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Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen expects a hostile crowd in his return to M&T Bank Stadium. Queen, who began his career in Baltimore and played for the Ravens from 2020 through 2023, will play in M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday for the first time as a visiting member. “I’m probably going to get a lot of FUs and boos and stuff, but at the end of the day, I wouldn’t want [it] any other way,” Queen told reporters Tuesday. “That’s football, that’s competition.” Earlier this season, Queen starred in a Steelers victory over the Ravens. The linebacker posted 10 tackles and forced a key fumble in an 18-16 win on Nov. 17. The Pittsburgh triumph is currently the difference in the AFC North, with the Ravens (9-5) entering Saturday’s home contest one game back of the AFC-North leading Steelers (10-4). After the November win, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin praised Queen while taking a shot at the Ravens’ decision not to re-sign the linebacker to play alongside Roquan Smith. Queen leads the Steelers with 109 tackles this season. “You know, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” Tomlin told reporters after the November meeting. “I’m glad he is on our team.” While Queen says he expects boos this weekend from Baltimore fans, he mostly downplayed his role in Saturday’s rivalry game when meeting with the media Tuesday. Queen instead spoke about the importance of the game, which would give the Steelers the AFC North title if they come away with the road win. “I’m all for the rivalry, but I’m over the ‘my old team’ stuff,” Queen said. Pittsburgh’s new linebacker spoke highly of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is enjoying perhaps the best year of his career. Jackson is averaging a career-best 8.9 yards per pass attempt, throwing for 34 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. He’s also added 743 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews’ head butts and TDs are ‘a reflection of the Raven way’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Nelson Agholor in concussion protocol; 6 Steelers starters absent Tuesday Baltimore Ravens | Social media chef Tini Younger to cook at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood tailgate for Ravens vs. Steelers game Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 15: Lamar Jackson back in MVP race? He never left. Baltimore Ravens | Steelers coach Mike Tomlin optimistic T.J. Watt will be available against Ravens Jackson ranks second to Buffalo’s Josh Allen in QBR, and only Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow (36) has more passing touchdowns this season. If Allen wasn’t having such a strong season for the 11-3 Bills, Jackson would likely be the favorite to win his third career MVP Award. Queen called Jackson “the most dangerous guy in the NFL,” although the Steelers did well to slow him in their first meeting. Jackson completed just 16 of his 33 passes in the Nov. 17 meeting between the division foes, throwing for 207 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His passer rating of 66.1 against Pittsburgh is the lowest of the season. Jackson has thrown nine touchdowns and zero interceptions in the three games since, hitting his stride as the season hits its final stretch. Perhaps Jackson’s late-season surge is why Queen is more focused on stopping Baltimore’s quarterback than the insults he expects Ravens fans to hurl his way in a few days. “He’s a great player,” Queen said, “the best in the world, honestly.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

When Mark Andrews caught his Ravens record 48th career touchdown pass through a cluster of New York Giants defenders on Sunday, notice his teammates celebrated from every other corner of the field. Isaiah Likely’s crossing route took him toward the left sideline, where he threw his arms up. Tylan Wallace did the same from that corner of the end zone. Quarterback Lamar Jackson made sure to meet his tight end in the air for a chest bump. These were business decisions. “Nobody’s ever trying to be the first one [there] when Mark scores after the spike because that’s the strongest head butt that’s gonna happen the whole game,” Likely laughed. “You’ll see everybody trying to see who’s gonna be over there first, then you’ll see everybody try to get the little side head butt in.” That’s because Andrews’ celebratory head butts are vicious, emblematic of the football alter ego of the new all-time Ravens’ touchdown leader, passing running back Jamal Lewis on Sunday to become the only tight end in NFL history atop a franchise’s total touchdowns leaderboard. But the 29-year-old’s reputation for thumping his forehead to greet teammates like an ox — which wideout Nelson Agholor loves from afar and Likely caps after two — is a testament to his longstanding success through a lens illustrating the rugged veteran who Agholor dubbed, “a reflection of the Raven way.” Baltimore drafted Andrews in the third round of the 2018 draft out of Oklahoma. He caught his first two touchdown passes from Joe Flacco before fellow rookie Lamar Jackson was given the keys to the offense. The two quickly became a dynamo pair. Andrews has been Jackson’s most reliable target through years of a revolving wide receiver group. But this season began with doubts that maybe the partnership had reached its final stage. Andrews’ usage rate in the pass game tanked to the tune of six catches in four weeks. He was scoreless until Week 6. This all coming after a severe ankle injury sidelined him much of last season and a car accident kept him out for over two weeks of training camp. “He got injured last year, came back, [and] people were talking about this and that. ‘We need to trade Mark, this and that,’” Jackson said. “I didn’t forget that. And I know he didn’t forget that.” Since then, he’s been back to his copper-bottomed, head-butting self. With Sunday’s romp, Andrews is up to 514 yards on 45 catches. His eight touchdowns are tied with San Francisco’s George Kittle for a league-high among tight ends and two shy of tying his single-season career high (10 in 2019). Last week, Jackson tried to think back on a favorite Andrews moment. His face crinkled. “There’s a lot,” he said, thinking back on more than half a decade together. He and Andrews came into the league at the same time. He’s responsible for the lion’s share of the record mark. The memory he landed on has two connecting pieces. First was Week 12 in 2018. The Ravens were hosting the Oakland Raiders. In the second quarter, pinned inside their own 20-yard line, Jackson faked the handoff and scanned upfield. To his right was a streaking Andrews. Jackson found him with only green grass ahead. “It’s a foot race!” the announcer shouted. But Andrews lost that foot race, dragged down five yards shy of the end zone. He walked right up to Jackson on the sideline, as the quarterback recalled, and said, “That’s not happening anymore.” Four weeks later, they’re in Los Angeles playing the Chargers. Andrews burst off the line of scrimmage into a cross route. He knifed through the middle of the defense and caught a lob over the linebackers, shed a tackle and, as his quarterback remembers, “just hauled tail” for the duo’s first touchdown connection. “After that,” Jackson said, “it was like, ‘Yes, that’s my guy right there. That’s my guy.’” Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) celebrates with quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) “He can go up and get the ball [and] track the ball well like a receiver,” Jackson continued. “He’s a big body receiver. I feel like anybody [who] guards him, I have a shot at having a successful catch with Mark. Him just being who he is since we first stepped foot in the league, he’s just made my job a lot easier. I always say that.” That relationship between quarterback and tight end, in coach John Harbaugh’s words, is “institutionalized,” and “proven now with the record.” The coach who has been there for every bit of the duo’s interwoven ascension grinned, revealing, “they make route adjustments that are not always in the playbook. … A lot of those touchdown passes are those two guys just having that chemistry.” Mention Andrews to anyone around the Ravens’ Owings Mills facility and you’ll hear some variation of the same 10-letter word: Competitor. Harbaugh said the thing he loves most about Andrews is how he’s all ball, all the time. “He probably dreams about football,” Harbaugh said. Andrews is the “pinnacle” of a competitor, according to All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, who sits next to the veteran in meetings trying to mimic his detail-oriented approach. Same goes for Likely, who has leaned on his vet since he got in the league. Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken has been coaching football for over three decades and firmly called Andrews, “one of the top competitors I’ve ever been around.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Steeler and ex-Ravens LB Patrick Queen expects boos, ‘FUs’ in Baltimore return Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Nelson Agholor in concussion protocol; 6 Steelers starters absent Tuesday Baltimore Ravens | Social media chef Tini Younger to cook at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood tailgate for Ravens vs. Steelers game Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 15: Lamar Jackson back in MVP race? He never left. Baltimore Ravens | Steelers coach Mike Tomlin optimistic T.J. Watt will be available against Ravens It’s helped Andrews reach the Pro Bowl three times (2019, 2021 and 2022). He made first-team All-Pro in 2021. His other Ravens record was from a 2021 outburst, logging the most single-season receptions (107) and yards (1,361) of any position. And in February of this year, while on a flight home to Arizona, he helped save a woman’s life. A pretty well-rounded resume; the least bit surprising to teammates because of his attention to detail. “Mark doesn’t only know the tight end position on offense, he knows what everybody’s supposed to be doing,” Likely said. “All you see is post-snap, what he’s doing mid-route, mid-block. But to see it from his eyes before the ball even snaps, that’s what I admire about Mark. “He knows everything that’s going on before the play and that’s when he’s able to show he’s Mark Andrews.” And that’s when the head butting starts. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The Ravens continue to have an uncommonly clean sheet of health for mid-December. They’ll face a Steelers team that isn’t as fortunate leading into the rivalry showdown Saturday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium that will help decide the AFC North division title. Wide receiver Nelson Agholor was Baltimore’s lone surprise nonparticipant. According to the injury report, which was a practice estimation for Tuesday’s walk-through, he is in the concussion protocol. Agholor caught his only target for 26 yards in Sunday’s win over the New York Giants — his first catch since Week 10 vs. Cincinnati. Diontae Johnson will not practice this week having been excused from team activities following his one-game suspension. Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring) did not practice. Coach John Harbaugh said Monday it was a soft-tissue injury that happened before Sunday’s game against the Giants but it’s “not too serious.” Safety Ar’Darius Washington (ankle) was limited but appeared to move around the locker room without issue. Rookies Sanoussi Kane (hamstring) and Adisa Isaac (hamstring) were limited, too. Cornerback T.J. Tampa (ankle) was listed but was a full go. Pittsburgh had seven players, including six starters, absent from their practice Tuesday. Linebacker and former Raven Patrick Queen (rest), wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring), safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring), cornerback Donte Jackson (back), linebacker T.J. Watt (ankle) and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward (rest) were all out for the first practice of the week. Fellow starting defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi (groin) was limited. And backup quarterback Justin Fields, whom the Steelers have used in specific packages since Russell Wilson claimed the starting job, was absent Tuesday because of an abdominal injury. Watt missing Saturday’s contest would be the biggest blow for Pittsburgh, which has bested Baltimore in eight of the past nine meetings. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Steeler and ex-Ravens LB Patrick Queen expects boos, ‘FUs’ in Baltimore return Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews’ head butts and TDs are ‘a reflection of the Raven way’ Baltimore Ravens | Social media chef Tini Younger to cook at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood tailgate for Ravens vs. Steelers game Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 15: Lamar Jackson back in MVP race? He never left. Baltimore Ravens | Steelers coach Mike Tomlin optimistic T.J. Watt will be available against Ravens The outside linebacker exited in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Eagles with a low ankle injury. That came after recording two sacks and a forced fumble. Watt told reporters on Tuesday he’s in “wait-and-see mode” for Saturday’s game. Coach Mike Tomlin added he was walking around the facility “rather comfortably” and is optimistic the star pass rusher who is third in the NFL with 11 1/2 sacks can play. As for the rest of Pittsburgh’s absences, Tomlin told local reporters he’ll “formulate a plan for having increased participation from those guys over the course of the week.” Like the Ravens managing three games in 11 days, the Steelers are on a short-week schedule facing Baltimore then Kansas City in an 11-day span. