ExtremeRavens

CINCINNATI — Joe Flacco passed for 342 yards and three touchdowns, Evan McPherson made a 36-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining and the Cincinnati Bengals snapped a four-game losing streak with a 33-31 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. Acquired from the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 7, the 40-year-old Flacco completed 31 of 47 passes in his second Cincinnati start, and outdueled 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers in only the third regular-season game between starting quarterbacks in their 40s. Rodgers went 22 of 32 for 244 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He gave Pittsburgh (4-2) a 31-30 advantage with 2:31 remaining on a 68-yard touchdown to Pat Freiermuth. On second-and-20, Rodgers rolled left and found Freiermuth open downfield. The fifth-year tight end caught the ball at the Bengals 36 after getting separation from safety Geno Stone and scored his second touchdown. Flacco led the Bengals (3-4) 52 yards in eight plays, including completions of 15 and 18 yards to Ja’Marr Chase get Cincinnati into Pittsburgh territory. The 18-year veteran then found Tee Higgins for a 28-yard gain to the Steelers 5 with 1:39 remaining to put the Bengals well within McPherson’s range. Chase finished with 16 receptions for 161 yards and a TD, making him the fourth receiver in NFL history with two games of at least 14 catches in a single season. Higgins finished with six catches for 96 yards. Chase Brown had 108 rushing yards on 11 carries. Freiermuth had four catches for 106 yards for the Steelers. Jaylen Warren ran for 127 yards on 16 carries, Injuries Bengals: DE Trey Hendrickson was inactive due to a hip injury he suffered during the first half of last week at Green Bay. Up next Steelers: Host Green Bay in a prime-time game Oct. 26. Bengals: Host the New York Jets on Oct. 26. View the full article

We asked readers whether the Ravens or the Orioles had a more disappointing start to their respective season. The Ravens are 1-5 in their first six games, while the Orioles started 15-28 and fired manager Brandon Hyde. Here are the results from our online poll: Ravens — 82% (325) Orioles — 18% (70 votes) Here’s what some fans said about subpar starts for Baltimore sports teams (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): After a disastrous April, the Orioles were confident, since the May schedule was supposedly easier. How did that work out? As it turns out, they were worse in May. And the manager was fired shortly thereafter. Now we hear the same about the Ravens. The remaining schedule is supposedly easier. We’ll see how that works out, but with all the injuries and coaching problems, I have my doubts. As Mike Preston wrote, Jackson will have to be a miracle worker — and stay healthy — to get the Ravens into the playoffs this year. — Bobby Both teams will be fine. Hitting a baseball isn’t easy. Michael Jordan couldn’t do it. And try getting blindsided by a 300-pound muscleman. The Ravens and Orioles will bounce back just as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow! — Robin Ficker It’s been a race to the bottom, but the Ravens at least have a chance to salvage their season. — Tom The Ravens. We expect this type of losing from the Orioles. — Tyice Pulliam Leadership is vitally important, and it seems like the vibes and message from Harbaugh has gone stone cold. It is falling on deaf ears. The Orioles, at least, from my standpoint, had little to no chance of winning in a division where all the other teams got better. I was expecting mediocrity. The Ravens on the other hand were Super Bowl favorites. This was the year. That prediction has gone south along with almost any Super Bowl chances. Eric DeCosta, much like Mike Elias, did little to nothing to improve their teams. And the team knows it. I hope they surprise me, but I doubt it. Color me skeptical. — Burt Wils Why not both? — Mike Vail Definitely the Ravens. Injuries have been a major contributor to both of these teams and their underperformance. The Orioles, with a young core, were hoping to be in contention for the World Series. The Ravens, on the other hand, with an experienced roster, were favored to win the Super Bowl. Just a greatly disappointing year for both of Baltimore’s professional teams. — Robert The Ravens have been the bigger disappointment, but they will turn it around after the bye. — David Salter O’s were the most disappointing, as I do not care about the very stupid and evil Ravens organization and I hope they fail at every turn. — Bill The Ravens. Everyone knew that the Orioles were going into 2025 with a questionable starting rotation. The Ravens, however, were two wins from going to the Super Bowl last season. For them to start out 1-5 is much more disappointing and unexpected. — Mark Miller This is hilarious! I’ve been calling the Ravens “the football Orioles” all season. — Steve Scheinberg Related Articles Staff picks for Week 7 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Cowboys, Buccaneers vs. Lions and more Mike Preston: Fire Harbaugh? Now? Don’t be ridiculous. | COMMENTARY Ravens reset: 5 most important questions facing 1-5 team entering bye Joe Flacco vs. Aaron Rodgers: AFC North rivalry takes on a touch of gray Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law The Raven’s gonna win the AFC North! The season isn’t over after six games. If we make a trade for some defensive help … I honestly think that the Raven’s will win the division. — Kenny Anderson Both. This has been the most miserable sports year I can remember in my 60 years as a Baltimore sports fan. The worst thing is that both teams have blown threw their window of opportunity, and while not exactly starting over, are taking a few steps back. — Bill Bruns The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers and FOX45’s Patrice Sanders pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 7: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (11-4 last week, 62-30-1 overall): Bengals Sam Cohn (10-5 last week, 64-28-1 overall): Steelers Mike Preston (11-4 last week, 63-29-1 overall): Steelers Josh Tolentino (9-6 last week, 63-29-1 overall): Steelers C.J. Doon (9-6 last week, 58-34-1 overall): Steelers Bennett Conlin (11-4 last week, 57-35-1 overall): Steelers Tim Schwartz (8-7 last week, 53-39-1 overall): Steelers Patrice Sanders (10-5 last week, 56-36-1 overall): Steelers Los Angeles Rams vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 9:30 a.m.) Wacker: Rams Cohn: Rams Preston: Jaguars Tolentino: Jaguars Doon: Rams Conlin: Rams Schwartz: Rams Sanders: Rams New Orleans Saints vs. Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bears Cohn: Bears Preston: Bears Tolentino: Bears Doon: Bears Conlin: Bears Schwartz: Bears Sanders: Bears Miami Dolphins vs. Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Browns Cohn: Browns Preston: Browns Tolentino: Dolphins Doon: Dolphins Conlin: Browns Schwartz: Dolphins Sanders: Dolphins Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Cohn: Chiefs Preston: Chiefs Tolentino: Chiefs Doon: Chiefs Conlin: Chiefs Schwartz: Chiefs Sanders: Chiefs Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Eagles Cohn: Eagles Preston: Eagles Tolentino: Eales Doon: Eagles Conlin: Eagles Schwartz: Eagles Sanders: Eagles Carolina Panthers vs. New York Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Panthers Cohn: Jets Preston: Panthers Tolentino: Panthers Doon: Panthers Conlin: Panthers Schwartz: Panthers Sanders: Panthers New England Patriots vs. Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Patriots Cohn: Patriots Preston: Patriots Tolentino: Patriots Doon: Patriots Conlin: Patriots Schwartz: Patriots Sanders: Patriots New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Broncos Cohn: Giants Preston: Broncos Tolentino: Broncos Doon: Broncos Conlin: Broncos Schwartz: Giants Sanders: Broncos Indianapolis Colts vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Colts Cohn: Chargers Preston: Chargers Tolentino: Colts Doon: Colts Conlin: Chargers Schwartz: Colts Sanders: Chargers Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Packers Cohn: Packers Preston: Packers Tolentino: Packers Doon: Packers Conlin: Packers Schwartz: Packers Sanders: Packers Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Commanders Cohn: Cowboys Preston: Cowboys Tolentino: Commanders Doon: Cowboys Conlin: Cowboys Schwartz: Commanders Sanders: Commanders Atlanta Falcons vs. San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) Wacker: 49ers Cohn: Falcons Preston: 49ers Tolentino: Falcons Doon: Falcons Conlin: 49ers Schwartz: Falcons Sanders: Falcons Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions (Monday, 7 p.m.) Wacker: Lions Cohn: Lions Preston: Buccaneers Tolentino: Lions Doon: Buccaneers Conlin: Lions Schwartz: Buccaneers Sanders: Buccaneers Houston Texans vs. Seattle Seahawks (Monday, 10 p.m.) Wacker: Seahawks Cohn: Seahawks Preston: Seahawks Tolentino: Seahawks Doon: Seahawks Conlin: Seahawks Schwartz: Seahawks Sanders: Seahawks View the full article

