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Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 56-19 win over the visiting Miami Dolphins in Sunday’s Week 17 game at M&T Bank Stadium. Brian Wacker: There wasn’t going to be a historic comeback this time, not the way the Ravens bullied the Dolphins on both sides of the ball. First, there was Lamar Jackson delivering another Most Valuable Player performance against another stellar defense, completing 18 of 21 passes for 321 yards and five touchdowns for a perfect passer rating. Baltimore clearly had little respect for Miami’s secondary, dialing up several long passing plays and most notably going for it on fourth-and-7 from Miami’s 35-yard line in the first half instead of trying a field goal. The result was emblematic of the day: Jackson hit Isaiah Likely on a crossing route and the tight end snagged the pass with one hand, Odell Beckham Jr. style, before rumbling 35 yards for the touchdown. That gave Baltimore a 28-13 halftime lead they tacked onto with a 7-yard strike from Jackson to Likely to start the third quarter after a 78-yard kick return by Justice Hill set up the short field. Jackson’s performance all but locked up a second NFL MVP Award and deservedly so after he guided the Ravens through the gantlet to the NFL’s best record and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs as the AFC’s top seed. The Ravens have been a tremendous front-runner for all but a few games and that played out again, thanks to Jackson but also the defense, which clamped down on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and running back De’Von Achane in the second half. That they also did so without safety Kyle Hamilton and cornerback Brandon Stephens, both of whom were inactive with injuries, and cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who left the game late in the first quarter and didn’t return, speaks volumes about the next-man up mantra they so often tout. To that point, cornerbacks Arthur Maulet and Ronald Darby stepped in beautifully. Then, once the Ravens had a hefty lead, their pass rush teed off on Tagovailoa and buried Miami. Childs Walker: Sometimes, a team just goes on a heater. What else could you say after the Ravens packed a one-handed interception, a one-handed touchdown catch and an 78-yard kickoff return into less than five minutes of game time? In broad strokes, this game felt eerily similar to the Dolphins’ last visit to M&T Bank Stadium, with the Ravens holding a 35-13 lead, one off their 35-14 advantage last year, going into the fourth quarter. But the Ravens are a deeper, more adaptable team in 2023, with a fully realized Lamar Jackson leading them. They earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed by firing back harder every time the Dolphins hit them. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey ruled out against Dolphins with calf injury; 2 other defenders exit Baltimore Ravens | Ravens S Kyle Hamilton, RG Kevin Zeitler and CB Brandon Stephens inactive vs. Dolphins Baltimore Ravens | Former Ravens RB Ray Rice to be ‘Legend of the Game’ nearly 10 years after domestic violence incident Baltimore Ravens | Joe Flacco’s improbable comeback has Browns in playoffs, eyeing bigger wins Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens defense facing tough challenge vs. Dolphins, a track team in shoulder pads | COMMENTARY The Ravens’ defense, playing without Kyle Hamilton or Brandon Stephens, looked helpless against the Dolphins’ speed in the first quarter. It was on the offense to pick up the early slack, and Jackson answered the call, finding open receivers all over the field and conducting an efficient running attack. Their hand grew so hot that John Harbaugh rather stunningly went for a fourth-and-7 late in the second quarter, and it resulted in a one-handed 35-yard touchdown catch by Isaiah Likely. Jackson finished the half an absurd 12 for 14 for 255 yards and three touchdowns, burnishing his MVP case. Home-field advantage throughout the playoffs is great, but the Ravens earned something more important: a three-week break for their many key players who are nursing injuries. Mike Preston: The Ravens are starting to make this run to the playoffs look easy, and that’s what good teams do at this point of the season. They dominate opponents, gain momentum and prove they are the team to beat. Miami came into Baltimore with visions of beating the Ravens and trying to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC, the first-round bye and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Instead, the Ravens pounded them in a game Miami won’t forget anytime soon. The message is clear: The Ravens have the most complete and balanced team in the NFL and its going to take a superior effort to beat them. They still struggled defensively at times, but they have a quarterback in Lamar Jackson who has developed touch on the deep ball, and that could come in handy in the postseason when quarterbacks take control of the game, especially if the Ravens fall behind early. Jacob Calvin Meyer: The start of the game didn’t go as planned. Kyle Hamilton, Brandon Stephens and Kevin Zeitler were all inactive. The Dolphins easily drove the ball down the field and went up 7-0. And two of the Ravens’ first three plays on offense should’ve been big gains but weren’t. Then Lamar Jackson took over. He played a perfect game — according to his 158.3 passer rating — with five touchdown passes. It was his best game of the season, and it solidified his case to win his second NFL MVP award. The defense, meanwhile, held up against one of the league’s best offenses. Running back Justice Hill stepped up for his best game of the season with contributions on the ground, through the air and on special teams. Isaiah Likely continued to show he’s a suitable replacement for Mark Andrews as the starting tight end recovers from an ankle injury. The Week 18 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers posed a tough test for the Ravens against a team that has given Baltimore and Jackson trouble. Now it won’t matter. C.J. Doon: If there were any lingering doubts about who deserves the NFL MVP Award, Lamar Jackson put them to rest. After the Dolphins made easy work of the Ravens’ defense on their opening possession, Jackson responded with a clinical drive of his own to tie the game and only got better from there. His only two incompletions of the first half were a drop on a diving attempt by Rashod Bateman and another pass to Bateman that could have been called pass interference on Dolphins cornerback Eli Apple. With Justice Hill and Isaiah Likely (combined three touchdowns) stepping up in the absence of playmakers Keaton Mitchell and Mark Andrews, rookie Zay Flowers continuing to excel and receivers Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham Jr. showing flashes, this Ravens offense looks well equipped to make a deep postseason run. The same can be said of the defense, which tightened up after being gashed early. The Dolphins didn’t have their full complement of playmakers with Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert out, but containing speedsters De’Von Achane and Tyreek Hill is no easy feat. They did their fair share of damage, but not enough to overwhelm a shorthanded secondary missing Kyle Hamilton, Brandon Stephens and Marlon Humphrey, who suffered a calf injury in the first quarter and did not return. That’s a credit to coordinator Mike Macdonald and the players for embodying the “next man up” mentality. With the No. 1 seed locked up, the Ravens face the old rest vs. rust debate heading into a Week 18 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who could be fighting for a playoff berth. Logic dictates the Ravens will sit Jackson and most of their starters, but maybe that divisional round loss to the Titans four years ago will influence the team’s thinking. Tim Schwartz: The best team in the NFL resides in Baltimore. There wasn’t much doubt about that after Monday’s beatdown of the 49ers, but Sunday’s dismantling of the Dolphins put an exclamation point on the Ravens’ 2023 regular season. Yes, they still need to play the Steelers next week, but they have earned the option of resting players in what will be a meaningless game for Baltimore. Lamar Jackson is also your 2023 NFL Most Valuable Player, putting together his signature performance of the year by throwing five touchdown passes for the fourth time in his career with only three incompletions and a perfect 158.3 passer rating. The running game is humming. Isaiah Likely is starring in Mark Andrews’ place. Jackson has several reliable options to throw to. Run defense is probably their only weakness right now, but the Ravens make up for it by creating turnovers and with exceptional special teams play. Now coach John Harbaugh needs to decide how much rest is too much while considering the health of several players — a bunch got banged up on Sunday. That’s a luxury only they have in the AFC. Baltimore Ravens Isaiah Likely dives into the end zone dragging Miami Dolphins DeShon Elliott for a touchdown in the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) The Baltimore Ravensxe2x80x99 Lamar Jackson throws a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) The Baltimore Ravens wide receiver ..Rashod Bateman dives for a pass but was unable to make a catch in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) The Baltimore Ravensxe2x80x99 Justice Hill catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Ravens running back Justice Hill catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter Sunday against the Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Patrick Queen, #6, watches inside linebacker Roquan Smith haul in an interception of a Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa pass during the second quarter of an AFC matchup of NFL football in Baltimore Sunday Dec. 31, 2023. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., #3, hauls down a pass just yards from the end zone as Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou defends during the second quarter of an AFC matchup of NFL football in Baltimore Sunday Dec. 31, 2023. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith returns an interception past Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr., #23, and wide receiver Braxton Berrios during the second quarter of an AFC matchup of NFL football in Baltimore Sunday Dec. 31, 2023. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, #4, cuts behind a stumbling Miami Dolphins cornerback Eli Apple to score a touchdown during the second quarter of an AFC matchup of NFL football in Baltimore Sunday Dec. 31, 2023. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers reacts after a touchdown reception against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter of an AFC matchup of NFL football in Baltimore Sunday Dec. 31, 2023. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, #8, scrambles for yardage as Miami Dolphins linebacker Duke Riley (45) pursues during the second quarter of an AFC matchup of NFL football in Baltimore Sunday Dec. 31, 2023. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., #3, hauls down a pass just yards from the end zone as Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou defends during the second quarter of an AFC matchup of NFL football in Baltimore Sunday Dec. 31, 2023. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, #80, dives to the pylon, scoring a touchdown in front of Miami Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott (21) during the second quarter of an AFC matchup of NFL football in Baltimore Sunday Dec. 31, 2023. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) Show Caption of Expand View the full article

The Ravens’ secondary suffered another blow late in the first quarter Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey is questionable to return with a calf injury. He suffered the injury on Miami’s 27-yard field goal with 3:42 remaining in the opening quarter and limped to the sideline before heading into the blue medical tent. Humphrey returned to the Ravens’ bench, but was not on the field for the defense’s next series, with veteran Rock Ya-Sin taking his place. He stayed on the sideline continuing to try to stretch out his calf. Baltimore is already without cornerback Brandon Stephens (ankle) and safety Kyle Hamilton (knee) for the game and Miami so far has been able to take advantage of the depleted secondary in taking a 10-7 lead. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has passed for 77 yards and a touchdown in the first half, and running back Da’Von Achane also gashed Baltimore in the opening quarter with 68 rushing yards and 27 receiving yards. This story will be updated. View the full article

The Ravens will have to win the biggest game of their season without three of their best players. Safety Kyle Hamilton, cornerback Brandon Stephens and right guard Kevin Zeitler are inactive for Sunday’s home game against the Miami Dolphins. It is the first missed game of the season for all three players. If the Ravens win Sunday, they will clinch the AFC North title, the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage through the conference playoffs. Hamilton, who injured his knee during his standout performance on Christmas against the 49ers, has broken out in his second season. His two-interception game against San Francisco was his coronation as one of the NFL’s best safeties. Stephens (ankle) has also enjoyed a breakout year as a capable cover corner alongside Marlon Humphrey. Zeitler (knee/quad), a veteran guard in is third season with Baltimore, is one of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s most trusted linemen. With rookie Sala Aumavae-Laulu inactive, Patrick Mekari and Ben Cleveland are the top options to replace Zeitler. Without Hamilton and Stephens, Humphrey, safety Marcus Williams and the rest of the Ravens’ defense will be tasked with containing star wideout and NFL Most Valuable Player candidate Tyreek Hill. Ronald Darby and Rock Ya-Sin are next up at cornerback after Jalyn Armour-Davis was placed on injured reserve Saturday and Damarion “Pepe” Williams was ruled inactive. Veteran Josh Johnson will be the emergency third quarterback, while fourth-string quarterback Malik Cunningham is inactive. It’s not all bad news leading up to the pivotal contest, though. Rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers, who was questionable with a calf injury, is active. On Saturday, wide receiver Laquon Treadwell was signed to the 53-man roster, while outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon and defensive back Andrew Adams were promoted from the practice squad. The Dolphins are also compromised for Sunday’s game. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle), a key part of Miami’s offense, and running back Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle), who leads the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns, are inactive. Right guard Robert Hunt (hamstring) and reserve defensive end Emanuel Ogbah are also out. View the full article

Former Ravens running back Ray Rice will be the “Legend of the Game” for Sunday’s matchup against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. The honor recognizes a past player for accomplishments on and off the field. Rice, 36, spent six seasons in Baltimore from 2008 to 2013 and was a key member of its Super Bowl championship team during the 2012 season. But he was suspended and later released after video surfaced of him punching his then-fiancée Janay Palmer in an elevator at an Atlantic City casino on Feb. 15, 2014. In a story published on the team’s website Friday, the Ravens said Rice is “being recognized for the player he was, and for the redemption he has worked towards.” “I truly understand why I was let go and why so many hearts changed,” Rice told the team’s website. “But hopefully people can see where I’m at now. “They say people can change, right? I am not the same person I was 10-12 years ago. That’s just not who I am. Every time I stepped on the field, I gave it my all. But I couldn’t say the same for life. Now I’m trying to be the best version of me.” A second-round draft pick out of Rutgers in 2008, Rice was a three-time Pro Bowl selection with the Ravens. He rushed for 6,180 yards, second-most in franchise history, and 70 touchdowns and had 369 catches for 3,064 yards and six scores. Four times he topped 1,000 yards in a season, and he averaged 4.3 yards per carry for his career. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Joe Flacco’s improbable comeback has Browns in playoffs, eyeing bigger wins Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens defense facing tough challenge vs. Dolphins, a track team in shoulder pads | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Is Baltimore a baseball or football city? Stellar 2023 for Orioles and Ravens reignites longtime debate. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens S Kyle Hamilton, 3 other starters questionable to play Sunday; Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle out Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Dolphins staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s Week 17 game in Baltimore? In February 2014, Rice and Palmer were arrested and charged with simple assault following an alercation at the Revel Casino, according to Atlantic City police. Rice was indicted the following month on a charge of third-degree aggravated assault, but prosecutors dropped the charge after he paid $125 in fines and received anger management counseling. The charge against Palmer also was dropped. The NFL initially suspended Rice for two games, drawing widespread criticism for being too lenient and driving conversation about how the league deals with domestic violence. On Sept. 8, 2014, hours after TMZ posted video of Rice punching Palmer, the Ravens released him and the NFL announced an indefinite suspension. Rice and Palmer have been married for 10 years and have two kids together, Rayven, 11, and Jaylen, 7, and recently moved back to the Baltimore area full-time, the team said. Rice also coaches two youth football teams, the 13U and 7U Pikesville Wildcats. “He was also consistently in the community, giving back. Importantly, after Ray’s incident he owned it,” Ravens president Sashi Brown said, via the team’s website. “On his own accord, Ray undertook critical work within himself and to bring awareness to and educate others on domestic violence. Nothing will change his past or make it right, but Ray’s work has allowed him to atone for his actions and rebuild relationships personally and professionally, including with the Ravens.” Over the years, Rice has been involved with domestic violence awareness groups, including the Childhood Domestic Violence Association and A Call to Men. Since 2014, the Ravens have donated more than $2 million to Baltimore’s House of Ruth. Rice has also spoken to several NFL and college teams and talks to Ravens rookies at the team’s annual educational seminar. He was honored on the field at M&T Bank Stadium last season, along with former teammates, as part of the Ravens’ 10th anniversary celebration of their last Super Bowl title. In 2019, Rice launched Pipeline 2 Prosperity, a nonprofit organization helping underprivileged kids in Baltimore and his hometown of New Rochelle, New York, providing them with toys, sports equipment, peer-to-peer mentoring and other needs. “I knew it would be hard to forgive me, but the one thing I have been consistent with was that I was going to be better. I’m not going to be a victim of my past,” Rice told the team’s website. “My legacy won’t be domestic violence. My legacy will be what I became after.” View the full article

