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In a battle of the NFL’s top teams and the league’s top candidates for its annual Most Valuable Player Award, the Ravens and Lamar Jackson beat the San Francisco 49ers and Brock Purdy, 33-19, on Christmas night. And to the victor go the spoils. While Purdy entered Monday night’s game the betting favorite to win his first career MVP award, the second-year quarterback threw four interceptions and was outplayed by Jackson, who finished 23 of 35 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for a team-leading 45 yards. As a result, most sportsbooks now list Jackson as the favorite to win his second MVP award. “I thought Lamar had an MVP performance tonight,” said coach John Harbaugh, who gave Jackson the game ball in the locker room after Monday’s win as teammates serenaded him with “MVP” chants. “It takes a team to create a performance like that, but it takes a player to play at that level — to play at an MVP level — it takes a player to play that way. And Lamar was all over the field doing everything.” It would be quite the accomplishment for the 26-year-old quarterback, who emerged from a tumultuous offseason with a five-year, $260 million contract just months after requesting a trade from the team that drafted him in the first round in 2018 and helped him become just the second unanimous NFL MVP winner following a record-setting 2019 season. “I really don’t care about [my] performance,” Jackson said. “I just want to win, and that’s what happened tonight. On Christmas, that was my gift. They asked me in an interview a couple weeks ago, ‘What would I want for Christmas?’ My wish got granted.” Still, winning a second MVP award, which is given by the Associated Press after balloting by a nationwide panel of media, would put Jackson in rare company. Only 10 players — running back Jim Brown and quarterbacks Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Brett Favre, Kurt Warner, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes — have won multiple MVP awards during their careers since the honor was first presented in 1957. Manning (five), Rodgers (four), Brady (three), Favre (three), Unitas (three) and Brown (three) are the only players to win three or more. Through 15 games, Jackson’s statistical case is not overwhelming, as he ranks 17th in the league in passing yards (3,357) and is tied for 18th in touchdown passes (19) while fumbling 11 times and throwing seven interceptions. But he remains the league’s best running quarterback, rushing for a team-leading 786 yards and five scores, and has helped lead the Ravens to an NFL-best 12-3 record and the top seed in the AFC with two weeks remaining in the regular season. While Jackson has been supported by an elite defense, he lost top running back J.K. Dobbins to a torn Achilles tendon in Week 1, three-time Pro Bowl tight end and favorite target Mark Andrews to an ankle injury in Week 11 and speedy rookie running back Keaton Mitchell to a season-ending knee injury in Week 15, all while learning a new offense under first-year coordinator Todd Monken. The Ravens still entered Monday ranked top-five in the league in both yards (372.1) and points (27.8) per game. “Anyone that watches football and knows football and [can] see the type of impact he has on the game — not even stat-wise, but just individually, the plays that he makes quarter in and quarter out, play in and play out,” middle linebacker Roquan Smith said. “Compare his film to anyone else in the league. Then, I would love to hear what anyone else has to say after that.” Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) avoids the grasp of San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) as offensive tackle Morgan Moses (78) blocks during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates with wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) after connecting on a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, throws to ball while trying to avoid San Francisco 49ers defensive end Chase Young during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. Jackson was called for intentional grounding in the end zone on the play, which scored a safety for the 49ers. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson (8) eludes a sack attempt by San Francisco 49ers' Ji'Ayir Brown (27) during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens walks off the field after his team's 33-19 win against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson speaks at a news conference after Monday night's win against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California. (Jed Jacobsohn/AP) Show Caption of Expand View the full article

Here’s how the Ravens (12-3) graded out at each position after a 33-19 win over the San Francisco 49ers (11-4) in Monday night’s Week 16 game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Quarterback Lamar Jackson took about 25 minutes to warm up. He seemed nervous and the Ravens might be better suited getting him more involved in the running game rather than starting with a bunch of passes. But once he got into a flow, he was successful in making plays after escaping and rolling out of the pocket. Jackson completed 23 of 35 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, and he got two big gains on yards after the catch by halfback Gus Edwards and tight end Isaiah Likely. The intentional grounding penalty on Jackson that led to a safety in the first quarter showed he had the jitters. Grade: B+ Running backs The Ravens didn’t have a standout or dominant performer, but they kept San Francisco off-balance with both Edwards and Justice Hill. Edwards had nine carries for 31 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and Hill had 10 for 26. Both made major contributions as pass catchers. Hill added three catches for 31 yards and Edwards had one short reception that he turned into a 39-yard gain. Grade: C+ Offensive line The 49ers came into the game with the best linebacking corps in the NFL, but the Ravens blocked them and their defensive line well. San Francisco had only two sacks and four quarterback pressures. Offensive tackles Morgan Moses and Ronnie Stanley, who have struggled in recent weeks, were solid, and the Ravens got good movement on initial contact on running plays by guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson. The Ravens finished with 343 yards of total offense and won the line of scrimmage. Grade: B+ Receivers This group came out as cold as Jackson to open the game. Even when Jackson got going, the Ravens still dropped too many passes. Both Jackson and rookie Zay Flowers had poor timing early but got better as the game went on. Flowers finished with nine catches for 72 yards and a 9-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Likely had three catches for 56 yards while receiver Nelson Agholor had a 6-yard touchdown reception in the third. Eight players caught at least one pass. Grade: B- George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers attempts to block Marlon Humphrey #44 of the Baltimore Ravens as Humphrey tackles Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Marcus Williams #32 of the Baltimore Ravens intercepts a pass intended for George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams (32) is congratulated by teammates after intercepting a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ronnie Bell (10) runs against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams, top, tackles San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is tackled against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) walks off the field with trainers during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) avoids the grasp of San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) as offensive tackle Morgan Moses (78) blocks during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after his interception during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Patrick Queen #6 of the Baltimore Ravens hits George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers after Queen's interception during the third quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, middle, is tackled by Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, left, and linebacker Roquan Smith (0) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left, celebrates with tight end Isaiah Likely after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates with wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) after connecting on a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left, catches a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor celebrates after catching a touchdown pass in the third quarter Monday night against the 49ers in Santa Clara, California. (Loren Elliott/Getty) Ravens running Gus Edwards, left. stiff-arms 49ers linebacker Fred Warner in the third quarter Monday night.(Thearon W. Henderson/Getty) Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker (9) celebrates after kicking a field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers dives past Marlon Humphrey #44 of the Baltimore Ravens while scoring a rushing touchdown during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) runs against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers attempts to tackle Zay Flowers #4 of the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) scores against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards, right, celebrates after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens kicks a field goal during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (43) is tackled against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Justin Madubuike #92 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, right, is tackled by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, right, runs against Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, middle, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) An official falls down as Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens is pressured by Fred Warner #54 and Chase Young #92 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Baltimore Ravens intercepts a pass intended for Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Kyle Juszczyk #44 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Baltimore Ravens as Hamilton returns an interception during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with teammates after his interception during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, throws to ball while trying to avoid San Francisco 49ers defensive end Chase Young during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. Jackson was called for intentional grounding in the end zone on the play, which scored a safety for the 49ers. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens' Tylan Wallace, foreground left, returns a kickoff against San Francisco 49ers' Darrell Luter Jr. during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) warms up during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker) Show Caption of Expand Defensive line San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey had 103 yards on 14 carries but didn’t dominate or control the tempo of the game. Part of the reason is that the 49ers came out throwing the ball, which was a mistake, and then the Ravens started dominating the line of scrimmage from midway through the second quarter until the end of the game. McCaffrey couldn’t run outside the tackles on toss plays. Justin Madubuike had four tackles and fellow end Brent Urban had two sacks. Grade: B Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the the Ravens’ 33-19 win over the San Francisco 49ers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson the favorite to win NFL MVP after win over 49ers and Brock Purdy Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, ‘fueled’ by disrespect, beat 49ers, 33-19, as Lamar Jackson strengthens case for MVP Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 33-19 win over San Francisco 49ers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton suffers knee injury vs. 49ers, but ‘doesn’t look bad’ Linebackers There were times the 49ers got some nice blocks on both inside linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen, but both of them came up and made some vicious tackles. Smith finished with eight tackles while Queen had seven and was successful coming off the edge or even up the middle on blitzes. Once the 49ers got behind, they couldn’t stop either outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney or Kyle Van Noy, who each had a sack. Clowney dominated in the second half from both the left and right sides. When he didn’t get pressure, he got his arms up to at least obstruct passing lanes. Grade: A Secondary San Francisco’s receiving corps is among the best in the NFL at gaining yards after the catch and the Ravens contained them for most of the game. They gave up some yards over the middle, but the 49ers couldn’t figure out if someone was blitzing off the edge or dropping into coverage. The Ravens finished with five interceptions and the smartest move was putting cornerback Marlon Humphrey back inside over the slot receiver. Brandon Stephens continues to play extremely well and can be physical with most receivers and get away with his aggressiveness. Stephens and safety Kyle Hamilton, who had two interceptions, each finished with five tackles, and safety Marcus Williams had seven to go with a late pick. Grade: A Special teams Justin Tucker converted on field goal attempts of 28, 41, 28 and 24 yards. Jordan Stout averaged 43.3 yards on three punts, two of those inside the 20, while his longest was 56 yards. Tylan Wallace was at least decisive as a return specialist, but the Ravens allowed Deebo Samuel to return a kickoff 26 yards. That’s way too many. Grade: B Coaching The Ravens play hard and that’s the ultimate compliment for coach John Harbaugh. The 49ers were out-coached and out-schemed even though they are one of the better-coached teams in the NFL under Kyle Shanahan. The Ravens’ offense kept San Francisco off balance with a good blend of pass and run, and defensively they took away most of the 49ers’ plays to the outside, especially those quick passes. San Francisco had no clue which players the Ravens were sending off the corner. Grade: A View the full article

