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Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers said he’s already turned the page on this season to the next, preferring to put a costly goal line fumble in the fourth quarter of the AFC championship against the Kansas City Chiefs behind him. Now that the offseason is here, team brass will do the same.
General manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh will meet with the media Friday in Owings Mills, where there are plenty of questions to be asked.
Baltimore reached its first conference title game in 11 years, but it ultimately fell short in disastrous fashion. The Ravens also have a tidal wave of players set to hit free agency, making the climb back to the precipice of the Super Bowl that much harder.
Here’s a look at that, and more, as Baltimore heads into the offseason.
Free agents
The Ravens have more than two dozen free agents as they enter the offseason, many of whom were significant contributors all over the field this season.
The most notable ones on offense include wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor, running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, and guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson. On defense, inside linebacker Patrick Queen, outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Van Noy and Malik Harrison, along with defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, cornerbacks Arthur Maulet and Ronald Darby, and safety Geno Stone are all unrestricted free agents as well.
Some of them are unlikely to be back because of age, cost, both or for other reasons.
In terms of who would be a priority to bring back among the group, Madubuike and Queen top the list but the Ravens likely won’t be able to retain both. They already have $100 million over five years tied up in inside linebacker Roquan Smith, so issuing the franchise tag for Madubuike, whose 13 sacks led all interior defensive linemen and who was a disruptive force anchoring the line, seems the likely path with that decision costing about $21 million, per Over The Cap.
Ravens linebackers Patrick Queen, right, and Jadeveon Clowney, left, are both slated to be free agents. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Clowney has said he’d like to be back, and he showed plenty of juice in tying his career high with 9 1/2 sacks, but he’d probably have to be willing to take less money than what another team would likely be willing to pay him.
On offense, the line is a concern given age and injuries to tackles Morgan Moses and Ronnie Stanley, and there are decisions to be made on what to do about Zeitler, 33, and Simpson, who won the job at left guard and performed solidly most of the season. Beckham, meanwhile, was in part signed to get quarterback Lamar Jackson to re-sign, and though he flashed at times he will be 32 next season and cost prohibitive.
Losing coaches and front office staff
Already, one important member of the Ravens’ front office staff has been snatched up by another team with the Los Angeles Chargers hiring director of player personnel Joe Hortiz from Baltimore to be their general manager alongside new coach Jim Harbaugh.
Hortiz was long overdue, and that hardly figures to be the only departure.
Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has already interviewed with several teams and is in the running for both head coach openings that remain, the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks. That’s only the beginning.
Assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson, inside linebackers coach Zach Orr and defensive passing game coordinator Chris Hewitt have all received head coach or defensive coordinator interviews as well, with Weaver getting a second interview with the Commanders for its head coach opening. Some of these guys, or others, are going to go elsewhere. Baltimore has the personnel to promote from within and is an attractive destination for those on the outside, but continuity is often a hallmark of continued success in the NFL.
Salary cap
At the top of the salary cap pyramid are the Commanders, with a whopping $73,649,626 in cap space. Just north of the beltway, things are little more, well, tight, with the Ravens sitting at 19th with just under $14 million in room.
On the surface, that might not seem so bad considering they had even less than that last offseason and reached the AFC championship game. Of course, they didn’t have more than two dozen free agents then, either. Plus, there will be more draft picks to sign this year than last. In other words, when considering their effective cap space, which factors in the cost of filling out the roster and signing a draft class, the Ravens will have only $5.1 million to spare.
There are myriad ways to create more space such as restructuring deals and adding void years, and there will be teams in worse shape than Baltimore when it comes to the numbers, but filling out the roster the way it did this past season will be much tougher this year, particularly given the array of needs.
Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley had an up-and-down 2023 season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Needs
One thing that got exposed against the Chiefs was the Ravens’ offensive line. It was, by and large, mediocre this season and simply got bullied at times against Kansas City.
With Moses and Stanley getting older and dealing with injuries, and with both starting guards hitting free agency, finding a dependable tackle should be the first goal. From there, the Ravens will need help at cornerback, outside linebacker, wide receiver and running back. Or put another way, at just about every level of offense and defense.
Draft
After being the top seed in the AFC and reaching the conference championship, the Ravens won’t draft until 30th in the first round.
The last time they picked that late in the first round was in 2013, when they, of course, won the Super Bowl and selected defensive back Matt Elam with the 32nd pick. In terms of need, it’s hard to imagine them getting, for example, a top-tier left tackle that far down. They also have a history of picking the best player available at whatever spot they pick.
They’ll also have more picks this year (seven) than they did entering the draft last year (five), though they ended up with six last year after making a late-round deal with the Cleveland Browns to acquire a seventh-round pick. Baltimore’s other picks this year are in the second (62nd overall), third (93), fourth (130), fifth (163) and seventh (247) rounds, along with an extra seventh-round pick (225) from the 2023 trade with the New York Jets for safety Chuck Clark.
The Ravens are also projected to earn a fourth-round compensatory pick for guard Ben Powers, who signed with the Denver Broncos last offseason.
Key dates
Feb. 1: East-West Shrine Bowl (Frisco, Texas)
Feb. 3: Senior Bowl (Mobile, Alabama)
Feb. 29-March 3: NFL scouting combine (Indianapolis)
March 5: Deadline for clubs to designate franchise or transition players
March 11-13: Clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents
March 13: The start of the new league year at 4 p.m. All 2023 player contracts expire and clubs can begin officially signing free agents and making trades
March 24-27: NFL annual meeting (Orlando, Florida)
April 1: Start of offseason workouts for teams with new coaches
April 15: Start of offseason workouts for teams with incumbent coaches
April 19: Last day for teams to match offer sheets for restricted free agents
April 24: Deadline for teams to time, test and interview draft-eligible prospects
April 25-27: NFL draft (Detroit)
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The city of Baltimore got hit by a sudden change.
It occurred Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Ravens, 17-10, to advance to Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas on Feb. 11 against the San Francisco 49ers. Life as we knew it came to a standstill. Some local fans cried.
The euphoria died and so did some nice new traditions such as “The Harbaugh” dance. The purple eyes of the Ravens logo on car windows have disappeared along with the purple pennants on automobile antennas.
They faded soon after Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, embraced and kissed on the field at M&T Bank Stadium and quarterback Patrick Mahomes took a short victory lap.
There is talk about next year.
Oh, always next year …
It’s just so hard to have another season like this past one where the Ravens had their most complete team in franchise history. They also had perhaps the NFL’s best defense and a favorite to win the Most Valuable Player Award in quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Swoosh, all gone.
But before we move on to next year, here is my final report card of the 2023 season.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson dominated this season for the Ravens, despite the disappointing finish. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Quarterback
During the regular season, Jackson threw for a career-high 3,678 yards with 24 touchdowns while leading the team in rushing with 821 yards. He also had career highs in completion rate (67.2) and average yards per attempt (8.0). There is no doubt he improved under first-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken as far as accuracy, leadership and the ability to call his own plays. He is the best scrambler to ever play the game, and his ability to extend plays is elite. But the narrative for Jackson won’t change this offseason. He didn’t get it done in the conference championship game, misfiring on short and intermediate passes. He wasn’t fundamentally sound and will be remembered for throwing an interception into triple coverage to tight end Isaiah Likely in the end zone in the fourth quarter of a two-score game. The criticisms of his 2-4 mark in the postseason are justified and part of the nature of the job. Go ask Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, who lost three Super Bowls. The same things were said about John Elway until he won back-to-back Super Bowl titles. He needs to focus and lock in even more. Grade: A-
Running backs
Gus Edwards was No. 2 in rushing behind Jackson during the regular season, gaining 810 yards on 198 carries. He was the power back who occasionally could jump cut out to the tackles. Justice Hill proved to be a commodity for the team as both a rusher (387 yards on 84 carries) and receiver (206 yards on 30 catches). The big mystery will always be why Monken didn’t use either Edwards or Hill much in the AFC title game against Kansas City. They had a combined six carries for 23 yards against a team that was ranked No. 18 in rushing defense allowing 113.2 yards per game. The Ravens also missed speedster and rookie Keaton Mitchell, who rushed for 396 yards on 47 carries before suffering a season-ending injury against Jacksonville on Dec. 17. His speed provided the Ravens with the missing element of having a player who could score from anywhere on the field. After a slow start because of offseason surgery, Patrick Ricard again proved he was one of the best blocking fullbacks in the league. Grade: B-
Zay Flowers was the Ravens’ best wide receiver as a rookie. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Receivers
The Ravens had more talent this season than in recent memory. They had possession types in Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor, and a quick change of direction performer in rookie Zay Flowers, who could also play outside if needed. Flowers put pressure on opposing defenses because of his ability as both a receiver in the slot, or as a runner going in motion. The Ravens had one of the better tight end duos in Mark Andrews and Likely, and Likely played well after Andrews went down and missed seven games because of an ankle injury he suffered on Nov. 12 against the Bengals. Andrews, who returned for the AFC title game versus Kansas City, had better hands but Likely showed more breakaway ability. The missing piece from this group was a big, fast receiver on the outside who could challenge talented cornerbacks such as Kansas City’s L’Jarius Sneed or Trent McDuffie. The Ravens need to upgrade at this position in the offseason to get faster and younger. Grade: B
Offensive line
Like in years past, the Ravens need to find more versatile linemen who can pass protect as well as run block. The inability to protect Jackson was key in the AFC title game as Jackson was sacked four times and pressured several others. As a group, the Ravens were good at running the ball. They had power and could climb up on linebackers in the second level, which is why they ranked No. 1 in rushing offense during the regular season. But both offensive tackles, Morgan Moses and Ronnie Stanley, were bothered by injuries, forcing the Ravens to rotate them in with Patrick Mekari and Daniel Faalele. Both starters were liabilities in pass protection; Stanley versus bull rushers and Moses handling speed. The Ravens will probably select an offensive tackle or two in the draft, but it will be interesting to see what they do at guard because both starters, John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler, are free agents. Jackson was sacked 60 times during the regular season. Grade: C+
Ravens defensive end Justin Madubuike had a team-high 13 sacks in the regular season. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Defensive line
Overall, the Ravens were overwhelming on defense but could use more versatility up front. End Justin Madubuike had a career year with 56 tackles during the regular season and he led the team in sacks with 13. He will command a big contract as a free agent, though Baltimore could use the franchise tag on him. His quickness and penetration were exceptional against both the run and pass. Nose tackle Michael Pierce started the season strong but appeared to slow down midseason. The Ravens had counted on Broderick Washington to be more of a steadier influence at tackle, but he struggled even in his forte, run defense. After Madubuike, reserve Brent Urban played reasonably well and became somewhat of a force in pass rushing, even knocking down passes at times. Look for third-year tackle Travis Jones to gain more playing time next season, even though he needs to be more disciplined. Grade: B
Linebackers
Along with Jackson, these were the most dominant guys on the roster. Roquan Smith led the team in tackles during the regular season with 158 and weakside linebacker Patrick Queen was second with 133. Smith became a head-hunter at times with some vicious hits. Queen had momentary lapses but made significant progress this season with his open-field tackling. He also seemed to turn up his intensity this season (must be a contract year). The Ravens got surprisingly strong efforts from veteran outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, who had nine sacks. Clowney probably played well enough, finishing with 9 1/2 sacks, to earn a big contract this offseason. The only problem was that these guys seemed to have a meltdown in the loss to Kansas City. Several of those unnecessary roughness penalties were, to say the least, unnecessary. Grade: A-
Secondary
This unit was supposed to be the biggest weakness on defense but turned out to be a major strength. Hamilton was third on the team in tackles with 81, including 10 for loss in the regular season that led all NFL safeties. He just didn’t miss tackles and was excellent coming off the corner as either a run-stopper or a pass-rusher. The second best player in the group was cornerback Brandon Stephens, who was fourth on the team with 71 tackles. He was a surprise because he seemed too stiff to play corner after years as a safety, but he was extremely physical and could match receivers step for step down the field. The Ravens had a rash of injuries in the secondary, but players such as safety Geno Stone and cornerback Arthur Maulet stepped up. It will be interesting to see what the Ravens do with cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Marcus Williams, both of whom missed time during the season because of injuries. Grade: A-
Special teams
Justin Tucker converted on 32 of 37 field goals and was 3 of 3 in the postseason, including a 50-plus yarder. Jordan Stout had a good regular season and averaged 47.9 yards on 67 punts, and he landed 28 inside the 20-yard line. He was slightly below his average in the playoffs putting four inside the 20, but averaging 46.7 on nine kicks. The Ravens had Tylan Wallace as a returner during part of the regular season when Devin Duvernay was out with an injury, and he seemed more decisive. But Duvernay looked good in the postseason and the Ravens were hoping he might break one against the Chiefs, but Kansas City stayed away from him in the return game. Grade: B
Coaching
Coach John Harbaugh did a good job of directing a tight-knit group. The Ravens were unselfish and that is difficult to accomplish in this day and age. The special teams struggled early but Chris Horton got them to come around in the end. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald got his group to play hard and the Ravens always adjusted to the opposition. Monken will get criticized for not running the ball much against the Chiefs, but he made a big difference in the performance of Jackson and upgraded a passing game that had been stagnant for years. Harbaugh lets his assistants coach but there needs to be times when he dictates the pace and calls. He is the key voice and should determine the outcome. In the final game, the Ravens, especially the veterans, were selfish and lost their composure. That was a bad look for the entire staff. Grade: B+
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The Ravens’ dominant season ended Sunday in a mistake-filled 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game. Instead of Baltimore spending the next two weeks soaking in all the Super Bowl has to offer, attention turns toward the harsh reality of the offseason.