CLEVELAND — In a surreal moment seemingly clipped from a Disney movie, Joe Flacco stood on the field and posed for a family photo with his wife, Dana, and their five children as delirious Browns fans serenaded them with chants of “M-V-P, M-V-P.” Welcome to Cleveland. Or in Flacco’s case, Dreamland. Another chapter was added to the NFL’s most improbable story of 2023 Thursday night when Flacco — who stayed in shape in the offseason by throwing passes to his brother, Tom, in New Jersey while waiting, and wondering, if a team would call — led the Browns into the playoffs for just the third time since 1999. That’s right, with a 37-20 win over the New York Jets, the Browns (11-5) clinched a postseason spot while riding the rifle arm of a 38-year-old quarterback who spent most of his career beating them with rival Baltimore. This wasn’t in the script, so to speak. But then again, little has gone as planned in Cleveland this season. The Browns haven’t let significant injuries slow them down. In fact, the adversity has only bonded them while they put together a run to the playoffs few thought possible. Not after All-Pro tackle Jack Conklin tore up his knee in the opener. Not after star running back Nick Chubb’s season ended the same way a week later in Pittsburgh. Not when starting tackles Jedrick Wills Jr. and Dawand Jones both suffered season-ending knee injuries. And not after quarterback Deshaun Watson’s shoulder fractured during his best game in two seasons. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens defense facing tough challenge vs. Dolphins, a track team in shoulder pads | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Is Baltimore a baseball or football city? Stellar 2023 for Orioles and Ravens reignites longtime debate. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens S Kyle Hamilton, 3 other starters questionable to play Sunday; Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle out Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Dolphins staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s Week 17 game in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Joe Flacco, 2024 free agents and more | COMMENTARY No other team has started four quarterbacks and kept winning. No other team has endured more than these Browns, who just might be the league’s most dangerous team as big December games become bigger ones in January. No other team has Flacco. He has the Browns and their fans believing anything is possible. “We find a way — no matter what,” running back Kareem Hunt said. “Flacco’s been doing a heck of a job leading us, being that coach leader out there on the field for us, making every pass. He’s calm, cool, and collected. That’s a great quarterback.” Flacco’s numbers are mind-numbing. He’s passed for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns in five starts (both league highs in that span), and the former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player is the first quarterback in league history to pass for at least 250 yards and two touchdowns in his first five games with a team. He’s thrown for 300 yards in four straight games, and in Thursday’s playoff clincher, Flacco passed for 296 yards and three scores — in the first half. After the game, as the nearing-midnight sky above Cleveland Browns Stadium lit up with fireworks, Flacco spent a moment at midfield chatting with Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback who was supposed to save the Jets — the same Jets who felt Flacco could no longer help them. Looking back, New York’s mistake helped Flacco. It all worked out. He’s found a new home, Cleveland. “This city,” he said. “You can just tell they love football and it’s special going out there and playing for them.” View the full article

One week after being on a nearly impossible mission against the San Francisco 49ers, the Ravens face another one Sunday when they play the Dolphins. The Ravens (12-3) host Miami (11-4) at M&T Bank Stadium and can clinch the No. 1 seed and the first-round bye in the AFC playoffs with a win. (Baltimore can still secure the top spot with a loss if it beats the Pittsburgh Steelers next week and the Dolphins lose to the Buffalo Bills.) The Ravens smacked San Francisco around Monday night in a 33-19 victory, and the 49ers and Dolphins have a lot in common as far as offensive philosophy and schemes. But no team has as much speed as Miami, which boasts two 1,000-yard receivers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and a pair of dynamic running backs in Raheem Mostert (1,012 rushing yards) and rookie De’Von Achane (637). Combined with the league-leading 70.5% completion rate of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the offensive brilliance of coach Mike McDaniel, this track team in shoulder pads presents major concerns for the Ravens. “It’s a challenge. It’s unique to the rest of the league because it’s at every spot,” Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald said. “Every guy that can touch the ball can take off and score from any point. So, it sounds cliché, but it is all 11 players. You have to take great angles, you have to have great force, great secondary force and a third guy in the alley. And the ball can hit at any point in the field, anywhere from the A-gap all the way out to the alley. So, it’s a challenge. “How we structure things, and how we play blocks, and they do some things, schematically, that are a little different from what we’ve seen in the run game and the perimeter, like screen game. So, we’re getting a great look this week.” Few teams have been able to slow down Miami. The Dolphins are averaging 30.9 points and 411.5 yards per game, both tops in the NFL. While Tagovailoa has thrown for a league-leading 4,214 yards with 26 touchdowns, the offense is built around Hill, the best receiver in the league. He has 106 receptions for 1,641 yards and 12 touchdowns despite missing Week 15 with an ankle injury. Hill needs 324 yards in the final two games to break the NFL record for receiving yards set by Detroit’s Calvin Johnson (1,964) in 2012. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Is Baltimore a baseball or football city? Stellar 2023 for Orioles and Ravens reignites longtime debate. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens S Kyle Hamilton, 3 other starters questionable to play Sunday; Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle out Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Dolphins staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s Week 17 game in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Joe Flacco, 2024 free agents and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ‘had to define himself’ in the NFL. There’s little doubting him now. Hill’s speed is jaw-dropping, and the Dolphins use him in motion anywhere on the field. He might line up as a tight end and sprint to the outside. He could line up outside, then go in an orbit motion behind the quarterback or go to the other side of the field to anchor the slot. He can disappear faster than Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. “Well, they do a great job of getting him the ball creatively,” Macdonald said. “It’s different if someone just lines up at the X, and he’s on the ball, and he’s not moving, and you know where he’s going to be — that’s definitely not the case with Tyreek. So, we have some initial plans on how we want to handle it. Obviously, I don’t want to divulge it right now, but it’s a challenge in how they move him.” The Ravens will get a break because Waddle, another speedster, won’t play because of a high ankle sprain. With so much emphasis on Hill, Tagovailoa has been able to find Waddle streaking open in the middle, often in one-on-one coverage. Hill, though, is the playmaker. The New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys tried to bracket him, or shade zone coverage toward his side of the field. Other teams have tried the two-high safety look. Regardless, Hill has run through double and triple teams at times. The Dolphins also have outstanding speed with Mostert (4.8 yards per carry) and Achane (8.1 yards per carry), the second-fastest player on the team after Hill. There are no pretenses with the Dolphins. They want to run outside. Like everything else the Dolphins do on offense, they try to cause confusion with motion. Then it’s beep, beep, gone. Jerry Jackson/Baltimore SunDolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throws a touchdown pass ahead of the rush of Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, left, on Sept. 18, 2022, at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) “Honestly, I just think it’s eye candy, for sure,” said Ravens middle linebacker Roquan Smith, who leads the team with 151 tackles. “I think it’s more so just about the final formation. You get back to what you’re doing.” Maybe the Ravens want to look at Kansas City’s game against Miami earlier this year, a 21-14 Chiefs victory in Germany. Tagovailoa completed 21 of 34 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown, while Hill had eight catches for 62 yards and Waddle had three for 42. A key for the Ravens is to get pressure on Tagovailoa with their front four so they can drop six, seven or even eight defenders into coverage. Kansas City also confused Miami by bringing pressure off the perimeter. Tagovailoa is basically a one-read quarterback, and he can’t move outside the pocket. If he holds the ball too long, panic sets in. There is more pressure on the Ravens going into this game than Monday against San Francisco. The Ravens went into that prime-time matchup with a chip on their shoulders because they were underdogs. They are favored against Miami. The Dolphins have won two straight against Baltimore, including last year’s 42-38 victory in which Miami scored 28 points in the fourth quarter. The Ravens could be without four injured starters in guard Kevin Zeitler (knee/quad), rookie receiver Zay Flowers (calf), cornerback Brandon Stephens (ankle) and safety Kyle Hamilton (knee). The Ravens are also operating on a short week after a physical game against the 49ers, and they would prefer to secure home-field advantage with a win against Miami instead of having that emotional battle with the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday. There is one person, though, who remains calm, and that’s Smith. The Ravens are ranked No. 5 in total defense and are allowing the fewest points per game (16.3) in the league. “At the end of the day, the field is 100 yards long — and what is it, like 53 yards wide? — so you can only go so far,” he said. “There is 100 yards this way and 50-or-so yards going that way, so when you look at it from that perspective, I think it’s just more so doing our jobs and getting back to our responsibilities. “I think if we do that, we’ll slow a lot of that down, but obviously, it’s a lot easier said than done. We’re ready for it, and we’re going to be ready for it.” View the full article

Camden Yards was packed, Baltimore fans were covered in orange swag and the Orioles were minutes away from their most important home game in almost a decade. After losing the day before, the local nine were hosting Game 2 of the American League Division Series for a virtual must-win October contest in front of 46,475 fans. However, shortly before first pitch, some fans weren’t solely focused on hyping themselves up for the postseason ballgame. Instead, for many on the club level, their eyes were glued to nearby televisions showing the end of the Ravens’ regular-season game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That sight would’ve hardly been a surprise for the many Baltimore fans who believe Charm City is — at its core — a football town first. No matter your allegiance, 2023 has been a remarkable year to be a Baltimore fan. The Orioles were the best team in MLB’s AL, while the Ravens are the front-runner for the top seed in the NFL’s AFC. The two franchises’ success in the same year — a rarity in recent decades — poses a fitting moment to ponder the age-old question of whether Baltimore is a football or baseball city. “I think it’s probably more of a football city,” said Mike Miller, a 46-year-old Baltimore native who was donning an Orioles cap while tailgating outside M&T Bank Stadium before a Ravens game in November. “But the Orioles have given the fans something to root for now, so it’s becoming closer.” Some Baltimore fans say the city loves both teams equally, like parents with their children. But, as everyone knows, parents do, in fact, have their favorites, and so do fan bases. The Colts were the first to have success, as the Johnny Unitas-led squad won two championships in the late 1950s, including the 1958 title game that is considered “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” “Football city,” Baltimore fan Ed Wazlavek said emphatically when asked the question. Wazlavek, 67, said growing up in East Baltimore and watching the Colts on Sundays was “like gospel.” It’s why he hasn’t missed attending a Ravens home game since the city regained an NFL franchise in 1996. “Don’t get me wrong, the Orioles were popular,” Wazlavek said, naming the legends of those 1960s teams. “But I think because the Colts were relevant first is why it’s always been a football town. You see it, even if they’re losing, the stadium’s always sold out. The Orioles, it’s not like that.” M&T Bank Stadium is lit in orange after the Orioles clinched the AL East Division championship at Orioles Park at Camden Yards on Sept. 28. It’s also been more fruitful and less draining to be a Ravens fan. Since 2000, the Ravens have been one of the NFL’s best teams with two Super Bowl rings, six division titles — with a seventh on the way if they win Sunday against the visiting Miami Dolphins — and 15 playoff berths. The Orioles, meanwhile, haven’t won a World Series since 1983, claimed a division title this year for just the third time in the past four decades and played in the postseason for only the fourth time this century. “Since the Ravens got here, they’ve been a contender,” said Kevin Green, a 28-year-old Baltimore fan who wore an Orioles cap and a Lamar Jackson jersey while tailgating before a Ravens game last month. “We are always in the conversation.” “Being an Orioles fan gets very frustrating,” said John Shipley, 41, of Rosedale. “It’s good, though, for when the Ravens do go through a rough patch, we’re accustomed to losing because of the Orioles.” While the Ravens’ consistent success and the NFL’s increasing popularity are why many fans see Baltimore as a football city, that perhaps doesn’t tell the full story. During the Orioles’ struggles before Buck Showalter arrived as manager more than a decade ago and the recent rebuild that officially ended this year, a yearning was bubbling under the surface for a good ballclub to root for. Camden Yards drew more than 2 million fans — the mark of a solid attendance year — every season from 2012 and 2017, and while the Orioles came just short in 2023, attendance increased by 41.5% compared with 2022. Related Articles Sports | Mike Preston: Ravens defense facing tough challenge vs. Dolphins, a track team in shoulder pads | COMMENTARY Sports | Carroll County Times 2023 All-County girls soccer: Hannah DeVincent did it all for Liberty, named Player of the Year Sports | Bill Wagner: Jacob Busic enters transfer portal after being denied fifth year of Navy football | COMMENTARY Sports | High school sports roundup (Dec. 29) Sports | Ravens S Kyle Hamilton, 3 other starters questionable to play Sunday; Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle out “I believe this city has embraced the good young team,” said Dwayne Jackson, a 43-year-old Baltimore native. “We’ve got a lot of young talent. We’re going to grow with them for years.” That everlasting hope in the Orioles embedded deep in the city’s conscience might go back further than anyone alive can remember. Baseball has a rich history in Baltimore even though it didn’t have an MLB team for most of the first half of the 20th century. The original Baltimore Orioles were a founding member of the American Association in the 1880s, later joining the National League in the 1890s and briefly the AL in the early 1900s when Hall of Famer John McGraw was a star player and manager. “I would say at its heart, at its soul, Baltimore is a baseball city just because the Orioles have been here so long,” Baltimore fan Sean Jones said. Then there’s the fact that the greatest baseball player to ever live was born in Ridgely’s Delight, which is still memorialized with the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, and his childhood home was located where center field of Oriole Park is today. Ruth then started his professional baseball career playing for the International League Orioles — a dominant minor league team in the 1910s and 1920s — in 1914 before joining the Boston Red Sox. “I don’t think there’s any question that this was by far a baseball town before it was a football town,” longtime former News American and Baltimore Sun sports reporter Jim Henneman said. “But you could probably say that about any major city because it wasn’t until the 1950s when the NFL started to take hold.” Angels Orioles BaseballNick Wass/APThe Orioles’ Adley Rutschman, left, and the Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton, right, pose after they exchanged jerseys before a game May 16 at Camden Yards. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Henneman, 88, is in his eighth decade covering Baltimore sports, now with PressBox, and he said the answer to this question has “flipped” over the years. “The Colts hit the jackpot before the Orioles did, so they got a grip on the city,” he said, making the Orioles “kind of like stepchildren for a while.” Then, as the Colts struggled and moved to Indianapolis, the Orioles regained their status, only to have the Ravens come to town and capture the city’s consistent praise. On-field success isn’t everything, though. According to Sam Clevenger, an assistant professor of sport management at Towson University, the ethos of a rust-belt city like Baltimore might jell more with the tough, gritty nature of football. “I think Cleveland and Baltimore are kind of similar,” said Clevenger, a native of Canton, Ohio, a football town that is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “It seems like cities like that — Buffalo is another one — I think a lot of people are inclined to connect with football more. I think a lot of people in postindustrial cities have a nostalgia for the industrial, blue-collar past of the cities. They connect with these ideas of hard work and perseverance, and I think there’s an easy way to link that kind of nostalgia and identity with the sport of football.” No matter the answer to the question, though, right now might be the best time to be a Baltimore fan in more than 50 years. If the Ravens can end the regular season as the AFC’s best team — a status they can claim Sunday with a victory — it would be the first time that both Baltimore franchises have finished atop their respective leagues since 1970. They both brought home championship trophies that year. “It’s amazing, Jackson said. “You go from one season to the next, from baseball season to football season, and you still get to feel proud of your home team.” Baltimore Sun reporter Hayes Gardner contributed to this article. View the full article

