ExtremeRavens

Here’s how the Ravens (11-5) graded out at every position after a 31-2 win over the Texans (9-7) on Wednesday at NRG Stadium in Houston: Quarterback Lamar Jackson took over the second quarter with a couple of scrambles, which extended scoring drives. He finished 10-for-15 for 168 yards and two touchdown passes and also had a 48-yard touchdown run on an option play to start the third quarter. Jackson broke the NFL record for most career rushing yards by a quarterback. Grade: A Running backs Derrick Henry finished with 147 yards rushing — including a 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter — on 27 carries. The Texans didn’t help themselves by playing often with a four-man front, which the Ravens beat up and wore down. Henry averaged 5.4 yards per carry. The Ravens did get backup Keaton Mitchell some time filling in for Justice Hill (concussion protocol), though he didn’t appear as quick or as fast as a year ago. But he showed more burst as the game went on, running for 20 yards and catching a pass for a 28-yard gain. Grade: A Offensive line The Ravens simply overpowered Houston up front from the beginning of the game until coach John Harbaugh decided to pull some of his starters early in the fourth quarter. The Ravens did an excellent job of working and getting blocking angles on the Texans. The Ravens ran wham and trap blocks to perfection and were also able to get into the second level with guards Daniel Faalele and Patrick Mekari. The Ravens struggled some in pass protection, but Jackson avoided the pressure in the second quarter. Grade: B+ Receivers The Ravens’ running game was so dominant that it cleared the way for the play-action passing game. One of the best things the Ravens do, especially their tight ends, is to stay active and keep moving once the designed play falls apart. Mark Andrews had two catches for 68 yards and a touchdown and fellow tight end Isaiah Likely also had a 9-yard touchdown reception. Receiver Zay Flowers, who was questionable before the game with a shoulder injury, had two catches for 31 yards. Grade: B+ Defensive line Once the Ravens got the big lead after Jackson’s touchdown run in the third quarter, it was basically a feeding frenzy for the defensive line, which had nine pressures and five sacks. The Ravens took running back Joe Mixon out of the game early and made Houston one-dimensional. The Texans had only 58 yards rushing, 26 by Mixon. The Ravens were a brick wall up front, led by tackles Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones and Michael Pierce. This group also did a good job of occupying linemen and allowing linebackers to win one-on-one battles on the outside. Grade: A Linebackers The Ravens were dominant both inside and outside. Middle linebackers Roquan Smith (eight tackles, Malik Harrison and Chris Board played well, and the Ravens got consistent pressure from outside linebackers Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, David Ojabo and Tavius Robinson. The Ravens put so much fear into Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and his horrendous offensive line that Stroud wouldn’t even step up in the pocket. Stroud wanted no part of this defense. Grade: A Secondary Again, the Ravens gave up yardage in the middle of the field and Stroud’s accuracy was absolutely horrible. But the Ravens have been solid on the back end with safety Kyle Hamilton and Ar’Darius Washington. One thing about Washington is that he isn’t afraid to hit at 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, unlike the player he replaced, Marcus Williams. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey (seven tackles) played well despite the bogus pass interference call against him in the first half. Overall, the secondary is playing well and it has gotten better with the pass rush. It’s not coincidental. Grade: B+ Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, MVP hopeful Lamar Jackson crush Texans, 31-2, to take AFC North lead Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 31-2 win over Houston Texans Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Lamar Jackson sets NFL QB rushing record, eclipsing Michael Vick Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Josh Johnson, Texans RB Joe Mixon separated during warmups Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans, December 25, 2024 | PHOTOS Special teams Justin Tucker connected on a 52-yard field goal to quiet all criticisms of him. Jordan Stout averaged 41.3 yards a punt but put two inside the 20-yard line. Steven Sims looked indecisive and shaky on punt returns but overall it was a pretty clean game for special teams. Grade: B Coaching Critics can say whatever they want about Harbaugh, but it’s hard to prepare a team and have it ready to play three games in 11 days. Granted, the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans have struggled at various points during the season, but the Ravens dominated all three. Grade: A Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Week 18 Browns at Ravens TBA TV: TBA Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Coach John Harbaugh and the Ravens won three games in 11 days. (David J. Phillip/AP) View the full article

HOUSTON — A security guard outside NRG stadium greeted fans joyously Wednesday afternoon, bellowing, “We got the greatest QB nationwide … Merry Christmas!” as fans made their way inside for what was billed as a blockbuster showdown between AFC division leaders, the Ravens and Texans. He was referring to the home team’s C.J. Stroud, but by the time the lights went dark for Beyoncé’s sparkling halftime performance, it was Lamar Jackson who dimmed and then turned out the lights on Houston’s chances. “Alien Superstar” wasn’t one of the hits she played, but its lyrics seemed apropos: “I’m number one. I’m the only one. Don’t even waste your time trying to compete with me.” Already leading 17-2 on the Ravens’ opening possession of the second half, Jackson kept the ball on a run-pass option, raced through a gaping hole in the right side of the line and ran untouched into the end zone 48 yards later. It was his fastest recorded run of the season, per NextGen Stats, at 21.25 mph. He said he was “jogging.” Then, a few carries into the Ravens’ next series, he dashed into history, eclipsing Michael Vick’s NFL record of 6,109 career rushing yards for a quarterback. “It feels unreal, to be honest with you,” Jackson said of breaking the mark. “I just give God all the glory. I’m grateful, man, because that’s a record that’s been held for a long time with Michael Vick, one of my favorite players. That’s just dope.” Jackson finished 10 of 15 passing for 168 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 87 yards and one score on four carries before giving way to backup Josh Johnson in the fourth quarter as visiting Baltimore blew out Houston, 31-2. “What could you say that would parallel what he did?” coach John Harbaugh said. “It’s just another phenomenal performance. “It’s kind of what he does every week.” The game only looked easy for the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, who is a candidate to win the award for a third time. “I’m just playing football,” Jackson said. “I’m trying to win. “I’m just having fun. It’s not easy. I don’t care what nobody say. It looks easy, but it’s not.” Most importantly for the Ravens (11-5), the victory puts them alone atop the AFC North with one game left in the regular season after the Kansas City Chiefs beat the suddenly floundering Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in the day. Remarkably, Baltimore has gone from two games back of Pittsburgh coming off its bye week earlier this month to a game in front. And the Ravens did it with three victories in just 11 days, outscoring opponents 100-33 in the span, winning all three by double digits. “Great win. Proud of our guys,” Harbaugh said. “These guys took these three games in 11 days and smashed it, obliterated it, tore it up and made it into a bunch of smithereens laying around everywhere.” Their latest victory was their most impressive. Facing a Texans defense that came into the game No. 1 in the league in defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA), third in sacks and led by star edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, the Ravens leaned early on running back Derrick Henry (147 yards, one touchdown on 27 carries), who carried five times for 26 yards on the game’s first series, including from 2 yards out for his first touchdown in four games. It was also his 16th of the season, breaking the single-season franchise record set by Ray Rice (2011) and Mark Ingram II (2019). “Yeah definitely [a tone-setter],” left tackle Ronnie Stanley said. “We started the game fast and that’s what we wanna do. We haven’t done that every game, come out with a touchdown drive and we did this week and that’s how we want to start every week.” Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, left, catches a 1-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. (David J. Phillip/AP) It had been a long while, with Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals being the last time Baltimore had opened a game with a touchdown on its first possession. It was also a sign of things to come — for the Ravens’ NFL-best ground game and its NFL Most Valuable Player candidate at quarterback. Baltimore’s next drive stalled at the Texans’ 34-yard line, but it didn’t matter, with kicker Justin Tucker looking like his old self as he easily made a 52-yard field goal for a 10-0 first-quarter lead. The Ravens dominated the opening stanza in just about every way possible but especially on the ground, with Henry accounting for 86 of the Ravens’ 143 total yards as the offensive line blew open one big hole after another. Houston, meanwhile, was held to just 27 yards for a woeful 2.9 yards per play to Baltimore’s 8.4. Things only got worse from there for the Texans. After Henry was dropped in the end zone by defensive back Kamari Lassiter for a safety early in the second quarter, it looked like momentum was about to shift. But on fourth-and-goal from Baltimore’s 4-yard line on the next series, cornerback Tre’Davious White and safety Ar’Darius Washington converged on Houston running back Joe Mixon and drilled him out of bounds at the 1, snuffing out any chance of a potential game-tying score. “I seen him throw the ball and I was like there was no way I’m gonna let him get in here,” said Washington, who collided with Zach Orr in celebration on the sideline, knocking the defensive coordinator to the ground. “So I just broke on the ball.” Then the Ravens’ offense did what it always seems to do of late — move the ball by the chunk with Jackson leading the way. Henry ran for 7 yards. Rashod Bateman caught a 12-yard pass. Jackson scrambled away from pressure and hit Zay Flowers for a gain of 16. Henry ran for 5 more. Then Jackson eluded more pressure and found his security blanket, Mark Andrews, on a lob down the right sideline, with the tight end stiff-arming a defender and rumbling 67 yards before being dragged down at the Texans’ 13. Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, middle, celebrates with teammates Odafe Oweh, left, and Nnamdi Madubuike after a sack in the first half Wednesday. (David J. Phillip/AP) Two plays later, Jackson did it again, eluding the defense, rolling right and throwing back to his left — perhaps an appropriate ode to the halftime act — for a touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely to put the Ravens up 17-2. The Texans got the ball back but on a fourth-and-2 from the Ravens’ 43 with 1:18 remaining in the half, they opted to punt, drawing a chorus of boos from the crowd. Both teams had run 31 plays in the first half, but that’s where the similarities ended. The Ravens outgained the Texans, 261 yards to 125. They averaged 8.4 yards per play to their 4.0. They had 117 rushing yards to Houston’s 28. Jackson threw for 144 yards to Stroud’s 97. Baltimore was perfect in the red zone, scoring twice, while the Texans were 0-for-1. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 31-2 win over Texans Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 31-2 win over Houston Texans Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Lamar Jackson sets NFL QB rushing record, eclipsing Michael Vick Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Josh Johnson, Texans RB Joe Mixon separated during warmups Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans, December 25, 2024 | PHOTOS Then, less than two minutes into the second half, Jackson put the game out of reach before he put the cherry on top, capping a 10-play, 62-yard drive with another touchdown strike to Andrews. Baltimore’s ascendant defense, meanwhile, stifled the Texans all game, holding Stroud to 17 of 31 passing for 185 yards while sacking him five times. The Ravens’ run defense, which came into the game No. 1 in the league in yards allowed and yards allowed per attempt, also completely shut down Mixon (26 yards on nine carries). “I’m not gonna lie, I would say we’ve come full circle,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said of the once-maligned defense. “It felt good. “When I had conversations with some of the guys one-on-one, two-on-two, it was some tough conversations. We still believed [but] it did seem far away. It seemed every single guy was having a mishap at the wrong time. … Early in the season we kept being like ‘What are we doing wrong?’ It was simple. You just got to get all 11 guys doing their job. The coaching hasn’t necessarily changed; a couple pieces have shifted and that’s been there, just getting all 11 guys doing their job. When we do that, we’re really tough defense. When we’re not, we look average.” Now the Ravens will get a few days off before preparing for their regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on either Jan. 4 or 5. They are acutely aware of the stakes. If they win, it will wrap up another AFC North title and likely the No. 3 seed in the playoffs, which would guarantee a wild-card game at home in the first round of the postseason. “I want that AFC North,” Humphrey said. “It feels good to get that hat and T-shirt.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Week 18 Browns at Ravens TBA TV: TBA Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Ravens running back Derrick Henry, right, runs while Texans safety Eric Murray tries to tackle him in the first half Wednesday. (David J. Phillip/AP) View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 31-2 win over the Houston Texans in Wednesday’s Week 17 game at NRG Stadium: Brian Wacker, reporter: The Ravens set the tone on the first drive of the game, running Derrick Henry down the Texans’ throat and running the home team out of its own building. Then Lamar Jackson continued to show why he’s worthy of another NFL Most Valuable Player Award, directing an offense that moved the ball at will against a Texans defense that came into the game No. 1 in the league in DVOA. He also proved how unique his talents are, with his arm and his legs as he continuously left defenders grasping at air while he found open receivers or raced through the secondary. Perhaps most impressive, though, was the Ravens’ defense, which flustered and pestered quarterback C.J. Stroud all game and gave the Texans little in the way of oxygen, even when it looked like they found some after tackling Henry for a safety. Childs Walker, reporter: Lamar Jackson showed off all the gifts in his deep bag as the Ravens played one of their best all-around games of the season to seize first place in the AFC North. The Texans have lost to a string of top-tier opponents, but those games were close. This one wasn’t as Houston’s excellent defense found few answers for Jackson or Derrick Henry, and Baltimore’s defense continued its second-half renaissance. The Ravens fired out of the chute with a perfect drive: eight plays, seven on the ground, covering 75 yards to put them up 7-0. After the Ravens scored again on their next possession and stopped the Texans three straight times to start the game, it seemed a rout might be on. Houston reversed the tide in the second quarter, penetrating into the Baltimore backfield consistently and dropping Henry for a safety. The Ravens reversed it back with a goal-line stand and 99-yard touchdown drive. Jackson dipped into his magician’s hat on that one, slipping out of a sack to dump the ball to Mark Andrews for a 67-yard catch-and-run, then buying an absurd amount of time for Isaiah Likely to pop open in the end zone. Jackson then started the second half faking a handoff to Henry and running away from the Houston defense to make it 24-2. That one felt straight out of 2019. Jackson might not care about winning a third MVP Award, but he’s making his case. Mike Preston, columnist: The Ravens embarrassed the Texans on Christmas, and it really wasn’t much of a contest. The Ravens overpowered Houston with stars Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson and then dominated on the defensive side as well. The Ravens made Houston one-dimensional by shutting down running back Joe Mixon. It was surprising that Houston thought it could contain Baltimore’s running game with a four-man front. Maybe bigger and better defensive teams like the Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns and even the Pittsburgh Steelers can at times, but not Houston. The Texans came into the game with a highly rated defense, but few teams play good defense in the NFL anymore. Houston was whipped soundly on both sides of the ball, and the NFL might as well forget the rest of the AFC schedule, and let Baltimore play Kansas City again for the AFC title. Sam Cohn, reporter: Oh, how quickly a divisional race can tilt. Both the Ravens and Steelers were scheduled for a grueling three games in 11 days this late in the season. The former went undefeated. The latter finished winless. And now Baltimore is in the driver’s seat for the AFC North divisional race after thumping Houston during a Beyoncé concert on Netflix. It might be naive to shrink the win to one sequence. But it’s hard not to focus in on that second quarter. Baltimore led 10-0 when Texans punter Tommy Townsend impressively pinned the Ravens at their own 4-yard line. Derrick Henry’s greediness on that first play resulted in a safety. Any life birthed from that two-play sequence flatlined when the Ravens’ defense walled up at the goal line, taking back possession and keeping Houston off the board. It was smooth sailing from there and Baltimore couldn’t lose on the night Lamar Jackson passed Michael Vick for the NFL’s QB rushing crown. C.J. Doon, editor: Lamar Jackson is officially the greatest rushing quarterback in NFL history, but we knew that already. In fact, calling him a rushing quarterback is a disservice to his overall body of work. That’s only part of his game now, a trump card he can play whenever he needs to. At this rate, Jackson is aiming higher. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre … that’s the company he’s going to keep if he wins a second straight and third overall NFL Most Valuable Player Award. And he probably won’t stop there. Like LeBron James, he could have the best statistical resume of anyone in the sport when he’s all said and done. And like James for the longest time, the only thing missing on his resume is a championship ring. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Lamar Jackson sets NFL QB rushing record, eclipsing Michael Vick Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Josh Johnson, Texans RB Joe Mixon separated during warmups Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans, December 25, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans live updates: Baltimore leads 31-2 in 4th quarter Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers ‘questionable,’ Texans without multiple key starters This season feels like his best chance to get one. Kansas City is 15-1, yes, but the Chiefs can’t keep getting away with this one-score magic … right? You can make an argument Baltimore should have won last year’s AFC championship game against Patrick Mahomes and company, and that was without the league’s second-leading rusher, Derrick Henry, in the backfield. Buffalo has Josh Allen, the biggest challenger to Jackson’s MVP case, but the Bills’ defense has been extremely vulnerable. If Jackson and Henry continue to play like this, and the defense continues to make steady improvements week after week, I’d take the Ravens over the field right now when it comes to winning the Super Bowl. That includes Philadelphia and the rest of the NFC, too. Bennett Conlin, editor: The Ravens are 11-3 since starting 0-2, and they’re a home win against the lowly Browns away from winning the AFC North for a second straight season. That’s impressive, as was Wednesday’s beatdown of the AFC South champions. The Texans had no answers for Baltimore’s rushing attack, and the Ravens’ defense continued its late-season improvement. It looks like the Ravens are playing their best football of the season at the most important time. Lamar Jackson made a serious case that he’s more deserving than Buffalo’s Josh Allen to win the MVP Award. Jackson looked like the best version of himself Wednesday, racing untouched for a 48-yard touchdown run and dissecting Houston’s defense with pinpoint passing efficiency. It was a nearly flawless performance from Baltimore, with even Justin Tucker connecting on a 52-yard field goal. With the defense trending in the right direction and Derrick Henry running well, it’s hard to think of a more dangerous team with January looming. 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