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — As Ravens coach John Harbaugh walked into his postgame news conference in the bowels of Levi’s Stadium late Monday night, he smiled at the assembled media and cracked, “I’m not even gonna mention who some of you all picked.” There was plenty to be happy about, and to puff his chest out about. A 33-19 victory over the 49ers on Monday night keeps the Ravens (12-3) atop the AFC and gives them the best record in the NFL. It was also, in the words of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., a “statement game.” And the pounding made a statement, with Baltimore having heard the predictions and pundits and using its supposed demise against San Francisco as motivation to deliver a message of their own and for that of their own NFL Most Valuable Player candidate, quarterback Lamar Jackson. “All week we were fueled [by it],” Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike said. “It was crazy how people was talking on all the podcasts, on all the networks, how they almost kinged [the 49ers] as kings of the NFL. The respect wasn’t there. It definitely fueled everybody in this locker room.” Added inside linebacker Patrick Queen, who also delivered the team speech in the pregame huddle: “We play a brand of football that people don’t want to play. Everybody wants to be out here [being] cute, playing basketball on grass and stuff, and we [are not] with all that. You can do all that stuff; we’re just going to hit you in the mouth every play.” ‘Tis the season of giving, or at least it was in a Christmas showdown between MVP candidates in which the Ravens’ defense harassed 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy into four interceptions, while Jackson continually escaped San Francisco’s pass rush to deliver big-time plays against another big-time team. Jackson finished 23 of 35 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 45 yards on seven carries, but the numbers tell only a smidgeon about the performance, which is perhaps why the Ravens quarterback is now the betting favorite to win his second MVP award after being the unanimous choice in 2019. In the locker room afterward, there were chants of “MVP, MVP, MVP” for Jackson after Harbaugh gave him the game ball and delivered a speech about who the MVP of the league is. The Ravens have seven wins by 14-plus points this season, all against opponents that are currently above .500. No team in NFL history has had more than five regular-season wins by such a margin against teams that finished that season with a winning record, and much of that is because of Jackson. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left, catches a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Nelson Agholor #15 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrate after catching a touchdown during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Gus Edwards #35 of the Baltimore Ravens stiff arms Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker (9) celebrates after kicking a field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers dives past Marlon Humphrey #44 of the Baltimore Ravens while scoring a rushing touchdown during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) runs against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers attempts to tackle Zay Flowers #4 of the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) scores against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards, right, celebrates after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, celebrates with wide receiver Nelson Agholor after connecting on a 6-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter Monday night against the 49ers in Santa Clara, California. (Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP) Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens kicks a field goal during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (43) is tackled against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Justin Madubuike #92 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers attempts to block Marlon Humphrey #44 of the Baltimore Ravens as Humphrey tackles Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, right, is tackled by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, right, runs against Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, middle, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) An official falls down as Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens is pressured by Fred Warner #54 and Chase Young #92 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Baltimore Ravens intercepts a pass intended for Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Kyle Juszczyk #44 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Baltimore Ravens as Hamilton returns an interception during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with teammates after his interception during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, throws to ball while trying to avoid San Francisco 49ers defensive end Chase Young during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. Jackson was called for intentional grounding in the end zone on the play, which scored a safety for the 49ers. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens' Tylan Wallace, foreground left, returns a kickoff against San Francisco 49ers' Darrell Luter Jr. during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left, celebrates with tight end Isaiah Likely after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, middle, is tackled by Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, left, and linebacker Roquan Smith (0) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Patrick Queen #6 of the Baltimore Ravens hits George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers after Queen's interception during the third quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after his interception during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) avoids the grasp of San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) as offensive tackle Morgan Moses (78) blocks during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) walks off the field with trainers during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is tackled against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams, top, tackles San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ronnie Bell (10) runs against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Show Caption of Expand “I thought Lamar had an MVP performance tonight,” Harbaugh said when he met with reporters. “It takes a team to create a performance like that, but it takes a player to play at that level — to play at an MVP level — it takes a player to play that way. And Lamar was all over the field doing everything. “He operated a pretty complicated game plan. … He made decisions on the field, and then just kept plays alive [and] trusted his offensive line. … Lamar trusted those guys, he kept plays alive, he moved in the pocket, [and] he created space for the overage guys. Our guys did a great job of scramble drills of getting open. We had a number of plays that were extended. They were big plays for us. Just a complete game by Lamar.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the the Ravens’ 33-19 win over the San Francisco 49ers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson the favorite to win NFL MVP after win over 49ers and Brock Purdy Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 33-19 win over 49ers | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 33-19 win over San Francisco 49ers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton suffers knee injury vs. 49ers, but ‘doesn’t look bad’ And a complete dismantling of the 49ers (11-4). San Francisco came in riding a six-game winning streak and quickly took a 5-0 first-quarter lead after a safety in which Jackson was called for intentional grounding in the end zone after tripping over a fallen official and a 45-yard field goal by Jake Moody. But the Ravens responded with 13 straight points that were aided by interceptions first from safety Kyle Hamilton, then cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Then Hamilton picked off Purdy again. That helped set up two field goals by Justin Tucker from 28 and 41 yards, along with a 1-yard score by running back Gus Edwards. The 49ers, meanwhile, had outgained the Ravens 144-42 in the opening quarter but failed to find the end zone and paid for it. Still, the 49ers hung around, thanks to their other MVP candidate, running back Christian McCaffrey (13 carries for 102 yards), whose touchdown from 9 yards out with 3:29 remaining in the first half cut the deficit to one. That was as close as the 49ers would get the rest of the night. Then Jackson simply made a play, as he so often does. With the Ravens facing third-and-16 from the 49ers’ 41 with 24 seconds remaining in the half and no one open as the quarterback scanned the field and Chase Young closed in from behind, Jackson slipped away from the edge defender. He weaved and sliced his way through the 49ers’ defense for a 30-yard gain, setting up a third field goal by Tucker, this time from 28 yards, to close out the half and give the Ravens a 16-12 lead. In the second half, the Ravens’ defense picked up where it left off in the first, and so did Jackson. After the 49ers went three-and-out before a 23-yard punt return by Tylan Wallace that was padded by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on a hit out of bounds by punter Mitch Wishnowsky, Jackson scrambled away from pressure and after a few seconds found a wide-open Edwards on a short pass in the middle of the field. The back rumbled for 39 yards, and two plays later the quarterback again escaped the rush, rolled left and on the run hit Nelson Agholor for a 6-yard score on the sideline. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson finished 23 of 35 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 45 yards on seven carries on Monday night against the 49ers. (Jed Jacobsohn/AP) “It’s on the film,” Beckham said of Jackson. “He’s just a different breed. Since the minute I stepped in this building and seen him, I just ain’t seen nothing like it.” The 49ers saw their fill. “He is one of the most talented QBs in the league,” 49ers defensive back Deommodore Lenoir said. “I have to give him his props today, he was a great player.” The Ravens’ defense, which is allowing an NFL-best 16.3 points per game, was dominant, too. On the 49ers’ next possession and with the ball on their own 25, Purdy lofted a short pass intended for McCaffrey that landed in the hands of Queen, who returned it 21 yards to the 9. Jackson then found an open Zay Flowers (nine catches for 72 yards) in the back of the end zone, extending the lead to 30-12. “Everybody was writing us off before we even had a chance to play,” Queen said. “We knew what we were capable of, and everybody counted us out. [They] didn’t expect us to even hold up. Everybody was saying we were going to get blown out by double digits or whatever, so we just had to come out and play our style of ball. We all understood the assignment.” Baltimore then finished it off by breaking San Francisco’s will, if it hadn’t been already, driving 89 yards in 11 plays, highlighted by a 34-yard completion from Jackson to tight end Isaiah Likely down the left sideline followed by a short dropoff to Justice Hill that went for 23 more. That helped set up a 24-yard field goal by Tucker late in the third. With Purdy out of the game with a stinger (ESPN’s broadcast said he was cleared to return but he did not), backup Sam Darnold hit wide receiver Ronnie Bell on a 12-yard touchdown pass with 6:23 left in the game. But the 49ers wouldn’t score again the rest of the night. “We got the ‘dub.’ I really don’t care about [my] performance,” Jackson said. “We just need to keep going, keep staying locked in and keep staying focused, because we know what it was in 2019 when we were playing against [teams] like this [and] winning regular-season games. When the time came, we didn’t finish the season.” If the Ravens beat the Miami Dolphins (11-4) on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, they will lock up the top seed in the conference, get a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. But first, they’ll savor this one for at least a few hours. Then it’s on to another important game against another big-time opponent. “I believe we play better under pressure,” Jackson said. “We keep our poise. … I don’t think anybody plays like us.” Week 17 Dolphins at Ravens Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 3 View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 33-19 win over the host San Francisco 49ers in Monday night’s Week 16 game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Brian Wacker: So much for the NFL Most Valuable Player race, at least for 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. The Ravens’ defense made the last pick of the 2022 NFL draft look like Mr. Irrelevant, harassing him into four interceptions after he’d thrown just seven all season. The Ravens’ offense had it own issues at times — notably struggling to move the ball early and Lamar Jackson tripping over an official in the end zone and getting called for intentional grounding in the end zone — but it also didn’t need to move the ball very far at times after San Francisco gift-wrapped ideal field position. As for Jackson, he got off a sluggish start but eventually found his footing. He rushed for 45 yards, including a dazzling 30-yard scamper on third-and-16 with 24 seconds remaining in the first half. But it was what he did with his feet in the pocket that stood out. Time and again, he bought time for his teammates, shuffling and slipping away from defenders, all the while surveying the field. The two touchdown passes were important, of course, but so often was Jackson’s decision-making and dynamic playmaking, which included not turning the ball over. The Ravens dominated San Francisco physically and Jackson did the rest. Childs Walker: Wow. The Ravens have repeatedly solved the problems in front of them over the past two months, but they took their season to another level against the hottest team in the league. Lamar Jackson submitted his Most Valuable Player brief, dancing away from pressure and avoiding mistakes, unlike his 49ers counterpart, Brock Purdy. The Ravens’ defense counterpunched with the league’s most efficient offense in the first half, then dominated for much of the second. The only cloud in a brilliant sky was another knee injury to safety Kyle Hamilton, their most important defender, in the fourth quarter. The Ravens played with fire early, allowing chunk gains to the 49ers’ elite playmakers but bailing themselves out by creating turnovers. Brandon Stephens and Hamilton made tremendous reads on those takeaways, continuing their breakout seasons. After a rough start, Jackson began to find openings against San Francisco’s defense, driving the Ravens to a touchdown after Purdy’s second of three first-half interceptions. John Harbaugh made the right call, going for it on fourth down at the goal line to finish that drive. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the the Ravens’ 33-19 win over the San Francisco 49ers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson the favorite to win NFL MVP after win over 49ers and Brock Purdy Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 33-19 win over 49ers | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, ‘fueled’ by disrespect, beat 49ers, 33-19, as Lamar Jackson strengthens case for MVP Baltimore Ravens | Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton suffers knee injury vs. 49ers, but ‘doesn’t look bad’ The Ravens poured it on at the start of the second half, with Jackson working his improvisatory magic and another takeaway putting them in position to go up 30-12. Mike Preston: This was a shocker. The Ravens go on the road to the West Coast and play supposedly the best team in the NFL, and they beat the 49ers. This wasn’t just a slight victory, but a beatdown. The Ravens left no doubt they are the best team in the NFL. Not only the best, but the most physical. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson got off to a slow start, but the defense carried the team until he warmed up. It was an impressive win by the Ravens and it will be interesting to see how they play Sunday against the fleet-footed Miami Dolphins, but the Ravens have a physical presence about them that leads to domination. C.J. Doon: The Ravens’ best is still better than any team in the league. Sure, they were fortunate to grab two interceptions on tipped passes and a third after Brock Purdy’s arm was hit as he threw, but give credit to the defense for flying around, swarming to the ball and making it difficult for one of the league’s best offenses to get comfortable. Mike Macdonald only bolstered his head coaching candidacy with how he made Purdy look more like Mr. Irrelevant than an MVP frontrunner. The Ravens looked more physical throughout the game, which is no small feat against a San Francisco team that had been bullying its way to the top of the NFC. A plus-four turnover margin is not sustainable week to week, but playing tough certainly is. Of course, it couldn’t come easy, with another knee injury for star safety Kyle Hamilton and a late 49ers rally ruining what was otherwise a standout night. Tim Schwartz: What a Christmas night beatdown. It felt like nobody really gave the Ravens a chance (the betting line closed at 6 1/2 in favor of San Francisco) and they left no doubt which team is better right now by going into Santa Clara and bullying the NFC’s top team. They spooked 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy early and he never recovered, throwing four interceptions including two to Mr. First Team All-Pro Kyle Hamilton. Lamar Jackson is the favorite to win his second Most Valuable Player award with a commanding performance that was made even more eye-popping thanks to Purdy’s ineptitude. Name a team with wins better than the Ravens’ against the Lions, Seahawks and 49ers? Not because those teams in particular are the best in the league, but the way they dismantled all three is what makes the Ravens the best team in football. There is no contest for that title right now. But as we all know in Baltimore, they will be judged on what they do in the postseason. View the full article

After picking off NFL Most Valuable Player candidate Brock Purdy twice Monday night, Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter of a 33-19 win against the host San Francisco 49ers. But it might not sideline the star defender for very long. Hamilton went down after making a tackle with 9:43 left in the game and immediately grabbed his left knee. He was attended to by team trainers and limped off to the sideline under his own power before entering the blue medical tent. The Ravens, leading by two touchdowns with around three minutes remaining, later ruled the star defender doubtful to return. After the game, coach John Harbaugh said it “doesn’t look bad for anybody” when it comes to injuries for the Ravens (12-3), who boast the NFL’s best record and face the Miami Dolphins next week in a battle for the AFC’s top seed. Harbaugh said the team would have more information on Tuesday but is “fairly optimistic” about receiving positive news. It’s the same knee Hamilton injured two weeks ago in a win over the Los Angeles Rams. He returned to practice the following week wearing a brace on his knee and played in a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars despite being listed as questionable, recording a team-high seven tackles. Hamilton has performed at a Pro Bowl if not All-Pro level this season, recording 76 tackles, 10 passes defensed, three sacks, a forced fumble and four interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 12. Right guard Kevin Zeitler also exited in the fourth quarter with a thigh injury and was ruled questionable to return. Offensive lineman Patrick Mekari, who has been rotating with left tackle Ronnie Stanley over the past few games, was evaluated for a head injury. This story might be updated. View the full article

Marcus Williams #32 of the Baltimore Ravens intercepts a pass intended for George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ronnie Bell (10) runs against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams, top, tackles San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) avoids the grasp of San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) as offensive tackle Morgan Moses (78) blocks during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, middle, is tackled by Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, left, and linebacker Roquan Smith (0) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) walks off the field with trainers during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams (32) is congratulated by teammates after intercepting a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Patrick Queen #6 of the Baltimore Ravens hits George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers after Queen’s interception during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates with wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) after connecting on a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Nelson Agholor #15 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrate after catching a touchdown during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left, celebrates with tight end Isaiah Likely after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left, catches a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Gus Edwards #35 of the Baltimore Ravens stiff arms Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker (9) celebrates after kicking a field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers dives past Marlon Humphrey #44 of the Baltimore Ravens while scoring a rushing touchdown during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) runs against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers attempts to tackle Zay Flowers #4 of the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards, right, celebrates after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) scores against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens kicks a field goal during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Justin Madubuike #92 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (43) is tackled against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers attempts to block Marlon Humphrey #44 of the Baltimore Ravens as Humphrey tackles Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, right, is tackled by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, throws to ball while trying to avoid San Francisco 49ers defensive end Chase Young during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. Jackson was called for intentional grounding in the end zone on the play, which scored a safety for the 49ers. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) An official falls down as Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens is pressured by Fred Warner #54 and Chase Young #92 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with teammates after his interception during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Kyle Juszczyk #44 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Baltimore Ravens as Hamilton returns an interception during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images) Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Baltimore Ravens intercepts a pass intended for Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens’ Tylan Wallace, foreground left, returns a kickoff against San Francisco 49ers’ Darrell Luter Jr. during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) View the full article