If the Ravens are going to slow down the NFL’s highest scoring offense Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, they might have to do so without two of their best defensive players. Safety Kyle Hamilton (knee) and cornerback Brandon Stephens (ankle) are both listed as questionable for the crucial 1 p.m. showdown between the AFC’s top two teams, though neither player practiced Friday in Owings Mills. “It’s the time of year,” coach John Harbaugh after practice when asked about the status of Hamilton and Stephens. “Everybody who can go will be out there.” If Baltimore (12-3) wins, it clinches the top seed in the AFC, the first-round bye in the playoffs and home-field advantage through the conference championship game. If Miami (11-4) wins, it can clinch the top spot with a Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills or a Ravens loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But stopping or even slowing down the Dolphins without Hamilton and Stephens would be challenging. Hamilton has been the cornerstone of the Ravens’ defense, which is tops in the NFL in several metrics, and much of that success is because of his versatility and All-Pro level of play. When the second-year safety and 2022 first-round draft pick has been on the field this season, the Ravens have allowed 4.2 yards per play and have a success rate of 63.7%, which rank first and second in the NFL, respectively, per TruMedia. When he hasn’t been, the Ravens’ defense has been one of the worst in the league in those two categories. Hamilton’s 81 tackles are also third-most on the team behind only inside linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen, and he has 13 passes defensed, four interceptions and three sacks. Stephens, meanwhile, has been a surprising emergence for the Ravens and their most consistent cornerback on the outside. If he’s not able to play, veterans Ronald Darby or Rock Ya-Sin would likely fill the void. Baltimore is already a little thin at the position with Jalyn Armour-Davis (concussion) ruled out, though Arthur Maulet (knee) was a full participant Friday after being limited earlier in the week. If Hamilton and Maulet don’t play or are limited, that would likely mean more action in the slot for Marlon Humphrey. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Dolphins staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s Week 17 game in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Joe Flacco, 2024 free agents and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ‘had to define himself’ in the NFL. There’s little doubting him now. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Mike Macdonald has become NFL’s hottest young defensive coach in 15 months since Dolphins disaster Baltimore Ravens | Joe Flacco throws 3 TD passes and Browns clinch unlikely playoff spot with 37-20 win over Jets The Dolphins are averaging 30.9 points per game and are likewise tops in passing yards per game (275.1) and completion percentage (.706) and second in yards per pass (8.2). Others missing from practice Friday were wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (rest), though he was not given an injury designation for the game, and linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips (shoulder), who is listed as questionable. Wide receiver Zay Flowers (calf) and guard Kevin Zeitler (knee/quad) are also questionable and were limited. For the Dolphins, star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) has been ruled out as expected, while right guard Robert Hunt (hamstring) is doubtful. Waddle ranks seventh in the NFL with 1,014 receiving yards. Braxton Berrios (23 receptions for 219 yards), Cedrick Wilson Jr. (19 for 245), River Cracraft (8 for 103), Robbie Chosen (4 for 126) and Chase Claypool are the other options at receiver, while tight end Durham Smythe has nine catches in the past two games. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey (knee), meanwhile, was added to the injury report after being limited Friday and is questionable. Others who were limited and are questionable are running back Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle); cornerback Xavien Howard (hip/thumb); safety Jevon Holland (knees); and offensive linemen Lester Cotton (hip), Liam Eichenberg (calf/ankle) and Austin Jackson (oblique). Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel did say Friday, however, that he is optimistic about Holland as long as there were no setbacks and that he is not worried about Mostert. Holland has been one of the league’s best safeties when healthy, while Mostert has rushed for 1,012 yards and a league-leading 18 touchdowns. View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 17 game between the Ravens (12-3) and the Miami Dolphins (11-4) at M&T Bank Stadium. Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 24, Dolphins 20: The Ravens have a short week after a West Coast game in which they dominated the 49ers in an emotional game, and that might normally be a concern for something of a letdown. But Baltimore can smell the finish line, and the defense as well as quarterback Lamar Jackson are operating at a high level. Miami stresses defenses with its running and passing game and has a defense that has been humming in recent weeks, but the Dolphins also have lost some big road games against the Bills, Eagles and Chiefs this season. They’re a different team on the road. The Ravens can match their speed and know they can clinch the top seed in the AFC with a win. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 30, Dolphins 27: The Ravens have proved to be the most balanced team in the NFL and they will expose the Dolphins’ weaknesses on defense. Baltimore needs to get an early lead and then pound the ball with a strong running game in the second half. Childs Walker, reporter Ravens 31, Dolphins 27: If Ravens-49ers was the game of the year, this one is even more important. The Ravens will need takeaways to counter unavoidable chunk gains from Miami’s playmakers. The Dolphins won’t have an answer for Lamar Jackson, but if they can go up early, they might prevent the Ravens from pounding on them in the second half. Advantage goes to the home team as these heavyweights match strengths. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Joe Flacco, 2024 free agents and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ‘had to define himself’ in the NFL. There’s little doubting him now. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Mike Macdonald has become NFL’s hottest young defensive coach in 15 months since Dolphins disaster Baltimore Ravens | Joe Flacco throws 3 TD passes and Browns clinch unlikely playoff spot with 37-20 win over Jets Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton on his injury | VIDEO C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 27, Dolphins 19: With wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle not fully healthy, the Ravens should be able to contain the Dolphins’ offense. As formiddable as Miami has looked with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa playing at a high level and running backs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane leading a potent rushing attack, this Ravens defense just held a very similar offense in check in San Francisco. With the top seed in the AFC at stake and Lamar Jackson playing some of his best ball of the season, Baltimore gets it done at home and gives its top players three weeks of rest before the divisional round begins. Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 35, Dolphins 24: The Ravens aren’t messing around anymore, having won nine of their past 10. Those late-game collapses earlier in the season (which really dates to their epic fall the last time they faced Miami in September 2022) seem like a thing of the past as they have found their winning formula. The Dolphins pose many challenges but are also banged up — neither of their star receivers, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, are 100% — and their defense isn’t anything special. Baltimore does not want to go into the regular-season finale against Pittsburgh needing a win to lock up the No. 1 seed or even potentially the AFC North. The Ravens are a well-oiled machine right now without any major weakness, and that won’t change Sunday. View the full article

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer fans’ questions throughout the Ravens season. Coming off Baltimore’s 33-19 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16, plenty of questions remain heading into a Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Here’s Preston’s take: (Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.) What are your thoughts for safety Kyle Hamilton as NFL Defensive Player of the Year? He is not a one-trick pony … he makes plays ALL over the field. — John R on X When I think of Defensive Player of the Year, I always think of former New York Giants and Hall of Fame outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor. I also think of former Ravens such as middle linebacker Ray Lewis, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and safety Ed Reed. Hamilton isn’t in that class. He is having an outstanding season, but offensive coordinators aren’t staying up at night thinking about him, not yet anyway. He makes plays all over the field, but players such as Taylor, Lewis, Suggs and Reed could dominate games and control the tempo. In the prime of their careers, they made sudden change plays nearly every week. Another key is consistency. All of those guys did it year in and year out. Hamilton hasn’t done it for a full season yet. He has great potential, and his size (6 feet 4, 220 pounds) makes him the perfect hybrid of being both a strong safety and outside linebacker. But no, he isn’t in that class yet. In fact, he isn’t even the best player on the Ravens’ defense. That title belongs to middle linebacker Roquan Smith. You might be a little too eager with Hamilton at this point. Let’s wait and see. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Dolphins staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s Week 17 game in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ‘had to define himself’ in the NFL. There’s little doubting him now. Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Mike Macdonald has become NFL’s hottest young defensive coach in 15 months since Dolphins disaster Baltimore Ravens | Joe Flacco throws 3 TD passes and Browns clinch unlikely playoff spot with 37-20 win over Jets Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton on his injury | VIDEO You’ve been advocating for a while now to have cornerback Marlon Humphrey play in the slot on a regular basis, and against the 49ers he excelled playing there for a majority of snaps. Barring any injuries the rest of this season, do you expect defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to keep him there the rest of the way? — Paul in Orlando I would say so, but it also depends on the matchups. Humphrey isn’t as fast and lacks the recovery speed that he once had, but he is special playing over the slot or against No. 3 receivers. He can still run with any of them and has the size and physical strength to play near the line of scrimmage. He can also blitz off the edge, which would give the Ravens another defensive look. A week ago, some critics were down on Humphrey, but he just needed time to work himself into game shape after missing extensive practice time because of injuries. If the opposing team has a slower receiver on the outside and Humphrey can outmuscle him, the Ravens might move him outside again. Injuries might also force the Ravens to move Humphrey around, but his strength is playing inside. He can hammer receivers and opposing ball carriers. Now, he just needs to wrap up when making tackles. It’s great to deliver crunching blows, but not when you don’t bring down the runner. Who will/should be the next Ravens player to get a contract extension? — Phil on X According to my calculations, the Ravens have 23 free agents heading into 2024. I would assume it depends on how the roster shakes out and when salary cap space becomes available. Defensive lineman Justin Madubuike would be a top priority, especially with nose tackle Michael Pierce also hitting the free agent market. Weakside linebacker Patrick Queen also has to be high on the Ravens’ list, even though they signed Smith to a five-year, $100 million contract in early January. It’s hard to invest so much money into one position. In a sense, the window of opportunity is closing for the Ravens because they have other important players who will become free agents such as running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor. That’s quite a haul. There is no way general manager Eric DeCosta can re-sign all of them, and it’s a safe bet that Madubuike and Queen will either make top dollar here in Baltimore or some other NFL city. Former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has enjoyed a remarkable comeback with the Browns this season. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) How surprised are you that Joe Flacco is performing the way that he is for the Browns? I fear “January Joe” will go off, and pray we’re not a victim. — BBT on X Actually, my first thought on Flacco was that I hoped he didn’t get hurt. He has had a pretty good career and he has always been a nice guy. His health was a major concern. I didn’t think Flacco was “washed up” here, but the Ravens wanted to move in a new direction, especially with a run-dominated offense built around Lamar Jackson. After Vinny Testaverde, I thought Flacco had the best arm strength of any quarterback in Ravens history. When starting quarterbacks started going down early in the season, I thought he was better than most of the backups, but he had to go into the right system and play behind a strong offensive line. Flacco sat on the couch watching football for a couple of months, and that helped him both mentally and physically. The time off gave his body a chance to heal and kept his legs fresh. It also gave him time to reflect and remember just how much he missed playing on Sunday afternoons. His arm seems as strong as ever. Some of those touchdown passes are bullets rifled between two and three defenders. From a media standpoint, it would be exciting to have him play against the Ravens in the postseason. But also remember that even though Flacco is playing well, coach John Harbaugh knows him well and his weaknesses. We’ve seen what happens when Flacco gets hot, but I’m not sure he can duplicate his run through the 2012 postseason now, not at the age of 38. His comeback, though, is amazing. For the first time in a long time I saw Broderick Washington on the defensive line. When he plays, our defense is significantly better at stopping the run. Your thoughts? — Anonymous I thought Washington struggled against the run earlier in the season, and when the Ravens played against top passing teams, they thought it was a good time to put him on the bench. Sometimes, players struggle. I’ve seen that with Pierce at times this year and offensive tackles Morgan Moses and Ronnie Stanley have had problems as well. But these guys are professionals and they have a lot of pride. Sometimes, they just need a little jolt to get them to turn it up a notch. Both Moses and Stanley played well last week against the 49ers, and Washington finished with a hard tackle of running back Christian McCaffrey. I am not sure the Ravens are significantly better against the run when Washington plays, but he provides much-needed depth on the defensive line. View the full article

