ExtremeRavens

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers in Saturday’s Week 18 game at M&T Bank Stadium. Childs Walker: The Ravens will quickly put this loss, which cost them nothing, in the rearview. They prudently rested many key players and seemingly escaped without a catastrophic injury, though safety Geno Stone did limp off with a knee injury in the second half. Now, it’s on to the real business. After a thundering early touchdown drive by the Steelers, the Ravens’ defense, going without its two best players in Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith, answered with a proud performance. The dam did not break until Pittsburgh wide receiver Diontae Johnson got behind a debilitated secondary for a 71-yard touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter. The Ravens’ offense, with Tyler Huntley starting in place of Lamar Jackson, struggled to hold up its end in the swirling wind and drenching rain. Isaiah Likely continues to impress; the second-year tight end caught a rain-slicked ball in traffic and powered through two tacklers for his fifth touchdown in the past five games. Mike Preston: The Ravens got beat by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but what did you expect? The Ravens didn’t play quarterback Lamar Jackson, middle linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton, among others. The Steelers were also in the playoff hunt while the Ravens sealed the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage last week in a big win over the Miami Dolphins. The Ravens played hard and were in the game most of the time, but Pittsburgh had a stronger running game, more intensity and a sense of urgency. Regardless of the outcome, Pittsburgh won’t go far in the postseason and the Ravens have a good chance of playing in the Super Bowl. The Steelers have a lot of porblems and a quarterback in Mason Rudolph who has no presence. The Ravens played the entire season to earn the right to rest players and get a bye at the end of the season, and it turned out that way. It was nothing gained, nothing lost for the Ravens. Hayes Gardner: It was wet, it was sloppy and, at least for the Ravens, it was meaningless. Despite a loss to their biggest rival — in an unappetizing game featuring 13 punts and eight total fumbles — the AFC North champions left M&T Bank Stadium the same way they entered it: as the No. 1 seed in the conference. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | WR Zay Flowers among 7 inactive for Ravens in regular-season finale; Steelers without 2 safeties Baltimore Ravens | Ravens, defensive tackle Michael Pierce reportedly agree to two-year extension Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 18 of 2023 NFL season: Texans vs. Colts, Packers vs. Bears, Bills vs. Dolphins and more Baltimore Ravens | Pigtown’s Pickett Brewing Co. is betting the Ravens beat the Steelers, or they’ll be sending crabcakes to Pittsburgh brewery Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers staff picks: Who will win Saturday’s Week 18 game in Baltimore? C.J. Doon: You have to take this result with a huge grain of salt considering the driving rain and how many key players the Ravens rested, but it’s at least a little concerning, right? Not having the presumptive NFL Most Valuable Player at quarterback would hurt any offense, but the Ravens could only muster 3.9 yards per play. The defense once again struggled against the run and gave up a 71-yard touchdown pass when starting safety Marcus Williams made a poor break on the ball over the middle (after he dropped an easy interception in the first quarter). Running back Gus Edwards, who is supposed to be the Ravens’ closer, fumbled in the fourth quarter and gave the Steelers the chance to salt the game away. Linebacker Patrick Queen and running back Justice Hill might have been banged up, and safety Geno Stone exited with a knee injury. If you’re looking for bright spots, rookie Trenton Simpson looks like a worthy successor to Queen, who probably priced himself out of Baltimore with a Pro Bowl season. There’s no reason to panic, but for fans out there looking to see a well-oiled machine heading into the postseason, Saturday was a disappointment. In two weeks, we’ll see if the Ravens are better prepared to defend home field than they were 2019. Tim Schwartz: Can I just say … who cares? This game was meaningless from Baltimore’s perspective and should have been. Risking injury to beat the Steelers wouldn’t have been a good idea, and it wasn’t as if this game decided Pittsburgh’s fate anyway. The only thing that mattered in this one was avoiding any serious injuries, and assuming linebacker Patrick Queen is OK, mission accomplished. Time to focus on the divisional round and chasing a ring. View the full article

With the Ravens having wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the AFC, the first-round bye in the playoffs and home-field advantage through the conference championship game, Baltimore (13-3) used the opportunity to rest a handful of starters for Saturday’s regular-season finale against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers. As such, four starters were ruled out Friday and are inactive for the AFC North showdown: quarterback and NFL Most Valuable Player favorite Lamar Jackson (rest/coach’s decision), wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (rest/coach’s decision), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) and guard Kevin Zeitler (knee/quad/coach’s decision). Outside linebacker Malik Harrison (groin), who was also ruled out Friday, and rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers (calf), who didn’t practice all week and was doubtful, are inactive as well. Safety Kyle Hamilton, who sat out last week’s game against the Miami Dolphins with a knee injury, is also inactive, while safety Daryl Worley (shoulder/ankle) was ruled out Friday. Cornerbacks Brandon Stephens (ankle), Arthur Maulet (hip) and Ronald Darby (illness), safety Ar’Darius Washington (pectoral) and reserve wideout and punt returner Tylan Wallace (knee), who were listed as questionable, are active. With several starters sitting out, there is an opportunity for players lower on the depth chart to step up. Cornerback Damarion “Pepe” Williams is expected to make his season debut, while fullback Ben Mason and offensive lineman Sala Aumavae-Laulu could both receive their first NFL snaps. Quarterback Malik Cunningham, who coach John Harbaugh said could be involved at wide receiver and special teams, could also make his Ravens debut after being signed off the New England Patriots’ practice squad last month. The Steelers (9-7), meanwhile, can still make the playoffs win or lose, though a victory makes the path easier. A win and a Tennessee Titans victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, or a Dolphins win over the Buffalo Bills, or a tie between the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts would get them in. But Pittsburgh will again be without their top two safeties with Minkah Fitzpatrick and Trenton Thompson both inactive. Both have missed the past two games. That means veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson will likely play safety. Others inactive for Pittsburgh are: offensive tackle Dylan Cook, cornerback Darius Rush, inside linebacker Blake Martinez, defensive end DeMarvin Leal and quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who is the team’s emergency quarterback. Mason Rudolph, who started the season as the third-string quarterback behind Kenny Pickett and Trubisky, will start. View the full article

Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce is staying in Baltimore a little longer. Pierce and the Ravens have agreed on a two-year, $7.5 million extension, ESPN reported Saturday. The seven-year veteran was due to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Pierce, 31, has started all 16 games this season for the Ravens, who have allowed the fewest points (16.4) and fourth-fewest yards (302.1) per game in the NFL this season. He had signed a three-year, $16.5 million deal with Baltimore in 2022 but restructured it in March, making him a free agent later this year. Pierce, who has spent all but one season in Baltimore, has 36 tackles, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, two passes defended and one sack this year. He’s third on the team in run-stop win rate (36.9%) and second among Ravens defensive linemen with 19 pass-rush wins. He has also been reliable, playing in double-digit games for the first time since the 2019 season. Extending Pierce helps shore up a defense that will have several free agents after this season. Baltimore has nearly two dozen players set to hit the open market, notably inside linebacker Patrick Queen and defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, who leads all NFL interior linemen with 13 sacks. The Ravens (13-3), who clinched the AFC’s top seed, the first-round bye and home-field advantage through the conference championship game, host the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) on Saturday afternoon in the regular-season finale. This story might be updated. View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 18: Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts (Saturday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (161-95 season; 12-4 last week): Colts Childs Walker (163-93 season; 13-3 last week): Colts Mike Preston (154-102 season; 12-4 last week): Colts C.J. Doon (169-87 season; 12-4 last week): Texans Tim Schwartz (152-104 season; 9-7 last week): Texans Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Saints Walker: Saints Preston: Falcons Doon: Saints Schwartz: Saints Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bengals Walker: Bengals Preston: Browns Doon: Bengals Schwartz: Bengals Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Jaguars Walker: Jaguars Preston: Jaguars Doon: Jaguars Schwartz: Jaguars Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Pigtown’s Pickett Brewing Co. is betting the Ravens beat the Steelers, or they’ll be sending crabcakes to Pittsburgh brewery Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers staff picks: Who will win Saturday’s Week 18 game in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: AFC North rivals are Ravens’ biggest obstacles on path to Super Bowl | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | For Ravens LB Patrick Queen, ‘finally’ making the Pro Bowl means a new level of football satisfaction Baltimore Ravens | Browns sitting Joe Flacco, other top players vs. Bengals to be rested for playoffs Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Lions Walker: Lions Preston: Lions Doon: Lions Schwartz: Lions New York Jets at New England Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Patriots Walker: Patriots Preston: Patriots Doon: Patriots Schwartz: Patriots Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Buccaneers Walker: Buccaneers Preston: Buccaneers Doon: Buccaneers Schwartz: Buccaneers Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Bears Walker: Bears Preston: Packers Doon: Packers Schwartz: Packers Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Cowboys Walker: Cowboys Preston: Cowboys Doon: Cowboys Schwartz: Cowboys Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Raiders Walker: Raiders Preston: Raiders Doon: Raiders Schwartz: Raiders Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Walker: Chargers Preston: Chiefs Doon: Chargers Schwartz: Chiefs Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: 49ers Walker: 49ers Preston: 49ers Doon: Rams Schwartz: 49ers Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Eagles Walker: Eagles Preston: Eagles Doon: Eagles Schwartz: Eagles Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Seahawks Walker: Seahawks Preston: Seahawks Doon: Seahawks Schwartz: Seahawks Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) Wacker: Dolphins Walker: Bills Preston: Bills Doon: Bills Schwartz: Bills View the full article