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, who was questionable for Monday night’s showdown against the San Francisco 49ers with a foot injury, is active for the blockbuster between the NFL’s two best teams and top two defenses. Flowers, who leads the team in catches and receiving yards, was a full practice participant Friday and Saturday. Coach John Harbaugh said earlier in the week that he had “no concern” about the rookie’s availability to face the NFC-leading 49ers, who are allowing the second-fewest points per game (16.7) behind the Ravens (16.1) and surrender the second-fewest passing yards (262.6) per game. AFC-leading Baltimore (11-3) will, however, be without cornerbacks Arthur Maulet (knee) and Jalyn-Armour Davis (concussion). Earlier in the day, Baltimore elevated wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon from the practice squad. The move is likely special teams related with Maulet and Armour-Davis out. Also inactive for the Ravens are guard Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, center Sam Mustipher, cornerback Damarion “Pepe” Williams” and quarterbacks Josh Johnson and Malik Cunningham, with Johnson designated as the emergency third quarterback. The 49ers (11-3), meanwhile, will be without second-string running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) and key defenders defensive tackle Arik Armstead (foot/knee) and linebacker Oren Burks (knee). Their best interior pass rusher, Javon Hargrave, is active, though, after being questionable with a hamstring injury. Other players inactive for San Francisco are No. 3 wide receiver Jauan Jennings (concussion), reserve tight end Ross Dwelley (ankle), cornerback Samuel Womack and quarterback Brandon Allen. More coverage Mike Preston: Ravens vs. 49ers is a throwback game that will be won in the trenches | COMMENTARY Ravens vs. 49ers scouting report for Week 16: Who has the edge? Ravens face something new in 49ers, a team good enough to make them look bad in ‘game of the year’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has evolved on path to potential second NFL MVP award: ‘People really respect it’ How will the Ravens replace injured running back Keaton Mitchell? ‘We’re gonna run our offense.’ Ravens vs. 49ers staff picks: Who will win Monday’s Week 16 game in San Francisco? Do-everything Kyle Hamilton will be key to Ravens checking 49ers’ remarkable playmakers View the full article

Ravens cornerback Arthur Maulet was declared out with a knee injury, while wide receiver Zay Flowers is questionable to play because of a foot injury, the team reported ahead of its Christmas night clash with the San Francisco 49ers. Flowers, who leads the team in catches and receiving yards, was a full practice participant Friday and Saturday, and coach John Harbaugh said earlier in the week he had “no concern” about the rookie receiver’s availability to face the NFC-leading 49ers. The Ravens also declared cornerback and special teams contributor Jalyn Armour-Davis out with a concussion. Maulet, one of the Ravens’ options to cover the slot, played 10 defensive snaps last weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars and 23 the week before that against the Los Angeles Rams. He did not practice Friday or Saturday after suffering what Harbaugh described as a flare-up Thursday. Damarion “Pepe” Williams could be an option to step in for him. Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (illness), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (concussion) and safety Marcus Williams (groin) are expected to play after they were not listed with injury designations for the game. The 49ers, meanwhile, declared one of their key interior defenders, defensive tackle Arik Armstead, out with a foot/knee injury. Their most productive interior pass rusher, Javon Hargrave, is questionable with a hamstring injury and was listed as a limited participant in Saturday’s practices. Other 49ers declared out are starting linebacker Oren Burks (knee), No. 3 wide receiver Jauan Jennings (concussion) and reserve tight end Ross Dwelley (ankle). View the full article

A day after a half-dozen Raven players were either limited or did not practice, Baltimore looked remarkably healthy Friday in Owings Mills three days before its blockbuster Monday night showdown against the San Francisco 49ers. Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (illness) was a full participant after being out Thursday, though he told The Baltimore Sun that he was still getting over an illness. Fellow receiver Zay Flowers (foot) also fully practiced after being limited a day earlier, as did left tackle Ronnie Stanley (concussion) and safety Marcus Williams (groin). Outside linebacker Malik Hamm (ankle) fully practiced for a second straight day, though the Ravens will soon have to make a decision on what to do with the Baltimore native and undrafted rookie out of Lafayette. Hamm’s 21-day window to be added to the active roster comes to a close Monday and if they don’t activate him he will revert to injured reserve. “That’s a conversation I think [general manager] Eric [DeCosta] and I are going to have today [or] tomorrow and see where we’re at with that,” coach John Harbaugh said. The only players who didn’t practice for the Ravens on Friday were cornerbacks Jalyn Armour-Davis (concussion) and Arthur Maulet (knee), who had a flare-up in his knee, according to Harbaugh, after being limited a day earlier. “We’ll see where we’re at come game time,” the coach said. For the 49ers, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (hamstring) returned after not practicing Thursday, though he was also limited. Hargrave, the 6-foot-2, 305-pound former Pittsburgh Steeler and Philadelphia Eagle, missed last week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals and is a key member of San Francisco’s defensive front with 40 tackles, six sacks and 13 quarterback hits this season. Defensive tackle Arik Armstead (foot/knee) did not practice for a second straight day, however, along with linebacker Oren Burks (knee), wide receiver Jauan Jennings (concussion) and tight end Ross Dwelley (ankle). Guard Ben Bartch (finger) was also added to the injury report and limited, while running back Elijah Mitchell (knee), who had been inactive the past two games, returned to practice and was limited. Guard Spencer Burford (knee) and corberback Deommodore Lenoir (rib) were both full participants, while defensive end Clelin Ferrell (ankle) was limited. View the full article

BEREA, Ohio — Joe Flacco looks much different, younger and a little less like his new coach. The beard is gone. “It was a mess,” said the Browns’ freshly shaven quarterback. While his facial hair may have been a bit unkempt, and made him a taller lookalike to Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, everything else about Flacco has been neat and polished — if not somewhat shocking — since Cleveland scooped him off his couch in New Jersey four weeks ago to troubleshoot their QB crisis. Flacco has been fabulous, way better than expected. In three games, the 38-year-old has passed for 939 yards, with 374 coming last week, when Flacco, in just his second start at home, shook off three interceptions and led a fourth-quarter rally for a thrilling 20-17 win over the Chicago Bears. Flacco threw for 212 yards alone during a brilliant fourth-quarter performance, highlighted by him threading a 51-yard touchdown pass through three Bears defensive backs to wide receive Amari Cooper. The comeback came inside a personal comeback, leading to speculation as to whether Flacco should be considered for a season-long NFL award. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Odell Beckham Jr. returns to practice; 49ers DT Javon Hargrave back Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens vs. 49ers is a throwback game that will be won in the trenches | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. 49ers scouting report for Week 16: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens face something new in 49ers, a team good enough to make them look bad in ‘game of the year’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has evolved on path to potential second NFL MVP award: ‘People really respect it’ “Who knows what constitutes as a comeback?” Flacco said, brushing aside the idea of being named Comeback Player of the Year. “I’ve only played three games. It’s kind of crazy. Come back from not going to training camp and busing kids around?” The bottom line is that Flacco, a former Super Bowl MVP and 15-year veteran, has been a godsend for the Browns (9-5), who are on the verge of an AFC playoff berth going into Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans (8-6). He’s not only salvaged an injury-riddled season for Cleveland, Flacco has the Browns and their fans believing it could be something more. “He’s a great leader for us, great veteran presence at that quarterback position,” linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. said. “We’re happy to have him, a steady hand that we needed. He’s doing a great job for us.” From the moment he arrived, Flacco was confident he could play at a high level. First, though, he had to convince everyone else. It only took a few throws in his workout last month for the Browns to show that his arm strength hasn’t waned. And after a few plays in his Dec. 3 debut at Los Angeles, it became apparent that Flacco could still analyze a defense, read the field and make quality completions. The footwork is still precise, and while he’s not going to draw any comparisons to Deshaun Watson in terms of mobility, Flacco has developed a keen pocket presence through the experience of playing in 186 career games. He’s still got it. That’s not to say he’s been perfect. Flacco threw three picks last week, although two of them could be attributed to a miscommunication with rookie Cedric Tillman and a deflected pass. After the game, Flacco admitted part of him wanted to crawl into a hole and hide after making the mistakes. Instead, he made up for them, going 11 of 13 in the final quarter and connecting with Cooper on a TD that even days later seemed impossible. With the Browns trailing 17-10 and three minutes left, Flacco rolled right and spotted Cooper running a deep crossing pattern. Flacco led him perfectly, and Cooper took it from there, making the grab, turning up field and tight-roping his way down the sideline. On Monday, Bears coach Matt Ebeflus was still bemoaning that one of his players should have picked it off. Flacco smiled when asked if he saw all three Bears, or if there might have been a little luck involved. “The safety, I’m not worried about,” Flacco said. “You know there’s the corner out there on the sideline, but at the same time, there’s always some kind of flat player over there. If he’s making that pick, then you’re in trouble. “It is funny how that throw ends up working out and it just happens to be by the ending picture you see three guys there. It was kind of like that perfect storm coming together for us. You make tight throws all the time, that one just kind of looked that way at the end.” NOTES: All-Pro LG Joel Bitonio didn’t practice, but said he’s made good progress after missing last week’s game with a lower back issue. Bitonio started having back spasms in pregame warmups and by the third offensive series he couldn’t get into a stance. When Bitonio went off, it meant RG Wyatt Teller was the only healthy offensive lineman from the team’s Week 1 lineup. … LB Anthony Walker Jr. (knee), S Juan Thornhill (calf), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (pectoral) and LB Jordan Kunaszyk (calf) also sat out practice. View the full article

The Ravens’ matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night might be one of those old smash-mouth games in which both teams rely on strong running games and outstanding defenses. The team that controls the line of scrimmage and pace of the game will probably win. As much as the NFL has supposedly changed to pass-happy offenses, this game might be a throwback. It’s like two heavyweight fighters meeting in the boxing ring. “Well, it’s probably an interesting term,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of it being a throwback game. “I think that’s always going to be football. It’s going to always be that at the end of the day. So yes, probably it’s going to be that kind of game for sure. “You have two strong defenses. You have two strong offensive lines, strong running games. You have playmakers on every side also and you have strong special teams, and all these things come into play in a game like that.” This game has other interesting angles. The Ravens (AFC) and 49ers (NFC) are the top two teams in their respective conferences with identical 11-3 records. The contest features three candidates for the NFL Most Valuable Player Award in Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey. But that’s all part of the hype. This game should be decided by which team is kicking the most butt in the trenches. To me, that’s entertainment. To me, that’s football. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. 49ers scouting report for Week 16: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens face something new in 49ers, a team good enough to make them look bad in ‘game of the year’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has evolved on path to potential second NFL MVP award: ‘People really respect it’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Odell Beckham Jr. out with illness Thursday; 49ers missing 3 starters on defense Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Lamar Jackson on the challenge the 49ers present | VIDEO “You work for these kinds of moments, these kinds of games,” Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum said. “So, as a competitor, it’s certainly exciting, but also, at the end of the day, it’s two great teams going against each other, and you can’t get into the hype too much. You’ve just got to go out there and perform your best, but certainly exciting.” The Ravens enter the game with the league’s No. 5 ranked offense and top rushing attack, averaging 163.8 yards per game on the ground. Jackson leads the team in rushing with 741 yards followed by running back Gus Edwards with 663. But the Ravens won’t have Keaton Mitchell after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in a 23-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday night. The Ravens don’t have another speedster or explosive runner like the undrafted rookie on their roster. “We’re going to miss having that guy that can just take the ball from the minus-10 [-yard line] all the way to the house any given play in any little, small window,” Jackson said. “But I believe our guys are just going to step up all across the board. Our brother went down. Things like that happen in the NFL, but we still have to have a level head and level heart. We still have a long season left to play.” Of course, Jackson is the X-factor, as he is in every game. But instead of having to worry about Jackson and Mitchell breaking long runs off the edge, opposing teams can just focus on Jackson. San Francisco has the No. 3 run defense in the NFL, allowing only 84.9 yards a game. The 49ers have the best group of linebackers in the league led by star Fred Warner (team-leading 116 tackes) and flanked by Dre Greenlaw (98) and Oren Burks (37). Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore SunRavens quarterback Lamar Jackson eludes 49ers defensive lineman Nick Bosa and cornerback K’Waun Williams during a game Dec. 1, 2019. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) And then there is defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (40 tackles, seven sacks) and defensive end Nick Bosa (46 tackles, 11 sacks). Bosa is a stud and could cause problems for the Ravens’ offensive tackles, which has been a rotation of Ronnie Stanley, Morgan Moses, Patrick Mekari and Daniel Faalele. If you thought the Ravens’ defensive players could run to the ball, wait until you see this group. “The defensive line is pushing the pocket,” Jackson said. “Their linebackers are flying all across the field and making tackles. Their [defensive backs] are playing fundamental, sound football.” Statistically, the Ravens defense has played better than San Francisco’s this season. Baltimore is ranked No. 2 overall and the 49ers are No. 9, but the Ravens have struggled against the run, allowing 102.1 yards per game. The Ravens have allowed more than 100 rushing yards six times this season. None of those teams had a player the caliber of McCaffrey, who has rushed for 1,292 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught 57 passes for 509 yards and seven more scores. The 49ers are tied with the Ravens for second in the league with 23 rushing touchdowns, behind only the Miami Dolphins (26). In the past five years, the 49ers have scored 107 rushing touchdowns, second most in the NFL. If the Ravens stop McCaffrey, they have more than a reasonable chance of winning. Not only do linebackers Roquan Smith (142 tackles) and Patrick Queen (112) need to have big games, but so does nose tackle Michael Pierce. Their performances have fallen off lately. Pierce is getting turned instead of staying square and needs to fight off offensive linemen to keep them off Smith and Queen. Like Bosa, 49ers left tackle Trent Williams might be the top player at his position in the game. “McCaffrey is one of the best in our league and for good reason,” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. “He’s versed at a lot of different things that you can do. He’s good in pass [protection], he’s good catching the ball, obviously, he’s good at running the ball, as well. “He presents a lot of challenges, and he’s been doing it for a long time, so respect to him. But I feel like on our side, we have a good plan to try and slow him down, and I think if we execute, we’ll be good.” That’s true. In this game, there are so many storylines. The 49ers have the stars in wide receiver Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle, McCaffrey, Warner and Greenlaw. The Ravens have Jackson, but they are built more around the team concept. They reflect the personality and philosophy of Harbaugh. Maybe that works in the Ravens’ favor because they are going to need a strong work ethic to beat the 49ers. Whoever controls the line of scrimmage will probably win the game. View the full article