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel recognizes unconventional talent. All he has to do is look in the mirror. Long before the 40-year-old whiz became the man in charge of the team standing between the Ravens and securing the top seed in the AFC on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, McDaniel was a scrawny teenager who was a walk-on wide receiver at Yale, where he majored in history and took classes from African art history to consumer culture. He never recorded a stat for the Bulldogs, but, as The Athletic reported, won a pull-up contest with 39 in a row and was consumed with film study. His road to NFL stardom was also bumpy (alcoholism and rehab), meteoric (coaching intern at age 22 with the Denver Broncos to offensive assistant under then-Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak a year later) and had its share of detractors (fired shortly after Kubiak hired him), to say nothing of the uniqueness in the coaching realm of sartorial splendor that regularly includes Nike Off-Whites and a rose gold Breitling watch. Then there’s the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, who is actually a lot like McDaniel. The quarterback’s ascension was immediate — he was the NFL Most Valuable Player in his second season and joined Tom Brady as the only players to win the award unanimously — and even in a changing NFL his dynamic ability to run and pass are atypical of the position. Already, Jackson’s 3,357 passing yards this season are a career high, with two games remaining. His 66.3% completion rate is also the best of his six-year tenure. His 786 rushing yards will fall well short of the 1,206 he had in 2019, but they are 201 more than the next closest quarterback, Justin Fields. He’s also led the Ravens to the best record in the NFL at 12-3 (one game better than Miami), wins in 10 of their past 11 games and the precipice of the first-round bye in the playoffs and home-field advantage through the AFC championship game. Seven of Baltimore’s victories against teams with winning records have been by at least 14 points, including Monday night’s 33-19 pounding of the NFC-leading San Francisco 49ers. It’s no wonder, then, that McDaniel is a candidate for Coach of the Year and Jackson his second MVP honor. “Outside of this game, I’m just happy for the player because what I recognize is … you talk about an unbelievable talent,” McDaniel said this week. “But even him, he’s had to define himself. He’s had people tell him what he is and he disagrees.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Dolphins staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s Week 17 game in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Joe Flacco, 2024 free agents and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Mike Macdonald has become NFL’s hottest young defensive coach in 15 months since Dolphins disaster Baltimore Ravens | Joe Flacco throws 3 TD passes and Browns clinch unlikely playoff spot with 37-20 win over Jets Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton on his injury | VIDEO There’s little doubting Jackson now. He is the betting favorite to be named MVP, and with good reason. But the numbers tell only part of the story of his evolution as perhaps the best quarterback and best player in the league. Take his performance against the 49ers, and in particular his third-quarter touchdown pass to Zay Flowers to all but put the game out of reach. Any quarterback in the league could have completed the 9-yard throw to the wide-open rookie in the back of the end zone, but the beauty was in the play design and what Jackson did before it ever happened. As he dropped back, tight end Isaiah Likely ran up the field to the right and running back Gus Edwards into the flat on the same side, sucking rookie safety Ji’Ayir Brown down. That cleared the middle of the field, and voila. “I do think he sees the field very well,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said Thursday. “He does a tremendous job, and we’ve worked awfully hard with our scramble drills in terms of our spacing down the field reacting to the quarterback. “But even beyond that, I think he’s able to communicate what he sees and what he anticipates. Then, when he gets outside the pocket, [he] does a great job of seeing things. The touchdown to Zay … I don’t even know if we ever hit Zay one time on that part of it, but he saw the reaction of the safety and made an unbelievable play.” It was just one of many this season. Earlier in the same game, facing a first-and-20 from his own 15-yard line, Jackson stepped up and away from the 49ers’ rush and scrambled left. When it looked like he was about to run, linebacker Dre Greenlaw came off Likely and toward Jackson, only to watch Jackson awkwardly fling a pass back toward the suddenly vacant piece of Levi’s Stadium turf that Likely had suddenly cut in toward. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson eludes a sack attempt by 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown Monday in Santa Clara, California. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) Afterward, coach John Harbaugh said Jackson’s performance was worthy of an MVP winner. “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,” he said. “And Lamar was all over the field doing everything.” He’s also done it without the team’s top running back coming into the season, J.K. Dobbins, who was lost to a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in Week 1, and some of it without tight end Mark Andrews, who suffered an ankle injury in Week 12. He has benefitted, however, from a new scheme under Monken and new talent around him, including Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr., and Nelson Angholor, among others. Facing the NFL’s best defense every day in practice doesn’t hurt, either. But Jackson doesn’t care about the hype he’s getting for MVP. “Keeping a level head is the most important thing for us right now, because now the narrative is changing,” he said Wednesday. “It was just … ‘We don’t know about the Ravens.’ Now it’s, ‘Oh, they’re the No. 1 team.’ So, we’re not paying [any] mind to that. I feel like that’s bait — that’s clickbait. We’re trying to make it to February, so we’re going to take it a game at a time. “I believe we’ve got a bunch of guys who’ve been doubted, a bunch of guys who’ve got things to prove — on our team — on both sides of the ball. So, I believe, anytime we’re the underdogs, we’re going to always rise to the occasion.” Does Jackson feel he has anything to prove? “To myself, absolutely, absolutely,” he said. Another MVP trophy would prove a lot to everybody else, too. Week 17 Dolphins at Ravens Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 3 1/2 View the full article

As Mike Macdonald watched the football fly over and past his rattled defensive backs — 33 yards, 48 yards, 60 yards — he could not devise a way to make it stop. He had vaulted up the coaching ranks, catching John Harbaugh’s eye as a fresh-faced Ravens assistant, building a dominant defense in one season at Michigan and returning to Baltimore at age 35 to take command of a hallowed defensive culture built by the likes of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Rex Ryan. His predecessor and former boss, Don “Wink” Martindale, was a swaggering presence whose play-calling — all-out blitzes, cornerbacks on islands — fit his personality. Macdonald arrived with a more buttoned-up tone and the promise that he might bring more subtle shadings to a defense that had come apart after three excellent seasons under Martindale. Instead, it was blowing up right before his eyes as the Miami Dolphins roared back from a 35-14 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to stun every person on the Ravens’ sideline and every patron in the stands at M&T Bank Stadium. The final numbers from Sept. 18, 2022 — 28 fourth-quarter points, 469 passing yards and six touchdowns for Tua Tagovailoa — were ugly, and so were the postgame assessments of Macdonald’s work. “They don’t know what they’re doing,” Ryan barked the morning after on ESPN. “This new hot-shot coordinator is terrible.” Macdonald did not believe that but knew this was no time to get defensive. “That’s not who we want to be, that’s not our standard,” he said four days after the catastrophe. “It wasn’t good enough.” Fifteen months later, as the Ravens prepare to play the Dolphins again in a game that will likely determine the AFC’s No. 1 seed, estimations of Macdonald have changed remarkably. The Ravens have allowed the fewest points in the league, the second fewest yards per play, and they’re first in sacks despite having entered the season without a superstar pass rusher. Macdonald’s defense painted its “Mona Lisa” on Christmas night, forcing five turnovers and rolling up 32 pressures against the previously unstoppable San Francisco 49ers. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Dolphins staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s Week 17 game in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Joe Flacco, 2024 free agents and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ‘had to define himself’ in the NFL. There’s little doubting him now. Baltimore Ravens | Joe Flacco throws 3 TD passes and Browns clinch unlikely playoff spot with 37-20 win over Jets Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton on his injury | VIDEO In a rare display of unbridled emotion, Macdonald pumped both his fists, bellowed and nearly took defensive line coach Anthony Weaver’s hand off with a high five after the Ravens clinched their 33-19 win with a final interception. “You’re just juiced about the guys, and the performance that the guys put out there, and it just came out,” he said Thursday in typically understated fashion. The performance threw jet fuel on Macdonald’s growing reputation as the finest young defensive mind in football. “MVP of the Night @Ravens DC ! Mike McDonald,” gushed ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive end Marcus Spears on Twitter. “Man put together a Masterpiece tonight!!!” “That game was much more about Mike Macdonald putting Brock Purdy in pure hell than anything else,” USA Today’s Doug Farrar tweeted after watching the All-22 film. “One of the most amazing, diverse and sequential defensive game plans you’ll see all season long.” With at least seven NFL teams likely to be looking for new head coaches over the next month, Macdonald’s name is one of the hottest on speculative candidate lists. “It’s hard to ignore, and it’s an honor to hear about it,” Macdonald said. “It’s such a unique opportunity when it does come up. For guys that know me, I’m a one-track guy. It’s very difficult for me to do two things at once, so you try your best to focus on the things we need to focus on, which is the next game and getting our guys in position to win. To have that opportunity or have your name come up like that, it’s really a reflection of our coaches and our staff together.” Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald instructs players during drills Thursday in Owings Mills. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) He laughed and shook his head when asked if he’s received any phone calls from interested teams. “We’ve got to finish out what we started here, but if that were to happen, it would be much-deserved,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “He’s a young, bright star in our league. Just like the players are executing at a high level, so is he. He’s got a great plan in place every week, and he’s open to criticism for sure, when we’re being a little sensitive and bratty about stuff. But he hears us when we’re talking to him, and I think that’s a great quality.” Ravens fans revert to gallows humor each time they see another adulatory post about their defensive coordinator. “No, he’s terrible,” they mock insist, hoping to chase suitors off the scent. But they know the truth, that the 36-year-old Macdonald, with considerable help from a rising group of stars led by Roquan Smith, Hamilton and Justin Madubuike, has built a defense that might stand among the best in Ravens history. And he will likely be rewarded, if not this offseason then sometime soon, with his own team to shape. Macdonald’s tactical signatures have become familiar. He’s more deceiver than bully, spinning “lies” to the offense in the form of cornerbacks blitzing from the edge and 350-pound nose tackles dropping into zone coverage. Defensive tackles stunt around inside linebackers. Nickel backs delay an extra beat before rushing from the slot. Was that 338-pound Travis Jones lining up at defensive end against the fleet 49ers? Yes, and he helped bother Purdy into an interception. “They do a lot of varied defenses,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, one of the best young offensive minds in the sport, told Miami reporters. “I’ve been so impressed with the defense now compared to the last time we played them, and they were a very good defense then.” Players dig the unfamiliar roles Macdonald thrusts them into, the way he asks them to attack at the moment the offense least expects it. Even if an opponent gouges them early, as the 49ers did, they trust they’ll get in more licks by the end of the night. “The way Mike called the game is second to none in this league,” Smith said after the win. “I just love playing in this defense.” “The way Mike [Macdonald] called the game is second to none in this league,” linebacker Roquan Smith, pictured sacking quarterback Brock Purdy, said of the Ravens’ win over the 49ers on Sunday. “I just love playing in this defense.”The Pro Bowl linebacker, who speaks Macdonald’s plans into existence on the field, expanded Thursday: “I just think he’s a wizard. He finds out what teams struggle with, teams’ weaknesses and our strengths, and he’s able to make those into a game plan situation. And just having everybody on the same page throughout the week and on game day, just ready to rock and roll. I think it’s pretty sweet.” Players gush about how tactics that look complicated on game day sound simple during the week when Macdonald teaches them. “He just makes sense,” outside linebacker Odafe Oweh said. “If something works, why would you not want to do it?” The Dolphins loss last year was an early nadir for Macdonald, one that could have signaled a rocky debut season. Instead, his defense, boosted by the midseason addition of Smith, turned into one of the best in the league in the second half. Harbaugh said the Ravens took the right message from that collapse against the team they’ll face again Sunday. “It was a tough pill to swallow for us, and all credit to them for the way they executed and made those plays,” he said. “We learned a lot. We learned a lot about ourselves [and] our coverages. We weren’t anywhere near where we needed to be execution-wise at the time, and they’re capable of doing that to anybody at any time.” As the Ravens prepare to deal with the same Dolphins playmakers (and a few new ones) who can score from any point on the field, Macdonald said he hasn’t explicitly referenced the last meeting. “Personally, of course you’re going to learn from that game last year,” he said. “Definitely, that game, you look back and we made a lot of corrections after that game to take strides for the rest of the year. Unfortunately, [games like that] are going to happen in the NFL, and it’s about how you respond as a team and taking responsibility for things you can improve on. I think as a team, and definitely individually, that was our approach, but that was a long time ago, man.” Baltimore Sun reporter Brian Wacker contributed to this article. Week 17 Dolphins at Ravens Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 3 1/2 View the full article

CLEVELAND — Joe Flacco passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns and the Cleveland Browns clinched an unlikely playoff berth — just their second since 2002 — despite several injuries this season with a 37–20 win over the New York Jets on Thursday night. The Browns (11-5) are assured of a wild-card spot and still have a chance to win the AFC North and maybe the conference’s No. 1 overall seed, something that seemed unfathomable just weeks ago as major injuries piled up. But things have changed since Flacco arrived. Cleveland has been charmed. The 38-year-old quarterback improved to 4-1 as a starter with the Browns, who plucked the Super Bowl 47 MVP off his couch in New Jersey last month to hopefully rescue their season. He’s done that and more. Flacco threw two TD passes to Jerome Ford in the first half as the Browns built a 20-point lead over the Jets (6-10), who chose not to re-sign the 15-year veteran after he spent three seasons with them — and after Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon in Week 1. Flacco torched New York for 296 yards in the first half and became the first QB in 34 games to go over 300 yards against the Jets. He’s also the first Cleveland quarterback to pass for more than 300 in four straight. The Jets were forced to start Trevor Siemian for the second week in a row with Zach Wilson sidelined by a concussion. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton on his injury | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton returns to practice Thursday, WR Zay Flowers still absent Baltimore Ravens | Joe Flacco faces Jets, his former team, with chance to push surging Browns into AFC playoffs Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 17 of 2023 NFL season: Lions vs. Cowboys, Steelers vs. Seahawks, Bengals vs. Chiefs and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Dolphins scouting report for Week 17: Who has the edge? Siemian had some nice moments, but an overthrow late in first quarter was returned 30 yards for a TD by safety Ronnie Hickman to put the Browns up 20-7. New York’s Jermaine Johnson had a pick-6 in the second quarter when he beautifully deflected Flacco’s pass to himself and returned it 37 yards. Nothing has been easy this season for the Browns, who have continued to win despite being overrun by injuries since the opener. Flacco is their fourth starting quarterback, they’re missing both first-team offensive tackles and 12 players — including QB Deshaun Watson and running back Nick Chubb — are on injured reserve. So, it was fitting they went into their biggest game this season missing their starting kicker, punter and wide receiver Amari Cooper, who was coming off a franchise record-setting 265-yard performance on Sunday in Houston. New guys The Browns got their first looks at kicker Riley Patterson and punter Matt Haack, both signed earlier this week. Patterson, filling in for an injured Dustin Hopkins, went 4 of 5 on extra points and made a 33-yard field goal with 2:54 left. Haack averaged 51.7 yards on three punts. Garrett & Garrett Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett ended a five-game streak without a sack by taking down Siemian in the first half. New York’s Garrett Wilson went over 1,000 yards receiving for the second straight season. He also did it as a rookie in 2022 and is one of 10 active players with two 1,000-yard seasons to start their career. Scary moment Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore suffered a head injury in the second quarter. After catching a 22-yard pass from Flacco, Moore’s helmet was driven into the turf as he went down. He rolled onto his back and appeared to twitch as teammates quickly called for medical personnel. Moore, who spent the past two seasons with the Jets, was helped off the field and escorted to Cleveland’s locker room. Injuries Jets: WR Allen Lazard (illness) was among the team’s inactives. … OL Jacob Hanson suffered a concussion. … OT Xavier Newman was helped off the fourth quarter with an unspecified injury. Browns: Cooper came in listed questionable, but was expected to play. However, after he tested a heel injury during an on-field workout, the Browns opted to have him sit rather than risk more damage. … CB Mike Ford Jr. (calf) got hurt covering a kick in the first quarter. Up next Jets: At New England on Jan. 7. Browns: At Cincinnati on Jan. 7. View the full article