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Maryland native and cooking sensation Tineke “Tini” Younger is bringing her viral mac and cheese to Baltimore. The social media chef will cook at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood’s tailgate party on Saturday before the Ravens take on the Steelers. Born a Ravens fan, the cookbook author and Next Level Chef competitor from Frederick has amassed over 11 million followers between Instagram and TikTok. Her online fans often see her outfitted in several Ravens jersey options in her closet, including a black No. 52 for her favorite player, former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. Younger shared a link to the tailgate party’s tickets along with a promotional photo stating her Maryland crab dip, famous mac and cheese and Old Bay hot honey sliders will be on the menu at 1 p.m. before the game. Jimmy’s TailGOAT party at 1300 Russell Street will also feature boy band O-Town and Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC. Guests will be able to partake in a buffet and bottomless drinks, as well as cornhole and jousting among other entertainment options, according to the event’s ticketing page. Transportation to the event from Jimmy’s is available for an additional fee. The tailgate will end half an hour before the game. Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@baltsun.com, 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks. 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 15: Winner: Lamar Jackson Here’s your annual reminder: The NFL Most Valuable Player Award race isn’t over until the final votes are cast. The NFL is a week-to-week league, so it’s tempting to declare a favorite after each game. Who played the best in prime time? Who put up the best stats? Which team has a better record? Who is getting more help from their teammates and coaches? This year is no different. Entering the season, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had the best odds at +650, according to Vegas Insider, followed by Bills quarterback Josh Allen (+800), Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (+1,000), Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (+1,100) and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (+1,200). Unsurprisingly, the odds have shifted throughout the season. Mahomes is now considered a longshot despite leading the Chiefs to an AFC-best 13-1 record because of his pedestrian stats. Ditto for Jalen Hurts, who has helped the Eagles go 12-2. Burrow leads the league in most passing categories, but his team is 6-8 and unlikely to make the playoffs. By virtue of their scintillating performances and team records, Allen and Jackson are the top two names still in the hunt, but they’ve been joined by a running back (Saquon Barkley) and a trio of unlikely quarterbacks (Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold). In other words, it’s pretty wide-open. That’s why it’s odd to see Allen listed as the overwhelming favorite after Week 15 at -1,000, according to Vegas Insider. Recency bias might help explain that, since Allen is coming off huge performances in shootouts against the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions in which he’s thrown for a combined 704 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 150 yards and five scores to lead the AFC East champion Bills (11-3). Before that, he led high-profile wins over the San Francisco 49ers and Chiefs, the latter of which was Kansas City’s first loss of the season and first since Christmas. The splash moments have been there, too, with Allen scoring a touchdown on a pass he threw thanks to a lateral from Amari Cooper and some more highlight-reel plays — including a chest pass that ultimately didn’t count — in Sunday’s win over the NFC-leading Lions that was hyped as a potential Super Bowl preview. ESPN’s Rex Ryan went as far as to say that anybody who doesn’t vote for Allen this season should no longer be allowed to vote for the award. That’s extreme. Both Jackson and Barkley have legitimate cases, and the season is far from over. Take Jackson’s case, for example. The reigning and two-time MVP completed 21 of 25 passes for 290 yards with five touchdowns and had six carries for 65 yards in a 35-14 win over the Giants on Sunday. Beating a team in contention for the league’s worst record won’t earn many style points, but he completely dominated New York in a way no other quarterback has this season. He also accomplished a feat that we should start naming in his honor: Jackson now has five career games with five or more touchdown passes and five or fewer incompletions. In NFL history, nobody has more than three such games. By the numbers, this might be the best season of Jackson’s career. With 3,580 passing yards and 743 rushing yards, he could become the first quarterback in NFL history to eclipse 4,000 through the air and 1,000 on the ground in a single season. He’s just two touchdown passes away from matching his career high (36) and is trailing only Justin Herbert in interception rate (0.7%) with just three picks on 404 attempts. And if we’re talking simply about the word “valuable,” Jackson’s offense is by far the best in the league while carrying a defense that has been one of the worst. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is playing perhaps the best football of his professional career, but betting markets say Bills quarterback Josh Allen is the MVP favorite. (Adam Hunger/AP) Just like last season, the next few weeks could favor Jackson in terms of national attention, too. Saturday’s home game against the Steelers is a de facto AFC North championship game with the Ravens (9-5) needing to win to keep their division title hopes alive. Then Baltimore heads to Houston on Christmas Day in front of a first-of-its-kind Netflix audience before closing the regular season against Cleveland. Allen, meanwhile, faces the lowly Patriots (twice) and Jets to finish the campaign, and he might not play all of those games if Buffalo’s seeding is secured. (Don’t forget that Jackson’s Ravens crushed Allen’s Bills, 35-10, way back in Week 4.) If Jackson plays well down the stretch and leads the Ravens to an AFC North title, MV3 watch is on. Loser: More injuries Mahomes reportedly suffered a high-ankle sprain. Geno Smith exited “Sunday Night Football” with a knee injury. T.J. Watt is in “wait-and-see” mode with his ankle injury. The Lions lost two more defensive starters, and now running back David Montgomery is likely out for the season with a knee injury. Not even Barkley was spared, with the Eagles’ star running back was sidelined for most of the second half Sunday with an undisclosed issue. All he would say is that he’s “dealing with a little something.” The NFL season is a grind, and injuries, however random, always play a factor in determining the champion. That’s why it’s so disappointing to see stars such as Mahomes, Watt and Barkley banged up and a Super Bowl contender like the Lions hanging on by a thread heading into the most exciting time of the year. The schedule really should be more favorable, especially this late in the season. Like the Ravens, Steelers and Texans, the Chiefs are in the middle of a stretch of three games in 11 days that includes a rare Wednesday kickoff on Christmas Day. It’s an unfair arrangement that puts television money over player health, and the NFL and Netflix could be paying for it if Carson Wentz is taking snaps for Kansas City. Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers On a day of outstanding quarterback performances, Mayfield’s shouldn’t be overlooked. The 29-year-old journeyman completed 22 of 27 passes for 288 yards with four touchdowns and one interception, propelling the Buccaneers to a 40-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers that puts Tampa Bay on the cusp of a fourth straight NFC South title. It was even more impressive when you consider the competition. Coach Jim Harbaugh’s team had held opponents to 20 points or fewer in 11 of 13 games, and coordinator Jesse Minter’s defense hadn’t yielded more than 30 all season. Wide receiver Mike Evans had a season-high 159 yards receiving and two touchdowns, rookie Jalen McMillan had five catches for 75 yards and a score and rookie running back Bucky Irving returned from injury to rush for 115 yards on just 15 carries, providing plenty of hope that the Bucs’ offense can remain effective without star Chris Godwin. A four-game winning streak has Baker Mayfield, right, and the Buccaneers on the verge of the postseason again. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty) One of the biggest reasons is the play of offensive tackles Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke. Among the 47 offensive tackles who have had at least 400 snaps in pass protection, as noted by analyst Jon Ledyard per Pro Football Focus, Wirfs has surrendered the fewest pressures in the NFL (nine). Goedeke is second with just 12 pressures surrendered. After losing four straight in the middle of the season, Tampa Bay has bounced back in a big way, winning four straight while averaging 31 points and allowing just 15. Coach Todd Bowles’ defense has leaned into its aggressive approach, increasing its already high blitz and stunt rates since its Week 11 bye, and it’s paying dividends. Last season, the Bucs beat the Eagles in the wild-card round and nearly took down the Lions the following week. With injuries mounting in Detroit, Philadelphia seemingly teetering on the edge of combustion every week and untrustworthy quarterbacks in Minnesota and Green Bay, it might be time to take Tampa Bay seriously as a Super Bowl contender. Loser: Indianapolis Colts The Colts quite literally threw their season away. Needing a win to keep pace in the AFC playoff race, Indianapolis led the Broncos, 13-7, in the third quarter Sunday. A calamity of errors followed. First, running back Jonathan Taylor broke free for what appeared to be a 41-yard touchdown run, giving the Colts a commanding lead. But the celebration was short-lived, as replay confirmed that Taylor dropped the ball just before crossing the goal line. It bounced out of the end zone for a touchback, giving Denver the ball. Then, after the Colts forced a punt and recorded their third interception of rookie quarterback Bo Nix to regain possession midway through the third quarter, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. fumbled, allowing Denver to kick a 44-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 13-10. A three-and-out by the Colts to begin the fourth quarter led to a punt that Broncos receiver Marvin Mims Jr. returned 61 yards to the 15-yard line, and Denver scored two plays later to take its first lead, 17-13. What was shaping up to be an uplifting win had suddenly gone sideways. So what did coach Shane Steichen draw up with the season on the line? One of the worst trick plays you’ll ever see. Quarterback Anthony Richardson threw a quick pass to rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell, who drifted behind the line of scrimmage and threw back across the middle of the field to Richardson, who was waiting to throw the ball again to another receiver down the field. Only Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonnito sniffed it out, jumping in front of the pass from Mitchell and racing 50 yards for a touchdown to effectively seal the victory. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Steelers coach Mike Tomlin optimistic T.J. Watt will be available against Ravens Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ John Harbaugh explains benching of LB Trenton Simpson Baltimore Ravens | Ravens excuse Diontae Johnson from team activities ahead of Steelers game Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who will win Saturday’s AFC North showdown between Ravens and Steelers? Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 35-14 win over the New York Giants It goes in the books as a fumble recovery, but it was essentially a pick-six. “We worked on that play all week, and it was great,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “It looked great all week. We padded up, and it was good in practice. He threw it great. Obviously, he’s thrown double passes before that he’s had success with, and that one didn’t work out.” It’s impossible to overstate just how crushing this loss is for Indianapolis. A win would have given the Colts (6-8) a 61% chance of making the postseason, but now they only have a 15.6% shot, according to The Athletic’s playoff projection model. The Houston Texans (9-5) clinched the AFC South title on Sunday with a win over the Miami Dolphins, so the Colts’ only chance is vaulting over the Chargers (8-6) for the final wild-card spot. The good news is the Colts have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league that includes the Titans, Giants and Jaguars, while the Chargers face the Broncos, Patriots and Raiders. It’s not inconceivable for Indianapolis to go 3-0 and L.A. to stumble to 1-2 down the stretch, but the Colts’ best chance went up in smoke Sunday in brutal fashion. 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

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is optimistic star linebacker T.J. Watt’s balky ankle won’t keep him out of Saturday’s visit to Baltimore. The perennial All-Pro twisted his left ankle late in the fourth quarter of a 27-13 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. Watt said afterward X-rays on the ankle were negative and he was in “wait and see” mode. Tomlin said he saw Watt walking around the team’s facility on Monday morning without much issue. The 30-year-old was one of the few bright spots for the AFC North-leading Steelers (10-4) in the loss, getting two sacks and forcing a fumble. Tomlin defended having Watt in the game with Philadelphia driving up two scores in the waning minutes, saying he was playing to win. Watt made a notable impact in the first meeting between the AFC North rivals, as he recorded three tackles and a sack against Baltimore on Nov. 17. The Steelers held the Ravens to a season-low 16 points in a Pittsburgh. The Ravens are coming off one of their most efficient offensive performances in recent weeks, scoring 35 points and averaging 7.5 yards per play in an easy win over the Giants. There’s a chance injured Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring), safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin) would be available to practice this week as well. Pittsburgh’s passing game has slowed in two games without Pickens. Russell Wilson has averaged 143 yards passing with Pickens out of the lineup, including a season-low 128 against the Eagles. Pickens led the Steelers with eight catches for 89 yards in the first Ravens-Steelers game, leading Pittsburgh in targets (12), receptions and receiving yards. Baltimore Sun staff contributed to this article. View the full article