After each Ravens loss, the chants of “Fire Harbaugh” get stronger, but that’s because a lot of people around here are silly. Actually, a better description is asinine. Baltimore fans need to let the 2025 season play out. It’s impossible to shuffle several injured starters in and out of the lineup and win, especially when one is among the NFL’s best players in quarterback Lamar Jackson and another is a top middle linebacker named Roquan Smith. Wins aren’t going to happen without them, especially against the elite teams. So far, the Ravens have played perhaps the league’s toughest schedule with games against Buffalo, Detroit, Kansas City, Houston and the Los Angeles Rams, all playoff teams from a year ago. Only Cleveland can be considered a sleeper. The Ravens have produced a 1-5 record, and it’s well-deserved. But to fire a coach with an 18-year history in this town that includes a Super Bowl victory, four AFC championship game appearances and 12 playoff bids is ridiculous. Remember, this is not Major League Baseball and the Ravens aren’t the Orioles. Where is the logic? More importantly, let’s just use some common sense. The X-factor in any season is injuries. Look around the NFL. You think Cincinnati (2-4) is happy after losing quarterback Joe Burrow in the second game of the season? What would happen to the Rams if they lost quarterback Mathew Stafford or Kansas City lost Patrick Mahomes? It’s a quarterback-driven league, and when you lose your star, it’s just about over until he returns. In the words of Mr. T from “The A-Team” fame, “I pity the fool.” It has happened here with Jackson missing the past two games since going down late against Kansas City. There was hope that Cooper Rush or Tyler Huntley could be decent backups, but that was like believing in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. It’s called wishful thinking. The expectations were for the Ravens to play harder, which they didn’t do against Houston, or be entertaining, which was not the case against the Rams. Yet, it’s all about perspective. Those looks on Harbaugh’s face on the sideline didn’t provide any optimism. It’s as if he has run out of answers, or might break down and cry at any minute. That’s not something fans want to see. But if I were missing Jackson, left tackle Ronnie Stanley, defensive tackles Nnamdi Madubuike and Broderick Washington, Smith, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, safety Kyle Hamilton, outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and fullback Patrick Ricard, I’d tear up, too. Ravens fans express their disappointment during a loss to the Rams. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Back in 2001 after the Ravens won their first Super Bowl title, they lost Jamal Lewis (ACL tear) and Leon Searcy (torn triceps tendon) during one of the first few weeks of training camp. They weren’t going to repeat without their best running back and their powerful tackle on the right side. That’s nothing compared with the losses suffered by the Ravens this season. Also, where is the loyalty? The younger generation has none because they change jobs as often as they change socks, selfies still remain in style and everything is about me, me, me. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, 65, is old school. He admittedly declares his impulsiveness, and it’s safe to assume that he has wanted to fire Harbaugh several times since he became coach in 2008. But Bisciotti is aware of the mass injuries and the consequences and losses that follow. In MLB, there are 162 games compared with just 17 in the NFL regular season. The Ravens have never made a head coaching change during the season, even when the late Ted Marchibroda won only 20 games in his first three years. Who on this staff would replace Harbaugh? Secondary coach Chuck Pagano, 65, or offensive coordinator Todd Monken, 59? Sorry, no offense to them, but the trend in the NFL these days is to hire a head coach in their 30s or early 40s. Plus, these are the Ravens, not the Tennessee Titans, who fired second-year coach Brian Callahan this week after only two seasons with a 4-19 record, including 1-5 this year. Harbaugh, 63, is the most complete coach in the franchise’s 30-year history, even though neither he nor former coach Brian Billick could draw up plays and schemes like Marchibroda. With a career record of 173-109, Harbaugh ranks 16th all-time in coaching wins. Harbaugh might not be a big game coach, and his clock management and gambles on fourth down or 2-point conversions are risky business. He can build teams, though, and is exceptional at chemistry, which is why his players often wear those corny little T-shirts with his slogans on them. Harbaugh is also a fighter, in the same class as Kansas City’s Andy Reid and Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin when it comes to feistiness. It will be interesting to see how he responds with his character in question. The Ravens have had periods like this before, most notably in 2004 and 2005. In those seasons, they had players such as middle linebacker Ray Lewis, outside linebacker Peter Boulware, safety Ed Reed, tight end Todd Heap, Lewis, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and cornerbacks Deion Sanders and later Samari Rolle, who signed as an unrestricted free agent. The Ravens finished 9-7 in 2004 and 6-10 in 2005. In 2004, Jamal Lewis, Ogden, Heap, Sanders and center Mike Flynn all missed considerable playing time. In 2007, Billick lost the locker room to veterans like Ray Lewis and Reed, which forced the Ravens to hire Harbaugh. No one knows what Harbaugh can do with this group, but let the season play out. The Ravens have their problems. The offense is inconsistent, the defense has no clue and the special teams aren’t so special. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Fans say Ravens’ start more disappointing than Orioles’ Staff picks for Week 7 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Cowboys, Buccaneers vs. Lions and more Ravens reset: 5 most important questions facing 1-5 team entering bye Joe Flacco vs. Aaron Rodgers: AFC North rivalry takes on a touch of gray Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law But the remaining 11 games — and yes, the Ravens need to win nine of them to get to the magic number — are loaded with teams that don’t have a bonafide starting quarterback such as Minnesota, the New York Jets and Cleveland. The AFC North-leading Steelers (4-1) might have their usual end-of-season collapse, and the Ravens still have to face them twice. It’s very easy to point fingers at Harbaugh. It’s just as easy to single out general manager Eric DeCosta, who has loaded up with cornerbacks and receivers instead of using first-round draft picks to select interior linemen. Ravens fans want to terminate everybody. Fire Harbaugh. Fire DeCosta. Fire Poe. But the next time you get that urge, don’t do it. Please, no more emails, texts or babbling phone calls about getting rid of anyone. Above all things, remember, it’s still just a game. And there are 11 more to play. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The Ravens cannot lose Sunday. That’s one of a few luxuries an early season bye week provides struggling Baltimore, which limps into the much-needed break 1-5 and in search of itself as much of victories. The Ravens are losers of four straight and are off to their worst start in a decade with a several players, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, battling injuries. While players get four days off beginning Thursday, coach John Harbaugh, general manager Eric DeCosta and the rest of the staff will spend their time searching for solutions. “We still believe we can do it,” Harbaugh said of a playoff push, even though only four teams in NFL history have lost five of their first six games and gone on to reach the postseason. “All of our focus goes to, really, two things; the bye week and working through every aspect and issue that we can [to] find every way we can be at our best going forward with the players we have. … And then how we organize ourselves and craft our schemes.” It is a steep climb. Here are the five biggest questions Baltimore is facing once players return to work next week. How will the offense perform once Lamar Jackson is back? It’s hard to imagine John Harbaugh stretched out on the couch of a psychologist spilling his innermost thoughts, but the 18th-year coach painted such a picture when expressing just how much he’s looking forward to Jackson’s return to spark a listless offense. “I would have to say I’m leaning really hard into that, really hard,” he said Monday. “For any kind of psychological wellbeing, spiritual wellbeing, I’m leaning hard on that happening.” For good reason, obviously. DeCosta invested two years and $6.2 million into Cooper Rush with the idea that the 31-year-old veteran who led the Cowboys to a 9-5 record during his tenure in Dallas would be a capable fill-in if such a need ever arose. It hasn’t worked out that way. From training camp through Week 5 and 6 (and part of Week 4), Rush has not been good. He completed 65.4% of his passes for just 303 yards and no touchdowns to go with four interceptions for a woeful passer rating of 48.8. Rush, a prototypical drop-back passer who rarely ran run-pass option plays for the Cowboys, felt like a square peg in a round hole. Then, he didn’t even perform as well as a passer. The simple fact is the offense is built around Jackson and his ankle-breaking mobility. For the Ravens, who have largely ignored the backup role (at least financially) over the past few seasons, to spend somewhat meaningful money in the way that they did can be chalked up to a notable miss. Jackson’s return should help immediately if not immensely. Before getting injured, he completed a career-high 71.6% of his passes for 869 yards and 10 touchdowns with one interception. Yes, the offense was out of rhythm before he was sidelined. But perhaps the time off also allowed him and Monken to zero in on adjustments to the scheme. Ravens outside linebacker Mike Green blocks Malik Hamm during practice. Both could be called upon to help improve the pass rush. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) How will the Ravens generate a pass rush now? One of the biggest problems this season has been a lack of a pass rush. Only two teams — the San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers — have fewer sacks than Baltimore’s eight. This, after ranking first and second the past two seasons. Now, Odafe Oweh, who had 10 sacks last season but none this year, has been traded to the Los Angeles Chargers, and fellow outside linebacker Tavius Robinson is out at least 6-8 weeks with a broken foot, leaving just three outside linebackers on the roster. “It’s been a challenge all year to generate pressure, so we are going to have to manufacture pressure,” Harbaugh said. “But also, our guys are going to have to step up and create pressure on the four-man rush. We do it with simulated pressures, too, a lot of times.” That was the case on a few occasions against the Los Angeles Rams with the Ravens tallying two sacks, but they still had just two pressures, per Pro Football Focus, in true passing sets. With only Malik Hamm and Kaimon Rucker on the practice squad — at least one of whom could get elevated for a few games — Baltimore will need to find reinforcements quickly. Help could come as soon as the beginning of next week and a trade or two would be the most likely route with the need for a disruptive player at outside linebacker and/or defensive tackle. Still, the Ravens need to find some way to generate a rush. “We have to be to be better on first down, and then on second down, we have to be better,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “Right now, a lot of teams you see they get to second-and-long, [and] they get to their third-down game plan. Well against us, they’re going [to] quick game, or they’re even running the ball or going tempo to try to keep us out of our third-down package. We just have to continue to find different ways and different personnel groups to get pressure, and I think that we’ll be able to do that.” In what ways does Alohi Gilman change the defensive picture? Five days after the Ravens traded Oweh for Alohi Gilman, the safety played 44 of 53 defensive snaps and was deployed in the box, at free safety and in the slot in its loss to the Rams. He finished with the second-most tackles (seven) on the team. “He is a beast,” Orr said of the 28-year-old former Notre Dame and Navy standout. It helped that Gilman came from a similar system and has played under several defensive coordinators during his college and pro careers. He should also help change the calculus, allowing Orr to be able to move versatile and talented Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton around, much the way Baltimore did during his 2023 All-Pro season. “It’s good to get back to that,” Orr said. “I think that you saw we were able to do some things with Kyle, and I think that benefited us. “Now, we use that to our advantage. We can make offenses predictable of where they’re going to slide and where they’re going to run the football, so that helps us out a lot. And credit to ‘K-Ham.’ He hasn’t played at the nickel position or dime position – it was funny, he was talking about it – since [middle of the year] last year. So, it’s been a long time. Like we said, he’s a unicorn.” Outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, the Ravens' third-round draft pick in 2024, could return in November. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) When are reinforcements coming? The Ravens’ sudden release of C.J. Gardner-Johnson just days after signing the veteran but embattled safety might have seemed odd given the timing and given the need for defensive help. But it was probably connected to timing, with Baltimore landing Gilman via trade a few hours later and then the former Charger playing fairly well when being thrust into a significant role. It also likely won’t be the last move, with Harbaugh having said that everything is on the table. That holds true to potential reshuffling of the offensive line to seeing what pass rush options are in-house to acquiring more players via trade or free agency. There should be some positive news on the injury front, too. At left tackle, Ronnie Stanley is still battling an ankle injury, so the bye week should help after he left Sunday’s game early and did not return. “It’s structurally good, or he wouldn’t be out there playing,” Harbaugh said. “It becomes a matter of his ability to perform on it, and the only person that knows that is the player; so you’ve got to go by that. But he’s fighting to get out there and play.” Fullback Pat Ricard’s situation, meanwhile, has suddenly gotten murkier. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Fans say Ravens’ start more disappointing than Orioles’ Staff picks for Week 7 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Cowboys, Buccaneers vs. Lions and more Mike Preston: Fire Harbaugh? Now? Don’t be ridiculous. | COMMENTARY Joe Flacco vs. Aaron Rodgers: AFC North rivalry takes on a touch of gray Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law After Harbaugh said he expected that he could be available for next week’s game against the Chicago Bears after being sidelined with a calf injury since mid-August, he backpedaled on that certainty. “I don’t know,” he said. “The way the injury is is it’s pretty much recovered from that kind of a standpoint; it’s just a matter of him being comfortable with his level of strength and his ability to perform. It’s him being able to get out there and push himself through practice and feel like it’s going to stay healthy, feel like he can move and run, change direction and power into people. It’s really up to him. The only thing we can do is ask him how he’s doing, how he’s feeling, and if he can push himself to do more or not, because it’s his calf. That’s all we can do right now, so I can’t really make any promises.” On the flip side, Harbaugh did say that he expects inside linebacker Roquan Smith, who has been sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring strain since suffering the injury during a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, to be back for the Bears game. That should help take some of the pressure off rookie fourth-round linebacker Teddye Buchanan and potentially allow Baltimore to use Trenton Simpson, who lost his starting role to Buchanan, as a pass rusher on the outside given his speed. Outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, who has been injured each of his first two years, is also expected back in mid-to-late November after landing on injured reserve with a dislocated elbow in the preseason. Can the Ravens turn things around and make a playoff push? The bad news for Baltimore is that it is 1-5 and in last place in the AFC North. The good news, potentially, is that its remaining schedule is the fifth-easiest in the league with its opponents having a combined .442 win percentage. After the Bears — who have won three straight — the Ravens head to South Florida for a Thursday night tilt against the dysfunctional Miami Dolphins (1-5), then travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings (3-2) before a trip to Cleveland for a divisional game against the Browns (1-5) and then a home date with the winless New York Jets (0-6). If the Ravens can get through that stretch 4-1 to pull within a game of .500, they’d still have a shot at 10-7 — though they will have little margin for error. The schedule still has its challenges, particularly down the stretch. Over the final six weeks, Baltimore will have two games against the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers, a Week 17 date at the Green Bay Packers and a Week 16 contest against the suddenly ascending New England Patriots. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Joe Flacco was asked during the preseason about continuing to play at 40 years old. However, Flacco is a youngster compared to his counterpart, 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers. Thursday night’s matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals will mark only the third regular-season game between 40-year-old starting quarterbacks. New Orleans’ Drew Brees won both regular-season games against Tampa Bay and Tom Brady in 2020. But Brady sent Brees into retirement when the Buccaneers beat the Saints in an NFC divisional round game. “Yeah, it’s one thing you guys can’t talk about this week in terms of me being older, at least, but it’s pretty neat,” Flacco said. “I’ve been in a locker room my whole life, so, you know, age isn’t something that I think about. I just view myself as one of those 20-something-year-olds in the locker room. So, it’s not something I really think about, but I think one day, when you look back on it, it’s just one of those things that’ll be pretty cool to be able to have a matchup like this.” At the beginning of the season, Flacco thought this matchup would happen when the Browns faced the Steelers last Sunday. Flacco was replaced as Cleveland’s starter after four games and then traded to Cincinnati last Tuesday, which stunned most people, including Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. With Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow sidelined until at least mid-December after toe surgery on Sept. 19, many expected them to make a move after Jake Browning was ineffective in his three starts. Few expected it to come from a division rival. “[Browns general manager] Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us, because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that area. But that’s just my personal feelings,” Tomlin said on Monday. This will be the fourth matchup between Rodgers and Flacco. Rodgers has won the previous three. “I think it’s great for all the old guys. I know that when I watch other sports, maybe it’s because I’m the older guy, but I tend to pull for the older guys to win,” Rodgers said. “I’ve known Joe for a long time. He’s been great coming to my charity event. He’s had a great career, and it’s fun that we’re both still playing.” Rodgers has helped lead the Steelers to a 4-1 start and first place in the AFC North. He is second in the AFC with a 105.4 passer rating, along with 10 touchdowns and only three interceptions. A key to Rodgers’ success this season is that his average time to throw is 2.57 seconds, second quickest in the league and his quickest since at least 2016. He has completed 81.1% of his attempts on passes under 2.5 seconds and is averaging 8.2 yards per attempt, which is second best. He will be facing a Bengals defense that allows a league-high 7.7 yards per attempt on quick passes and eight touchdowns, second most. Joe Flacco has faced the Steelers 25 times in his career, including the playoffs, with 24 starts. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Flacco hasn’t had much practice time with the Bengals, but he has developed a quick rapport with star receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. He passed for 219 yards and two touchdowns against the Packers in his Cincinnati debut, but most of that came in the second half after Cincinnati fell behind 10-0 at halftime. Flacco and the Bengals (2-4) will try to snap a four-game losing streak and stay within striking distance of the Steelers. The former Ravens star has faced the Steelers 25 times in his career, including the playoffs, with 24 starts. “He knows their style of play. He knows their level of aggression on defense and played against most of their guys over there,” coach Zac Taylor said. “Obviously, he’s played them more than anybody has in this league that is currently playing, so I think he’s got a great sense of what it takes to win.” Quick start needed Cincinnati is hoping to get off to a better start. It has been outscored 79-9 in the first half during the four-game skid and is one of three teams without a first- or second-quarter touchdown in that span. “You’ve got to be willing and ready to just play the patient game as well. I think we’ve got to be efficient on early downs. And I think if we do that, then we’ll give ourselves a chance to be successful early on in the football game,” Flacco said. Going big The Steelers gave their secondary a makeover in the offseason, with all moves designed to help them match up better against Cincinnati’s dynamic tandem of Chase and Higgins. Donte Jackson (5-foot-10), Damontae Kazee (5-11) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (6-1) are gone. Jalen Ramsey (6-1), Juan Thornhill (6-0) and Darius Slay (6-0) joined Joey Porter Jr. (6-2) to give Pittsburgh a physical and veteran defensive backfield the team believes is better suited to take on maybe the best wide receiver duo in the league, no matter who the quarterback is. “You’d better have some corners taller than me if you’re dealing with the likes of Tee Higgins and people like that,” said the 5-foot-11ish Tomlin, who was a wide receiver during his college days at William & Mary. Chase and Higgins have been a problem for the Steelers throughout their careers, combining for 78 catches for 1,194 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 appearances against Pittsburgh. Thursday road woes No team has played on Thursday nights (Thanksgiving Day excluded) more often than the Steelers since the league began playing on Thursdays semi-regularly in 1980. And no team over the past 15 years has lost more Thursday night road games than Pittsburgh, which is 1-9 on Thursdays since 2009. That includes a 0-6 mark against AFC North opponents Baltimore and Cleveland. This will be the first Thursday meeting between the Bengals and Steelers in Cincinnati, and the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach doesn’t appear to be lingering on his team’s Thursday night road shortcomings. “I’m only concerned about 2025,” he said. “I got my (butt) kicked in a lot of ways over the last 19 years.” AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh and freelance reporter Charlie Goldsmith in Cincinnati contributed to this article. View the full article

