January. Ravens 26, Chiefs 24 View the full article

Seven months ago, Derrick Henry was contemplating what might have been. He was three months removed from nearly being traded to the Ravens and thus powerless, a rare feeling for the bruising four-time Pro Bowl running back. But all he could do was watch from afar in January as Baltimore inexplicably handed the ball to its backs just six times against the Chiefs in last season’s AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. Kansas City went on to win that matchup, 17-10, and its third Super Bowl title in five years, while the Ravens were left to ponder what went wrong. “Hell yes, I was wishing I could suit up that day watching that game,” Henry said this week. “But yes, now it’s my turn, so [I have] to take advantage of it. It’s going to be a hell of a game.” And a historic one, too, no matter the outcome. Thursday night’s rematch between the Chiefs and the Ravens will mark the first time that two quarterbacks who have won multiple NFL Most Valuable Player Awards will meet to kick off a season. Lamar Jackson, 27, won the honor in 2019 and again last season after leading Baltimore to the league’s best regular-season record while also posting career highs in passing yards and completion percentage. Patrick Mahomes, 28, was the league’s MVP in 2018 and 2022 and for good measure has been the Super Bowl MVP in each of the Chiefs’ victories. It’s little wonder that the two will meet to open the 2024 slate. “Obviously other teams were considered and lots of permutations of schedules worked their way through the computers, but to land on a K.C.-Baltimore matchup with those MVPs and the opportunity to have that type of elite teams, elite quarterbacks on the field is a great tone-setter to get into the season,” NFL executive vice president of club business, international and league events Peter O’Reilly said. Indeed. A Ravens victory would undoubtedly thrust images of a February Super Bowl celebration in New Orleans (the site of the organization’s last title) into the minds of the fan base. Another defeat would be a crushing nail in the argument that Jackson is not great enough — at least when it comes to beating Mahomes. Neither is true, of course, but it’s been a long seven months for Baltimore in particular. The Ravens have moved on, but they haven’t forgotten. “There’s always carryover, absolutely,” coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday. “There’s carryover for both teams; there’s carryover strategically; there’s carryover for the individual battles that guys are going to have that are still on the team. “I’m not going to try to downplay it, but I don’t want you to think it’s different either. It’s always this way. It’s not anxiety; the word we use is tension. There’s always tension because you want to go out and do well.” And there will be plenty more if the Ravens come out on the losing end again. From left, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, wide receiver Zay Flowers and tight end Isaiah Likely watch a preseason game against the Falcons. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) History, at least, is not on their side. Jackson has a career record of just 1-4 against Mahomes. That includes last season’s conference championship game, in which Jackson completed just 20 of 37 passes for 272 yards with one touchdown, a costly fourth-quarter interception and another turnover on a strip-sack. Mahomes, meanwhile, was mostly surgical, completing 30 of 39 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown with zero turnovers. The two quarterbacks will understandably be at the nexus of the rematch, though interestingly Jackson doesn’t have a relationship with or draw much from his counterpart, though there is mutual respect between the two. “I don’t think I have a relationship with any quarterback in the league,” Jackson said. “I don’t take anything from him, I just play my game. But he’s a great quarterback. I’m going to say that. He’s a great quarterback. He has the accolades to prove it.” Mahomes, meanwhile, understands Jackson’s desire to win. “More than athletic ability and the ability to throw is the way he competes,” Mahomes told reporters Sunday. “He’s a guy that competes every single week. You can tell he cares. You can tell he wants to go out there and win and he wants to put it on his shoulders to take his team to where they can win as many games as possible. “That’s truly what it takes to be a great quarterback in this league. It’s not always about talent.” On that front, the Ravens have their share. In addition to Jackson and Henry, there is second-year wide receiver Zay Flowers and the chemistry he has built with Jackson, the talented but enigmatic Rashod Bateman, a healthy Mark Andrews and burgeoning Isaiah Likely at tight end and, of course, a strong defense. Led by All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, All-Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, Baltimore was historically dominant last season, becoming the first team to lead the league in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game. Yet, there has been plenty of turnover, on the roster and amid the coaching staff, with several departures that included, among others, Pro Bowl inside linebacker Patrick Queen, outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney and former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, now the coach of the Seattle Seahawks. The cupboard isn’t bare, but questions abound. On offense, there are three new starters on the line and uncertainty about the depth at wide receiver. On defense, inside linebacker Trenton Simpson and first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr are among those who are untested. The Chiefs figure to provide some of the answers as the Ravens’ most difficult test on a schedule full of championship contenders. One of the biggest concerns for Baltimore figures to be managing Kansas City’s blitz, which disrupted Jackson’s rhythm consistently the last time the teams played. “He’s unique in what he does,” Harbaugh said of Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. “[There are a] lot of things that he does, we do, [and] we do that he does, other teams do. And other things that are unique. It’s kind of the way it’s all put together, probably for any coach, when certain blitzes show up, or when coverages show up. He’ll keep it moving on you. He’ll keep you guessing for sure, and that’s one of the great strengths of what Steve does as a defensive play-caller.” But as Jackson said, there were “all types of things we could’ve done better in that game.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about pass rush, coordinators and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Chiefs scouting report for Week 1: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | How waves and a bridge help Ravens coach John Harbaugh juggle grief and football Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers put in the offseason work that could turn into breakout season Baltimore Ravens | Super Bowl or bust? Lamar Jackson’s Ravens know no one remembers the runner-up. The first chance to atone for those myriad mistakes comes Thursday night in Arrowhead Stadium, where the Chiefs will also celebrate their latest Super Bowl victory. Though the Ravens hope to treat it like any other game and as the first in a series of important ones over the next few months, it will also be revealing — to them and the tens of millions of television viewers at home. “We’ve been talking about it all offseason that last year didn’t end how we want it to, but it gives us perspective on what we need to do to get back to what we did last year and win that game,” Hamilton said. “You can’t ignore the situation [of] who you’re playing against, and you have to respect them at the same time, but I feel like what keeps me playing at my best is going into it like it’s just another game — not getting too high, not getting too low, staying even-keeled and just going out there and playing my game. “Having such a big game like this — everybody is going to be watching — and us having the poise to go out there and hopefully get a win I think will propel us during the year, give us a sense of what we need to do to win a game, what our preparation looks like, what we did right, what we did wrong and from then on, just kind of hit the ground rolling.” View the full article