The Ravens’ defense continues to undergo changes. After benching struggling starting safety Marcus Williams in favor of Ar’Darius Washington last month, inside linebacker Trenton Simpson was the latest to get the treatment in Sunday’s win over the Giants. Simpson, who started the first 13 games this season, played just five snaps in garbage time of Baltimore’s 35-14 blowout of New York. It continued a downward trend for the the 2023 third-round pick out of Clemson who was drafted to replace the departed Patrick Queen this season. In the Ravens’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Simpson played just 22 snaps. The week before in a win over the Los Angeles Chargers, he was on the field for 30 snaps. The turning point perhaps was Baltimore’s loss to the Steelers in Week 11 when he had one of his worst games of the year with two missed tackles and three catches allowed on three targets for 31 yards, 22 of which came after the catch, per Pro Football Focus. That earned him a dismal overall grade of 32.2. Simpson played 66 snaps in that game but has seen his time on the field cut significantly since and even then continued to struggle with an even lower PFF mark (26) against the Eagles, despite the limited role. “From the standpoint of Trent it’s good for Trent, maybe takes some pressure off him a little bit,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “He’s a young guy. “He can take a breath a little bit just in terms of his picture, his side of it.” While Harbaugh said only that the decision is “week to week,” it seems likely Baltimore will continue to rely on others instead of Simpson in the middle of its defense. Veterans Malik Harrison and Chris Board have both seen significant increases in their snap counts and that figures to continue, with the former a reliable run defender who has also played outside and the latter the Ravens can utilize against the pass. Safety Kyle Hamilton being deployed deeper on the field more often to shore up the back end of the defense also means fewer snaps closer to the line of scrimmage as a dime linebacker. Harbaugh has also been pleased with the performances of the two veteran linebackers. Over the past three games, Board has 14 tackles (one for loss), which included seven against the Eagles. Harrison, meanwhile, has 29 tackles (two for loss) in his last four games, which included a career-high 13 in a win over the Chargers when Smith was out with a hamstring injury. That earned Harrison a game ball. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens excuse Diontae Johnson from team activities ahead of Steelers game Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who will win Saturday’s AFC North showdown between Ravens and Steelers? Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 35-14 win over the New York Giants Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers battle for AFC North could come down to tiebreakers Baltimore Ravens | Steelers lose to Eagles, 27-13, but still clinch playoff spot; T.J. Watt injured “It’s a lot of people that doubted me coming into this game,” he said after the win over Los Angeles. “So I’m happy I was able to ball out and show them that I can be in this league, and I can play at a high level.” Harrison’s PFF grade of 81.5 that week was the highest on the team and it came when he played a team-high 73 snaps. In all, Board has played 107 snaps on defense (11%) and Harrison 269 (33%) this season. But those numbers figure to only go up. “They played really well,” Harbaugh said of their performance against the Giants. “For Malik to get this opportunity to prove himself – he’s been working hard for that opportunity, and he’s done great with it. And Chris Board same thing – he’s even more of a veteran guy. I know those guys appreciate that, and they’re making the most of it.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson isn’t returning to the field — at least not yet. A statement released by the team Monday shared that both the Ravens and Johnson “mutually agreed” to allow the wide receiver to miss team activities this week. He won’t play in Saturday’s pivotal AFC North showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who hold a one-game lead over the Ravens. Johnson also missed Sunday’s win over the Giants, as he was serving a one-game suspension for refusing to enter the Ravens’ game against the Eagles on Dec. 1. Coach John Harbaugh’s played his comments close to the vest, as he has since this saga began. “All I’m really thinking about right now is Pittsburgh and getting our team ready for Pittsburgh,” Harbaugh said. “So he won’t be here this week and next week will take care of itself.” Asked why the Ravens opted to keep him out of team activities this week rather than release him entirely, Harbaugh said, “I’m really interested in the Pittsburgh Steelers, to be honest with you. I know you guys want to hear the story. There are a lot of moving parts. There are reasons for doing things and our front office had reasons. Do I want to sit here and get into all the different calculations that [general manager] Eric [DeCosta] makes? I really don’t. I want to think about Pittsburgh and the guys who are going to be here playing against Pittsburgh. That’s my focus, 100%.” If Johnson were to sign elsewhere in free agency after the season, the Ravens would receive a potential compensatory pick for the 2026 draft. Releasing Johnson would yield no return. Johnson, 28, began his contract year with Carolina before being traded to Baltimore in late October. He struggled to gain footing in the offense, as other wide receivers outperformed him. Johnson, who caught 30 passes for the Panthers and was featured regularly in their offense, has just one catch for Baltimore. There was some credence given to Baltimore’s first matchup in Pittsburgh, Johnson’s former team, being a chance to see an uptick in reps. He was targeted twice but finished without a catch. Then when Rashod Bateman was sidelined with knee soreness against the Philadelphia Eagles, that could have opened the door for Johnson. It did not and he was ultimately suspended by the team for one game for refusing to take the field. Johnson’s fellow receivers said the suspension would not be a distraction entering a pivotal stretch in the Ravens’ schedule, now through one of three games in 11 days. “He’s still one of my guys. He’s one of our guys,” Flowers said last week, adding, “Yeah, he’d be welcomed back.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who will win Saturday’s AFC North showdown between Ravens and Steelers? Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 35-14 win over the New York Giants Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers battle for AFC North could come down to tiebreakers Baltimore Ravens | Steelers lose to Eagles, 27-13, but still clinch playoff spot; T.J. Watt injured Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 35-14 win over Giants “We all understand both sides,” Bateman said, last week. “There are consequences that come with this game. I know he’ll be back soon, and that’s all we worry about.” And Lamar Jackson vouched for Johnson after the Eagles loss, saying, “We want him out there. He’s a great receiver. We didn’t get him from the Panthers for nothing.” Sunday in a blowout win over New York, five receivers caught passes from Lamar Jackson. Rookie Devontez Walker even hauled in his first career catch, a 21-yard touchdown. Jackson has been quicker to look to Zay Flowers, Bateman, Nelson Agholor and Tylan Wallace in recent weeks. With Johnson’s role on Baltimore’s offense seemingly nonexistent, the veteran receiver who began his career in Pittsburgh won’t see action on game day for the third consecutive week. His future in Baltimore appears murky, at best. Bennett Conlin contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

There’s plenty at stake on Saturday when the Ravens host the Steelers in Week 16. Pittsburgh can win the AFC North crown with a victory, while Baltimore can take the division lead with a win. Tell us who you think will win the showdown. 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 overmatched New York Giants had no chance to keep up with the NFL’s most explosive offense as the Ravens rolled, 35-14, coming off their bye week. Here are five things we learned from the game: The Ravens’ offense is too much for the NFL’s bottom feeders How much could they really prove against a foe that started the season on its heels and has done nothing but lose games and key players over the past two months? We don’t often see an NFL team favored by more than two touchdowns on the road, but bookmakers didn’t have to look deep to see how little chance the Giants had to match the Ravens’ explosiveness. Only a disastrous performance that allowed New York to hang close or a catastrophic injury would make major headlines on this post-bye trip. The Ravens messed around briefly with the former possibility. They started with a 59-yard kickoff return from Justice Hill and gains of 10 and 15 yards on their first two plays from scrimmage, but Lamar Jackson fumbled away near-certain points on that opening drive. Then, they invited the Giants to cut the lead to 14-7 with a remarkable 41 penalty yards on an 80-yard scoring drive in the second quarter. Could this obvious mismatch have gone pear-shaped from that point? We saw it in an early-season loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. But the Ravens have a much greater sense of their offensive capacity than they did three months ago, and their defense is less prone to fall apart on the back end. In any event, they never let this game get dicey, scoring touchdowns on five straight drives as Jackson struck with deadly accuracy on third down (9 of 11) and whenever he even sniffed the goal line. Explosive plays set the Ravens apart, especially from stuck-in-the-mud opponents such as the Giants. There was no way on earth for New York to answer such steady fire, not with Tommy DeVito and Tim Boyle at quarterback. Jackson played with obvious joy two weeks after he raged against himself in the wake of a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He made a statistical case to stick close to Josh Allen in the Most Valuable Player race. He threw a strike to Mark Andrews to get his favorite target the franchise record for touchdowns. He turned a third-and-short into the first catch and touchdown of rookie Devontez Walker’s career. Sure, the Giants had played terribly for months, but no offense had torched them quite like this. On a day when they couldn’t teach us anything new, Jackson and his teammates at least reminded us why their upside is special. Rashod Bateman showed that the past need not be the prologue Bateman left the loss to the Eagles with knee soreness, having failed to mark the box score even once. Fans have learned to fret after the 2021 first-round draft pick endures these empty afternoons. This season has been his most productive and promising, but could he still be in danger of drifting off course? Bateman rejected this notion when the Ravens returned to work after their bye. “I got a little banged up [in the] Eagles game, but the bye week was big for me,” he said. “I was able to get healthy. I got back on the practice field, felt good, so I’m looking forward to finishing the season strong.” Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman caught a pair of touchdown passes in a blowout win over the Giants. (Seth Wenig/AP) He backed up those words with one of his finest games as a Raven. Early in the second quarter, Bateman spun his defender the wrong way with an ultra-fluid fake to the inside, and a rolling Jackson found him all by himself for a 49-yard score. Moments later in the two-minute drill, Bateman glided free in the back of the end zone and dragged his toes inside the back line for a 20-yard score that put the Ravens up 21-7. On a day when explosiveness gave the Ravens a commanding advantage, Bateman was their most explosive playmaker. He might’ve had a third touchdown if Jackson hadn’t underthrown him on a play-action bomb in the third quarter. “I think I’ve definitely shown myself that I am what I say I am,” he said afterward. “And hopefully, I’ve shown the Ravens fans, this organization, coach ‘Harbs’ [coach John Harbaugh], ‘Monk’ [offensive coordinator Todd Monken] — whoever — that I am a playmaker.” Jackson has made a point of saying there is no substance to past perceptions that he did not fully trust Bateman. They have combined to make a convincing case this season, with Jackson regularly looking for No. 7 as his big-play option when he scrambles to create extra time. “Yes, ’Bate’ is that guy,” Jackson said after the first two-score game of the wide receiver’s Ravens career. It was essential for Bateman to rebound from his most frustrating week of the year, and he was outstanding. This was another day to remind us how fresh faces have lifted the secondary Despite losses to the Steelers and Eagles, first-year coordinator Zach Orr’s defense found its footing as the weather turned chilly, streamlining its tactics on the back end and embracing a culture of (sometimes) harsh accountability. New York wasn’t armed to present much of a test to Baltimore’s reinvigorated secondary, but the Ravens did their part, stopping the Giants on 10 of 12 third downs and holding them to 3.9 yards per play. Safety Ar’Darius Washington and cornerback Nate Wiggins starred in the effort, and it’s worth reminding ourselves that they played significantly smaller roles back when the Ravens were struggling to hold leads against mediocre offenses. Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins performed well in coverage against Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers. (Seth Wenig/AP) We’ve covered the positive changes that not so coincidentally began when the Ravens released Eddie Jackson, benched Marcus Williams and installed the undersized Washington as a starting safety. After he didn’t travel with the team Saturday because of a personal matter, Washington played another excellent game against the Giants, picking off a pass late and earning one of the top coverage grades on the team from Pro Football Focus. We’ve talked less about Wiggins, but the 2024 first-round pick will be every bit as important going forward. The Ravens’ growing trust that the rookie will lock up outside receivers — Wiggins allowed just two catches on six targets against the Giants and his sticky coverage thwarted them in the red zone — allows Orr to play Marlon Humphrey primarily in the slot and send the veteran on blitzes. The secondary makes more sense with Wiggins on the field, as he was for the vast majority of snaps against New York. There are rare seasons when a team’s best lineup is obvious from Week 1, and perhaps we thought that would be the case for the Ravens’ star-studded defense in 2024. Instead, this has become a story of adaptability, with Orr learning to trust his instincts on whom to play. Washington and Wiggins are turning out to be major parts of the solution. The Ravens practically had to score for the Giants with their familiar foible, the penalty The Giants were advancing at an anemic 3.9 yards per play. They had not scored and faced second-and-17 after a Kyle Van Noy sack on DeVito. And then the Ravens, the NFL’s most penalized team, did their darnedest to usher an overmatched foe back into the game. First, Nnamdi Madubuike drew a 15-yard roughing penalty for landing on DeVito. Yes, it’s maddening for longtime fans to watch a flag fly after a pass rusher simply follows through on a hit. But that’s the way the modern game is officiated. Madubuike has to know better. Next, cornerback Brandon Stephens drew a pass interference flag for gripping Malik Nabers’ shoulder. A close call? Sure, but it highlighted Stephens’ inconsistent feel in tight coverage and more importantly, handed the Giants first-and-goal at the 3-yard line. The Ravens seemed on the verge of keeping them out of the end zone anyway, but one last penalty, a third-down illegal use of hands by Odafe Oweh, gave New York a fresh shot to score seven. On an 80-yard scoring drive, the Giants’ offense accounted for 39; Ravens penalties accounted for 41. Maddening stuff. “Their drives were penalty-inspired,” said Harbaugh, who has said the buck for his team’s errors has to stop with him. “If it wasn’t for the penalties, those drives wouldn’t have happened, so it’s obviously something that’s very important.” Penalties were about the only negative for the Ravens in a dominant showing against the overmatched Giants. (Seth Wenig/AP) That touchdown drive wasn’t the end of their yellow-flagged hijinks. Stephens again handed the Giants first-and-goal late in the third quarter when he dragged Nabers to the ground while defending a pass that seemed headed out of bounds. Too often, we see Stephens fight for excellent position in man coverage only to blow it by losing his radar lock on the ball. He was a terrific developmental story last season but has taken a step back with free agency looming. Again and again, we hear players say that only the Ravens can beat the Ravens. Again and again, they feed this gloomy prophecy. Now comes the game that could define the Ravens’ season There wasn’t a lot to learn about the Ravens against an opponent as injury-depleted and devoid of hope as the Giants. We already knew that their offensive firepower puts them in a different class than the NFL’s bottom feeders, especially at this advanced point in the season. A fine showing and no debilitating injuries would be sufficient payoff for their quick trip up I-95. They checked those boxes. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers battle for AFC North could come down to tiebreakers Baltimore Ravens | Steelers lose to Eagles, 27-13, but still clinch playoff spot; T.J. Watt injured Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 35-14 win over Giants Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson lights up Giants with 5 TDs in Ravens’ 35-14 win Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 35-14 win over New York Giants Now, the tension returns to their season as they prepare to host their archrival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a Christmas trip to AFC South-leading Houston on tap four days after that. These games will determine the Ravens’ playoff path and tell us whether they’ve grown up. The Pittsburgh rematch Saturday in Baltimore is the AFC North game of the year. Win and the Ravens will be right back in the hunt for a repeat divisional crown. Lose and they’ll be left to fight for wild-card positioning. Beyond such obvious stakes, this feels like the Ravens’ chance to prove there’s real mettle underneath all their offensive flash. The Steelers have won eight of the past nine matchups in one of the league’s signature rivalries, not one of those decided by more than a touchdown. With their disciplined pass rush and aggressive coverage, they knock Jackson out of sorts more regularly than any other opponent. They did it again in an 18-16 win in Pittsburgh last month, picking Jackson off, harassing him into 16-for-33 inefficiency and outclassing the Ravens on special teams. Mike Tomlin’s team goes in 100% confident it will outplay Baltimore on the margins, a narrative that will hold until the Ravens reverse it. Does Jackson have to break through against the Steelers for his team to get where it wants to go in the playoffs? No. But there would be no greater way for the Ravens to convince themselves they have what it takes. If they win Saturday, then we’ll talk about the toll of three games in 11 days, Houston’s validity as an AFC contender and all the possibilities ahead in January. For now, there’s a roadblock of black and gold granite anchored directly in the Ravens’ path. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. Week 16 Steelers at Ravens Saturday, 4:30 p.m. TV: FOX Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 6 1/2 View the full article

It’s all on the line Saturday. The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) come to Baltimore to face the Ravens (9-5) at 4:30 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium with first place in the AFC North up for grabs. A win by the Steelers would clinch the division title since Pittsburgh could not finish worse than 11-6 and would own the head-to-head tiebreaker with a season sweep of its archrival. However, a win by the Ravens opens the door for an exciting finish to the regular season. Pittsburgh has already clinched a playoff spot, while Baltimore is a virtual lock to make it at 99%, according to Next Gen Stats. So although this matchup does not carry the weight of an elimination game, winning the division guarantees a home game in the wild-card round of the playoffs, likely against either the Denver Broncos or Los Angeles Chargers. With a Baltimore win Saturday, the Ravens and Steelers would split the season series and have identical 10-5 records entering the final two games of the regular season. If both teams finish with the same record, the next tiebreaker would be best win-loss-tied percentage in games played within the division. Pittsburgh ends its season with home games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals, while the Ravens play at the Houston Texans and host the Cleveland Browns. There’s the added twist of both Baltimore and Pittsburgh playing on Christmas Day, with Steelers vs. Chiefs kicking off at 1 p.m. and Ravens vs. Texans to follow at 4:30 p.m. in a first-of-its-kind doubleheader on Netflix. Entering Week 16, the Ravens are 2-2 against AFC North opponents while the Steelers are 3-1. So if Baltimore beats Pittsburgh on Saturday, they would both be 3-2 in the division heading into their final AFC North matchup in Week 18. The third tiebreaker is best win-loss-tied percentage in common games. Their common opponents are the Browns, Bengals, Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers, Broncos, Cowboys, Giants, Commanders and Eagles. The Ravens are 7-4 against that group with a game against Cleveland remaining, while the Steelers are 7-3 with the Chiefs and Bengals still to come. Here’s a look at the other tiebreakers and where each team stands, according to the NFL’s official standings: Best win-loss-tied percentage in games played within the conference Ravens: 5-4 (.555) Steelers: 7-2 (.777) Strength of victory in all games (combined record of all teams beaten) Ravens: .516 Steelers: .420 Strength of schedule in all games (combined record of all opponents) Ravens: .538 Steelers: .438 Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games Ravens: 12th Steelers: 8th Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games Ravens: 25th Steelers: 16th Best net points in common games TBD Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Steelers lose to Eagles, 27-13, but still clinch playoff spot; T.J. Watt injured Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 35-14 win over Giants Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson lights up Giants with 5 TDs in Ravens’ 35-14 win Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 35-14 win over New York Giants Baltimore Ravens | Mark Andrews becomes Ravens’ all-time touchdown leader Best net points in all games Ravens: +86 Steelers: +71 Best net touchdowns in all games Ravens: +16 Steelers: +2 Coin toss That’s right. Heads or tails? 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

PHILADELPHIA — The Steelers had every reason to fear the worst. T.J. Watt’s pursuit of Jalen Hurts ended with the star linebacker briefly hopping before he crumbled to the turf in the fourth quarter against the Eagles and clutched his left ankle. A highly anticipated cross-state matchup with Philadelphia had already turned into a dud for Pittsburgh on Sunday. Losing Watt for an extended stretch with the AFC North still at stake would have been a brutal blow — especially with a matchup against division rival Baltimore looming next weekend. Watt said after the game he was in “wait-and-see” mode for that game. The 30-year-old former defensive player of the year came away with a rolled ankle that he didn’t necessarily believe was a serious injury. Watt, who leads the Steelers with 11 1/2 sacks, was checked out in the medical tent and did not return. Watt and the rest of the Steelers’ defense couldn’t put enough pressure on Hurts or slow down DeVonta Smith and A.J Brown — each of whom topped 100 yards receiving — in a 27-13 loss to the Eagles. The Steelers (10-4) clinched a playoff berth thanks to losses by Indianapolis and Miami. “No consolation,” Watt said. The Ravens trail their division rivals by one game, and the teams play Saturday at Baltimore. Russell Wilson led the Steelers to the division lead thanks in part to six wins against teams that currently have losing records. The schedule toughens up down the stretch and the first test was a disaster. “We need to find ways to get off” the field, Watt said. “We’ve been pretty good all year long on three-and-outs and getting off the field on third downs. We weren’t good enough today. There were a lot of long, sustained drives.” Wilson threw for a season-low 128 yards and fell to 6-1 lifetime against the Eagles. After facing the Ravens, the Steelers then host Kansas City and finish the season at home against Cincinnati. Playoff seeding and a division title remain in the balance. “It is a loss. I mean, let’s not get dramatic,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. But it wasn’t pretty. Wilson botched a pitch to Najee Harris in the third quarter and the Eagles recovered. That led to Hurts’ score on a 1-yard tush push for a 27-13 lead. “That was the play we had going on. It just unfortunately didn’t work out,” Wilson said. It was clear the Steelers missed receiver George Pickens, who leads the team in receptions (55) and yards receiving (850) by a wide margin. He missed a second straight game with a hamstring injury. Related Articles NFL | Ravens vs. Steelers battle for AFC North could come down to tiebreakers NFL | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 35-14 win over Giants NFL | Mahomes throws 2 TD passes, leaves with ankle injury in Chiefs’ 21-7 win. X-rays negative on star QB NFL | Lamar Jackson lights up Giants with 5 TDs in Ravens’ 35-14 win NFL | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 35-14 win over New York Giants “Having George Pickens out there on the field is a good thing for the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Wilson said. “But either way, we still have to respond and find ways to make plays.” The Steelers also lost backup quarterback Justin Fields when took a hard hit to the abdomen from safety Reed Blankenship, and cornerback Donte Jackson suffered a back injury. The injuries made it hard for some Steelers — such as Watt — to appreciate making the playoffs. However, the team’s fourth playoff appearances in the last five seasons did soothe some feelings inside the locker room. “It’s a great thing for us. That’s our expectation,” Wilson said. “But we want to win this division, that’s our goal. It’s our first goal, to win the division. We’ve got to go take it. Got to go take it. We’ve got to go find a way on the road in Baltimore, which we know is going to be a great football game.” It would be better for the Steelers if Watt and Pickens were along for the ride. View the full article