Watch the “Overtime” segment of the eighth episode of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law. The longtime sports columnist answers reader questions from Baltimore Sun subscribers after the Ravens fell to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss to the Rams. Missed the eighth episode of the pod? Watch here. Have a question for Preston about the Ravens? Message us at sports@baltsun.com. You can watch the BMore Football Podcast weekly, posting every Tuesday during the NFL season on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

He wears brown collared shirts underneath his shoulder pads, practices left-handed putting despite being right-handed, and once lived in a camper as a multimillionaire. Those quirks are just part of why Marlon Humphrey isn’t your typical NFL player. “A lot of the veterans that I’ve had here, a lot of different guys that come from different teams, none of them are like Marlon,” said former Ravens edge rusher Odafe Oweh, who was traded to the Chargers earlier this month. Humphrey has played nine high-level seasons at one of the most turbulent positions in the league, become a leader in Baltimore’s locker room and is “uniquely himself.” His teammates say that they’ve never played with anybody like him. T.J. Tampa said that he “shut the room down” when he first met him. Jaire Alexander said, “There’s nobody like [Marlon].” Nate Wiggins said, “You really can’t explain him. He just does Marlon things.” The cornerback has endeared himself to Baltimore with his popular Instagram Live videos that show the relationships inside the Ravens’ locker room. He’s also frustrated them with his podcasting after losses this season. His teammates appreciate his authenticity. Humphrey declined to comment for this story, saying he only wanted to talk about football. “He’s just a genuine person. He’s gonna be himself. And that’s what we love about him,” said rookie safety Reuben Lowery III, who was cut by Baltimore earlier this month and later picked up by the Colts. That originality shows up in many ways. Humphrey wears distinctive clothing — Alexander said that he’s never seen anyone put a dress shirt under their practice gear — publicly holds teammates accountable after tough losses, and even owns a massive farm in Alabama, where he raises a variety of animals. Wiggins, an animal enthusiast, said that he’s waiting to visit the farm. One of Tampa’s first interactions with Humphrey came in a defensive meeting. Tampa watched as Humphrey entered the facility with sweatpants, a towel wrapped around his body, and a hat and durag on his head. Everyone seems to remember their first encounter with Humphrey. Former Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix recalled the cornerback visiting Tuscaloosa as a high school recruit. Humphrey, a former five-star prospect, was slated to sit down with the Crimson Tide’s defensive backs and defensive staff. Related Articles Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Funeral plans set for Ravens superfan Captain Dee-Fense Ravens release C.J. Gardner-Johnson after 1 week with team Watch Episode 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law The Ravens are 1-5. These 5 stats help explain the slow start. | COMMENTARY Clinton-Dix, a senior at the time, anticipated a routine meeting with a high schooler. But that was far from the case with Humphrey. Humphrey was quiet. He wasn’t brash, nor shy. Clinton-Dix and he spoke, and the Crimson Tide safety came away impressed with the 18-year-old’s maturity, Clinton-Dix told The Baltimore Sun. The two stayed in contact during Humphrey’s career, and when the freshman recovered a critical onside kick during Alabama’s national championship game against Clemson, Clinton-Dix made sure to call him. The Ravens drafted Humphrey with the 16th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. He entered a secondary with cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Brandon Carr and safeties Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson — a combined 49 years in the league between the four of them. Not an easy situation for a rookie to find playing time. But Humphrey carved out a role as a nickel back and then started the final four games as an outside cornerback after Smith tore his Achilles tendon. Humphrey has switched between the slot and boundary cornerback throughout his time in the league. At 29 years old, he’s playing some of the best football of his career. Humphrey played 500 snaps in the slot last season and 316 on the outside, according to Pro Football Focus. He turned in a career-high six interceptions and was named a first-team All-Pro. “He’s just a workaholic. He really cares about his craft. If he’s doing something wrong, he’s going to get to the bottom of what he’s doing wrong,” Wiggins said. Ravens fans clamor for autographs from cornerback Marlon Humphrey in 2024. Humphrey's teammates say he's unique personality among his NFL peers. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) He’s also become a leader for Baltimore’s defense. Humphrey said the Ravens “weren’t mature enough” and players would face repercussions for poor performances after their loss to the Buffalo Bills. But Humphrey’s frankness occasionally frustrates fans, too. After the Ravens’ defense was shredded in a 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions, the cornerback said, “We’re not good enough.” The next day, he released a YouTube video titled “Marlon reacts to Lions-Ravens MNF loss.” The comments were unforgiving. “I’m stunned by your lack of self awareness, almost in admiration,” one user wrote. “Marlon read the room,” another commented. “Stop with the podcast [crap] and go win some games first.” Humphrey’s not going to change, though. His channel description reads like a personality promotion: “Marlon Humphrey has a lot on his mind … The Marlon Humphrey Show is not another player podcast pumping out PR-approved talking points — it is a one of a kind experience led by one of the most curious minds in sports.” That last line rings true. Ask anyone around the Ravens about Humphrey, and you’ll hear the same response: there’s nobody like Marlon. “He’s not scared to [speak up]. It’s different in that aspect,” Oweh said. “He’s gonna say whatever’s on his mind. He doesn’t care who you are. He wants you to know who he is.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

The life of late Ravens megafan Wes Henson, known as Captain Dee-Fense, will be celebrated at a funeral service next week, which will be open to the public and livestreamed online. Henson died of cancer last week, after spending years as one of the Baltimore Ravens’ most prominent ambassadors. Before becoming a Charm City icon, Henson served in the Navy for 15 years as a cryptography technician. His funeral is set to be held by March Funeral Homes at its tribute center in Randallstown on Oct. 23, with a wake at 10 a.m. and funeral following soon after at 11 a.m. A visitation is scheduled for the day before at the same location from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Oct. 21 at March Funeral Home West from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A news release Tuesday from March Funeral Homes said Henson’s family urged “everyone to celebrate his legacy by wearing purple in his honor.” The services will be livestreamed at March Funeral Homes’ website. Have a news tip? Contact Mathew Schumer at mschumer@baltsun.com, 443-890-7423 or @mmmschumer on X. View the full article

C.J. Garnder-Johnson’s time in Baltimore lasted one week. The Ravens signed the polarizing safety to their practice squad last Tuesday in an effort to bulk up their secondary on the heels of disastrous, injury-riddled defensive showing versus Houston. A week later, the team released Gardner-Johnson, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told The Baltimore Sun. Gardner-Johnson joined the practice squad but was not elevated for Baltimore’s Week 6 game versus the Los Angeles Rams. He told The Baltimore Sun that, after being let go by the Texans last month, the Ravens were his “only option.” Gardner-Johnson’s agent told ESPN that they were “looking for a clearer path to play.” That’s a reference to the Ravens making a trade the same day for Alohi Gilman. The former Chargers safety suited up days after arriving in Baltimore and played 44 snaps against the Rams in what coach John Harbaugh called a “good dynamic” for their defense. Gardner-Johnson has a history of short-lived stints. He joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, tallying six interceptions en route to a Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs. A month later, he was traded to Houston in a salary dump. Gardner-Johnson disagreed. He told “The Pivot” podcast that summer it was because the Eagles were “scared of a competitor.” In Houston, the 2019 fourth-round draft pick logged 15 tackles in three games without a pass breakup. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters it was his decision to move on, citing communication issues and “what’s best for my team.” The Texans released him after three games. Baltimore signed him before Week 6. And he was let go seven days later. Baltimore Sun reporter Brian Wacker contributed to this article, which will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Related Articles Watch Episode 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law The Ravens are 1-5. These 5 stats help explain the slow start. | COMMENTARY Ravens season has been ‘test,’ coach John Harbaugh says as he eyes fixes Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh react to Joe Flacco being traded within division Former Ravens pass rusher Za’Darius Smith abruptly retires View the full article