The record Lamar Jackson has long seemed destined for is now his. With a masterful outing Wednesday evening against the Houston Texans, the Ravens quarterback became the NFL’s all-time rushing leader among quarterbacks. He dashed past legendary dual-threat quarterback Michael Vick’s mark of 6,109 yards. Jackson reached the threshold in 41 fewer games and six fewer seasons than Vick. In the Ravens’ third game in 11 days, this one played on Christmas, Jackson tied his second best single-game rushing total this season and best since Week 3. Jackson entered Wednesday needing 86 yards to tie Vick. He was pulled early in the fourth quarter after notching 87 yards on four carries, complementing 168 yards and two passing touchdowns. Early in the third quarter, he faked a handoff to Derrick Henry and took off toward his right for a 48-yard rushing touchdown. He eclipsed Vick on his final carry of the day, an 8-yard run on the following drive, which ended with him throwing his second of two touchdown passes to tight end Mark Andrews. It likely bolstered his resume for a third NFL Most Valuable Player Award. It definitely cements his legacy as the league’s best-rushing quarterback ever. Jackson entered the league shouldering mountainous amounts of criticism. Some (wrongly) thought he was better suited to play running back. Every milestone achievement — rushing, passing or elsewhere — has been met with the years-old tagline, “Not bad for a running back.” After finally beating the archrival Steelers last week, there was an early Christmas gift sitting in the locker room for Jackson: a painted canvas with those six words. Jackson earned the record in what is unmistakably his best season as a passer. “I think as a passer he’s taken leaps and bounds from where we started in the offseason last year [around] spring training camp last season and then picking up where he left off,” quarterbacks coach Tee Martin said earlier this month. “Pass technique-wise, being more accurate at all of the throws at all field zones. We made a key point to work on throws outside the numbers, into deeper field zones, outside the numbers, post routes, go routes [and] things of that nature [as well as] on the run [and] scramble throws.” It’s all been evident in his campaign for a third career MVP honor. And it has made the magic he can spark with his legs all the more valuable. Harder to defend, too. The record comes two weeks after Jackson revealed his mother, Felicia Jones, gave him grief for what she deemed a passive rushing performance. Jones cussed out her son after a 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in which Jackson rushed for 79 yards. She thought he should have had more. Now, no quarterback has more. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Josh Johnson, Texans RB Joe Mixon separated during warmups Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans, December 25, 2024 | PHOTOS Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans live updates: Baltimore leads 31-2 in 4th quarter Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers ‘questionable,’ Texans without multiple key starters Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans staff picks: Who wins on Christmas in Houston? Not all former players are willing to pass down their records with such grace. Even fewer empower their successors. Vick has done both, cheering on Jackson with a smile. “We knew it was coming, man. Like I said, you was the guy for the job,” Vick said, in a 2019 video message when Jackson broke his single-season rushing record (1,206). “Appreciate everything you do for the game.” Then on a FanDuel show in 2022, Vick was introduced as the all-time record holder. He cut off the interview: “That’s temporary,” he said. “Lamar Jackson is on my trail!” Two years later, Vick’s once unthinkable rushing total is squarely in Jackson’s rearview mirror. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

HOUSTON — So much for the Christmas spirit. Texans running back Joe Mixon and Ravens backup quarterback Josh Johnson had words and had to be separated during pregame warmups a little more than an hour before kickoff at NRG Stadium on Wednesday. The kerfuffle lasted several minutes before others got involved. What was behind it? It turns out that an errant punt from Baltimore’s Jordan Stout struck a Houston coach. Mixon, a former Cincinnati Bengals star, apparently took exception and then punted the ball into the stands. After Mixon’s kick, Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton Jr. also had words with Mixon as well. The Ravens (10-5) can move into first place in the AFC North alone with a win over Houston (9-6) after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in the day and clinched the conference’s top seed and first-round bye. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith takes selfies with fans before taking on the Houston Texans in an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker) Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, left, talks with former player Vonta Leach, who is dressed up as Santa Claus, before taking on the Houston Texans, in an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) warms up before taking on the Houston Texans, an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson warms up before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio, left, talks with Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, before an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson warms up before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) View the full article

The Ravens (10-5) and Houston Texans (9-6) face off Wednesday afternoon for a Christmas Day showdown streamed live on Netflix. Follow along here for live coverage and analysis. View the full article