The Ravens beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-7, becoming the first AFC team to clinch a playoff berth. The 49ers won their sixth straight, 45-29 over the Arizona Cardinals. Who will have the advantage when the AFC’s best and NFC’s best meet on Christmas night? Ravens passing game vs. 49ers pass defense Lamar Jackson was pressured 13 times in the Ravens’ win over the Jaguars but consistently used his legs to buy extra time and made the play of the game when he spun out of a potential sack and hit tight end Isaiah Likely for a 26-yard gain to set up a touchdown. Likely has stepped up in Mark Andrews’ absence with 14 catches on 19 targets for 193 yards and two touchdowns over the past three games. The 49ers have covered tight ends well and shut down the middle of the field better than any defense in the league, per DVOA. Will the Ravens respond by trying to get Likely outside, where he he’s made some of his biggest plays? Their wide receivers faded from the game plan in Jacksonville after Jackson connected with Rashod Bateman on a few early plays. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken turned to his run game to secure the victory in part because his tackles, particularly Ronnie Stanley, struggled to keep the Jaguars’ young edge rushers off Jackson. Stanley left the game in the fourth quarter to be examined for a possible concussion, but even before that, he was struggling to plant on his injured right knee. The Ravens have rotated Patrick Mekari in for Stanley and Daniel Faalele in for right tackle Morgan Moses, who appears to be dealing with lingering effects from a shoulder injury that cost him three games in October and November. The Ravens’ tackle play will be in the spotlight against San Francisco’s gifted defensive front, which features five first-round draft picks, led by edge rusher Nick Bosa (10 1/2 sacks, 33 quarterback hits), who’s in the class of Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt as a game wrecker. The 49ers rarely blitz, because they don’t have to, ranking top 10 in the league in sacks and pressures thanks to the one-on-one gifts of their defensive linemen. Coach Kyle Shanahan said he could have defensive tackles Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave, elite interior pass rushers who were out for last Sunday’s win over the Cardinals, back to face the Ravens, though neither practiced Thursday. The rich got richer when the 49ers traded for 2020 No. 2 overall pick Chase Young midway through the season. Behind their monsters upfront, they have the league’s best all-around linebacker in Fred Warner, who’s as good in coverage as he is against the run. If there’s a relative weakness, it’s on third down, where the 49ers rank 22nd in the league. Their coverage on outside routes is good, not great, but Jackson best throws are often to the middle. EDGE: 49ers 49ers passing game vs. Ravens pass defense San Francisco has the third most efficient offense through 14 games since 1981, per DVOA. Second-year quarterback Brock Purdy is the Most Valuable Player frontrunner because he throws accurately (69.8%), avoids mistakes (29 touchdowns to seven interceptions) and benefits from the league’s best quartet of playmakers. The Ravens have covered deep passes better than any team in the league, but wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (59 catches, 1,090 yards, six touchdowns) will be a nightmare challenge for cornerbacks Brandon Stephens and Marlon Humphrey. Deebo Samuel is just as devastating in his way, because he averages 9.4 yards after the catch every time he touches the ball. And don’t forget the league’s best tight end, George Kittle, who averages 15.7 yards per catch and is nearly as great a YAC threat as Samuel. Or running back Christian McCaffrey, who ranks second on the team in receptions (57) and first in touchdown catches (seven). Purdy holds the ball longer than the Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence, so Ravens pass rushers will have more opportunities to get home, but he’s protected by Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams. No one has stopped the 49ers since they came back healthy from their Week 9 bye. They have averaged 34.5 points over a six-game winning streak, and Purdy has thrown 17 touchdown passes with just two interceptions in that span. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens vs. 49ers is a throwback game that will be won in the trenches | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens face something new in 49ers, a team good enough to make them look bad in ‘game of the year’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has evolved on path to potential second NFL MVP award: ‘People really respect it’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Odell Beckham Jr. out with illness Thursday; 49ers missing 3 starters on defense Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Lamar Jackson on the challenge the 49ers present | VIDEO The Ravens will counter with elite virtues of their own. They’ll take on the league’s most efficient red zone offense with their No. 2 red zone defense, which has allowed just 15 touchdowns on 40 possessions. They excel against screens because linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen move so quickly side to side and because of safety Kyle Hamilton’s range and length near the line of scrimmage. They bring pressure not just from the edge, with Odafe Oweh, Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, but from the middle, where defensive tackle Justin Madubuike is looking to extend his 11-game sack streak. They have blitzed less in recent weeks, but exotic pressure designs are another tool in coordinator Mike Macdonald’s bag. The Ravens allowed a 65-yard touchdown pass against the Jaguars but have coordinated well in zone coverage most of the season. Their tackling will need to be on point against Kittle and Samuel, who can turn seemingly innocuous passes into touchdowns. The Ravens have allowed just 4.5 yards per pass attempt. This will be their greatest test. EDGE: Even Ravens running game vs. 49ers run defense The Ravens lead the league in rushing and rank second in yards per attempt but lost their top big-play threat, Keaton Mitchell, to a season-ending knee injury. Justice Hill runs hard and can bounce to the outside, but his 4.4 yards per carry pale compared with Mitchell’s 8.4. Gus Edwards has thrived near the goal line with 11 touchdowns, but he’s averaging a career-low 4.1 yards per carry. The Ravens will hope to receive a spark from veteran Melvin Gordon III, who ran well in an early two-game glimpse and has been waiting in the wings. Their running game will hinge more than ever on Jackson, who led the team with 97 yards on 12 carries against the Jaguars. He’s a threat to scramble, but it will be interesting to see if Monken leans more on designed runs for his quarterback now that the playoffs are near. If the 49ers have a weakness, run defense is it. They rank 18th in rush DVOA and have allowed 4.3 yards per carry. The Cardinals, with a dangerous running quarterback in Kyler Murray, rolled up 234 yards on 30 carries last Sunday. Warner is great. So is Bosa. But the rest of San Francisco’s stars up front are better as pass rushers than run stuffers. Starting strong safety Talanoa Hufanga, one of the team’s top tacklers before he went on injured reserve, is missed, though Ji’Ayir Brown has filled in well. EDGE: Ravens 49ers running game vs. Ravens run defense Shanahan has always featured the run heavily, and the 49ers are elite here as well, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt. McCaffrey is the league’s top all-around running back, with 1,292 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground to go with his receiving production. No one else gets the ball much, but Samuel is a threat when he does, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. The Ravens have been vulnerable to the run, allowing 4.3 yards per carry, but if there’s good news for them, it’s that they’ve defended zone concepts — Shanahan’s preference — better than straight-ahead power. The lateral playmaking of Smith, Queen and Hamilton will be key as will solid edge setting from Clowney, Oweh and rookie Tavius Robinson. EDGE: 49ers Ravens special teams vs. 49ers special teams Justin Tucker made all three of his field goal attempts in windy Jacksonville and is up to 27 for 32 on the season, with four of his five misses coming from beyond 50 yards. The Ravens have averaged 14.4 yards on punt returns and will hope for another big one from Tylan Wallace, who finished off the Los Angeles Rams with a 76-yard runback while filling in for Devin Duvernay. Punt coverage remains the Achilles heel, though the Ravens are up to eighth in special teams DVOA. The 49ers rank 24th, with a weak return game and a rookie kicker, Jake Moody, who has made 18 of 21 field goal attempts but has struggled on kickoffs. EDGE: Ravens Ravens intangibles vs. 49ers intangibles Both teams have clinched playoff spots. Both are riding high, with the 49ers having won six in a row and the Ravens having won eight of nine. The 49ers are 5-1 at home, the Ravens 6-1 on the road. Purdy is the leading candidate for MVP, Jackson No. 2. Shanahan and John Harbaugh have both guided teams to the Super Bowl and believe they have good chances to get back this year. Neither team desperately needs a win, though both would like to take the next step toward clinching a first-round bye in the playoffs. EDGE: Even Prediction The Ravens have the running game and speedy defensive playmakers to keep the 49ers from running away with it. They will need to keep Jackson from being swarmed and score touchdowns when they reach the red zone. San Francisco is the best team in the league and simply has more room for error given its quartet of All-Pro skill players. 49ers 31, Ravens 26 View the full article