John Harbaugh often talks to his team about the tranquility of sitting on the beach, simply watching the waves undulate. Some find it boring, he said. The longtime Ravens coach finds it fascinating. And he loves a good metaphor. “They don’t stop,” Harbaugh said. “Sometimes they’re kind of calm, nice and fun. Warm and inviting. Other times they get a little rough and the storm comes in and they can be dangerous. That’s kind of a time analogy.” Before the Ravens travel to Kansas City for their season opener against the Chiefs on Thursday night, Harbaugh waxed poetically about the confluence of juggling football anticipation with grief, having lost two important figures this offseason. Ravens legend and Super Bowl 47 hero Jacoby Jones died suddenly July 14, days before his 40th birthday. And offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris died early morning Aug. 25, less than two weeks after it was announced that he had been hospitalized for an acute illness. The losses of both Jones and D’Alessandris have weighed heavily on the organization. Baltimore announced Tuesday that each players’ helmet will feature a commemorative decal on the backside above their number. The tags, Harbaugh said, serve as a reminder about the people they lost and about making the most of life as they move into the season. “Those waves just keep coming,” Harbaugh said. “You just gotta keep swimming.” He offered another metaphor for the anticipatory feeling of the next wave: a Week 1 clash with the Chiefs, who are chasing the NFL’s first three-peat. Harbaugh didn’t try to downplay the weight of the game. It’s in prime-time, on the road, against the reigning Super Bowl champs. It’s an immediate litmus test for how Baltimore bounces back from a disappointing end to last season. But he called the feeling of heading into the opener “tension,” rather than anxiety. “It’s like a bridge,” he said. “A suspension bridge. Those cables — they have tension to hold that bridge up there and keep everybody safe. There’s tension when you’re lifting weights, there’s tension in your arms [and] in your muscles. There has to be tension. So guys are going to be tense, they’re going to be locked in, they’re going to be focused.” To honor his Nigerian heritage, the Ravens’ star defensive lineman will now be known as Nnamdi Madubuike. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Madubuike name change Justin Madubuike slowly tested the waters before officially changing his name with the NFL. One of the league’s premier defensive lineman recently swapped out his nameplate in the Ravens’ locker room to his Nigerian-given name, Nnamdi Madubuike (pronounced NAHM-dee). He liked the way it looked. Then on Monday, he updated his social media profiles to reflect his preferred name, the one his family used since he was little. And with that, he made it official with the league. “Coming from Nigerian culture, our parents give us like an American name and give us a Nigerian name,” Madubuike told the team’s website. “When we were growing up as little kids, they addressed us as our Nigerian name. So Nnamdi, I believe in my heart, that’s my real name.” Part of Madubuike’s inspiration to go by his Nigerian name came from his teammate, Odafe Oweh, who went by Jayson Oweh until he was drafted in 2021. “Just learning from the older vets and stuff, I keep finding ways to get better every single year. I just started to just keep everything real in terms of my life,” Madubuike said. “After I signed my [four-year, $98 million] contract, I just need to keep doing that. I just felt like when I keep it real, the better player I am, the better man I am.” Injury report The Ravens enter their season opener fairly healthy. Only linebacker Adisa Isaac (hamstring) and running back Rasheen Ali (neck) were listed on the team’s first injury report heading into Kansas City. Isaac missed the start of training camp with two separate offseason hamstring injuries. The third-round draft pick returned for Baltimore’s second preseason game but suffered another similar setback. He was the only missing player from Tuesday’s practice. Ali missed preseason action with a stinger but his limited participation in practice this week indicates the fifth-round draft pick cleared the league’s concussion protocol. View the full article

Zay Flowers raised a few eyebrows when, during his first rookie minicamp with the Ravens, he requested extra leg workouts from the training staff. It was a rare ask for a first-year player, let alone a wide receiver, those in the building said. It was also telling. Despite setting franchise records for most catches (77) and receiving yards (858) by a rookie last season and being one of the best rookie wideouts in the league, the Ravens’ 2023 first-round draft pick spent part of this summer torching his legs by running hills at a former trash dump, Visa View Park in Davie, Florida, not far from where he and his nine brothers and four sisters grew up. He also often worked out five days a week at nearby gym PER4FORM, where he spent about 90 minutes a day under the watchful eye of co-owner and director of programming Zac Cardone. In between, Flowers worked two to three days a week on his shifty footwork and route-running with Tevin Allen (colloquially known on Instagram as Goldfeet) on the same youth field where Flowers’ older brothers once competed against Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. “Zay has always been a grinder,” Cardone, who like Allen has trained Flowers since he was a freshman at NSU University School in Fort Lauderdale, told The Baltimore Sun. “When I trained him in high school, he was always in the top one or two on every rep. That’s continued right throughout. “If Zay’s in town, he’s gonna be getting [a workout] in with me first thing in the morning.” The focus in those sessions is centered around strength and explosiveness and is as detailed and specific as the routes Flowers runs. In doing contrast training — which is when a strength exercise like squats is followed by a power movement such as vertical jumps — Flowers improved his strength and explosive power. Compound sets — pairing two exercises that target different muscle groups with minimal rest in between — shocked his muscles into growth and sent his metabolism into overdrive. And negative reps, or eccentric training, helped create bigger, stronger muscles while making connective tissue such as ligaments and tendons more resilient. Put another way, a typical workout for Flowers, who finished last season at 174 pounds and is now up to 180, looked like this in the offseason: Monday: Lower body explosive day in the weight room and pushing a weighted sled. Tuesday: Upper body explosive day. Wednesday: Recovery and pilates. Thursday: Lower body day functional and hills running. Friday: Upper body functional day. When he wasn’t pushing weights or running hills, Flowers honed his release, routes and separation in workouts with Allen at the Pompano Cowboys’ youth field, where guerrilla style social media videos displayed the quickness and moves that earned him the nickname “Joystick” from Jackson his rookie year. The Ravens’ Zay Flowers signs an autograph before a preseason game against the Packers in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer) Allen, who played at Illinois State, founded Gold Feet Global with his brothers, Tyrie and Junior, in 2014, a few years after getting benched as a sophomore and learning to impersonate Hall of Fame receiver Chad Johnson’s workout videos. That’s when the proverbial light bulb went off, and since then, the trio’s clientele has exploded. Among the receivers they’ve worked with are Deebo Samuel, Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Elijah Moore and former Raven Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. The group hasn’t been limited to pass catchers, either, with Jackson and fellow quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Tua Tagovailoa all working with them as well. Among the drills Flowers focused on were his get-off at the line of scrimmage, second-level releases, top-of-route releases, downfield throws and option routes. “Every day is something different,” Flowers told The Sun. “A lot of [my ability] is natural from playing backyard ball with my