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Here’s how the Ravens (9-5) graded out at every position after a 35-14 win over the Giants (2-12) on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium: Quarterback Lamar Jackson completed his first eight passes and, besides his fumble on the opening possession, this was more of a 7-on-7 drill for the seventh-year quarterback. There were times when Jackson held onto the ball too long, but it was clear he wanted to run more Sunday compared with two weeks ago against the Philadelphia Eagles. Jackson completed 21 of 25 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed six times for 65 yards and avoided pressure several times by scrambling. Grade: A Running backs The Ravens didn’t use halfback Derrick Henry much in the first half and that was to be expected with the Giants crowding the line of scrimmage. But it was clear in the second half that Henry was going to be the focus of the offense and he grinded the Giants down in the final two quarters. Henry finished the game with 67 yards on 14 carries, including 42 yards in the second half. Backup Justice Hill had two carries for 7 yards and five catches for 61 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown off a screen pass in the fourth quarter. Grade: B Offensive line The Ravens finished with 445 yards of total offense, and this group dominated up front from the start of the Ravens’ second possession until they were ahead 28-7 late in the third quarter. The Ravens did a good job of working on combination blocks and provided Henry with lanes both inside and outside. Tackles Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten allowed too much pressure from the outside and Jackson made both look better with his elusiveness. Grade: B Receivers The Ravens picked apart a secondary that has been ravaged by injuries. In fact, New York was down to using developmental players as starters, and it showed. Ravens receivers were open most of the game on short to long patterns. Rashod Bateman had three catches for 80 yards, including two touchdowns in the first half. Zay Flowers also had six catches for 53 yards, and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely combined for four catches for 41 yards and a score. Andrews’ touchdown early in the first quarter was the 48th of his career, setting the Ravens’ all-time record. Flowers, though, needs to work on his run blocking. He stood around too much during the game. Grade: A Defensive line This was another area in which the Ravens dominated. The Giants had virtually no running game and finished with only 55 yards on 20 carries. It was a strong showing by all four tackles, including Michael Pierce, Broderick Washington, Travis Jones and Nnamdi Madubuike. Even in short-yardage situations, they all got good push and shut down running plays on the inside. Jones led this group with four tackles while Madubuike, Pierce and Washington contributed a combined five tackles. Neither of the Giants’ two starting quarterbacks had room to step up and throw in the pocket. Grade: A Linebackers Middle linebacker Roquan Smith had five tackles and his teammates did a good job of keeping offensive linemen off of him for most of the game. Smith didn’t have that same burst he showed two weeks ago against the Eagles, but he was still all over the field and even made one tackle 30 yards down the field on a passing play. The Ravens’ other inside linebacker, Malik Harrison, finished with eight tackles, six of those assisted. Kyle Van Noy and Chris Board had three tackles each, and Van Noy finished with one sack and one pressure. The group might have had more, but New York threw a lot of quick passes and screens. Grade: A- Secondary The Giants passed for only 181 yards but had receivers open several times. Early in the game, the Ravens’ tackling was poor, led by cornerback Tre’Davious White. When White went out and the Ravens brought in Brandon Stephens, New York went after him and Stephens was called for two pass interference penalties. There were also times when he failed to turn and look for the ball in an effort to recover and regain steps on the receiver. Despite the limitations of Giants quarterbacks Tommy DeVito and Tim Boyle, the Ravens still gave up a lot of big plays on the back end. They should be thankful they were playing the Giants, not a high-octane offense like the one in Detroit. Grade: C- Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson lights up Giants with 5 TDs in Ravens’ 35-14 win Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 35-14 win over New York Giants Baltimore Ravens | Mark Andrews becomes Ravens’ all-time touchdown leader Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s 35-14 win Baltimore Ravens | Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington won’t travel with team; DT Michael Pierce activated Special teams Hill had a kickoff return of 59 yards and Desmond King had a punt return of 22 yards to give the Ravens good field position. Jordan Stout had two punts for an average of 46 yards and Harrison made a special teams tackle. New York, though, did have two kickoff returns for an average of 27 yards, including a 30-yarder. Struggling kicker Justin Tucker made all of his extra point attempts but did not try a field goal as the Ravens scored touchdowns on five straight possessions at one point. Grade: B+ Coaching The Ravens were up to the task and dominated an inferior team, something they had struggled to do earlier this season. The Giants had no answers for the Ravens’ offense and were ill-equipped to challenge Baltimore’s defense with two inferior quarterbacks. Overall, the game went as expected. The Ravens came, conquered and went home with a win. But it will be a different game Saturday when the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers come to Baltimore. Certainly, the challenge will be more daunting and certainly more physical. The Ravens, though, can’t afford to keep piling up the penalties after committing a season-high 12 for 112 yards against the Giants. This team needs some discipline. Grade: B Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — On to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s who the Ravens will play Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium, where any hopes of an AFC North title will hang in the balance in a game that will likely define Baltimore’s season. Sunday’s contest against a woefully bad and injury-ravaged New York Giants team sure wasn’t going to. The Ravens’ biggest concern against New York — which entered losers of eight straight — was escaping without any serious injuries, getting back into rhythm off a bye week, and, of course, a victory to keep pace with the division-leading Steelers. Check, check and check. Quarterback Lamar Jackson completed 21 of 25 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns and a fumble before being pulled in the fourth quarter, tight end Mark Andrews became the franchise’s all-time leading touchdown scorer and wide receiver Rashod Bateman had the first multi-score game of his career as Baltimore rolled over the Giants, 35-14. The Ravens improved to 9-5 with the win and are 1 1/2 games back of Pittsburgh (10-3), which plays the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon, with three games left in the regular season. The biggest point of interest for Giants fans took place long before kickoff, with a plane flying a banner overhead for the second straight game directed at owner John Mara, this one reading: “Mr Mara enough — we won’t stop until you fire everyone.” Things only went downhill from there for New York (2-12), which tied a franchise record with its ninth straight defeat. When Ravens running back Justice Hill returned the opening kickoff 59 yards to New York’s 37-yard line, the crowd cheered sardonically. On Baltimore’s second possession, cornerback and practice squad call-up Desmond King set up the offense at the Giants’ 32 after a nifty 23-yard punt return. Six plays later, the Ravens found the end zone, with Jackson connecting with his favorite target, Andrews, over the middle for a touchdown on third-and-goal from the 13. The score was the 48th of Andrews’ career, breaking former running back Jamal Lewis’ franchise record for career touchdowns. Baltimore kept things rolling on its next possession, covering 70 yards in five plays, highlighted by a 49-yard bomb to a wide-open Bateman, who side-stepped two defenders and waltzed into the end zone to put Baltimore up 14-0 less than five minutes into the second quarter. It marked the receiver’s third touchdown of at least 40 yards and fifth score of the season after having just four in his first three seasons. Still, some of the same old problems cropped up for Baltimore. The Giants’ first score — a 2-yard run by Devin Singletary to cap a 13-play, 80-yard drive late in the first half — came largely because of a string of boneheaded penalties. First, cornerback Marlon Humphrey was flagged for holding rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers on a third-down incompletion. On a second-and-17 later in the drive, it was Nnamdi Madubuike’s turn with a roughing the passer penalty. One play later, cornerback Brandon Stephens knocked a would-be touchdown pass away from Nabers but was flagged for pass interference. Then, on third-and-goal from the 5, outside linebacker Odafe Oweh breathed life back into New York with a penalty for illegal hands to the face, wiping out a sack of quarterback Tommy DeVito to set up Singletary’s score. Their 12 penalties for 112 yards in the game marked a season high for the Ravens, who lead the NFL in penalties. It also marked the fourth time this season they have topped 100 yards in penalties. Ravens running back Justice Hill jogs into the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. (Frank Franklin II/AP) Still, there was little hope the Giants would be able to keep pace or slow the league’s top offense. Just before halftime, Baltimore swiftly moved 80 yards in nine plays with Bateman hauling in a 20-yard touchdown catch in the back corner of the end zone, extending the lead to 21-7 at the break. The Ravens then tacked on two more touchdowns, with Jackson hitting Devontez Walker for a 21-yard score in the third quarter for the first catch and touchdown of the rookie receiver’s career, followed by a short pass to Justice Hill that went for a 27-yard touchdown early in the fourth. Meanwhile, things continued to spiral for the Giants. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 35-14 win over New York Giants Baltimore Ravens | Mark Andrews becomes Ravens’ all-time touchdown leader Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s 35-14 win Baltimore Ravens | Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington won’t travel with team; DT Michael Pierce activated Baltimore Ravens | Ravens remarkably healthy entering stretch of 3 games in 11 days Though DeVito completed 10 of 13 passes in the first half, he managed just 60 yards with New York gaining just 96 total yards in the first 30 minutes. The Giants also converted just one first down in the first half and averaged a meager 3.3 yards per play. With DeVito ruled out of the game with a concussion to start the second half, third-string quarterback Tim Boyle hit Nabers for a 23-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. With the outcome in hand, backup Josh Johnson relieved Jackson and the Ravens could turn their attention to their showdown with the Steelers. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Week 16 Steelers at Ravens Saturday, 4:30 p.m. TV: FOX Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike bears down on Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito in the first half. (Adam Hunger/AP) View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 35-14 win over the New York Giants in Sunday’s Week 15 game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Brian Wacker, reporter: This game was as much about escaping without serious injury and getting back into a rhythm as much as it was about winning. The Giants (2-12) are a hapless, injury-ravaged team and didn’t have a chance of keeping up with the league’s top offense. Lamar Jackson knew the assignment and mostly delivered. Still, the same old penalty problems popped up for the Ravens (9-5), which is more concerning given they were coming off a bye. They could afford that against New York, but they won’t be able to get away with that in next week’s massive AFC North showdown against the Steelers. Childs Walker, reporter: This was the mismatch forecasted — the NFL’s most explosive offense against one of its least explosive. The Ravens goofed away chances to make their victory even more emphatic. Justice Hill ran the opening kickoff back 59 yards, but Lamar Jackson fumbled away a near-certain scoring drive. They basically handed the Giants a touchdown with 41 penalty yards on an 80-yard drive in the second quarter. New York simply wasn’t equipped to punish them for their mishaps, not on an afternoon when Jackson was deadly accurate with the downfield throws that create first downs and touchdowns. Yes, the injury-ravaged Giants were easy pickings, but no other offense had shredded them so casually. Aside from the penalties, the Ravens’ defense also did its job on third down and in the red zone. Now comes the real test against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who disorient Jackson more consistently than any other opponent. What we saw against the Giants didn’t tell us much about what we’ll see Saturday in the AFC North’s game of the year. Mike Preston, columnist: As expected, the Ravens dominated a Giants team that has been hit hard by injuries. With four of New York’s defensive front seven on the injured reserve list, Baltimore easily took control and dominated offensively. Lamar Jackson had a relatively easy day, passing for nearly 300 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, though, the Ravens struggled and missed quite a few tackles early from players in the secondary. Those mishaps, along with