This scenario is new for the 2023 Ravens. They were underdogs just once before. They have lost three games, but through 14 have yet to be clearly outplayed. In the San Francisco 49ers, however, they will face not just the best team in the NFC, not just the current favorite to win Super Bowl LVIII but an opponent that could make them look bad if they don’t come out sharp on Christmas night. The 49ers have the same 11-3 record as the Ravens. In fact, they’ve lost two games to AFC North opponents — 19-17 to the Cleveland Browns and 31-17 to the Cincinnati Bengals — though they were diminished by injuries at the time. But they have built an aura over six straight victories, all of them resounding, and their star power is such that they seem almost designed in a lab to exploit the Ravens’ vulnerabilities. This rare prime-time matchup between the AFC’s best and the NFC’s best could impact playoff seedings, could decide a Most Valuable Player race in which 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is the current favorite ahead of Lamar Jackson. But it’s more elemental than that for the Ravens: a chance to see where they stand against an equally accomplished team. “I know they’ve beaten a lot of teams pretty bad,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “So I think it’ll probably be the game of the year.” Humphrey and his teammates didn’t bother acting like this is a ho-hum matchup, even though they’re trying to take a business-as-usual attitude to preparing. When they gathered for their first training camp practice five months ago, hopes high but the road ahead long and twisting, this is what they had in mind. “You work for these kinds of moments, these kinds of games,” center Tyler Linderbaum said. “So, as a competitor, it’s certainly exciting, but also, at the end of the day, it’s two great teams going against each other, and you can’t get into the hype too much.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens vs. 49ers is a throwback game that will be won in the trenches | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. 49ers scouting report for Week 16: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has evolved on path to potential second NFL MVP award: ‘People really respect it’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Odell Beckham Jr. out with illness Thursday; 49ers missing 3 starters on defense Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Lamar Jackson on the challenge the 49ers present | VIDEO Coach John Harbaugh expects a smorgasbord for hardcore NFL fans, who live to break down tactics and matchups. “I think football fans — real football fans — are going to look at this one and really be intrigued by all that,” he said. “They do so many good things. It’s a system that [49ers coach] Kyle [Shanahan] has built forth through the tradition of his dad [Mike Shanahan], and he’s taken it to another, even, place. He really has expanded it and evolved it in a great way, and he does it around his players. I mean, you’ve got five, probably, All-Pro skill guys on that offense, not to mention a really good offensive line and a Hall of Fame tackle.” Asked to identify the greatest threat posed by the 49ers, Harbaugh replied: “How could I even pick one? There’s so many.” As he alluded to, the daunting task begins with a 49ers offense that ranks third in the league in scoring, first in yards per play and first in FTN Fantasy’s defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA), a metric that breaks down every NFL play and compares a team’s performance with a league-average baseline base on situation and opponent. There is no segment of the field San Francisco cannot attack. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has caught 40 passes beyond 10 yards, per Pro Football Focus. His partner, Deebo Samuel, has 35 receptions inside 10 yards but averages 9.4 yards after the catch. Running back Christian McCaffrey has caught just three passes beyond 10 yards but leads the team in receiving touchdowns with seven. George Kittle averages 15.7 yards per reception and is easily PFF’s highest-graded tight end. “The way they’re able to make those guys interchangeable parts is impressive,” Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald said. Because he was the last player picked in the 2022 draft and because he’s working with an embarrassment of riches, Purdy is sometimes dismissed as a “system quarterback,” but Ravens defenders brushed past that notion. “You work for these kinds of moments, these kinds of games,” Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum said. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) “I just think that’s not true, just from what I’ve seen,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “He’s making every throw that you can make as a quarterback. It’s on time, on target. He makes good decisions, he’s mobile, and he’s got a great cast around him at the same time.” The Ravens have allowed fewer yards per attempt than any defense in the league, and just as the 49ers attack everywhere, they have defended every part of the field fairly well. Their coverage numbers are worst, however, against running backs (24th in DVOA) and tight ends (14th in DVOA), not the greatest recipe against McCaffrey and Kittle. That said, don’t tell the Ravens they take a back seat in these matchups. “I’m betting on us 10 out of 10 times, 11 if you want to add one,” linebacker Roquan Smith said. “I think they have a lot of weapons and really good distributor in Purdy, who can get it out to those guys. They definitely have a lot of weapons, but so do we. I like our team versus any team.” Smith’s lateral speed along with that of his linebacking partner, Patrick Queen, will be essential against McCaffrey and Samuel as will Hamilton’s unusual length and physicality from the nickel spot. The Ravens will also look to disrupt Purdy with their multi-pronged rush. He has thrown well against blitzes, but his PFF passing grade drops from an excellent 91.1 when he’s kept clean to 58.4 when he’s under pressure. The 49ers’ efficiency extends to their running game, where McCaffrey averages 5.3 yards per carry with 13 scores. Again, it’s difficult for defenses to focus on one spot; though the Pro Bowl running back does most of his damage going left, he’s efficient going both up the middle (6.4 yards per carry, per PFF) and outside the tackle (5.4 yards per carry). The Ravens, meanwhile, rank just 14th in success rate against power runs and 20th in the percentage of runs they stuff at the line of scrimmage, according to DVOA creator Aaron Schatz. The 49ers’ efficiency extends to their running game, where Christian McCaffrey averages 5.3 yards per carry with 13 scores. (Rick Scuteri/AP) For all their offensive weapons, the 49ers have just as many stars on defense, led by All-Pro edge rusher Nick Bosa, All-Pro inside linebacker Fred Warner and two of the best interior pass rushers in the league, Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave. They’ll go at the Ravens’ battered tackles, Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses, who have ceded snaps to Patrick Mekari and Daniel Faalele in recent weeks. Stanley struggled to plant on his injured right knee last Sunday, allowing seven pressures on 26 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF, before he left to be examined for a possible concussion. Bosa will be at least as difficult an assignment as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Josh Allen, who did much of that damage against Stanley. “Morgan and Ronnie have battled through a lot of bumps and bruises and nicks here and there, and they’ve fought through it,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “We’ve had to deal with other fronts, and this is just another one of those challenges. They do a great job up front, they’re awfully well-coached and they’re very talented. We’ll have our work cut out for us, just like we did last week.” San Francisco is more vulnerable to the run, but the Ravens just lost the top big-play threat from their backfield when rookie Keaton Mitchell suffered a season-ending knee injury. Jackson, of course, is the true centerpiece of their running attack and the playmaker who will present just as many headaches for the 49ers — “He really is good at whatever they try to do,” Shanahan said — as San Francisco’s stars present to the Ravens. That’s why the eyes of the football world will be on this matchup, which could be reprised in the Super Bowl. Harbaugh knows how good the 49ers are but has also developed a deep appreciation for his team’s adaptability to each opponent and each game situation. “That’s the thing about this team; it’s a very mature team, and I think they understand the challenge in front of them, and they understand their opponent, and they understand themselves,” he said. “You get into the game … and they also understand game situations really well. That’s what you have to do this time of year, and I really hope that that expresses itself over the next few weeks.” Week 16 Ravens at 49ers Monday, 8:15 p.m. TV: ABC, ESPN Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: 49ers by 5 1/2 View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson isn’t quite sure where his NFL Most Valuable Player trophy from 2019 is. The gold, two-pronged guerdon topped by the league’s shield is packed away in a box somewhere in his sprawling South Florida home. He doesn’t much care about trying to become just the 11th player in league history to win at least two of them, either, other than saying it would be a nice honor. There are more pressing affairs. That was the case Sunday night in Jacksonville, where on the Ravens’ first offensive series of the game against the Jaguars, the headset in the quarterback’s helmet wasn’t working and thus he was unable to communicate with offensive coordinator Todd Monken. That left quarterbacks coach Tee Martin to signal the play to Jackson by hand until Jackson could get his helmet switched out. The only problem was that, on one play, Jackson misunderstood the signal. “When Tee was signaling in the number, I thought I was calling the right play,” Jackson said as he sat down for an interview with The Baltimore Sun on Thursday. “I’m looking and it’s not the right personnel for that. I just called it anyway, and it was a success.” The same can be said for the Ravens so far this season. Jackson hit wide receiver Rashod Bateman on a short crossing route on the play and Baltimore (11-3) went on to kick a field goal on the drive in an eventual 23-7 win to stay atop the AFC standings. As the quarterback walked off the field at EverBank Stadium, chants of “MVP” reigned down, much the way they did four years ago when he joined Tom Brady as the only players in NFL history to win the award unanimously. Now comes a blockbuster Christmas night showdown against the NFC-leading San Francisco 49ers (11-3) and their own MVP candidates in quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey. Jackson has the second-best odds (+500) to win the MVP award behind Purdy (-200), according to FanDuel, but there is plenty of other competition, including Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (+800), Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (+900) and McCaffrey (+1200). But this is not the same Jackson from four years ago, according to teammates. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens vs. 49ers is a throwback game that will be won in the trenches | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. 49ers scouting report for Week 16: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens face something new in 49ers, a team good enough to make them look bad in ‘game of the year’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Odell Beckham Jr. out with illness Thursday; 49ers missing 3 starters on defense Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Lamar Jackson on the challenge the 49ers present | VIDEO “Since he signed his [five-year, $260 million] deal, I think everyone can say you’ve seen a lot of changes he’s done to really be the leader of the team, not just the star player, but also the leader of the team as well,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. Humphrey added that Jackson is the first one to get to the team’s practice facility. He has asked for extra workouts. And he has been more vocal, giving speeches and addressing players when they haven’t performed at the level they should be. “Shoot, he told me, ‘Hey bro, we need you to play better,’ this past week,” Humphrey said after he struggled in an overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams. “All of these things, it’s been really encouraging to have. “He’s always going to step up with his play, but I think how he’s carried himself leadership wise, people see it and people really respect it.” Still, when asked if he considers himself the best quarterback in the league, Jackson wouldn’t say that he is, despite dynamic numbers that have him part of the MVP conversation for the second time just six years into his NFL career. His completion rate of 66.3% is a career high. He’s thrown for 3,105 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions while also rushing for 741 yards and five scores. His 96.5 passer rating is his highest mark since 2020. Then there are the plays that can’t be defined by numbers, like his Houdini-like escape from a sack against the Jaguars and throw-it-up-for-grabs completion to tight end Isaiah Likely between two defenders. Ravens vs. BengalsKarl Merton Ferron/Baltimore SunRavens quarterback Lamar Jackson enters the field as fans cheer during warmups before a Thursday night game against the Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) “Holy [crap]!” Monken said his reaction was. “You’re up in the [coaching] box. It was like right at this angle, and you’re hoping he’s coming back to the ball a little bit more. Those are the things you go over in terms of your scramble rules and the ability … He has a unique ability to place the ball. “To me, we’re unique. We have a two-play quarterback. They have to defend the first play, and they have to defend the second play.” To Jackson? “I’m the best at being Lamar,” he told The Sun. “That’s all.” It has helped that he has more playmakers around him than in the past, notably veteran wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor, both of whom who have been on Super Bowl-winning teams, along with rookie sensation Zay Flowers, among others. “The knowledge of having been to a Super Bowl, having been in different systems, having a feel for their quarterback,” Jackson said of Beckham’s and Agholor’s impact. He was even more effusive of Flowers, saying, “With his explosiveness, elusiveness, willingness to learn, willingness to get better … He’s not an ordinary rookie who makes a lot of mistakes, he really doesn’t.” Jackson seems to have learned from his, too. After fumbling seven times in the first five games this season, he has been more cognizant and secure with the ball with just one fumble in the past five games (though he did throw an interception in each of his past two games). He has also avoided injuries. After missing 11 games the past two years, including last year’s wild-card playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson has played every meaningful snap this year, despite having taken several big hits. Ravens vs. LionsKenneth K. Lam/Baltimore SunRavens quarterback Lamar Jackson runs for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Lions. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) And, perhaps most importantly, he has expanded his game while also gaining greater command of the offense this year. “You can see a maturity in his pass game,” running back Gus Edwards said. “He’s checking the ball down a lot more this year than earlier in his career; that takes a maturity. “He leads on the field with his play and some of the things he does that other quarterbacks aren’t willing to do, taking hits and sticking in the pocket. But he pushes us. He shows up every practice. He’s here all the time. He’s a leader in the huddle. Even when we have great games, like the [Detroit] Lions game, he’s like, ‘Man, we should have shut them out.’” Said Beckham: “Being able to see all the things people don’t get to see is what surprised and impressed me the most. His knowledge of the game, the intensity in practice, his desire to win — these are things that can be seen but until you’re up close and personal you can never truly know how it is. I now know exactly why he is who he is.” Added Agholor: “I always knew he was a certain talent, an unreal talent. But when you get around him you get to see he’s truly a quarterback. It’s one thing to be an unreal talent, but to be a quarterback is something you’re truly chosen to do and he was chosen to be a quarterback. He has a good feel for everybody, he has a good feel for level of communication, he can read body language, he can read people’s abilities in different speeds, tempos, how you run routes.” Harbaugh, of course, has been here since the beginning, and he’s seen Jackson grow in his own way. “We evolve [and] circumstances change,” he said. “We find ourself in a different place, and I’ve always admired Lamar for every part of what he’s doing. He’s always done his best and he’s doing his best right now. “I would say this: He’s an A-plus leader right now. He’s been glue for the guys, and it’s been great to see.” And perhaps enough to land him another MVP trophy. 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The AFC-leading Ravens remain relatively healthy heading into a Week 16 matchup Monday night against the NFC-leading San Francisco 49ers. Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (illness) and cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (concussion) were the only players missing from Thursday’s practice in Owings Mills. Wide receiver Zay Flowers (foot), right tackle Morgan Moses and cornerback Ronald Darby returned to practice after sitting out Wednesday. Flowers was limited along with left tackle Ronnie Stanley (concussion), safety Marcus Williams (groin) and cornerback Arthur Maulet (knee). Stanley practiced in a red noncontact jersey after exiting Sunday night’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and entering concussion protocol. The Ravens have been rotating Stanley and Moses with backups Patrick Mekari and Daniel Faalele in the past two games. Moses has dealt with a shoulder injury this season, while Stanley has missed four games with a knee injury. “Morgan and Ronnie have battled through a lot of bumps and bruises and nicks here and there, and they’ve fought through it,” Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said after practice. “We’ve had to deal with other [defensive] fronts, and this is just another one of those challenges.” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday there was “no concern” with Flowers’ injury. The rookie leads the team with 65 catches for 680 yards. Rookie outside linebacker Malik Hamm (ankle), who has been designated to return from injured reserve, also practiced fully. The 49ers, meanwhile, are dealing with several injuries to a few of their top players. Three starters in defensive tackles Arik Armstead (knee) and Javon Hargrave (hamstring) and linebacker Oren Burks (knee) did not practice Thursday, while reserve defensive end Clelin Ferrell (ankle) was limited. No. 3 wide receiver Jauan Jennings (concussion), backup running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) and reserve tight end Ross Dwelley (ankle) also did not practice. Defensive end Nick Bosa and left tackle Trent Williams, two likely All-Pro selections, each received a day of rest, while starting guard Spencer Burford (knee) and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (rib) practiced fully. View the full article