brothers. [Allen] brought it to where I could do it every play, that I could be more consistent with it and I’m more game ready with it.” After a sensational rookie season, though, Flowers says he wants more. “When he comes down here and we can really focus on our program, his explosiveness goes to another level,” Cardone says of Flowers. “When Zay’s legs are strong, he’s just different.” The great separator The metrics of what makes Flowers different, Cardone says, are the results. Last season, his 77 catches ranked third among rookie receivers behind only Los Angeles Rams sensation Puka Nacua and Kansas City Chiefs speedster Rashee Rice. Flowers’ 53.6 yards per game were fourth among rookies behind Nacua, Houston Texans standout Tank Dell and Rice. And his 108 targets tied for second among first-year receivers with Minnesota Vikings first-round pick Jordan Addison. But when it came to separation, no one was better than Flowers. At 57.4%, per FTN Fantasy, he was well ahead of Rice (51%) and Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill (50.3%). And his 396 yards after the catch — many of which came on 23 screen passes, the second-most for a rookie in the Pro Football Focus era — ranked 15th among all receivers. “He’s a weapon that they really have not had,” NBC Sports analyst and former NFL receiver Cris Collinsworth said. “This is a team that if Zay is what I think he is, which I think is a very, very special player, and can provide that sort of explosiveness on the outside that they’ve just been waiting for for a long time. … He’s a cornerstone going forward for a really good team.” The next progression for Flowers, naturally, would be downfield. Last season, he averaged a ho-hum 8.56 air yards per reception, good for only 62nd in the league. Of his 77 catches, all but 16 came on passes that were in the air for 5 yards or less. The addition of bruising four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry and the return of tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely should help, and Flowers’ face lights up at the prospect of more deep balls. “College, it was all deep balls for me,” Flowers told The Sun, “so running a lot of routes underneath was kind of new to me.” It’s hard to argue his development, however, with Flowers’ 85% success rate against zone defenses, which he saw on 60% of his routes, putting him in the 90th percentile of receivers, per Reception Perception. He also ranked fifth in the NFL with an open-target rate of 89.7%, per PFF. Still, there’s reason to believe that he can and will see more deep throws this season. Flowers’ second-best route last season was the post, which he was successful on 87.5% of the time. Other routes he tortured defenses on included comebacks (100%) and digs (86.8%). There is, of course, also a greeter grasp of the offense and his budding relationship with Jackson. “You can see that with players as they gain experience — they ask questions, have ideas, have thoughts,” Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “Like, ‘Can we do it this way? What about this? What about this?’ When you’re younger, you’re just trying to learn it — it’s hard to be engaged when you’re not sure yourself. That’s where he’s really come a long way.” Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, left, knocks the ball loose from Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers at the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) In Zay he trusts After Flowers’ costly fourth-quarter fumble at the goal line against the Chiefs in last season’s AFC championship loss, one of the first people to reach out to Flowers was Jackson. The quarterback texted Flowers to let him know that everyone makes mistakes. He then visited Flowers at his house the next two days to further console him. “I know how important it is to him — that moment, how important it is to all of us and how people would be about what went on during the game,” said Jackson, who added that Flowers is like a little brother to him. “But all of us play a part — it’s a team sport at the end of the day, and I was letting him know that.” Months later, in the hot South Florida sun, the two moved forward from that devastating moment in a constructive way, working out together on the same field Jackson once dazzled on as a young boy while also spending time together other off of it. Flowers told The Sun that they worked on timing and adding moves to the top of his routes, as well as things that Jackson likes from his receivers. Though neither played in the preseason, their chemistry was obvious throughout training camp. “I’m seeing him attack the ball, [and] I’m seeing him when the cornerback has outside leverage on an out-breaking route; he’s dropping him, and he’s winning,” Jackson said. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Super Bowl or bust? Lamar Jackson’s Ravens know no one remembers the runner-up. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Chiefs injury report: Rookie Adisa Isaac only player to miss practice Monday Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton’s golf obsession helps fuel his All-Pro football game Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens have to prove they’re still one of the best at developing talent | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens Q&A with Zach Orr on his playing career, family, becoming a coach and more The time together also allowed Flowers to move forward from what was a tumultuous offseason that included being investigated over an alleged domestic incident earlier this year. Baltimore County Police suspended the investigation in February with no charges, and the NFL later concluded that there was “insufficient evidence” on whether Flowers violated the league’s personal conduct policy. In the wake of the alleged incident, Flowers said he wanted to focus on being a “better person” and to build his reputation in the Baltimore community, particularly with kids. Though he declined to discuss what happened at the time, he reiterated his desire to have an impact off the field. “It’s always been important,” he told The Sun. “Before the situation even happened, I was doing stuff in the community. I’m just gonna stay the person I am and do what I do.” With the 2024 season upon him, that includes being one of the most talented and impactful young receivers in the game. “He’s had my trust,” Jackson said. “[With] him catching the ball and doing what he does, that’s all a quarterback wants.” View the full article

It felt as if the previous four months simply had not happened. Lamar Jackson’s second NFL Most Valuable Player season? December maulings of the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins? A sense that, finally, they were the league’s best? Poof — gone. Replaced by another crushing disappointment against the inevitable Kansas City Chiefs, by the acid aftertaste of another monumental game in which the Ravens failed to put their best foot forward. There’s always next year? Baltimore football fans no longer wanted to hear it. After the Ravens’ 17-10 loss in the AFC championship game, their outlook turned unforgiving. Brilliant regular seasons would no longer suffice. The home team could only erase their skepticism by taking the final step to the Super Bowl. Eight months later, with a new season set to begin Thursday night against those same Chiefs, the Ravens find themselves living in that zero-sum reality. They have to win enough games to reach the postseason, but they can’t change hearts and minds with anything they do over the next four months. It’s a tricky line for players and coaches to walk. They, too, see the Super Bowl as their one, true measuring stick, but they won’t have a chance to reach it if they don’t hone in on the mundane toils of each football week. The end of the story might be everything, but they can’t skip to it. “We have to win regular-season games to get to January,” Jackson said. “We can’t just go into the season and go 5-12, because then we’re not going to be in the playoffs. We have to go into every game trying to make the playoffs. Playoffs are on our mind, but at the same time, we have to win this game that’s ahead of us.” That from the man who threw down the Super Bowl gauntlet for himself the night the Ravens drafted him in 2018. Those words rolled easily off the tongue of a 21-year-old