HOUSTON — Ravens second-year standout Zay Flowers crossed the 1,000-yard receiving threshold in last week’s win over the Steelers, becoming the first Baltimore wide receiver to do so since Marquise “Hollywood” Brown in 2021. But his status for Wednesday’s Christmas Day game against the Texans is listed as questionable. Flowers suffered a shoulder injury in that victory over Pittsburgh, missed two days of practice this week, had his arm in a sling in the locker room earlier in the week and was limited in Tuesday’s final walk-through practice of the week. Already, the Ravens (10-5) will be without veteran receiver Nelson Agholor (concussion), who was ruled out for the second straight game. They will also be without running back Justice Hill, who suffered a concussion against Pittsburgh and has not cleared protocol. With Hill sidelined, Baltimore will turn to rookie Rasheen Ali and second-year player Keaton Mitchell behind Derrick Henry. Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring) was also ruled out, while cornerback Tre’Davious White (shoulder) is listed as questionable after practicing for the first time this week on Tuesday, albeit in a limited capacity. Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and right guard Daniel Faalele, who were dealing with back and knee injuries this week, did not have injury designations and are expected to play. That will be a big help against a Texans defensive front that is perhaps the best in the NFL and led by edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans staff picks: Who wins on Christmas in Houston? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans Week 17 scouting report: Who will have the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans Week 17 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 16: Ravens could be the big bully this postseason Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has reentered the NFL MVP race Houston (9-6), however, will be without starting right guard Shaq Mason (knee) and guard/center Juice Scruggs (foot), with both ruled out. Wide receiver Tank Dell was also put on injured reserve earlier in the week after suffering a dislocated knee and torn ACL against the Kansas City Chiefs, as was safety Jimmie Ward after suffering a foot injury in the same game. The Texans signed receiver Diontae Johnson to help offset the loss of Dell, doing so just days after he was waived by the Ravens. The Texans are also banged up along the defensive front. Defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi (ankle) was ruled out, while defensive end Denico Autry (knee) was listed as questionable, though he did practice in a limited capacity for a third straight day. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Wednesday’s Week 17 game between the Ravens (10-5) and Texans (9-6) at NRG Stadium in Houston: Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 24, Texans 14: The Texans have perhaps the best defense in the NFL. The Ravens have the league’s top offense in yards per game and are third in scoring. It’s a delicious matchup. Lamar Jackson is also operating at an elite level and Houston is so desperate at wide receiver after losing Stefon Diggs and now Tank Dell that it claimed jettisoned and fractious Diontae Johnson off waivers this week. Those losses put a serious cramp in the Texans’ offense against an ascendant Ravens defense, while Baltimore’s offense has been regaining its rhythm and momentum in recent weeks. The Ravens can see the finish line of the regular season and a third win in 11 days will help get them there. Childs Walker, reporter Ravens 31, Texans 24: Elite pass offense vs. elite pass defense. That’s an enticing headline for a Christmas showcase, and Lamar Jackson will face another true test as he tries to rally his team to a repeat AFC North title. The Ravens’ pass protection will need to be sturdy, and they’ll need to build a significant advantage on the ground. The good news for them is that C.J. Stroud, now missing two of his top three receivers, has not been at his best for most of this season. It will be difficult for Houston to keep up if the Ravens’ offense plays even an average game. The Texans have played close games against top opponents but have fallen short in most of those. That pattern will hold against Baltimore. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 28, Texans 21: The Texans have a strong defense, but they can’t control the ball and keep the Ravens’ offense off the field. Former Bengals running back Joe Mixon is playing better than I thought he could play in Houston, but the Ravens can make the Texans one-dimensional. Once that happens, the Ravens will be able to get pressure on quarterback C.J. Stroud, whose receiving corps has been decimated by injuries. The Ravens are operating on a short week because of travel, but they still have too much talent and a much better roster than Houston. This game will be close for about three quarters. C.J Doon, editor Ravens 30, Texans 13: The Texans just lost three starters to long-term injuries, and their offensive line has been terrible all season. C.J. Stroud will have to play at an MVP level to keep this one close, and while he’s certainly capable, the Ravens should be able to create enough pressure and play tight coverage to limit Nico Collins and Houston’s depleted passing game. Joe Mixon has also struggled to find running room recently, so there are not many answers against a steadily improving Baltimore defense. The Texans’ defense is certainly formidable, but Lamar Jackson should be able to neutralize pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. while Derrick Henry pounds away against a soft interior and a trio of linebackers who all weigh less than him. Ravens and Beyoncé fans should be “Crazy in Love” with this matchup. (Sorry.) Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans Week 17 scouting report: Who will have the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans Week 17 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 16: Ravens could be the big bully this postseason Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has reentered the NFL MVP race Baltimore Ravens | Find a Flock: Ravens and Lamar Jackson are drawing interest worldwide Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 34, Texans 14: Prevent Nico Collins from taking over the game, and that should be enough for the Ravens. Who does C.J. Stroud have left to throw the ball to? Diontae Johnson? But seriously, Houston is in tough shape after Tank Dell’s season-ending injury and Baltimore is on a roll. It feels like a bigger mismatch than it might be on paper since the Texans’ secondary is the NFL’s best on paper, but the Ravens are not one-dimensional. Derrick Henry will get his share of carries, Lamar Jackson will get all of his playmakers involved and Baltimore will roll in what will be a rout. Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 27, Texans 20: Ravens coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Lamar Jackson spent part of Monday’s news conference discussing Beyoncé and her upcoming halftime show for this showdown. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans spent his news conference explaining how the team hopes to emotionally move on from losing a standout wide receiver (Tank Dell) and safety (Jimmie Ward). Baltimore feels like it’s better prepared physically and mentally for a short week, as the Ravens are overflowing with confidence and playing loose after taking down the Steelers for just the second time in 10 tries. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

The Ravens celebrated a cathartic 34-17 win over the Steelers on Saturday, while the Texans fell to the Chiefs, 27-19. Who will have the advantage when these AFC playoff teams meet on Christmas? Ravens passing game vs. Texans pass defense This is the league’s most efficient pass offense against its most efficient pass defense, according to DVOA, so that’s fun. Lamar Jackson finally played a Most Valuable Player-level game against the Pittsburgh defense, which had given him more trouble than any other. His throws into tight windows, including a 49-yard gain to Zay Flowers on the Ravens’ final scoring drive, demonstrated how far he has come as a passer over the past seven years. A red-zone interception on which he and Rashod Bateman failed to find the same page was his only significant misfire in that signature win. Jackson has set new career highs in passing yards and touchdown passes with two games to spare and leads the league in passer rating and yards per attempt for an offense that ranks first in yards per play, third in scoring and first in red zone efficiency. His leading receiver, Flowers, crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the season against Pittsburgh. Tight end Mark Andrews has caught touchdown passes in four straight games and has totaled nine in his past 10. Jackson’s pass protection held up well against the Steelers’ star rushers, with only Alex Highsmith wreaking havoc, largely against left tackle Ronnie Stanley, whose performance has dipped in recent weeks. The Baltimore offensive line will face another rigorous test from the Texans, tied for third in the league in sacks and holding opponents to just 5.4 yards per attempt. The troubles start with edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. (10 1/2 sacks, 17 quarterback hits) and Danielle Hunter (12 sacks, 23 quarterback hits). Like many of the top defenses, the Texans put heat on the quarterback without blitzing frequently (21.2% of dropbacks). Houston also has an array of playmakers in its secondary, led by 2022 first-round pick Derek Stingley Jr., who appears headed for his first Pro Bowl with five interceptions and 18 passes defended. Rookie Kamari Lassiter has played well as Stingley’s partner on the outside. Veteran Jimmie Ward, one of the league’s best safeties over the last five years, suffered a season-ending foot injury against the Chiefs. EDGE: Ravens Ravens vs TexansJerry Jackson/Baltimore SunRavens linebacker Roquan Smith sacks Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud during last year’s season opener. (Staff file) Texans passing game vs. Ravens pass defense Quarterback C.J. Stroud (23rd in passer rating, 25th in ESPN’s QBR) hasn’t produced the sparkling follow-up many expected after his splendid rookie season, which ended in the divisional round of the playoffs against the Ravens. Stefon Diggs tore his ACL, and Tank Dell dislocated his kneecap in an unsettling scene against the Chiefs, so Stroud is down two of his top three targets. Only Nico Collins (60 catches, 909 yards, six touchdowns in 10 games) remains as a significant big-pay threat. The Texans could have wide receiver John Metchie III back from a shoulder injury. Tight end Dalton Schultz (48 catches, 482 yards) is Stroud’s other main option, and running back Joe Mixon is always dangerous on screens and dump-offs. Houston’s pass protection, expected to be a strength with Laremy Tunsil anchoring at left tackle, has been faulty, leaving Stroud to take 47 sacks. The second-year quarterback has added to that problem by holding the ball an average of 2.97 seconds per dropback, according to Next Gen Stats. The Ravens will try to follow up a strong effort against the Steelers in which they pressured Russell Wilson 27 times, per Pro Football Focus. Outside linebacker David Ojabo helped create Marlon Humphrey’s pick-six in the fourth quarter, which essentially put the game away. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike delivered stellar performances. The secondary did its part with three massive plays: Humphrey’s interception, Ar’Darius Washington’s forced fumble on Wilson near the goal line and Kyle Hamilton’s pass breakup on another potential touchdown. Humphrey (six interceptions, 13 pass breakups) deserves to make his fourth Pro Bowl, while safeties Hamilton and Washington have transformed the Ravens’ pass defense since they took over the back end. Baltimore now ranks 14th in DVOA against the pass, which would have seemed inconceivable 10 weeks into the season when the defense had given up more 20-yard-plus plays than any in the league. Cornerback Brandon Stephens also played one of his best games in a rocky year against the Steelers. EDGE: Ravens Ravens running game vs. Texans run defense The Ravens trampled the Steelers for 220 rushing yards, with Derrick Henry delivering a vintage late-season performance (24 carries, 162 yards). Just a few days away from his 31st birthday, Henry is on pace for the second-highest rushing total of his marvelous career and averaging a career-best 5.9 yards per carry. Pittsburgh bottled up Jackson (nine carries, 22 yards); he’s still leading the league at 6.1 yards per attempt. The Ravens lost third-down back Justice Hill (concussion) on a scary play, so they will likely call on Rasheen Ali, with Keaton Mitchell also active, against the Texans. The Texans’ run defense is also very good, though they’ll miss suspended (for his hit on Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence) linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Even without him, Houston allowed just 52 yards in a win over the Dolphins and 124 in its loss to Kansas City. Opponents average 4.3 yards per carry against the Texans. Will the Ravens, with their league-best 5.7-yard average, finally be the team that cracks the dam against them? EDGE: Ravens Texans running game vs. Ravens run defense Mixon has tailed off after a red-hot start and is averaging 4.2 yards per carry, in line with his career mark of 4.1. He’s of course familiar to the Ravens after playing seven seasons in Cincinnati. Baltimore has held him to 3.6 yards per carry. The Texans don’t really have a second option, though Stroud will take off in a pinch. The Ravens have allowed the fewest yards per game and per carry in the league, though Pittsburgh found some success against them on early downs, running for 117 yards on 24 carries. Linebacker Roquan Smith again leads the team in tackles, though Hamilton has arguably taken over as the most impactful run defender. Linebacker Chris Board, who has taken snaps away from Trenton Simpson, played his best game of the season against the Steelers. The Ravens also have their interior wall back with nose tackle Michael Pierce and defensive tackle Travis Jones both off the injury report. EDGE: Ravens Ravens special teams vs. Texans special teams Justin Tucker eased some of the anxiety around him by making all his kicks, including a 51-yard field goal, on a blustery afternoon against the Steelers. The day still turned into an adventure for the Ravens’ special teams, with Jordan Stout shanking a punt and punt returner Desmond King II fumbling twice (coach John Harbaugh said King will remain his punt returner against Houston). Such errors explain why the Ravens rank 24th in special teams DVOA. On kickoffs, Mitchell is the top candidate to stand in for Hill. Houston ranks seventh in special teams DVOA. Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn has made 35 of 41 field-goal attempts, though he missed an extra point against Kansas City and two of his earlier misses came on field goals between 20 and 29 yards. Punter Tommy Townsend is one of the best in the league. The Texans have averaged an impressive 30.6 yards on kickoff returns, a less impressive 8.5 on punt returns. EDGE: Texans Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans staff picks: Who wins on Christmas in Houston? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans Week 17 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 16: Ravens could be the big bully this postseason Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has reentered the NFL MVP race Baltimore Ravens | Find a Flock: Ravens and Lamar Jackson are drawing interest worldwide Ravens intangibles vs. Texans intangibles The Ravens’ win over the Steelers was their most satisfying of the season and gave them a solid chance to snatch the AFC North and home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs from Pittsburgh. They’ll be at a rest disadvantage as the road team in a short week, but Houston is coming off a tough loss with several key players either on injured reserve or trying to fight through injuries. Coach John Harbaugh’s Ravens beat the Texans twice in Baltimore last season. They’re 5-3 on the road this season. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans staff picks: Who wins on Christmas in Houston? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans Week 17 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 16: Ravens could be the big bully this postseason Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has reentered the NFL MVP race Baltimore Ravens | Find a Flock: Ravens and Lamar Jackson are drawing interest worldwide The Texans don’t have much to play for in the standings, with the AFC South already clinched and an uphill path to the No. 3 seed. But coach DeMeco Ryans’ team will be a home underdog motivated to prove it can best one of the conference’s proven big dogs in a nationally televised Christmas showcase. Stroud and his teammates appeared shell-shocked after they witnessed Dell’s injury against the Chiefs, but there’s no reason to think that will carry over. Of greater concern to the Texans is their generally poor record against top-tier opponents, with an Oct. 6 win over the Buffalo Bills the lone exception. EDGE: Ravens Prediction Elite pass offense vs. elite pass defense. That’s an enticing headline for a Christmas showcase, and Jackson will face another true test as he tries to rally his team to a repeat AFC North title. The Ravens’ pass protection will need to be sturdy, and they’ll need to build a significant advantage on the ground. The good news for them is that Stroud, now missing two of his top three receivers, has not been at his best for most of this season. It will be difficult for Houston to keep up if the Ravens’ offense plays even an average game. The Texans have played close games against top opponents but have fallen short in most of those. That pattern will hold against Baltimore. Ravens 31, Texans 24 Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