There are no questions as important as last year’s unresolved contract situation with quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is expected to win his second NFL Most Valuable Player Award in the first season of his five-year, $260 million deal. But the Ravens have plenty of work to do to reshape one of the best rosters in team history.
The list of pending free agents is long and includes several standouts and key contributors from a 2023 team that finished with the NFL’s best record and came one win away from reaching its first Super Bowl in 11 years. The Ravens have long built through the draft, and that won’t change as they move forward with one of the league’s highest-paid players.
Baltimore owns the No. 30 overall pick in the first round, which begins April 25 in Detroit. With an expected compensatory selection in the fourth round for the loss of free agent guard Ben Powers last offseason, it has a projected eight picks: No. 30 (first), No. 62 (second), No. 93 (third), No. 130 (fourth), No. 133 (compensatory), No. 163 (fifth), No. 225 (seventh) and No. 247 (seventh).
If recent history is any guide, the Ravens should expect another impact player with their top selection. In his past four drafts, general manager Eric DeCosta picked wide receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, inside linebacker Patrick Queen, outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton in the first round.
Here are five players at positions of need who could be targets at No. 30.
Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan
The Ravens’ offensive line could look very different next season. Guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson are pending free agents, and tackles Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses are coming off a season in which they rotated in and out of the lineup down the stretch. While Stanley is likely coming back, the Ravens could move on from Moses, who turns 33 in March and is entering the final year of his contract. Daniel Faalele and Patrick Mekari are capable backups on team-friendly deals, but the Ravens need to invest in a long-term starter at tackle.
The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Morgan might be the best fit. He played left tackle during his five-year career at Arizona, but he could also shift inside to guard. The 22-year-old put together his best season as a senior, allowing only two sacks in 787 snaps over 12 games for one of the nation’s best passing teams. A first-team All-Pac 12 selection, Morgan led the Wildcats in total blocking grade (84.3), run-blocking grade (77.0) and pass-blocking grade (87.3), per Pro Football Focus.
Utah cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn tackles Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin on Oct. 28. Franklin was one of two Football Bowl Subdivision receivers with 1,300-plus receiving yards and 14-plus touchdowns in 2023. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin
With Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor entering free agency, the Ravens need another young wide receiver to pair with Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Franklin would be an intriguing addition.
The 6-3, 187-pound Franklin was an explosive playmaker during his junior season at Oregon, joining LSU’s Malik Nabers as the only Football Bowl Subdivision receivers with 1,300-plus receiving yards and 14-plus touchdowns. Playing in the Ducks’ up-tempo spread offense led by star quarterback Bo Nix, Franklin had 15 catches of 30-plus yards and eight receptions of 40-plus yards, which both ranked among the top three in the country.
Alabama edge defender Chris Braswell
The Ravens relied heavily on veteran outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy to finish first in the NFL with 60 sacks, but both are headed for free agency. Odafe Oweh looks ready to hold down a starting spot, but David Ojabo has played just five games in two seasons and Tyus Bowser will likely be released in a cost-cutting move after a knee injury kept him out all year. That leaves a thin group on the edge.
Braswell’s name should be familiar to local fans. Before a standout career at Alabama, he was a five-star prospect at St. Frances and the No. 2 ranked player in Maryland. After playing behind standout prospects Will Anderson and Dallas Turner early in his Crimson Tide career, the 6-3, 255-pound Braswell enjoyed a breakout senior season, recording eight sacks, 10 1/2 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and an interception that he returned for a touchdown. He finished with 56 quarterback pressures, the most in the SEC.
The Baltimore native might crush the NFL scouting combine, too. Braswell was ranked seventh on Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks List” entering the 2023 season after being clocked at 21.9 mph on the GPS and bench-pressing 405 pounds.
Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter allowed just 15 receptions for 136 yards as a junior. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter
With Ronald Darby, Arthur Maulet and Rock Ya-Sin entering free agency and Marlon Humphrey coming off an injury-hampered season, cornerback is once again an area of focus entering the draft.
While most of the top corners are expected to come off the board early, there might be some good options at the end of the first round. The 6-foot, 180-pound Lassiter is perhaps the best of that second tier after a standout career at Georgia. As a junior, he allowed just 15 receptions for 136 yards and a 48.7 passer rating in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus, earning second-team All-SEC honors from the coaches. Although he’s a bit undersized and lacks the strength to consistently beat blocks, the former four-star prospect doesn’t shy away from making tackles in run support.
Miami defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III
The Ravens might need to use the franchise tag to bring back breakout star Justin Madubuike, who led the team with 13 sacks this past season. Brent Urban is also entering free agency, and Broderick Washington was a disappointment in the first season of his three-year, $15.8 million deal. That leaves some question marks on the defensive front.
Adding a former five-star prospect to the mix could be the answer. The 6-3, 305-pound Taylor did not dominate in college the way many had hoped, recording six sacks in three seasons, but he flashed the quickness, strength and technique that could make him a standout interior pass rusher at the next level. He’s far from a finished product, but the Ravens could bring him along slowly before giving him a bigger role in 2025.
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One by one, they stood up for Lamar Jackson. He had taken the Ravens all the way to the AFC championship game, and they were not going to abandon him, just because talking heads had spent the morning labeling him a choker, saying he was out of excuses for his subpar postseason performance.
“They got a job to do, I guess, but I don’t think Lamar cares, nor do I care what other people have to say outside this building,” All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton said. “That just comes with the territory. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. There’s a lot of people out there, hoping for people like Lamar to fail, but we all know that he’s the best player in this league, and I’m happy to have him on this team.”
Ravens players still felt shocked and pained by their 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs as they cleaned out their lockers Monday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the final seconds of a wildly promising season had ticked away. Jackson had spoken immediately after the loss — “I’m not frustrated at all. I’m angry about losing” — so he was not around to comment on the aftermath.
But teammates wanted the world to know that they’re eager to move forward with him leading the flock. A year earlier, they had faced questions about whether Jackson would be back with the Ravens at all as he approached free agency. A difficult loss felt better than that grim alternative.
“Lamar’s the man,” veteran guard Kevin Zeitler said. “He’s the leader of this team. He’s fiery. He cares more than anyone. I think it’s very obvious when you watch it. No matter what people want to say, I know he’s going to be back, ready to work when it’s time and take us all the way.”
The Ravens had built their entire offseason around helping Jackson put his best foot forward in year six of his career. They signed him to a $260 million extension, remade his wide receiver corps, replaced offensive coordinator Greg Roman with a more sophisticated pass designer in Todd Monken.
From the beginning of training camp, Jackson met the challenge, insisting that the team remain laser-focused on each granular moment, managing more of the offense while throwing more accurately than he ever had, rallying the Ravens in rare moments when they veered off course.
Eight days before he met the Chiefs, he played the first truly splendid playoff game of his career as the Ravens raced past the Houston Texans with 24 unanswered points in the second half. He seemed loose and eager throughout last week.
And then, Jackson crashed with the world watching. He either rushed or held the ball too long. He overshot deep targets and failed to sense pressure coming from behind him on a strip sack. When the Ravens still had a chance to get back in the game in the fourth quarter thanks to their stout defense, he threw an interception into triple coverage.
Jackson’s statistical line — 20 of 37 for 272 yards, one touchdown and one interception — wasn’t good but did not fully capture how far he fell into his worst tendencies.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is stripped of the ball by Chiefs defensive end Charles Onenihu in the second quarter Sunday. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) There were many other reasons the Ravens lost, from Monken’s curious game plan to immature penalties to wide receiver Zay Flowers’ fumble at the goal line. But the story of their ultimate failure could not center on anyone but Jackson, who had made himself the league’s presumptive Most Valuable Player over his previous 17 games.
Here’s a mere sampling of the Lamar takes that cascaded forth Sunday night and Monday morning:
Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s “First Take”: “With all due respect, it was a choke job. Let’s call it what it is. It’s doing what you’re accustomed to doing until the moment arrives, and then, you don’t.”
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons on his podcast: “The Ravens … got haymakered coming out of the gate and then just keeled over, and all of the fears about that Ravens team and Lamar and the whole era just came seeping out for three solid hours.”
Andscape columnist Martenzie Johnson: “On Sunday night, there was nothing defensible about what Jackson did.”
Teammates anticipated this barrage coming for their leader. As much as they wanted to win the Super Bowl for themselves, they wanted to win it for Jackson. They know how much it means to him and how much weight crashes on his shoulders when the team falls short.