who had won the Heisman Trophy and captured the imagination of college football fans around the world while at Louisville. The 27-year-old version of Jackson has taken more bruises, existing at the center of national sports discourse that says you can’t be one of the true greats without a ring. At times, this mindset sucks the joy out of games and seasons, not to mention that it ignores the sheer difficulty of becoming the last team standing. Are we living in the sports world we want when a 13-4 season is remembered as a failure? “Just to make it to the championship game in the AFC, I mean, think about what that’s going to mean this year,” said NBC Sports analyst Cris Collinsworth, who will help call the Ravens-Chiefs opener. “Everybody is going to pencil these two teams back into the championship game. They played so well. But who doesn’t have a chance? Bills, Dolphins, Jets for sure. Bengals, Ravens, I don’t know what the Steelers are going to do, Browns for sure. Texans, what they did. Chiefs, Chargers now with [Jim] Harbaugh out there. It’s just really hard.” “You understand it from the fans because this has been such a sustained, very good football team and they want to see the trophy that comes with it — and it hasn’t come,” Collinsworth’s broadcast partner, Mike Tirico, said. “I understand the fans being restless about trying to get back there, but I think those players know full well, as Cris detailed, how many good teams you’ve got to play to get from Week 1 to the last Sunday of the AFC season and the conference championship game. It’s very hard to get back and shouldn’t be underappreciated how difficult that task is going to be.” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said of the notion anything but a Super Bowl would be considered a failure, “I am proud of our team — what we’ve accomplished. We haven’t accomplished our ultimate goal, but I don’t really subscribe to the idea that your season is a failure if you don’t win the Super Bowl.” (Kevin Richardson/Staff) The Ravens aim never to endure a rebuilding downturn, at least not as long as they have one of the league’s elite quarterbacks on their roster and his $260 million contract on their balance sheet. They take cost-saving risks such as going with a young, overhauled offensive line this season, but winning big is the goal. Does that mean a Lombardi Trophy is the only stamp of success for those who assemble the team? General manager Eric DeCosta thinks back over the best teams in Ravens history, and perhaps four of the top five — 2006, 2011, 2019 and 2023 — did not make it to the final game. The 2000 Super Bowl champions did it with a below-average offense. In 2012, the Ravens bumped along for four months, not hitting their stride until the games mattered most. “It’s an excellent question,” DeCosta said when asked how he judges a season. “My goal is to build a team that has talent at every position, that is flexible enough to withstand injuries, that we have depth to get us through a long season and to make the playoffs and to be sort of ascending at that point. I think we’ve maybe had the best record twice in the last five years, and we didn’t make it to the end; that’s tough. But I am proud of our team — what we’ve accomplished. We haven’t accomplished our ultimate goal, but I don’t really subscribe to the idea that your season is a failure if you don’t win the Super Bowl; I know a lot of people do. If I did that, I’d probably be in a mental institution.” In some sense, elite athletes have had to balance this all-or-nothing mentality most of their lives. They wouldn’t be where they are if not driven by bold visions, but they often need to shut out big-picture thoughts and emotions to focus on perfecting the next practice rep or knowing the next opponent’s defense like it’s second nature. The regular season might not matter to fans or pundits, but it has to matter to them. “I think each and every guy’s goal — and ours as a team — should be to make the Super Bowl,” Ravens All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith said. “But there is a process in place, and you have to respect the process, and I’m a firm believer in respecting the process. So, it starts with Week 1. Kansas City is in our way for what exactly we want to do, and I’m sure, from their eyes, we’re in their way.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers put in the offseason work that could turn into breakout season Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Chiefs injury report: Rookie Adisa Isaac only player to miss practice Monday Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton’s golf obsession helps fuel his All-Pro football game Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens have to prove they’re still one of the best at developing talent | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens Q&A with Zach Orr on his playing career, family, becoming a coach and more Smith’s ritual of sprinting out to practice every day is his physical demonstration of respecting the process. Of course, the Ravens thought they had clocked into the right head space last year, when they entered the postseason as calmly and professionally as a team could. And still the Chiefs seemed more prepared on that final Sunday in January. One lost day defined a season. More than that, the 2024 Ravens know they will be judged by the same harsh standard this time around. “Nobody remembers the AFC championship runner-up from 10 years ago,” All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton said. “We’re trying to be that team that everybody remembers won the Super Bowl. So, we lost — it is what it is — [we] had a good year, but we have to do it again.” View the full article

The Ravens are slated to enter their regular season opener against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs with nearly a fully healthy roster. Only linebacker Adisa Isaac and running back Rasheen Ali were listed on the team’s first injury report of the season Monday afternoon. Isaac did not practice Monday with a hamstring injury and Ali was a limited participant with a neck injury. All 51 other players were full participants in Baltimore’s penultimate practice before leaving for Kansas City. Isaac has been hampered with two separate hamstring injuries throughout the summer. The third-round draft pick suffered the first during rookie minicamp, then returned only to have a similar setback in his other leg. He was in line to play a sizable role as Baltimore searched for additional outside linebacker depth but has struggled to stay on the field long enough to earn more opportunities. Ali, a fifth-round draft pick, missed time in the preseason with a stinger, but his participation Monday indicates he cleared the league’s concussion protocol. Both Isaac and Ali made the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster with no injury designations but are candidates to be placed on injured reserve before Thursday’s game. Practice squad elevations for another outside linebacker or running back are also possibilities. For the Chiefs, only former Raven Marquise Brown was held out Monday. The wide receiver signed a one-year, $7 million contract with Kansas City this offseason after spending the last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Baltimore used the draft pick it received from Arizona in the trade for Brown on center Tyler Linderbaum, who is expected to play after returning to practice as a full participant this week following an extended absence with a neck injury. Mark Andrews, who missed the final weeks of training camp and preseason following a car accident, is also expected to play. View the full article