Episode 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law is here. Preston and Coleman break down the Ravens’ latest loss to the Rams. Baltimore is just 1-5 on the season as it enters a much-needed bye week. You can watch it weekly, posting every Tuesday during the NFL season on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The Ravens (1-5) enter their bye week with an alarming set of numbers that define their season-long struggles. “Our focus is going forward,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “We still believe we can do it.” Zero: Quarterback hits from Ravens edge rushers Just days after trading Odafe Oweh to the Chargers, Baltimore’s depleted edge group produced … nothing. Over 54 combined pass-rush snaps in Sunday’s 17-3 loss to the Rams, Kyle Van Noy, Mike Green, David Ojabo and Tavius Robinson failed to register a single quarterback hit against veteran Matthew Stafford. To make matters worse, Robinson, who is tied with defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike for the team lead with two sacks, fractured his foot in the second quarter and will miss between 6-8 weeks, according to Harbaugh. That leaves a pass rush already thin on production scrambling for answers. Among the trio of healthy pass rushers, only Van Noy has registered a single sack this season. Van Noy’s 14.3% pass-rush win rate ranks 42nd in the NFL, according to TruMedia. Green, a second-round draft pick, has just a 5.7% win rate, ranked 107th among 131 qualified pass rushers in the NFL. Across 122 pass-rush snaps, Green has six pressures, two quarterback hits and zero sacks after he led college football last season with 17 sacks at Marshall. Ojabo’s 6.7% win rate would rank 96th if he qualified. If general manager Eric DeCosta truly believes the Ravens are bound for a post-bye turnaround, it’d be within his best interest to acquire external help to beef up the edges. Baltimore’s eight sacks – four of which are from injured players Robinson and Madubuike – are tied for third fewest in the NFL. “It’s been a challenge all year to generate pressure,” Harbaugh said. “We’re going to have to manufacture pressure … but our guys are going to have to step up and create pressure on the four-man rush.” 44.4%: Red-zone touchdown percentage The red alarm should be blaring when it comes to the team’s issues in the most critical part of the field. Baltimore went 0-for-3 inside the red zone against Los Angeles, including an ugly three-play sequence at the goal line before halftime. The Ravens have now converted just 44.4% of their red-zone trips into touchdowns this season, ranking among the bottom dwellers in the league and a steep fall from their efficiency in recent seasons. Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley lies on the turf after being sacked in a 17-3 loss to the Rams. The Ravens' offense has struggled in recent weeks, especially in short-yardage situations. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Short-yardage failures have become defining moments in several of the team’s losses. On Sunday, the Mark Andrews tush push failed on consecutive attempts with the offensive line lacking the push needed, while backups Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley were unable to compensate for the lack of physicality up front. “We should be way better than we are,” Harbaugh said. “We’ve been talking about fixing it for weeks, and we haven’t done a good job. That’s like the No. 1 thing in my mind on offense – short yardage and goal line.” 80: Season-high penalty yards For the second straight week, the Ravens were buried by penalties. After they were penalized a season-high nine times in Week 5 against Houston, the Ravens were penalized seven times for a season-high 80 yards against the Rams. Baltimore’s 36 total penalties through six games rank 13th in the league. But the timing of its flags has been brutal. A pair of penalties on offensive linemen Daniel Faalele and Ronnie Staley proved to be detrimental on the team’s opening drive. The Ravens had reached the Rams’ 11-yard line, but committed two penalties within three plays to set up third-and-18. Rush, who never completed a pass longer than 10 yards, then connected with Zay Flowers for a four-yard reception, leading to the Ravens’ only points of the day off Tyler Loop’s 37-yard field goal. The Ravens won the coin toss, but insisted they start with possession given the defense’s recent struggles. Had Baltimore come away with seven points rather than three on the opening drive, maybe the result would have been different. But for the second consecutive game, penalties torched the home team. “It feels that way,” Harbaugh said of the momentum effect from self-inflicted mistakes. “You just have to fight to play clean football and do the best you can to play clean football, so they just can’t call you for something … You have to find a way to just keep coaching those things, talking to the guys about those things and drilling those things, because the momentum does start to swing if you keep coaching, and you keep teaching, and the guys want to get better, which our guys do. “That’s all you can do. You just have to keep after it and try to do things the right way.” 439: Derrick Henry rushing yards There was at least one bright spot Sunday. Derrick Henry looked like Derrick Henry again. After four straight sub-50-yard outings, one of the worst stretches of his brilliant career, the All-Pro running back ripped off 122 yards on 24 carries. His 439 rushing yards now rank seventh in the NFL behind Jonathan Taylor, Javonte Williams, Rico Dowdle, Travis Etienne, James Cook and JK Dobbins. “I wish we could play tomorrow,” Henry said. “Anytime you have a couple weeks [like the ones] that we’ve had, I always wish we could play the next day, but that’s not how it goes. It isn’t basketball, so you have to wait. The bye lets guys rest up who need it and come back next week ready to go to work. [We will] get better through this week, through the bye week, and then hit the ground running when it’s time to go.” Related Articles Ravens season has been ‘test,’ coach John Harbaugh says as he eyes fixes Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh react to Joe Flacco being traded within division Former Ravens pass rusher Za’Darius Smith abruptly retires READER POLL: Who had the more disappointing start to their season: The Ravens or Orioles? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Rams 10: Total turnovers, tied for second most in the NFL The Ravens have committed 10 turnovers through six games, including three more against the Rams. Baltimore’s 10 giveaways are tied for the second most in the NFL. During a game in which the Ravens finally ended their four-week takeaway drought, the team’s offense wasted that effort. Sloppy execution and timely mistakes continue to play a major role in Baltimore’s disappointing season. Wide receiver Zay Flowers, who was involved in two fumbles lost on consecutive possessions in the second half, was a quick departure from the postgame locker room, declining to discuss his critical mistakes. “You can’t win by turning the ball over,” Harbaugh said. “You want to look at why the record is the way it is – start with that. That’s the main thing.” Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

Ravens coach John Harbaugh spoke for 31 minutes Monday afternoon in Owings Mills. Questions abounded. About the lack of pass rush. An offensive line that lacks push and has struggled to block. Goal-to-go foibles. A once-Super Bowl favorite is now the antithesis following a disastrous 1-5 start that included a fourth straight loss Sunday in familiarly ignominious fashion, 17-3, to the Los Angeles Rams. What has it been like? “It’s been a test,” Harbaugh said amid a four-minute response. “It’s been a test of faith, your family, it’s a test for your family, a test for everybody in the building.” Now comes a bye week and another attempt to locate the answers. Players will practice Tuesday and Wednesday before having four days off, as required by the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. Coaches, of course, will spend the entirety of the week at the team’s facility. One problem for them to figure out is, where will the pass rush come from now? Last week, Baltimore traded Odafe Oweh — who registered his first sack of the season on Sunday — to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman. Then, the Ravens lost outside linebacker Tavius Robinson, who broke his foot Sunday and will miss 6-8 weeks, Harbaugh said. That leaves just three outside linebackers (veteran Kyle Van Noy, rookie Mike Green and David Ojabo) on the 53-man roster, with Adisa Isaac, who suffered a dislocated elbow during the Ravens’ second preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, not expected to come off injured reserve until at least mid or late November. “It’s been a challenge all year to generate pressure, so we’re gonna have to manufacture pressure,” Harbaugh said of a unit that came into the week ranked 16th in pass rush win-rate, according to ESPN analytics. “Our guys are going to have to step up and create pressure on the four-man rush.” It hasn’t happened. Baltimore has just one current defender on the roster (tackle Travis Jones) who ranks in the top 100 in pass rush win percentage, according to Pro Football Focus. The only other player in the top 150 is Van Noy. The Ravens can try to scheme pressure with simulated pressures or actual blitzes, but they have largely not been effective. Related Articles Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh react to Joe Flacco being traded within division Former Ravens pass rusher Za’Darius Smith abruptly retires READER POLL: Who had the more disappointing start to their season: The Ravens or Orioles? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Rams Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 Still, at this point, they just need healthy players. They have Malik Hamm and Kaimon Rucker on the practice squad, and one or both will get a shot. Or, they could look outside the building, something that Harbaugh said is “certainly” on the table. That might not be the only change. Asked if he is further considering changes on the offensive line, where left guard Andrew Vorhees and right guard Daniel Faalele in particular have struggled, he said, “absolutely.” Of course, he has said that before, and the lineup has remained intact. But a bye week should buy some time to at least experiment. One option could be third-round rookie Emery Jones, who began practicing two weeks ago after missing all of the spring and summer because of shoulder surgery. Harbaugh also said Jones hasn’t been able to work on pass protection because of the shoulder, but they are “trying to get him up to speed as quick as we possibly can.” Other possibilities are second-year Corey Bullock, a former Maryland standout, and veteran Ben Cleveland, though Harbaugh has been reluctant to turn to Cleveland on several opportunities in recent years. Of course, the most significant difference for the Ravens the next time they take the field will be at quarterback, with Lamar Jackson expected back for a Week 8 home game against the Chicago Bears. Without Jackson, who has missed the past two games because of a hamstring injury, Baltimore’s offense has struggled mightily and especially at the unit’s most important position. In his absence, backup Cooper Rush has completed 64% of his passes for 251 yards with zero touchdowns and four interceptions in two starts. Ravens quarterbacks Cooper Rush, center, and Tyler Huntley, right, warm up before Sunday's game against the Rams. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Asked whether Rush will remain the backup quarterback once Jackson returns, Harbaugh parsed his words. “Is Cooper Rush still the second-string quarterback?” he said, repeating the question as if pondering a response. “I’m gonna say yes. But I will also say we’ve got two backup quarterbacks.” The other is Tyler Huntley, who momentarily injected some life into the offense on Sunday in relief of Rush. But Harbaugh also said there are some roster decisions that have to be made. Huntley has one practice squad elevation remaining. Injury updates For a second straight week, left tackle Ronnie Stanley has either been inactive or had to leave the game early because of an ankle injury, which he did in the second quarter Sunday against the Rams, retreating to the bench, where he sat with a towel over his head for the duration. “It’s structurally good, or he wouldn’t be out there playing,” Harbaugh said. “It becomes a matter of his ability to perform on it, and the only person that knows that is the player; so you’ve got to go by that. But he’s fighting to get out there and play.” When fullback Patrick Ricard began practicing for the first time since mid-August last week, Harbaugh said the target for his return would be the Bears game. Monday, he was a little less definitive about whether the All-Pro, who has been sidelined with a calf injury, would be ready by then. “I don’t know,” he said. “The way it works — the way the injury is — is it’s pretty much recovered from that kind of a standpoint; it’s just a matter of him being comfortable with his level of strength and his ability to perform. It’s him being able to get out there and push himself through practice and feel like it’s going to stay healthy, feel like he can move and run, change direction and power into people.” On a more positive note for Baltimore, Harbaugh said cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who appeared to be banged up Sunday, is physically OK. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Joe Flacco started the season with the Cleveland Browns. After benching the veteran in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland traded Flacco to an AFC North rival. The Cincinnati Bengals brought in Flacco, who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2012, to help replace the injured Joe Burrow. Flacco started Sunday in Cincinnati’s loss to the Packers, and he’s expected to start Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Count Steelers coach Mike Tomlin among those perplexed by the divisional trade. “To be honest, it was shocking to me,” he said Monday. “[Cleveland general manager] Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that area. But that’s just my personal feelings.” Tomlin made clear his confusion lies solely with the Browns’ side of the decision. “It certainly makes sense from Cincinnati’s perspective,” Tomlin said with a wide grin. The smiles spread through the division. When asked about Tomlin’s reaction Monday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh cracked a smile. He kept his thoughts about the deal mostly to himself, though. “I didn’t think about it that much, probably because we don’t play the Browns or the Bengals for four or five weeks or something like that. … I was surprised,” Harbaugh admitted. “I will say that.” While the Browns’ and Bengals’ moves at quarterback have at least caught the attention of opposing franchises in the division, most people anticipate the division to be decided by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers (4-1) currently hold a 3 1/2-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North, but Jackson is expected to return from injury in Week 8 after the Ravens’ Week 7 bye. Even with a 1-5 record, FanDuel gives Baltimore the second-best odds to win the AFC North at +165. The Steelers are finally the favorite (-150) after the Ravens were still the betting favorite at 1-4. The Bengals (+1400) and Browns (+3300) aren’t expected to factor into the divisional race. Despite a growing deficit in the division, the Ravens are banking that Jackson’s return can turn the tide. “If I was on the couch with a psychiatrist right now, if I was spilling it, I’d say I’m leaning really hard into that,” Harbaugh said of Jackson’s expected return. Tomlin didn’t need a hypothetical shrink to share his feelings about the Flacco trade. Related Articles Ravens season has been ‘test,’ coach John Harbaugh says as he eyes fixes Former Ravens pass rusher Za’Darius Smith abruptly retires READER POLL: Who had the more disappointing start to their season: The Ravens or Orioles? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Rams Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 His disdain for the Browns’ front office might be caused by Pittsburgh’s upcoming schedule. The Steelers face Flacco and the Bengals on Thursday and again in a month on Nov. 16. Pittsburgh beat Cleveland on Sunday, holding Gabriel to 221 passing yards on 53 attempts in a 23-9 victory. The Ravens don’t face the Bengals until Thanksgiving, although they did beat Flacco and the Browns in Week 2. It’s possible Baltimore could face Flacco three times this season, depending on when Burrow’s turf toe injury heals. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Za’Darius Smith abruptly announced his retirement Monday, five games into his eighth NFL season and first with the Philadelphia Eagles. The 33-year-old pass rusher called it a career in a post on Instagram. The Eagles lost Thursday night at the New York Giants to fall to 4-2 and play at Minnesota on Sunday. Smith signed with the reigning Super Bowl champions the day after their Week 1 win against Dallas. He spent last season with Cleveland and Detroit. “As I step into the newest season of my life, please know this game has meant the world to me,” Smith said. “The lessons learned on and off the field will stay with me forever.” Smith was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, in 2019 and ’20 with Green Bay and again in 2022 with Minnesota. He had 10 tackles in five games with the Eagles. Smith played for Baltimore from 2015 through 2018, with the Ravens drafting him in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. His best season with the Ravens came in 2018, when he posted 8 1/2 sacks across 16 games played and eight starts. The Baltimore Sun’s staff contributed to this article. View the full article

The Ravens are not who we thought they were. A team with Super Bowl aspirations is 1-5 and losers of four straight after another embarrassing defeat, the latest a 17-3 loss to the Rams at home on Sunday. Yet, somehow their brutal start might not even be the worst for a professional franchise in Baltimore this year. The Orioles, another team that entered the year with a championship on their minds, started 15-28 before they fired manager Brandon Hyde and never recovered to finish with a losing record. Which team had the more disappointing start to their season? We want to hear from you. Are you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