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Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton returned to practice Thursday but participated in few drills and moved tentatively on his injured left knee during the portion open to reporters. Hamilton was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday’s walkthrough on the team’s estimated injury report. He appeared to aggravate a two-week-old injury to his left knee late in the Ravens’ 33-19 win Monday night over the San Francisco 49ers. He intercepted two passes in the game and was subsequently named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. If Hamilton can’t play Sunday, his absence would be a significant blow to the Ravens as they take on the Miami Dolphins’ top-ranked passing offense with a chance to clinch the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed. Meanwhile, wide receiver Zay Flowers, who leads the team in catches and receiving yards, was absent for a second straight day because of a calf injury. Cornerback Brandon Stephens and linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips, neither of whom appeared on Wednesday’s injury report, were also missing, as was cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis, who was limited Wednesday because of a concussion. Right guard Kevin Zeitler returned after he did not participate Wednesday because of knee and quadriceps injuries. This story will be updated. View the full article

CLEVELAND — Joe Flacco’s short stint with the Browns has been stunning, storybook, almost unbelievable. Like everyone else, the New York Jets have watched him from afar — and maybe wondered what might have been. On Thursday night, Flacco, who in just over a month has revived his career while rescuing Cleveland’s injury-filled season, can lead the Browns back into the playoffs for only the second time since 2002 with a win over the Jets. The same Jets who chose not to re-sign the 38-year-old quarterback during the offseason or even after Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles tendon injury when he fell to the MetLife Stadium turf four plays into his first game with New York. Instead, the Jets (6-9) have cycled through QBs — Trevor Siemian will start against the Browns — in a season that crashed weeks ago. Jets coach Robert Saleh swears the team doesn’t rue passing on Flacco. “Never regret,” Saleh said. “You always go into things with what you hope being a sound decision. Every decision we make comes with deep thought and logic. But no, there’s no regret there.” Still, Saleh surely has to think about what Flacco, who went 1-8 as a starter from 2020-22 with New York, would be doing for the Jets now. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 17 of 2023 NFL season: Lions vs. Cowboys, Steelers vs. Seahawks, Bengals vs. Chiefs and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Dolphins scouting report for Week 17: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | NFL playoff picture: Ravens can secure AFC’s top seed with win over Dolphins Baltimore Ravens | Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton did not practice Wednesday, still recovering from knee injury Baltimore Ravens | NFL power rankings, Week 17: Ravens vault to No. 1 with win over 49ers “No, I don’t think I ever let myself go there,” Saleh said. “But I am pumped to watch him play. It’s fun for any guy that you’ve gotten an opportunity to coach and be around to have success and he’s definitely having it right now.” The Browns (10-5) probably wouldn’t be in this position without Flacco. He has passed for 1,307 yards and 10 touchdowns while going 3-1 in four starts. It’s been something of a blur for the 15-year veteran, who finally has moved into an apartment after spending his first few weeks in town holed up in a hotel. Once a villain while playing for rival Baltimore, Flacco has become a Cleveland cult hero. Browns fans quickly have adopted him as one of their own. “This city’s been unbelievable,” he said. “I can’t say enough about how welcoming everybody has been. It’s definitely been a little bit surreal in terms of how people have treated me around here. That stuff always feels good, so hopefully we can keep it going for them.” Things could have been so different for Flacco if the Jets had called. But they didn’t, and he holds no bitterness. “I enjoyed my time while I was there, and it is what it is,” he said. “I’m happy to be where I am, that’s for sure. Listen, there’s 32 teams in the NFL. They’re just another one of those teams. I got a lot of guys over there I really respect and had an awesome few years with in that locker room. So a lot of respect for those guys.” The feeling is mutual. “I love him,” Saleh said of Flacco. “I love the way he prepares, really pumped for him and the success he’s having. But it’s just the decision we made in terms of the quarterback room and the way we developed it over the course of OTAs and training camp and it was just the decision that we made.” Jet lagged Flacco had his finest moment with the Jets in Cleveland. In Week 2 last season, Flacco threw two of his four TD passes in the final 1:22 as New York, trailing by 13 points, pulled off a stunning 31-30 win over the Browns. “Pretty damn memorable,” Flacco said this week when asked about the comeback. The loss haunted the Browns, who never recovered on the way to a 7-10 finish. “Definitely try to forget it, but you also don’t want to forget it,” cornerback Greg Newsome II said. “We still got that stinging pain, that stinging urge to get back out there, improve ourselves from last year’s loss.” Breece the beast Jets running back Breece Hall was struggling, along with the rest of New York’s worst-ranked offense, for several weeks. One huge game reminded everyone how much of a playmaker he can be. Hall went nine games without rushing for more than 50 yards, but he broke out for 95 and two touchdowns along with 12 catches for 96 yards in last week’s win over Washington. He’s the first player in the Super Bowl era with 190 or more yards from scrimmage, 12 receptions and two TD runs. “He’s awesome,” Siemian said. “He makes some unbelievable plays. I mean, shoot, there’s nothing he can’t do.” Revolving door The Jets enter the game at Cleveland having used an NFL-high 12 starting lineups on their offensive line, including a different starting five in each of their past 11 games. New York might finally have some stability, though. Left tackle Mekhi Becton, left guard Laken Tomlinson, center Joe Tippmann, right guard Jacob Hanson and right tackle Carter Warren started Sunday against Washington and appear on track to start again Thursday night. It would be the first time since Weeks 3 to 5 that the Jets had the same starting O-line start consecutive games. No fly zone The Jets have been downright stingy when it comes to shutting down opponents’ passing games. New York hasn’t allowed 300 yards passing in 33 straight games, the league’s longest active streak. The previous time the Jets gave up 300 or more yards came in Week 17 of the 2021 season when Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady threw for 410. “I saw that on Twitter and had no clue we had done that, so that was really cool to see,” defensive lineman Solomon Thomas said. “But it’s not something we think about.” This week, the Jets have been thinking about Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper, who dominated the Texans for 265 yards last week and who may have surpassed 300 if not for sitting out a portion of the fourth quarter with the Browns up big. View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 17: New York Jets at Cleveland Browns (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (149-91 season; 9-7 last week): Browns Childs Walker (150-90 season; 8-8 last week): Browns Mike Preston (142-98 season; 9-7 last week): Browns C.J. Doon (157-83 season; 10-6 last week): Browns Tim Schwartz (143-97 season; 11-5 last week): Browns Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys (Saturday, 8:15 p.m.) Wacker: Cowboys Walker: Cowboys Preston: Cowboys Doon: Lions Schwartz: Lions New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bills Walker: Bills Preston: Bills Doon: Bills Schwartz: Bills Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bears Walker: Bears Preston: Falcons Doon: Bears Schwartz: Falcons Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Dolphins scouting report for Week 17: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | NFL playoff picture: Ravens can secure AFC’s top seed with win over Dolphins Baltimore Ravens | Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton did not practice Wednesday, still recovering from knee injury Baltimore Ravens | NFL power rankings, Week 17: Ravens vault to No. 1 with win over 49ers Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 33-19 win over 49ers | VIDEO Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Texans Walker: Texans Preston: Texans Doon: Texans Schwartz: Texans Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Colts Walker: Colts Preston: Raiders Doon: Colts Schwartz: Colts Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Jaguars Walker: Jaguars Preston: Jaguars Doon: Jaguars Schwartz: Jaguars Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Rams Walker: Rams Preston: Rams Doon: Rams Schwartz: Rams Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Eagles Walker: Eagles Preston: Eagles Doon: Eagles Schwartz: Eagles New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Buccaneers Walker: Buccaneers Preston: Buccaneers Doon: Buccaneers Schwartz: Buccaneers San Francisco 49ers at Washington Commanders (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: 49ers Walker: 49ers Preston: 49ers Doon: 49ers Schwartz: 49ers Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Seahawks Walker: Seahawks Preston: Steelers Doon: Seahawks Schwartz: Seahawks Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Chargers Walker: Broncos Preston: Broncos Doon: Broncos Schwartz: Chargers Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Walker: Chiefs Preston: Chiefs Doon: Chiefs Schwartz: Chiefs Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) Wacker: Packers Walker: Packers Preston: Packers Doon: Packers Schwartz: Vikings View the full article

The Ravens thumped the San Francisco 49ers on Christmas night, 33-19. The Dolphins outlasted the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Eve, 22-20. Who will have the advantage when the AFC’s top two teams meet on New Year’s Eve at M&T Bank Stadium? Ravens passing game vs. Dolphins pass defense Lamar Jackson started poorly against the 49ers but gradually cracked the code against one of the league’s best defenses, using his unmatched scrambling gift to conjure back-breaking plays out of thin air. Jackson’s passing statistics — 66.3% completions, 3,357 yards, 19 touchdowns — remain modest, but he made himself the Most Valuable Player favorite with his prime-time performance in San Francisco. Rookie Zay Flowers was his most frequent target, adding to his team-leading totals with nine catches for 72 yards. As quick as Flowers is, the Ravens use him as a possession target, and he’s often the man Jackson looks for in a tight spot with tight end Mark Andrews still recovering from an ankle injury. Flowers (calf) did not practice Wednesday. Andrews’ replacement, Isaiah Likely, has emerged as a big-play threat with 17 catches for 249 yards over his past four games. But the Ravens need to find more targets for wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman, who combined for just three catches and 27 yards against the 49ers. Fears that Jackson’s pass protection would not hold up against San Francisco’s defensive front proved unfounded. Starting tackles Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses are playing through injuries but combined to allow just three pressures, all of them hurries, per Pro Football Focus. The Ravens often used extra blockers to neutralize the 49ers’ All-Pro edge rusher Nick Bosa, and it will be interesting to see how often they do the same against Miami’s Bradley Chubb (11 sacks, 21 quarterback hits) and Andrew Van Ginkel (six sacks, 18 quarterback hits). The Dolphins lost one of their top pass rushers, Jaelan Phillips, to a torn Achilles tendon, but like the 49ers, they press the pocket from inside as well as from the edges. Former Raven Zach Sieler and fellow defensive tackle Christian Wilkins have combined for 16 sacks and 39 quarterback hits. The Dolphins blitz on just 18.8% of dropbacks, relying on their talent up front to harass quarterbacks, who have averaged just 5.5 yards per attempt against them. They also have star power in the secondary, where cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard are former All-Pros, and safety Jevon Holland (who’s dealing with a knee injury but hopes to face the Ravens) is playing like one. Despite their impressive statistics, the Dolphins rank 12th in pass DVOA because they have played the league’s easiest schedule of offenses. EDGE: Even Dolphins passing game vs. Ravens pass defense The Ravens will go from the frying pan to the fire, facing the league’s most productive passing offense a week after they dealt with the 49ers’ ultra-efficient attack. Tua Tagovailoa gets rid of the ball more quickly — an average of 2.37 seconds, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats — than any quarterback in the league, so defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald will be hard-pressed to scheme up as much heat — 32 pressures on 53 dropbacks, per PFF — as he did against San Francisco. Like the 49ers’ Brock Purdy, Tagovailoa relies heavily on timing and anticipation, so the Ravens will need to make sharp reads as they did in picking off Purdy four times. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 17 of 2023 NFL season: Lions vs. Cowboys, Steelers vs. Seahawks, Bengals vs. Chiefs and more Baltimore Ravens | NFL playoff picture: Ravens can secure AFC’s top seed with win over Dolphins Baltimore Ravens | Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton did not practice Wednesday, still recovering from knee injury Baltimore Ravens | NFL power rankings, Week 17: Ravens vault to No. 1 with win over 49ers Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 33-19 win over 49ers | VIDEO The Dolphins don’t have the variety of playmakers the 49ers do, but they have the best one in the league in wide receiver Tyreek Hill (106 catches, 1,641 yards, 12 touchdowns), who’s a nightmare to cover at all layers of the field. It’s unclear whether the Dolphins will have Hill’s running mate, Jaylen Waddle, who suffered a high-ankle injury against the Cowboys. Waddle (72 catches, 1,014 yards) isn’t as great a deep threat as Hill, but he’s a killer in the middle. They combined for 361 yards as the Dolphins stormed back from a 35-14 deficit to beat the Ravens in Baltimore last season. There aren’t a lot of targets left over for other pass catchers, but Tagovailoa makes good use of running backs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. He receives solid pass protection from a line led by left tackle Terron Armstead, though the Dolphins will miss right guard Robert Hunt if he can’t return from a hamstring injury that sidelined him against the Cowboys. The Ravens will answer with the league’s best pass defense, coming off a four-sack, five-interception masterpiece against the 49ers. They allow just 4.5 yards per attempt and lead the league with 54 sacks and 26 takeaways. Defensive tackle Justin Madubuike (12 sacks, 61 pressures) and outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (8 1/2 sacks, 66 pressures) are the top pass rushers. Cornerback Brandon Stephens will try to continue his breakout season against Hill and perhaps Waddle, while the Ravens will hope Marlon Humphrey, who played a season-high 23 snaps in the slot against the 49ers, continues rounding into form. Safety Kyle Hamilton (81 tackles, four interceptions, 13 passes defended) is the biggest difference-maker of all. He left the 49ers game with a knee injury and was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday’s injury report. His availability will be a huge X-factor against the high-octane Dolphins. EDGE: Even Ravens running game vs. Dolphins run defense For everything that went right against the 49ers, the Ravens did miss Keaton Mitchell. Running backs Gus Edwards and Justice Hill combined for just 57 yards on 19 carries, and the league’s top running attack just squeaked past the 100-yard mark, which the Ravens have exceeded in every game this season. Jackson is the man who makes it go, and he’s not only the team’s top rusher (786 yards, 5.5 per carry) but its top threat for chunk plays in Mitchell’s absence. The Dolphins have held opponents to 3.7 yards per carry but rank just 21st in DVOA against the run because of the weak offenses they’ve faced. Linebacker David Long is their top playmaker in the middle, and Holland provides sturdy support from the secondary. Miami’s defensive line ranks 23rd in success rate against power runs and 26th in stuffing runs at the line of scrimmage, per DVOA creator Aaron Schatz, so the Ravens could grind on the Dolphins if they build an early lead. EDGE: Ravens Dolphins running game vs. Ravens run defense Miami complements its prolific passing attack with one of the league’s most efficient running games. Mostert, who’s dealing with an ankle injury but is expected to play Sunday, averages 4.8 yards per carry and has been an elite finisher near the goal line with 18 rushing touchdowns. The speedy Achane, who’s playing through a toe injury, has averaged a remarkable 8.1 yards per carry, and the Ravens will need to leverage the lateral mobility of linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen, with help from Hamilton, to keep him from getting outside. The 49ers went away from the run after the Ravens built a big lead in the third quarter, but Christian McCaffrey still ran for 103 yards on 14 carries, reiterating the relative vulnerability of the Baltimore run defense. Travis Jones and Michael Pierce are powerful anchors on the interior. Smith and Queen rank among the most productive playmakers at their position. But Macdonald’s designs are so geared toward stopping the pass that opponents have averaged 4.4 yards per attempt on the ground. EDGE: Dolphins Ravens special teams vs. Dolphins special teams Coach John Harbaugh felt his team delivered its best special teams performance of the season against the 49ers, and the effort bumped the Ravens to fourth in special teams DVOA. Justin Tucker has made 31 of 36 field-goal attempts, with four of his misses coming from beyond 50 yards. Tylan Wallace has excelled stepping in for injured returner Devin Duvernay. The Ravens have shored up their punt coverage, a glaring early weakness. The Dolphins rank 12th in special teams DVOA, with no outstanding strength or devastating weakness. Jason Sanders kicked brilliantly against the Cowboys, making all five of his field-goal attempts, with the first coming from 57, 52 and 54 yards. Sanders had made a less impressive 17 of 21 attempts going into that masterpiece. Braxton Berrios is a solid returner, averaging 10.2 yards on punts and 24.5 on kickoffs. EDGE: Ravens Ravens intangibles vs. Dolphins intangibles These are two teams with ample reasons to be confident going into a game that will likely determine the AFC’s top playoff seed. The Dolphins have won five straight and finally beat an elite opponent when they rallied against the Cowboys. Mike McDaniel is one of the top offensive minds in football and has built a scoring machine around Tagovailoa, who played one of the best games of his career in beating the Ravens last season. If there’s a wrench in the works, it’s Miami’s 4-3 road record, which includes double-digit losses to the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles. The Ravens have the league’s best record after handling the NFC’s best team on Christmas. They can clinch the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye if they beat the Dolphins. If they lose, even their lead over the Cleveland Browns in the AFC North might not be safe. Harbaugh has praised his team’s resourcefulness and maturity in finding a variety of ways to win nine of the past 10. The players believe that in Jackson, who’s 57-19 in his regular-season career, they always have the most impactful man on the field. EDGE: Ravens Prediction If Ravens-49ers was the game of the year, this one is even more important. The Ravens will need takeaways to counter unavoidable chunk gains from Miami’s playmakers. The Dolphins won’t have an answer for Jackson, but if they can go up early, they might prevent the Ravens from pounding on them in the second half. Advantage goes to the home team as these heavyweights match strengths. Ravens 31, Dolphins 27 View the full article