It was the day after last season’s AFC championship game and the mind of Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton was already on his top offseason priority as he cleaned out his locker in the grim quiet of the team’s facility in Owings Mills. Perhaps he was thinking about how to slow down Travis Kelce after the Kansas City Chiefs tight end racked up 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown against Hamilton that helped set the tone for a long January afternoon for the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Or maybe he was contemplating the All-Pro and Pro Bowl season he just had and how he’d need to be even better for a defense in 2024 that would have significant turnover on the roster and amid the coaching staff. Not quite. “Golf,” he said. Indeed. “My brother doesn’t have the patience for it, but I love it,” Hamilton told The Baltimore Sun in a recent interview. “If I’m not playing football, I’m trying to get on a golf course somewhere.” Born in 2001, Hamilton and his older brother, Tyler, were introduced to the game by their father, Derrek, a 1988 New Jersey Nets draft pick, who played professionally in Europe for 15 years and took up golf during the peak of the Tiger Woods era in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The youngest Hamilton’s obsession with golf, which he started playing around 5 years old, has only blossomed since. At home in suburban Atlanta this summer, he played three to four times a week, usually at venerable Peachtree Golf Club, which was co-designed by legendary amateur Bobby Jones. And amid the mundanity of training camp, Hamilton worked in rounds at every opportunity, including one recent occasion at Baltimore Country Club, where he nearly made his first hole-in-one, hitting a gap wedge from 140 yards to within a foot of the cup. On the surface, football and golf could not seem more disparate endeavors. But Hamilton’s curious mind sees the many correlations between the two, including the endless and necessary attention to detail, as well as the plotting and angles and mental acuity, all of which have also helped him in just two seasons become perhaps the best player at his position and one of the best overall in the NFL. “Short memory, especially at DB, you’re gonna get beat sometimes,” he continues. “You’re gonna hit bad shots in golf. The best ones forget about it quickly. “It may not be as physically taxing as football, but mentally that’s one of the toughest sports. You’re out there alone against [over a hundred] dudes in the field and it’s about who gets hot doing it over four days consistently. Sleeping on a lead on a Saturday night in a major, it doesn’t get more intense than that.” Patrolling the Ravens’ secondary as a position-less player who will again be counted on to do it all this season is up there, too. Despite the loss, Ravens safety was all over the field during January’s AFC championship game loss to the Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Examples of Hamilton’s exploits abounded last season, in particular during that 17-10 loss to the Chiefs in the conference title game. After Kansas City raced out to a 17-7 halftime lead, Baltimore’s defense stiffened, holding the Chiefs to 98 total yards and quarterback Patrick Mahomes to just 4.8 yards per pass attempt while sacking him twice, something no other team managed last postseason. Though he gave up a touchdown on the game’s first drive, Hamilton was often at the nexus of the Ravens’ success defensively. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens have to prove they’re still one of the best at developing talent | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens Q&A with Zach Orr on his playing career, family, becoming a coach and more Baltimore Ravens | Just another game? Ravens talk approach for season-opening rematch against Chiefs. Baltimore Ravens | Beau Brade dreamed of playing for the Ravens. Now he’s ‘gotta make the most of it.’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens re-signing QB Tyler Huntley to practice squad after Browns release him On one play, there he was blowing up Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco in the backfield. On another, he fights off a blocker to drag Kelce down with one arm. Thenhe races backward to break up a deep pass intended for speedy receiver Rashee Rice. He later mangles a tunnel screen to Rice. Finally, he blitzes Mahomes from the backside to force a hurried incompletion. “Kyle is a unicorn,” Ravens passing game coordinator Chris Hewitt said. “He’s a one of one.” Which is why first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr gives the 23-year-old a certain degree of autonomy within the defense and calls him “the ultimate chess piece.” “My goal for him is to one day win [the] defensive MVP — here — of the league,” Orr said. “The thing about him being the ultimate chess piece, depending on what the offense does, he can play anywhere. He can play safety, deep safety, box safety; he can play corner, he can play nickel, he can play backer, he can even play outside linebacker, too, and you guys know he can rush the passer. “The thing that you appreciate about Kyle Hamilton is, is he works at it. He’s a smart player, so he can handle all the different volume that you get him. I think he’s eager, going into his third year, to do more, so we’ll see.” That much has manifested itself, not just in games, but in practice. Early in training camp, quarterback Lamar Jackson lofted a long pass for Mark Andrews with Hamilton in close coverage. Both men went up for the ball with Andrews snatching it. But before he could secure it, Hamilton knocked it free with his leg as the two were crashing to the turf and then hauled it himself for the lone interception of the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player that afternoon. Other days, Hamilton will spend time running routes as a wide receiver because, in his words, if he can move like a receiver then he should be able to guard one. That kind of study extends to golf as well. Some of Hamilton’s favorite pros include Min Woo Lee, Scottie Scheffler, Rickie Fowler, Cam Smith and Brooks Koepka. All have vastly differing skills and styles of play, but the beauty — in golf and in football — he says are in the details. Golf is also an escape for him, he says, allowing him to clear his head and refocus his mind. “There’s so much little stuff in golf that I feel is the same in football,” Hamilton told The Sun, adding that he often also studies the nuances of safeties, cornerbacks, linebackers and even defensive ends around the league. “It’s not one size fits all.” “He’s like a generational-type player,” Ravens passing game coordinator Chris Hewitt said of safety Kyle Hamilton, pictured. “You don’t see many guys who are 6-foot-4, who can run and change direction the way he does.” He says the difference between his first year in the NFL and his second was akin to showing up at a course he hadn’t played compared with one he had and knows where all the trouble is, acknowledging that sometimes he “hit it out of bounds” as a rookie. As one example, Hamilton said he had to learn patience in zone defense. “College and high school, you could just go make a play,” he told The Sun. “In the NFL, they’re doing stuff on purpose, putting something in front of a young rookie safety’s face to go drive it, then do something behind you going deep. “It’s like everyone wants to go to the range and hit driver, but you gotta go work on your short game and putting. To equate that to how I watch film intently, am I watching to see what personnel they’re in to see what guys do, or am I watching to get a good idea of formations and what they’re trying to run and what I can eliminate by just looking at a formation?” That was the case during last season’s key Christmas night victory over the San Francisco 49ers, when Hamilton read their first-and-10 play from Baltimore’s 15-yard-line on their opening drive so well that he quickly moved off tight end George Kittle to streaking receiver Deebo Samuel to easily cut off the route and intercept a would-be touchdown pass in the end zone. It was one of four interceptions on the year for Hamilton, who also had 13 passes defended, three sacks, four quarterback hits, a forced fumble and 81 tackles, including 10 for loss. When Hamilton was on the field last season, the Ravens’ defense was one of the best in the NFL in yards allowed per play, expected points added allowed per play and success rate. When he wasn’t, they were below average. “There are not many guys who [can] come along like that,” Hewitt said. “He’s like a generational-type player. You don’t see many guys who are 6-foot-4, who can run and change direction the way he does. He still plays with violence; he’s not a finesse player. He’s got it all.” Once a star high school basketball player before he decided to focus solely on football and with a golf handicap currently around 6, it’s hard to argue otherwise. Hamilton still has a few goals, though, with the Super Bowl at the top of the list. When it comes to golf, attending the Masters, making a hole-in-one and playing Pebble Beach — which he’ll do on a buddies trip next March — top the list. “It’s not something I’m not necessarily that good at,” he demures. “A bunch of my friends are better than me.” The same at least can’t be said about his football. View the full article