Right now, the only thing that can slow the bleeding of this Ravens season from hell is the bye week. We’ve finally arrived, but not before another Baltimore clunker. This one, a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Here are five things we learned: If it’s not one thing with this team, it’s another In a postgame locker room largely cleared out by players itching to get home and flush this fourth straight loss — a first for Baltimore since 2021 — there stood DeAndre Hopkins. He’s a 33-year-old veteran who has experienced the many highs and lows football has to offer. Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro in Year 13, is as thoughtful as he is talented. This particular question in a postgame media scrum didn’t warrant much musing. Was Hopkins surprised by the Ravens’ 1-5 start? He shook his head no, “Bad football will get you 1-5.” Unfortunately for these Ravens, that’s not a singular fix. They can’t point to just one facet of their play, six weeks into the season, that consolidates all their “bad football.” It seems every week offers something new. For much of this season, enough of it could be blamed on the defense. Sunday was different. “Our defense did a hell of a job,” running back Derrick Henry said. “But as far as offense, we definitely have to be better.” If it’s not one thing with this team, it’s another. Baltimore returned defensive staples Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey from injury. Then outside linebacker Tavius Robinson broke his foot. The Ravens forced their first takeaway since Week 2. But they turned the ball over thrice. The defense held Los Angeles’ very good offense to a manageable 17 points. But the offense was held out of the end zone for the first time in three years. Henry clocked his most yards on the ground (122) since Week 1. But the Ravens failed to convert 4 of 6 fourth-down tries. Now, Baltimore’s season enters unsalvageable territory. One win through six weeks matches the worst start in franchise history. Three points marks their fewest points scored in a home game since 2002. Every week, players and coaches try to make sense of what went wrong the previous Sunday. They vow to correct it. Then they find another way to box themselves out of the win column. “Obviously, a little tired of getting up here and having this conversation,” coach John Harbaugh said. The Ravens’ only option is to stack a win streak coming out of the bye, with games against Chicago, Miami then Minnesota. It’s not impossible. “I feel like we still have time,” Henry said. “Just believe in us.” Related Articles Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 Mike Preston: Ravens need Lamar Jackson to pull off a miracle | COMMENTARY Josh Tolentino: The Ravens look lost. The boos said it all. | COMMENTARY For Ravens fans, apathy is setting in: ‘Vibes are just really bad’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 17-3 loss to Rams The Ravens finally lost faith in Cooper Rush With 13:30 left in the fourth quarter and the Ravens trailing by two scores, a No. 5 purple jersey emerged from the bench. Third-string quarterback Tyler Huntley, whom Baltimore signed to its practice squad in late August, refocused all the wandering eyes. Every fan who might have opened the discussion among their traveling party about heading for the exits early was now locked in, leaning forward in their seats. Even Lamar Jackson stood up to watch Huntley — who replaced the injured two-time Most Valuable Player in 2022 — take over. Harbaugh said he planned to play both throughout the game. He claimed to have not seen an obvious mid-game opening to pull Cooper Rush and give Huntley a try. Those watching such an uninspiring offense seemed to think differently. Fans on a windy October Sunday let Rush hear it. They already saw him throw three interceptions last week. Baltimore’s slugfest rolled into Week 6, and so fans called for Huntley. But not before booing Rush off the field on three straight drives. When Rams kicker Joshua Karty shanked a chip shot in the first quarter that gave the ball back to Baltimore with a lead (something we haven’t seen much of this year), Rush threw his fourth interception in five quarters as a Ravens starter. When the Ravens opted to go for it on fourth-and-3, Rush rolled out to his right and sailed a throw intended for Zay Flowers streaking into open grass. That pulled the plug on any momentum gained from the forced turnover moments before. When Todd Monken’s offense picked up some steam and reached midfield, Rush threw a third-and-8 ball at the feet of an open Mark Andrews. So ensued the negative energy from an antsy home crowd. Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush threw for only 72 yards against the Rams before being replaced by Tyler Huntley in the fourth quarter Sunday. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Rush finished the day 11 of 19 for 72 yards. His replacement finished out the fourth quarter 10 of 15 with 68 yards through the air, albeit against a fourth-quarter defense that was protecting a 14-point lead. Huntley’s magnetism climaxed on a fourth-and-12 try. There were four minutes left, and punting would have been the ultimate white flag. Huntley scampered for 19 yards by himself, extending a drive that reached the red zone but yielded no points. “If I were in ‘Coop’s situation, I wouldn’t want to get pulled when you’re trying to win the game,” Huntley said. “There’s a lot of stuff that, as a quarterback, you just have to be ready for.” Surely, everyone in that locker room is ready to be done with the conversation once Jackson returns after the bye week. Goal-line offense issues haven’t been resolved This offseason, the Ravens were one of 10 teams that voted in favor of keeping the “tush push” — the short-distance set in which a player takes the snap and teammates shove his derrière over the line, made popular by the Philadelphia Eagles. Detractors claim it ruins the product of the game. The play requires “no skill,” one high-ranking Packers front office member said after a playoff loss last season. He called it an “automatic first down.” The Ravens would like to have a word. In the waning seconds before halftime, they failed twice at the sure-thing, then got stuffed trying a regular Henry run on fourth down. While Baltimore has had success pushing Andrews’ tush in the past, this anticlimactic goal-line bust “didn’t get any push,” Harbaugh said. That took the wind out of Baltimore’s sails heading into halftime tied at 3 when they could have been up 10-3. “That sucks,” center Tyler Linderbaum said. “We just didn’t get a yard. They wanted it more than us. When it comes down to it, who wants it more?” The tush push was a new approach to an issue that’s plagued the Ravens all season. There are 22 NFL teams better than Baltimore at scoring touchdowns once they get inside the red zone. The Ravens score at a 53.3% clip. Remember when Jackson fumbled against the Lions after three failed attempts from inside the 5-yard line? Or against Cleveland, when Baltimore needed all four tries to finally punch in a touchdown? Those frustrations resurfaced with the two holding penalties that foiled the Ravens’ opening drive, instead leaving them with a field goal, their only points. Add Sunday’s goal-line meltdown to the growing list. “I mean, that’s just unacceptable,” Henry said. Defense finally showed some life The 6-foot-3, 360-pound John Jenkins lumbered up field, holding the football to the gray sky, wearing a toothy smile under his face mask. His Ravens teammates were right there beside him on a celebratory caravan for the team’s first takeaway since Week 2 vs. Cleveland. That romping against a division foe was the last time Baltimore’s defense showed this much juice. Ravens defensive tackle John Jenkins sacks Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and recovers Stafford's fumble Sunday. The takeaway was the team's first forced turnover since Week 2. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Jenkins’ strip-sack answered the prayers of a defense that spent all offseason touting the importance of takeaways and has since failed to deliver. Not to mention, the Ravens were one of the worst teams in football at bringing down the quarterback. On Sunday, linebackers Teddye Buchanan and Trenton Simpson teamed up for the Ravens’ second of the day on a crucial fourth-and-short. “I thought our defense played pretty darn well against a high-powered offense,” Harbaugh said. It may have cooled the seat under defensive coordinator Zach Orr. With each loss, his job has come into question. Harbaugh continually backed his young coach. But if a staffing change were to happen, this break in the schedule would be the time. And yet, Sunday night, Harbaugh didn’t waiver: “I don’t really have any plans to do that. No, I don’t think there’s any obvious move there that would make us better.” Ravens defensive players have all insisted these shortcomings are on them. Not Orr. At the very least, they held up their end of the bargain Sunday afternoon. Rams running back Kyren Williams’ 50 rushing yards were his fewest this season. Matthew Stafford, the league’s leader in passing yards, threw for only 181 yards, his lowest mark this season (granted, he was without star receiver Puka Nacua for much of the game). And the Ravens’ defense walled up on fourth down for the first time since Week 2 (Lions, Chiefs and Texans were all perfect converting fourth-down attempts). “We needed to see that,” Harbaugh said. The most noticeable difference was the injection of safety Alohi Gilman, whom Baltimore acquired via trade with the Los Angeles Chargers. Gilman learned a “whole new football scheme in three days” and looked right at home in Baltimore’s offense. It allowed for Orr to play around with three safety looks, which means Hamilton can move closer to the line of scrimmage. Sunday was the first time the Ravens’ defense went consecutive drives without allowing points to a team’s starting quarterback since the second quarter in Week 3 vs. Detroit. They pushed around Los Angeles in two such instances in the loss. While all of this is a good sign for the potential course-correction required after the bye week, Baltimore won’t get home scotch free. Robinson’s broken foot is “a bad one,” Harbaugh said. Baltimore is already light on pass rushers. Nnamdi Madubuike was ruled out for the season with a neck injury, and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh was traded in the Gilman deal. Oweh recorded a sack in his Chargers debut, a 29-27 win over the Dolphins. These guys can’t catch a break. Thank goodness for the bye week The Ravens can sigh a bit of relief. They won’t play another game for 14 days. Baltimore is in desperate need of this break. Both for the emotional reset of the team’s worst start since 2015, which chops off another few percentage points from their playoff chances, and to address the unending injury woes that have plagued the first third of Baltimore’s season. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton warms up before Sunday's game vs. the Rams. Hamilton is one of several Ravens who have battled injuries this season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Most crucially, the Ravens should return their star quarterback from a hamstring injury for Week 8 versus Chicago. They hope to have middle linebacker Roquan Smith and fullback Pat Ricard back. Hamilton, Humphrey, left tackle Ronnie Stanley and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie have all dealt with injuries to varying degrees these past three weeks. The break should offer some solace in that department. These past few weeks have been a sprint, every step weighed down by a loss then the ensuing questions trying to figure out what went wrong. Harbaugh said he doesn’t have “any plans” to make staffing changes over the break. Either way, they’ll spend the next week balancing the urgency to course correct and the obligation to embrace a break in the schedule. “I wish we could play tomorrow,” Henry said. “The bye lets guys rest up who need it … then we’ll hit the ground running when it’s time to go.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Josh Jacobs rushed for two touchdowns and the Green Bay Packers held off Cincinnati for a 27-18 victory in Joe Flacco’s Bengals debut on Sunday. Jacobs had a 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and opened the fourth by scoring on a 14-yard burst up the middle. Jordan Love went 19 of 26 for 259 yards with an interception and a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Kraft. Lucas Havrisik sealed the win by making the second of his two field goals, a 39-yarder with 1:52 remaining. Havrisik also kicked a 43-yarder a day after signing with the Packers because usual kicker Brandon McManus had injured his quadriceps. Cincinnati’s final hope vanished when Evan McPherson was wide right on a 56-yard attempt with 41 seconds left. McPherson also made a 45-yard field goal and was well short on what would have been an NFL-record 67-yarder to end the first half. The Packers (3-1-1) returned from a bye week with their first home game since Sept. 11. They bounced back from two straight subpar performances — a 13-10 loss at Cleveland and a 40-40 tie with Dallas. Flacco was Cleveland’s quarterback in that victory over the Packers three weeks ago. He was acquired by Cincinnati (2-4) on Tuesday. The 40-year-old Flacco was 29 of 45 for 219 yards and two touchdowns, but the Bengals dropped their fourth consecutive game. Although Cincinnati never led, the Bengals made it a one-score game on Flacco’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase on a fourth-and-5 play with 4:11 to go. A 2-point conversion pass from Flacco to Chase Brown cut Green Bay’s lead to 24-18. But the Bengals’ defense couldn’t get a stop down the stretch. Neither team punted in the second half. Love threw a 31-yard pass to Matthew Golden on third-and-8 to get the Packers down to Cincinnati’s 29-yard line with 2:24 remaining. That set up Havrisik’s second field goal. Flacco became the eighth quarterback since at least 1950 to start against the same opponent twice in a season while playing for two different teams. The only quarterback to win both games in that scenario was Jack Kemp, who guided the AFL’s Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers past the New York Titans in 1962. The Bengals' Joe Flacco throws under pressure by the Packers in the first half Sunday in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) Cincinnati was outscored 10-0 and outgained 240-65 in the first half, marking the fourth straight game in which the Bengals failed to reach the end zone before halftime. The Bengals got back into the game by opening the second half with a 17-play, 78-yard touchdown drive that lasted 10 minutes, 14 seconds. On fourth-and-goal, Flacco threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Hudson, who entered Sunday’s game without any catches all season. Jacobs’ second touchdown made it 17-7. Cincinnati cut the lead to 17-10 with 10:43 left before Love and Kraft connected for Green Bay’s longest touchdown completion of the season. Kraft caught the ball a couple of yards beyond the line of scrimmage, shed a tackle and lowered his shoulder to get through cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt and land in the right corner of the end zone. Injuries Bengals: TE Mike Gesicki (pectoral) and DE Trey Hendrickson (back) both left the game. Packers: DE Lukas Van Ness was carted into the locker room with a foot injury in the third quarter. WR Dontayvion Wicks hurt his ankle. S Javon Bullard was evaluated for a concussion. Up next Bengals: Host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Packers: Visit the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. View the full article