No matter who wins Saturday’s showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the owners of one craft brewery are going to be eating well. Baltimore’s Pickett Brewing Co. and Pittsburgh’s Allegheny City Brewing have a bet riding on the game: If the Ravens win, Allegheny City staff will have to send Pickett’s staff a batch of pierogies. If the Steelers win, on the other hand, Pickett will be shipping a crabcake feast to Pittsburgh. The two craft breweries first struck up their friendly competition last October, when the Ravens played the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Pickett Brewing had already taken to ribbing the Steelers on social media since the brewery shares a name with Pittsburgh’s quarterback, Kenny Pickett. “We have a little bit of friendly social media banter going,” said Kate Conway, Pickett Brewing Co.’s owner. “This year, we decided to pick it up, so we reached out to Allegheny City, which is pretty similar to Pickett in a lot of ways.” The breweries are similarly sized and both are located near their city’s football stadiums: Pickett’s Pigtown taproom is a few blocks away from M&T Bank Stadium, and Allegheny City is about a half-mile from the Steelers’ Acrisure Stadium. Pickett Brewing Co. opened in Pigtown in 2022. Matthew Yurkovich, who owns Allegheny City Brewing with his sister Amy Yurkovich and business partner Al Grasso, was game for the challenge. “The Ravens-Steelers rivalry is something different from anything else,” he said. “It’s just always been a game that’s circled on the calendar. It’s always something to look forward to.” The bet worked out in Pittsburgh’s favor last fall, with the Steelers defeating the Ravens, 17-10. Conway sent a box of jumbo lump crabcakes from Koco’s Pub to the Allegheny City crew. The crabcakes, Yurkovich said, “were definitely the best we’ve ever had. I couldn’t believe the size. We made three and couldn’t finish them all until the next day.” Related Articles Restaurants, Food and Drink | Bits & Bites: What’s on the menu for 2024? A look at the new year’s dining trends Restaurants, Food and Drink | Dutch Courage owners have plans to take over The Dizz building in Remington Restaurants, Food and Drink | JBGB’s closes in Remington: ‘We just couldn’t make it work’ Restaurants, Food and Drink | Thai Restaurant searches for new home as it leaves longtime Waverly location Restaurants, Food and Drink | Still looking for New Year’s Eve plans? Here’s a guide to some of Baltimore’s best festivities On Saturday, the teams will meet again in Baltimore, but neither Pickett nor the Ravens’ star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, will be starting. Still, Conway is feeling confident about the Ravens’ prospects. The team clinched a division title and the AFC’s top seed last weekend with a commanding win over the Miami Dolphins. Seven Ravens players are headed to the Pro Bowl in February. “I think we’re going to be eating pierogies,” she said. There’s a free beer waiting for Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett in the Pickett Brewing Co. taproom, purchased by an enthusiastic Steelers fan. If the Ravens win, Yurkovich said he plans to send a mix of homemade and store-bought pierogies to Baltimore. His Polish family has a holiday tradition of making dozens of pierogies to eat and share. The friendly competition has drummed up some visibility and business for both local breweries, Conway and Yurkovich said. Pickett Brewing Co. opened in 2022 and has marketed itself as a spot for pre- and post-game beers. The brewery also recently launched a bluegrass series and is planning other events as a member of the South Baltimore Brewery District, a collaboration with neighbors Checkerspot Brewing Co. and Wico Street Beer Co. Conway hopes the Ravens’ winning streak continues well into the postseason, boosting spirits and sales. “The energy in the city is electric right now,” she said. She’s also hoping Kenny Pickett will check out the brewery while he’s in town with the team. There’s a free beer waiting for him in the Pickett Brewing taproom, purchased by an enthusiastic Steelers fan. As Conway pointed out: “He probably doesn’t have anything else to do.” View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 18 game between the Ravens (13-3) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) at M&T Bank Stadium. Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 17, Steelers 14: No Lamar Jackson, along with some other key starters sitting, means this one will be close. The Steelers need to win to keep their postseason hopes alive, and quarterback Mason Rudolph has been solid the past two weeks, but the weather figures to be sloppy and Baltimore still has enough juice on both sides of the ball to end their division rival’s season after losing to them in October. Mike Preston, columnist Steelers, 21, Ravens 18: Despite losing to Pittsburgh, 17-10, earlier this season, the Ravens clearly have the better team, even though the Steelers have won two in a row with Mason Rudolph at quarterback. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he will start back quarterback Tyler Huntley in place of Lamar Jackson, and he might rest several other players as well because Baltimore has already locked up the top seed in the AFC playoffs. The Ravens will play hard and the team has a lot of depth, but they might not have the intensity or sense of urgency of the Steelers, who need a win and some help to get into the postseason. If the Ravens won, that would not be much of a shocker, but Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is a fighter when his back is against the wall. Childs Walker, reporter Steelers 20, Ravens 19: The Ravens would be favored by at least a touchdown if they needed to win this game, but they don’t, and the Steelers will be fired up to keep their season alive. Mason Rudolph has given their offense a jolt, and they’ll move the ball against the Baltimore reserves. The Ravens will keep it close — is it ever not when these teams play? — but won’t sacrifice the greater good to chase victory. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 18 of 2023 NFL season: Texans vs. Colts, Packers vs. Bears, Bills vs. Dolphins and more Baltimore Ravens | Pigtown’s Pickett Brewing Co. is betting the Ravens beat the Steelers, or they’ll be sending crabcakes to Pittsburgh brewery Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: AFC North rivals are Ravens’ biggest obstacles on path to Super Bowl | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | For Ravens LB Patrick Queen, ‘finally’ making the Pro Bowl means a new level of football satisfaction Baltimore Ravens | Browns sitting Joe Flacco, other top players vs. Bengals to be rested for playoffs C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 19, Steelers 17: Tyler Huntley has thrown nine passes this year. Four resulted in a first down, and two of them went for touchdowns. Sure, that came in garbage time of blowout wins, but how many teams can claim a Pro Bowl quarterback under 30 as their backup? The Steelers can with Mitch Trubisky, but Mason Rudolph is starting Saturday after leading the offense to a combined 64 points against the Seahawks and Bengals. The league’s best defense will offer a tougher challenge, even with several top players expected to sit out. In a kicker’s duel between Justin Tucker and Chris Boswell, the Ravens pull the upset. Tim Schwartz, editor Steelers 18, Ravens 16: This won’t feel like a usual rivalry game with Lamar Jackson resting and several other Ravens likely to follow suit, but these teams would play a close game on the moon. Mason Rudolph has kept Pittsburgh’s season alive with two stellar starts, but even an undermanned Ravens defense is going to cause problems. The Steelers are playing to win; the Ravens are playing to stay sharp and healthy. That’s too big of a gap in mindsets to pick Baltimore, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Ravens pull out a close one. Pride matters, and sending the Steelers off to Cancun’s golf courses has got to be enticing. View the full article

The Ravens have the best team in the NFL, the first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, but getting to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas will not be easy. They have the NFL’s hottest quarterback in Lamar Jackson and the league’s No. 1 running game, averaging 159.7 yards per game. They are the most complete and balanced team, ranked No. 4 in both total offense and defense, and have dominated top teams such as the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions. There are some matchups, though, that could cause problems, especially if the Ravens have to play AFC North rivals. Because of the first-round bye, the Ravens have virtually three weeks to rest players such as receiver Zay Flowers, safety Kyle Hamilton, guard Kevin Zeitler, cornerback Marlon Humphrey and linebacker Patrick Queen. The long layoff will create some rust, but that can disappear quickly. The Ravens were in a similar situation in 2019 with the No. 1 seed, and they lost in the divisional round to the Tennessee Titans, 28-12. “No, that’s not in my mind this season. Like I said, my mindset was a lot different [in 2019],” Jackson said Wednesday. “Just knowing how the NFL is — we said this a few weeks ago — ‘It’s any given Sunday, it’s any whatever day you have to play on.’ “Hopefully, we just try to be on the right side of any given day.” That’s why the journey to the Super Bowl won’t be easy. Most of the teams that earn a playoff appearance are good, but two of the most dangerous are the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. Why? Because the AFC North is a physical division and both teams understand what is needed to beat the Ravens in Baltimore. Divisional games are always physical and the grind can carry over to the next week. Plus, the Browns are now led by former Ravens quarterback and former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Joe Flacco, who has led Cleveland to four straight victories. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 18 of 2023 NFL season: Texans vs. Colts, Packers vs. Bears, Bills vs. Dolphins and more Baltimore Ravens | Pigtown’s Pickett Brewing Co. is betting the Ravens beat the Steelers, or they’ll be sending crabcakes to Pittsburgh brewery Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers staff picks: Who will win Saturday’s Week 18 game in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | For Ravens LB Patrick Queen, ‘finally’ making the Pro Bowl means a new level of football satisfaction Baltimore Ravens | Browns sitting Joe Flacco, other top players vs. Bengals to be rested for playoffs Flacco was replaced by Jackson during the latter’s rookie season in 2018 and the Ravens went 6-1 down the stretch before losing in the wild-card round. That matchup would create some great storylines and provide both teams with more motivation. Cleveland has the No. 11 ranked offense and No. 1 defense. That’s almost as balanced as the Ravens. Flacco, 38, is a great story and was the missing ingredient for the Browns, who have started four quarterbacks this season. He has completed 123 of 204 passes for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns, and some of those throws have been incredible. But Flacco just chucks it up, and while that can work in the regular season, it won’t against a more disciplined team like the Ravens. Pittsburgh, another divisional foe, also causes concern. The Steelers have won six of the past seven games against the Ravens, including a 17-10 victory at home Oct. 8. Like Cleveland, Pittsburgh has a new quarterback in Mason Rudolph, who has completed 35 of 51 passes for 564 yards and two touchdowns in back-to-back wins. Rudolph has put the vertical passing game back in the offense, and the Steelers match up well against the Ravens because they have two strong running backs in Najee Harris (801 rushing yards) and Jaylen Warren (751). Pittsburgh’s No. 22 ranked defense isn’t great, but the Steelers have enough playmakers in defensive end T.J. Watt and tackle Cameron Heyward. However, to get into the playoffs, Pittsburgh has to beat the Ravens on Saturday and then count on one of the following: Tennessee win or tie against the Jacksonville Jaguars; Miami win over the Buffalo Bills; or a tie between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans. The situation seems dire, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has a way of resurrecting his teams. “Any time you can send somebody home, that’s one reason why you play the game,” Queen said Wednesday. “Like I said, at the end of the day, it’s a rivalry game, so you have to treat that game like you would treat any other rivalry game. With those guys, like I said, they come out [and] try to punch you in the mouth. “That’s just the type of game I like, so when you have a team like that, it’s a fun football game. It’s a great football game against two teams who have a ton of respect for each other, but still want to get down and ground them.” Now, imagine if it were playoff time. That’s the AFC North. Familiarity has its pluses and minuses on both sides. Both Kansas City and Buffalo are concerns, but neither is playing up to the level they’ve shown in recent years. The Chiefs still have Patrick Mahomes, the best quarterback in the NFL, but his receivers can’t catch, having dropped 42 passes entering last week’s 25-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Mahomes is either lost or has given up throwing downfield, and he has doesn’t have a strong running game to help him. Defensively, the Chiefs can win against most teams but are No. 17 against the run, which wouldn’t fare well against the Ravens. There is speculation that the Washington Commanders will fire coach Ron Rivera shortly after the regular season ends Sunday and that his offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, could return to the Chiefs just before the playoffs begin. Bieniemy spent 10 seasons as both Kansas City’s running backs coach and the offensive coordinator before moving to Washington at the end of last season. That sounds more like wishful thinking than reality, but maybe the defending champion Chiefs have a hidden switch they can turn on in the postseason. John Munson/APBills quarterback Josh Allen, right, talks with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson after a game in Orchard Park, New York, on Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/John Munson) If they get in, the Bills might approach the postseason with a chip on their shoulders. Weeks ago, it looked as if they wouldn’t make the playoffs, but they could end up winning the AFC East title. With Buffalo, you never know which team will show up because quarterback Josh Allen is so inconsistent. One game he might throw five touchdown passes, and the next he might throw five interceptions. When he is on, he can carry a team. The Bills, though, had the same problem as the Ravens did earlier this season: They turn the ball over too much. Allen has completed 355 of 541 passes for 3,947 yards with 27 touchdowns, but he has also thrown 16 interceptions. The Bills have lost nine of 16 fumbles. Regardless, they feel “disrespected,” a big word among the younger generation. Several weeks ago, the Ravens said the same thing before they dismantled the 49ers, 33-19. The Ravens, though, have played with that type of attitude most of the season. They struggled early with ball security but have rebounded with an offense that is still evolving and a defense that has carried them. Now, they head into the postseason as favorites to win it all, but coach John Habruagh knows that isn’t good enough. On any given day, as Jackson says, the Ravens need to be on the right side of that day. The journey continues. View the full article