The Ravens have been considered one of the best drafting teams in the NFL ever since they moved from Cleveland to Baltimore for the 1996 season, and it’s hard to argue against that sentiment. After all, the team’s first two selections were a pair of Pro Football Hall of Famers in offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and middle linebacker Ray Lewis. In 2024, the Ravens will have to show if that reputation still holds. Gone are veterans such as running backs Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins and Melvin Gordon III, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., offensive linemen John Simpson, Morgan Moses and Kevin Zeitler, inside linebacker Patrick Queen and three defensive assistants, as well as Joe D’Alessandris, the team’s late offensive line coach. Even though they don’t want to admit it, the Ravens are in a modest rebuild hindered by some salary cap restrictions. They still have to sign extensions with prominent players such as safety Kyle Hamilton and center Tyler Linderbaum in the immediate future. So, the current team is like one of those “The Price is Right” shows. Hey, guards Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele, come on down. Unfortunately, both are here to stay for a while. The alternatives aren’t good, and that was clearly evident in the Ravens’ 30-7 preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 24. “We have a lot of really good young players; and we’re going to have more challenges, because looking out in the next couple years, starting after this season, we’re going to have some really, really good players that we can extend,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said. “It’s going to be challenging, but we’re going to try to keep as much of our young talent here in Baltimore as we can.” “We can’t do it all the time, but that’s a mission that we have,” DeCosta added. “I love that we have so many good young players, and they keep emerging, and we keep seeing these guys develop. It’s great in one way, but in the other way, it’s hard because we can’t keep every single player. But we’re going to try to keep as many guys as we can. So, I think our future is very bright.” On offense, the Ravens are thin on the line and at wide receiver. Because of a knee injury, Vorhees missed all of his rookie season a year ago and should be making his first NFL start at left guard Thursday night in the season opener against the Chiefs in Kansas City. After two preseason games, he has played like a rookie with a lack of consistency. The 6-foot-8, 380-pound Faalele has played both tackle spots over the past two seasons filling in for Ronnie Stanley and Patrick Mekari, but he faces a new challenge on the interior. There aren’t too many guards in the NFL with his size. Faalele has struggled with hand placement, knee bend and working into the second and third levels, but he has gotten better since the start of training camp. Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has yet to prove he can be a No. 1 target, Mike Preston writes. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) The Ravens have a capable group of receivers with speedster Zay Flowers in the slot and Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely providing a double threat at tight end. Veteran receiver Nelson Agholor can line up anywhere. But the scary part is whether 2021 first-round draft pick Rashod Bateman can finally develop into a true No. 1 receiver on the outside. Will he sulk if he doesn’t get involved in the offense right away? He is the X-factor. “It’s just really an opportunity for Rashod to show what he can do consistently,” DeCosta said. “I think a big part of that is him staying on the field, playing and catching the ball. He runs great routes, he’s tough. He wants to be good. He has the talent to do it, and he needs the opportunities, and the other half of that is staying healthy.” Some of the Ravens’ recent draft classes have been successful. Flowers, a 2023 first-round pick, had 77 catches for 858 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie last season, and Likely finished with 30 receptions for 411 yards and five touchdowns in his second year while filling in for an injured Andrews. Defensively, the Ravens aren’t in much better shape. They gave up a lot of rushing yards in three preseason games, but that won’t happen with nose tackle Michael Pierce, defensive end Justin Madubuike and middle linebacker Roquan Smith back in the starting lineup. But after Smith, the Ravens have linebackers Chris Board and Malik Harrison, both of whom are limited in coverage. Second-year player Trent Simpson will join Smith on the inside and he was efficient as a tackler in the preseason, but how many did he make within 4-5 yards of the line of scrimmage? That’s a concern. Third-year defensive tackle Travis Jones played well in training camp, but not so well in preseason games. The same can be said for outside linebackers Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, who were drafted to revitalize the pass rush. In the case of Ojabo, leg injuries have forced him to miss the past two seasons. Oweh’s situation is different because he just hasn’t played at a consistent level for someone drafted in the first round. He dominated in training camp this summer and was held out of preseason games. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton’s golf obsession helps fuel his All-Pro football game Baltimore Ravens | Ravens Q&A with Zach Orr on his playing career, family, becoming a coach and more Baltimore Ravens | Just another game? Ravens talk approach for season-opening rematch against Chiefs. Baltimore Ravens | Beau Brade dreamed of playing for the Ravens. Now he’s ‘gotta make the most of it.’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens re-signing QB Tyler Huntley to practice squad after Browns release him It’s an interesting mix that coach John Harbaugh has to bring together. The Ravens have a decent blend of high-caliber talent with quarterback Lamar Jackson, running back Derrick Henry and possibly the improved play of left tackle Ronnie Stanley. On defense, Madubuike wants to prove that his 13 sacks a year ago were no fluke, and neither were the nine contributed by outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy. As for Smith, he might be the best middle linebacker in the game, certainly the best in Baltimore since Lewis. But the recent death of D’Alessandris will slow the development of the offensive line, and the team lost assistants Anthony Weaver (Miami Dolphins) and Dennard Wilson (Tennessee Titans) to defensive coordinator positions elsewhere. Also, former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald was named the coach of the Seattle Seahawks. The Ravens have enough prime-time players to jell, but it will come down to the development of young talent, especially on the offensive line. The organization has to prove again that its reputation is legitimate. If not, this season could be a struggle. View the full article