“Honestly, what hurts me the most is that I wanted to get him the recognition that he deserves,” linebacker Patrick Queen said. “It’s a team sport, it’s a team effort, but that guy was the main guy I was playing for, honestly. So much stuff he gets that he doesn’t deserve. This was his opportunity to be able to write some of that stuff off and move on to the next thing. That’s why it hurts, because you want to see people like that, teammates that you love and care about, get what they’re supposed to get, and that didn’t happen.”
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is the rare player who understands how it feels to be as famous as Jackson is. He was one of the first to console the younger man as the game slipped away.
Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. consoles quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, late in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) “When you have a player like Lamar, who — 30 years from now, we’ll speak Lamar Jackson’s name, and everyone is going to know and remember — there are certain moments that define you, and this is just one that will be in his career,” Beckham said. “The greats have all been through tough times, and I don’t think this is going to stop him from wanting to get to the ultimate goal. I think, if anything, he’s going to work even harder. He wants it bad. I had never seen somebody so locked in and just in their flow and in their era, and I just felt like it was his time. And like I say, sometimes things happen in life, and it doesn’t go the way that we plan. It’s just about, what do you do from here?”
As Beckham noted, Jackson is far from the first Hall of Fame quarterback talent to confront cries of “can’t win the big one.”
Dan Marino rewrote the league’s passing records in the 1980s and 1990s but was badly outplayed by Joe Montana in his lone Super Bowl.
John Elway awed NFL evaluators with his package of arm and leg talent but did not lead the Denver Broncos to a Super Bowl win until the penultimate season of his 16-year career.
Peyton Manning won two MVP awards and finished second two other times before he finally reached and won the Super Bowl in his ninth season.
Quarterbacks who sparkle on the biggest stages almost from the moment they hit the NFL — Mahomes, Tom Brady, Johnny Unitas — are the rarest kind. Jackson, for all his brilliance, is navigating a more jagged path.
He did not seem shaken when he spoke after Sunday’s loss. He was angry that he turned the ball over when the Ravens were in striking distance, dissatisfied that the offense did not meet the standard it had set over a string of dominant late-season victories. But he’s not one to sink into gloom, and he gave no indication that will change after this loss, his fourth in six career playoff contests.
“We’ve been waiting all this time, all these moments for an opportunity like this, and we fell short,” he said. “But I feel like our team is going to build.”
Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft, is another in the select group of teammates who can identify with the intense spotlight on Jackson.
“I love him regardless of how that game shook out; it’s just like my brother forever,” Clowney said. “Keep your head up, man. I dealt with that scrutiny throughout my career. I just kept my head up, kept the people around me who love me — kept them close, and you build from there. You continue to move forward.”
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All season long, Zay Flowers was a boundless font of boyhood fun, a broad smile stretching across his face and a constant energy emanating from the Ravens’ rookie wide receiver.
Monday afternoon in Owings Mills, that energy was directed in a much different manner as he angrily threw his belongings into the large, black, industrial-size garbage bag sitting in front of his locker. Locker cleanout is the day every player and team around the NFL dreads, and this one came with a mix of emotions for a team that had produced the best record in the league during the regular season, reached the first AFC championship game of Lamar Jackson’s career and came within a game of reaching its first Super Bowl in 11 years only to fall on its face Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Among them: disappointment, anger, uncertainty.
It was also a somber reminder of missed opportunity.
“Probably the best year I had playing football in my life,” Flowers said when asked about a season playing alongside the presumptive NFL Most Valuable Player, quarterback Lamar Jackson. “That should tell you.
“We wouldn’t be here without him. He know. The love for him in here and everything, we all got his back and we gonna be right back at it next year. He ain’t going anywhere, I ain’t going nowhere, so let’s get it.”
First, though, came gathering personal items, reflecting on what could’ve and should’ve been and saying goodbye.
This year, after all, was supposed to be different.
The Ravens re-signed Jackson to a lucrative five-year, $260 million extension after two years of sometimes acrimonious negotiations that at one point included a trade request from the star quarterback. They spent more money in the offseason on offense than any team in the NFL and surrounded him with the most talent he’s ever had in his six years in Baltimore, particularly at wide receiver, with a first-round draft pick spent on Flowers and the additions of solid veteran receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor.
Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers talks with the media on Monday. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Baltimore also bolstered things on the other side of the ball, with free agent additions such as outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, and under coordinator Mike Macdonald fielded a historically great defense that became the first in league history to lead the NFL in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game.
The Ravens then went out and played like the sport’s best team, compiling a 13-4 regular season record that included nine wins in their last 11 games, including blowouts of the NFC runner-up Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, the Super Bowl-bound San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins.
The stars seemed to be aligned for a trip to the sport’s biggest stage, with dominant victories, an MVP quarterback, a harmonious blend of veteran and rising young stars and even their share of magical moments, like backup punt returner Tylan Wallace’s overtime touchdown to lift the Ravens to victory over the Los Angeles Rams. They entered the postseason as the top seed in the AFC and with home-field advantage through the conference championship and hosted the city’s first title game in more than a half-century.
This season was supposed to be different.
Different from 2019 when Jackson, in his first full year as the starter, and the Ravens flamed out in a divisional round stunner against the Tennessee Titans after going 14-2 in the regular season. Different from each of the past two seasons when Jackson’s year was cut short by injury. Different from the past 11 years when the Ravens won just two playoff games and failed to advance past the divisional round.
If it felt like Groundhog Day, it’s because in so many ways it was.
The Ravens’ immaturity for the big moment was exposed again. From undisciplined penalties to costly turnovers, including by Jackson and Flowers, Baltimore squandered nearly every opportunity it had. They were all contributors to a disastrous, mistake-filled performance against a mature and poised Chiefs team that was playing in its sixth straight AFC title game and is headed to its fourth Super Bowl in the past five years, while Ravens players dispersed and headed home.
“It doesn’t feel good at all,” left tackle Ronnie Stanley said. “We didn’t handle the business that we came to handle, but we got to move forward as a team and we’re just on the mindset that we’re going to use in the offseason to do everything we can to get better.”
John Brown, of Phoenix, reacts after the Ravens fail to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Chiefs. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) That’s easier said than done, though, with nearly two dozen players hitting free agency this offseason, many of them notable contributors from this season.
Among the players who are unrestricted free agents: defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, inside linebacker Patrick Queen, Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, safety Geno Stone, cornerback Arthur Maulet, Beckham and Agholor, running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, and guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson.
And with less than $14 million in available salary cap space, according to Over The Cap, the roster will, simply put, look significantly different in 2024.
Its coaching staff and front office will, too, with director of player personnel Joe Hortiz headed to Los Angeles to be the Chargers’ general manager and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald in the running head coaching jobs with the Commanders and Seahawks. Others have drawn interest from organizations around the league.
The finality of the moment and the difficulty of getting back to this point next season amid a sea of expected change was not lost on the players who trudged through the locker room Monday.
“[It’s a] special group,” said Clowney, who had a resurgence with 9 1/2 sacks in the regular season. “The group, you won’t get it back again next year, but I felt like we had a squad to win it. It kind of hurt more than anything that has happened in my career to lose that game yesterday.
“But we’re back to the drawing board. Life continues.”
Slowly.
One by one players made their way out of a final team meeting, through exit interviews and into the locker room to gather their things and face a litany of questions from reporters. Not every player was there, as is always the case, but the ones who were said the stir of emotions were palpable.
“It’s still a little raw,” outside linebacker Odafe Oweh said. “I don’t think it’ll really set in until after the Super Bowl. Definitely a tough situation.
“So close, working hard in the offseason, all the blood sweat and tears with your brothers, a lot of guys who are not gonna be on the team next year, so that’s the part of it that hurts. … It’s probably gonna stick with me for a while.”
Longer for some than for others.
“It takes probably the whole offseason,” Queen said. “You don’t wanna lose like that. Just too many opportunities that we had to be able to capitalize on, and we didn’t. That’s what stings the most, and that’s why it just takes so long to get over. You don’t get another chance until next season starts. We have to make our way there again, if we even get a chance. That’s why it hurts.”
Added Zeitler: “When you have potential that’s unrealized, it hurts a lot. You’re so close to the end, and it just didn’t happen. But that’s life in this league. Only one team can win again. You use it as fuel, got to move on to next year.”
There were other lingering questions, too, including about the Ravens’ game plan, which included just six running plays for its backs against a Kansas City defense that was one of the worst in the league against the run this season.
Despite leading the league in rushing during the regular season, Baltimore ran the ball just 16 times Sunday and threw it 37 times. Running back Justice Hill, who is one of two running backs from the active roster under contract for next season (along with rookie Keaton Mitchell), got just three carries that went for 3 yards Sunday.
“Those were the plays that were called,” he said diplomatically. “I don’t call the plays, I just run them.”
There were, however, plenty of bright spots from the season, individually and collectively. The players who will be back will take those and try to build on them here next season. It will be a long wait for some and less so for others.
Asked when he’ll turn the page on this season and focus on the next one, Flowers offered a terse but direct answer: “I already did.”
The rest of Baltimore, meanwhile, will have to wait seven long months.
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The Ravens’ offseason was barely 24 hours old when the first domino fell.
The Los Angeles Chargers are expected to hire Baltimore’s director of player personnel Joe Hortiz as their next general manager, according to multiple reports Monday. The news came on the same day that players cleaned out their lockers at the team’s Owings Mills facility after the Ravens fell to the Kansas City Chiefs, 17-10, in Sunday’s AFC championship game.
The Chargers, who finished fourth in the AFC West after going 5-12, fired their previous general manager, Tom Telesco, along with coach Brandon Staley late in the regular season.
In joining Los Angeles there is also a level of familiarity after the Chargers hired Ravens coach John Harbaugh’s brother Jim to be their coach, wooing him from the University of Michigan, where he won a national championship this season.
Hortiz and the Ravens have yet to confirm the reports.
Hortiz, 48, has been with the Ravens since 1998 and in his current position since 2019.
Given the success of many of the Ravens’ draft picks and free agent signings, Hortiz has been a hot job candidate after helping oversee college and pro scouting and serving as general manager Eric DeCosta’s top personnel evaluator.
Hortiz began his career with the Ravens as a scout and rose through the organization under former general manager and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome and then DeCosta. During his tenure in Baltimore, the Ravens won two Super Bowls, during the 2000 and 2012 seasons, and have won seven AFC North titles since 2003.
This year, the Ravens finished with the NFL’s best record at 13-4 and were the top seed in the AFC.
Hortiz inherits a Chargers roster already stocked with talent, including quarterback Justin Herbert, safety Derwin James and receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Still, Hortiz’s work will be cut out for him with the Chargers having missed the playoffs eight of the past 10 years and four of the past five.
The Chargers also finished 28th in total defense this season, something Hortiz should be able to help remedy given his success in Baltimore, where the Ravens became the first team in NFL history to lead the league in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game this season.
This story might be updated.
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As the Ravens sorted through their lockers Monday in Owings Mills, packing up shoes, athletic gear, books and souvenirs from the season, a game of Connect Four sat on a nearby coffee table.
The locker room had been a hub of activity for the past five months and players expected that would be the case again this week, as they prepared for the season’s ultimate goal, the Super Bowl. The Connect Four game was nearly complete — in a few instances, there were three tokens in a row — but neither side had been able to place four in succession. It, like the Ravens’ season, sat unfinished.