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The Ravens will miss Keaton Mitchell. Those were the words of coach John Harbaugh on Wednesday, three days after the speedy and explosive undrafted rookie out of East Carolina went down with a season-ending knee injury early in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. In four days, Baltimore will face perhaps the best defense in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers, in a Christmas night blockbuster between the NFL’s two best teams. In other words, next man up, as Harbaugh and his players like to say. There is little the Ravens can do, after all, other than soldier on. The challenge, of course, is that while Gus Edwards and Justice Hill have been productive at times this season, neither comes close to matching the dynamic ability and speed of Mitchell, who was just starting to find a significant role in the offense when he suffered a torn ACL. “We’re going to miss having that guy that can just take the ball from the minus-10 all the way to the house any given play, any little, small window,” quarterback Lamar Jackson said. “But I believe our guys are just going to step up all across the board. Our brother went down. Things like that happen in the NFL, but we still have to [have a] level head [and a] level heart. We still have a long season left to play.” It starts Monday night in Santa Clara, California, where they’ll face a 49ers team that is third in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (89.4), fourth in rushing touchdowns per game (0.6) and second in points per game (16.7). Still, the 49ers haven’t been entirely impenetrable. Last week against the lowly 3-11 Arizona Cardinals, they gave up a whopping 234 rushing yards in a 45-29 win, with James Conner averaging 6.1 yards per carry, Emari Demercado 16 and quarterback Kyle Murray 8.2. Three other occasions this season, teams have topped 100 yards on the ground against San Francisco, though two of those came during a three-game losing streak in the middle of the season when they had several players out with injuries. And despite losing Mitchell, it’s not as if the Ravens, who lead the NFL by a wide margin with 2,293 rushing yards, are suddenly going to rewrite their playbook. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about John Harbaugh’s decision-making, running back rotation, offensive line woes and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 16 of 2023 NFL season: Bengals vs. Steelers, Browns vs. Texans, Cowboys vs. Dolphins and more Baltimore Ravens | In Ravens locker room, neighbors share lives and laughs, but ‘don’t be nasty’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. 49ers staff picks: Who will win Monday’s Week 16 game in San Francisco? Baltimore Ravens | Do-everything Kyle Hamilton will be key to Ravens checking 49ers’ remarkable playmakers Before Mitchell burst onto the scene in a Nov. 5 thrashing of the Seattle Seahawks in which he ripped off 138 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries, Baltimore still led the league in rushing and did so after losing their top running back at the time, J.K. Dobbins, to a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in Week 1. “We’re gonna run our offense,” Harbaugh said. “The plays he was running, the other guys can run. “Everybody puts their own fingerprint on the play. The play looks the way it does a lot of times because the guy’s running. … Everybody runs very similar plays but not all of them look the same. The guys running it will put their flair onto it. We’re gonna miss Keaton, he’s a great player, one of the young guys, kind of a revelation. He’ll continue to be that when he comes back. The other guys will get their chance, and they’ll get the job done.” How well is the question. In the past five games, the 6-foot-1, 238-pound Edwards is averaging just 3.34 yards per carry, well down from the 4.79 he averaged through the first 10 games this season. He has also taken something of a beating this season, suffering from turf toe and a concussion at different points, but also been a reliable force near the goal line with 11 touchdowns. Though the 5-10, 197-pound Hill is something between Edwards and Mitchell in terms of size and speed, he has also struggled at times, averaging just 3.17 yards per carry his past seven games, which included not even getting a carry two weeks ago against the Los Angeles Rams. Still, he brings a certain versatility that Mitchell didn’t — notably, pass blocking. In the past five games, Gus Edwards is averaging just 3.34 yards per carry, well down from the 4.79 he averaged through the first 10 games this season for the Ravens. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) “The offense is the offense,” Hill said. “The players are all interchangeable. That’s a big reason why they have us all here, is because we’re all versatile. Obviously [the coaches will] use you in certain ways, but we’re all capable.” At times, however, they have also been questionable. Aside from none of the Ravens’ backs having the same kind of burst as Mitchell — who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds at the NFL scouting combine — there have at times been other problems. Specifically, Jackson and Hill have struggled occasionally with handoffs on run-pass option plays, resulting in a few fumbles. Though most of those issues occurred early in the season, the Ravens will also face two of the league’s best defenses in the 49ers and Miami Dolphins in their next two games. “We’ve just had more time to build together, grow together, understand each other, understand, just like Lamar and the receivers how to run routes and the timing on those things, for us as running backs, too, understanding how to block, understanding defenses,” Hill said. “Seamless execution on the field on game day, it just takes time. Sometimes things just happen, especially early on, when we hadn’t had that many repetitions you’re bound to make mistakes. But we haven’t had anything like that since then.” Indeed, Jackson has taken better care of the ball with just one fumble in the past five games after seven in the first five weeks. Then there’s veteran Melvin Gordon III. Though a two-time Pro Bowl selection with 6,515 yards and 55 touchdowns across eight-plus seasons, along with 2,513 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 312 catches, he is, at 30 years old, well past his prime and has spent most of the season on the practice squad. The 15th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, Gordon has played in just two games this season with 53 yards on 13 carries. He also has a history of fumbling. In two-plus seasons with the Denver Broncos between 2020 and 2022, Gordon coughed up the ball a dozen times in 41 games. That included five in 10 games in his final season, during which he was released before signing with the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs, who won the Super Bowl. That experience, he said Wednesday, was “the best feeling in the world,” and it’s one he hopes to experience again and now contribute to in Baltimore. “To have an opportunity to be out there with shoulder pads on is even a step closer to me feeling even better than I did last year,” he said. “I wanna get to that point, I want to feel that feeling again. “This locker room they did a good job with blessing this locker room with some dope guys and it would be amazing for them to feel that, too. If I can be a part of that and help them get there, [shoot], that would mean the world to me.” Week 16 Ravens at 49ers Monday, 8:15 p.m. TV: ABC, ESPN Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: 49ers by 5 1/2 View the full article

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer fans’ questions throughout the Ravens season. Coming off Baltimore’s 23-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15, plenty of questions remain heading into a Week 16 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Here’s Preston’s take: (Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.) For years I have been hearing about this book of statistics that John Harbaugh utilizes to determine whether the Ravens go for 2, or go for it on fourth down. Statistics aren’t perfect, so shouldn’t he make those decisions based on game feel? — Roland Bark, White Marsh Roland, I agree with you. I think a coach should make decisions based on the feel of the game, including factors such as momentum, injuries, player personnel, weather conditions and whether a team is playing at home or on the road. So many decisions today are based on analytics instead of “feel” for the game or gut instincts. I think Harbaugh made a decision to go back to gut instincts after the loss to Pittsburgh earlier in the season and is relying more on the feel of the game. Coaches need to stop worrying about statistics and what is trending and go with their own intuition. Some of the greatest football minds in the game did that, such as Vince Lombardi, Don Shula and Tom Landry. The game has changed, but the basics of tackling, passing, catching, running and blocking remain the same. Even when the pass protection holds up, it seems like Lamar ends up still dancing around looking for a receiver. Why aren’t there more short routes or outlets to get the ball out quickly? — Clarke Fox Those routes are still in the game plan, but opposing teams start taking that away. Look at the Jacksonville game. The Jaguars came out throwing short and it worked for a while, but then the Ravens started playing more man-to-man coverage and those designs didn’t work. More and more teams are seeing that in the Ravens offense and have started pressing the receivers and taking away some of those slants by Odell Beckham Jr. and even Zay Flowers. Regardless, the Ravens have to find a way to give Jackson more time. They can gamble and keep in a running back or a tight end to help offensive tackles Morgan Moses and Ronnie Stanley, but it reduces the number of receivers in the routes. So, the Ravens have to pick their poison. Do they risk going to maximum protection or do they gamble knowing that Jackson can avoid some pressure with his legs? The choice is obvious. I’m going with Jackson. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 16 of 2023 NFL season: Bengals vs. Steelers, Browns vs. Texans, Cowboys vs. Dolphins and more Baltimore Ravens | In Ravens locker room, neighbors share lives and laughs, but ‘don’t be nasty’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. 49ers staff picks: Who will win Monday’s Week 16 game in San Francisco? Baltimore Ravens | Do-everything Kyle Hamilton will be key to Ravens checking 49ers’ remarkable playmakers Baltimore Ravens | NFL decision looms to ‘flex’ Ravens’ New Year’s Eve game vs. Dolphins With Keaton Mitchell now out for the year, why can’t the Ravens just increase the workload for Justice Hill? Although Hill is not quite as fast as Mitchell, he’s still one of the fastest and quickest players on the team. He has shown multiple times in his Ravens career the ability to break off big plays and he can catch the ball. Melvin Gordon is too slow. Let Hill carry 15-plus times a game and we may be OK down the stretch. — Brian, Allentown, PA I think that is in the works and Hill will carry the ball more. Gordon isn’t what he used to be, but he is still solid and can gain some tough yards. The Ravens, though, need an outside threat and Hill is the answer. He doesn’t have the speed of Mitchell and few running backs do, but he can get to the perimeter quickly. He did have two big fumbles earlier in the season and I assume the Ravens have reminded him of that this week as they prepare to increase his workload. Mitchell, though, will be missed. There aren’t too many running backs who can take a handoff to the right, reverse field and still turn the opposite corner for a 20-plus yard gain, at least not in the NFL. Mitchell did that last week against Jacksonville. Loving the fact that the Ravens are 11-3 and riding high in first place in conference, BUT, lets talk about that offensive line play. Both Stanley and Moses seem to be having their own issues maintaining a consistent level out there. Which OT combination do you think would be best down the stretch; Stanley/Patrick Mekari, or Mekari/Moses? Also, John Simpson’s play hasn’t been stellar either (not to mention his bonehead penalty near the goal line vs. Jacksonville). Replace him at left guard with Daniel Faalele/Ben Cleveland? — Paul in Orlando Sorry Paul, neither Faalele nor Cleveland are the answers at guard. Both are big and slow, even though Faalele has more upside than Cleveland. As for the tackles, I’d keep rotating them because both Stanley and Moses have struggled, and neither has been stellar in pass protection. Mekari is an option, but he is small for the position and prone to wear down if he is a full-time starter. So, the Ravens need to continue to milk whatever they can get out of all three tackles. The Ravens are still a good running team, even though Stanley has problems bending at the knees and exploding through blocks. With the Ravens playing the 49ers this week, do you think Baltimore will keep a few plays/schemes under lock and key and not reveal anything special with an eye on possibly playing them again in the Super Bowl? — Matthew Zink Heck no. These guys are competitors and they want to win. This might not be a Super Bowl, but there is a lot of pride involved. Whatever the Ravens or 49ers need to do to win, they will try it. There will be no holding back. There is no tomorrow. The winner of this game will clearly be the favorite to win the Lombardi Trophy. This should be a great game. View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 16: New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (140-84 season; 11-5 last week): Rams Childs Walker (142-82 season; 12-4 last week): Rams Mike Preston (133-91 season; 12-4 last week): Rams C.J. Doon (147-77 season; 10-6 last week): Rams Tim Schwartz (132-92 season; 11-5 last week): Rams Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (Saturday, 4:30 p.m.) Wacker: Bengals Walker: Bengals Preston: Bengals Doon: Bengals Schwartz: Bengals Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers (Saturday, 8 p.m.) Wacker: Bills Walker: Bills Preston: Bills Doon: Bills Schwartz: Bills Indianapolis Colts at Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Colts Walker: Colts Preston: Colts Doon: Colts Schwartz: Colts Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about John Harbaugh’s decision-making, running back rotation, offensive line woes and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | In Ravens locker room, neighbors share lives and laughs, but ‘don’t be nasty’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. 49ers staff picks: Who will win Monday’s Week 16 game in San Francisco? Baltimore Ravens | Do-everything Kyle Hamilton will be key to Ravens checking 49ers’ remarkable playmakers Baltimore Ravens | NFL decision looms to ‘flex’ Ravens’ New Year’s Eve game vs. Dolphins Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Packers Walker: Packers Preston: Packers Doon: Packers Schwartz: Packers Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Browns Walker: Texans Preston: Browns Doon: Browns Schwartz: Texans Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Lions Walker: Vikings Preston: Lions Doon: Lions Schwartz: Lions Washington Commanders at New York Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Jets Walker: Jets Preston: Jets Doon: Commanders Schwartz: Jets Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Seahawks Walker: Seahawks Preston: Titans Doon: Seahawks Schwartz: Seahawks Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Jaguars Walker: Jaguars Preston: Buccaneers Doon: Jaguars Schwartz: Buccaneers Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Cardinals Walker: Bears Preston: Cardinals Doon: Bears Schwartz: Bears Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Dolphins Walker: Dolphins Preston: Dolphins Doon: Dolphins Schwartz: Dolphins New England Patriots at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 8:15 p.m.) Wacker: Broncos Walker: Broncos Preston: Broncos Doon: Broncos Schwartz: Broncos Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs (Monday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Walker: Chiefs Preston: Chiefs Doon: Chiefs Schwartz: Chiefs New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (Monday, 4:30 p.m.) Wacker: Eagles Walker: Eagles Preston: Eagles Doon: Eagles Schwartz: Eagles View the full article