Patrick Queen spoke to his mother, Mary Sue, about a week and a half before the NFL announced its Pro Bowl teams for this season. If he did not make it this time, the Ravens linebacker told his most loyal supporter, he would not know how to make sense of it, because, “I did everything I needed to.” When that recognition came Wednesday — the culmination of a four-year rise from lambasted first-round draft pick to stalwart in one of the NFL’s finest defenses — Queen was overcome. He said he had never felt more accomplished as a football player, even when he helped LSU win a national championship at the end of his final college season. “Finally,” he said as Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta pulled him in for a long embrace after informing him he’d made it. He and his running mate, Roquan Smith, claimed the two inside linebacker spots on the AFC’s roster. Three other teammates — center Tyler Linderbaum, safety Kyle Hamilton and defensive tackle Justin Madubuike — joined him as first-time honorees. “So much work, so much dedication, so many sacrifices go into it,” Queen reflected Thursday. “For people around the league to respect my game and give a nod to me, it’s incredible.” “I remember last year, when he found out he didn’t make it, he took it hard,” said Queen’s friend and locker room neighbor, safety Geno Stone. “I just feel like he deserved that moment. He had worked for it all his life. We talk all the time, especially having come in together, about how you always dream of stuff like that.” Tears welled in Queen’s eyes as he processed how far he’d come over four seasons. He had just turned 21 when he debuted, not ready for the “next Ray Lewis” mantle fans and writers were so eager to place on him. When his erratic play led to backlash from that same chorus, he took it personally and placed more pressure on himself. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Staff picks for Week 18 of 2023 NFL season: Texans vs. Colts, Packers vs. Bears, Bills vs. Dolphins and more Baltimore Ravens | Pigtown’s Pickett Brewing Co. is betting the Ravens beat the Steelers, or they’ll be sending crabcakes to Pittsburgh brewery Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers staff picks: Who will win Saturday’s Week 18 game in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: AFC North rivals are Ravens’ biggest obstacles on path to Super Bowl | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Browns sitting Joe Flacco, other top players vs. Bengals to be rested for playoffs “My first two years were definitely rough, for me and the fan base,” he said. “But I knew what type of person I am. I don’t run from a fight. There was so much work I had to put in, understanding that I came into the league raw, young, without much experience under my belt. I didn’t expect it to be that hard.” Teammates recognized his growing pains. “He took a lot of criticism along the way, and he’s a guy who shows his emotions a a lot, sometimes on social media,” Stone said. “It takes time in the league to find yourself.” The Queen of today bears little resemblance to that self-flagellating rookie. He was one of the first Ravens to proclaim how special this year’s team could become, and he’s among the first to spit verbal fire at opponents. “We play a brand of football that people don’t want to play,” he said after the Ravens thumped the San Francisco 49ers on Christmas night. “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.” He has backed those fierce words with fierce play, reaching a career-high 125 tackles and earning the best Pro Football Focus grade of his four-year tenure with the Ravens despite playing through a shoulder injury that flared up again in the Ravens’ 56-19 blowout of the Miami Dolphins last Sunday. 2023 NFL: Seattle Seahawks at Baltimore RavensKarl Merton Ferron/Baltimore SunRavens linebacker Patrick Queen, right, celebrates after dropping Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III for a loss Nov. 5. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) In typically gritty fashion, Queen said he does not plan to rest his shoulder Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, despite the fact the Ravens have nothing to gain by winning. He figures it will be his kind of game, and he loathes the idea of losing to a rival twice in the same season. “I could use the rest, but at the same time, I do want to play; it’s Pittsburgh,” he said. “Those guys come out fierce, try to do their thing. [They] try to come out, punch you in the mouth and stuff, so that’s my type of game. It isn’t going to be no treat or anything. They’re just coming out, they’re lined up, and they say, ‘Can you stop us?’ So that’s something that you respect [about] a team, and that’s why I am kind of excited to play.” Queen feels he can only “get overwhelmed by stuff” if he looks past the next opponent to the Ravens’ playoff opener on the third weekend of January. That same live-in-the-moment ethic applies when the topic turns to where Queen might play next season. The Ravens did not pick up his fifth-year option, meaning he’s headed for free agency. Though the decision stung initially, Queen quickly shifted to viewing it as a “blessing in disguise.” He wants to stay in Baltimore but has pumped up his market value this season, meaning the Ravens, with a raft of free agents hitting the market, might not be able to afford him, especially with Smith slated to make $91 million over the next four years. That speculation doesn’t interest him much at the moment. “It comes up every now and then, but at the end of the day, I’m happy where I’m at right now,” he said. “We’ve still got a lot of games left to play, with that one goal that we all want. If we achieve that, I think everything else will take care of itself.” View the full article

CINCINNATI — Two seasons ago, the playoff-bound Cincinnati Bengals rested most of their starters in a meaningless regular-season finale at Cleveland against the also-ran Browns, who were wrapping up a disappointing season. The scenario will be flipped on Sunday. Cleveland (11-5), looking ahead to a playoff game next weekend, will finish the regular season in Cincinnati against the Bengals (8-8), who’ve got no place to go but home. The Browns will hold out many of their core players against Cincinnati, including soon-to-be 39-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco, who came off his couch to win four games in December and push the Browns into the playoffs for just the third time since 1999. Flacco, who led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl title after the 2012 season, has normally fatalistic Cleveland fans believing this could be a special season after throwing for 1,616 yards in five starts since he was signed on Nov. 20. Flacco is playing only because the Browns lost $230 million franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson to a season-ending shoulder injury in November, and rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson went down with a hip injury late in December. After plugging holes and maneuvering lineups all season, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski isn’t taking any chances and will rest as many players as he can. “I feel like we’ve earned that opportunity with how we took care of business the previous week,” Stefanski said. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens rule out 6 players for Saturday’s regular-season finale vs. Steelers; 6 others questionable Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Patrick Queen on being selected to the Pro Bowl | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | 4-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook signing with Ravens for playoffs Baltimore Ravens | John Harbaugh on the play of Lamar and his plans for the national championship game | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Madubuike on the final week of the regular season | VIDEO Cleveland will face Cincinnati using its fifth quarterback as Jeff Driskel, signed off Arizona’s practice squad last week, is slated to start. The Browns are just the eighth team since 1950 to win with four QBs in the same season, and they can join the 1987 New England Patriots as the only teams to win a game with five starting quarterbacks. Looking ahead The Browns are the No. 5 seed and will open the playoffs next weekend against the AFC South champion. That could be Jacksonville, which would clinch the division with a win over Tennessee. If the Jaguars lose, the Indianapolis-Houston winner would win the division. Won’t back down The Bengals want to finish on a positive note — and above the .500 mark — in a season that saw franchise quarterback Joe Burrow miss training camp because of a strained calf muscle and then suffer a season-ending wrist injury. “We expected to be here playing for the playoffs,” said defensive end Sam Hubbard, who plans to play even though he’ll need postseason surgery for an unspecified injury. “That’s not how it worked out. With Joe going down early in training camp, all types of stuff happening. Crazy. But that’s life in the NFL. Every year will not go how you draw it up.” (Un)welcome to the jungle Given his record against them, Flacco didn’t seem all that upset about not facing the Bengals — especially on the road. “Yeah, I hate going to Cincinnati,” he said. “They’ve always played us tough.” Forgive Flacco. By “us” he means the Ravens, his team for 11 seasons. He’s still getting used to being in Cleveland. Flacco is 9-12 in his career against the Bengals, quite a contrast to his 18-3 record against the Browns. Last impression Browns defensive end Myles Garrett will likely join Flacco on the sideline, missing a chance to pad his stats or boost his Defensive Player of the Year resume. He’s never won the award, and a strong finish might help him gain a few more votes with ballots from the national media due Monday. As far as Stefanski’s concerned, Garrett, who was named a Pro Bowler for the fifth time, has done more than enough during his most dominant season. “I don’t know that Myles needs to do anything more on a football field to convince anyone how important he’s been to our football team,” Stefanski said. “Said it before, I’ll say it again, he’s the best player on the best defense in the National Football League. That counts for something.” So close The Bengals were still in the playoff picture until a 25-17 loss at Kansas City last Sunday in which the Chiefs rallied to win with six straight field goals. Quarterback Jake Browning was outstanding at times in leading Cincinnati to a 3-3 record after Burrow went down on Nov. 16, but the Bengals self-destructed with mistakes all over the field the last two weeks. Cincinnati won the AFC North the past two seasons, advancing to the Super Bowl after the 2021 campaign, and to the AFC championship game last season. View the full article

To say the Ravens clinching the top seed in the AFC and the first-round bye in the playoffs with its blowout of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday couldn’t have come at a better time would be an understatement. Baltimore has ruled out six players, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, for Saturday afternoon’s regular-season finale against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers, while another six are questionable. Some of those moves were the decision of coach John Harbaugh, given that the outcome of Saturday’s game is meaningless for the Ravens, who will start backup quarterback Tyler Huntley and rest Jackson for the divisional round. Of note, five players listed as questionable are defensive backs: cornerbacks Brandon Stephens (ankle), Arthur Maulet (hip) and Ronald Darby (illness) and safeties Kyle Hamilton (knee) and Ar’Darius Washington (pectoral). Cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf), safety Daryl Worley (shoulder/ankle) and outside linebacker Malik Harrison (groin) will not play, likely leaving cornerbacks Rock Ya-Sin and Damarion “Pepe” Williams and safeties Marcus Williams and Geno Stone to lead a shorthanded secondary. On offense, the Ravens will be without wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (rest/coach’s decision). Rookie receiver Zay Flowers (calf) is doubtful, while special teams standout and reserve wideout Tylan Wallace (knee) is questionable. Right guard Kevin Zeitler (knee/quad/coach’s decision) is out. Flowers did not practice all week, while Wallace was limited. For the Steelers, safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) and Trenton Thompson (neck) are questionable, as is linebacker Elandon Roberts (pectoral), though Roberts told reporters Thursday that he would play. All three players practiced on a limited basis this week. Also limited Thursday were outside linebacker T.J. Watt (rest) and defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (groin), though neither has an injury designation and both are expected to play. Linebacker Myles Jack (personal) and left guard Isaac Seumalo (shoulder) missed practice Thursday but both are also expected to suit up. While the Ravens have nothing to play for but pride, the Steelers are still fighting for a playoff berth. Pittsburgh clinches a spot with the following scenarios: Steelers win + Bills loss OR Steelers win + Jaguars loss or tie OR Steelers win + Texans-Colts tie OR Steelers tie + Jaguars loss + Texans-Colts doesn’t end in tie OR Jaguars loss + Broncos win + Texans-Colts doesn’t end in tie View the full article

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The Ravens’ backfield got a potential boost a little more than two weeks before the team begins its quest for a Super Bowl title. Free agent running back Dalvin Cook is signing with the Ravens’ practice squad, his agent confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Thursday. The move comes after Cook parted ways with the Jets on Tuesday following less than a year in New York and went unclaimed on waivers Thursday. Baltimore was one of at least two teams interested in the four-time Pro Bowl selection, including the Dallas Cowboys. The signing comes after the Ravens (13-3) lost running back J.K. Dobbins to a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in Week 1 and rookie Keaton Mitchell to a torn ACL last month. ESPN was first to report the move. Gus Edwards (762 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns) and Justice Hill (387 yards, 3 TDs) have received the bulk of the carries in recent weeks behind quarterback and NFL Most Valuable Player Award favorite Lamar Jackson, the team’s leading rusher with 821 yards and five scores. Melvin Gordon III (63 yards on 19 carries), a two-time Pro Bowl selection, also had six carries for 10 yards and a touchdown after being promoted from the practice squad in Sunday’s 56-19 win over the Miami Dolphins that clinched the top seed in the AFC, the first-round bye and home-field advantage through the conference championship game. Cook, 28, signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Jets this summer after the arrival of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers as something of an insurance policy for Breece Hall, who was coming off a torn ACL. But Hall ended up being largely healthy, playing in 16 games, and Cook, a 2017 second-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings, never got his footing in New York, rushing for just 214 yards on 67 carries with no touchdowns. With the Jets, Cook averaged just under 4.8 carries per game and 3.2 yards per carry, easily the lowest mark of his career, and played only 202 snaps on offense, his lowest tally since his injury-shortened rookie year. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Browns sitting Joe Flacco, other top players vs. Bengals to be rested for playoffs Baltimore Ravens | Ravens rule out 6 players for Saturday’s regular-season finale vs. Steelers; 6 others questionable Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Patrick Queen on being selected to the Pro Bowl | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | John Harbaugh on the play of Lamar and his plans for the national championship game | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Madubuike on the final week of the regular season | VIDEO Week 1 was the only time that he received double-digit carries in New York, and after playing 50% of the offensive snaps in the opener, he played no more than 36% the rest of the way. That eventually led to Cook saying a lack of touches was “frustrating” and that he would speak to general manager Joe Douglas about a potential trade, though no deal materialized before the Oct. 31 deadline. Before signing with the Jets, Cook spent the first six years of his career with Minnesota, where he rushed for 6,165 yards and 49 touchdowns in the regular season and playoffs and topped the 1,000-yard mark four straight seasons from 2019 to 2022. His best season came in 2020, when he ran for 1,557 yards and 16 touchdowns during the regular season, both career highs. He is also an adept receiver out of the backfield, with 251 catches for 1,926 yards and five touchdowns in his career, including the postseason. Cook will forfeit the remaining guaranteed money on his contract for the move to take place, according to multiple reports. His deal called for a guaranteed $5.8 million salary this year, per Over The Cap. The Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) in Saturday afternoon’s regular-season finale. View the full article