Baltimore was favored to beat the visiting Chiefs in the AFC championship game on Sunday and players, such as team leader and quarterback Lamar Jackson, set their sights all year on the Super Bowl. But after an uninspiring offensive performance, the Ravens fell, 17-10, to Kansas City, meaning players were left to prematurely pack up their lockers two weeks before they had hoped.
The postseason comes to a crashing conclusion quickly. Last week, the locker room brimmed with energy as they readied for Kansas City; Monday, players solemnly threw their belongings in bags before parting from the practice facility once more.
“It feels unfinished. Everything just feels unfinished,” right guard Kevin Zeitler said. “[It] feels like we should be practicing this week, keeping it going with this group and obviously that is not the case.”
Players tossed old shoes into a donation box and took other belongings home with them, beginning their offseason earlier than anticipated.
Safety Kyle Hamilton said he’s sore, and that his heart is sore, but he’ll move on. He’ll travel to Florida Tuesday for the Pro Bowl — an event he’s honored to be a part of, but one he’d hoped to miss because of Super Bowl plans.
“It’s kind of just numb for me, honestly. It’s shocking,” Hamilton said. “It sucks to lose in that fashion at home, being that close to our goal.”
“I didn’t really have it in my mind to come clean my locker out today,” said right tackle Morgan Moses, smiling in a sort of disbelief, “but obviously things happen.”
Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen takes a break from cleaning out his locker to talk with the media on Monday, a day after their season-ending 17-10 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC championship game. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) The Ravens won more games than any NFL team this year and appeared to be the one to beat entering the postseason. Some fans, who’d already purchased flights or hotel rooms in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl, had to cancel them after Baltimore tied a season-low with 10 points, coming up short against the defending champion Chiefs.
“Special group. The group, you won’t get it back again next year, but I felt like we had a squad to win it,” outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney said.
Baltimore won’t be the same next year. Several key contributors, such as inside linebacker Patrick Queen, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., to name just a few, are set to be free agents.
The inevitable roster turnover was apparent when outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy was asked about the Ravens’ future. Picked up on a one-year contract during the regular season, the 32-year-old Van Noy used the third-person “they,” rather than “we,” to describe the team’s future. “It’s going to be different. Every year is different,” the 10-year NFL veteran said.
The Ravens simply won’t be able to retain the bulk of their players who are set to become free agents because of cap restrictions. Instead, they’ll likely sign other players and will welcome draft picks, too. They pick No. 30 in the NFL draft, which takes place April 25.
Ravens wide receiver Devin Duverney cleans out his locker on Monday. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Safety Geno Stone is set to hit the open market, but he, like most players, wasn’t ready to forecast his future.
“That’s something I’ll just wait and kind of see what happens. I’m not really trying to look into it right now,” he said. “I’m trying to really just get over this game and enjoy the time I have with my teammates right now.”
The 33-year-old Zeitler says he’s “ready to roll” and that he hopes he’ll be a Raven next year.
“Hopefully that business side of football can be figured out nice and quick, and we can get that taken care of,” he said.
The Ravens’ coaching and front office staff could change, too, in particular defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who is reportedly being considered for both the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders head coach openings.
Much of Baltimore’s core will return, however. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, the presumptive NFL Most Valuable Player who has received criticism for coming up short again in the playoffs, will, of course, be back. So will defensive cornerstones Hamilton and linebacker Roquan Smith.
Each of the team’s tight ends is expected to be back, as are receivers Rashod Bateman and rookie Zay Flowers, who fumbled on the goal line in Sunday’s loss, one of the game’s most pivotal plays. Center Tyler Linderbaum, another Pro Bowl selection, will still anchor the offensive line for years to come.
As Flowers took a break from cleaning out his locker Monday, he was asked when he’ll turn the page in his mind toward next season. “I already did,” he said.
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As Ravens kicker Justin Tucker stretched on the M&T Bank Stadium field while Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes warmed up more than an hour before Sunday’s AFC championship game, Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce tossed Tucker’s footballs away and threw aside his helmet.
The moment — shared on social media by NFL Network — went viral and prompted criticism of both Tucker and Kelce. On Monday, after the Ravens’ 17-10 loss, Tucker explained that he thought the move by Kelce was “just some gamesmanship.”
Travis Kelce told Justin Tucker he needed to move because their QB Patrick Mahomes had to warm up. So Kelce kicked his ball away and threw his helmet.
pic.twitter.com/pFF0DC1yA7— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 28, 2024
Unlike other NFL players, kickers warm up on both sides of the field to practice field goals against each direction’s wind. Tucker said he’s done the same thing during his 12-year career and “never really had a problem with anybody.”
Tucker said that Mahomes asked him to move his helmet, and Tucker “happily got up” and moved it out of the way.
“At least I thought it was enough out of the way. And then Travis comes over and he just kicks my stuff and he throws my helmet,” Tucker said. “I just thought it was all just some gamesmanship, all in good fun, but they seem to be taking it a little bit more seriously and I’m totally willing to let it all go.”
Tucker said that, later, at the pregame coin toss, he and the Chiefs players were “all dapping each other up and then we just get on with the football game.”
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The Ravens’ Super Bowl dreams ended with a flustered, flat performance against the Kansas City Chiefs, who beat them, 17-10, before a deflated home crowd that had hoped to celebrate an ascendant Lamar Jackson.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
Lamar Jackson is in for another year of difficult questions after he failed to perform like an MVP in the biggest game
There’s no such thing as fair when it comes to the most scrutinized position in the most scrutinized sport. So the lasting image of Jackson’s season will not be the Most Valuable Player Award he claims in two weeks but the interception he threw into triple coverage, costing his team its last, best chance to score a touchdown in the most important game of the year. Jackson spiked his helmet, recognizing that for all the Ravens’ brilliant work over the past four months, their chance to keep playing, to reach the Super Bowl he has long coveted, was slipping away.
Jackson’s passing line — 20 of 37 for 272 yards, one touchdown and one interception — was neither tragically poor nor reflective of his wondrous efficiency in recent games. But the blame for this defeat will fall disproportionately on his shoulders, because he’s the best player, the highest paid, the one who headlines debate segments on the morning sports shows.
A week earlier, after Jackson had rallied the Ravens from a flat first half to resounding triumph over the Houston Texans, teammates spoke in awe of their asserted, assured offensive master, who possessed answers that eluded him at stressful moments earlier in his career. He seemed finally ready to go blow for blow with the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the reigning alpha at the most celebrated, scrutinized position in American sports.
We did not see that Jackson on Sunday, when it was time to win the highest-stakes home game in franchise history.
He performed his best Houdini routine in the first quarter, vanishing from a defender’s grasp and lofting a 30-yard scoring pass to Zay Flowers in the end zone. In the second quarter, he completed a pass to himself, racing to snag the deflected ball and advance 13 yards before the defense knew what was happening.
But those bedazzlements belied a shaky first half in which he frequently threw to the wrong target or overshot in the face of pressure.
His play looked even more skittish when contrasted with Mahomes’ cool efficiency under fire. If these were the two best quarterbacks in the world, as Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey suggested three days before the game, one still operated in a higher realm.
Jackson moved the Ravens more freely in the second half but could not come up with the plays to translate those drives into points. Was this all his fault? Of course not. Flowers lost a fumble at the goal line. Wide receivers struggled to separate from Kansas City’s excellent cornerbacks. Jackson’s blockers did not give him a reliable pocket.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, reacts as referee Shawn Smith calls a taunting penalty on wide receiver Zay Flowers, right, in the third quarter. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Offensive coordinator Todd Monken never found his rhythm as a play caller, failing to leverage a running game (81 yards on just 16 carries) that seemed to be the Ravens’ greatest advantage going into the matchup.
But Jackson was the one who fired too ambitiously when he saw a pair of defenders trailing tight end Isaiah Likely in Tampa 2 zone coverage, only for safety Deon Bush to swoop in for that decisive interception. Jackson thought there was enough contact on Likely to merit a pass interference penalty, but none appeared.
He was calm when it was all over.
“I’m not frustrated. I’m angry about losing,” Jackson said. “But I feel our team, we’re going to build.”
“I told him to stand up tall,” coach John Harbaugh said. “His performance today was all heart.”
But it was not all efficiency or sound judgment. Jackson needed to be closer to his best to unseat the AFC’s reigning boss, and he’s going to spend the next year hearing all the ways he fell short. He has wanted to be a championship quarterback since childhood, and this is the downside of the life he chose.
This might have been the best team in Ravens history, but it won’t be remembered as such
After the Ravens trounced the Miami Dolphins on New Year’s Eve to clinch the AFC’s top playoff seed, Harbaugh said: “I’m not sure I’ve seen a more impressive performance in a season to date.”
He’s not given to such sweeping, comparative statements, but his team’s performance backed his words. The Ravens outmaneuvered, out-schemed and outhit a parade of the league’s best. Their balance was extraordinary. They could beat you with the sport’s most prolific running attack, with Jackson’s magical arm and legs, with a chameleonic defense that demonstrated extraordinary discipline at the same time it led the league in sacks and takeaways. Aaron Schatz’s defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA), which measures team efficiency, tabbed the Ravens as the hottest team of the past four decades coming off their divisional round thumping of the Texans.
But they were not that team against the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, and in our ring-obsessed sports culture, that means the 2023 Ravens will go down as just another very good playoff entry for a franchise that produces those routinely.
The players knew a rare chance had passed them by when it was over, knew how hard it was for them to become this good and how hard it will be to get back next year.
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., signed for one season to help them get over the top, said he’d never played for a better team.
“These moments don’t come by often,” he said. “That’s why the stakes are so high. Why these players feel the way they feel.”
Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. consoles quarterback Lamar Jackson on the bench late in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Tears welled in linebacker Roquan Smith’s eyes as he spoke from the postgame podium. He had become the most outspoken projector of this group’s soaring confidence. “It’s definitely tough,” he said, voice cracking. “You just think about how hard it is to get back to this position. There’s a lot of things that have to go your way.”
Harbaugh said he was proud of them, noting the challenges they had overcome and the preseason predictions they had exceeded. But after 16 years of doing this, he knows you only get so many teams that really could win the Super Bowl, a realistic ambition that will go unfulfilled.
Fans had believed just as fervently and felt the emptiness just as acutely, filing out of M&T Bank Stadium quietly as the Chiefs prepared to accept their trophy on the field.
“Low,” linebacker Patrick Queen said, describing the collective mood. “We put so much work into it, every day, every practice, the grind, OTAs, training camp, and going through the season. Every single guy in this locker room has put everything he has into it, and we’ve developed bonds, and it’s just really tough to see this outcome. All this that we’ve been working for, and now it comes to an end.”
The result should not obscure a great performance by a great defense
Mahomes and his brilliant tight end, Travis Kelce, did what we expect of them as all-time great players. Facing fourth-and-2 on Kansas City’s first drive, the best quarterback in football rolled to his right and found a leaping Kelce over the middle for 13 yards. Three plays later, he trusted Kelce to snare a 19-yard pass in the end zone through cling-wrap coverage from All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton. World-class stuff.