It’s rare for a coordinator to be scrutinized as much as his top players, but Zach Orr will step immediately into the spotlight in his first season running the Ravens’ defense. That’s because the 32-year-old retired linebacker will take over for one of the most acclaimed defensive minds in football, his close friend and mentor Mike Macdonald, who’s now coaching the Seattle Seahawks. Orr sat down recently to discuss how he knew coaching was the right fit after his playing career ended abruptly, his bond with Macdonald and how he plans to put his own stamp on the Ravens’ defensive tradition. Your dad [Terry Orr] was an NFL player, but he did not steer you and your brothers toward football. Why did you go that way anyway? I really think we just saw all his jerseys hanging up and all his trophies and accomplishments around the house, and that was something we looked up to and saw since we were younger. We kind of just found our way with it, and he never pushed us away from it, but he never steered us to it. But all that stuff being around, watching his old videos and tapes, that just motivated us, and we fell in love with the game on our own. He talked about how when he was still playing in Washington, he coached your rec team in Virginia and he would have been fine if you had fun and that was it, that was the end. I can remember maybe one time when we actually played catch with each other or worked out and trained. But he really didn’t care. When he had the pee-wee team, in the draft, he said all I want is my boys on my team, and then I’ll take whoever’s left over. So he honestly didn’t really care if we played or not. His actions spoke loudly in that regard. He never put a football in our hands. He just said, ‘It’s y’all choice, and if y’all want to do it, understand that it’s going to be hard work.’ Give us a sense of how how much football meant in [your hometown of] DeSoto, Texas. Man, everything. Even when I was in junior high, we always went to the high school games. So many great players came through there, so at a very early age, you understood, that man, these guys are going to the National Football League. They’re going to big-time colleges. So that’s just the goal coming from that city. You see so many people be successful that you just think, ‘Hey, I’m the next man up when I get my turn.’ Football’s everything there. The city comes out Friday nights. Everything shuts down. The stadium’s packed. Your dad said friends would visit and mistake the high school stadiums for college stadiums. Yeah, Texas high school football is different. Stadiums seat a minimum of 10,000, and you make the playoffs, there might be 20,000 or 30,000 at your game. Who, early on, gave you a sense of what it meant to be a good coach? Brian Stansberry, he was my high school linebacker coach. I didn’t play linebacker my first two years. I was a safety, and he kept on telling me, ‘You’re gonna be a linebacker.’ Him teaching me the game, helping me see the game in slow motion at such a young age, that just showed me the effect a coach could have on a player. That’s the first part. The second part was just the impact this dude had on my life. He picked me up early in the morning every single day, took me to the gym, trained with me and then watched film with me, even after practice. My friends would go home and laugh at me because I’d still be in the film room with him. What he did for me as a coach and as another role model made me decide that I love the game of football and even when I’m done playing, I want to be around it. And I wanted to have an impact on people’s lives like he had on my life. He’s like a member of the family, right? Yeah, he was at my wedding this summer. He taught all of us in gym when we were in middle school, and then he coached all four of us [brothers] when we came through there. I know his wife and daughters real well. We’re a family. And then your dad said he used to tell you about [Hall of Fame Washington coach] Joe Gibbs, that he was a teacher at his core. Yeah he did. He always talked about how he was a great coach and a great person but that how he was great was he always told the players why they were doing something. Why are we running this play? Why is it going to work? He was a great teacher, and everybody there was on the same page, won a lot of games, won a couple championships. Is that something you try to keep in mind now, that the players need to know why? Definitely. As a player, you don’t want to feel like I’m just out here running plays. You want to know why we’re doing it, why we think it’s going to work, why I need to do this job responsibility to put the team in the best position. I definitely keep that in mind, and coach [John] Harbaugh, he holds us accountable. He coaches us and tells us, ‘Make sure these guys know the why.’ You get the medical news [in 2016] that your playing career is over, and then you’re back at your parents’ house. What was your state of mind? I honestly was in shock, just trying to take everything and figure out, ‘Is this really happening?’ I had my family around. After a week or two, I started processing, and then it was like, ‘Man, I’ve got to start thinking about what I’m going to do next.’ I was still so young and had so much energy. I was still so hungry for the game of football. I really appreciate my family the most in that time. They stuck by me, didn’t let me be alone, encouraged me, gave me time. And then, obviously the Ravens — that’s why I say I’ll always bleed purple and black, because they had my back through it all. They constantly checked on me and told me whenever I was ready, they’d love to have me back up here. Your older brother [Terrance II] said there were some days when he went at you like a coach. He did. My older brother, he’s only 2 1/2 years older, but he’s like another father figure. He wasn’t going to let me put my head down. He was coaching me, like, ‘What you going to do next? It’s unfortunate what happened, but God got a bigger plan for you. So you need to pick yourself up. We’re going to figure this out.’ He wasn’t going to let me slip. When you put so much energy into becoming what you were as an athlete, was it ever in your head that coaching might be an option down the line? Definitely. I told people all the time. I remember vividly my rookie year in the locker room, we were just getting to know each other, and they were saying, ‘Well, what would you want to do after you’re done playing ball?’ And I said, ‘Go back to Texas and be a high school football coach.’ I always wanted to be a coach. Even if I didn’t make the National Football League, I would have been around the game in some form. I love it. And then just seeing the impact coaches had on my life through high school and college, in the pros, I knew it was something I wanted to do. To this extent? I didn’t know it was going to reach this level, but I knew I wanted to get into coaching in some way. You joked back then that the hours were more and the notoriety was less, but when you started coaching with the Ravens, what let you know, ‘OK, I’m on the right track?’ I still had that passion and that burning desire to come into work, like I did as a player. As a player, I loved coming in early to get a workout in, staying late to watch film. And I still had that burning passion as a coach, do whatever I can to help these guys be in the best position to succeed. When I realized I still had that desite, it was like, ‘Yeah, I’m doing the right thing.’ My heart was in it. What do you remember about the first time you met Mike Macdonald? Oh man, me and Mike in the same year. He was a super young coach. He was an intern, and I was a rookie. You could see he was really passionate, and he knew a lot because he worked with so many different positions. He worked every part of the defense. He would give us young guys great pointers and great tips, and he was just a good dude. Just a good, nice young intern who knew ball. He said what was special about you right away was you knew how to tell the players what the coaches wanted, and you knew how to tell the coaches what the players wanted. Was that your magic power as a young coach? Definitely. Early on, I felt like I was a good bridge for both sides, because I had just got done playing, so I knew how we felt as players. But me being upstairs with the coaches, I understood how they reacted to certain things. So I would try to tell both sides, ‘Hey, look, I understand where you’re coming from. But you’ve got to see it from their point of view.’ I appreciate Mike and those guys for allowing me to do that and listening to me. You’re in a different position now, but do you feel you still have that quality? I think I’ve still got it. Once you’re a player, you’re always a player. Those feelings don’t leave. Obviously, I’m fully fledged as a coach, but I still tell the players, ‘I know how you’re feeling. I know How maybe your body might be. I understand sometimes you get frustrated. But understand the end goal.’ I definitely still put myself in the players’ shoes. Kyle Hamilton said that even though you weren’t his position coach, ‘Z.O. was my guy.’ Do you think guys feel that way because of your ability to understand what they’re going through? I definitely could connect with them. I’ve always been a guy who, regardless if you’re my position or not, I’m gonna talk to you, see how you’re doing. If I see something that could help you out, not just in football but in life, I’m going to try. I’m still fairly young, but I think guys see the maturity, the work, so I think they respect me in that aspect. What did you get out of the year you spent away from the Ravens [2021], coaching in Jacksonville? Facing coaching adversity and really just growing. I didn’t know anybody. The players didn’t know me; a lot of them knew I was a Raven, a former player, so you kind of get that respect off the jump. But I had to get to know these guys off the strength of what I actually did there. So I think I grew a lot. I coached a different position than I had been coaching, so I grew in football knowledge. We didn’t win a lot, so you find different ways to teach, to coach, to persevere. I tell people all the time I’m thankful for it. Mike said that when he came back to the Ravens as defensive coordinator, he wanted you back on his stuff. Why do you think that relationship became so tight? We got real close when he was the linebackers coach and I was basically his assistant. We leaned on each other for coaching points, leaned on each other in life, for advice. We spent three years with each other every day, just talking ball and life. I still talk to him at least once a week, even though he’s in Seattle. I do look at him as a brother and a friend. He said the coordinator has to have the confidence that his vision is right, and he said I have no doubt Zach will have that confidence. How will you put your stamp on the defense? I think you build that over years. You have to be confident in yourself before anything. But my vision for this team is just physical, violent execution at the highest level. I want these guys flying around, bing physical, playing the Raven way, but then executing no matter the situation, whether it’s third down, two-minute, red zone. Your dad also said Zach has never thought he was wrong about anything, so he’s not going to struggle believing he has the right plan. (Laughs.) That means my plan worked. I always liked to argue. I always want to know why you think that or see how confident someone is in their belief by challenging it. And definitely with him, because I could get him going, get him riled up. He said it’s possible to change your mind, but it’s a real achievement. I would say I’m a strong-minded person. If I do believe in something, I believe in it. Hey, if you can change my mind, that means you showed me some evidence and some proof. If it’s the best thing, I’m willing to do it. Mike also said he has no doubt you’ll be a head coach if that’s what you want. Do you think about that, or does that still feel like it’s on the other side of the mountain? I still feel it’s on the other side of the mountain. I’m not saying it hasn’t crossed my mind. I’m not saying it’s not a goal of mine. But one thing that has helped me out going back to my playing days is just staying in the moment. Right now, I’m just focusing on being the best coach I can be to lead this defense to a championship. That’s down the road, God willing. But right now, I’ve got to be where my feet are. View the full article

Six weeks before Derrick Henry signed the two-year, $16 million deal that brought him to the Ravens, the All-Pro running back watched the AFC championship game with undertones of envy. His Tennessee Titans had finished 6-11 and missed the playoffs for the second straight season. Henry couldn’t help but muse. “Hell yeah, I wished I could suit up that day watching that game,” he said, of the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to the Chiefs in January. “But now it’s my turn. I gotta take advantage of it. It’s gonna be a hell of a game.” Baltimore opens its season at 8:20 p.m. Thursday at Arrowhead Stadium in a rematch of that long-discussed AFC championship game. The NFL announced the matchup May 13. Facing the team that ended their Super Bowl hopes one game shy of a title shot, each Raven compartmentalizes the Week 1 rematch differently. Around the locker room Sunday was a smorgasbord of coachspeak, motivation and downright emotional detachment from seeing the Chiefs again. “To me, you have to remember it’s the first game,” coach John Harbaugh said. “But it’s not the only game.” The notion of the NFL using two of the game’s elite quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, as its headliners in anticipatory graphics for the league’s season opener gave Jackson pause. Even if only for a moment, the look that washed across the two-time MVP’s face was one of naivety: “It’s the start of the season,” he said plainly. “So we gotta make a great impression for the first game.” Jackson spent so much of last season talking about his “singular goal.” The Chiefs were the ones standing in the way of a chance at delivering on his draft night promise. The way Jackson views opening night is the Chiefs — who are chasing the NFL’s first three-peat — are once again standing in the way. Even if it’s a bit further from the big one he promised. Thus, Jackson — who threw for 272 yards and a touchdown with one interception in the AFC championship game — did his best to sidestep any questions about the obvious pageantry beyond just the start of a new season. “I really don’t pay no mind, I just want to play football,” Jackson said. And later, along the same vein, “Any game I play in, I feel like it’s a revenge game so I’m not gonna look at this game like a revenge game.” His counterpart Mahomes told Kansas City reporters on Sunday, “I don’t think last year is too much in your mind. You’re so focused on trying to get better and we’re playing the best of the best Week 1. We’re gonna see where we’re at.” Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith said of Thursday’s season-opening rematch with the Chiefs, “Obviously the guys that were here last year are gonna carry that into the season.” (Kim Hairston/Staff) Roquan Smith doesn’t totally agree. The linebacker who embodies the longstanding fiery reputation of the Ravens’ defense doesn’t plan to completely forget the loss. “Obviously the guys that were here last year are gonna carry that into the season,” Smith said. “Putting that in your back pocket and using that as motivation on top of the motivation that’s already there.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton’s golf obsession helps fuel his All-Pro football game Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens have to prove they’re still one of the best at developing talent | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens Q&A with Zach Orr on his playing career, family, becoming a coach and more Baltimore Ravens | Beau Brade dreamed of playing for the Ravens. Now he’s ‘gotta make the most of it.’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens re-signing QB Tyler Huntley to practice squad after Browns release him Safety Kyle Hamilton added: “We’re all just excited. We’ve been talking about it all offseason that last year didn’t end how we wanted it to, but it gives us perspective on what we need to do to get back to what we did last year and win that game.” The wide receiver room shares in those sentiments. Going back to watch that loss is obviously a part of the football prep. Compartmentalizing the plays they’d like to have back — like wide receiver Zay Flowers’ fourth-quarter fumble at the goal line — only adds fuel. Nelson Agholor is narrowly thinking about two ways to approach Thursday’s game. Both of which are positive, the veteran receiver said. There’s the side of detachment and poise that can ready a player the way it would any other outing. Or they can carry a nearly-eight-month-old hunger into Arrowhead. “Both are gonna help you out,” Agholor said. “At the end of the day, you just gotta attack it.” Henry doesn’t have much emotional attachment to the loss considering he watched it from his couch at home. “At the end of the day, it’s just football,” he said, comparing “Thursday Night Football” to the sport he started playing at 5 years old. “But the atmosphere,” Henry said, “and it being the first game. At night. Them coming off a Super Bowl. It being at home at Arrowhead, which you know the environment is gonna be loud. It’s gonna be hostile. That’s what you want.” View the full article