For the Ravens, the path to the first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs is clear: Beat the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The New Year’s Eve clash between the conference’s top two teams will likely decide who takes the top seed, though the Ravens can still secure the No. 1 spot with a loss if they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers next week and the Dolphins lose to the Buffalo Bills. While the Ravens have a playoff berth secured and seem all but assured of hosting at least one playoff game, the Cleveland Browns could still steal the AFC North title — their first division championship since 1989 — if they win out against the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals and the Ravens lose their final two games. That would put the Ravens on the road for wild-card weekend as the likely No. 5 seed in the seven-team AFC field. Here’s a look at the AFC playoff picture if the regular season ended today, plus odds via The New York Times’ simulator: 1. Ravens (12-3, 1st in AFC North) Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, vs. Steelers Playoff berth: Clinched Division title: 98% First-round bye: 77% What’s working: With quarterback Lamar Jackson the betting favorite to win his second NFL Most Valuable Player Award and the defense coming off a brilliant performance against San Francisco in which it recorded five interceptions, the Ravens look like the most complete team in the NFL. No other team has shown an ability to completely dismantle a strong opponent the way the Ravens have. What isn’t: If there’s a nit to pick with the Ravens, it’s their run defense, which ranks 22nd in the league allowing 4.4 yards per carry. Christian McCaffrey ran for 103 yards on just 14 carries Monday and might have done more damage if the 49ers didn’t fall behind by two touchdowns early in the second half. 2. Miami Dolphins (11-4, 1st in AFC East) Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Bills Playoff berth: Clinched Division title: 76% First-round bye: 22% What’s working: Confidence should be at an all-time high after the Dolphins finally earned a victory over a team with a winning record by beating the Cowboys on a last-second field goal. With an effective running game and an above-average defense, Miami has proved it’s capable of winning with more than just offense.Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 17 of 2023 NFL season: Lions vs. Cowboys, Steelers vs. Seahawks, Bengals vs. Chiefs and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Dolphins scouting report for Week 17: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton did not practice Wednesday, still recovering from knee injury Baltimore Ravens | NFL power rankings, Week 17: Ravens vault to No. 1 with win over 49ers Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 33-19 win over 49ers | VIDEO What isn’t: With Jaylen Waddle now dealing with a high ankle injury and Tyreek Hill still limited by his own ankle problems, the Dolphins’ receiving depth is being tested. Tight end Durham Smythe is third on the team with just 29 receptions this season, so Miami needs its top receivers healthy to have any hope of making a playoff run. The first-round bye would do wonders for this team. 3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-6, 1st in AFC West) Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals, at Chargers Playoff berth: 98% Division title: 97% First-round bye: 0% What’s working: The Chiefs’ defense has been among the league’s best this season and is certainly not to blame for the team’s recent struggles, having given up more than 21 points just once in the past seven games. Kansas City didn’t allow the Raiders to complete a pass after the first quarter in Monday’s loss to the Raiders. What isn’t: It’s strange to say for a team with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, but the mistake-filled offense has been a major disappointment during the second half of the season. According to ESPN, the Chiefs have more dropped passes (34) than any team in the NFL, are tied for the most offensive penalties (56) and rank sixth in turnovers (26). 4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7, 1st in AFC South) Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, at Titans Playoff berth: 74% Division title: 60% First-round bye: 0% What’s working: Amid a four-game losing streak, tight end Evan Engram has been playing at a Pro Bowl level. The former Giants first-round draft pick has nine or more receptions in three of his past four games, including 10 catches for 95 yards in Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay. What isn’t: Injuries and turnovers have derailed the offense of late. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw two interceptions and lost a fumble before exiting Sunday with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder that could keep him out for the first time in his high school, college or pro career. Wide receiver Zay Jones and right tackle Anton Harrison are also banged up. 5. Cleveland Browns (10-5, 2nd in AFC North) Remaining schedule: vs. Jets, at Bengals Playoff berth: Greater than 99% Division title: 2% First-round bye: 1% What’s working: An offense that ranked among the league’s worst for most of the season has been reinvigorated by veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who has 10 touchdown passes and seven interceptions while going 3-1 as the starter. That boom-or-bust approach has been effective, especially for wide receiver Amari Cooper, who had 11 catches for a franchise-record 265 yards and two scores in Sunday’s win over Houston. What isn’t: Special teams could be a problem after kicker Dustin Hopkins suffered a hamstring injury and was ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Jets. Punter Corey Bojoroquez is also dealing with a quadriceps injury, forcing Cleveland to make contingency plans as it closes in on its second playoff berth since 2002. 6. Buffalo Bills (8-6, 2nd in AFC East) Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, at Dolphins Playoff berth: 89% Division title: 24% First-round bye: 0% What’s working: The defense has been much better since its Week 13 bye, holding the Chargers to 4.2 yards per play and 4-for-14 on third down a week after smothering Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. The pass rush also came to life against Los Angeles, recording five sacks after racking up six in the previous three games combined. What isn’t: A fumble by running back James Cook in the fourth quarter Saturday nearly gave the game away as the Bills had to sweat out another close game — their 10th decided by one score. Consistency has been a problem on offense all season, though quarterback Josh Allen has been able to make up for it. 7. Indianapolis Colts (8-7, 2nd in AFC South) Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, vs. Texans Playoff berth: 54% Division title: 24% First-round bye: 0% What’s working: The Colts had been feasting on turnovers, recording at least one in 19 straight games before that streak ended in Sunday’s loss to Atlanta. Now starting safety Julion Blackmon, who leads the team with four interceptions, is on injured reserve, putting a bigger strain on the defense. What isn’t: While the offense and defense have both been able to hover around league average most of this season, the special teams have dipped to 29th in DVOA. Indianapolis ranks near the bottom of the league in field goal percentage at .794. 8. Houston Texans (8-7, 3rd in AFC South) Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Colts Playoff berth: 34% Division title: 15% First-round bye: 0% What’s working: The offense unsurprisingly took a nosedive with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud out two games with a concussion. The likely return of Stroud this week will help, especially for wide receiver Nico Collins, who has just five catches for 31 yards with Case Keenum and Davis Mills throwing the ball. What isn’t: Injuries to defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Jonathan Greenard have hurt the defense, especially against the pass. A week after sacking Will Levis seven times, they couldn’t bring down Joe Flacco at all as he threw for 368 yards. 9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7, 4th in AFC North) Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, at Ravens Playoff berth: 12% Division title: 0% First-round bye: 0% What’s working: Steelers fans started chanting the name of third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph in Sunday’s win over the Bengals as he threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Pittsburgh needed a jolt as the season started slipping away, and now Rudolph has a chance to keep the momentum going against Seattle. What isn’t: The running game has been ineffective for most of the season, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and recording nearly as many fumbles (11) as touchdowns (12), though just two of those fumbles were lost. 10. Cincinnati Bengals (8-7, 3rd in AFC North) Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, vs. Browns Playoff berth: 19% Division title: 0% First-round bye: 0% What’s working: Tee Higgins has certainly proved he’s capable of being a No. 1 wide receiver, catching five passes for 140 yards and a touchdown Saturday with Ja’Marr Chase out again. If he doesn’t earn the franchise tag from the Bengals, he’ll be the most sought-after receiver in free agency. What isn’t: Backup quarterback Jake Browning needs to play better than he has against the Steelers, having thrown four interceptions in two starts against the division rivals. The Bengals need to win out to have any hope of making the playoffs, and Browning needs to avoid turnovers to help make that happen. 11. Las Vegas Raiders (7-8, 2nd in AFC West) Remaining schedule: at Colts, vs. Broncos Playoff berth: 15% Division title: 1% First-round bye: 0% What’s working: The defense has risen to No. 8 in DVOA after sacking Patrick Mahomes four times and holding the Chiefs to 4.2 yards per play on Christmas Day. Defensive end Malcolm Koonce has emerged as a key playmaker opposite star pass rusher Maxx Crosby. What isn’t: Aidan O’Connell might be a long-term backup, but he doesn’t look like the answer at quarterback. He went 9-for-21 for just 62 yards Monday and has not been very consistent, alternating big games with poor performances. 12. Denver Broncos (7-8, 3rd in AFC West) Remaining schedule: vs. Chargers, at Raiders Playoff berth: 6% Division title: 2% First-round bye: 0% What’s working: Russell Wilson ranks near the top of the league in several passing categories, but struggles in the red zone and on third down have led to a quarterback change. Backup Jarrett Stidham will start against the Chargers, perhaps signaling the end of Wilson’s rocky tenure in Denver. What isn’t: Wilson has received very little help from a running game that has averaged fewer than 4 yards per carry over the past four games. Javonte Williams has just 3.6 yards per carry and two touchdowns this season, with the rebuilt offensive line proving to be a disappointment. View the full article

Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton is still recovering from a left knee injury he suffered in Monday night’s win over the San Francisco 49ers and did not participate in the team’s walk-through practice late Wednesday in Owings Mills, though he was wearing a jersey when the team came off the field at its indoor facility. In terms of his availability for Sunday’s showdown against the Miami Dolphins, however, coach John Harbaugh indicated it was too soon to make a decision. “We’re less than 48 hours from the [49ers] game” Harbaugh said. “So we’re just kind of working through all those things right now.” Sunday’s game has huge playoff implications for both teams. If the Ravens (12-3) beat Miami (11-4), they will clinch the top seed in the AFC, get the first-round bye in the playoffs and have home-field advantage through the conference championship game. Hamilton, who was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday after recording two interceptions and five tackles Monday night, was injured after making a tackle with 9:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. He went to the ground and immediately grabbed his left knee before being tended to by trainers and limping off the field under his own power. He did not return. Hamilton isn’t the only Ravens player dealing with an injury. Rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers did not practice Wednesday and was listed with a calf injury. Guard Kevin Zeitler (knee/quad) also did not practice. Flowers was questionable for the 49ers game but had a team-high nine catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis and versatile offensive lineman Patrick Mekari were each limited with a concussion. Others who were limited were cornerback Arthur Maulet (knee); inside linebackers Patrick Queen (shoulder) and Roquan Smith (pectoral); defensive end Broderick Washington (elbow) and punter Jordan Stout (back). Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 17 of 2023 NFL season: Lions vs. Cowboys, Steelers vs. Seahawks, Bengals vs. Chiefs and more Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Dolphins scouting report for Week 17: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | NFL playoff picture: Ravens can secure AFC’s top seed with win over Dolphins Baltimore Ravens | NFL power rankings, Week 17: Ravens vault to No. 1 with win over 49ers Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 33-19 win over 49ers | VIDEO As for Hamilton, the Ravens can ill-afford to be without perhaps their best overall defender against Miami, which leads the NFL in points (30.9) and yards (411.5) per game. Along with performing at an All-Pro level this season, the second-year safety has shown his toughness. He injured the same knee two weeks ago in a win over the Los Angeles Rams but returned to practice the following week with a brace and had a team-high seven tackles in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. On the season, he has 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. For the Dolphins, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) was one of seven players who did not practice Wednesday. The others were running backs De’Von Achane (toe) and Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle); receivers Tyreek Hill (ankle/rest) and Robbie Chosen (concussion); offensive tackle Terron Armstead (knee/ankle/back); and offensive lineman Robert Hunt (hamstring). Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa did practice but was limited with left thumb and quad injuries. Others who were limited were offensive linemen Liam Eichenberg (calf/ankle) and Austin Jackson (oblique), safety Jevon Holland (knees), cornerback Xavien Howard (hip/thumb) and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (wrist). View the full article

Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will rank all 32 NFL teams. The rankings will take into account not just weekly performance, injuries and roster depth, but how well each team measures up as a Super Bowl contender. Here are the rankings heading into Week 17: 1. Ravens (12-3, No. 2) Last week: Win vs. 49ers, 33-19 Up next: vs. Dolphins There are plenty of storylines from Monday night’s win, but the most important is that the Ravens are the best team in football with the playoffs just a few weeks away. They had plenty of bounces go their way and were the beneficiary of several costly penalties, but they outmuscled the NFC’s top team on their way to a statement win. That matters this time of year, especially for a team missing its top two running backs and top pass catcher. The defense is championship caliber, and the offense remains as dangerous as ever with Lamar Jackson on pace for his second NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Jackson wants a Super Bowl trophy to cement his legacy, and this is by far his best chance to capture that elusive title. 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) Marcus Williams #32 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with teammates after his interception during the fourth 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 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) 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) 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 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 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 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) 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) 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) 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) Show Caption of Expand 2. San Francisco 49ers (11-4, No. 1) Last week: Loss vs. Ravens, 33-19 Up next: at Commanders Brock Purdy’s four interceptions will dominate the headlines and the debate shows, but it was not a terrible performance for the offense. The 49ers still averaged 6.3 yards per play, and four of San Francisco’s first five drives ended in Ravens territory before a disastrous start to the second half put the game out of reach. If the turnover luck swung in the other direction, it could have been the 49ers celebrating a big win. While the defense struggled to contain Jackson, it won’t have to face a quarterback with his rare elusiveness and improvisational skills again this season – unless these teams meet again in the Super Bowl. 3. Miami Dolphins (11-4, No. 3) Last week: Win vs. Cowboys, 22-20 Up next: at Ravens In a battle of unproven contenders, the Dolphins showed some toughness in rallying to win on a last-second 29-yard field goal by Jason Sanders. It’s fitting that Miami’s first victory over a team with a winning record this season solidified a playoff berth, especially with Tua Tagovailoa helping lead the game-winning drive in the final few minutes. A trip to Baltimore on New Year’s Eve with the top seed in the AFC on the line will show exactly what this team is made of. 4. Detroit Lions (11-4, No. 4) Last week: Win vs. Vikings, 30-24 Up next: at Cowboys Detroit’s first division title since 1993 is worth celebrating, even if the team has bigger plans this season. Sunday’s win was an encouraging step not only for the direction of the franchise, but also for a team that has a legitimate chance to make a deep postseason run led by a star-studded roster that seems to be jelling at the right time. A tough win over a division rival in late December is not something to be taken for granted, especially in Detroit. 5. Philadelphia Eagles (11-4, No. 6) Last week: Win vs. Giants, 33-25 Up next: vs. Cardinals The Eagles continued their dominance over the Giants, beating them for the 17th time in the past 20 games, but it’s worrisome that Philadelphia was not able to put the hammer down after taking a 20-3 lead at halftime. “We have 11 wins but we’re not playing good football right now,” wide receiver DeVonta Smith said. Acknowledging that fact is important, but it’s foolish to expect the Eagles to magically flip a switch and stop making costly mistakes heading into the postseason. Real change starts with committing fewer turnovers. 6. Buffalo Bills (9-6, No. 7) Last week: Win vs. Chargers, 24-22 Up next: vs. Patriots The Bills’ late-season surge was nearly derailed Saturday night before a game-winning 29-yard field goal by Tyler Bass in the final seconds. An uneven performance against a team down to its backup quarterback and interim coach is not inspiring, but all that matters is Buffalo emerged with the victory. Josh Allen remains a game-breaking force who can swing a playoff game in either direction, and that’s a scary thought for the top teams in the AFC. 7. Kansas City Chiefs (9-6, No. 5) Last week: Loss vs. Raiders, 20-14 Up next: vs. Bengals The Chiefs have lost three of their past four games after a stunning defeat on Christmas Day that included two defensive touchdowns by the Raiders in a span of seven seconds. Just how bad was it? The Raiders became the first NFL team since 2000 to win without completing a pass after the first quarter. The silver lining to this disappointing season has been the defense, but it’s hard to find reasons for optimism besides believing in Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid to work their usual magic in the postseason. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 33-19 win over 49ers | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens, with talent and toughness, are the class of the NFL | COMMENTARY 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 8. Cleveland Browns (10-5, No. 9) Last week: Win vs. Texans, 36-22 Up next: vs. Jets Who saw Joe Flacco to Amari Cooper becoming the most dangerous quarterback-receiver duo in the league? Cooper had 11 catches for a franchise-record 265 yards and two touchdowns Sunday, and Flacco finished with 368 yards as Cleveland won its third straight to all but assure a playoff berth. With his big arm, the 38-year-old Flacco makes the Browns offense potent enough to put a scare into some of the best teams in the conference. 9. Dallas Cowboys (10-5, No. 8) Last week: Loss vs. Dolphins, 22-20 Up next: vs. Lions With Dallas all but guaranteed to play on the road this postseason, it’s hard to take the Cowboys seriously. They fell to 2-5 on the road after a loss in Miami and have not shown the necessary toughness to compete with the league’s best teams. Dak Prescott is playing quarterback better than most this season, but that hasn’t been enough. Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua runs with the ball past Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom (27) last Thursday in Inglewood, California. (Kyusung Gong/AP) 10. Los Angeles Rams (8-7, No. 11) Last week: Win vs. Saints, 30-22 Up next: at Giants The Rams have won five of their past six, and even the one loss was impressive on the road in overtime against the NFL-leading Ravens. With Matthew Stafford playing at a high level and wide receivers Puka Nacua and Demarcus Robinson stepping up, the offense looks good enough to not only push the team into the playoffs but perhaps win a game or two once it gets there. 11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7, No. 15) Last week: Win vs. Jaguars, 30-12 Up next: vs. Saints Four straight wins have put the Bucs into the driver’s seat for the NFC South title, and it’s starting to feel like they are more than just the benefactors of playing in the weakest division in the league. Baker Mayfield has been exceptional of late, following up his perfect passer rating in Green Bay with 283 yards and two touchdowns in a dominant win over the Jaguars. 12. Seattle Seahawks (8-7, No. 16) Last week: Win vs. Titans, 20-17 Up next: vs. Steelers A week after Drew Lock threw a late touchdown pass to give Seattle the win, Geno Smith did the same with a 5-yard strike with 57 seconds left in Sunday’s victory over the Titans. There are lingering questions about whether Seattle should commit to Smith long-term after an up-and-down season for the veteran quarterback, but for now, the Seahawks seem to be rounding into shape at the perfect time. 13. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7, No. 21) Last week: Win vs. Bengals, 34-11 Up next: at Seahawks With Kenny Pickett hurt and Mitch Trubisky benched, Mason Rudolph became the third starting quarterback for the Steelers this season and delivered in a season-saving rout of the division-rival Bengals on Saturday. The big play has been missing from the Pittsburgh offense for a long time, and Rudolph helped deliver it with 290 yards and two touchdowns, including a pair of deep connections with George Pickens. If Rudolph can stay hot, a season that once seemed lost could end with a playoff berth. 14. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7, No. 12) Last week: Loss vs. Buccaneers, 30-12 Up next: vs. Panthers A once-promising season has gone from bad to worse at every possible turn. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence injured his shoulder in Sunday’s loss, the team’s fourth straight, after turning the ball over three times. Jacksonville still has the best odds to win the AFC South, but it’s starting to feel like this team will be one-and-done in the postseason unless there’s some significant progress over the next two weeks. 15. Houston Texans (8-7, No. 13) Last week: Loss vs. Browns, 36-22 Up next: vs. Titans Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud might be back this week, and that makes Houston a factor in the playoff race. Injuries have prevented this team from reaching its potential, but there’s still a lot to play for down the stretch to at the very least end DeMeco Ryans’ first season as head coach on a high note. 16. Cincinnati Bengals (8-7, No. 10) Last week: Loss vs. Steelers, 34-11 Up next: at Chiefs Perhaps it was foolish to count on the Bengals to stay hot with a backup quarterback, but a complete no-show against a division rival with a playoff berth hanging in the balance is hard to accept. Injuries are one thing, but going 0-5 against AFC North opponents is not encouraging for next season when the margins to win with Joe Burrow’s huge contract extension are even slimmer. 17. Indianapolis Colts (8-7, No. 14) Last week: Loss vs. Falcons, 29-10 Up next: vs. Raiders The Colts’ loss in Atlanta was one of the most disappointing results of the weekend, especially after such an uplifting win over the Steelers. A postseason berth is still well within reach – a 55% chance, according to The New York Times’ simulator – but Indianapolis needs to be more consistent to have any hope of cracking the field. 18. Las Vegas Raiders (7-8, No. 22) Last week: Win vs. Chiefs, 20-14 Up next: at Colts The idea of seeing the Raiders in the postseason seemed impossible as recently as three weeks ago when the team lost its third straight, 3-0. A 63-point outing and a victory over the defending Super Bowl champs later, and Las Vegas has reason to believe this season isn’t over yet. It will be fascinating to see whether interim coach Antonio Pierce has done enough to earn the full-time job. Packers quarterback Jordan Love sets up to pass against the Panthers Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/AP) 19. Green Bay Packers (7-8, No. 20) Last week: Win vs. Panthers, 33-30 Up next: at Vikings It’s been hard to get a read all season on the Packers, who seem capable of beating or losing to any team in the league. Case in point, a closer-than-expected win over the cellar-dwelling Panthers in which Jordan Love posted a 90.1 QBR and Aaron Jones rushed for 127 yards in his return while the defense allowed Bryce Young to throw for a career-high 312 yards and the Panthers to average 6.3 yards per play a week after failing to score an offensive touchdown. 20. Atlanta Falcons (7-8, No. 24) Last week: Win vs. Colts, 29-10 Up next: at Bears The Falcons have been just as confounding as Green Bay, especially after putting together their best performance of the season Sunday. The yo-yoing between quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke worked out this time as Heinicke enjoyed an efficient day through the air as the offense piled up 406 total yards, but it’s been frustrating to see this young, exciting team so often fail to live up to its potential the way it did against the Colts. 21. New Orleans Saints (7-8, No. 17) Last week: Loss vs. Rams, 30-22 Up next: at Buccaneers The Saints have been loath to make major changes and completely start over with a young quarterback, but that might be the best path after another failed season with a bloated salary cap and another short-term fix at the most important position. Dennis Allen might be coaching for his job over the final two weeks. 22. Minnesota Vikings (7-8, No. 19) Last week: Loss vs. Lions, 30-24 Up next: vs. Packers Another close loss, this time to the division-leading Lions, was emblematic of a season beset by injuries and bad luck. Now tight end T.J. Hockenson is out with a torn ACL and MCL in his knee, the latest in a series of setbacks that includes losing quarterback Kirk Cousins and wide receiver Justin Jefferson for most of the season. It would have been fun to see what this team could have done fully healthy with Cousins and defensive coordinator Brian Flores leading the way. 23. Denver Broncos (7-8, No. 18) Last week: Loss vs. Patriots, 26-23 Up next: vs. Chargers The Broncos nearly saved their season with an improbable late rally before falling on a last-second 56-yard field goal by Patriots rookie Chad Ryland on Christmas Eve. It was too little, too late Sunday night, and that’s fitting for a season that has been much of the same for first-year coach Sean Payton. 24. Chicago Bears (6-9, No. 23) Last week: Win vs. Cardinals, 27-16 Up next: vs. Falcons A win should feel good for embattled coach Matt Eberflus and quarterback Justin Fields, but poor execution at the end of the half and the fourth quarter might leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth heading into the final stretch. It was still nice to see Fields once again show off his dual-threat ability as he rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown. 25. New York Jets (6-9, No. 26) Last week: Win vs. Commanders, 30-28 Up next: at Browns One would think cooler heads would have prevailed if the Jets had lost after blowing a 20-point halftime lead against one of the league’s worst teams, but maybe that would have led to a shake-up in leadership. Coach Robert Saleh is under tremendous pressure to win next season when Aaron Rodgers returns, making for an uncomfortable situation. 26. Tennessee Titans (5-10, No. 25) Last week: Loss vs. Seahawks, 20-17 Up next: at Texans The Titans seem to be in an awkward dance of trying to rebuild while still competing at a high level. That’s what you get with coach Mike Vrabel, but it’s fair to wonder whether he wants to be part of building around a young quarterback and a largely new roster next season. 27. New York Giants (5-10, No. 27) Last week: Loss vs. Eagles, 33-25 Up next: vs. Rams The game never felt in doubt on Christmas Day, even if the Giants refused to go away. New York has lost 11 straight road games in Philadelphia and has beaten the Eagles just six times since 2008. Even the Tommy DeVito story took a turn for the worse after he was benched for Tyrod Taylor, who helped lead the comeback attempt before throwing an interception in the end zone to end the game. 28. New England Patriots (4-11, No. 31) Last week: Win vs. Broncos, 26-23 Up next: at Bills If the Patriots are looking to draft a quarterback, they’re no longer in prime position to do so after slipping to the No. 4 spot. Bill Belichick might care more about winning in his quest to pass Don Shula on the all-time list, but New England could be ruining a golden opportunity to secure a franchise quarterback without having to pay a premium to move up on draft night. 29. Los Angeles Chargers (5-10, No. 28) Last week: Loss vs. Bills, 24-22 Up next: at Broncos The Chargers showed some pride in bouncing back under interim coach Giff Smith and nearly taking down the red-hot Bills, but there are so many questions for this team to address this offseason. One of the biggest involves Derwin James, a three-time Pro Bowl safety who lined up more as the nickel cornerback Saturday night after struggling most of this season. 30. Washington Commanders (4-11, No. 30) Last week: Loss vs. Jets, 30-28 Up next: vs. 49ers In the long run, that last-second loss to the Jets on Sunday might have been the best thing for the future of this franchise. With Sam Howell taking a significant step backward after a promising start and a likely top-three pick in the draft coming, Washington can completely reboot at coach and quarterback heading into a new era under owner Josh Harris. 31. Arizona Cardinals (3-12, No. 29) Last week: Loss vs. Bears, 27-16 Up next: at Eagles These last few weeks have been extremely valuable for quarterback Kyler Murray, who is still working his way back from a torn ACL suffered last December. It’s been rough at times, including 85 passing yards in the first half of Sunday’s loss, but it would be foolish to write off Murray based on his struggles following major surgery. 32. Carolina Panthers (2-13, No. 32) Last week: Loss vs. Packers, 33-30 Up next: at Jaguars The Packers’ defense has a habit of making quarterbacks look unstoppable, but the Panthers should still be encouraged by what they saw out of Young on Sunday. He’ll need to be much better next season to justify the trade that will give Chicago the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, but perhaps he has a chance to reach the potential the franchise saw in him. View the full article