Mahomes was just as surgical on the Chiefs’ next drive, a 16-play, 75-yard touchdown to answer Jackson’s touchdown strike to Flowers.
At that point, it seemed we might be in for both an epic showdown between the sport’s most thrilling quarterbacks and another coronation for the great Mahomes. What we got instead was a ferocious defensive struggle, with a total of six points scored after the 10:56 mark of the second quarter.
Mahomes’ next eight drives resulted in three points. The Chiefs averaged 4.4 yards per play for the game, a rate that would have ranked 30th in the league in the regular season. We’ll sweep forward with the narrative that Mahomes cannot be stopped come playoff time, and that’s true, but it’s also true he met his match in the Ravens’ defense, which took away his downfield looks, attacked his pocket and stonewalled his power running threat, Isiah Pacheco (24 carries, 68 yards).
“The defense did a wonderful job and held a great offense to 17 points,” Jackson said.
Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, left, tackles Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the third quarter. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) It’s what we had come to expect from coordinator Mike Macdonald’s crew, which led the league in sacks, takeaways and fewest points allowed while never giving opponents a fixed look to attack. The Ravens’ capacity to adjust during a game set them apart from the outstanding, attacking units coordinated by Macdonald’s predecessor, Don “Wink” Martindale.
They lined up All-Pros at all three levels and complemented them with tough, smart veterans beautifully suited to their roles. To its last day, this defense played well enough to bring a championship to Baltimore.
“Just having a group of truly unselfish dudes [who] don’t really care who gets the credit, all celebrate one another, it’s hard to find that in football, let alone in life,” said Smith, the leader.
Zay Flowers and Kyle Hamilton reminded us how much the Ravens have to be excited about
Flowers was the Ravens’ offensive star, right up until the moment he reached for a touchdown that would have cut Kansas City’s lead to three and instead saw the ball punched from his grasp by cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. It was a tantalizing, ultimately hellish moment that epitomized a tantalizing, ultimately hellish afternoon for the Ravens’ offense.
“I thought I did, honestly,” Flowers said when asked if he believed he had broken the plane of the goal line (replays showed he did not). “But I’ll learn from my mistakes.”
Harbaugh declined to blame the rookie, saying the Ravens teach their players to keep two hands on the ball when they reach for the goal line, which Flowers did.
It was an unfitting way to conclude a game in which Flowers proved, again, that he’s not destined to join the Ravens’ lineage of underwhelming first-round wide receivers. He saved three of his best games for the Ravens’ late victories over the Dolphins and 49ers and for their loss to the Chiefs. The team will need to create more chances for him as a downfield threat, but there’s no questioning his gift for springing free from the slot, his reliable hands or his ferocious thirst to reach the end zone. No less an authority than Beckham said “he’s going to be a special player.”
Hamilton already is that, an All-Pro hailed by some as the game’s finest safety in his second season. We knew he would be essential against the Chiefs, whether by covering Kelce, blitzing Mahomes or darting in to hammer Pacheco. As it turned out, he did all three and was the Ravens’ best open-field tackler to boot, finishing with a team-high nine solo stops.
A few doubters wondered why the Ravens used the No. 14 pick in the 2022 draft on a safety when they had pressing needs at more premium positions. Well, when that safety is 6 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 220 pounds and makes himself felt on almost every play, conventional rules don’t apply. The Ravens will have plenty of work to do on their defense this offseason, but Smith and Hamilton are elite building blocks, much as Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were once upon a time.
Throw in Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, and Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta is three-for-three on his most recent first-round picks.
The Ravens might want another shot with this team, but they won’t be the same in 2024
The window just closed on this specific group; that’s reality when more than 20 players — including heart-and-soul stalwarts such as Queen, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and guard Kevin Zeitler — are headed for free agency.
The Ravens will hold on to some. Perhaps they’ll use the franchise tag to keep Madubuike, who led the team with 13 sacks and 33 quarterback hits, off the open market, where he might command a $100 million deal. But Queen, who made the Pro Bowl in his fourth season playing through myriad injuries, might be too pricey given the hefty commitment the Ravens have already made to Smith.
A dejected Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley sits on the bench late in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, one of the great one-year bargains in team history, will surely cost more next time around. He and Beckham adored their time in Baltimore, but they’ll survey their options.
The Ravens will have many questions to answer on their offensive line, where guards Zeitler and John Simpson are both headed for free agency and tackles Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses battled injuries for much of the season. Linderbaum is the only sure thing. Patrick Mekari and Daniel Faalele did well rotating in to help Stanley and Moses reach the finish line. Might one of them compete for a starting job next summer?
Harbaugh’s staff could lose Macdonald to the Seattle Seahawks or Washington Commanders, both of which still need to hire a head coach. Defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson could become a coordinator in another city.
There will be plenty of time over the next two months to assess the choices confronting DeCosta and Harbaugh. Some fans will call for changes at the top after this loss, but that’s far-fetched. Players still respond to Harbaugh throughout every season, and he morphs with the times, as he did in hiring Macdonald and Monken the past two offseasons.
The Ravens will remain a contender to be reckoned with as long as Jackson is playing quarterback and Smith and Hamilton are around to maintain the franchise’s defensive standard. But this was farewell to an exceptional version of the team.
“Nobody thought we were going to be in this position — new system, new guys, a whole new team,” Jackson said. “People didn’t think we were going to be in this position, but we were. Next time, we’ve just got to finish.”
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This was the stage fans had yearned for: an AFC championship game in Baltimore. The world watched as the Ravens, for the first time, played for a spot in the Super Bowl on their home field.
But with the grandest of stages can come the most disappointing of outcomes, and that was the result Sunday. After four quarters of making the Ravens offense look pedestrian and the Patrick Mahomes-to-Travis Kelce connection clicking on all cylinders, it was the Chiefs who milled about afterward, celebrating another AFC title with a 17-10 victory. It was Kansas City staffers who ran and hollered down stadium stairwells and hallways, out onto the field that had quickly been converted into the site of a trophy presentation.
The 71,430 gathered at M&T Bank Stadium, and the millions more watching all over the globe, were left just as Ravens receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was, watching the Chiefs collect more hardware in Baltimore.
Sunday marked the biggest football game Baltimore had hosted in more than 50 years and, with American sports’ biggest prize — a Super Bowl berth — waiting at the end of it, Ravens fans from both near and far tuned in. The disappointment didn’t discriminate; regardless of fans’ origin, Sunday’s loss stung.
Jack Rennison, who lives in England, became an NFL fan years ago and used several criteria, including his familiarity with HBO’s “The Wire,” to select a favorite team. Watching with 120 Ravens fans at a London pub, he called Sunday’s game, “a massive anticlimax.”
“It’s amazing how a room of 100 or so people can just clear out quickly,” he wrote in a text message to The Baltimore Sun. Paraphrasing “The Wire,” he added, “We wanted it to be one way, but it’s that other way.”
Sunday’s stage was storybook-perfect. Lamar Jackson, who has often been criticized in his career for what he’s not, sought to knock off the mighty Chiefs, who are in the midst of a dynastic run, and Mahomes, the sport’s best. It was the Chiefs’ sixth straight AFC title game appearance, while Jackson, lambasted by pundits for his lack of playoff wins despite his electrifying play, focused all year on winning his first Super Bowl.
What’s more, this Ravens team, with its dominant season and questions about its future roster and coaching staff, was seemingly built to win this year. Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs marked a pivotal moment for fans near and far.
“I’m stressed,” Katy Coulman admitted a couple of hours before kickoff. One of seven Ravens fans who flew in from the United Kingdom for the game, Coulman became a Ravens fan years ago, in part because of her love for Towson-originated band All Time Low. Others gravitated toward the Ravens because of Edgar Allan Poe or, simply, for their reputation as a gritty defensive team.
A few of them drank National Bohemians Sunday as they tailgated, like any Baltimorean.
A group of Ravens fans from the United Kingdom tailgate at the BMORE Around Town tailgate party prior to the AFC championship game between the Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) “Once you’ve got the bug, you’ve got the bug,” Coulman, a member of the United Kingdom Ravens Flock, explained of her long-distance fandom. She saved money for five years to attend the game.
There were glimpses of what many, from Linthicum Heights to London, hoped would be a joyous day. When Jackson eluded a sack and connected with Zay Flowers, pulling a rabbit out of a hat for a first-half touchdown, fans in Sao Paulo, Brazil, jumped up and down, hugging one another, and chanting, “MVP!” Guilherme Foster, a Brazil native who attended the University of Delaware and then lived in Baltimore for several years, was among them, wearing a Baltimore Colts Johnny Unitas jersey.
He praised the Ravens’ second-half performance as being “Ravens football,” but told The Sun, “Unfortunately, it wasn’t the storybook ending that we’d hoped for.”
In Austria, Kate Pinter called it “the worst outcome possible.” A Vienna native, she started watching the NFL in 2011, and when the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2013, she was struck by the team’s colors. She and her husband, Benjamin Deppisch-Pinter, a native of Germany, operate a German-language fan website and spend their Sundays — including late into Monday mornings sometimes, given the six-hour time difference — watching their Ravens.
They traveled to Baltimore this year for two games and also watched the Ravens in London. Sunday, they were in their living room, eating loaded nachos and surrounded by posters from games they’ve attended, disappointed by the Ravens’ offense.
“The breaking point was the fumble at the 1-yard line,” Pinter wrote in a text message to The Sun, referencing one of the Ravens’ two fourth-quarter turnovers.
Benjamin Deppisch-Pinter and Kate Pinter were born in Germany and Austria, respectively, but have been Ravens fans for over a decade. In November, they visited Baltimore for the first time and attended two games at M&T Bank Stadium. (Courtesy photo) Like in Mexico City — where dozens of Ravens fans gathered Friday — vibes were high in Baltimore before the game. Alan and Kim Moore, of Anne Arundel County, both dyed their hair purple for the occasion. (“Why not?” Alan explained outside the stadium. “It’s the Ravens, man.”)
The tone of the evening shifted, however, as the Ravens’ loss came into view. As the referees walked off the field, fans in Baltimore hollered at them, and outside Fells Point bars, cigarette smoke and curse words filled the air.
“Damn. The AFC championship at home, losing that hurts more than losing the Super Bowl, yo,” Jacob Miller, of Arbutus, said.
While some fans cried foul about missed calls, the performance from Jackson, or pop star Taylor Swift, who attended the game to watch her boyfriend, Kelce, others felt the Ravens were simply outdueled by one of the greats, Mahomes.
Çağman Şeker, who’s from Istanbul, Turkey, and moved to Baltimore last month, recently embraced the Ravens and just wanted to see the city celebrate after a win. “That was bad,” he said, “but Baltimore is going to be OK.”
Baltimore Sun reporter Dillon Mullan contributed to this article.
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Sunday’s AFC championship game was supposed to be a defining moment for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
It turned out to be a bigger one for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
With Kansas City beating Baltimore, 17-10, at M&T Bank Stadium, there is no doubt that Mahomes is the best quarterback in the modern era of pro football. The difference in styles alone puts him up there with some of the all-time greats such as Joe Montana, John Elway and Tom Brady, but he’s been nearly unbeatable in big games throughout his storied seven-year career.