The Ravens’ season is now down to the return of quarterback Lamar Jackson. That’s because there is no other hope. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player has to pull off another miracle if the Ravens have any playoff aspirations. Can that happen? Probably not, at least not with what we’ve seen from Jackson in the first four weeks of the season. He appeared a few steps slower and was even run down on several occasions, which has never happened to Jackson throughout his eight-year career. His decision making was slow, which might have been from the injured hamstring, or it’s from opposing teams blitzing him and keeping spies around the line of scrimmage, not allowing him to escape. But that’s where this team is right now. The Ravens are 1-5 after losing, 17-3, to the Los Angeles Rams in a game they could have won. That’s the new course chartered by the Ravens. They are staring into the abyss. A team that many predicted as Super Bowl champion has lost it way. It’s sad to see, downright humiliating. The most talented team in the 30-year history of this franchise has gone bust. And now, all hopes are on Jackson. Regardless of the score Sunday, it’s apparent that the Ravens have to score 30 or 40 points to win. They lost, 41-40, in a stunning comeback by the Buffalo Bills in the season opener. They handled Cleveland in Week 2 (after a scary first half) but then gave up 38, 37 points and 44 in losses to Detroit, Kansas City and Houston. There is a trend here. When it comes to the supposedly elite teams, the Ravens are getting mauled. That is where Jackson enters the picture. Before the hamstring injury sidelined him for the past two games, the Ravens had some semblance of a real NFL offense. The team’s best play always consisted of Jackson running around with his scrambling ability. That’s why NFL fans, especially those in Baltimore, are mesmerized by his playmaking ability and his improvement throwing the long ball. With this team, Jackson has to pull another rabbit out of the hat. The Ravens’ backup quarterbacks are awful. No. 2 Cooper Rush completed 11 of 19 passes Sunday for 72 yards and finished with a passer rating of 44.2. Most of his throws were of the dink-and-dunk variety, with nothing more than 10 yards. Question: Is this the NFL or high school football? No. 3 quarterback Tyler Huntley has a skill set similar to Jackson’s, but can’t throw as well. By the time he came into the game in the fourth quarter, he was harassed by the Rams’ defense, which totaled four sacks and 11 hits on the quarterback. Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley passes in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Rams. The Ravens used Huntley and Cooper Rush, but only scored three points in a 17-3 defeat. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) This offensive line is not very good. Even though running back Derrick Henry had a strong performance, rushing for 122 yards on 24 carries, the Ravens couldn’t pass block. That 14-point deficit in the third quarter was practically insurmountable. And do we really want to talk about defense? The Ravens had nearly a 15-minute advantage as far as time of possession, but still allowed 241 yards of total offense. Rams wide receiver Davante Adams dropped three passes and quarterback Matthew Stafford overthrew him twice in the end zone on the Rams’ first drive, or the score might have been worse. The 8-yard touchdown pass that Stafford threw to tight end Tyler Higbee in the third quarter was the same type of play Houston and Detroit used in previous games. There were signs that the Ravens’ defense improved Sunday, but not to the point where it can be counted on week after week. OK, Mr. Jackson, time to play. The Ravens have no other chance. At least with Jackson and Henry, the Ravens have an inside and outside threat with both players, especially on option plays. They have a quarterback who has improved significantly in the past two years throwing long passes and can roll to his left and hit open receivers. More importantly, Jackson gives this team hope. It’s not phony. They believe in him and that they can win any game with him as the starter. Related Articles Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 Josh Tolentino: The Ravens look lost. The boos said it all. | COMMENTARY For Ravens fans, apathy is setting in: ‘Vibes are just really bad’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 17-3 loss to Rams What Tom Brady said about the Ravens during ugly loss to Rams That’s the key for a team that is void of leadership, especially from the veterans. There are no alpha males on this team, even with Jackson. In 2000, the Ravens had defensive linemen like Tony Siragusa, Rob Burnett, Sam Adams and Mike McCrary. In 2012, they had receiver Anquan Boldin, linebacker Ray Lewis and safeties Bernard Pollard and Ed Reed. Now, they have no one, but only the hope that comes from Jackson. The magic number to get to the playoffs as always is about 10 wins, and the Ravens have 11 games remaining and just one victory. Can Jackson help them go on a nine-game winning streak in a sorry league with games against Miami, Minnesota, Cleveland and Cincinnati? Those are all teams without bonafide starting quarterbacks. No, but at least his return adds some intrigue to a season that has gone south. That’s all there is left. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The boos at M&T Bank Stadium had already started, but they intensified after the Ravens somehow failed to punch it in from the 1-yard line — an inexplicable three-play sequence that ended with nothing but frustration echoing through the building near the end of the first half. The boos were sharp and unrelenting, loud enough to seep through the thick press box glass. That’s what led me to wander out to the 500 level at halftime, curious to stand among a few family members and the disgruntled 70,000-plus in attendance (paid attendance, anyway), an opportunity to see what this 17-3 loss to the Los Angles Rams looked like through Flock Nation’s eyes and to fully hear the discontent from a fan base that expected much more. Section 529 overlooks the Ravens’ sideline, a perfect perch to take in the unraveling that happened moments later. Even from way up there, nothing felt distant. The Lamar Jackson-less Ravens opened the second half with back-to-back turnovers, shiny gifts the Rams quickly turned into a pair of touchdowns. Baltimore’s top wide receiver, Zay Flowers, was involved in both ugly sequences; he first fumbled while trying to gain extra yards and then botched a handoff from veteran backup quarterback Cooper Rush. As Flowers and company slowly retreated to the sideline, the boos poured in even louder as pockets of fans simultaneously streamed toward the exits. The irony in all of this is that Baltimore commanded the exact type of slugfest it wanted Sunday afternoon. The Ravens dominated the clock, holding the ball for more than 37 minutes compared with the Rams’ 22:05. All-Pro tailback Derrick Henry finally exploded for one of his best outings of the season (24 carries for 122 yards), hammering through the Rams’ first and second levels of defenders and dictating tempo in Baltimore’s favor. This was the type of game the Ravens used to dominate with a bruising rush attack paired with a disciplined and much-improved defense that limited the high-powered Rams to a season-low 241 yards. The Ravens also finally ended a four-week takeaway drought when veteran defensive lineman John Jenkins strip-sacked quarterback Matthew Stafford. According to the franchise’s history and standard, this looked much more like Ravens football. Yet, Baltimore was held out of the end zone, its offense sputtering time and time again, undone by its own repetitive mistakes. “Bad football will get you 1-5,” veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins said. “Whatever you put out there … that’s how football works. When the other team is not playing bad football and doing whatever they need to do, that’s the result, man.” Related Articles Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 Mike Preston: Ravens need Lamar Jackson to pull off a miracle | COMMENTARY For Ravens fans, apathy is setting in: ‘Vibes are just really bad’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 17-3 loss to Rams What Tom Brady said about the Ravens during ugly loss to Rams The Ravens committed three turnovers, seven penalties, and went 0-for-3 in the red zone, unable to capitalize on a much-needed bounce-back performance from their defense. There should be absolutely no place in today’s modern NFL in which Baltimore spends nearly 38 minutes with the ball but walks away with no touchdowns. “When it comes down to it, who wants it more?” center Tyler Linderbaum said. “[The Rams] wanted it more than us.” That failure isn’t just about three poor play calls flaming out within four feet of the pylon. Rather, Baltimore’s latest failure is unveiling a pattern that’s formed over the season’s first six weeks. “We made some critical mistakes that cost us an opportunity to win the game,” Harbaugh said. “That’s what we have to get straightened out. That’ll be the key going forward.” Many seats were empty in the fourth quarter Sunday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) From my view above the home sideline, the mood on the bench reflected the fed-up crowd. Helmets and heads hung lower with each mistake. Words exchanged between players carried a sense of added frustration. The sense of stability this team has leaned on for years — the trademark calm under Harbaugh — felt like it was disappearing just as it did in the team’s other four disappointing defeats. The Ravens have spent weeks saying that they need to clean things up, that they have too much talent to be where they are. But ceilings and talent don’t matter when Baltimore keeps tripping over itself. This team continues to find new ways to lose, and on Sunday, that played out in front of a restless fan base. To be clear, this isn’t a call to fire Harbaugh as the team enters the much-needed bye. Over the next 14 days until Baltimore’s next game against Chicago, Harbaugh’s renowned stability and longtime messaging need a deep revisit, along with the team’s many issues. Getting Jackson back in the starting lineup will be key, too (you can only imagine the Ravens beat the Rams handily if he’s in the huddle paired with the defense’s rebound outing), as Baltimore approaches a softer part of its schedule. “You can’t allow the weight of the disappointment or the weight of the scrutiny to derail you,” Harbaugh said. “We can accomplish what we want to accomplish. We can do it. We’re the kind of team that can do it.” The Ravens face a herculean task over the season’s final 10 weeks coming out of their Week 7 bye. Only four teams in NFL history have started 1-5 and still made the playoffs. Under the league’s current playoff format that was implemented in 2020, only the 2020 Washington Commanders have accomplished the feat. Back in the upper bowl at The Bank, the boos and expletives directed toward the home team represented a passionate but tired fan base. Down on the field, the skidding Ravens dropped their fourth consecutive game, looking like a lost team in desperate need of direction. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