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The Ravens aren’t just better than most teams in the NFL, but are tougher and show more heart. That’s a nearly unbeatable combination. It was never more on display than in the Ravens’ 33-19 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It wasn’t just another win, the Ravens’ fifth straight and ninth in 10 games, but a beatdown of a team that was supposed to be the best in the NFL. Forget about the total yards and the fact that the 49ers outgained the Ravens 429-323. This game was over on two touchdown passes from quarterback Lamar Jackson — one of 6 yards to Nelson Agholor and another of 9 yards to Zay Flowers — in 18 seconds early in the third quarter. The second touchdown was set up by linebacker Patrick Queen’s interception of Brock Purdy, which he returned to San Francisco’s 9-yard line. After Flowers’ brief touchdown dance, the Ravens had a 30-12 lead early in the second half. The game was virtually over, and there lies one of the major differences between Baltimore and the rest of the NFL: The Ravens never quit. They would have never stopped playing hard because they have too much pride and integrity. The 49ers quit. Left tackle Trent Williams left the game with a groin injury and so did left guard Aaron Banks with about four minutes remaining. No one will forget the look on Purdy’s face as soon as the 49ers left the field at halftime trailing 16-12. He was afraid, intimidated and looked like he was about to cry, which is probably why he threw four interceptions Monday night and the 49ers finished with a total of five. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, bottom center, is sacked by Baltimore Ravens' Jadaveon Clowney during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh smiles while speaking at a news conference after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) 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) Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens looks on during the fourth 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 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) Marcus Williams #32 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with teammates after his interception during the fourth 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) 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) 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) 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, middle, is tackled by Ravens defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, left, and linebacker Roquan Smith during the second half Monday night in Santa Clara, California. (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 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 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) 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) 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 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) Show Caption of Expand “We play a brand of football that people don’t want to play,” Queen said. “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, honestly. We couldn’t care less about all the pretty stuff you do, gimmick stuff. “You still have to line up and play football. You still have to get touched, so that’s our mindset. That’s how we want to come out and just hit people in the mouth.” That’s nothing new. I’ve seen that before in 2000 when the Ravens would beat teams into submission with their defense. Monday night’s game was set up for a 49ers win. They had won five of six games at home this season and the Ravens were playing on Christmas night in a West Coast city. It’s hard to win on the road in the NFL, and even harder when a player has to leave his family for a three-day road trip. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 33-19 win over 49ers | VIDEO 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 Almost no one thought the Ravens would win, but the players apparently didn’t get the memo. On a night when Jackson struggled early in the first 20 minutes or so of the game, San Francisco couldn’t capitalize because the Ravens’ defense kept coming up with big plays, interceptions or sacks. That gave Jackson enough time to get rid of his big-game jitters, and then the Ravens took the 49ers apart. Certain plays in the game were downright nasty, such as tight end Isaiah Likely catching a short pass in the left flat and then shoving safety Ji’Ayir Brown’s face into the ground for a 9-yard gain. Defensive tackle Travis Jones wrecked star running back Christian McCaffrey on a run in the third quarter, bending him backward. Nobody ever does that to McCaffrey. Middle linebacker Roquan Smith twice made tackles on the San Francisco sideline, and both times he got up and glared as if to say, “Anybody want some of this?” Even at the end of the game, Ravens running back Gus Edwards was still running through the 49ers as if it was the first quarter. With 54 seconds left, he had a 13-yard run down the left sideline looking like a runaway 18-wheeler going downhill. All the 49ers wanted was to go home. “At the end of the day, there are a lot of he [said] she [said] people in this world,” Smith said. “There are not many people that stand 10 toes down on what they believe in and who they are as individuals. This team — we’re exactly that. We don’t care what others think about us. At the end of the day, we have the utmost faith in every single person in this locker room to go out there and get the job done week in and week out.” The key for the Ravens is balance, and they have plenty of it. They have enough talent on offense with Jackson, Odell Beckham Jr., Flowers and Edwards to get by when their offense is overmatched or outplayed like it was against the Los Angeles Rams a couple of weeks ago. Or they have enough talent on defense, particularly the pass rush, to dominate when the offense struggles like it did during a slow start Monday night. They are a complete team, one with attitude. I’ve always thought West Coast teams were soft. Because of the nice weather, they like to play that powder puff football as opposed to the tough, wintry conditions on the East Coast that produce more hard-nosed, run-dominated teams. And for the most part, it’s still the case. When you look at teams throughout the NFL, few are complete and fewer have that nasty, kick-butt attitude. The Ravens have already dominated the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and now the 49ers. All seem bound for the playoffs. The Dallas Cowboys are competitive but soft on defense with their small linebackers. The Kansas City Chiefs have receivers who can’t catch and quarterback Patrick Mahomes is having an identity crisis. The Buffalo Bills are schizophrenic and the only two teams that can match the Ravens in personality are the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they can’t match them in talent. Unfortunately, they are two of the teams that have beaten Baltimore this season. Next up for the Ravens is a visit from Miami, but the fleet-footed Dolphins don’t put fear in any teams, either. Right now, the Ravens are in a class by themselves. They have talent and they can intimidate. View the full article

The Ravens took their season to another level on Christmas night, handling the San Francisco 49ers, only the NFL’s hottest team, as Lamar Jackson made his case for a second Most Valuable Player Award. Here are five things we learned from the 33-19 win. Merry Christmas, the Super Bowl favorite plays in Baltimore Let’s begin with a bit of perspective on the opponent the Ravens handled by two touchdowns. No one had stopped the 49ers over the past six weeks, a stretch in which they outscored opponents — five of them realistic playoff contenders — by an average of 35-16. They exited that stretch with the third most efficient offense through 14 games since 1981, according to FTN Fantasy’s defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA), which breaks down every single NFL play and compares a team’s performance to a league-average baseline based on situation and opponent. Quarterback Brock Purdy, the 262nd and last player picked in the 2022 NFL draft, entered Monday night as the MVP favorite. The 49ers convinced oddsmakers to list them as nearly a touchdown favorite over the best team in the AFC. The Ravens knew they were flying 3,000 miles to take stock. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey called it the “game of the year” for just that reason. They had spoken with increasing confidence about their chance to do something remarkable with this season. “I’m betting on us 10 times out of 10,” linebacker Roquan Smith said as he looked ahead to San Francisco. But how would that bravado play when they actually shared a field with the one opponent that was, on paper, playing better than them? Well, darned if the Ravens did not race ahead of expectations — ours and certainly those of the NFL’s opinion-making class — yet again. Projection systems might still list the 49ers as the Super Bowl favorite because their path through the NFC is probably easier than the Ravens’ path through an AFC that features four of the top five teams by DVOA. But we saw what we saw: 33-19 on the road as their defense confounded, then pummeled Purdy while Jackson eluded and dissected his foe. A week earlier, coach John Harbaugh had talked about his team’s maturity, its unusual ability to solve the specific problem in front of it each week. Not the sexiest description of a team closing in on the AFC’s top seed but an accurate depiction of what the Ravens had accomplished through 14 games. Their win over the 49ers was something else, a declaration that they could not only hang at the highest level but set a new bar. San Francisco did its thing in the first half. Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle were just as impossible to bring down as advertised. The ball moved not in sips but in gulps. A few timely counterpunches allowed the Ravens to nose ahead, but our Yuletide battle of the titans was on. Only the Ravens turned out to be way more titanic in the second half, with their defense slamming the door on four straight drives and Jackson exhibiting his mastery. The Ravens have played plenty of championship-level football in 2023, but they hit a new peak. Even the scariest moment of the night — wunderkind safety Kyle Hamilton limping off after his sore left knee appeared to fold up under him — didn’t turn out badly, according to Harbaugh’s postgame update. 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 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 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) Odell Beckham Jr. #3 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up prior to a game against the San Francisco 49ers 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) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left, celebrates with tight end Isaiah Likely after scoring a touchdown in the second half Monday night against the 49ers in Santa Clara, California. (Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP) 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 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) 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) 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) Show Caption of Expand And now, the Ravens have every right to spit back at their doubters. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio took the brunt of it, with Jackson ripping his “very disrespectful” prediction of a 49ers blowout. But let’s be honest: most of us in the Baltimore press corps also picked against them. “We’ve worked too hard for people to be writing us off already,” linebacker Patrick Queen said, recounting his message to teammates as he broke the pregame huddle. “We were 11-3 just like they were 11-3. We kind of feel a certain way about stuff like that when somebody writes you off before you even get a chance to even play the game. My message was just [to] go out there and take what we want.” They keep resetting our expectations, and there’s really no reason left to put a limit on what they can accomplish over the next seven weeks. Lamar Jackson is headed for another MVP Purdy is not a “system” quarterback; rather, he has been a terrific point guard, putting the ball in position for his playmakers to do wondrous things with it. What he is not is an offense unto himself. That’s where he and Jackson are different. ESPN analyst and Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman summed it up perfectly before the game: “I don’t think there’s a quarterback in the game who’s asked to do more than Lamar Jackson does.” Related Articles 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 | 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’ Statistics cut through so much baseless nonsense in sports, but they do not capture what Jackson is to the Ravens, how his gravitational pull sets up everything they do and his ability to escape any straitjacket rips the heart out of an opponent. His 252 passing yards, 45 rushing yards on seven carries and 105.9 passer rating would amount to a nice night for any quarterback. He ranked a fine eighth in ESPN’s QBR measure of all-around quarterback play going into Monday evening. But do any of those digits capture the hell opposing coaches and pass rushers feel as they try to bottle him up with a game hanging in the balance? “I think if anybody watched the game [or] if anybody watches football this season and watched the Baltimore Ravens, they know for a fact Lamar Jackson is the MVP, hands down,” Smith said. “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 — compare his film to anyone else in the league. Then, I would love to hear what anyone else has to say after that.” Jackson could not have started much worse, completing just one of his first five passes and handing the 49ers two points when he tripped over a fallen official in the end zone and flipped the ball away for an intentional grounding penalty. But that would be his last serious mistake. Each time he got the ball from there, he probed more successfully. He was at his best on the Ravens’ first drive of the second half, floating away from pressure and spotting Gus Edwards, who had released from a block, for an improvised 39-yard catch and run. Two plays later, Jackson again danced away from pressure until he could find Nelson Agholor, posted up in the front corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Coordinator Todd Monken spoke last week about how off-script plays will always be Jackson’s bread and butter. He’s a two-play quarterback — the one designed and the one he creates after that one falls apart. The Ravens drill relentlessly on how to play off his improvisations, and we saw the payoff as Edwards and Agholor moved astutely to present options. Jackson didn’t throw a lot after that. He didn’t need to. He’s all about what it takes to win the game in front of him. Aikman’s broadcast partner, Joe Buck, had no doubt what he was watching, describing Jackson as “head and shoulders the best player on the field tonight.” Harbaugh wasn’t about to disagree. “I thought Lamar had an MVP performance tonight,” he said. “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.” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson eludes a sack attempt by 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown during Monday night’s game in Santa Clara, California. (Scott Strazzante/AP) The Ravens’ defense did what it had to, counterpunching with the NFL’s most efficient offense The Ravens started the game doing what you cannot against the 49ers: safety Marcus Williams whiffed on tackling Kittle and allowed the league’s best tight end to turn an intermediate catch into a 58-yard gain. Hamilton erased that drive with an interception in the end zone, duping Purdy into misreading his coverage intentions and setting the template for how the Ravens would build a lead despite allowing chunk gains — the 49ers outgained them 8.6 yards per play to 4.6 in the first half — to San Francisco’s elite playmakers. You can tear your hair out, saying the league’s top scoring defense should not be gouged for double-digit gains on the ground or on yards after the catch. But no one has stopped this fully healthy edition of the 49ers. You have to answer their chin shots with chin shots of your own, and that’s what the Ravens did. On the 49ers’ third drive, cornerback Brandon Stephens, nearly as bright a 2023 breakout star as the more acclaimed Hamilton, stopped dead in the center of Purdy’s throwing lane to tip his hot-read throw into the arms of Marlon Humphrey. That flash of instinctive brilliance led directly to a Ravens go-ahead touchdown drive. The next time the 49ers had the ball, Hamilton hopped up from a chop block and hustled back into the play to intercept a ball deflected by Humphrey. Again, the turnover led directly to points. As the 49ers’ deficit grew in the third quarter, the Ravens bore down on Purdy, sacking him twice and ultimately driving him from the game. They kept the heat on his replacement, Sam Darnold. But they never would have had their chance to seize the initiative had they not answered San Francisco’s big plays in the first half. That’s NFL football circa 2023. The league’s best offenses can’t be stopped, but you must wound them as they march. “We couldn’t care less about all the pretty stuff you do, gimmick stuff,” Queen said. “You still have to get touched. So that’s our mindset.” Fans feared a catastrophic evening for the Ravens’ offensive line; it was anything but that Panicked would be a fair adjective to describe the tone of social media discourse around tackles Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses after the Ravens’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Stanley could not impede Jacksonville’s quick, powerful edge rusher Josh Allen as he struggled to plant on his injured right knee. Moses played only about half the time as he did his best to compete with one healthy arm. If that was the picture against Jacksonville, fans worried Jackson might be in mortal danger against the 49ers, with Nick Bosa closing in from one edge, Chase Young closing from the other and Javon Hargrave pushing up the middle. What seemed a leading subplot going into the game turned out to be a minor one, however. Bosa and Hargrave did manage multiple pressures, and Young shared a sack with Randy Gregory, but they never kept Jackson from playing his game. Which means Stanley and Moses deserve credit for holding up better than expected, and Ravens coaches deserve credit for the tackle rotation they’ve implemented over the last three games. The Ravens’ next game against the Dolphins was always the one As emphatic a stamp as the Ravens just put on their season, they will turn around and play a more important game six days later. They invested plenty of pride — the Ravens did not see why they should be substantial underdogs — in their Christmas showdown with the NFL’s hottest team, but in brass-tack terms, this was not a game they had to win. It’s the next one, on New Year’s Eve against the 11-4 Dolphins, that will likely determine the difficulty of their postseason path. Win and they’ll seize the AFC’s No. 1 seed and the first-round bye that comes with it. Lose and they’ll open themselves to some anxious possibilities, including a road trip in the wild-card round. Beyond their quest for the No. 1 seed, the Ravens still need to protect their flank in the AFC North, where the Cleveland Browns have won three straight thanks to Joe Flacco’s reborn right arm. Cleveland might not win out but will be favored to do so with only the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals left to beat. The Ravens need 13 victories to guarantee divisional supremacy and home-field advantage in their first playoff game. Regular season games don’t come a lot more portentous than Sunday’s contest between the AFC’s top two teams. The Dolphins humiliated the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium 15 months ago, rallying from a 35-14 deficit entering the fourth quarter to win 42-38. Their offense, with Tua Tagovailoa throwing to Jaylen Waddle (who suffered a possible high-ankle sprain Sunday) and the incomparable Tyreek Hill, can run away with any game. On Christmas Eve, the Dolphins showed they could survive a grungier, nip-and-tuck battle with the talented Dallas Cowboys. No longer can it be said they have not stood up to a top opponent. The Dolphins aren’t as consistently devastating, as packed with All-Pros, as the 49ers. They’ve faltered on the road. But they’ll come to Baltimore ready to win if the Ravens let up even a little. “We wouldn’t like it any other way,” Smith said. “We prefer the rough, rigid road.” 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

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