The road to the AFC title had to go through Baltimore, but the road to the Super Bowl still goes through Mahomes and the Chiefs. He has led Kansas City to six straight AFC championship games and two Super Bowl titles, winning the game’s Most Valuable Player honors in each victory.
He was the NFL MVP in 2018 and 2022, and he added yet another impressive win to his resume Sunday. The elusive Mahomes completed 30 of 39 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, finishing with a passer rating of 100.5 while improving to 14-3 in his postseason career.
He was hot in the first half, became ordinary in the second, yet still put the dagger in the heart of Baltimore. Up by a touchdown with 2:19 left and facing a third-and-9, Mahomes, under duress and falling backward, completed a 32-yard pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
It ended the Ravens’ season.
“It’s tough. One of the top two quarterbacks in the league, him and Lamar [Jackson], whatever way you want to rank them,” Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen said. “It’s tough. He can make plays, he can throw, he can buy time. That’s what we try to limit him from doing. But there were times when he just did what he does. We had opportunities to capitalize, but we just didn’t get it done.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws the ball away while Ravens outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, left, pressures him on Sunday. (Jerry Jackson/Staff) Mahomes has been on a roll this postseason. He completed 23 of 41 passes for 262 yards in the Chiefs’ 26-7 wild-card-round win over the Miami Dolphins and then connected on 17 of 23 throws for 215 yards and two touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday.
He has been hampered by receivers dropping passes throughout the season. The Chiefs’ receiving corps outside of tight end Travis Kelce and rookie wideout Rashee Rice is nothing to call home about. Tyreek Hill is catching bombs in Miami now, and JuJu Smith-Schuster, who caught 78 passes for 933 yards for Kansas City last season, now resides in New England. No matter.
Some Ravens fans said they wanted to see Mahomes in the postseason because they wanted to face the best, but they might want to rethink that one.
“Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce — they have great players,” Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce said. “You scheme yourself [and] try to put yourself in positions to stop those guys. We got it done. It’s just way too late, so credit to them. They played a great game, especially early. Our defense just got … we got started way too late.”
Meanwhile, Jackson, the favorite to win the NFL MVP Award, struggled with the same issues that have plagued him throughout his career. He completed 20 of 37 passes for 272 yards but consistently overthrew and underthrew receivers because of sloppy fundamentals. The Ravens couldn’t match up on the outside with Kansas City cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and L’Jarius Sneed, and Jackson had problems throwing to the outside of the field.
He easily could have had two other passes intercepted outside of the one that was picked off in the end zone when he tried to force a pass to tight end Isaiah Likely, who was triple-covered, midway through the fourth quarter in a two-score game. Pocket awareness? He struggled with that as well.
Jackson, of course, would prefer to win a Super Bowl than be league MVP. It’s reminiscent of watching former Ravens and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis run directly to the locker room after every playoff loss because he didn’t win a Lombardi Trophy.
That type of spirit drives competitors.
“I’m very proud of my team. We had a new system, offensive coordinator [Todd Monken] different things,” Jackson said. “There were different things we saw like motions and stuff like that. We had adversity at the beginning of the season. We [weren’t] playing well. People didn’t know what the Ravens offense or defense was going to look like, and we made it all the way to this point.
“Our goal was short. We made it here, but we’ve just got to finish next time, but I’m very proud of my team [on] all phases.”
But Jackson can’t be blamed totally for this defeat. The defense allowed 319 yards, including 221 in the first half when the Chiefs scored all 17 of their points. Offensively, the Ravens weren’t able to sustain many long drives, something that had become their signature this season. It was one of the key differences in the game — Kansas City had long, controlled drives, especially in the first half, and won the time of possession battle, 37:30 to 22:30.
That’s been the Ravens’ formula for success and part of the reason they couldn’t run the ball, which they gave up on early. They rushed just 16 times for 81 yards, and eight of those were by Jackson, who had 54 yards. Baltimore also struggled protecting Jackson, who was sacked four times.
The frustration showed. It showed as Jackson kept trying to force passes to veteran Odell Beckham Jr., who couldn’t get separation, and it showed in the penalties, all eight of them for 95 yards. Queen and middle linebacker Roquan Smith looked especially frustrated as the game wore on.
But many of the problems stem from the Ravens failing to contain Mahomes. He made and extended plays with his legs. He threw from various angles and looked very much in control of the Chiefs’ offense.
It’s why when the game was over, Mahomes and Kelce, who had 11 catches on 11 targets for 116 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown to cap the Chiefs’ opening drive, were up on the stage holding the Lamar Hunt Trophy.
The road to the Super Bowl still goes through Kansas City, and ultimately, Mahomes.
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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy threw for 267 yards and a touchdown, and the San Francisco 49ers rallied from 17 points down at halftime to beat the Detroit Lions 34-31 on Sunday and reach the Super Bowl.
The 49ers (14-5) scored 17 points in an eight-minute span of the third quarter to tie the NFC championship game and then pulled away in the fourth quarter to earn a rematch against Kansas City after losing to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl four years ago.
San Francisco mounted the fourth comeback ever from 17 points down or more in a conference title game thanks to some big plays by Purdy and bad mistakes from the Lions (14-6), including two failed fourth downs in field-goal range. Detroit fell short of reaching the first Super Bowl in franchise history.
“We played as bad of a first half as we could, but we were still within 17. There’s plenty of points there you can make up,” Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said. “The D shut them out there in the second half and this dude right next to me (Purdy) made it happen.”
After being questioned about whether he could lead a comeback, Purdy has now done it twice in as many weeks. He engineered a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter to beat Green Bay last week and then had an even bigger comeback against the Lions.
Christian McCaffrey had two TD runs and little-used backup Elijah Mitchell scored on a 3-yard run to make it 34-24 with 3:02 to play as the Niners got over the conference title game hump after losing the past two seasons.
“There’s been unfinished business for a while, man. Our team was set out for this for a long time,” Shanahan said. “It’s been a long year to get to this point, and we got it done today. It was hard at the beginning, but the character we have in our team, the type of guys we have, we can’t wait to get to Vegas, man.”
The Niners blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter of the NFC championship game against the Los Angeles Rams two years ago and then were forced to play much of last year’s title game loss at Philadelphia without a functioning quarterback after Purdy injured his elbow on the opening drive and fourth-stringer Josh Johnson left with a concussion early in the third quarter.
But San Francisco managed to make the long journey back to this stage and now is in position to deliver the franchise its record-tying sixth Super Bowl title and first since the 1994 season.
A magical season for the Lions ended in heartbreak. Detroit remains the only team to play every season of the Super Bowl era without reaching the ultimate game. This looked like it could be the year to end that drought when Detroit won back-to-back playoff games after winning just one in the previous 56 seasons.
But the Lions couldn’t finish the job despite holding a 24-7 halftime lead.
San Francisco settled for a field goal on the opening drive of the second half before the game completely flipped in a four-minute span.
Detroit coach Dan Campbell opted to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the San Francisco 28, but Josh Reynolds couldn’t hold onto a pass from Jared Goff, leading to a turnover on downs.
The Lions then seemed to have a potential interception when Purdy’s deep pass bit Kindle Vildor in the face mask, but the ball popped up and was caught for a spectacular 51-yard gain by Brandon Aiyuk. Purdy found Aiyuk three plays later for a 6-yard score.
“Before the game, a ladybug landed on my shoe. And you all know what that means,” Aiyuk said. “That’s all I can say. Other than that, I don’t know.”
Jahmyr Gibbs then fumbled on the next play from scrimmage, setting up a 1-yard run by McCaffrey to tie the game at 24.
It only got worse from there for the Lions with Reynolds dropping another pass on third down, leading to a punt that Detroit had a chance to down at the 1 but botched.
Purdy then drove the Niners to a 33-yard field goal by Jake Moody and their first lead of the game.
Campbell bypassed a chance at a game-tying field goal on fourth-and-3 from the Niners 30 midway through the fourth quarter. Goff threw an incomplete pass and the Niners drove to the insurance touchdown.
Goff added a TD pass to Jameson Williams with 56 seconds to play, but the 49ers recovered the onside kick to seal the win. Goff finished 25 for 41 for 273 yards and a touchdown.
San Francisco’s heralded front seven had no answer in the first half for Detroit’s offensive line, which repeatedly opened up big holes, giving the backs several yards even before first contact.
The Lions ran for 148 yards in the first half, getting TD runs from Williams, David Montgomery and Gibbs.
Michael Badgley added a late field goal to give Detroit a 24-7 lead at the half, tied for the second-biggest scoring output for a road team in the first half of a conference title game since the NFL-AFL merger.
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Zay Flowers flipped a towel over his head. He shielded his eyes from the final Kansas City Chiefs drive that would milk the clock and officially end the Ravens’ season, one stop from Super Bowl 58. After his fumble at the goal line cost the Ravens a golden opportunity to get back in the game in the fourth quarter, he turned up the sideline, his back to the action.
That’s where he met Odell Beckham Jr.
The veteran receiver, who signed a one-year deal with the Ravens in the spring, pulled in the rookie for an embrace. This wasn’t a quick hug. It wasn’t performative outreach. This was Beckham, fully embracing Flowers, in his ear doing most of the talking, sharing a lengthy human moment during the curtain call of their season, a 17-10 home loss in the AFC championship game.
“He just told me to keep my head up, you know,” Flowers told The Baltimore Sun. He paused, tears welling in his eyes that pointed at his shoes. Flowers wore his black jacket like a cloak over his head. He tried to keep going. His mouth opened the slightest bit but any follow-up stuck, like sap between his lips incapable of pouring out.
“I wanted to win,” was all Flowers could muster in an emotional postgame scene. “That’s it.”
Beckham could offer a bit more from their sideline heart-to-heart: “Just letting Zay know he’s gonna be a special player. This is a moment in your career that’s never gon’ break you. It’s always gonna make you. Just being able to be there for him however I can. I feel the same way they do. I wanted to win. … I was just sharing that, you know, it’s going to be all right. It’s just unfortunate the way it ended.”
Despite that game-changing fumble and another costly penalty, Flowers was one of the lone bright spots for a Ravens offense that struggled Sunday after dominating much of the season.
The rookie caught five passes for a team-high 115 yards, the third-most in Ravens playoff history, and scored the team’s only touchdown, a 30-yard grab tied for the longest touchdown catch by a rookie in franchise postseason history. No other Ravens receiver had more than 39 yards.
Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter after getting behind Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Even when he was flagged for taunting after a 54-yard catch late in the third quarter, pushing the ball back to the Chiefs’ 25-yard line, Flowers got 14 yards back with a catch-and-run.
But the need for a consoling veteran came later, with the Ravens still within striking distance.
Baltimore opened the fourth quarter at the Chiefs’ 10. Quarterback Lamar Jackson found Flowers over the middle, and the rookie split three defenders as he dove toward the goal line.