The Ravens take center stage on Christmas Day, visiting the Houston Texans in an important game for playoff positioning in the AFC. Baltimore could end the day with a gift their fans have been yearning for all season — the AFC North division lead. If the Ravens (10-5) beat the Texans and the Steelers lose to the Chiefs — the Chiefs and Ravens are both betting favorites — they will take the AFC North lead into Week 18. Understandably, Wednesday’s matchup with Houston (9-6) is crucial to the team’s chances of winning the division. The importance of the game hasn’t stopped the Ravens from engaging in lighthearted moments this week. Quarterback Lamar Jackson laughed during his Monday news conference when asked about how special it is to play on Christmas Day. “That means we’re good, but at the same time, I do want to celebrate at home sometimes with my family,” Jackson said with a smile. “I don’t want to be playing on Christmas all the time.” Jackson wouldn’t mind the NFL schedule-makers changing things up in 2025 — Baltimore played on Christmas Day last year, too — but he’s also eager to move his team closer to a division title. The Ravens appear loose this week, perhaps because of a 17-point win over the Steelers just a few days ago. Betting markets like a confident Baltimore team’s chances in Wednesday’s marquee matchup. What are the odds? The Ravens find themselves in a familiar spot this week, as they’re a betting favorite for the 15th consecutive game. Spread: Ravens by 5 1/2 (FanDuel) Total: 46 1/2 points Moneyline: Ravens -245, Texans +200 Baltimore is a respectable 8-6-1 against the spread this season. The Ravens often play games that go over the projected point total, as 12 of their 15 games have been overs, including each of their past two games. As for Houston, the Texans are 6-7-2 against the spread and most of their games go under the projected point total. Just five of the team’s 15 games have gone over the total. Ravens ready to roll? The Ravens are 2-0 after their bye week with a 21-point win over the Giants and a 17-point win over the Steelers. I’m expecting more of the same Wednesday in Houston. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans staff picks: Who wins on Christmas in Houston? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans Week 17 scouting report: Who will have the edge? Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 16: Ravens could be the big bully this postseason Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has reentered the NFL MVP race Baltimore Ravens | Find a Flock: Ravens and Lamar Jackson are drawing interest worldwide Despite an impressive 9-6 record, the Texans look a step below the NFL’s best. Houston fell to the Chiefs, 27-19, last week, even with Patrick Mahomes hobbled with an ank;e injury. They lost to the Lions early this season despite Jared Goff throwing five interceptions in the matchup. With season-ending injuries to wide receiver Tank Dell and safety Jimmie Ward, the Texans are missing key players ahead of the showdown. The Texans claimed Diontae Johnson off waivers as they deal with injury issues at the receiver position. “Losing them is hard,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday of the two major injuries. Baltimore’s defense is improving, and the Ravens look like they’re trending up. While Baltimore’s Jackson and coach John Harbaugh spent part of Monday’s news conferences talking about Beyoncé, the Texans spent a significant chunk of time discussing the season-ending injuries and how to move forward. Baltimore is in a better place in Week 17 to manage a short week, especially with bruising running back Derrick Henry coming off a 162-yard rushing performance. “He’s looking probably the best he’s looked in his career,” Ryans said. “He’s found that fountain of youth.” Best bet: Ravens by 5 (ESPN BET) Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will recap the best and worst from around the league. Here are our winners and losers from Week 16: Winner: Ravens Consider the demons exorcised. The Ravens ended their long and often inexplicable struggles against the Steelers with a 34-17 win Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium. After losing eight of nine matchups against Pittsburgh, often because of self-inflicted mistakes, Baltimore committed fewer penalties and fewer turnovers than its archrival to keep its hopes alive for a second straight AFC North title. Of course, there was plenty of luck involved. The Ravens recovered all three of their own fumbles, including a strip-sack of Lamar Jackson, and pounced on a fumble by Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson near the goal line that likely prevented a touchdown and led to a 96-yard scoring drive the other way. Even Jackson’s fourth-quarter interception on a miscommunication with wide receiver Rashod Bateman was nullified when cornerback Marlon Humphrey stepped in front of a pass from Wilson and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown. Nobody in Baltimore will apologize for getting a few breaks after seeing all the dropped passes, turnovers and penalties that have plagued the Ravens in this rivalry for years. It was only a matter of time before the pendulum swung back the other way. But despite all the good luck, there was nothing about Saturday’s win that felt fluky. The Ravens’ offensive line dominated, paving the way for 220 rushing yards. Derrick Henry rushed for 162 of them on 24 carries, showing he has plenty left in the tank as the weather turns colder and running the ball becomes that much more important. Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Mark Ingram II and even Keaton Mitchell have had their moments lining up next to Jackson in recent years, but none of them struck fear in opponents the way Henry does when he gets going. That could be the difference this time around when the Ravens enter the postseason in a few weeks. While Jackson continues to play at an NFL Most Valuable Player-worthy level, he finally has someone who can carry some of the burden alongside him. Instead of hunting for big plays at inopportune moments and turning into a pass-happy offense, the Ravens can ride Henry and control the pace of the game. It took a while, but with Henry in the backfield and the defense rounding into form, the Ravens have the look of a team ready to make a Super Bowl run. Loser: Tampa Bay Buccaneers This was supposed to be an easy one. Playing against a Cowboys team that learned just hours before the game that it had been eliminated from postseason contention, the Buccaneers were outplayed in Dallas in a gut-wrenching 26-24 loss. With the defeat, the Falcons took control of the NFC South heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. The Cowboys handed the Buccaneers a devastating loss in Week 16. (Matt Patterson/AP) It just goes to show how much can change in a week in this league. Atlanta had just benched Kirk Cousins for rookie Michael Penix Jr. following a disastrous stretch by the veteran quarterback, while Tampa Bay was riding a four-game winning streak and coming off a dominant performance against the Chargers. Then Cooper Rush threw for 226 yards in the first half Sunday night to help Dallas take a surprising 23-14 lead, and the Bucs turned the ball over twice in the second half to end any hopes of a comeback attempt. A Tampa Bay defense that allowed an NFL-low 15 points per game during its recent winning streak suddenly couldn’t get off the field. What just last week looked like a formidable contender now might miss out on the playoffs entirely. Winner: AFC playoff race So you’re saying there’s a chance? The 7-8 Colts, Dolphins and Bengals all won Sunday to keep their faint playoff hopes alive heading into a suddenly interesting final two weeks of the regular season. While the Chargers (9-6) and Broncos (9-6) have long been assumed to be the No. 6 and No. 7 wild-card teams in the AFC, there’s a chance — however small — that Indianapolis, Miami or Cincinnati could swoop in and steal a spot at the 11th hour. With respect to the Dolphins and Colts, the Bengals are the most interesting team still in the hunt. Joe Burrow is playing at an MVP level, and Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are capable of wrecking any opposing defense. (Let’s just ignore the Bengals’ defense for now.) A huge game against the Broncos looms in Week 17, and the path to a playoff is not that convoluted. Here’s what needs to happen for Cincinnati to get in: Bengals win out (vs. Broncos, at Steelers) Broncos lose out (at Bengals, vs. Chiefs) Dolphins lose at least one more game (at Browns, at Jets) Colts lose at least one more game (at Giants, vs. Jaguars) The Bengals’ playoff odds sit at 7%, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, but ESPN’s model gives them a 15% chance. While it’s unlikely both the Dolphins and Colts lose a game against some of the league’s worst teams, anything can happen in this week-to-week league. Superb play from quarterback Joe Burrow has the Bengals in playoff contention, even with a scuffling defense. (Kareem Elgazzar/AP) Winner: NFC playoff race With the 49ers officially eliminated from playoff contention, this is a good time to reflect on the new world order in the NFC. San Francisco had been to four of the past five conference championship games, and while they only won two, they loomed over the field every season with perhaps the most talented roster in the league. No more. This year has given rise to a new crop of contenders, led by the Lions, Eagles and Vikings. The Packers, who nearly knocked off San Francisco in the divisional round last season, have taken a step forward behind quarterback Jordan Love and a talented young offense. Related Articles NFL | Ravens vs. Texans staff picks: Who wins on Christmas in Houston? NFL | Ravens vs. Texans Week 17 scouting report: Who will have the edge? NFL | Ravens vs. Texans Week 17 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds NFL | How Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has reentered the NFL MVP race NFL | Find a Flock: Ravens and Lamar Jackson are drawing interest worldwide The Commanders have become one of the most exciting teams in the league, with rookie Jayden Daniels throwing his fourth touchdown pass of the season with 30 seconds or less to play in Sunday’s win over Philadelphia. The Rams have overcome a 1-4 start to take the NFC West lead behind one of the league’s best offenses led by coach Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford. The Buccaneers are still capable of knocking off anyone in the league. Even the Falcons, who were widely criticized after drafting Penix following their offseason signing of Cousins, are an intriguing team with a rookie quarterback at the helm. Will the Lions finally reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history? Can Sam Darnold really lead the Vikings to the championship? Will the Eagles continue to roll behind Saquon Barkley or be undone by coach Nick Sirianni and internal strife? Will any of the wild-card teams make a surprising run? It’s shaping up to be a fascinating postseason for a conference entering a new era. 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