Tyler Linderbaum peered over Patrick Mekari’s broad right shoulder, invading personal space to glimpse a video playing on Mekari’s iPhone. Mekari did his best to ignore this 305-pound pest, but his taciturn expression eventually cracked into a grin. Linderbaum and Mekari are Ravens co-workers who share purpose in protecting quarterback Lamar Jackson from enemy defenders. They’re also neighbors. Not in home life but in a unique office space populated by thickly muscled giants who require sanctuary from the relentless public scrutiny of their work. The locker room is the place where they share their dumbest jokes, nudge and poke one another like unruly brothers and offer subtle words of encouragement to despairing colleagues. Mekari, a precious backup who can play every position on the offensive line, and Linderbaum, the Ravens’ second-year starting center, got to know each other last season, working side by side through endless practices and film reviews. They did not become “locker buddies” until this season, and the arrangement has opened new frontiers in their friendship, with Linderbaum emerging as a provocateur who breaks through Mekari’s natural reserve. Their running patter, punctuated by Three Stooges-style physical affronts, is the best comedy act on the team. “I’m not a talkative person, but he makes me talk to him,” Mekari said. “I don’t know what it is. I think I am more reserved, but coming into work and having him as my locker buddy, it brings a different energy out of me.” “Is this for publication?” said Linderbaum, a wry note creeping into his voice. “You know what? Pat’s the worst.” He paused a beat. “No, every time I come in here, he’s a joy to have as a locker buddy. He brings different perspectives on a lot of different things,” Linderbaum said. “People say he’s reserved, but I just don’t see it.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about John Harbaugh’s decision-making, running back rotation, offensive line woes and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 16 of 2023 NFL season: Bengals vs. Steelers, Browns vs. Texans, Cowboys vs. Dolphins and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. 49ers staff picks: Who will win Monday’s Week 16 game in San Francisco? Baltimore Ravens | Do-everything Kyle Hamilton will be key to Ravens checking 49ers’ remarkable playmakers Baltimore Ravens | NFL decision looms to ‘flex’ Ravens’ New Year’s Eve game vs. Dolphins These are the bonds Ravens coach John Harbaugh hopes to foster when he designs the locker room seating chart before each season. Though some neighbors stay together for years, Harbaugh believes new and unusual pairings can strengthen a social fabric that must endure dispiriting losses and sharp criticism from fans and media. “It’s just a feel thing,” said Harbaugh, who maintains the chart with director of football information Megan McLaughlin. “Really, you can put anybody next to anybody on this team. We do like to mix it up. We don’t put them by position. We don’t put them by jersey number. We put them by life and just move them around, and I think it helps. It helps guys get to know different guys, which is a good thing.” Some duos are obvious. Wide receiver Zay Flowers occupies one end of rookie row, traditionally arrayed along the back wall of the locker room. Right next to him, in a coveted corner once occupied by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis, is the team’s most experienced pass catcher, Odell Beckham Jr. Inside linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen collaborate on every defensive snap during a game. They have also dressed side by side since Smith joined the Ravens midway through last season. Queen asked for Smith to be placed there. “Someone had just left that locker, so I thought I might as well get him close to learn from him, and with him being new here, if he had questions, I would be right here,” he said. “It helped us get to know each other quicker, better.” “When someone is next to you, you just tend to ask questions,” Smith agreed. “It’s human nature. It definitely did matter.” Inside linebackers Roquan Smith, right, and Patrick Queen collaborate on every defensive snap during a game. They have also dressed side by side since Smith joined the Ravens midway through last season. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Other neighbors seemingly could not have less in common. Running back Gus Edwards is stoic, his personality as unadorned as his determined style near the goal line. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey is a talker with an outsized social media presence and aspirations to become a broadcaster. Fullback Patrick Ricard is a burly New Englander who annihilates opposing defenders with his blocks. Cornerback Brandon Stephens is a quietly upbeat Texan just coming into his own in his third season. They had no reason to know one another well before the hand of Harbaugh placed them side by side. “Me and ‘B-Steve,’ our bond is closer because we’re locker mates,” Ricard said. “We have a little phrase, especially during training camp but whenever it feels like the season’s never going to end. He just started telling me, ‘You know Pat, somebody’s got to do it. So why not us?’ So that’s kind of our thing. Maybe one of us is trying to pick the other up.” They recently struck up a conversation about the real estate market in Ricard’s Massachusetts hometown. “It gives us a chance to just talk about life,” Stephens said. “With guys on different sides of the ball, it would be hard to have that communication if we weren’t side by side in here.” Ricard has cherished Stephens’ breakout at a level he might not have if they only lined up against each other in practice. “I’m very proud of him because I understand what he’s been through,” Ricard said. “I think if guys were to choose their lockers, where they want to go and who they want to sit with, it wouldn’t be a true team. I think it’s really cool.” Ravens vs. SeahawksKenneth K. Lam/Baltimore SunLamar Jackson’s locker room neighbors seem anything but random. On one side sits the franchise quarterback’s backup and close pal, Tyler Huntley, right, pictured celebrating with Jackson after a touchdown pass against the Seahawks on Nov. 5. On the other sits his chief in-game shield, left tackle Ronnie Stanley. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jackson’s neighbors seem anything but random. On one side sits the franchise quarterback’s backup and close pal, Tyler Huntley. On the other sits his chief in-game shield, left tackle Ronnie Stanley. Jackson isn’t particular about this arrangement, though he prefers not to have odorous clutter encroaching on his space. “We’re all brothers,” he said. “Just don’t be nasty.” This pronouncement drew raised eyebrows from Linderbaum and Mekari. “I mean, he said that, but just go and look at Ronnie Stanley’s locker,” said Linderbaum, nodding to the pile of shoes and clothing spilling from the left tackle’s cubby. “I don’t know what’s not nasty about that. I think Lamar’s just being nice.” “Terrible,” agreed Queen who’s stationed close to but not beside Stanley. “If I were Lamar, I would have gotten him moved a long time ago.” As Mekari and Linderbaum giggled their way through a joint interview, touching on everything from dressing methods (Linderbaum puts his pants, sock and cleat on one leg before addressing the other) to their budding chess rivalry (Mekari is the more advanced player), it was apparent their bond transcends those found in a typical 9-to-5 workplace. Their rough-and-tumble dynamic is reminiscent of the one shared a few years back by Ravens tight ends Mark Andrews, Nock Boyle and Hayden Hurst, who acted like rowdy brothers sharing a cramped bedroom. “No, we do not role model ourselves after them,” Mekari scoffed. “That was not a healthy relationship.” But he and Linderbaum do know details about one another that can’t be shared with many people. “Locker stuff,” Mekari said. Week 16 Ravens at 49ers Monday, 8:15 p.m. TV: ABC, ESPN Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: 49ers by 5 1/2 View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Monday night’s Week 16 game between the Ravens (11-3) and the San Francisco 49ers (11-3) at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Brian Wacker, reporter 49ers 27, Ravens 14: The 49ers are the most complete team in the NFL and the Ravens haven’t faced anyone close to their level this season. Baltimore’s offensive line has also been shaky with tackles Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses dealing with injuries, which is not great when facing a team that has averaged four sacks a game the past seven weeks and makes life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. And even if the Ravens can contain the 49ers’ dynamic offense of quarterback Brock Purdy, running back Christian McCaffrey, receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle, scoring against San Francisco, which allows the second-fewest points per game in the NFL, will be difficult. Lamar Jackon has performed at an MVP level, but the offense is simply less dynamic without tight end Mark Andrews and running back Keaton Mitchell and thus a bit more predictable. Mike Preston, columnist 49ers 27, Ravens 21: The Ravens face an uphill battle playing the 49ers on the West Coast on Christmas Day. It will be the premiere matchup of the season and the Ravens have to stop running back Christian McCaffrey to be successful. That is a tough battle because San Francisco has a good offensive line, especially on the left side. This game will be won in the trenches. Childs Walker, reporter 49ers 31, Ravens 26: The Ravens have the running game and speedy defensive playmakers to keep the 49ers from running away with it. They will need to keep Lamar Jackson from being swarmed and score touchdowns when they reach the red zone. San Francisco is the best team in the league and simply has more room for error given its quartet of All-Pro skill players. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about John Harbaugh’s decision-making, running back rotation, offensive line woes and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 16 of 2023 NFL season: Bengals vs. Steelers, Browns vs. Texans, Cowboys vs. Dolphins and more Baltimore Ravens | In Ravens locker room, neighbors share lives and laughs, but ‘don’t be nasty’ Baltimore Ravens | Do-everything Kyle Hamilton will be key to Ravens checking 49ers’ remarkable playmakers Baltimore Ravens | NFL decision looms to ‘flex’ Ravens’ New Year’s Eve game vs. Dolphins C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 27, 49ers 24: The 49ers are the class of the league right now, but they are not unbeatable. A three-game losing streak against Cleveland, Minnesota and Cincinnati in October proves that. Brock Purdy has been playing like an MVP candidate since that stretch, though he hasn’t faced a defense anywhere near the Ravens’ level. I’m betting on defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to force Purdy into some mistakes and the run defense to slow down Christian McCaffrey just enough for Baltimore to hold on behind another heart-stopping performance from Lamar Jackson. Justin Tucker wins it with a late field goal, just like he did the last time these teams met in 2019. Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 31, 49ers 28: What a treat this game is shaping up to be. The Ravens, largely healthy (minus the devastating Keaton Mitchell injury), are heading to the West Coast to take on the other best team in football in a meeting between the top two MVP candidates in prime time on Christmas night. The 49ers have put their three-game losing skid behind them thanks to the play of quarterback Brock Purdy, who has thrown 17 touchdowns and just two interceptions during San Francisco’s six-game winning streak. The former Mr. Irrelevant is now 16-3 as a starter in the regular season. But the Ravens have consistently played up or down to their opponent the past few years with Lamar Jackson under center, and I believe special teams will have a say in who wins this game. Only one team has Justin Tucker. This game is the ultimate toss-up. Just enjoy the show. View the full article