Flowers thought he broke the plane, as did the 71,430 screaming fans filling M&T Bank Stadium for the biggest home game in Ravens history. But cornerback L’Jarius Sneed poked the ball loose, and the Chiefs recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchback. The 23-year-old Flowers could only walk back to the sideline in a pit of frustration.
Flowers slammed his hand against the bench after the fumble. Television cameras revealed the ensuing cut on his left middle finger. A nearby trainer quickly tended to the bloody cut, which Flowers said was already there but “opened up again.”
“We coach two hands when you reach for the end zone,” coach John Harbaugh said. “[Flowers] had two hands on the ball.”
The turnover was the turning point of the game, a chance to flip the script on an otherwise underwhelming offensive performance. But that mistake will be the lasting memory of this game, just like the goal line fumble by Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley that was returned 98 yards for the decisive touchdown in last season’s wild-card-round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
“We gon’ get it back next time. We not worried about that,” Jackson said of Flowers’ fumble. “We all make mistakes. It’s his first season. It’s my first time in this situation. It’s his first time in this situation. We gon’ bounce back. Nobody played the game perfect.”
Flowers, drafted 22nd overall in April, finished his first season leading the Ravens in receiving yards with 858 (293 more than Beckham) and receptions with 77 (32 more than tight end Mark Andrews). For a franchise that has struggled throughout its history to draft and develop wide receivers, Flowers provides plenty of hope.
But for the rookie who saw so much success, in those tough moments, it helps to have a veteran.
“Zay is forever little bro to me,” Beckham said. “Regardless of the outcome today, just being able to share that moment with him like, ‘Bro, you gon’ be straight. It’s tough. Yeah, you may hear something about this. That’s just the way the world is.’ Just keep his head, just like everybody else in here.
“There’s no one play that defines a game. There’s still a lot of football that was left in the game. But these moments, he’ll be able to learn from and become a better player.”
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Lamar Jackson and the Ravens were, once again, mounting the comeback that fans anticipated. Rookie receiver Zay Flowers had fumbled at the goal line on the previous possession, but Jackson — long lambasted for his lack of playoff success — marched the Ravens back into Chiefs territory.
The dream season had hope. Baltimore, the AFC’s top seed after a special 13-4 regular season, threatened to cut Kansas City’s lead to a single score on a night when the Ravens’ defense had more than held serve against Patrick Mahomes and company. A trip to the Super Bowl was still in sight. Jackson could weave together a brilliant comeback, flipping the narrative about his postseason success and sending the Ravens to the destination he’d long envisioned.
But on a second-down look, Jackson floated a ball, seemingly up for grabs, to the back of the end zone. Hidden behind three white jerseys was Baltimore tight end Isaiah Likely. He never had a chance.
Deon Bush intercepted the pass and, despite a last-minute push by the Ravens, that proved to be a critical blow in Baltimore’s 17-10 loss. Mahomes and the Chiefs — whose AFC title game passport is stamped full of appearances — will once again play into February, a month they’re all too familiar with. Jackson and the Ravens, despite their dominant season, will not.
In answering postgame news conference questions, Jackson stressed the importance of turnovers. Two fumbles and the interception were a key culprit in Sunday’s loss, a lesson learned from the Chiefs, who did not cough the ball up once.
The Ravens twice had threatened to score in the fourth quarter only to turn the ball over. “Next time, we gotta finish,” Jackson explained.
Ravens fans hope that next time comes sooner than the last one did. It had been over a decade since Baltimore last played in the AFC championship game and this year’s team looked poised to hoist a trophy. They won more games than any team in the NFL and did so in convincing fashion; they’d knocked off the NFC’s best, the San Fransisco 49ers, on Christmas Day, decimated the high-powered Miami Dolphins in Week 17, taken care of the up-and-coming Houston Texans in the postseason.
But the Ravens matched a season-low with just 10 points. And for many, one of the most memorable moments of Lamar Jackson’s 2023 campaign, one in which he’ll likely win his second NFL Most Valuable Player Award, will be that play: a forced throw into triple coverage. Afterward, a few fans, disgruntled and likely full of liquid ire, threw beer cans onto the field.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sits on the bench in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s AFC championship game against the Chiefs. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Jackson threw for 272 yards but also was responsible for two turnovers — the interception and a first-half strip-sack after Chiefs rusher Charles Omenihu slipped past left tackle Ronnie Stanley. More importantly, the Ravens now have a 2-4 playoff record when Jackson starts and, unfairly or not, the quarterback will be blamed by many for this loss.
Baltimore’s defense, for its part, did what it has all year. The Ravens made open-field tackles, they pressured the quarterback, and they stood tall, allowing only 17 points. The defense, the NFL’s best all season, played well enough to win, despite a slow start.
Even still, Mahomes racked up 241 yards — often finding his favorite option, tight end Travis Kelce, to escape trouble — and once again, it’ll be him, not Jackson, as the quarterback representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Linebacker Patrick Queen said he considers Mahomes and Jackson to be the league’s best two quarterbacks, in “whatever way you want to rank them,” and he’d hoped that a win Sunday would grant Jackson “the recognition that he deserves” and end the narrative about him that he can’t win the big one.
“So much stuff he gets that he doesn’t deserve,” Queen said of Jackson. “This was his opportunity to be able to write some of that stuff off and move on to the next thing.”
But the Ravens’ offense struggled throughout a pedestrian first half. Jackson was not only the team’s leading passer and rusher in the first 30 minutes but also second in receiving yards after he caught and ran with his own batted pass (a fortunate ending to what could have been another turnover). The Chiefs doubled the Ravens’ first-half yards (221 to 110) and tripled their first downs (16 to five), but after a defensive struggle in the third quarter, Baltimore’s offense suddenly looked like itself in the fourth.
“To be a champion,” Jackson had told reporters last week in Owings Mills, at the Ravens training facility, “you gotta go through a champion.”
Baltimore outgained the defending champion Chiefs in the fourth quarter and twice nearly scored, teasing a comeback. Both drives ended, however, in disaster, and it’s hard to decide which was more painful: Flowers fumbling as he reached for the goal line or Jackson, minutes later in the same end zone, forcing a throw into the end zone on second down.
Jackson slammed his helmet down afterward and then, sitting on the sideline, placed his hands over his face, miming the helplessness of Ravens fans everywhere.
As Likely had sprinted toward the end zone, he’d raised his right hand, calling for the ball. Jackson thought he could fit in a pass to the second-year standout tight end. “I just tried to let him turn around and make a play,” Jackson said.
He thought there might be pass interference on the play — and Chamarri Conner made contact with Likely as the ball was in the air — but that doesn’t make the triple-coverage interception sting any less.
Nor will it lessen the doubts about Jackson’s ability to win in the postseason. Of criticism Jackson faces, linebacker Roquan Smith said, “there’s always going to be questions, comments, opinions. That’s just what humans who can speak and have a mouth [do].
“It’s not pointing fingers at the end of the day. We didn’t get the job done as a team.”
Jackson has four more years left on a lucrative contract and although questions linger about how this team will look next year — both from a coaching and player personnel standpoint — the Ravens will seek to be in this same spot next January. In the meantime, Mahomes might get his third Super Bowl ring. And the lasting image until then, for many, will be an ill-advised throw to the end zone.
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Here’s how the Ravens graded out at each position after a 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium.
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson never got into a rhythm with his offense. He had his moments, but he was off his game and several times underthrew and overthrew receivers and running backs out of the backfield. The Ravens’ best play, as it has been all season, was Jackson scrambling and improvising. This game should have been his defining moment in the NFL. Instead, he and the Ravens came up short. Jackson completed 20 of 37 passes for 272 yards with a touchdown and an interception and rushed eight times for 54 yards. He finished with a passer rating of 75.5. There were times when he showed the lack of breakaway speed he once had. Grade: C
Running backs
The Ravens had only 16 carries for 81 yards, and eight of those attempts were by Jackson. The big problem was that they abandoned the run too early. Didn’t they watch the tape of how the Buffalo Bills attacked the Chiefs last week? Kansas City came into the game with the No. 18 rushing defense in the league, allowing 113.2 yards per game, and the Ravens never tested the Chiefs. Gus Edwards had only three carries for 20 yards and Justice Hill had three for 3 yards. Grade: D
Offensive line
The Ravens got exposed. Tackles Morgan Moses and Ronnie Stanley couldn’t handle Kansas City’s pass rush and the Ravens had problems picking up blitzes. They tried to counter with tight ends and running backs helping off the edge, but that took receivers out of the passing routes. The Ravens need to select some offensive linemen in the draft, and Morgan played the final quarter of the season with a leg injury. Kansas City had four sacks and hit Jackson three other times. Grade: C-
Receivers
The Ravens didn’t get this group into the offense for several reasons. First, they couldn’t contain Kansas City’s blitzes or pressure, and they didn’t shorten the routes until the second half. Rookie Zay Flowers had five catches for 115 yards, but his taunting penalty after a 54-yard catch and fumble at the Chiefs’ 1-yard line after an 8-yard reception on the first play of the fourth quarter were crucial mistakes. Jackson tried to force the ball to Odell Beckham Jr. several times in the second half, but the veteran couldn’t gain separation. Even when the receivers did get open, Jackson had trouble connecting on the long ball. Tight end Isaiah Likely, one of the team’s top weapons since starter Mark Andrews went out with an ankle injury in Week 11, had only two catches for 16 yards. Big mistake. The Ravens could have used him on the outside. Grade: C
Defensive line
Most of the Ravens’ problems came in the first half because Kansas City kept them off balance by coming out and throwing the ball. The Ravens seemed prepared to stop the run, but Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes came out throwing to tight end Travis Kelce and hitting other short, quick timing patterns. The Chiefs had only 73 rushing yards, but they were effective pounding the ball inside with tough runs. Justin Madubuike had six tackles, including a half-sack and a pressure. Reserve end Brent Urban also recorded three tackles, but the Ravens got very little pressure up the middle on Mahomes. Grade: C+
Linebackers
Middle linebacker Roquan Smith had 16 tackles but Chiefs center Creed Humphrey did a nice job getting to him and cutting him off on several running plays. Weakside linebacker Patrick Queen had 11 tackles, but he seemed frustrated with the Chiefs and their tight ends. Both Smith and Queen delivered some unnecessary late shots in the fourth quarter. Outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney had two tackles and a sack and did a solid job of holding the edge, but neither fellow outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy nor Odafe Oweh had much success on the other side. Grade: C+
Secondary
Mahomes finished with 241 passing yards, but 161 of those came in the first half. Safety Kyle Hamilton finished with 11 tackles but he had to guard All-World tight end Travis Kelce, who finished with 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. That’s a tough assignment. Cornerback Brandon Stephens (nine tackles) had a strong game and the Ravens kept pressure on Mahomes in the second half with rushes from the edge. But on the Chiefs’ last drive, the Ravens couldn’t stop a 32-yard pass over the middle to Marques Valdes-Scantling with 2:19 remaining that sealed the victory. Grade: C+
Special teams
The Ravens wanted to get returner Devin Duvernay a couple of touches in hopes that he might deliver a big play, but he couldn’t do much outside of a 21-yard punt return in the fourth quarter. The Ravens were successful in coverage and Justin Tucker kicked a 43-yard field goal, his only attempt of the game, with 2:34 remaining. Overall, the Ravens didn’t allow any big plays, and that’s what you want from your special teams. Grade: B
Coaching
The Ravens were thoroughly outcoached the entire game. In the second half, defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald made enough adjustments to keep the team competitive, but offensive coordinator Todd Monken always seemed a step behind Kansas City counterpart Steve Spagnuolo. All the blame can’t be put on Monken, though, since the Ravens have struggled with pass protection for most of the season. Coach John Harbaugh gave up on the run too early in the game and spent more time complaining to officials than getting his team in the right frame of mind. Grade: C
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Quarterback Lamar Jackson talked all season about being “locked in” on the singular goal of delivering on the draft night promise he made six years ago when he said the Ravens would get a Super Bowl out of him.