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is not focused on a potential third NFL Most Valuable Player Award, even though it would put him in the rarefied company of the six current and future Pro Football Hall of Famers, including Jim Brown and Tom Brady, who have won it at least three times. He also has little interest in the talk surrounding it given bigger stakes on his mind. Those six players, of course, have achieved something Jackson has not: A championship. “That’s never been my goal,” Jackson said Monday of his MVP chances suddenly being rekindled by a three-touchdown performance in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers along with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s underwhelming output against the lousy New England Patriots. “That’s never been my goal. Even the first, the second one, I always want to finish with the championship. “I got no other choice but to hear it. They tag me in it.” That noise will only continue to grow if he has a similar performance against the Houston Texans on Christmas. The Ravens (10-5) are tied with the Steelers for first place in the AFC North. A win over the Texans (9-6) would at least keep them there with Pittsburgh playing the Kansas City Chiefs earlier on Christmas Day. As good as Jackson was against the Steelers and has been this season — he set a franchise record for touchdown passes in a year with his 37th on Saturday, breaking his own mark — lighting up Houston and its elite defense in front of a prime-time audience that will include a halftime performance by Beyoncé would go a long way toward adding to the MVP Awards he won in 2019 and 2023. The Texans’ 46 sacks are third-most in the NFL and they have the highest pass rush win rate (49%) in the league, per ESPN analytics. At the nexus of their disruption are star edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., who rank first and sixth, respectively, in pass rush win rate at 28% and 22%. While Ravens running back Derrick Henry has made life easier for Jackson, ranking second in the NFL in rushing yards, it could be tough sledding for the 30-year-old on Christmas, with the Texans ranking second in run-stop win rate. Houston is also second in the league in interceptions (19), led by rookie safety Caleb Bullock and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who have five apiece. Still, Jackson has been elite. He has just four interceptions, which are two fewer than his career-low of six in 2019. That included one against the Steelers last week on a miscommunication with receiver Rashod Bateman, but it was also his first interception in a month. “He’s a really young player still,” coach John Harbaugh said of the progression he has seen from his 27-year-old star this season. “It’s what you would expect from a diligent, talented player who works at it. “I think he grows in every area as we go. The whole tree line’s getting higher.” It’s noticeable, even to the man himself. “I’m improving because each year I’m critiquing myself,” Jackson said. “I’m seeing what teams are doing to me and I’m seeing all the types of defenses they’re trying to throw at me and I’m just studying those. So when I’m going into games I’m getting a feel for what they’re doing to me. “That’s definitely just age because early on in my career I wasn’t critiquing myself like that. I probably go see what I did because I just got in the league. … Now, it’s totally different.” Take Jackson’s second-quarter touchdown pass to Bateman against the Steelers. He gave a small but quick hitch to draw Cory Trice Jr. in, causing the cornerback to bite underneath. That left Bateman with overmatched safety Damontae Kazee, with the receiver easily beating him to the back corner of the end zone. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has thrown 37 touchdown passes this season, his career-best mark. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) It was just one of many examples of Jackson’s precision and command this season. He is on pace for a career high in completion percentage (currently 67.9%) and has already surpassed his career high in passing yards with 3,787 with two games remaining. He also has the highest Pro Football Focus grade (97.1) on throws of more than 10 yards downfield of any quarterback in the league. Tight end Mark Andrews, who has been the quarterback’s favorite target and security blanket since the two arrived in Baltimore in 2018, said on Pat McAfee’s eponymous show this week that Jackson is playing better than ever. “He’s found a way each and every year to elevate his game,” Andrews said. “I think the game is just slow for him right now. He’s making his checks, he’s making the right reads and he’s putting the ball right on the money. … The way his brain is working is on another level.” It’s also not worried about another MVP. “I think it’s just him not thinking too much about everything going on around him and just focused on where he is in the moment at hand, whether it be practice, whether it be his recovery day, whether it be game day,” left tackle Ronnie Stanley said. “He’s great at keeping his feet where he is.” And great at sleep. That’s been the key focus, Jackson said, with Wednesday’s game marking Baltimore’s third in 11 days. The Ravens won the first two, blowing out the terrible New York Giants in New Jersey followed by a hugely important win over the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium last week to keep their division hopes alive. Now comes the sternest test of all in the Texans. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans staff picks: Who wins on Christmas in Houston? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans Week 17 scouting report: Who will have the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans Week 17 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 16: Ravens could be the big bully this postseason Baltimore Ravens | Find a Flock: Ravens and Lamar Jackson are drawing interest worldwide “Anytime I can get some rest, I get some rest,” Jackson said. “You start getting a little wear and tear when you get older.” It’s not just physical, either. “Workloads change,” Harbaugh said. “The mental stuff is packed in more. Everything just gets packed in more. It’s not as much physical, it’s not as much fast moving. Most of it is just condensed.” Which is a good way to describe the MVP race between Jackson, Allen and Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who leads the NFL in rushing yards. Not that Jackson is paying much attention. “If it do happen, it happen,” Jackson said of another MVP. “That’ll be dope. “I’m trying to win the championship. That’s my biggest goal. That’s been my goal ever since [I was] a little kid.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Week 17 Ravens at Texans Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. TV/Stream: CBS, Netflix Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 5 1/2 Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, is focused on one thing: winning a Super Bowl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

Brian Oliver sat at the foot of his hotel bed on a Sunday morning. He pulled out his phone and searched, “Ravens game Mexico City.” There had to be some sports bar nearby that could show the game, he thought. A Facebook group popped up. That led him to a watch party at Gallo Cervecero. “I just assumed I’d be showing up to a bar full of expats,” Oliver said. What he found was the weekly gathering for Ravens Flock México, one of many international fan groups drawn to the Baltimore football team for myriad reasons. Some are random, like Ray Lewis’ “Madden 13” intro, while others are infatuated by the unmistakable greatness of Lamar Jackson. Oliver, 39, was born and raised in Baltimore. He runs a travel blog called Beyond BMore, nearly a decade-old passion project encouraging others to stretch beyond their roots and see the world. On any such trip, Oliver will take a side quest to watch his team. Having been to London for both international Ravens games, in 2017 and 2023, he was pretty aware of the vast fanbase. Gallo Cervecero turned out to be the perfect place to watch his Ravens beat up on the Denver Broncos. Oliver threw on a bright orange Orioles shirt with Baltimore scribbled across the chest and ventured in. This felt like a foreign Mother’s. The walls and tables are painted cherry red. There’s a TV above eye level in every corner. One wall has a 4-foot tall Ravens shield. Another is draped over by a Ravens flag. There were very few English-speaking patrons, but all were wearing Ravens jerseys, drinking beer, eating wings and bellowing the familiar Seven Nation Army bass. “I just felt at home the entire time,” Oliver said. That’s thanks to Ravens Flock México founder Sergio Romo. Around 2007, Romo saw his first AFC North clash between the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. He was hooked. “Watching Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and [Terrell] Suggs play,” Romo said, “made me follow the team more closely and that passion grew. I wanted to create a place where fans could connect and celebrate together.” The group has slowly climbed in numbers over the years but particularly the past two. Romo is an IT infrastructure and project manager by day and a Ravens master of ceremonies by night. Gallo Cervecero is their home base on Sundays, but Romo has a 3-year plan to see M&T Bank Stadium in person. That’s one of his life’s goals, he said. International Ravens fan groups come in all shapes and sizes. The team site has an interactive map to “Find a Flock” with information about host bars, photos and contact information spread all over North America, stretching into South America and Europe. Group leaders say the organization has been generous about sending personalized goodies. The group farthest from Baltimore — just a hop, skip and a jump over the Atlantic Ocean — is Ravens Austria. They’re a small faction. It’s just Benni Deppisch-Pinter and Kate Pinter, a couple living in Vienna who run a German blog site writing off each Ravens game. Kate’s fandom began with the 2012 Super Bowl, long before their Austrian neighbors showed interest in American football. She loves watching clips of coach John Harbaugh in the locker room. A “special agreement” with her bosses means she can watch the Ravens in the wee hours of Monday morning, Central European Standard Time, and freely show up late to work. Her first date with Benni was watching a football game together. Benjamin Deppisch-Pinter and Kate Pinter were born in Germany and Austria, respectively, but have been Ravens fans for over a decade. They visited Baltimore for the first time in November and attended two games. (Courtesy) “I wasn’t rooting for a specific team,” Benni said. “Kate made it clear at the very beginning, if there’s no passion for the Ravens, this relationship wouldn’t go any further!” Most bars near them only show teams like the Kansas City Chiefs or Seattle Seahawks. So Kate makes loaded nachos and cookies for her and Benni to watch the Ravens at home hoping “our neighbors don’t get bothered by us cheering and cursing” at 2 a.m. Recent Nielsen data shows the NFL is the most watched U.S. sport — by a long shot. And the global audience rose 10% from March of 2023 to 2024. Since 2005, when the NFL first hosted a regular-season game outside the United States, the league has made a priority of expanding its reach. Commissioner Roger Goodell said earlier this season the goal of such games is to make American football a global sport. “It becomes a big event,” he said, before Eagles vs. Packers in São Paulo, Brazil. “It’s what captures [fans] and I think it’s gonna put us on a rocket ship.” There have been two main draws for international Ravens fans over the last two decades. Outside of some simply picking the color purple, anecdotally, group leaders say many in their communities determined their allegiance because of the Lewis and Reed era teams or because of Jackson. “I’ve been lucky enough to see him play a couple times in person,” said Shane Richmond, from UK Ravens. “He is someone who you look at and think, it’s like he’s on a different level to all these other guys who are at the top of their sport.” Richmond wasn’t talking about Jackson. He was talking about Lionel Messi. When asked for a cross-sport comparison of an athlete who a novice could watch and know, without question, they’re among the best, Richmond didn’t hesitate. “He’s someone who could do things that made it look like he was doing magic,” Richmond said. “And [Jackson] is someone who, I think, has that same kind of effect.” Added Romo: “Players like Lamar have global appeal. They’re dynamic, humble, and bring a lot of personality, something fans can really relate to.” Ravens fans congregate outside Gallo Cervecero, the official watch party sports bar of Ravens Flock Mexico in Mexico City. One Baltimorean said the bar and those local fans made him feel right at home. (Sergio Romo/Courtesy) Jackson doesn’t have a Super Bowl ring (yet). Messi is the most decorated soccer player ever. But Richmond pointed out that it took Messi five tries in 16 years to win Argentina a World Cup. So maybe give the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player grace. Still, watching Jackson evokes a similar kind of feeling. Like watching magic. Richmond is considered an outlier of international NFL fandom. He discovered football as a kid in the 1980s when NFL games were first broadcast Sunday nights on Channel 4. “[It was] this amazing new sport with brightly colored uniforms and all these new rules to figure out,” he said. Richmond’s now wife is from Maryland and her family are all Commanders fans. In 2000, while visiting for Thanksgiving, they went to his first NFL game. Washington hosted a divisional matchup for an outlandish entry fee. “How about Baltimore?” he suggested. He remembers it vividly. Nov. 26, 2000. Ravens vs. Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. Years later, he’d meet former coach Brian Billick and ask about that game. Cleveland drove the length of the field on their opening possession and scored. The defense came off the field and Lewis said to Billick, “Don’t worry, Coach, we got this.” Baltimore didn’t allow another touchdown, won 44-7, and a few months later would win their first Super Bowl. “I ended up by complete chance seeing maybe the greatest defense of all time,” Richmond said. “And I walked out of that stadium thinking, ‘I’ve never seen anything like that. That was incredible.’” Since 2003, UK Ravens has been connecting fans in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Watch parties are organized every game week across those countries. Their social media platforms, Richmond estimated, reach about 1,000 UK area fans. On ukravens.org, there’s a podcast and pages of fan stories with folks penning personal narratives about the team. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans staff picks: Who wins on Christmas in Houston? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans Week 17 scouting report: Who will have the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Texans Week 17 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 16: Ravens could be the big bully this postseason Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has reentered the NFL MVP race The beauty of international fandom lies within stories like Oliver’s. Visiting a foreign country and finding a community. UK Ravens has grown tremendously. They’ve organized watch parties of all sizes, and when Baltimore played in London last year, fan groups from all over the world shared laughs at a tailgate and walked into the stadium like a purple procession. Then there are moments like Oct. 6 of this year. A dozen fans met at a dive bar in Glasgow, Scotland, aptly named The Raven. Everyone is wearing a jersey. One fan anxiously pulls the purple No. 8 over his head. Another watches through his phone capturing the moment. Someone in the back has his hands on his head, he can’t bear to watch. And a gentleman in front is pounding the pool table, the only thing keeping him from rushing the TV. It’s been a grueling match, the Ravens and Bengals exchanging punches 3,700 miles across the pond in Cincinnati. Justin Tucker’s 24-yard kick splits the uprights to win the game in overtime and the pub erupts. “It’s a weird thing because there’s no reason that we should know each other or get along but you have this shared love of the team,” Richmond said. “We’re all getting together to celebrate our team.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers missed another practice Monday with a shoulder injury, though coach John Harbaugh has said he’s optimistic Flowers will be ready for the team’s Christmas matchup with the Houston Texans. Monday’s injury report was similar to Sunday’s walkthrough estimation, with guard Daniel Faalele (knee) cornerbacks Tre’Davious White (shoulder) and Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring), running back Justice Hill (concussion) and wide receiver Nelson Agholor (concussion) on the list of non-participants. The Ravens upgraded center Tyler Linderbaum (back) to a limited participant and safety Beau Brade (shoulder) to a full participant. The team will release its final injury report of the week, with game statuses, Tuesday afternoon. Despite the practice absences, Harbaugh said his team is physically ready for its third game in 11 days: “One thing about our team is we are in really good shape. Our team is in great condition. Our team recovers very quickly. … So I think they’ll be ready to go.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Who’s most excited to see Beyoncé? Perhaps Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens are more than Lamar Jackson. Here are this year’s unsung heroes. Baltimore Ravens | Ex-Ravens WR Diontae Johnson claimed by Texans 2 days before Christmas showdown Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Which Baltimore athlete had the best 2024? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, Orioles have Baltimore sports in their playoff era For the Texans, defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (hand) went from not practicing Sunday to a limited participant Monday, while guard Shaq Mason (knee) and defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi (foot) missed practice again. Wide receiver John Metchie III was a full participant and appears on track to return from a shoulder injury; he would help fill out a battered receiving corps that lost Tank Dell to a season-ending injury Saturday. The Texans received more bad news Monday when coach DeMeco Ryans announced standout safety Jimmie Ward is done for the season with a foot injury. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