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After Michigan’s dramatic, come-from-behind 27-20 overtime win over Alabama in Monday’s Rose Bowl, which sent the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff national championship game, the parents of winning coach Jim Harbaugh were there to take it all in. It’s not uncommon for family members to share in the revelry of such a crowning achievement. It was, after all, Michigan’s first playoff win, a breakthrough moment for a program that hasn’t won a national title since 1997 and was engulfed in a sign-stealing scandal this season that led to the suspension of its coach, a settlement with the Big Ten Conference and an impassioned defense from Harbaugh’s older brother. So when Jackie Harbaugh was asked for her reaction by WXYZ Detroit’s Brad Galli after seeing her 60-year-old son win the most important game of his nine seasons at the helm at his alma mater, she said what every Wolverines fan was probably thinking. “Are you kidding me?! They won! What’s better than that?!” If that wasn’t enough, Jack Harbaugh led a rousing rendition of a rallying cry he said has been used in the family for a long time (and will sound familiar to Michigan and Ravens fans alike): “Who’s got it better than us? Nobody!” The one-minute interview received close to 6 million views on X, formerly known as Twitter, shining a spotlight on perhaps the most famous coaching family in football. (Ravens coach John Harbaugh earned plenty of attention himself this week for dancing in the locker room and smearing blood on his forehead after Sunday’s big win over the Miami Dolphins.) “It’s been amazing. I just couldn’t be happier,” Harbaugh, Jim’s older brother by one year, said after practice Wednesday in Owings Mills. “I was really happy for my mom and dad.” Harbaugh said he wasn’t surprised to hear his parents superstitiously decided to switch seats before the Wolverines’ game-tying touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Nor was he shocked to see his mother have such a strong reaction. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | John Harbaugh on the play of Lamar and his plans for the national championship game | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Madubuike on the final week of the regular season | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about coaching staff, playoff matchups and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers scouting report for Week 18: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens send AFC-leading 7 players to Pro Bowl, including Lamar Jackson, 4 first-time selections “That is so classic of them,” Harbaugh said. “Actually, thinking [about it], it probably did make the difference. “My mom — you put a microphone in front of her face, or you hang out with her for a couple of minutes, you don’t even have to ask her what she thinks, she’s going to tell you what she thinks — I think [Galli] figured that out pretty quick, so it was fun to watch.” He was happy to point out, too, that Michigan running back Blake Corum, who rushed for 83 yards, caught a touchdown pass and scored the eventual game-winning touchdown in overtime, played high school football at Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy. While the Ravens are still playing, this time of year is perhaps not as busy — nor as stressful — for Harbaugh as it is most seasons. The Ravens clinched the top seed in the AFC with a dominant 56-19 win over the Dolphins on Sunday, so Saturday afternoon’s regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers does not have any playoff implications for Baltimore. Harbaugh said Wednesday that star quarterback and likely NFL Most Valuable Player Award winner Lamar Jackson will not play, and several other starters are expected to join him on the bench. So will Harbaugh attend the national championship game Monday at NRG Stadium in Houston to see No. 1 Michigan take on No. 2 Washington? You bet. “I’m going to go to the game [and] take [my wife] Ingrid [Harbaugh], and we’re going to enjoy that,” he said. Perhaps Jim will return the favor next month. The Ravens have the second-best odds to win the Super Bowl, which kicks off Feb. 11 in Las Vegas. And it could very well be the Ravens against the San Francisco 49ers, the same matchup that pitted brother against brother for the first time in Super Bowl history in February 2013. If they’re lucky, maybe the Harbaugh family will have two championships to celebrate this year. View the full article

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer fans’ questions throughout the Ravens season. Coming off Baltimore’s 56-19 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, plenty of questions remain heading into the regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here’s Preston’s take: (Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.) Outside of the stellar play by the players this season, I feel like the coaching has really helped Ravens become a juggernaut too. From top to bottom, do you think this is probably John Harbaugh’s best overall coaching staff that he’s assembled? — Paul in Orlando That’s a hard question and I really don’t know the answer. With Harbaugh, he has reached a level of success in which his teams are expected to make the playoffs every year, and that’s a great standard. He has had to deal with a lot of injuries, but so has every other coach in the NFL. I am not in the meetings or on the field once the regular season starts, so it’s hard to say this was his best coaching staff. I think he has two really good coordinators in Todd Monken (offense) and Mike Macdonald (defense) and Harbaugh selected both. Monken has come in and taught Lamar Jackson to become a better passer and more complete quarterback. Jackson had his best game against Miami last week as far as accuracy and being able to throw the long ball. Can he do it again? We’ll find out, but that’s the most important piece of the offense entering the postseason. Jackson couldn’t do that in his first five seasons in Baltimore. With Macdonald, this is his second season as coordinator and the players are used to being in his system and have worked out a lot of the communication problems. The players like and respect Macdonald, and that’s been a major part of their success. The acquisition of middle linebacker Roquan Smith last season was a major piece of putting this defense together. There has been a lot of criticism of Harbaugh through the years, but his strengths significantly outweigh his weaknesses, especially his organization and work ethic. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | John Harbaugh on the play of Lamar and his plans for the national championship game | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Madubuike on the final week of the regular season | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | After parents’ viral reaction, Ravens coach John Harbaugh will attend national title game to support Michigan and brother Jim Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers scouting report for Week 18: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens send AFC-leading 7 players to Pro Bowl, including Lamar Jackson, 4 first-time selections Since becoming coach in 2008, Harbaugh has worked hard to improve his relationship with “high maintenance” players and it has paid off. This might not be his best coaching job, but this is his most balanced and complete team, and it’s a reflection of him and his staff. The Ravens won’t be able to retain all of their free agents because of the salary cap. Would it make sense in the Steelers game to give playing time to some current backups to see if they could start next year? — Harris Levy on X It might make sense, but that certainly isn’t the main objective. These guys are professionals and they want to compete and win. Harbaugh has already said that Jackson won’t play and I suspect he’ll hold out other stars such as Smith and injured players such as safety Kyle Hamilton and rookie receiver Zay Flowers. Players such as Smith and Jackson are irreplaceable and Hamilton and Flowers are major weapons. Harbaugh won’t reveal the other players who will be held out because he wants to keep Steelers coach Mike Tomlin guessing, which is a sound strategy. But the reserves will come out and play hard. The NFL is all about opportunity, and for some of them it’s a chance of a lifetime. There are some who think players won’t give 100% because the game is virtually meaningless, but none of the Ravens want to walk into that film room Monday and see themselves getting beat. Besides being professionals, there is also a pride factor. No player, regardless of which team he plays for, wants to get embarrassed on game day. Which team is the worst matchup for the Ravens in the playoffs? — Mike VH on X The Ravens probably would prefer not to play AFC North rivals Pittsburgh or Cleveland. Both of those teams are familiar with the Ravens and know their strengths and weaknesses better than Buffalo or Kansas City, who haven’t played Baltimore this season. The Steelers and Browns have played in Baltimore through the years and know what it takes to be physical and win here. Cleveland beat the Ravens, 33-31, at M&T Bank Stadium on Nov. 12 and Pittsburgh beat the Ravens, 17-10, Oct. 8 at home. The Steelers have won six of the past seven meetings. Members of the Ravens’ front office staff weren’t happy Pittsburgh kept its playoff hopes alive last week by beating the Seattle Seahawks, 30-23. Looking at the progression of Justin Madubuike, do you see potential similar growth for Travis Jones? Both were third-round picks. The Ravens seem to have a strong history of developing mid-round lineman like Art Jones, Brandon Williams, Brent Urban etc. — Josh There are some comparisons to be made. When Madubuike first got to Baltimore, he had some baby fat on him but has worked hard to build up his body. He is a specimen now with great quickness and a great “get off” at the snap, which allows him to penetrate and disrupt plays in the backfield. Jones, at 6 feet 4 and 338 pounds, is bigger than Madubuike was when he was younger and has worked hard to transform his body as well. It’s clearly noticeable and he has played well the past couple of games. Jones doesn’t have Madubuke’s quickness, but he does have more bulk and might be stronger. If he has another strong offseason, he could become a force in his third season. Now that the regular season is coming to a close, the annual influx of mock drafts is appearing. Other than “best player available,” what do you think the Ravens will be looking for in the 2024 NFL draft? — Bob in NC Bob, they need offensive tackles. They’ve been rotating at the position for the past two games and that’s extremely unusual. Neither starters Ronnie Stanley nor Morgan Moses are probably happy, but the rotation with Patrick Mekari and sometimes Daniel Faalele has worked well. Both Stanley and Moses have been solid the past two weeks, and the extra rest from the first-round bye will help. But the Ravens have to get younger and better on the outside, and they might have to find two guards as well because both starters, John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler, are free agents at the end of the season. With Madubuike and nose tackle Michael Pierce on the free agent market as well, the Ravens might have to build on both interior lines. View the full article