The tenor of M&T Bank Stadium was encapsulated by two fights that broke out midway through the second quarter. Ten people were ejected from the stadium, stadium employee Asut Ames said. The fights reflected the frustration of a fan base that, for the second straight week, filed out of the stadium long before the final whistle. “Fire Harbaugh” chants broke out, boos rained down as the Ravens went into halftime tied at 3, and a loud “Tyler Huntley” chant echoed through the stands in the third quarter as Baltimore failed to score a touchdown in its 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday afternoon. Even before the game, it was clear Ravens fans were growing frustrated with the team — and, at times, each other. Paid attendance for Sunday’s game was 70,055 — the fifth-lowest at M&T Bank Stadium in the past decade — but the stands weren’t nearly that full at any point on the windy and dreary afternoon as many fans decided to stay home. A year ago, Baltimore averaged 71,052 fans per game, the ninth-highest mark in the NFL. The fans who showed up Sunday were displeased with the team’s effort. “The vibes are just really bad. It’s kind of like a heavy cloud over the stadium,” said 30-year-old season-ticket holder Dakota London, of Abingdon. “It’s just not good, man, there’s a bad vibe going around right now.” Several fans said Sunday’s contest was one of the quietest atmospheres they have attended at M&T Bank Stadium. Glen Burnie native Gage Utz said the stadium “felt more empty than it usually is.” Even fans who did attend seemed not to be focused on the game, Utz said. Season-ticket holder Luke Milliken, 25, said he typically sells his tickets for more than $140. He said the market value for Sunday’s game was much lower than usual. “It’s the whole team. They’re not performing on either side of the ball, and they’re trading guys away,” Utz, 24, said. “You see all these other teams, like the 49ers and all these other teams have backup guys, they’re still winning games, and obviously we’re not doing that.” The Ravens’ play did not inspire much confidence for their fan base. Baltimore’s offense was booed off the field after it failed to score from the goal line in the first half. Quarterback Cooper Rush missed several throws, and Zay Flowers fumbled the ball twice (although one was credited to Rush on the handoff). Related Articles The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 17-3 loss to Rams What Tom Brady said about the Ravens during ugly loss to Rams Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-3 loss to Rams to fall to 1-5 Ravens’ free fall continues with embarrassing 17-3 loss to Rams Ravens’ Tavius Robinson breaks foot vs. Rams; Ronnie Stanley leaves early Ontario native Tyler Morwood and his friends made the eight-hour drive from Canada to watch their annual Ravens game. The long-time fans said Sunday was a shocking atmosphere to experience, as they watched another blowout loss. “[Teams] used to come here and know they were going to be in a dog fight. That doesn’t happen anymore,” Morwood, 35, said. “It sucks. We didn’t even get to see a touchdown.” “This is the first time I’ve ever seen this. I’ve never seen people leaving this stadium before [fourth quarter] kicks off. I’ve never seen people leaving like this, and that’s the sign of the time. The wheels have fallen off the wagon, and the wagon’s on fire.” For a team that started with such high expectations, a 1-5 record at the bye week is a sobering reminder of how poorly this season has gone. Running back Derrick Henry admitted the record was bad, but asked fans to stick with the team. “We always appreciate the fans through everything. We know it’s rough right now, they want to see a good product out there, and we haven’t been displaying that,” Henry said. “Them leaving early is a given.” Fans head toward the exits early in the fourth quarter of the Ravens' game Sunday against the Rams. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The upper section of the stadium was nearly 80% empty by the time the game reached the fourth quarter. The concourse was filled with fans exiting early, hoping to beat the traffic instead of watching their team struggle through another loss. Utz and Milliken left their seats in the second quarter, choosing to watch the game from the concourse instead. As the fourth quarter rolled around, they decided to leave, choosing not to spend the remainder of their weekend at M&T Bank Stadium. They made new plans. “Probably just going to try and drown our sorrows at the bars instead of being here,” Utz said. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Baltimore Ravens fans head down to the exits as the Los Angeles Rams continue to dominate during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Most fans heave abandoned their seats with the Baltimore Ravens down against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Seats were empty throughout the afternoon as the Baltimore Ravens play the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Empty seats show in every section as the Baltimore Ravens play the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens fans appear stunned as their team fail to make progress against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens fans express their disappointment with not attempting a field goal or failing to convert on fourth down as a pass by quarterback Cooper Rush is overthrown against the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens fans are speechless after the team fail to pound the ball into the end zone against the Los Angeles Rams on four downs, failing to chalk up a single point during the second quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Empty seats in M&T Bank Stadium during Ravens Rams game in the first quarter. The Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Many empty seats can be seen throughout the seating bowl as the Los Angeles Rams kick off to the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens fans leave the stadium in the fourth quarter. The Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens fans sit quietly late in the fourth quarter as the Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Dejected Ravens fans late in the fourth quarter. The Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)A Ravens fan Rams watches late in the fourth quarter as the Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Fans walk in the concourse at M&T Bank Stadium for the Ravens to play the Rams. (Sam Jane/Staff)There are many empty seats at M&T Bank Stadium for the Ravens to play the Rams. (Sam Jane/Staff)Many empty seats are visible at M&T Bank Stadium during the Baltimore Ravens’ game against the Los Angeles Rams in Baltimore, Maryland. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Many empty seats are visible at M&T Bank Stadium during the Baltimore Ravens’ game against the Los Angeles Rams in Baltimore, Maryland. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Fans shout their displeasure during the Baltimore Ravens’ game against the Los Angeles Rams at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Show Caption1 of 18Baltimore Ravens fans head down to the exits as the Los Angeles Rams continue to dominate during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand View the full article

Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position after a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium: Quarterbacks The Ravens started Cooper Rush until he was replaced by Tyler Huntley in the fourth quarter. The substitution should have been made sooner, but the Ravens wanted to stay with Rush, their $6 million man. The 31-year-old backup overthrew receivers several times on out patterns, and Huntley was under constant duress during his drives. Rush wasn’t effective, completing 11 of 19 passes for 72 yards with an interception. Huntley had no chance, completing 10 of 15 attempts for 68 yards. Grade: D Running backs Derrick Henry showed some life in the running game, gaining 122 yards on 24 carries, and he had some nasty runs that looked vintage. I still don’t know why the Ravens didn’t pound him up the gut on those two straight tush pushes at the goal line right before the end of the half, but I guess they wanted to see what tight end Mark Andrews can do. Andrews, though, is not Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who can squat more than 500 pounds. Justice Hill had five catches for 28 yards as Henry’s backup. Grade: B Receivers Memo to Zay Flowers: Stop fumbling the ball. Being involved in two fumbles during a single game is unacceptable. Worse yet, one was on a jet sweep that was credited to Rush, but it wasn’t a good day for the No. 1 receiver. The rest of the group was quiet as well. Flowers had six catches for 46 yards, but his fumble in the third quarter turned the game in Los Angeles’ favor. Andrews had four catches for 24 yards, but it was more of a small ball passing game. The Ravens need to work DeAndre Hopkins into the offense more often. He had two catches for 20 yards, but cornerbacks have to grab him to defend him. Grade: C- Offensive line The Ravens came out strong and initially knocked the Rams off the ball. They ran on both sides of the line both inside and outside the tackles. But once they got behind 17-3 in the third quarter, their weakness in pass protection was exposed. Rush became more susceptible to pressure because he can’t scramble, and even Huntley had problems with the relentless pressure. It wasn’t a bad day for this group, but nothing to brag about either. One other thing: Stop holding so much. Grade: D Defensive line The Ravens came into the game against an offense that averaged 112.2 rushing yards per game, and they held the Rams to 74 yards on the ground. It was a strong effort, and this group got better this weekend compared with previous games. Even defensive tackle John Jenkins had a sack and fumble recovery when he stripped Matthew Stafford. But by the end of the game, the Ravens were starting to wear down. Jenkins finished with three tackles and Brent Urban (who was evaluated for concussion) also had two. The Rams had only 241 yards of total offense. Grade: B Linebackers Weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson might have had his best day as a pro, finishing with nine tackles including a half sack. Rookie middle linebacker Teddye Buchanan also had nine tackles and finished with a half sack as well. The Ravens though, got caught several times when their outside linebackers dashed inside instead of playing run support. Veteran Kyle Van Noy finished with only one tackle and David Ojabo had zero. Tavius Robinson also didn’t have a tackle and left the game in the first half with what coach John Harbaugh later said was a broken foot. Grade C+ Secondary Stafford threw for 181 yards, but he fooled the Ravens several times on short rollouts and passes into the flat. Overall, this group actually had a clue to where to find the Rams’ receivers because they had a near 15-minute advantage in time of possession, but you never thought the Ravens were in total control. Los Angeles had receivers open across the middle most of the game, and the Ravers were helped because receiver Davante Adams dropped three passes. Stafford’s 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee in the third quarter was embarrassing, and we’ve seen this before against Detroit and Houston. Grade: C- Related Articles For Ravens fans, apathy is setting in: ‘Vibes are just really bad’ What Tom Brady said about the Ravens during ugly loss to Rams Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-3 loss to Rams to fall to 1-5 Ravens’ free fall continues with embarrassing 17-3 loss to Rams Ravens’ Tavius Robinson breaks foot vs. Rams; Ronnie Stanley leaves early Special teams Rookie LaJohntay Wester looked like he was close to breaking one for a touchdown with a 35-yard punt return in the second quarter after his fumble was nullified by a Rams penalty, but he needed to choose the right angle on Los Angeles’ last punt of the day with two minutes left in the game. Jordan Stout only had one punt for 53 yards, and rookie Tyler Loop converted his only field goal attempt of 37 yards in the first quarter. But Loop needs to get more distance on his kickoffs, and Wester shouldn’t have let a punter tackle him on his long return. That’s a big no no. Grade: C Coaching I’m still waiting for some imagination in coordinator Todd Monken’s offense. How about a little razzle-dazzle? How about some double reverses or other trick plays? Give me some imagination, please. Maybe a bomb to Flowers or Hopkins if Flowers didn’t fumble. How about a screen or two to slow the Rams’ pass rush? As for the defense, the Ravens got better this week but the Rams are an undisciplined bunch. Still, L.A. had plenty of time to throw over the middle. The Rams had four sacks and 11 quarterback hurries, while the Ravens had just two sacks and three hurries. Enough said. Grade: D Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley passes as Rams outside linebacker Byron Young closes in during the fourth quarter. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