Lamar Jackson’s comedic timing was impeccable. Just one minute before stepping up to the lectern for his weekly media availability, Ravens coach John Harbaugh fielded questions. The last of which concerned the highly anticipated halftime show for their Christmas Day game against the Texans, which will be performed on Netflix’s livestream by the most decorated Grammy Award winner and Houston native, Beyoncé. “Wasn’t there a time when somebody was out peeking outside the locker room door during the Super Bowl or something like that?” Harbaugh asked. “Was there some story on that?” It was Bengals kicker Evan McPherson in 2022. While his teammates were in the locker room game planning for the second half and how to overcome a 13-10 deficit, McPherson stayed on the field to watch Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar. Harbaugh smiled. “There will be big trouble,” he said if his players follow McPherson’s lead. The veteran coach left the scrum in good spirits out toward his left. His quarterback flanked in from the opposite side and grabbed the mic for his turn, unaware of the preceding exchange. The second question for Jackson — whose favorite Beyoncé song “Irreplaceable” features the lyrics “to the left” — was whether he’ll be bummed to miss such a high-profile performance. “No,” he said, “because I’m going to go out there and watch. [It’ll be my] first time seeing Beyoncé perform, and it’s at our game — that’s dope. I’m going to go out and watch. Sorry, Harbaugh, sorry. Sorry, fellas.” Is the thinking the Ravens will be up at halftime, playing at a level they expect so players could catch some of the show? “I’m not even thinking about the lead,” Jackson laughed. “I was just thinking about seeing Beyoncé for the first time. Not saying it like that; no disrespect or [anything] because I know how people can take things. Next question.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens are more than Lamar Jackson. Here are this year’s unsung heroes. Baltimore Ravens | Ex-Ravens WR Diontae Johnson claimed by Texans 2 days before Christmas showdown Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Which Baltimore athlete had the best 2024? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, Orioles have Baltimore sports in their playoff era Baltimore Ravens | Will Netflix’s streaming issues doom Ravens vs. Texans on Christmas Day? Despite the jovial nature of Monday’s news conference coming off a significant win over the archrival Steelers, it’s unlikely any Raven will peek out of the visiting locker room at NRG Stadium. Even if it’s “Queen B” performing. “I like Beyoncé, though,” Harbaugh said. “I can’t say I’m a huge Beyoncé fan, but I think I like her.” A reporter chimed in to remind Harbaugh that Beyoncé was the halftime performer when Baltimore beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl on Feb. 3, 2013. “Did she? That’s good to know,” Harbaugh said. “I do remember that now. Focus, focus.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. Week 17 Ravens at Texans Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. TV/Stream: CBS, Netflix Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 5 1/2 Beyoncé will perform at halftime on Christmas Day during the Ravens vs. Texans game in Houston. (Screenshot) View the full article

The Ravens are fortunate to have their franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson making a case for his third Most Valuable Player honor. It doesn’t hurt he can hand the ball to Derrick Henry, a running back with over 1,600 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns (and counting). How about Mark Andrews, the only tight end to lead an organization in career touchdowns? An All-Pro at all three levels on defense isn’t too shabby either. Such grandeur has steered the Ravens’ season, now making a final push for a second straight AFC North title. But they also have a bunch of guys whose contributions have flown slightly under the radar – the unsung heroes. At 10-5 with a pair of games left on the schedule, here are five of this season’s unsung heroes. OLB Tavius Robinson At the outset of the season, when questions arose about who could make up for lost production among the pass rushers, Tavius Robinson wasn’t necessarily a top candidate. When pass rush coach Chuck Smith called him a “glass eater” during training camp, it raised some eyebrows. Smith — who could be considered an unsung hero himself for overseeing the group with the second most sacks in the NFL — was right. Robinson has started each the Ravens’ past five games, and the 25-year-old is up to 30 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks. He’s also second on the team in quarterback knockdowns (eight) and fourth in quarterback pressures (13), trailing three day-one starters. “He has established himself as a three-down player,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s gone from a run-down player to a guy that’s out there all the time.” Added defensive coordinator Zach Orr: “I think now that the game has kind of just slowed down for him, and you’re able to see him just play even faster, play more aggressive and play more even more physical, and I think he’s even developed better as a rusher as well.” Safety Ar’Darius Washington Ar’Darius Washington is on the precipice of losing “unsung hero” status. Folks are starting to sing, particularly after the safety punched the ball loose from Russell Wilson’s grasp saving a Steelers touchdown in Saturday’s win. Let’s go back, first. Washington played fewer than 35 defensive snaps in every game until Week 7. While the Ravens experimented between him, Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson at safety, Washington stayed under 60 snaps until Week 11. Then Ravens brass landed on giving Washington the starting job against Pittsburgh in November, which is retrospectively considered to be the turning point for the defense. Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington spears Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson, forcing a fumble in the Ravens’ 34-17 win in Week 16. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Much of the credit belongs to Marlon Humphrey playing at an All-Pro level. Humphrey himself gave Kyle Hamilton the bulk of the credit. But Washington — who has two interceptions, a forced fumble, a sack and seven pass deflections – has been a truly steadying presence on that side of the ball. “He’s always played well when he’s gotten his chances,” Harbaugh said. “He practices well. I don’t think anybody’s surprised by it. I’m happy to see it happen though. He’s playing great football.” OL Roger Rosengarten The offensive line is inherently an under-appreciated position group. That’s where the dirty work gets done. And if they’re playing well, most don’t seem to notice them. It’s when they’re not that critics crash down more harshly on their performance. So not hearing much lately about Roger Rosengarten, a rookie second-round draft pick who took over as starting right tackle four weeks into the season, is a good sign after a shaky start to his NFL career. “My first play in the NFL was a strip-sack fumble,” Rosengarten said. “Started off low but I told myself, ‘If that’s how we’re gonna start, you gotta end higher.’ I really like how I’ve progressed throughout the season.” He said his footwork has come a long way since August and coming back from an ankle injury in October. He also thinks he’s brought more physicality as the season progressed. But Rosengarten’s zero quarterback hits allowed and four sacks, ranked by Pro Football Focus as the 45th best tackle in the NFL, are partially a testament to the mentorship of veteran Ronnie Stanley. The two can often be seen taking extra reps together after practices. “I’m taking all the advice I can get from him,” Rosengarten said. “He’s been a big help.” RB Justice Hill This quote from offensive coordinator Todd Monken may be the perfect encapsulation of the backup running back: “Well [Justice Hill]’s been a weapon for us. All he does is come in the building and work hard and smile a lot and embrace his role.” His role is primarily to play Robin, complementing Henry as Batman in the backfield. But he’s proven to be worth much more. Hill has amassed 228 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He has also caught 42 passes for 383 yards and three scores – arguably his more valuable contribution. And the sixth-year pro’s fearlessness in pass protection this season has turned some heads, going back to his Week 1 block on Chris Jones, a Chiefs defensive tackle twice his size. Against the Commanders in Week 6, PFF gave Hill the second-highest pass blocking grade among all running backs. It’s unlikely he’ll be available for Wednesday’s Christmas game vs. the Houston Texans after taking a scary fall on Saturday. Hill walked off the field under his own power but was quickly ruled out with a concussion. Rasheen Ali and Keaton Mitchell are expected to backfill the position on a short week. Ravens wide receiver Tylan Wallace has made an impact in his limited playing time this season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) WR Tylan Wallace Tylan Wallace, perhaps more than any of his teammates, epitomizes the “under the radar” trope. You don’t hear his name much until you do. Then the locker room praise is loud. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Who’s most excited to see Beyoncé? Perhaps Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. Baltimore Ravens | Ex-Ravens WR Diontae Johnson claimed by Texans 2 days before Christmas showdown Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Which Baltimore athlete had the best 2024? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, Orioles have Baltimore sports in their playoff era Baltimore Ravens | Will Netflix’s streaming issues doom Ravens vs. Texans on Christmas Day? The 2021 fourth-round draft pick with an infectious smile is buried down the depth chart behind wide receivers Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor. He’s made a living on special teams. Although, it’s worth acknowledging he recently lost his job as the lead kick and punt return man on the heels of two muffs against the Eagles. Harbaugh said he hasn’t lost faith in Wallace as a backup to Desmond King II. That said, Wallace turned a seemingly trivial pickup into an 84-yard touchdown against the Bengals that proved to a be a shot in the arm helping decide the November shootout win. Andrews said postgame, “Tylan doesn’t get a lot of love but he should. He makes big-time plays and he comes in clutch.” Then on Saturday, he saved a Jordan Stout punt from bouncing into the end zone for a touchback. Wallace leapt over the goal line like he were clearing an invisible hurdle to tip the ball back and pin Pittsburgh at its own 3-yard line, which set up a Steelers three and out. He posted a clip from “Batman Begins” after the win when James Gordon says, “I never said thank you.” And Batman turns around to say, “And you’ll never have to.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The Ravens and Diontae Johnson saga has taken another twist. Three days after Baltimore parted ways with the disgruntled wide receiver, the Houston Texas claimed the 28-year-old veteran off waivers. The Ravens play the Texans in Houston on Christmas Day. It marks the fourth team for Johnson since March after he was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Carolina Panthers, where he spent the first seven games this season before being dealt to the Ravens a week before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. Houston’s wide receiver corps has been decimated, with Tank Dell the latest to suffer a significant injury after he dislocated his knee and tore his ACL on Sunday in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Houston is already without receiver and former Maryland star Stefon Diggs, whose season is over after suffering a torn ACL in late October, and John Metchie has been dealing with a shoulder injury this week, though he told reporters Monday that he is “ready to go” for the Christmas tilt against the Ravens. Veteran Robert Woods is the Texans’ next-best receiver with 16 catches for 143 yards. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Who’s most excited to see Beyoncé? Perhaps Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens are more than Lamar Jackson. Here are this year’s unsung heroes. Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Which Baltimore athlete had the best 2024? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, Orioles have Baltimore sports in their playoff era Baltimore Ravens | Will Netflix’s streaming issues doom Ravens vs. Texans on Christmas Day? Johnson’s stint with the Ravens was as short as it was an abject disaster. He appeared in just four games for Baltimore, refused to go into a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to a statement from general manager Eric DeCosta, and was suspended for their game against the New York Giants. He was excused from team activities after his suspension before being waived last week. Johnson played just 39 offensive snaps for the Ravens and had one catch for 6 yards. He is set to be a free agent this offseason. Meanwhile, the Ravens claimed former Texans receiver Steven Sims off waivers. He appeared in seven games for Houston this season and played 63 snaps on special teams and just 10 on offense, failing to catch a pass. Ravens fans will remember Sims. He returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown in last season’s divisional round playoff game that Baltimore went on to win, 34-10. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The past year was full of dramatic moments and high-level performances, particularly from three standout Baltimore athletes: Lamar Jackson, Angel Reese and Gunnar Henderson. We want to hear from you. Who had the best 2024? After you vote, tell us what you think by clicking the comments button and we might publish 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