The Ravens thrashed the Miami Dolphins, 56-19, to clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. The Steelers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 30-23 road win over the Seattle Seahawks. Who will have the edge when these rivals meet in Saturday’s regular-season finale at M&T Bank Stadium? Ravens passing game vs. Steelers pass defense Lamar Jackson played perhaps the best game of his career in the blowout over the Dolphins, likely securing his second NFL Most Valuable Player trophy and ensuring he will be inactive against Pittsburgh. With three other quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, the Ravens have options for covering Jackson’s snaps. Tyler Huntley will start, with third-stringer Josh Johnson as his backup. The Ravens could also use the second half to look at Malik Cunningham, whom they signed off the New England Patriots’ practice squad to compete for their backup job next summer. Cunningham also took practice reps at wide receiver Wednesday. Huntley is 3-5 as a starter in his career and has completed 65.6% of his passes, but the team’s offense will be less explosive, with wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers also candidates to rest for most or all of Saturday’s game. That could lead to increased opportunities for wide receivers Rashod Bateman (four catches, 54 yards against the Dolphins) and Nelson Agholor and tight end Charlie Kolar. Offensive line starters Morgan Moses, Ronnie Stanley and Kevin Zeitler might be active against Pittsburgh, but don’t expect significant workloads for them either. The Ravens could be in for a difficult afternoon against the Steelers’ talented pass defense, which ranks seventh in DVOA and ninth in pressures per dropback. Pittsburgh blitzes frequently and features two of the league’s best edge rushers in T.J. Watt (17 sacks, 34 quarterback hits, eight passes defended) and Alex Highsmith (seven sacks, 18 quarterback hits). Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward is usually in the same class but has struggled with a groin injury that sidelined him for six games. Rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has flashed considerable potential and made his lone interception in the Steelers’ Oct. 8 win over the Ravens. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, normally the top playmaker in Pittsburgh’s secondary, is working through a knee injury and was limited in practice Wednesday. EDGE: Steelers Steelers passing game vs. Ravens pass defense The Steelers have sprung to life over the last two weeks with Mason Rudolph at quarterback and his positional coach, Mike Sullivan, calling the plays. Rudolph began the season third on the depth chart behind Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky, but Pittsburgh has scored more than 30 points in both of his starts after failing to reach even 20 in the previous five games. He has completed 68.5% of his passes with no interceptions, and the team’s most dynamic receiver, George Pickens, has exploded for 326 yards over the past two games. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson and tight end Pat Freiermuth, neither of whom played against the Ravens in October, are also back in the mix as significant targets. Starting tackles Broderick Jones and Dan Moore Jr. don’t grade as good pass blockers, according to Pro Football Focus, but the Steelers have allowed just 33 sacks this season. They will take on a Ravens defense that ranks No. 1 in DVOA against the pass after holding Miami’s fast-paced aerial attack in check. They did it largely without starting cornerbacks Brandon Stephens and Marlon Humphrey and without do-it-all safety Kyle Hamilton. Expect those three to play little, if at all, against the Steelers, meaning cornerbacks Rock Ya-Sin, Ronald Darby and Arthur Maulet will again have to step up. Coordinator Mike Macdonald eschewed blitzes and trickery at the line of scrimmage in a successful second half against Miami, and it will be interesting to see if he goes vanilla against the Steelers given the low stakes. The Ravens lead the league in sacks, and veterans Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy are shooting to reach double digits, but they, along with top interior pass rusher Justin Madubuike, could rest more than usual. EDGE: Ravens Ravens running game vs. Steelers run defense Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | John Harbaugh on the play of Lamar and his plans for the national championship game | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Madubuike on the final week of the regular season | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | After parents’ viral reaction, Ravens coach John Harbaugh will attend national title game to support Michigan and brother Jim Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about coaching staff, playoff matchups and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens send AFC-leading 7 players to Pro Bowl, including Lamar Jackson, 4 first-time selections The Ravens lead the league in rushing and added 160 yards on 32 attempts against the Dolphins despite missing speedy rookie Keaton Mitchell, who’s out for the season. They will probably look quite different against the Steelers without Jackson drawing defensive attention and with top running backs Gus Edwards and Justice Hill seeing limited work. It could be a big day for veteran Melvin Gordon III, who bided his time on the practice squad most of the season but churned for a 7-yard score when he got in against Miami. The Ravens could also call up Owen Wright to take some carries. They’ll take on a decent Pittsburgh run defense that has allowed 4.3 yards per carry but has held opponents under 100 yards three of the past four weeks. The Steelers’ top tackler, linebacker Elandon Roberts, is dealing with a pectoral injury that limited him in practice Wednesday. Watt and Highsmith are excellent run defenders on the edges, while Heyward is still sturdy in the middle. EDGE: Even Steelers running game vs. Ravens run defense Pittsburgh continues to split carries between Jaylen Warren, who averages 5.4 yards per attempt, and Najee Harris, who’s coming off his best game of the season in Seattle. The pair combined for 197 yards on 40 carries against the Seahawks, though Harris did not practice Wednesday because of a knee injury. The Steelers weren’t a dynamic running team early in the season but have ground out at least 150 yards in five of their past nine games. They will test a Ravens defense that has often conceded running room this season by going with lighter boxes. Miami’s De’Von Achane attacked them on the edge with 107 yards on 14 carries, knocking Macdonald’s defense down to 27th in yards per attempt allowed. Linebacker Roquan Smith is nursing a pectoral injury while his partner, Patrick Queen, aggravated a shoulder injury against the Dolphins, so the Ravens might rest their top two tacklers, though Queen said he plans to play. Malik Harrison, one of the team’s top edge setters, did not practice Wednesday because of a groin injury. EDGE: Steelers The Ravens will have the edge in special teams for Saturday’s game against the Steelers, thanks in part of Justin Tucker, left. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ravens special teams vs. Steelers special teams The Ravens have vaulted all the way to No. 2 in special teams DVOA thanks to a return game that has only grown more dynamic with Tylan Wallace fielding punts and Hill taking kickoffs. Hill’s 78-yard kickoff return to start the second half helped bury the Dolphins. Justin Tucker has made 31 of 36 field goal attempts, though coach John Harbaugh chose to go for it on fourth-and-7 rather than ask Tucker to kick from beyond 50 yards into the wind against Miami. The Steelers rank 18th in special teams, with kicker Chris Boswell’s excellent work (28 of 30 on field goal attempts, including 6 of 7 from 50 yards and beyond) mitigating below-average performance on punt coverage and punt returns. EDGE: Ravens Ravens intangibles vs. Steelers intangibles Steelers coach Mike Tomlin faced unusually bitter criticism this year for sticking with offensive coordinator Matt Canada until late November, but he has his team in position to steal another playoff berth with a win over the Ravens and a bit of help. Like Harbaugh, Tomlin never seems to lose his grip on a season, and his team will certainly be motivated to keep its postseason chances alive. Pittsburgh has won six of its past seven against the Ravens, none by more than a touchdown and many of them with late rallies. The Ravens could not be riding higher coming off demolitions of the Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers, but they earned the right to rest Jackson and their many banged-up starters in a game they have little incentive to win. EDGE: Steelers Prediction The Ravens would be favored by at least a touchdown if they needed to win this game, but they don’t, and the Steelers will be fired up to keep their season alive. Rudolph has given their offense a jolt, and they’ll move the ball against the Baltimore reserves. The Ravens will keep it close — is it ever not when these teams play? — but won’t sacrifice the greater good to chase victory. Steelers 20, Ravens 19 View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, safety Kyle Hamilton, inside linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, center Tyler Linderbaum and kicker Justin Tucker were named to the AFC’s Pro Bowl roster Wednesday night. Hamilton, Smith, and Tucker were named starters in the Feb. 4 event in Orlando, Florida, the weekend before the Super Bowl in Las Vegas, which will consist of a flag football game and skills competition. Only the San Francisco 49ers (nine) had more players selected than the Ravens, who have the NFL’s best record and locked up the top seed in the AFC with Sunday’s blowout of the Miami Dolphins. The Dallas Cowboys also had seven players chosen. This marks the third time Jackson has been selected after also being chosen in 2019 and 2021. It also figures to be the first of several awards for the 26-year-old quarterback, who is the favorite to be named NFL Most Valuable Player for a second time after being the unanimous choice in 2019. Jackson, who won’t play in Saturday’s regular season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, threw for a career-high 3,678 yards along with 24 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in 16 games. He also completed a career-best 67.2% of his passes and rushed for 821 yards and five scores. Sunday, he torched the Dolphins with 321 yards and five touchdowns on 18 of 21 passing to finish with a perfect passer rating (158.3) a week after throwing for 252 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-19 Christmas night romp over the 49ers. For Hamilton, it’s his first Pro Bowl selection. The second-year, do-it-all safety out of Notre Dame has 81 tackles, 13 passes defended, four interceptions (one of which he returned for a touchdown), three sacks and has been the linchpin to the league’s best defense with the Ravens leading the NFL in points allowed (16.4), sacks (57) and takeaways (29). “It’s kind of surreal,” Hamilton said in a statement. “I don’t think it has settled in yet. Honestly, growing up, watching the Pro Bowl every year, it’s cool to have the opportunity to play in it. Obviously, we want to be playing in the Super Bowl.” It is also the first Pro Bowl selection for Madubuike, who has had a breakout year in his fourth season. The 26-year-old, who is in the final year of his rookie contract with Baltimore, has career highs in sacks (13), quarterback hits (32) and pressures (33). Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | John Harbaugh on the play of Lamar and his plans for the national championship game | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Justin Madubuike on the final week of the regular season | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | After parents’ viral reaction, Ravens coach John Harbaugh will attend national title game to support Michigan and brother Jim Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about coaching staff, playoff matchups and more | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers scouting report for Week 18: Who has the edge? Queen was likewise a first-time selection. His 125 tackles are a career-high and he matched a career high with six passes defensed while adding 3 1/2 sacks, nine tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. “The way we play, I think everyone on our defense should have made it, honestly,” Queen said. “The guys that didn’t make it, it’s a shoutout to them for how much time and effort and dedication that goes into us playing well as a unit. You could easily fall off at any point, and for our team to just be steady, be on the uphill climb and prove themselves every day, it means a lot for everyone.” For Smith, it’s his second straight Pro Bowl selection. A two-time All Pro, he has the fifth-most tackles in the NFL this season with 158 along with one interception, which he snagged with one hand against the Dolphins. His 39 consecutive games with at least five tackles also marks the NFL’s longest active streak. On offense, Linderbaum joins Hamilton in his making the Pro Bowl in his second year in the league. He also anchored a line that helped produce the conference’s second-best offense in yards (379.5) and points (29.6) per game. Baltimore also averages the AFC’s second-most yards per play (6) and third-most explosive plays (122) and allowed the group’s fewest plays of zero or negative yards, including incompletions (289). Linderbaum is one of five AFC centers with at least 800 snaps with fewer than four penalties this season. Tucker, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, has converted on 31 of 36 field goal attempts so far and has missed just one kick inside 50 yards. His 143 total points are second-most in the NFL this season and it’s his seventh selection after also being chosen in 2013, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. View the full article

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Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will not play in Saturday’s regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers as coach John Harbaugh aims to keep his franchise player heathy going into the divisional round of the playoffs. Backup Tyler Huntley will start, with Josh Johnson as his backup and Malik Cunningham also available to play. Harbaugh said Jackson will be inactive. “Just all things considered, it seems to be the right thing to do,” Harbaugh said. “I had conversations with Lamar and others and made the decision.” Jackson did not object. “I’m cool with it,” he said. “Me and coach talked about it. I felt like it was best suitable to sit me and stuff like that for this round.” He said he won’t feel any anguish watching his teammates try to eliminate the Steelers from playoff contention, because, “I believe ‘Snoop’ [Huntley] can get it done. I’ve got all the faith in my team.” The decision closed out Jackson’s regular season, which is expected to land him a second NFL Most Valuable Player award. He started the Ravens’ first 16 games, completing 66.7% of his passes for a career-high 3,678 yards, with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He leads all quarterbacks with 821 rushing yards. He finished with a flourish, leading back-to-back blowouts over the San Francisco 49ers and Dolphins to secure the AFC’s top seed. He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday after throwing five touchdown passes and recording a perfect passer rating against Miami. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens QB Lamar Jackson named AFC Offensive Player of Week after Dolphins blowout Baltimore Ravens | Odell Beckham Jr.’s impact on Ravens transcends his show-stopping catches: ‘His leadership has been outstanding’ Baltimore Ravens | NFL power rankings, Week 18: Ravens look Super Bowl bound after another dominant win Baltimore Ravens | Where to get tickets to the Ravens’ postseason kickoff Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh mum on whether QB Lamar Jackson, other notable starters will play vs. Steelers The Ravens (13-3) clinched a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the conference championship game with that 56-19 win over the Dolphins on Sunday. Pittsburgh (9-7), on the other hand, needs a win over Baltimore and some help to secure a playoff berth. The Steelers were four-point favorites as of Wednesday evening with the Ravens expected to rest several starters. In 2019, when Jackson became the second unanimous NFL MVP, he also sat out the regular-season finale against the Steelers with Baltimore having already clinched the AFC’s top seed. Huntley, who signed as an undrafted free agent out of Utah in 2020, is 3-5 as a starter in four seasons with the Ravens. He earned a Pro Bowl selection last season as an injury replacement after throwing for 658 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions and rushing for 137 yards in six games (four starts) during the regular season as Jackson sat out with a sprained PCL in his knee. With Jackson sidelined, Huntley also started the Ravens’ wild-card playoff game against the host Cincinnati Bengals. He nearly led a stunning upset before fumbling at the goal line on a quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter, and the ball was returned 98 yards for the decisive touchdown in a 24-17 loss. The decision on Jackson is the most obvious manifestation of a broader puzzle the Ravens are attempting to solve: How do they offer rest and recuperation time to key players who need it while maintaining their competitive edge ahead of their playoff opener on the third weekend in January? “We have a two-fold thought process right now,” Harbaugh said. Jackson said he will “keep my body moving around, just keep being locked in like we’ve been all season and treat it as a bye week.” Ravens vs. TexansKenneth K. Lam/Baltimore SunFrom left, Ravens quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley and Josh Johnson warm up before a game. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) He and his teammates believe they’ve succeeded by not looking past any opponent, and practice or even any individual play. They vowed to maintain that granular focus, even as some of them sit out or play less than usual against the Steelers. “Even though I’m not playing, our guys got the Steelers, so we’re going to focus on the Steelers, and then we’re going to focus on the following week,” Jackson said. Linebacker Patrick Queen said he plans to play, even though he’s nursing a shoulder injury, and made it clear he does not want to lose to the Steelers, who rallied to upset the Ravens in October. “I can use the rest, but at the same time, I do want to play — it’s Pittsburgh,” he said. “Those guys come out fierce, try to punch you in the mouth and stuff, so that’s my type of game. There ain’t going to be no tricks or disguises, any of that kind of stuff. They line up and say, ‘Can you stop us?’ That’s something you respect, and that’s why I am kind of excited to play.” He doesn’t see much value in looking past the Steelers to the playoffs. “I think if you look too much to the future, you kind of get overwhelmed by stuff,” he said. “You start focusing on the wrong things and not the right things. For me, it’s just, I’m in the moment right now.” The Ravens did not achieve the desired result in 2019, when they rested Jackson and other key players such as left tackle Ronnie Stanley and tight end Mark Andrews in the regular-season finale only to come out flat two weeks later in their 28-12 divisional round loss to the Tennessee Titans. The Ravens faced a similar scenario four years ago, against the same opponent no less. They had won 11 straight and had clinched home-field advantage and a first-round bye going into the final weekend of the regular season. They had little incentive to beat the Steelers, who still had a chance to make the playoffs with a victory. The Ravens, with Griffin starting at quarterback, continued their roll that day, overpowering Pittsburgh, 28-10, behind dominant defense and 223 rushing yards. Though Harbaugh was cautious, the snap counts from that game illustrate a point he reiterated this week: NFL teams can’t rest all their key players because they only have 48 spots to work with. “It’s a little bit overstated just because you just … it’s not like the preseason where you have a bunch of guys,” he said. In that 2019 finale, starting cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters played 98% and 94% of the team’s defensive snaps, respectively. On offense, linemen Orlando Brown Jr., Bradley Bozeman and Patrick Mekari played every snap, while starting wide receivers Willie Snead IV and Marquise Brown played more than half. Other than Jackson, the only player Harbaugh ruled out for Saturday’s game was defensive back Daryl Worley. He acknowledged he and his staff will need to be creative. “It’s like a puzzle except the puzzle pieces are constantly morphing into different shapes day by day,” he said, alluding to the injuries various starters, including safety Kyle Hamilton, cornerback Marlon Humphrey and right guard Kevin Zeitler, are dealing with. “The guys who are in the game are going to give everything they’ve got,” he said. Week 18 Steelers at Ravens Saturday, 4:30 p.m. TV: ABC, ESPN Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Steelers by 4 View the full article