Tom Brady has seen a lot of football. What he’s not very familiar with is bad Ravens football. The seven-time Super Bowl champion was on the call providing color commentary for FOX Sports on Sunday afternoon and saw Baltimore limp to a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at M&T Bank Stadium. It’s the first time that the Ravens have lost four straight since 2021 and just the second time in franchise history that the team has lost five of its first six games. Needless to say, the Ravens team that Brady saw on the field Sunday is a far cry from the groups led by Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs and later Lamar Jackson during his 23-year career in New England and Tampa Bay. Here’s a sample of what Brady had to say about the Ravens and their continued struggles to begin the season: On Ravens’ offense “Don’t put too much on Cooper Rush’s plate. … Be this physical, tough Baltimore team that they’ve always been.” “If I’m [offensive coordinator] Todd Monken, especially after Cooper Rush throws that interception, let’s run the big fella [Derrick Henry] as much as we can. Let’s force them to stop him first and then see if they can stop some other things.” “What’s really impressed me so far is this offensive line has really displaced the line of scrimmage. You call it resetting the line of scrimmage in their own defensive backfield. Every handoff, I’m just seeing all those purple jerseys on the Rams’ side of the football. That’s a great thing to see if you’re calling plays for the Ravens.” “It’s just simple execution. If we make our blocks, we stay on them and we fit those defenders head up, we’re going to give Derrick a chance to get going.” On Zay Flowers’ first fumble “You just have to understand, all these bodies are pursuing you. When you got east and west, sideline to sideline, you’re not really gaining any ground on the defense and they’re just hunting that ball out. That’s what good coaches will teach you.” On Derrick Henry “When he can stay on his track and not stop his feet in the hole, he’s impossible to get on the ground.” “He’s not necessarily a jump-cut type runner. He needs to see his spot and hit it.” On Ravens’ defense “Baltimore’s defense has struggled this year in so many different areas. Certainly third downs has been one of the key issues. Coach Harbaugh said we just can’t get them off the field on third down. A lot of that’s been their limitations, giving up explosive plays. When you get to third-and-9 in the NFL, you’re banking on getting them off the field 80% of the time.” “NFL coaching is all about solving problems. You saw it on a weekly basis, sometimes you saw it on a play-by-play basis.” “Love the way they’ve come out and been so physical today.” On Mark Andrews “He’s such a reliable target and has been that way with Lamar. He needs to be that way when Lamar is not in there as well. … It’s different. When you come in with a new quarterback, there are a lot of unseen body language things that need to happen in the passing game for solid execution.” On playing with backup QB Cooper Rush “It’s a different style. He’s more of a pocket passer, which is a very different style of offense than what Lamar’s running. And you don’t install two offenses, you install one. So Todd Monken is tasked this week with cherry picking things from the Lamar offense that will actually work with Cooper Rush.” “The quarterback has to take control of the protection. [The defenders are] already up there at the line of scrimmage. You probably think they’re coming, you redirect the line to protect and you’re able to stand in there and make a throw.” “Just not super comfortable in the pocket. If you get clean pockets and you’re running from those, well, there’s a sense of unsettling footwork that’s happening in his head.” On Rams’ goal line stand “They have this guy [Henry] who I would probably want to give the ball. I love Mark Andrews, but [the tush push quarterback sneak is] just a hard thing. You don’t practice that much. The ball’s not in his hands [often].” Related Articles Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-3 loss to Rams to fall to 1-5 Ravens’ free fall continues with embarrassing 17-3 loss to Rams Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley, Tavius Robinson exit game vs. Rams with injuries Ravens vs. Rams, October 12, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Rams live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 17-3 loss “If you have a 250-pound back [Henry] who’s been the best back in the NFL in the last 10 years, my version of this if I’m Todd Monken is let me just give it to him and try to let him go over the top and see if they can stop him.” “If you can’t get a yard, you don’t deserve to win.” “They miss [fullback Patrick] Ricard. Just not enough physicality at that position. [Left guard Andrew] Vorhees doesn’t do his job. And instead of even giving Derrick a chance to go over the top, it’s stopped 2 yards in the backfield.” On offense with Huntley “You just don’t want it to become too much of passing game. He hasn’t had any reps this week. Now all of the sudden it’s like, ‘Here’s the whole offense.’ Still have to manage the quarterback position a bit and I like the idea of these dual-threat type runs with [Justice] Hill in the backfield or Henry or some of these quick rhythm passing throws to the perimeter. Some screen plays. Anything to get Huntley in rhythm.” On 4th straight loss “Very deflating for this team for so many reasons. And you see it on Harbaugh’s face right there. You know it’s just been a total morale killer for six weeks of the season. Hopefully they get Lamar back. The division isn’t great.” “All is not lost. I know that’s a narrative sometimes when you come into these bye weeks. Everything’s ahead of us. But for this team, it truly is. They’re getting their best player back. Some of these defensive players are getting healthy. There’s no margin for error at this point going forward. But they are the Ravens, and they usually figure it out.” On Ray Lewis meeting before the game “Where are you Ed Reed? Where are you Terrell Suggs? I want a piece of you too.” “It still hurt me more than it hurt Ray I’m sure when I hit him right there.” “Ray wouldn’t always say the nicest thing to me. I’m glad we’re friends post career. Not someone I want on my bad side.” “It is nice to be in Baltimore and not be sore on my flight home.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. Former Patriots quarterback and current FOX Sports announcer Tom Brady jokes around with former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis on the field before the Ravens' 17-3 loss to the Rams. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6 of the NFL season on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium: Brian Wacker, reporter The Ravens simply can’t get out of their own way. Three cracks from the Rams’ 1-yard line yielded no points. Three turnovers and three failed fourth-down attempts. It looked early on as if Baltimore might be able to ride the legs of running back Derrick Henry to a possible if not improbable victory. Even as he became the first runner to crack the 100-yard mark against the Rams this season, though, it was only a matter of time before the cracks in this team would prove too much to overcome. Without Lamar Jackson, the offense has been disjointed. The offensive line has been a sieve. The defense mostly contained quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Kyren Williams and receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, but the hard truth is this not a very good team, both in scheme and execution, and there are serious questions as to whether they have the leadership and ability to pull out of this spiral. Mike Preston, columnist The mediocre NFL was on display Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium and it seemed like neither team wanted to win. It was an awful game played by two poorly coached teams. The major difference was that Matthew Stafford was the Rams’ starting quarterback, and even though he didn’t play well, the Rams had enough on offense to overcome Baltimore, which was without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson for the second straight week because of a hamstring injury. The difference in the game occurred at the start of the third quarter when the Rams came out in a hurry-up offense to spark a nine-play, 76-yard drive that was highlighted by a 3-yard touchdown run from running back Kyren Williams. On the Ravens’ next offensive series, receiver Zay Flowers fumbled. That led to another Rams touchdown, this time in two plays that covered 21 yards. Game over. The Ravens had several opportunities, but they don’t have enough firepower at this point. This was a game they could have won. Josh Tolentino, columnist The Ravens finally halted their four-week long takeaway drought … only to commit three of their own turnovers, which proved to be detrimental to their fate, another ugly home loss that featured more empty seats and boos from the sparse crowd in attendance. Sure, Lamar Jackson was out for his second consecutive game, but veteran Cooper Rush was handed a pretty handsome contract for a backup quarterback to avoid disasters like this. His outing (11 of 19 passing for 72 yards, one interception, one fumble, zero touchdowns) underscored a rough day for the Ravens offense and coordinator Todd Monken, as Baltimore inexplicably failed to score on three consecutive attempts from the 1-yard line near the end of the first half. The defense shored up a bit, limiting the Rams’ high-powered offense to just 17 points — and 14 of those were scored off a pair of second-half turnovers. This loss falls squarely on the offense, which claims to boast so much firepower, and coach John Harbaugh, whose team continues to get in its own way. Sam Cohn, reporter The Ravens had every chance to put points on the board and make this game competitive (a two-score fourth-quarter deficit felt like an unscalable mountain). Los Angeles’ defense helped them convert multiple third downs with penalties. Derrick Henry had his best day since Week 1. Baltimore’s defense forced their first turnover since Week 2. But the Ravens insisted on making life tough for themselves. They couldn’t convert on three tries from the goal line. And even with the Ravens’ defense holding Los Angeles — one of the league’s top-scoring offenses — to less than 20 points, their offense couldn’t match the pace. Maybe they should have turned to Tyler Huntley sooner. Either way, the Ravens are taking one collective sigh of relief to finally be at the bye week. It’ll be a chance to completely reset, physically and emotionally, before confronting razor-thin margins of salvaging this season. Sam Jane, reporter Fans in M&T Bank Stadium have had enough. Two fights broke out, “Fire Harbaugh” chants emerged and boo birds rang down throughout the game. The Ravens failed to score a touchdown, and despite improved play on defense, lost by multiple scores for the third consecutive week. Baltimore is now 1-5, which is a precarious spot to be in despite the eventual return of quarterback Lamar Jackson. For the second straight week, the game ended with a nearly empty stadium. As one fan put it, “the vibes are horrible right now.” C.J. Doon, editor I thought last week was going to be rock bottom for the Ravens. I underestimated just how bad things could get. This was about as depressing a performance from a John Harbaugh-coached team that I can remember. Cooper Rush didn’t look like he belonged on an NFL field. The Ravens couldn’t get 1 yard at the goal line during an embarrassing sequence of failed tush pushes and Derrick Henry runs. The beleaguered defense gave an inspired effort but still couldn’t get off the field enough on third down. It ultimately didn’t matter with how inept the Ravens’ offense was. It’s a backup quarterback behind a two-time NFL MVP, yes, but the Rush signing might be one of the worst moves general manager Eric DeCosta has ever made. He was brought in to steady the ship if Lamar Jackson went down and has only made things worse. This roster should be good enough to at least be competitive, and yet the Ravens’ have looked hopeless. Zay Flowers fumbled twice Sunday, and he’s supposed to be the reliable No. 1 target. DeAndre Hopkins, at age 33, looks like he has the most fight of any of the pass catchers. That’s a huge problem, but far from their biggest. Jackson might come back after the bye, and that will be a huge boost. But is the Ravens’ season already over? The cracks that Jackson has papered over are starting to show, leaving little faith that his eventual return will be enough to propel this team to the playoffs. Something’s rotten here. Harbaugh has pulled his teams out of ruts before, but this feels like a canyon too large to overcome. Related Articles Ravens’ free fall continues with embarrassing 17-3 loss to Rams Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley, Tavius Robinson exit game vs. Rams with injuries Ravens vs. Rams, October 12, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Rams live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 17-3 loss Ravens cut undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery III to open space on roster Tim Schwartz, editor The Ravens are toast. This team looks so uninspired it’s almost hard to watch. It took an above-average first half and a pathetic first 30 minutes from the Rams to simply be tied at 3. Once Los Angeles realized they were playing the Ravens and their no-good, awful, sleepy defense, they found the end zone. Once would be enough with Cooper Rush and company on the other side. At least Derrick Henry got the ball and gave them some resemblance of hope early. But Rush missed wide-open receivers, threw a terrible interception early and got benched in the fourth quarter. Deservedly so. The bye week comes a week too late for Baltimore, which will need to shake things up in a big way to get their season back on track with Lamar Jackson likely to return in two weeks. But this team has so many problems beyond who is under center that it’s difficult to see their path to the postseason. Bennett Conlin, editor The Ravens miss Lamar Jackson. They had some of the ingredients needed to beat the Rams on Sunday, with an early turnover forced and Derrick Henry going over 100 rushing yards. But Cooper Rush is not Jackson, obviously. The Ravens’ backup quarterback struggled to operate the offense efficiently for the second consecutive week, and it cost Baltimore. Jackson’s best traits are seemingly everything. He runs and passes in a way we’ve never seen in the NFL. Rush’s best trait Sunday? His hard count. That’s not a lot for offensive coordinator Todd Monken to use. Nobody on either side of the ball picked up the slack. Sunday wasn’t Monken’s fault. It wasn’t John Harbaugh’s, either. Rush was dreadful, and his teammates didn’t do enough to pick up the slack. Zay Flowers can’t fumble twice if Baltimore wants any chance against a Super Bowl contender. Baltimore might make coaching changes during the bye week because coaches often take the brunt of the blame and defensive coordinator Zach Orr wasn’t blameless this week, but Sunday’s loss was largely on the players — and maybe general manager Eric DeCosta for thinking Cooper Rush was a worthwhile way to spend offseason dollars. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

One yard, three tries. First, it was Ravens tight end Mark Andrews on consecutive tush-push plays. Then, a handoff to Derrick Henry that went backward 2 yards. Baltimore’s inability to cross the Los Angeles Rams’ goal line on three straight cracks at the end of the first half Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium was emblematic. Of an offense that has looked dysfunctional without injured quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson, its struggles the closer the ball gets to the end zone, but mostly a floundering Super Bowl favorite that is spiraling with five losses, including four in a row in its first six games. The Ravens (1-5) turned the ball over three times, failed to convert three of four fourth-down tries, and even with Derrick Henry (122 yards, 24 carries) becoming the first running back to crack the 100-yard rushing mark against the Rams this season, stumbled their way through a 17-3 loss to Los Angeles (4-2). Baltimore held Matt Stafford to 17 of 26 passing for 181 yards and one touchdown, while running back Kyren Williams had 50 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, but it didn’t matter. Not for a Ravens offense that managed just 296 total yards, including just 72 through the air on 11 of 19 completions from backup Cooper Rush, who was also intercepted once and fumbled once before being replaced early in the fourth quarter by Tyler Huntley, who finished 10-for-15 passing for 68 yards while running for 39 yards on three carries. And even when Huntley sparked the offense and the crowd, it turned out to be short-lived. After driving Baltimore from its own 11-yard line to the Rams’ 15, the offensive line collapsed and Huntley’s fourth-and-10 desperation toss to Rashod Bateman fell incomplete. On his knees after the ball had fallen harmlessly to the ground, he put his hands out in helplessness. It was a scene that had repeated throughout the day. At one point, as the Ravens were on their way to failing to punch it in from the 1-yard line, Henry threw his hands up in exasperation. Later, after Zay Flowers, whose fumble at his own 36-yard line early in the third quarter to set up a touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee two plays later, spiked his helmet in disgust. The frustration was palpable all afternoon, at least for those who bore witness with a stadium that had a lot of empty seats in the upper level at kickoff. Still, for the first 30 minutes, it felt like a game between two teams dueling to see which one could do less with more. Baltimore’s struggles on both sides of the ball have been well-documented, with a defense that hasn’t been able to stop anyone and an offense that has been out of sync and lackluster without Jackson. The Rams, meanwhile, have had a habit of playing down to teams this season, and it showed in their opening two series. First, they marched 57 yards to the Baltimore 8-yard line only for Stafford to inexplicably misfire on two straight passes to an open Adams, first across the back of the end zone and then on a fade. Then, Josh Karty doinked a 26-yard field goal try off the right upright in what’s been a continuation of their special teams woes. But not to be outdone, Baltimore turned the ball over on its next possession as Rush made an ill-advised late throw across the middle to a well-covered Flowers, and it was intercepted by Quentin Lake. Related Articles Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-3 loss to Rams to fall to 1-5 Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley, Tavius Robinson exit game vs. Rams with injuries Ravens vs. Rams, October 12, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Rams live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 17-3 loss Ravens cut undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery III to open space on roster The comedic back and forth continued one play later, with defensive tackle John Jenkins bullying his way through the middle of the Rams’ offensive line to strip-sack Stafford and recover the fumble. The Ravens couldn’t capitalize, though. On a fourth-and-3 from the Rams’ 34, rather than attempt a field goal in the breezy conditions, they decided to go for it. Rush’s fade up the right side sailed over the blanketed Flowers. That eventually led to a 36-yard field goal by Karty to even things early in the second quarter. Baltimore had a chance to surge ahead just before the half, but its ineptitude from near the goal line reared its ugly head again. After a 36-yard punt return by Wester — whose fumble on the first attempt was wiped out by a penalty on the Rams — the Ravens eventually worked their way to the 1-yard line and were poised to finally find the end zone. Except they couldn’t get across the goal line on two straight tush-pushes with Andrews and a handoff to Henry. Coming into the week, Baltimore scored a touchdown on goal-to-go situations just 67% of the time, and that number rose with its fourth failure in seven attempts. It also marked the first time in three years that the Ravens had gone consecutive weeks without scoring a touchdown in the first half. Now, they are in more unfamiliar territory: In last place in the AFC North, three games back in the win column of the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. The bye week can’t get here soon enough for the Ravens. They will get healthier with Jackson expected and others expected to return. Without Jackson, the Ravens have gone 4-11 and lost five straight in that span. They also haven’t scored more than 17 points in any of those games. The question is, will they have enough time to recover? Only four teams in NFL history have started 1-5 and gone on to make the playoffs, with the Commanders (7-9) in 2020 the most recent to do so. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. A dejected coach John Harbaugh looks on after the Ravens turned the ball over on downs at the goal line in the second quarter. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article