The holiday spirit has officially hit the Ravens’ locker room. John Harbaugh began his postgame news conference Saturday with a message he had shared with his players only minutes before, one apt for a team that had just clinched a spot in the playoffs. “Rejoice.” Harbaugh has been here before. The Ravens have made the postseason six of the past seven years and 12 of 18 overall with him at the helm. Though he might “rejoice in the fact that we made the playoffs,” Harbaugh sees Saturday’s 34-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers as a couple of boxes crossed off on the checklist of goals the Ravens have for their season. But Saturday also marked a historic moment for Baltimore sports as a whole. While the Ravens have been perennial contenders since drafting Lamar Jackson in 2018, the Orioles spent six years hovering around the American League East basement before emerging from their rebuild to reach the playoffs each of the last two seasons. The Ravens’ win Saturday ensured Baltimore’s football and baseball teams would reach the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1970 and 1971, when the Orioles and Colts each made the postseason, and only the second time overall. “It means a lot,” Jackson said of the Ravens extending their season. “We been bustin’ our behind all season long, had ups and downs this whole season. But to clinch a playoff against a great team like that, that’s great. It means we’re moving in the right direction.” That sentiment is permeable for both franchises. The Ravens are tied to Jackson and the Super Bowl-winning upside the two-time Most Valuable Player Award winner provides for at least the next three seasons. The Orioles have assembled one of baseball’s most enviable young cores centered around All-Stars Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Jordan Westburg. So far, neither team has been able to translate its regular season success into a championship. The Ravens have yet to make it past the AFC championship game with Jackson under center and the Orioles haven’t won a playoff game since 2014. For all the promise they’ve shown, players from both sides of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard hope it’s only the beginning. “We have a really good team,” Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle said after the club was knocked out of the playoffs in October. “It shows in our record during the year. Unfortunately, the last two years, just haven’t been able to put it together in the playoffs. Hopefully, next year we can make it and try and make a run. That’s all you can do.” The late 1960s and early ’70s were a true golden era for Baltimore sports. The Orioles won two World Series and reached two more, anchored by Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell, Frank Robinson and Jim Palmer. Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas, in the twilight of his Hall of Fame career, helped guide Baltimore to two Super Bowls in three years, winning it all in 1970. Baltimore’s current teams have a long way to go before their era merits serious comparisons with the days of Brooks and Unitas. Yet fans are in the midst of what has been a rare period of local sports history with both teams fielding competitive rosters. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Will Netflix’s streaming issues doom Ravens vs. Texans on Christmas Day? Baltimore Ravens | NFL playoff picture: Ravens are in. What’s still at stake in AFC? Baltimore Ravens | How a popular Netflix miniseries sparked a Ravens obsession Baltimore Ravens | Zay Flowers, Daniel Faalele among Ravens missing from walk-through Sunday Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Time for Ravens to stop messing around and run the ball | COMMENTARY When the Orioles reached two World Series in five years from 1979 to 1983, the Colts were enduring the bulk of the six-year playoff drought that ultimately preceded the organization’s move to Indianapolis. The Ravens’ quick ascension to Super Bowl winners in 2000 under coach Brian Billick and early success with Harbaugh helped bridge the Orioles’ 14 straight October-less seasons. That did culminate with a magical 2012 when the Ravens won the Super Bowl and the Orioles finally ended their skid with a 93-win campaign, but the Ravens hovered around .500 for the next five years while the Orioles made a couple of deep playoff runs that ended short of the Fall Classic. Only once have both teams won their division, and that came just last season. However, it was that mid-2010s period of struggle that led to the Ravens landing Jackson. And the Orioles’ ensuing rebuild produced the stable of young talent that has them in position to contend in the American League East for the next half-decade. Where this era of Baltimore sports proves to stand among history is still unwritten, but the potential for fans to rejoice for the playoff success of both sides in 2025 is as great as it’s been in decades. ’Tis the season. Have a news tip? Contact Matt Weyrich at mweyrich@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/ByMattWeyrich. The Orioles celebrate after clinching a playoff berth in September. Baltimore has plenty to celebrate with the Ravens also in the playoffs. (Jim McIsaac/Getty) View the full article

All Netflix wants for Christmas is to avoid another sports livestream disaster. The Ravens are slotted in the second game of the popular streaming platform’s Christmas Day doubleheader, playing the Texans in Houston at 4:30 p.m. after the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. Both games mark the first of a three-year agreement to broadcast Christmas Day games on Netflix. The primary way to watch the Ravens’ penultimate regular-season game, which will help decide their playoff standing, requires a Netflix subscription. All account plans include access to the games, which will appear on the site’s homepage. But fear not, Baltimoreans. Both games will also be broadcast locally on CBS in each team’s market. Netflix has made more of a push toward streaming live events in recent years to expand its reach. It hasn’t gone especially well. Some might remember “The Roast of Tom Brady” in May, which went off without a hitch. The Netflix Cup, a Formula 1 and golf crossover event, yielded modest results. Netflix is in line to broadcast the next two FIFA Women’s World Cups, in 2027 and 2031. But recency bias might make viewers cringe at the thought of Netflix hosting two high-profile Christmas Day NFL games, which draw massive audiences. That’s because of how difficult it was to watch the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul on Nov. 15. Not for the faux spectacle, but for the technical breakdown caked with glitches and buffers trying to keep up with 38 million concurrent streams in the United States. Netflix was pelted with similar backlash last year during the live “Love Is Blind” season 4 reunion special that was delayed more than an hour because of engineering issues. Vice President of Nonfiction Series and Sports Brandon Riegg spoke with the Associated Press about Netflix’s recent live-show issues ahead of Wednesday’s games. “The only way to test something of that magnitude is to have something of that magnitude,” Neftlix’s Vice President of Nonfiction Series and Sports Brandon Riegg told the Associated Press. “The good news is they stress-tested the system to such a degree that there’s a lot of these fixes and improvements that they realized that they could make, and they’re applying all that stuff.” Netflix is pushing its chips in on the holiday festivities. They’ll have a prerecorded Mariah Carey performance of “All I Want For Christmas Is You” before the Chiefs vs. Steelers. Then at halftime of Ravens vs. Texans, Houston native and the most-decorated artist in Grammys history, Beyoncé, will perform live. Netflix brought in an all-star coverage cast as well. NBC Sports’ Noah Eagle has play-by-play duties at NRG Stadium with Kirk Olsen, from Fox Sports, as his color commentator. The sideline reporters will be NFL Network’s Jamie Erdahl and Sam Wyche. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, Orioles have Baltimore sports in their playoff era Baltimore Ravens | NFL playoff picture: Ravens are in. What’s still at stake in AFC? Baltimore Ravens | How a popular Netflix miniseries sparked a Ravens obsession Baltimore Ravens | Zay Flowers, Daniel Faalele among Ravens missing from walk-through Sunday Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Time for Ravens to stop messing around and run the ball | COMMENTARY The 11 a.m. pregame show will feature former NFL quarterbacks Drew Brees and Robert Griffin III; Mina Kimes and Laura Rutledge, from ESPN; and Kay Adams, anchor and host of Up & Adams, among others. Bert Kreischer will act as tailgate correspondent and fellow comedian Nate Bargatze will have additional guest commentary. Global interest in the NFL has grown tremendously in recent years as the league continues to schedule games on foreign soil. This season, teams played in London and São Paulo. For Wednesday’s game, Netflix is making streams available worldwide, according to a release, available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and German. Brees and NFL Redzone host Scott Hanson will handle additional commentary outside the U.S., according to Netflix. Baltimore’s Week 16 game is vital in its chase for the AFC North division title. Netflix’s reputation for livestreaming such events will be on the line, too. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The Ravens are officially back in the playoffs. While Baltimore has long been a virtual lock to make the seven-team field, the Ravens clinched their spot Saturday with a 34-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The home victory also kept Baltimore’s hopes alive for the AFC North title, putting the archrivals in a tie for first place with two games remaining in the regular season. Both teams now face a quick turnaround. On Christmas Day, the Ravens (10-5) hit the road to take on the Texans, while the Steelers (10-5) host the Chiefs in a first-of-its-kind streaming doubleheader on Netflix. The four playoff-bound teams are all finishing a stretch of three games in 11 days, as Kansas City secured a 27-19 win over Houston earlier Saturday. While five of the seven AFC playoff teams are secured and three of the four division champions are crowned, there are still a few loose ends to tie up before the postseason begins. Here’s what’s still at stake: No. 1 seed It’s going to take more than an ankle injury to stop Patrick Mahomes. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player rushed for 33 yards and a touchdown and passed for 260 yards and a score to lead Kansas City to a victory over Houston that puts the Chiefs on the brink of the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Chiefs (14-1) can clinch the first-round bye and home-field advantage by beating Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Also, if the Bills (12-3) fail to win either of their remaining two games, the Chiefs would get the top seed. While the Chiefs’ lead appears insurmountable, Buffalo owns the crucial head-to-head tiebreaker thanks to its 30-21 win over Kansas City in Week 11 and faces an easier schedule down the stretch. While the Chiefs play the Steelers and Broncos — two teams still chasing important playoff positioning — the Bills finish against the lowly Patriots (3-12) and Jets (4-11). If the Bills and Chiefs both finish 14-3, the AFC playoffs run through Buffalo. AFC North title Christmas Day could end up deciding the division title. A Ravens win over the Texans and a Steelers loss to the Chiefs would give Baltimore a one-game lead entering the regular-season finale. Then all the Ravens would need is a victory over the hapless Cleveland Browns (3-12) to wrap up their second straight AFC North crown and a home wild-card game the following weekend. If the Ravens and Steelers both lose Wednesday, Pittsburgh finishes its regular season against a much tougher opponent in the Cincinnati Bengals (7-8), who are not mathematically eliminated from postseason contention yet and could be playing for a chance to claim the final wild-card spot. A Ravens win over Cleveland and a Steelers loss to Cincinnati would give Baltimore the title. Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce, left, sacks Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson in front of Brent Urban in the first quarter on Saturday. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) If both teams go 2-0 down the stretch and finish 12-5, it would come down to tiebreakers. In that scenario, the head-to-head record would be tied 1-1 and the division record would be tied 4-2, so it would come down to the best record against common opponents. The Steelers, with a hypothetical win over a Chiefs team that beat Baltimore in Week 1, would take the division title by virtue of a 9-3 vs. 8-4 edge. If both teams somehow go 0-2 to finish the regular season and end up 10-7, Pittsburgh would win the division because of a superior record against conference opponents (7-5 vs. 6-6). Final wild-card spots It’s very likely that the two AFC West teams that met Thursday night — the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers — will be the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds, in some order. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, Orioles have Baltimore sports in their playoff era Baltimore Ravens | Will Netflix’s streaming issues doom Ravens vs. Texans on Christmas Day? Baltimore Ravens | How a popular Netflix miniseries sparked a Ravens obsession Baltimore Ravens | Zay Flowers, Daniel Faalele among Ravens missing from walk-through Sunday Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Time for Ravens to stop messing around and run the ball | COMMENTARY The Broncos and Chargers are both 9-6 after Los Angeles’ 34-27 win over Denver at SoFi Stadium. The Broncos have a 78% chance to reach the postseason, while the Chargers are at 95%, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. The three other teams still in the hunt for those last two spots are the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati, which are all 7-8 after winning Sunday. The Colts have the best odds to crack the field at 12%, followed by the Dolphins (7%) and Bengals (5%). Denver can clinch its first postseason berth since 2015 with a win over Cincinnati on Saturday, while Los Angeles can secure its spot with a victory over New England. A loss or tie by Indianapolis, Miami or Cincinnati over the next two weeks would also eliminate them from postseason contention. Here’s what the wild-card matchups would be if the season ended Saturday: No. 1 Kansas City (1st AFC West) — bye No. 7 Denver (3rd AFC West) at No. 2 Buffalo (1st AFC East) No. 6 L.A. Chargers (2nd AFC West) at No. 3 Pittsburgh (1st AFC North) No. 5 Ravens (2nd AFC North) at No. 4 Houston (1st AFC South) 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