Lamar Jackson “played a perfect football game in terms of the passing game,” as Ravens coach John Harbaugh put it Sunday after Baltimore’s 56-19 blowout of the Miami Dolphins to wrap up the top seed in the AFC. Jackson finished with a perfect passer rating of 158.3 after completing 18 of 21 passes for 321 yards and five touchdowns. It was the third time in his career he’s done so, and for the performance he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week, the NFL announced Wednesday. It is the second time this season Jackson has received the honor; the other came after he threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another in a Week 7 rout of the Detroit Lions. Jackson, who could sit in Saturday’s regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, is the favorite to win his second NFL Most Valuable Player Award. “He is a warrior, busting his tail day in and day out,” Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith said of Jackson’s performance against the Dolphins. “He came out here — we’re at ‘The Bank’ – [and] he knows we have to protect ‘The Bank’ by any means necessary, and he did just that. Look where we are; we go through him. So, I’m just proud to be on his team and not going against him.” With one game left in the regular season, Jackson has thrown for a career-high 3,678 yards along with 24 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. He has also completed a career-best 67.2% of his passes and rushed for 821 yards and five scores. This is the 10th time Jackson has been named AFC Offensive Player of the Week in his career, including five times in 2019 when he was the unanimous NFL MVP. View the full article

Perhaps Odell Beckham Jr. was simply inebriated on locker room euphoria after a 56-19 razing of the Miami Dolphins in which he delivered the most spectacular of plays in a game full of them. But at age 31 and already with one Super Bowl ring adorning his fingers, the Ravens wide receiver is as adept at seeing the big picture as he is at making a big catch. He was so sure of his words that he said them twice. “This is the best team I’ve ever been on in my entire life,” Beckham said through the glint of his iced-out diamond and gold-encrusted $1.8 million smile. “I had a crazy freshman [year] team in college [at LSU], but this is the best team I’ve been on in the NFL ever in my entire life.” In a literal sense, he’s not sensationalizing. At 13-3, Baltimore has the best record in the NFL, has locked up the top seed in the AFC and will get a first-round bye and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The first two teams of his career— the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns — never finished better than 11-5 during his tenure with them. The Los Angeles Rams, whom Beckham joined midway through the 2021 season after a tumultuous and unceremonious exit from Cleveland, finished the regular season 12-5, were the No. 4 seed in the playoffs and, of course, went on to win it all. Returning to the sport’s biggest stage is also why Beckham chose the Ravens (a one-year, $15 million deal didn’t hurt, either) when he signed in early April. A week later, he had a dream, he said, as he sat down with The Baltimore Sun for an interview. He is ambiguous on the details, preferring to see it come to fruition before sharing specifics, but said the vision was powerful enough that he made a note on his phone on April 15 and sent it to coach John Harbaugh, quarterback Lamar Jackson and tight end Mark Andrews. “I don’t really have dreams unless I’m seeing something,” Beckham told The Sun. “This is the best chance I’ve had [to win the Super Bowl] besides when I was with the Rams. “Something called me to this. And this isn’t even exactly where my heart desired to be — AFC North, I had already been in this division, I know what the Ravens are about, it wasn’t the most desiring place.” It almost didn’t happen, either. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | NFL power rankings, Week 18: Ravens look Super Bowl bound after another dominant win Baltimore Ravens | Where to get tickets to the Ravens’ postseason kickoff Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh mum on whether QB Lamar Jackson, other notable starters will play vs. Steelers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Roquan Smith: ‘I’m just proud to be on his team’ | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 56-19 win over Dolphins | VIDEO The day before Beckham announced on Instagram that he was signing with the Ravens, he was planning to fly to New Jersey to sign with the New York Jets if all went well. Their new quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, had expressed an interest in playing with the transcendent star, and the two sides had an informal meeting at the NFL’s owners meetings in Phoenix two weeks before. His addition alongside second-year star Garrett Wilson, veteran Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman Jr. would give New York a splashy and drool-worthy wide receiver group. But Beckham said he was “led to” the right place by instead getting on a plane to Baltimore, whose offer was also reportedly higher than the incentive-laden deal the Jets had discussed. Yet, the Ravens didn’t know how well the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year could even run. Beckham didn’t either. Asked to describe just how relatively bad his twice surgically repaired knee was 14 months after he injured it in the Super Bowl, he told The Sun, “it was terrible.” “When I did my ACL the first time, I trained for 14 months,” he said. “You get hurt, you train all the way up to the Super Bowl … it was the longest season I’ve ever had. [Then] you get hurt two quarters away from [the end of the game], you come back, you train for another 18, 19, 20 months, whatever it was, that’s a long time of training with no break. To then hit a full NFL season, my body went through some things where I wasn’t able to be myself and I had to work behind the scenes to get back to being where I’m at now. “I’ve played for a long time. This body has a lot of miles on it.” Specifically, Beckham suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 in Cincinnati against the Bengals and missed the next two games. Sunday against the Dolphins, Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had just one catch, but it was a sensational, twisting, over-the-shoulder 33-yard sideline grab in which he contorted around a defender and managed to get both feet in bounds before tumbling to the turf at the 1-yard line to set up a touchdown for Gus Edwards. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) When he returned, he often looked like an aging player on his last legs. His hands were as trustworthy as ever, but he didn’t have the same burst, quickness and separation that he had before the second torn ACL, and the ankle issue only compounded it. In Week 7 against the Detroit Lions, he had five catches for 49 yards but had still yet to find the end zone. Through his first six games, Beckham had just 14 catches for 162 yards, which included zero against the Cardinals (though he did draw three flags against Arizona’s defense). In Week 9 at home against the Seattle Seahawks, he managed five catches for 56 yards and a touchdown, but it came on the back end of a 38-6 blowout. Then, finally, it happened. On Nov. 12 against his old team, the Browns, Beckham caught a short slant, hit the turbo button and left Cleveland defenders in his wake for a 40-yard touchdown. A week later, in a Thursday night showdown against the Bengals, he scorched Cincinnati’s secondary for 116 yards on four catches, including a 51-yard bomb. And last month against one of his other former teams, the Rams, he had four catches for 97 yards, including one that covered 46 of them. Sunday against the Dolphins, Beckham had just one catch, but it was a sensational, twisting, over-the-shoulder 33-yard sideline grab in which he contorted around a defender and managed to get both feet in bounds before tumbling to the turf at the 1-yard line to set up a touchdown for Gus Edwards. Beckham said it was just a normal catch for him, but it also served as a reminder of the kind of play Harbaugh and general manager Eric DeCosta hoped for but didn’t know they would get when they first brought him to Baltimore — to make big plays in big games. “When I’m at the point of my career that I’m at, would I like to have a 1,000-yard season? Of course. Would I like to have XYZ touchdowns? Of course,” he told The Sun. “But at the end of the day, you’re going to be remembered for the moments you had, playoffs and these big-time games. “This is what legacy is. This is what I’ve preached since I was 18; it was about legacy, it wasn’t about ‘I wanna be famous.’ With legacy plays came some other things for me, but my stats say 0-0-0 at this point. It’s just about what can you do now.” Beyond some big moments on the field, Beckham has bestowed his wisdom and set the tone. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, celebrates a touchdown pass to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., center, with tight end Isaiah Likely during a game against the Rams on Dec. 10. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) His locker is next to Zay Flowers, who said that Beckham has helped guide him through the rigors of NFL life, a benefit that’s helped him accumulate the fourth most yards (858) and catches (77) among rookie receivers along with five touchdowns. Inside linebacker Patrick Queen, meanwhile, has referred to him as a “big brother.” And while the Baltimore locker room is bursting with big personalities, no one sets the vibe and mood quite the way Beckham does, from corn hole games to dance moves to imparting the know-how to get where the rest of his teammates want to go. “The leadership part is really good; his leadership has been outstanding,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a real relational-type leader. He’s been there, he’s done that. He’s been in these big games. He’s had great success. He knows what it takes, so I do think he’s with the guys, and he encourages guys really well. He’s [a] really encouraging kind of leader. “The other part of it, though, is his ability to make plays. To me, he’s a major factor out there. People, they’re giving him attention. They’re making sure they cover him, and he’s coming up with the ball. He’s a guy that can break out and have 10 catches at any time in a game, or he has the one [catch] that makes a huge difference in the game that’s really kind of one of those great Odell Beckham-type of catches. I mean, wow. He’s a factor, a big factor.” Beckham says he prefers to let others talk about his impact, but there’s no shortage of confidence and self-awareness from him when it comes to his role with the team. Quite the opposite. “I know what I bring energy-wise, I know what I bring leader-wise,” he said. “Everyone looks at he gets paid this much; there’s so much other [stuff] that people don’t see. “People who are outside the locker room who create a narrative, they would be like, ‘diva this or that.’ They use these words, but they don’t know you on a day-to-day basis.” What Beckham knows, though, is what he dreamt shortly after signing with Baltimore, and he was willing to share at least some of it. “I seen colors, black and white and purple, and I seen a very dark stadium,” he said. “I remember running around the field saying something something two-time world champions.” Week 18 Steelers at Ravens Saturday, 4:30 p.m. TV: ABC, ESPN Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Steelers by 3 1/2 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 Super Bowl contenders. Here are the rankings heading into Week 18: 1. Ravens (13-3, No. 1) Last week: Win vs. Dolphins, 56-19 Up next: vs. Steelers The Ravens put an exclamation point on a brilliant regular season, dismantling one of the league’s best teams to secure the top seed in the AFC. Lamar Jackson likely wrapped up his second NFL Most Valuable Player Award with five touchdown passes and a perfect 158.3 passer rating, showing he’s more than ready to finally make a deep postseason run. Without starters Kyle Hamilton and Brandon Stephens, the defense held strong, even after cornerback Marlon Humphrey went down early with a calf injury. Justice Hill, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar and Patrick Ricard combined for four touchdowns. This might not be the most talented roster in the league, but it’s tough, fundamentally sound and boasts perhaps the league’s best player at quarterback. It’s Super Bowl or bust. 2. San Francisco 49ers (12-4, No. 2) Last week: Win vs. Commanders, 27-10 Up next: vs. Rams The schedule makers were kind to the 49ers, who followed a tough Christmas night game against the Ravens with a trip to Landover. A calf injury to star running back Christian McCaffrey that will keep him out in Week 18 is the most notable takeaway from Sunday’s win, as Brock Purdy bounced back from the worst start of his NFL career and the defense feasted against rookie quarterback Sam Howell to wrap up the NFC’s top seed. 3. Buffalo Bills (10-6, No. 6) Last week: Win vs. Patriots, 27-21 Up next: at Dolphins Thanks to two interceptions from midseason acquisition Rasul Douglas, including one he returned for a touchdown, and two touchdown runs from Josh Allen, the Bills were able to survive an ugly game in New England to strengthen their playoff position. Buffalo can win the AFC East with a victory over Miami on Sunday night and clinch a home playoff game, though there’s still a chance it falls short of the postseason with a loss. That would be a heartbreaking result for a team on such a hot streak. 4. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6, No. 7) Last week: Win vs. Bengals, 25-17 Up next: at Chargers A frustrating season was not enough to derail the Chiefs’ grip on the AFC West, as they won their eighth straight division title. Kansas City needed six field goals from Harrison Butker to do it, but a win over a conference rival fighting for its playoff life never comes easy. It’s hard to buy into the Chiefs as title contenders given all the dropped passes (an NFL-leading 40 this season), but it would be foolish to write off Patrick Mahomes when he’s supported by strong defense and special teams. 5. Dallas Cowboys (11-5, No. 9) Last week: Win vs. Lions, 20-19 Up next: at Commanders The Cowboys narrowly avoided a third straight loss thanks to some help from the officials, who overturned a 2-point pass that would have given the Lions the lead with 23 seconds left. And who knows, maybe Brandon Aubrey (now a perfect 35-for-35) would have kicked a game-winning field goal anyway. Dallas was in control for most of the game thanks to Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, who set the Cowboys’ single-season receiving yards record with a monster 13-catch, 227-yard performance. Browns quarterback Joe Flacco celebrates after a first down against the Jets on Thursday. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) 6. Cleveland Browns (11-5, No. 8) Last week: Win vs. Jets, 37-20 Up next: at Bengals Could Joe Flacco and the Browns be the biggest threat to the Ravens in the AFC? It certainly feels like it with the way the 38-year-old quarterback is playing right now. Cleveland’s elite defense kept the team afloat despite some of the league’s worst quarterback play, but now Flacco is giving the offense some life, throwing three more touchdown passes in Thursday night’s win. Injuries to wide receivers Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore loom large heading into the postseason. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Odell Beckham Jr.’s impact on Ravens transcends his show-stopping catches: ‘His leadership has been outstanding’ Baltimore Ravens | Where to get tickets to the Ravens’ postseason kickoff Baltimore Ravens | Ravens coach John Harbaugh mum on whether QB Lamar Jackson, other notable starters will play vs. Steelers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Roquan Smith: ‘I’m just proud to be on his team’ | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 56-19 win over Dolphins | VIDEO 7. Detroit Lions (11-5, No. 4) Last week: Loss vs. Cowboys, 20-19 Up next: vs. Vikings The officiating controversy Saturday night cost the Lions a chance to win the NFC’s top seed, but that shouldn’t overshadow a gritty performance on the road in Dallas, which still hasn’t lost at home this season. For Detroit to come so close to winning despite two interceptions from Jared Goff and a mediocre showing on defense speaks volumes about its resolve. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and a healthy Jameson Williams will be tough to defend in the postseason. 8. Miami Dolphins (11-5, No. 3) Last week: Loss vs. Ravens, 56-19 Up next: vs. Bills Just about everything that could go wrong Sunday did. Miami was completely outmatched by the Ravens after scoring on its opening drive and later lost cornerback Xavien Howard (foot) and pass rusher Bradley Chubb (torn ACL) to injuries. The Dolphins suddenly face the possibility of playing on the road during wild-card weekend after entering Sunday with a chance to win the No. 1 seed, showing how quickly fortunes can change in this league. 9. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, No. 5) Last week: Loss vs. Cardinals, 35-31 Up next: at Giants What happened to the Eagles? After blowing a 21-6 halftime lead against the lowly Cardinals, the defending NFC champions have lost four of their past five games. Coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts both pointed to the postseason as an opportunity to turn things around, but Philly could be headed for a quick exit if it continues to struggle on both sides of the ball. 10. Los Angeles Rams (9-7, No. 10) Last week: Win vs. Giants, 26-25 Up next: at 49ers The Rams were fortunate to escape with a victory and a playoff berth Sunday after turning the ball over three times and giving up a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but coach Sean McVay said sometimes you need those types of games. Matthew Stafford looked sharp despite throwing two interceptions and Kyren Williams continued his breakout season with three touchdowns, creating plenty of optimism for an offense that seems to be peaking at the right time. Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph celebrates after Sunday’s win over the Seahawks. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) 11. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, No. 13) Last week: Win vs. Seahawks, 30-23 Up next: at Ravens Hindsight is 20/20, but you have to wonder where the Steelers would be if they had turned to third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph sooner. He has provided a spark and developed an instant connection with receiver George Pickens, helping the offense turn the corner at a crucial time. The Steelers enter Saturday’s game in Baltimore with a 28% chance to make the playoffs, according to The New York Times’ simulator, a remarkable achievement considering how dire things looked just a few weeks ago. 12. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7, No. 14) Last week: Win vs. Panthers, 26-0 Up next: at Titans A get-right game against the league’s worst team couldn’t have come at a better time, as Jacksonville ended a four-game losing streak and gained some confidence heading into a pivotal Week 18. If the Jags beat the Titans, they win the AFC South and will host a wild-card game for the second straight season. Giving injured quarterback Trevor Lawrence a week to rest should help him reset after a rash of turnovers. 13. Houston Texans (9-7, No. 15) Last week: Win vs. Titans, 26-3 Up next: at Colts The Texans’ draft sure looks good now, as C.J. Stroud threw for 213 yards and a touchdown in his return from a concussion and Will Anderson Jr. recorded two sacks to set the franchise rookie single-season record with seven. Houston enters the final week of the regular season with a chance to win the division and make the playoffs, a fantastic outcome for a young team with a first-year coach. 14. Indianapolis Colts (9-7, No. 17) Last week: Win vs. Raiders, 23-20 Up next: vs. Texans Jonathan Taylor delivered at a crucial time, rushing for a season-high 96 yards and a touchdown Sunday to help the Colts hang on. Indianapolis can win its first division title since 2014 with a win against Houston and a Jacksonville loss to Tennessee, which would be a stunning outcome considering it lost rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson early in the season and has been without Taylor for most of the season. 15. Green Bay Packers (8-8, No. 19) Last week: Win vs. Vikings, 33-10 Up next: vs. Bears It has been rocky at times, but Jordan Love is starting to look like the quarterback the Packers envisioned as Aaron Rodgers’ successor. He went 24-for-33 for 256 yards and three touchdowns and even ran for a score Sunday night to set up a defacto playoff game against the Bears after starting the season 2-5. 16. Seattle Seahawks (8-8, No. 12) Last week: Loss vs. Steelers, 30-23 Up next: at Cardinals The Seahawks’ defense let them down again, allowing 202 rushing yards and 468 total yards against an offense that has been tough to watch for most of the season. It’s the sixth straight game Seattle has allowed at least 135 rushing yards. The Seahawks enter Week 18 with a 21% chance to make the playoffs, according to The New York Times’ simulator, disappointing odds for a team that looked at times like a potential NFC title contender. 17. New Orleans Saints (8-8, No. 21) Last week: Win vs. Buccaneers, 23-13 Up next: vs. Falcons It might be too little, too late, but the Saints showed plenty of fight Sunday to deny Tampa Bay a chance to wrap up the division title. Derek Carr has played well in three straight games after a disappointing midseason stretch, though running back Alvin Kamara’s ankle injury looms large entering a must-win regular-season finale. 18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8, No. 11) Last week: Loss vs. Saints, 23-13 Up next: at Panthers Running back Rachaad White said the Bucs played with “no juice, no energy” Sunday, which is hard to believe considering a third straight division title was there for the taking. Tampa Bay can still clinch first place with a win over the lowly Panthers, but it can’t afford to come out flat with so much on the line. 19. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8, No. 16) Last week: Loss vs. Chiefs, 25-17 Up next: vs. Browns The Bengals deserve credit for hanging in the playoff race as long as they did after Joe Burrow’s season-ending wrist injury in November, but there are a lot of lingering questions heading into the offseason. How Cincinnati retools on defense under coordinator Lou Anarumo — if he doesn’t get a head coaching job — is one of the biggest after allowing the most plays of 20 yards or more in the league. Bears quarterback Justin Fields runs for a touchdown against the Falcons on Sunday. (AP Photo/David Banks) 20. Chicago Bears (7-9, No. 24) Last week: Win vs. Falcons, 37-17 Up next: at Packers The Bears and general manager Ryan Poles once again control the draft after clinching the top pick Sunday thanks to the Panthers’ 14th loss. While picking a quarterback often felt like a no-brainer, Justin Fields has played well enough to keep his job, giving Chicago the option to trade down for the second year in a row and continue to build the roster around him. 21. Denver Broncos (8-8, No. 23) Last week: Win vs. Chargers, 16-9 Up next: at Raiders With the Broncos and Russell Wilson likely headed for a split this offseason after he was benched Sunday for Jarrett Stidham, Denver becomes one of the league’s most fascinating teams. Just how far will coach Sean Payton go to retool this roster, and who will be playing quarterback in 2024? Stidham did not impress against a bad Chargers defense, though he gets another chance to prove himself against the Raiders. 22. Las Vegas Raiders (7-9, No. 18) Last week: Loss vs. Colts, 23-20 Up next: vs. Broncos Two late defensive penalties against the Colts ultimately cost the Raiders a chance to extend their season. It also might have cost interim coach Antonio Pierce a chance to secure the full-time job. A new quarterback and coach — maybe Jim Harbaugh? — seem likely to usher in a new era after Josh McDaniels and Jimmy Garoppolo failed to meet expectations. 23. Atlanta Falcons (7-9, No. 20) Last week: Loss vs. Bears, 37-17 Up next: at Saints Does Arthur Smith deserve a chance to coach this team again next season? As exciting and innovative as his offense has looked at times, it has often failed to execute in critical moments despite having some of the best young talent in the league. Perhaps a better quarterback will make everything click, but that’s putting a lot of faith in a team that has been wildly inconsistent under Smith’s leadership. 24. Minnesota Vikings (7-9, No. 22) Last week: Loss vs. Packers, 33-10 Up next: at Lions With rookie quarterback Jaren Hall struggling and the defense missing several key starters, the Vikings did not stand much of a chance Sunday night. Injured quarterback Kirk Cousins, who ripped off his shirt and led the home crowd in a pregame chant, remains Minnesota’s best hope to turn things around in 2024. 25. Arizona Cardinals (4-12, No. 31) Last week: Win vs. Eagles, 35-31 Up next: vs. Seahawks It sure feels like the Cardinals will stick with Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback next season after his standout performance in Sunday’s upset win. Just over a year removed from a torn ACL, he completed 25 of 31 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns as Arizona outscored Philadelphia 29-10 in the second half. With two first-round draft picks and plenty of cap space, the Cardinals could return a much better team in 2024. 26. New York Jets (6-10, No. 25) Last week: Loss vs. Browns, 37-20 Up next: at Patriots The best thing you can say about this Jets season is that it’s almost over. Even the defense, considered the strength of the team, has looked vulnerable down the stretch, allowing 28 or more points in five of the past seven games. There’s plenty of blame to go around, but that’s a disappointing way to end the year. 27. New York Giants (5-11, No. 27) Last week: Loss vs. Rams, 26-25 Up next: vs. Eagles Tyrod Taylor’s missed throw to a wide-open Saquon Barkley on what should have been the go-ahead 2-point conversion in the final minutes Sunday is a microcosm of the entire season. The Giants have had their chances, but poor execution has often sunk the team in big moments. Give credit to coach Brian Daboll for keeping his team competitive heading into an important offseason that could push New York closer to the top of the NFC East. 28. Tennessee Titans (5-11, No. 26) Last week: Loss vs. Texans, 26-3 Up next: vs. Jaguars It will be an interesting offseason in Tennessee, and that’s assuming coach Mike Vrabel doesn’t leave for another job. The Titans are projected to have the second-most salary cap space in the league after an expected exodus of free agents, including Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill, and will likely have a top-10 pick in the draft. How aggressive they are in building around quarterback Will Levis is the biggest question. 29. New England Patriots (4-12, No. 28) Last week: Loss vs. Bills, 27-21 Up next: vs. Jets It’s still strange to see a team coached by Bill Belichick look so sloppy. With four more turnovers Sunday, including three interceptions by quarterback Bailey Zappe, the Patriots are poised to finish with a negative turnover differential (minus-10 entering Week 18) for the first time since the 2005 season. At least the outlook for 2024 is bright, especially if New England hits on a rookie quarterback. 30. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11, No. 29) Last week: Loss vs. Broncos, 16-9 Up next: vs. Chiefs The Chargers have big decisions looming this offseason in hiring a new coach and general manager, and that extends to the players on the field, too. After missing time with injuries again this season, defensive end Joey Bosa and wide receiver Keenan Allen could both be cut to clear cap space. It doesn’t seem like running back Austin Ekeler will be back either. Next season’s team could look remarkably different. 31. Washington Commanders (4-12, No. 30) Last week: Loss vs. 49ers, 27-10 Up next: vs. Cowboys With the Commanders climbing the draft board and Sam Howell looking shaky again in the second half Sunday after hastily being reinserted into the starting lineup, we’ll likely see a new quarterback in Washington next season. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin’s comments about wanting to build a culture similar to what he enjoyed at Ohio State and saw across the sideline with San Francisco resonate for a franchise that finally has an opportunity to completely overhaul its approach to building a winning team. 32. Carolina Panthers (2-14, No. 32) Last week: Loss vs. Jaguars, 26-0 Up next: vs. Buccaneers It’s hard enough to rebuild a team through the draft and even harder when top picks don’t work out. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu has allowed a league-leading 18 sacks this season after being drafted sixth overall in 2022, wide receiver Jonathan Mingo has not lived up to high expectations and quarterback Bryce Young looks incapable of rising above a weak supporting cast. One of the team’s few bright spots, defensive end Brian Burns, is heading for unrestricted free agency. Owner David Tepper is throwing drinks at rival fans. Oh, and Carolina’s No. 1 overall pick is heading to Chicago. There’s no guarantee 2024 is going to be any better. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson congratulates Charlie Kolar on the sidelines after he scored in the 4th quarter. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Miami Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium.(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens Patrick Ricard and quarterback Lamar Jackson celebrate a 4th quarter touchdown as the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Miami Dolphins 56-19 on New Yearxe2x80x99s Eve at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravensxe2x80x99 Patrick Ricard, right, catches a 4-yards touchdown pass against the Dolphins in the fourth quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens Patrick Ricard takes a selfie with fans following the Baltimore Ravens 56-19 win over the Miami Dolphins on New Yearxe2x80x99s Eve at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Ravens fan Keon Fisher holds up a stadium edition of the Baltimore Sun following the Baltimore Ravens 56-19 win over the Miami Dolphins on New Yearxe2x80x99s Eve at M&T Bank Stadium. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Ravens defenders celebrate in the end zone following an interception by Ravens Geno Stone in the 3rd quarter. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Miami Dolphins 56-19 on at M&T Bank Stadium.(Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers scores a 75-yards touchdown against the Dolphins in the second quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers scores a 75-yards touchdown in front of Dolphinsxe2x80x99 DeShon Elliott in the second quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Ravensxe2x80x99 Ronald Darby, left, upends Dolphinsxe2x80x99 Jeff Wilson after a catch in the second quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Ravensxe2x80x99 Patrick Queen, top, wrestles the ball away from Dolphinsxe2x80x99 Jeff Wilson for an incomplete pass in the second quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) 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 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 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 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) 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) Ravensxe2x80x99 Trenton Simpson, right, runs back a Dolphins fumble in the fourth quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Ravensxe2x80x99 Trenton Simpson picks up a Dolphins fumble in the fourth quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Ravens Melvin Gordon III, top, dives into the end zone over Dolphinsxe2x80x99 DeShon Elliott for a touchdown n the fourth quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, runs against Dolphinsxe2x80x99 David Long, right, in the fourth quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens Odafe Oweh sacks Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the 4th quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Ravensxe2x80x99 Justice Hill runs for 41-yards against the Dolphins in the fourth quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens Melvin Gordon III runs for a gain in the 4th quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens Melvin Gordon III pushes through for a gain in the 4th quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens Melvin Gordon III pushes through for a gain in the 4th quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Ravensxe2x80x99 Justice Hill, left, catches and runs for 23-yards against Dolphinsxe2x80x99 Duke Riley in the third quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens Melvin Gordon III pushes through for a gain in the 4th quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa slides into a bunch of Ravens in the 4th quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa slides into a bunch of Ravens in the 4th quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Dolphinsxe2x80x99 Zach Sieler, top, strips the ball from Ravens running back Gus Edwards for a fumble in the third quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker adds the point after try to the board as outside linebacker Tavius Robinson and Miami Dolphins defensive back Elijah Campbell watch during the fourth quarter of an AFC matchup of NFL football in Baltimore. The Ravens became the AFC North champions, securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs with their 56-19 drubbing of Miami. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards looks for a hole as he picks up yardage in the 4th quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Ravensxe2x80x99 Justin Madubuike , top, sacks Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens Odafe Oweh, left, and Justin Madubuike celebrate after sacking Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the 4th quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, left, catches a 25-yards pass for a first down against Dolphinsxe2x80x99 DeShon Elliott in the first quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce drags down Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa who throws the ball away to avoid being sacked during the second quarter of an AFC matchup of NFL football in Baltimore. The Ravens became the AFC North champions, securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs with their 56-19 drubbing of Miami. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) Baltimore Ravens Justice Hill breaks free for a 41-yard run in the 4th quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19. (Jerry Jackson/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman catches a deep pass from Lamar Jackson before dropping the ball against the ground in the first quarter. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 56-19 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff photo) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Ronald Darby upends Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. during the second quarter of an AFC matchup of NFL football in Baltimore. The Ravens became the AFC North champions, securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs with their 56-19 drubbing of Miami. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce reacts after stopping Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (28) during the second quarter of an AFC matchup of NFL football in Baltimore. The Ravens became the AFC North champions, securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs with their 56-19 drubbing of Miami. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Dolphins during the second quarter Sunday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith ruturns an interception between 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. The Ravens became the AFC North champions, securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs with their 56-19 drubbing of Miami. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) Show Caption of Expand View the full article