poor coverage and penalties, were disturbing because the Ravens have a big showdown coming up Saturday with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have won eight of their past nine games against Baltimore. Despite having a week off from the bye last Sunday, the Ravens still show signs of a team that needs improvement. C.J. Doon, editor: Lamar Jackson looks playoff ready. Will the rest of the Ravens follow suit? There’s not too much we can learn from a game against perhaps the league’s worst team (especially with journeyman Tim Boyle under center), but Jackson certainly didn’t take the Giants lightly. He was nearly perfect in the first half, completing 13 of 14 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 55 yards on four carries. He took what the defense gave him on the ground and delivered pinpoint throws from the pocket, including a 20-yard strike to Rashod Bateman in the back of the end zone. He was in complete command. Might it be enough to push Jackson back into the MVP conversation? Remember, it was this time last year when he and the Ravens dominated to secure the top spot in the AFC. The AFC North race is far from over. For the defense, there are still plenty of concerns. During the Giants’ 13-play, 80-yard touchdown march in the second quarter, the Ravens were flagged four times, including a defensive holding penalty on Marlon Humphrey, a roughing the passer penalty on Nnamdi Madubuike, a (questionable) pass interference penalty on Brandon Stephens and an illegal hands to the face penalty on Odafe Oweh that helped extend the drive. Stephens committed another pass interference penalty on fourth down in the third quarter that extended a drive in the red zone, and Nate Wiggins earned one in the fourth quarter. Recently signed cornerback Desmond King couldn’t find the ball on Boyle’s touchdown pass to Malik Nabers and then joined the party with a pass interference penalty late in the fourth quarter, the Ravens’ 13th such infraction this season. The secondary can ill-afford such mistakes in bigger games against better opponents. Baltimore finished the game with a season-high 12 penalties for 112 yards, adding to their league-worst total. When they aren’t shooting themselves in the foot, this is a good team, perhaps even great. But seeing the same sloppiness after the bye week is frustrating for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mark Andrews becomes Ravens’ all-time touchdown leader Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s 35-14 win Baltimore Ravens | Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington won’t travel with team; DT Michael Pierce activated Baltimore Ravens | Ravens remarkably healthy entering stretch of 3 games in 11 days Baltimore Ravens | Arundel’s Jack Walsh, Boonsboro’s Chad Hartman named Ravens High School Coaches of the Year Tim Schwartz, editor: Ho hum. That was pretty much what we expected. Lamar Jackson was dominant and took his mom’s advice by running more. The defense had no issues against whoever was under center for New York. But the biggest takeaway for me is that the Ravens did not use the bye week to focus on being more disciplined. They are committing way too many penalties — still. It won’t hurt them against bad teams like the Giants, but Saturday against the Steelers and the playoffs will be a different animal. Cornerbacks aren’t finding the ball. Offensive linemen are committing presnap infractions. At some point it needs to be an indictment on the coaching staff. Nobody will be surprised at this rate if a penalty in a key moment dooms their season. Bennett Conlin, editor: Baltimore is one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL because Lamar Jackson is the best player in the league. Jackson’s efficient performance highlighted a strong showing against a bad team, and Rashod Bateman’s emergence as well as successful punt and kickoff returns were other obvious positives. There were also frustrating plays against an overmatched opponent. Jackson turned the ball over on a promising opening drive, and coach John Harbaugh opted to punt on fourth-and-1 at midfield the next possession despite having Derrick Henry and Jackson in the backfield. Defensive penalties handed the Giants their first touchdown of the game. Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh will tell us a lot about whether the Ravens are ready for a late-season surge or if the same issues that plagued the team in Weeks 1 and 2 are going to linger into January. The Ravens are a Super Bowl contender when they’re clicking. It’s one thing to click against the Giants. It’s another to deliver a strong showing against Pittsburgh. Next weekend’s game will tell us much more about Baltimore’s postseason prospects. View the full article

It didn’t take long for Mark Andrews to write his name into the Ravens’ record book. The seventh-year tight end and three-time Pro Bowl selection caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, surpassing running back Jamal Lewis for the most touchdowns in franchise history with the 48th of his career. The 29-year-old Andrews is the only tight end in NFL history to lead his franchise in career touchdowns. Former Chargers star Antonio Gates has the most touchdown receptions by a tight end in league history with 116 across his 16-year career. Andrews, a third-round pick in the Ravens’ 2018 draft that also landed Jackson, has eight touchdown catches in his past nine games after getting off to a slow start this season. He has long been a team leader, drawing praise for his work ethic and selflessness. “From the moment he steps in the building to the moment he leaves, there is a purpose with everything that he does,” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said earlier this season. “He’s just super intentional about everything he does. He’s in Year 7, but yes, you can tell that it didn’t just happen overnight. So, he’s built like that, and I feel like he kind of rubs off on everybody.” Andrews, who entered Sunday with 424 career receptions for 5,347 yards, returned this season after suffering a severe ankle injury last November against the Cincinnati Bengals. “Mark Andrews is just one of a kind. … He’s all ball all the time,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said earlier this season. “You can just tell he thinks about [football] driving home [and] driving into work, probably while he’s sleeping. He probably dreams about it. He eats football [and] sleeps football for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That’s really who he is.” This article will be updated. 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 Ravens (8-5) return from their bye week to face the New York Giants (2-11) on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kickoff is 1 p.m. and the game will be televised on CBS. Follow along here for live coverage and analysis. View the full article

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Ravens will be playing against the varsity next week. Actually, they’ve had two straight weeks off. On Dec. 8, they had their bye and Sunday they beat the New York Giants, 35-14. Bye, bye Giants. This game was as ugly as most of us predicted, and of course the Ravens celebrated Sunday night on their trip back to Baltimore, but don’t party too hard. The Pittsburgh Steelers will be in Baltimore on Saturday for a game that will have definite playoff ramifications. The last time we checked, Pittsburgh had beaten the Ravens in eight of their past nine matchups. Yes, those Steelers, the bully boys coached by Mike Tomlin. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson toasted the Giants on Sunday, completing 21 of 25 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns. Offensively, the Ravens dominated New York, at one time scoring touchdowns on five straight possessions. But that’s unlikely to happen against the Steelers, especially if the Ravens continue to lead the league in penalties. They had 12 for 112 yards Sunday. On a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive by the Giants in the second quarter, the Ravens committed four. The drive resulted in a 2-yard touchdown run by Devin Singletary just before halftime. That’s OK when the opposition is the Giants or New York’s other loser, the Jets, but not in the postseason or when the Steelers are coming to town. Oh, heck no. There were other troubling signs. The Ravens missed a lot of tackles, particularly cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Brandon Stephens. And while we’re on the subject of Stephens, why doesn’t he ever turn around to find the ball? Twice he was called for pass interference Sunday in matchups with Giants rookie receiver Malik Nabers, which made me wonder why the Giants didn’t keep throwing at him for the entire game? The one time he did get caught looking at the quarterback, Nabers blew right by him for a 20-yard completion to open the third quarter. Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, catching a touchdown pass in front of Ravens cornerback Desmond King, was a mismatch for the Ravens’ secondary. (Frank Franklin II/AP) “Well, the biggest thing was the pass interference calls,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “I don’t know about the one late against ‘Des’ [Desmond King II]. I’ll have to see that one. The other ones, [we] just [have to] get our head around quicker, play the ball [and] play the ball sooner. One time we were playing the ball, but there was a grab. They called it tight. Those are tight, tight called plays there in terms of pass interference, so we have to adjust. “[For] roughing the passer, you have to find a way to get off to the side. You have to find a way to do it, so we’ll be drilling it. We’ll be working on those. Those are kind of technique things that we just have to do a good job of working on because that’s really … Their drives were penalty inspired. If it wasn’t for the penalties, those drives wouldn’t have happened, so it’s obviously something that’s very important.” It’s not a good matchup with Stephens against Pittsburgh receiver George Pickens (55 receptions, 850 yards) next week, even though Pickens claims to be bothered by hamstring issues which have forced him to miss the past two weeks. Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson doesn’t remind anyone of his gunslinging days when he won a Super Bowl with Seattle in 2013, but he still is very accurate on short passes and can chuck up those long bombs that are so high they have dew on them when they come down. Plus, Pittsburgh has a formidable running game in Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. They aren’t great, but effective and certainly better than the Giants, who couldn’t push the tush on their two “Brotherly Shove” quarterback sneak attempts Sunday. Gosh, that was a bad football team. It was good to see Jackson throwing the ball all over the field. His passer rating was somewhat misleading because his receivers were wide open. On Rashod Bateman’s 49-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, Bateman had time to make a reservation, eat lunch, burp and then run to the men’s room before one of the Giants came into the same vicinity. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 35-14 win over Giants Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson lights up Giants with 5 TDs in Ravens’ 35-14 win Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 35-14 win over New York Giants Baltimore Ravens | Mark Andrews becomes Ravens’ all-time touchdown leader Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s 35-14 win There were times when the Ravens’ offensive tackles, veteran Ronnie Stanley and rookie Roger Rosengarten, were beat to the outside, but Jackson was elusive and able to find more time to either connect with receivers or run down field. That worked against the Giants, but it won’t so much against Pittsburgh with edge rushers Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt. The Steelers are allowing only 7.7 yards a catch. It’s not like Pittsburgh is unbeatable. The Steelers probably aren’t even the best team in the AFC. But when it comes to playing against the Ravens, they have owned this franchise lately. It will be much different than Sunday. Once the coin flip was over, there was no longer any suspense about the outcome of the game. It was just a matter of determining the degree of the beatdown. Pittsburgh is different. The bye weeks are over. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The Ravens could be without one of their starters Sunday against the New York Giants. Safety Ar’Darius Washington will not travel with the team to New Jersey and is questionable to play because of an undisclosed personal matter, the team announced Saturday. Washington took over as the starting safety in Week 8 against the Cleveland Browns, replacing struggling veteran Marcus Williams. The fourth-year defensive back has started every game since, recording 34 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception. The Ravens (8-5) are otherwise healthy coming off their bye week to face the last-place Giants (2-11), which marks the first of three games in 11 days. However, rookie safety Sanoussi Kane is questionable with a hamstring injury, which might force Williams or undrafted rookie Beau Brade into the lineup Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, if Washington can’t play. Washington’s emergence has coincided with a dramatic turnaround by the Ravens’ defense, particularly in the secondary. Over its past three games, Baltimore is allowing 21.7 points and 280 yards per game and has surrendered just one passing touchdown. The Ravens also activated defensive tackle Michael Pierce off injured reserve. Sunday’s game will be his first since injuring his calf in Week 8 against the Browns. Pierce has 15 tackles, three quarterback hits and one sack in seven games this season. Meanwhile, cornerback Desmond King and linebacker William Kwenkeu have been promoted from the practice squad. King, 29, was an All-Pro as a defensive back and punt returner in 2018 for the Los Angeles Chargers. 