No team in the NFL forces a defense to pick its poison more threateningly than the San Francisco 49ers. Do you keep all eyes on Christian McCaffrey, every bit as dangerous catching a screen as he is bouncing outside the tackle, or are you more focused on Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, turning little plays into big ones in the middle of the field? Or maybe it’s Brandon Aiyuk on the outside who keeps you up at night? If the Ravens are to maintain a handle on these four potential All-Pros when they visit the 49ers Christmas night, second-year safety Kyle Hamilton will have to be their all-purpose counter. “He’s one guy that if you cloned 11 of him, he could play every single position,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “He’ll be big for this game, whether it’s guarding Kittle, guarding Deebo, making tackles on McCaffrey, getting to the quarterback on pressures — I think it’ll be a really big game for him just based off the things he can do and the way this team attacks you.” Humphrey recalled general manager Eric DeCosta gushing that Hamilton could be a “unicorn” before the Ravens drafted him. Two years in, teammates and fans have grown used to seeing him take on every role imaginable in the course of a game. His flexibility might be called upon like never before against the 49ers’ historically efficient offense. Hamilton sees this breadth of responsibility as affirmation from defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and his staff, who delight in using him as a point man for their creativity. “It’s a little tiring at times,” he said, grinning. “Mentally and physically. But I appreciate the coaches for putting that trust in my hands, allowing me to do separate things and coaching me to the level where I can do them both well.” NFL Stats noted Wednesday that he’s the only player in the league with at least 10 passes defended and at least 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, a snapshot of his varied impact. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about John Harbaugh’s decision-making, running back rotation, offensive line woes and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 16 of 2023 NFL season: Bengals vs. Steelers, Browns vs. Texans, Cowboys vs. Dolphins and more Baltimore Ravens | In Ravens locker room, neighbors share lives and laughs, but ‘don’t be nasty’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. 49ers staff picks: Who will win Monday’s Week 16 game in San Francisco? Baltimore Ravens | NFL decision looms to ‘flex’ Ravens’ New Year’s Eve game vs. Dolphins Hamilton is not thinking about the 49ers making him or the Ravens look bad, even if that’s a fear expressed by fans on social media as they anticipate a rare showdown between the AFC’s best and the NFC’s best. “It’s an opportunity for everybody on our defense to really showcase what we’re about against a great offense,” Hamilton said. “Props to those guys over there. There’s playmakers all over the field and a solid front line. I think we’re just the guys to go handle it.” The 49ers average the most yards per play, 6.8, and the Ravens allow the least, 4.4. So there won’t be any lack of belief on either side. Panic ensued after Hamilton took an awkward step in the Ravens’ Dec. 10 win over the Los Angeles Rams, aggravating a knee injury he suffered early in that game. He wanted to play on but watched the remainder of the game from the sideline, convinced by trainers that discretion was the better part of valor. The Ravens awaited an MRI, facing the very real prospect of entering their most difficult stretch without Macdonald’s most versatile chess piece. But the test brought good news and there Hamilton was, running through drills with a brace on his knee as the Ravens began preparing for the Jacksonville Jaguars and a chance to clinch a playoff spot. Though he was listed as questionable for last Sunday’s game, he played all 62 defensive snaps and led the team in tackles, with one of those stops coming behind the line scrimmage and another right at the line. He also broke up a pass. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, right, tackles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, left, for a short gain in the first quarter Dec. 10. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) It was typical Swiss Army knife stuff from the second-year safety, who’s likely headed for his first Pro Bowl, but the circumstances, given his injury and the importance of the game, were atypical. “That guy is a warrior,” linebacker Roquan Smith said afterward. “The way he came up there and everything he’s been going through this season and just the way he forgot about it all and just said, ‘Hey, I’m going to put it all on the line for us.’ When you think about that, that’s the ultimate teammate that you want in the locker room — a guy that’s willing to sacrifice himself for the betterment of the team, knowing if he was good enough to go, he was going to go.” Hamilton said he felt some pain when he tested his injured knee before the game, but, “my parents always raised me, ‘If you can go, go.’” Teammates pick on him in a mode reserved only for the most promising young players. He joked that for Smith’s “one good comment, I’m going to have 100 bad ones, so I take it in stride, but I appreciate him for it.” “I have the utmost respect for him, but you can’t tell him every time,” Smith, the vocal leader of the defense, said. “You have to keep the young guy going and at base, in a sense. But the guy — the way he prepares week in and week out, the type of questions he asks you and just how versatile he is, whether you want to have him at safety, at nickel or on the end of the line of scrimmage — I’m happy he’s a part of my team.” Now, it’s on to the 49ers, the greatest tactical test Hamilton and his defensive mates will face during the regular season and one they might encounter again if they achieve their goal of playing in the Super Bowl. San Francisco has one of the best outside receivers in the league in Aiyuk, the top yard-after-catch threat in Samuel, the No. 1 tight end in Kittle, and oh, the league’s most versatile, productive running back in McCaffrey. Not to mention an accurate, mistake-averse distributor in quarterback Brock Purdy. If the Ravens are to hold these varied nemeses in check, Hamilton, with his gift for morphing from snap to snap, will almost surely be a major reason. He’s big enough to cover the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Kittle, quick enough to shadow McCaffrey sideline to sideline and aggressive enough to drop Samuel before he can turn a mundane catch into a home run. The world has started to take notice of the former Notre Dame All-American’s broad impact on a Ravens defense that has outplayed preseason forecasts. Analysts routinely list Hamilton as not just a Pro Bowl (he’s the leading vote getter at strong safety) but a first-team All-Pro candidate. NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth raved about him during the Ravens’ victory over the Jaguars. “It’s cool,” Hamilton said. “I’ve always wanted to be that. To this point now, I feel like I’ve done pretty well this year. But there’s still a lot I can improve on. I don’t feel like I, personally, have had a satisfactory year. I’ve had a good year, but I feel like I hold myself to a high standard.” The 49ers will present him a high-stakes chance to keep reaching. Week 16 Ravens at 49ers Monday, 8:15 p.m. TV: ABC, ESPN Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: 49ers by 5 1/2 View the full article

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott made it clear how he feels about the Ravens’ game against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 31 and what time he would like it to be played. “I’ve told any and everybody that we want it on @SNFonNBC because that’s where it belongs!” Scott posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday in response to a claim that Scott and Police Commissioner Richard Worley approached the team and the league about keeping the game in the afternoon because of security concerns. “While they’re at it, they can go ahead flex the final game against [Pittsburgh] too. We want the smoke!” When could a decision be made? The NFL has until six days before the game to make the change, which means an announcement would come, at the latest, after the Ravens-San Francisco 49ers game on Monday night. Currently, the Ravens (11-3) and Dolphins (10-4) have the top two records in the AFC and are scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. The Week 17 game could be for the coveted top seed in the conference, which comes with the first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. That also makes it a lot more appealing than the current Sunday night game that week: the 7-7 Vikings versus the 6-8 Green Bay Packers in Minnesota. However, CBS, which will carry the Ravens game, has the option to protect it should the NFL want to flex Baltimore’s game to prime time on NBC. Moving the game to Sunday night would present some complications, though. Notably, it would coincide with the city’s New Year’s Eve festivities that are slated to begin at 8 p.m. with live music at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater and conclude with a fireworks and drone show. Another possibility is the Ravens-Dolphins game being flexed to 4:25 p.m., which would allow the end of it to spill into prime time on CBS. View the full article

It was one of the more crucial outcomes in a game full of them on an unseasonably cool, breezy and important Sunday night in Jacksonville, Florida. With just 30 seconds remaining in the first half and the ball on the Ravens’ 41-yard line, Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones raced down the left sideline at EverBank Stadium with Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens glued to his hip. Only an inch separates the two in height, so when the 6-foot-2 Jones and 6-foot-1 Stephens leaped for a long Trevor Lawrence pass, the ball was literally up for grabs. Stephens’ left hand swiped at it but missed, and Jones hauled it in as he fell to the ground in bounds at Baltimore’s 5-yard line, the clock still running. On NBC’s broadcast, play-by-play man Mike Tirico marveled at the catch, bellowing out his excited call and setting up what was to come next for viewers. “Jones!” he said. “Holds on, no timeouts, last seconds left, clock runs. Jaguars run to spike it. Get everybody lined up properly with a running clock. They’re in the shotgun!” Meanwhile, Lawrence had run downfield patting his helmet and barking out instructions — the Jaguars weren’t looking to stop the clock by spiking the ball. The NFL is a copycat league and there are certain plays that every team practices and runs. The Ravens’ version of a hurry-up after a big play to get near an opponent’s goal line, for example, used to be called “surge.” The idea is that while the defense is scrambling to get organized the offense can catch them out of position by running a play quickly — usually a run to the outside, a fade or a quick out. “It’s hard to cover on the run,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “It scores all the time.” Not this time. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | NFL decision looms to ‘flex’ Ravens’ New Year’s Eve game vs. Dolphins Baltimore Ravens | Ravens sign RB Jake Funk, former Maryland and Damascus High standout, to practice squad Baltimore Ravens | NFL power rankings, Week 16: Ravens and 49ers set to battle for league’s top spot Baltimore Ravens | Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell has torn ACL: ‘It’s a long-term knee thing,’ coach John Harbaugh says Baltimore Ravens | State boards approve Orioles lease with 2 weeks to spare, ending ‘uncertainty’ of negotiations When Lawrence and his teammates reached the line of scrimmage, the clock was down to 15 seconds and counting. As Jaguars players were lining up, Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith peered toward the sideline and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, then shouted the defensive call to teammates, including fellow inside linebacker Patrick Queen next to him, who in turn passed on the call to safety Marcus Williams. At the snap, Lawrence took a two-step drop and swiftly dissected his options from the four-receiver set. Jones ran a fade, taking Stephens with him, and was covered, while rookie receiver Parker Washington, lined up in the slot on the same side, came open on a quick out underneath Jones. The problem for Jacksonville was two-fold: Washington’s route was only a yard downfield and a few yards from the sideline, and Williams had lined up in man coverage on Washington’s outside shoulder. By the time Lawrence zipped his pass to Washington, Williams had closed in and because of his positioning was able to tackle him in bounds by inches, keeping the clock running. “He made an awesome play,” Harbaugh said of the veteran safety, adding that Macdonald was all over the Jaguars’ plan and quickly got the outside tag relayed to Smith. “That was huge.” So, too, was Queen pulling Williams to his feet after the safety momentarily laid on the grass grabbing at his injured groin while the Jaguars tried to hurriedly run another play before time expired. Whether Queen knew it or not, had Williams stayed down the clock would have stopped, allowing for at least a field goal try if not another crack at the end zone. Instead, Jacksonville was held scoreless in the first half for just the second time this season and first since Week 3. “That’s the thing about this team; it’s a very mature team, and I think they understand the challenge in front of them, and they understand their opponent, and they understand themselves,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. (Gary McCullough/AP) After Tirico pointed out the obvious of Washington being unable to get out of bounds, the Jaguars being unable to get a play off and the home team missing out on another scoring opportunity, analyst Cris Collinsworth said with a tone of disbelief, “Wow!” “That was a big stop for us going into halftime,” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. “It kept them at zero at that point going into halftime. That’s a good offensive team over there, and I think we did a good job overall.” It was also one of several miscues by Jacksonville, which had reached at least Baltimore’s 36-yard line on four of its first five possessions but did not score on any of them. “We’ve scored before in those situations,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said of the ill-fated play before the half. “It was just a mistake, I think, by Trevor, obviously, knowing the situation and knowing how much time is left right there. It’s a great learning experience for us from the standpoint of don’t throw it in bounds to be tackled in that situation.” And it was another masterful moment in a season full of them for Macdonald and the unit he is charged with. Baltimore’s defense ranks second in the NFL in red zone scoring, with opponents finding the end zone just 37.5% of the time. Only the Tennessee Titans (37.25%) have been better. It’s no wonder, too, the Ravens are allowing the fewest points per game at 16.1 — just ahead of the 16.7 by the 49ers, who they will face on Monday night in Santa Clara, California, in a Christmas showdown between the teams with the two best records in the NFL at 11-3. Whether Baltimore can have that same kind of success against the 49ers, however, remains to be seen. San Francisco is third in the league in scoring with 30.4 points per game and features perhaps the game’s most dynamic offensive attack, led by quarterback Brock Purdy, running back Christian McCaffrey and receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. Plays like the one at the end of the first half against the Jaguars would certainly help, against San Francisco and over the next three weeks as the Ravens try to stay atop the AFC in their bid for a first-round bye in the playoffs and home-field advantage throughout. “That’s the thing about this team; it’s a very mature team, and I think they understand the challenge in front of them, and they understand their opponent, and they understand themselves,” Harbaugh said. “They also understand situations – game situations – really well. So, all those things probably have led to that, and that’s what you have to do this time of year.” Week 16 Ravens at 49ers Monday, 8:15 p.m. TV: ABC, ESPN Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: 49ers by 5 1/2 View the full article

With running back Keaton Mitchell lost for the remainder of the season after suffering a torn ACL on a gruesome play in Sunday night’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Ravens signed Melvin Gordon III from the practice squad to their 53-man roster Tuesday as expected. They also bolstered their backfield by adding a former local high school star. Baltimore signed former Maryland and Damascus High running back Jake Funk to its practice squad, filling Gordon’s spot. A 25-year-old Gaithersburg native, Funk tore his ACL in his left knee his junior and senior seasons at Maryland. As a fifth-year senior in 2020, he led the Big Ten Conference in yards per carry (8.6), finishing his Terps career with 2,070 yards from scrimmage before being drafted in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. Funk appeared in 10 games with the Rams during their Super Bowl season, playing primarily on special teams before being waived last October. He then bounced around practice squads, going from the New Orleans Saints, to the Indianapolis Colts, to the Miami Dolphins, and appeared in five games for the Colts. At Damascus, Funk was the Gatorade Player of the Year his senior season and had 270 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns — part of his Maryland state-record 57 — against Dundalk in a 55-14 win in the 2015 Class 3A state championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. Seven years later, he returned to the Ravens’ field as a member of the Rams. “It’s just gonna be special,” Funk told The Baltimore Sun in January 2022 ahead of Los Angeles’ game in Baltimore two seasons ago. “Just to be in a place where you dreamed about being there on Sundays as a high school kid and just being able to come back home, hopefully put on a good performance in front of a lot of people who supported me throughout my high school and college career.” Funk was available after the Dolphins released him last month following just over a month with their practice squad, and the Ravens needed a back for their practice squad with Gordon being signed to the active roster. By signing with Baltimore, he also re-joins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who was with the Rams in the 2021-22 season. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | NFL power rankings, Week 16: Ravens and 49ers set to battle for league’s top spot Baltimore Ravens | Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell has torn ACL: ‘It’s a long-term knee thing,’ coach John Harbaugh says Baltimore Ravens | State boards approve Orioles lease with 2 weeks to spare, ending ‘uncertainty’ of negotiations Baltimore Ravens | NFL playoff picture: Ravens, with postseason spot secured, lead race for AFC’s top seed Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Injured Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell will be missed in more ways than one | COMMENTARY “Every game in this league is special, man, no matter what,” Funk said in 2022. “Just being in this league is special within itself.” And presumably more special to now be playing close to home. Week 16 Ravens at 49ers Monday, 8:15 p.m. TV: ABC, ESPN Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: 49ers by 5 1/2 View the full article