By nabbing the AFC’s No. 1 seed on Sunday, the Ravens have won themselves a bye week and earned Baltimore the home-field advantage for the postseason up to the Super Bowl. That means M&T Bank Stadium will hold the team’s divisional round playoff game later this month, on either Jan. 20 or 21, after Baltimore takes a week off for the wild card round. Tickets to the game will go on sale to the public Friday at 10 a.m. at baltimoreravens.com/playofftickets. The tickets will be on sale ahead of the Ravens’ regular season finale against the Steelers on Saturday. Although the afternoon game at M&T Bank Stadium won’t ultimately impact the Ravens’ postseason positioning, Baltimore’s rival team could increase their odds of making the playoffs with a win. Ravens coach John Harbaugh has not yet said if notable starters, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, will be playing the 4:30 p.m. finale. Those who already purchased wild card tickets for the Ravens will get pre-sale access to tickets for the divisional matchup. The public sale date for tickets to the Jan. 28 AFC Championship has not yet been announced. The NFL determines kickoff times for each postseason matchup after the previous week’s games end. The Ravens clinched the AFC North title and the conference’s top seed Sunday with a 56-19 win over the Dolphins in Baltimore. The success, combined with the Orioles entering the playoffs in October at the top of the MLB’s American League, is a first for Baltimore. View the full article

The similarities to 2019 are extraordinary if not eerie. Just like four years ago with one week remaining in the regular season, the Ravens are AFC North champs, have locked up the top seed in the AFC and will get a first-round bye and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is also almost certain to be the NFL’s Most Valuable Player again. And just like four years ago, they’ll play a Pittsburgh Steelers team that needs to win to keep their playoff hopes alive in what will be an otherwise meaningless contest to Baltimore in the final game of the regular season. Now it remains to be seen if the Ravens rest many of their starters — most notably Jackson — the same way they did back then. “I have not made a decision on any personnel yet,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “We gotta work through the injury part of it first, and it’ll take us 24 to 48 hours to get a real handle on that.” Among the notable players dealing with injuries are safety Kyle Hamilton (knee), cornerback Brandon Stephens (ankle) and right guard Kevin Zeitler (knee/quad), none of whom were active Sunday. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey also suffered a calf injury in the first quarter against Miami, while defensive back Daryl Worley later suffered a neck stinger. Neither returned to the game. Defensive tackle Michael Pierce (neck stinger) and inside linebacker Patrick Queen (shoulder) were also banged up during the blowout 56-19 win. Those injuries alone could mostly dictate who doesn’t play against the Steelers on Saturday, given there’s only so much wiggle room with the roster on game day. But the sting of what happened four years ago still lingers. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ Roquan Smith: ‘I’m just proud to be on his team’ | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 56-19 win over Dolphins | VIDEO Baltimore Ravens | Five things we learned from the Ravens’ 56-19 win over the Miami Dolphins Baltimore Ravens | Ravens to host Steelers at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in regular-season finale Baltimore Ravens | Ravens and Orioles win division titles in same year for first time in history In that Week 17 finale, Robert Griffin III started in place of Jackson, completed 11 of 21 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, and running back Gus Edwards rushed for 130 yards on 21 carries in a downpour as Baltimore pounded the Steelers, 28-10. Whatever enjoyment that was derived from dashing the dreams of a bitter division rival was short-lived, though. The Ravens laid an egg in a 28-12 divisional-round loss to the Tennessee Titans, as a rested but perhaps rusty Jackson threw two interceptions and fumbled once in the stunning home loss. In losing, Baltimore became the first No. 1 seed to fall to a six-seed since 2010 and just the sixth team since 1933 to win at least 14 games in a season but fail to win a postseason game. The stench of that memory is why Jackson hopes to avoid any complacency. “We have to finish this season the right way,” he said Sunday. “We have one obstacle. We finished that obstacle. We have [the] Steelers next week, so that’s how I’m staying focused this season. [I’m] just taking it one game at a time like I’ve been preaching to you guys all season.” The performance also raised questions about whether Harbaugh should not have rested many of his starters in the regular-season finale, giving them two weeks off between games. After dispatching the Dolphins on Sunday, that same question is again at the fore. But the scenario is also different this time. Ravens coach John Harbaugh, right, meets offensive coordinator Todd Monken after Sunday’s win over the Dolphins. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) The Ravens are dealing with several injuries. They’re also operating on a short week after the NFL announced the game would be played Saturday at 4:30 p.m. after playing Sunday’s game against Miami on a short week. What lesson did Harbaugh take from 2019 that will inform his decision this year? “That was a disappointment,” Harbaugh said, recalling the experience. “Certain kind of seasons, different than this season, different team, different circumstances, different everything. “I remember the experience and the choices we made, but the decisions we made for certain reasons and we thought they were the right decisions. What impacted what, how, in terms of us not playing our best football that day, it’s hard to say what the cause and effect was. … You’ve gotta look at everything through the lens of today, this team and the challenges that we’re facing.” But after already losing running backs J.K. Dobbins and Keaton Mitchell to season-ending injuries and tight end Mark Andrews for at least the regular season, that should provide all the clarity Harbaugh’s lens needs. View the full article