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 final practice of Week 15 is atypical to have a roster flush with healthy players, but alas that’s the joyous position the Ravens find themselves in coming off a bye week ahead of Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. Other than suspended wide receiver Diontae Johnson, everyone on the active roster practiced Friday, with rookie outside linebacker Adisa Isaac (hamstring) and rookie safety Sanoussi Kane (hamstring) both returning in a limited capacity. They are questionable for Sunday. Nose tackle Michael Pierce (calf) and rookie cornerback T.J. Tampa (ankle) are also questionable after being designated to return from injured reserve, though both were full participants all week. They would need to be activated Saturday to play this week. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who missed Baltimore’s most recent game Dec. 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles with hamstring and neck injuries, meanwhile, does not have an injury designation after practicing fully all week and will play Sunday. “It’s always good to have Kyle out there,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Friday. “He’s healthy; he’s played a lot of plays all year [and has] played very well. Definitely, the week off and then the bye [week] has really probably helped him, in terms of being fully ready to roll, so he’s ready to go.” With a pretty full arsenal at its disposal, Baltimore (8-5) should be able to easily handle the woefully bad — and injured — Giants (2-11), who have lost eight straight. The key for the Ravens, of course, will be to get through the game the way they entered it — with very little in the way of injuries. For one, it’s the first of three games in 11 days. For another, a monumentally important AFC North showdown against the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 21 that will significantly impact Baltimore’s postseason path awaits behind it. As for the Giants, they enter the game wounded, to say the least. Earlier this month, they put star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence on injured reserve with an elbow injury. This week, it was rookie starting safety Tyler Nubin, whose season is over after an ankle injury. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Arundel’s Jack Walsh, Boonsboro’s Chad Hartman named Ravens High School Coaches of the Year Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium? Baltimore Ravens | Why new-look Ravens RB Derrick Henry could be about to heat up Baltimore Ravens | Ravens react to Bill Belichick taking North Carolina job: ‘It’s kind of crazy’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants Week 15 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds New York also ruled out guard Jon Runyan (ankle), linebacker Bobby Okereke (back), defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck/shoulder) and rookie cornerback Dru Phillips (shoulder) for Sunday. The Giants are starting backup quarterback Tommy DeVito, with starter Drew Lock listed as doubtful with heel and left elbow injuries, though he is out of the walking boot that he had on earlier this week and has a chance to be the third/emergency quarterback. Cornerback Cor’Dale Flott (quad) is also doubtful. Four others for the Giants are questionable: cornerback and former Maryland standout Tae Banks (rib), offensive tackle Chris Hubbard (knee), linebacker Dyontae Johnson (ankle) and center Austin Schlottman (fibula). Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Arundel football coach Jack Walsh and Boonsboro girls flag football coach Chad Hartman were named the 2024 Ravens High School Coaches of the Year, John Harbaugh announced Friday afternoon. This is the first time the Ravens included girls flag football in the annual award, which dates 27 years. Hartman’s recognition for a 10-0 season, county championship and trip to the state final also comes on the heels of the inaugural season for the sport in Washington County, Montgomery County and Baltimore City. Frederick County was the first school system to break the seal last fall. “It’s crazy to see some of the athletic ability of some of the young ladies in the state of Maryland,” Hartman said. “Some of the games we’ve played against some of the coaches out here, just unbelievable. And I can’t wait for it to grow. We’re short like 30-something teams to make it an official state sport in Maryland. We’re really hoping Baltimore County, Carroll County jump on board and kind of make this something that’s gonna last a long time to come.” The Warriors — representing the smallest school in the state tournament’s final field of eight — were undefeated until the state championship game Nov. 8, falling to Clarksburg, 21-12, under the lights at M&T Bank Stadium. That game came less than 24 hours after the Ravens’ “Thursday Night Football” win over the Cincinnati Bengals. On Friday, with Hartman standing behind the microphone generally reserved for Ravens players and coaches, Harbaugh jumped in with a softball question: “What is it about flag football that attracts the girls to play and what are the benefits of it?” he asked. “Why is it so great?” Hartman said because his players spent so many years watching football on TV, there’s an allure to finally breaking the barrier of being able to compete themselves, against their peers. He added it’s been a joy to be able to sit on the couch with his daughters and watch football on Sundays as they’re becoming more invested in the sport. “Twenty-three girls have all become my daughters now because of what y’all [Ravens] have helped me put together,” Hartman said. Walsh broke another kind of glass ceiling. In his sixth year as varsity coach, he led the Wildcats to their first state championship in 49 years. They were also the first Anne Arundel County school to win a football state title since 2011. “Thank you to the Ravens and Coach Harbaugh for having us out today and letting us tour the facility, it’s been fantastic,” Walsh said. “And thank you to Arundel, we’ve been waiting 49 years and we did it.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium? Baltimore Ravens | Why new-look Ravens RB Derrick Henry could be about to heat up Baltimore Ravens | Ravens react to Bill Belichick taking North Carolina job: ‘It’s kind of crazy’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants Week 15 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants scouting report for Week 15: Who has the edge? Arundel had a dominant 12-1 season. In five of those wins, the Wildcats scored at least 60 points. They averaged 46 points per game while holding opponents to 11 per game. In their second state final appearance in three seasons, they routed Linganore, 35-7, to finally get over the hump, handily ending a generation-long drought. Aside from his wedding day and the birth of his daughter, Walsh said holding that MPSSAA Class 3A trophy up to the home fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium was “second to none.” Walsh will be the Ravens’ nominee for the NFL’s Don Shula Coach of the Year program. Each week during the 2024 season, the Ravens honored a high school coach who made a significant impact on his student-athletes. Here’s the list of those recipients this fall: Week 1: Anthony Burgos, Franklin High School Week 2: Rob Harris, Breakneck High School Week 3: David Cunningham, Francis Scott Key Week 4: Steve Crounse, Patuxent Week 5: Jake Coleman, Stephen Decatur Week 6: Patrick Nixon, Mervo Week 7: Brad Hunt, Harford Tech Week 8: Reggie White, Milford Mill Week 9: Jack Walsh, Arundel Week 10: Ross Hannon, Howard View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 15 game between the Ravens (8-5) and Giants (2-11) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey: Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 30, Giants 10: This one should be in hand by halftime. The Giants have lost eight in a row, are without star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and are starting backup quarterback Tommy DeVito. New York also has the worst offense in the NFL in terms of points per game (14.9) and a defense that, while middle of the pack, is now devoid of its best player. The only way this one is close in the second half is if the Ravens revert to the kind of self-inflicted wounds that have held them back and cost them games, which shouldn’t be a problem coming off a bye week. Childs Walker, reporter Ravens 31, Giants 14: The Giants simply aren’t equipped to keep up with a Ravens team that will be rested coming off its bye and eager to wash away the sour taste from a loss to the Eagles. The Giants have a few good pass rushers, but they’re without their best defender, Dexter Lawrence, and they don’t stop the run. That’s not the formula you want against Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. On the other side of the ball, New York doesn’t have the playmakers to match touchdowns with the league’s most efficient offense. This might be the Ravens’ last relatively easy game of the year, but they will cruise. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 38, Giants 10: Pick a score, any score. The Ravens might win by 20 something or 30 something, but the Giants aren’t in the Ravens’ class. In fact, New York is in a class by itself of being the worst team in the NFL and is on track to get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft. The Giants are ranked No. 26 in total offense, averaging only 301.1 yards per game. They are No. 16 in total defense, but No. 29 against the rush, allowing 141.7 yards per game. After the game, all the TV commentators and network analysts will have Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry as the favorites to win the NFL MVP Award again. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 41, Giants 3: Lamar Jackson is antsy to get back on the field after the bye week, and the Giants are starting third-string quarterback Tommy DeVito. That’s really all you need to know. Even if New York had a fully healthy roster, this would be a lopsided affair, but the Giants are dealing with a laundry list of injuries that includes linebacker Bobby Okereke, rookie cornerback Dru Phillips and nearly the entire offensive line. Star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence would at least have been a good test for the interior of the Ravens’ offense line, but he’s out, too. There’s no Wink Martindale to save the Giants this time, either. Hopefully you have Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews in your fantasy lineups for the playoffs, because this should be a blowout. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Why new-look Ravens RB Derrick Henry could be about to heat up Baltimore Ravens | Ravens react to Bill Belichick taking North Carolina job: ‘It’s kind of crazy’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants Week 15 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants scouting report for Week 15: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Will Bill Belichick replicate his NFL success at North Carolina? Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 38, Giants 6: There hasn’t been a bigger home underdog in decades — and for good reason. The Giants are simply awful. There was a report Thursday that they had 17 straight incompletions at practice. Yes, we talkin’ bout practice, man, but the hard evidence is on the field on Sundays. Especially at this point in the season, New York is in full tank-for-the-first-overall-pick mode. Baltimore is fresh after its bye week and we heard how hungry Lamar Jackson is to get back on the field. It’s a recipe for a beatdown at The Meadowlands, and it would be stunning (and telling) if this game were close after three quarters. Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 34, Giants 13: The Giants stink, while the Ravens are among the NFL’s best and want to prove it after a tough loss to the Eagles and a subsequent bye week. The outcome of this game shouldn’t be in jeopardy, although the Giants could save embarrassment by covering the two-touchdown betting spread. I don’t see that happening, with Tommy DeVito expected to start at quarterback against an improving Ravens defense. A fired-up Lamar Jackson is a scary proposition for any defense, and the MVP candidate was none too pleased after the Philadelphia setback. Baltimore rolls before facing much stiffer competition the following two weeks. 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 temperature dipped into the 30s at the Ravens’ practice facility Thursday afternoon in Owings Mills. Typical December weather. And if history is any indication, Derrick Henry is just starting to warm up. For all of the 30-year-old’s accolades — four-time Pro Bowl selection, one-time All-Pro, two-time NFL rushing touchdowns and yardage champ — one of the more pronounced achievements in his growing list of them is his proclivity to save his best football for last. Over 31 career games he has played in December, Henry has rushed for 2,769 yards and 30 touchdowns on 545 carries (5.1 yards per carry), which are more than he’s produced in any other full month during the regular season in his eight-plus years in the league. He has also thrived in January, averaging 5.9 yards per carry with 144.3 rushing yards over four career games. On one hand, it might seem surprising that Henry’s best production has come after he has put substantial mileage on his otherwise statuesque physique. But there’s also the wear on those trying to tackle the 6-foot-3, 247-pound behemoth. Which is why with three games in 11 days beginning Sunday against the New York Giants, followed by a hugely important AFC North showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers and then wrapping up with a Christmas tilt against the Houston Texans, Henry should get plenty of opportunities. “Derrick hasn’t had a lot of carries, a lot of wear and tear on him this year, so I think it’s set up perfectly for him to finish the year like he’s capable of and what we expect out of him,” Ravens running backs coach Willie Taggart said. “Derrick is fresh right now. “I think the way he trains himself, the way he practices, the way he prepares, he’s going to be ready to finish the year like we need him to.” Already, Henry is second in the NFL with 1,407 rushing yards and tied for the league lead with 15 touchdowns. His 672 yards after contact, meanwhile, are best in the league, as are his 2.8 yards per attempt after contact and 28 broken tackles. His next score will also set a franchise record for touchdowns in a season, which he currently shares with Ray Rice (2011) and Mark Ingram II (2019). Yet, the Ravens have been mindful of not using him too much, too soon. The Ravens have been careful not to give running back Derrick Henry too much of a workload before the postseason. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Coach John Harbaugh made it clear at the beginning of the season that Henry would not be a back who carries the ball 30 times a game. With just 240 carries across 13 games, he’s held to that. Only once — in a Week 3 win over the Dallas Cowboys, when he rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns — has he carried the ball at least 25 times. In eight other games, he’s had 19 or fewer carries. Five of those occasions have come in the Ravens’ past seven games, including their most recent Dec. 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles in which he had 19 carries for 82 yards in a loss. Once on pace for a 2,000-yard season, Henry’s numbers have dipped of late, with 82 or fewer yards in three of the past four games, and he has played just 55% of the offensive snaps this season. But that likely won’t be the norm going forward. “We’re going to try to run the ball as much as we can, and so much of running the ball has to do with how many plays you get, and getting in a rhythm, and getting an opportunity to call more plays,” Harbaugh said before the Ravens’ bye last week. “Derrick is our lead back, no doubt, obviously, and he only gets stronger as the game goes on, so we want to run the ball.” Once Henry returned to work earlier this week, gone were his signature dreadlocks, shorn off in favor of corn rows. He said Thursday that it was something that he’s been wanting to do “for a while” and joked that it made him feel lighter. He also had no explanation for his late-season success. “The players I’ve played with [have done] a great job, and [they’ve made] my job easier,” he said. “For me to do my job, the guys up front have to do a great job, and credit that. “That’s happened in the past, but [I’m] just focused on the right now. I know there’s this December history, but I’m just focused on me playing better, being better and being the best player I can [be] to help this team.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens react to Bill Belichick taking North Carolina job: ‘It’s kind of crazy’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants Week 15 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants scouting report for Week 15: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Will Bill Belichick replicate his NFL success at North Carolina? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Is John Harbaugh’s game management poor? | COMMENTARY Which is why Baltimore would do well to lean on Henry as the weather gets colder, opponents get beat up and conditions get potentially tougher to throw the ball in. After all, it’s part of why the Ravens signed Henry to a two-year, $18 million deal this offseason. So it seems unlikely that he wouldn’t get the ball down the stretch and more importantly in the playoffs, especially after Baltimore backs infamously got just six carries in last season’s AFC championship game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Make no mistake, Henry didn’t come here for that, either. “He wants the ball,” Taggart said. “Derrick wants the ball whenever. Whether it’s the beginning of the game, at the end of the game, at halftime, after the game, he wants the ball.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

When Kyle Van Noy heard his former coach, Bill Belichick, was taking the head job at the University of North Carolina, the Ravens outside linebacker was excited. Then perplexed. “It’s kind of crazy that the NFL looks like it doesn’t want him,” said Van Noy, who won two Super Bowl titles under Belichick in New England. “I don’t know. I just think it’s crazy that his name wasn’t attached to any [openings].” Of the eight NFL teams with head coaching vacancies this past offseason, six chose not to interview the Annapolis High graduate and one was the team that fired him, the Patriots. So Belichick, the 72-year-old architect of perhaps the greatest dynasty in NFL history with six of his eight Super Bowl rings to show for it, took a job in the college ranks. Rumblings of the potential hire were first reported last week, then made official Wednesday, and Belichick was introduced in Chapel Hill on Thursday afternoon. Tar Heels athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement that the changing landscape of college football requires “new and innovative thinking.” That’s why they went after the surefire Hall of Famer. As for Belichick, the son of a former Tar Heels and Navy assistant, he called it “a dream come true.” Van Noy spent five seasons in New England between 2016 and 2021. He was part of two Super Bowl titles during that time, the miraculous comeback of 2017 against the Atlanta Falcons and defensive masterclass in 2019 against the Los Angeles Rams. He knows as well as anyone Belichick’s capabilities. “He’s a very good coach, best one I’ve had for sure,” Van Noy said. “And he’s gonna do great. I’m a big Belichick fan, not just him as a person but him as a coach. He knows football. He’s gonna teach and develop kids. I’m excited to see what he does down there.” After the Tar Heels play Dec. 28 in the Fenway Bowl against the University of Connecticut, Belichick will officially take the reins. In many ways the skeletal structure of college football is starting to resemble the NFL. Think the ease of the transfer portal leading to more player empowerment; name, image and likeness (NIL) allowing student athletes to get paid; and revenue sharing on the horizon. How might Belichick’s approach translate to a younger crop of football talent in this brave new world? “I think he’s gonna coach everybody the same,” Van Noy said. “Kids that want to be treated like grown ups, like they always say and claim they want — ‘I’m a grown-ass man,’ you know those comments — he’s gonna treat you that way. Knowing that, they’re gonna get taught the right way. They’re gonna get taught the fundamentals of football.” Van Noy saw a comment on social media earlier Thursday of someone curious to see how Belichick might develop talent. Well, Van Noy pointed out, Tom Brady was once a fourth-string quarterback, wide receiver Julian Edelman switched positions and tight end Rob Gronkowski didn’t play a whole lot in college. “Taking nothing away from those guys,” Van Noy said, “they created their own value with hard work, but he did give them a platform and a process, if you do these type of things, you can be successful.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Why new-look Ravens RB Derrick Henry could be about to heat up Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants Week 15 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants scouting report for Week 15: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Will Bill Belichick replicate his NFL success at North Carolina? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Is John Harbaugh’s game management poor? | COMMENTARY Van Noy has no reservations that Belichick can be as successful in college as he was in the NFL. He talked to a few former teammates around the league, too, who shared in his surprise in the lack of NFL interest. But that chapter appears to be over, 15 wins from passing Don Shula as the NFL’s all-time wins leader (347). And his new chapter — full of recruiting visits and NIL — begins with this unexpected pivot becoming the oldest coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision. “I don’t know how to react,” said Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who coached Southern Miss from 2013 to 2015 before returning to the NFL. “Good for him, if that’s what he wants to do. Good for anybody that has an opportunity to be a coach again at whatever level that might be. I’m sure it’s an exciting time for him, those who go with him there and for the University of North Carolina. Good for him.” Wide receiver Devontez Walker is most excited by the name recognition Belichick brings to the school the Ravens drafted him out of — not dissimilar from what Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders has done at Jackson State and Colorado. There are bound to be top talents considering flipping commitments for a chance to play under Belichick. Walker, a Charlotte native who spent one year playing for the Tar Heels under Mack Brown, talked to a UNC nutritionist this week who seemed thrilled about Belichick’s arrival. “Everybody’s in good spirits that I’ve talked to,” Walker said. The move will reverberate through every level of football. But Belichick told reporters on Thursday, “I didn’t come here to leave,” verbally closing the door on an NFL return, whether teams wanted him or not. “That’s just my opinion from the outside looking in,” Van Noy said. “I could be way off but from an outsider looking in, it seems like none of these teams — I feel like they should be banging at his door from what he’s been able to do in his career. It looks like not and it looks like he got everything he wanted at North Carolina.” Van Noy’s never been to Chapel Hill. “Maybe he can get me tickets to a Duke-North Carolina basketball game,” he laughed. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Ordinarily, an 8-5 Ravens team facing the 2-11 Giants wouldn’t be much of a matchup. It still might not — betting odds say the Ravens should cruise to a win — but Baltimore has struggled against bad teams this season. John Harbaugh’s team has losses to the 2-11 Raiders and 3-10 Browns this season, two ghastly defeats that are pushing them down the AFC playoff picture and likely into the wild-card round. Baltimore can’t afford to overlook anyone. “We’re locked in on the Giants,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. The Ravens are a superior team than the Giants, and they’re looking to make a statement heading into their stretch run. Baltimore wants to make a push for the AFC North, and that could require a perfect 4-0 record down the stretch. Style points don’t technically matter against the Giants, but beating up on New York after losing two of their past three games might help alleviate recent frustrations. Is a blowout in the cards Sunday? “I’m hype,” quarterback Lamar Jackson told reporters about returning to the field after a bye week. What are the odds? The sports betting odds indicate a blowout is on the horizon. Spread: Ravens by 16 1/2 points (FanDuel) Total: 42 1/2 points Moneyline: Ravens -1500, Giants +870 According to Action Network, Sunday will be the first time in 50 years that the Giants close as at least 14-point home underdogs. They’re historically bad, and the Ravens are still viewed by betting markets as one of the NFL’s best teams. That stems from Lamar Jackson’s greatness. Baltimore’s star quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Award winner has 29 touchdown passes to just three interceptions, spearheading perhaps the league’s best offense. New York’s defense, which ranks fourth-worst in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game, will face a stiff test against Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. The Ravens’ bruising rusher ranks second in the NFL with 1,407 rushing yards through 13 games. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Why new-look Ravens RB Derrick Henry could be about to heat up Baltimore Ravens | Ravens react to Bill Belichick taking North Carolina job: ‘It’s kind of crazy’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants scouting report for Week 15: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Will Bill Belichick replicate his NFL success at North Carolina? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Is John Harbaugh’s game management poor? | COMMENTARY Is there a good betting angle? Given the massive spread, it’s hard to back the Ravens. Beating an opposing NFL team by 17 points is hard, even if the Giants are horrendous. New York has only lost three of its 11 games by that margin this season, and it played the Commanders (twice) and Steelers within one possession. There’s not much value in taking Baltimore’s moneyline, either. Looking into player prop bets is an option for bettors scanning the board, but I’ll place a bet on the Giants’ team total. FanDuel sets New York’s team scoring total at 13 1/2 points. Give me the under. New York scored 11 its last time out against New Orleans, and it has been held under 14 points five times this season. The Ravens have played much better defense of late, allowing an average of 21 points per game against the Steelers, Chargers and Eagles. New York’s offense isn’t in the same league as those three teams, which Pro Football Focus grades as the NFL’s fifth-worst offense. With backup quarterback Tommy DeVito expected to start for New York, points will be even harder to come by than usual. Baltimore’s defense is improving and had a bye week to prepare for the Giants, which should only help as they look to put together a rare dominant defensive showing. I’m expecting the Ravens’ defense to conjure up one of its best performances of 2024, limiting the lifeless Giants to fewer than 14 points. “I think we’re trending up, which is a good thing going into the playoffs,” Hamilton said. Best bet: Giants to score fewer than 13 1/2 points Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article