Four years ago, “The Queen’s Gambit” — a Netflix miniseries and coming-of-age drama about protagonist and orphan Beth Harmon’s obsession to become the best chess player in the world — shot to popularity for, among other things, its escapist entertainment that explored personal struggle and triumph. It also ended up sparking what has become something of an obsession within the Ravens’ locker room. Which is why, on any given day, left guard Patrick Mekari can be heard disseminating various strategies to left tackle Ronnie Stanley that have nothing to do with the practice they just finished or the next game on their schedule. “Ronnie was definitely the worst for a while, but he’s gotten better,” said Mekari, whose looks are more bearded bouncer than Garry Kasparov. “The chess levels are insane, so I would not consider myself a good chess player, but I’m probably the best amongst the guys in here.” Mekari’s lockermate, Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, overhearing the conversation, nods affirmatively, though he quickly points out that he beat Mekari the first time the two played. “Once I saw the show, I downloaded the [Chess.com] app and I think I’ve played every day since,” Mekari continues. “I would watch shows on chess on YouTube religiously. I don’t do that as much anymore, but I find myself here and there watching a chess tutorial — how do you play this opening, how do you defend this opening, what’s the best move here. “In the show, it was intriguing how much thought and how much work goes into a simple board game. Each move matters within the millions of moves there are, and there is one right move. There is a correct move, which is cool to try to find. Chess is different.” It has also bonded — the games are a way to get away from The Game and they elicit plenty of conversation, too, with Mekari the ringleader. Ravens offensive lineman Patrick Mekari shows off his Chess.com app that he uses to play against his teammates and staff members. (Courtesy) In addition to the sixth-year veteran, Stanley and Linderbaum, tight end Charlie Kolar and linebacker Chris Board, along with a few staff members, have taken to playing against one another daily using the Chess.com app on their phones. The games last anywhere from a few minutes — Mekari’s preference because it allows him to play more games which in turn allows him to become more familiar with formations and strategies — to all day, which allows more deliberate thinkers plenty of time to counter an opponent’s move. “I’ve only been playing since training camp,” Stanley says. “I knew how the pieces moved, but I never looked at the different openings. I like just how far you can think ahead. There’s different ways of attacking, so many different variables and ways to go about it. Every game is different.” Of course, he also could have been talking about football since the correlations between the two are obvious if not omnipresent. There are patterns, offensive moves and defensive moves. The goal in both is to understand what the other is trying to do before they do it. And even some of chess’ strategies — absolute pin, X-ray, desperado, diagonal battery, interference, flagging — could be swapped in for footballs. “It’s not just a game that rots your brain,” Linderbaum said. “There’s strategy to it, critical thinking, you’re trying to see one, two, three moves ahead. Just like sports. “The other team’s defense is trying to find the best matchup and we’re trying to find the best match-up in terms of plays. You can find some similarities with the offensive coordinator vs. the defensive coordinator, too. Like football, you’re trying to figure out what they’re trying to accomplish.” As a unit this season, the Ravens’ offensive line, which has three new starters, including Mekari playing left guard for the first time, rookie Roger Rosengarten at right tackle and tackle-turned-right-guard Daniel Faalele, has had their moments. Though they struggled in a loss earlier this month to the Philadelphia Eagles, the group has made strides from its early-season struggles. In pass blocking, Pro Football Focus grades the Ravens’ offensive line the ninth-best in the NFL. In run blocking, they’ve slipped to 20th in recent weeks, but PFF rates them the eighth-best overall line in the league. Linberbaum, coming off a Pro Bowl season in what was just his second year, has been perhaps the unit’s best and most consistent performer, with a 79.4 grade from PFF, fourth-best among all centers. Stanley, an All-Pro in 2019 who has battled injuries every year since until this one, is finally healthy and, in a contract year, has been a tour de force, not allowing a sack until recently giving up two after surrendering a career-high five last season. Mekari had easily his worst game of the year against the Eagles’ talented defensive tackles with nine pressures allowed to draw a frightening 11.3 pass blocking grade from PFF, but has graded out at 64.5 or higher in 11 other contests (though his run blocking has rated slightly worse). Faalele, meanwhile, has graded similarly to Mekari, with Rosengarten slightly better, particularly in pass sets. Behind them, Baltimore has produced the NFL’s top offense with 423.7 yards per game and is No. 3 in scoring at 30.1 points per game, which is perhaps why coach John Harbaugh is resolute about not shaking up the offensive line as he did earlier in the year. “I think we’re pretty well set there,” he said. “I’m not down on anybody on the offensive line.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, Orioles have Baltimore sports in their playoff era Baltimore Ravens | Will Netflix’s streaming issues doom Ravens vs. Texans on Christmas Day? Baltimore Ravens | NFL playoff picture: Ravens are in. What’s still at stake in AFC? Baltimore Ravens | Zay Flowers, Daniel Faalele among Ravens missing from walk-through Sunday Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Time for Ravens to stop messing around and run the ball | COMMENTARY Meanwhile, the chess games continue, during breaks, after practice and whenever there’s free time. “I’m happy to say that after the show, millions of people bought chess sets,” actor Anya Taylor-Joy, who played Harmon in “The Queen’s Gambit,” cracked on “Saturday Night Live” a few years ago following the show’s enormous rise. “And dozens of them actually learned how to play.” At least a few reside in Baltimore’s locker room. “It gets you thinking,” Mekari said. “We compete so much physically; that’s what we’ve always known. But in chess, it’s, ‘Can I just understand the position and be better than you at something not physical,’ which is kind of cool.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. 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Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers and starting offensive linemen Tyler Linderbaum and Daniel Faalele were among the players listed as not participating in practice Sunday as the team began preparations for its Christmas game against the Houston Texans. The Ravens’ injury report was only an estimation based on a late-afternoon walk-through. Flowers was listed with a shoulder injury a day after he played 87% of the team’s offensive snaps and caught five passes for 100 yards in the Ravens’ 34-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Faalele was absent with a knee injury after playing all 62 offensive snaps against Pittsburgh. He also appeared on the injury report last week. Linderbaum was listed with a back injury after he also played every snap in the win over the Steelers, but he was in his jersey at the portion of the walk-through open to reporters. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Time for Ravens to stop messing around and run the ball | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 34-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens prove they can win with defense vs. Steelers: ‘Return that favor’ Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 34-17 win over Steelers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens clinch playoff spot, keep AFC North title hopes alive with 34-17 win over Steelers Running back Justice Hill was missing as expected after he left Saturday’s game with a concussion suffered on a scary crash to the ground. The short turnaround to the Houston game makes it unlikely Hill will have time to clear the league’s head injury protocol. If he can’t go, Rasheen Ali and Keaton Mitchell will likely back up Derrick Henry. Wide receiver Nelson Agholor remained absent because of the concussion that kept him out of Saturday’s game. Cornerbacks Tre’Davious White (shoulder) and Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring) were also missing. Safety Beau Brade was present but limited by a shoulder injury. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

It was late during the 2000 season when former Ravens coach Brian Billick started moving over to what he called “the dark side,” which meant he was going to rely more on running back Jamal Lewis than quarterback Trent Dilfer. I’m starting to move over to the “dark side” as well. This time, that means star running back Derrick Henry instead of quarterback Lamar Jackson. The preference here is balance with the run-pass ratio. In fact, I’ve preached it for years. But as the Ravens enter the last two games of the regular season against Houston and Cleveland, the “dark side” has more light, so to speak, at the end of the tunnel. Jackson is different from Dilfer, who couldn’t hit the ground if he dropped the ball. But in big games, it’s just more logical to stick with a back who has rushed for more than 11,000 yards since entering the league in 2016 instead of a player who is 2-4 in the postseason. Henry’s age of 30 is no longer a factor. The Ravens have basically kept him fresh all season. Before Saturday’s 34-17 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium, Henry had rushed for 1,474 yards and 13 touchdowns on 254 carries, which is about 18 attempts per game. That’s pretty modest for a player who has more than 2,000 career rushing attempts. Then came Saturday. The 6-foot-3, 247-pound Henry rushed 24 times for 162 yards and caught two swing passes for 27 yards. He had a 44-yard run on a toss around the left end down to Pittsburgh’s 11-yard line with 14:11 left in the game and the Ravens ahead, 24-17. On the next play, Jackson attempted a short pass over the middle and into the right flat, which was picked off by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. As Fitzpatrick returned it 25 yards to the Pittsburgh 33, there were several thoughts that crossed my mind, none of them positive. The TV cameras showed Ravens coach John Harbaugh shaking his head in disbelief. Why? If Henry was tired, just hand the ball off to another runner. Heck, bring Lewis out of retirement, but at least stick to the ground game. Fortunately, Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson threw a pass behind tight end MyCole Pruitt, which cornerback Marlon Humphrey intercepted and returned 37 yards for a touchdown. Then there was nothing else to think about because it’s time to turn The King loose. It’s time for some ground-and-pound. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin got the message. “We didn’t do what we needed to do to secure victory today. So, I congratulate the Ravens on their performance in the victory,” he said. “Specifically, we didn’t control the run game. We never did. When you don’t, you’ve got to do some splash plays or win the turnover battle in a significant way, and we didn’t do that either. We had opportunities of some balls on the ground that we didn’t get. Then obviously, we turned the ball over going in. It took seven points off the board, and they had a pick-six. The rest is history, as they say. “You’ve got to control the run, the line of scrimmage. The turnover game is always significant in matchups like this. We failed in both areas. So, when you do that, you should expect to lose. When you’re not controlling the run game, you’re not going to have a sense of comfort in terms of the flow of it. That was the case.” That’s not saying the Ravens have to ignore the passing game or Jackson. In reality, opposing teams are going to stack the line of scrimmage and force Jackson to beat them throwing the ball downfield. That’s been the strategy since the Ravens drafted him in the first round seven years ago. That’s understandable, but the Ravens should come into every game with a run-first mentality. That’s when they are at their best, when they can run and then mix in the play-action passing game with some run-pass option (RPO) plays. But there have been times this season when the Ravens seem intent on tossing the ball around, and that’s not always a good thing for this team, especially in the postseason or against really good teams. We’ve seen that in the past against Tennessee when Henry was a Titan, or against Kansas City the last couple of years when the Ravens forgot that running the ball was their strength. Against Pittsburgh on Saturday, they rushed for 220 yards on 38 carries and pushed around tackles Cameron Heyward and Keeanu Benton, who had led a defense that entered ranked No. 4 in rushing yards allowed per game (94.4). Of course, the Ravens entered ranked No. 2 in rushing, averaging 178.4 yards per game, so it just makes sense to keep wearing the opposition down. “I think they were controlling the line of scrimmage,” Pittsburgh outside linebacker Alex Highsmith said. “We didn’t do a good job controlling the line of scrimmage today. Embarrassing to say the least, how they ran, the way they ran the ball against us.” The Ravens don’t have to commit to the running game like they did during their 2000 championship season. That team had some weapons, but not a strong-armed quarterback. They had Lewis, whose style was different then Henry (who runs up upright like former great Eric Dickerson) but just as punishing. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 34-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens prove they can win with defense vs. Steelers: ‘Return that favor’ Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 34-17 win over Steelers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens clinch playoff spot, keep AFC North title hopes alive with 34-17 win over Steelers Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 34-17 win over Pittsburgh Steelers Like Lewis, once Henry gets to the edge and his shoulder pads square, opposing safeties and cornerbacks fear him. The Ravens have many more weapons compared with that 2000 team. They have speed on the outside in receiver Zay Flowers and two tight ends who might be the best duo in the league in Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews. They also have a complementary runner in backup Justice Hill, who is an effective pass catcher out of the backfield. And then there is Jackson, who is the best running quarterback in the history of the NFL. He has improved dramatically as a passer, especially inside the red zone. But against teams such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, he has missed wide-open receivers several times. Zone defenses cause him problems, whether it’s holding the ball too long or uncertainty about when to run. That’s not to say Jackson has a major deficiency in any area. But the forte of this offensive line has and remains run blocking. That’s what they do best. And if that’s a strength, stick with it. It should be, especially with Henry. The postseason is almost upon us. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article