He played like a man on a mission, too, putting up the kind of performances and numbers throughout the regular season that had Baltimore on the cusp of its first Super Bowl appearance in 11 years and will likely deliver him the second NFL Most Valuable Award of his career.
But when it came to dethroning the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and their own reigning MVP quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, Jackson and the Ravens learned the hard way that the playoffs are a different animal. So are the Chiefs this time of year.
Mahomes completed 30 of 39 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, while Jackson was hurried and harassed into a fumble and an interception with just one touchdown pass as the Chiefs raced out to a 10-point first-half lead and held on to defeat the Ravens, 17-10, to advance to Super Bowl 58. Jackson finished 20-for-37 with 272 yards in the air to go with eight carries for 54 yards.
Kansas City will play the winner of Sunday night’s NFC championship between the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions. It will be the fourth Super Bowl appearance in the past five years for the Chiefs, who were playing in their sixth straight conference title game.
The Ravens and Jackson, meanwhile, looked more like a deer in headlights than a team that had the NFL’s best record and the top seed in the AFC.
Trailing by 10 at the start of the fourth quarter and on the Chiefs’ 9-yard line, rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers caught a short pass and dove for the end zone only to fumble before crossing the goal line. The Chiefs recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback.
It was just one of several self-inflicted wounds by the Ravens on the day.
Later in the fourth, Jackson threw into triple coverage and was intercepted in the end zone as he attempted to rally the Ravens from the hole they had dug themselves.
Baltimore also committed eight penalties for 95 yards, which included an unnecessary roughness on Kyle Van Noy and a roughing the passer on Travis Jones that led to a Kansas City field goal late in the first half.
The Chiefs also didn’t waste any time asserting their authority, marching 86 yards in 10 plays on their opening possession for an easy touchdown. Mahomes completed all five of his passes for 57 yards on the drive, three of them to Travis Kelce for 36 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown on a back shoulder rope with Kyle Hamilton draped on him. Kelce finished with 11 catches on 11 targets for 11 yards as he passed Jerry Rice for the most catches in postseason history.
The Ravens bounced back, converting a fourth-and-1 from their own 34 on a designed run by Jackson that went for 21 yards. The scamper seemed to settle down if not ignite the offense, with Flowers spinning away from safety Nick Bolton and Jackson finding him for a 30-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7.
But that was the last touchdown Baltimore would score.
On the Chiefs’ next possession, they methodically marched 75 yards in 16 plays in just over four minutes. Kansas City converted four third downs, most of them from short range, before Isiah Pacheco plunged in from 2 yards out to give them a 14-7 lead. Harrison Butker added a 52-yard field goal just before halftime, and the Ravens’ only score came with 2:34 left on Justin Tucker’s 43-yard kick.
Kansas City had 221 yards in the first half to the Ravens’ 110 and also dominated time of possession, 20:39 to 9:21.
This story will be updated.
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Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to the visiting Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium.
Brian Wacker: The league’s presumptive Most Valuable Player had no answer for the NFL’s best postseason team over the past few years.
All year, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was in control of the offense, but in his first AFC championship game, he was completely out of sorts against the Chiefs’ blitz. And even when he wasn’t, Baltimore shot itself in the foot with costly penalties and ill-timed turnovers, including a fumble by rookie receiver Zay Flowers before he crossed the goal line on a would-be touchdown in the fourth quarter that would have cut the deficit to a field goal.
Then Jackson, who’d already fumbled earlier in the game, was intercepted in the end zone as he threw into triple coverage down 10 midway through the fourth quarter.
Baltimore had the NFL’s best defense during the regular season, becoming the first team to lead the league in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game, but early on it had no answer for the explosive Chiefs, who marched up and down the field at will most of the first half.
The Ravens’ defense stiffened as the game wore on, and holding the Chiefs to 17 points was more than commendable, but the offense never got in rhythm. Scoring 10 points against Kansas City, which came in boasting perhaps the NFL’s second-best defense, wasn’t going to cut it. Baltimore, which led the league in rushing, never got its ground game going, Jackson often held onto the ball too long as receivers struggled to get open and Kansas City dominated the Ravens’ shaky offensive line.
Childs Walker: Zay Flowers had been the Ravens’ best offensive player all day, but when he reached for the end zone to pull the Ravens within three in the fourth quarter, the ball popped free. His agonizing fumble reflected an agonizing day for an offense that came up flat with a trip to Super Bowl 58 on the line.
This was the best Ravens team ever through 18 games, but in the 19th game, far from that. Lamar Jackson’s second NFL Most Valuable Player award will be cold comfort as he spends the next year answering questions about a subpar performance in the biggest game of his most promising season. All the self-assurance he had displayed in recent weeks seemed gone when he threw into triple coverage for an interception that ended the Ravens’ next scoring chance after Flowers’ fumble.
Patrick Mahomes carved up the Ravens’ defense to start the game, eluding pressure and trusting his receivers, especially tight end Travis Kelce, to make catches against tight coverage. We’ve seen this from Mahomes and Kelce for the last six years, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive.
Jackson conjured up a few dazzling moments, slipping out of a sack to find Zay Flowers for a 30 yard touchdown and completing a 13-yard pass to himself (it ricocheted off a defender). But he struggled to find the right targets under duress, falling well short of Mahomes’ mastery.
The Ravens handed the Chiefs an extra three points before halftime with a pair of personal fouls. That said, their defense stepped up in a big way after those initial drives, holding Kansas City to a single field goal over a span of eight possessions. It was the offense that could not do its part.
Mike Preston: Until proven otherwise, Patrick Mahomes is still the best QB in the NFL. They can give the MVP to anyone they want, but this guy carried the Chiefs to the AFC championship. When it came to clutch throws, he delivered. He did it this year without two of his best receivers of the past three years. The road to the AFC championship had to come through Baltimore, but the title still goes through Kansas City and Mahomes.
Hayes Gardner: The Ravens’ defense did what they have all year. They made open-field tackles, they pressured the quarterback, they stood tall, even against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. But their efforts weren’t matched by the offense. There were plenty of chances to come back in the second half, but turnovers — it’s hard to pick which was more painful, the Zay Flowers fumble or the Lamar Jackson interception — made that impossible.
This was supposed to be the year that Jackson reached his first Super Bowl, the year that Baltimore broke through. Instead, once again, it’ll be the Chiefs representing the AFC.
Sam Cohn: There are a couple ways to beat the Kansas City Chiefs, owners of six consecutive AFC championship game appearances and two Super Bowl titles since 2020. Perhaps muting quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Or outmuscling the Chiefs’ menacing pass rushers. None of which include getting to halftime with quarterback Lamar Jackson leading the Ravens in rushing yards (27) and passing yards (67), while being second in receiving (13). He finished with 272 passing yards, completing 20 of 37 attempts, a passer rating of 75.5 and one vicious helmet spike. A 10-point outing, Baltimore’s lowest offensive output all season, won’t do it either. Unlike last Saturday against the Texans, where a fiery halftime speech reignited the Ravens, their inability to capitalize rolled right into the AFC championship’s second half.
Baltimore’s defense held up its end of the bargain. But without help, the Ravens’ season ends here.
The Ravens got to this point by flexing versatility. On Sunday, Odell Beckham Jr. had three receptions for 22 yards. Mark Andrews, once Jackson’s favorite target by a long shot, had two receptions for 15 yards. Isaiah Likely had two receptions for 16 yards. Even Justice Hill and Gus Edwards combined for only 23 yards on the ground with three carries apiece. Can’t beat a dynasty that way.
C.J. Doon: Brutal. The Ravens played their worst game of the season at the worst possible time. That didn’t look anything like the dominant group we saw during most of the regular season and in the second half of last week’s win over the Texans. The Ravens’ bravado served them well against tough opponents all year, but that aggression spilled over in big moments Sunday and cost them dearly. Why, after being patient and relying on quick passes to beat the blitz last week, did Lamar Jackson hold the ball so long and keep throwing deep? He played right into defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s hands, and the Ravens paid the price.
Tim Schwartz: It wasn’t meant to be. The Ravens had plenty of chances to get back in the game in front of a raucous home crowd but Zay Flowers’ backbreaking fumble at the 1-yard line and Lamar Jackson’s unforgivable forced throw to the end zone that was intercepted proved too costly. Baltimore’s defense started slow against Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and company but settled down in the second half to keep the Ravens in it. If you had told me the Chiefs would only 17 points, I’d have almost guaranteed a Baltimore victory. But the Ravens were undisciplined throughout the game (Kyle Van Noy’s penalty late in the first half comes to mind) and the stage looked too big for this group. The narrative around Jackson being unable to win the big one will carry over into another season, and it’s likely the team around him won’t be as talented as this one. This Ravens team, unfortunately, will be remembered as the best in franchise history to not win the Super Bowl.
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A drone once again paused a highly anticipated Ravens game.
During the first quarter of Baltimore’s AFC championship game Sunday against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, there was a brief break as referees announced an “administrative” timeout. That pause was drone-related, Maryland Stadium Authority vice president for public safety Vernon Conaway told The Baltimore Sun.
The pause lasted only a couple of minutes and, soon after, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens tied the game at 7 late in the first quarter.
For safety reasons, the Federal Aviation Administration places a Temporary Flight Restriction during large outdoor sporting events.
There was a similar, but lengthier, delay earlier this season when a drone was spotted during the Ravens’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 16. During that month, eight drones violated restrictions by flying near the stadium during games. Typically, those who violate the restrictions are seeking to get an aerial photograph of the stadium and do not realize the dangers of flying a drone, Conaway has said, which can cause harm if the operator loses control of it.
There were no such drone issues during the Ravens’ two December home games.
Sunday’s drone was launched from an area near the intersection of W. Lee Street and S. Sharp Street. Maryland State Police responded to the area, located the drone pilot, and are investigating, Conaway said.
This story might be updated.
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The Ravens followed up an uninspiring opening drive with one that flashed every bit of Lamar Jackson’s brilliance, driving six plays for 75 yards and a highlight-reel game-tying touchdown.
Jackson emerged from the throes of the Chiefs defense to convert a fourth-and-1 for a 21-yard gain. Gus Edwards powered for another 15, draped by Kansas City defenders. Then Jackson scrambled, pirouetted and planted his back foot for a 30-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers, evening the score at 7 after a six-play, 75-yard drive.
LAMAR AND ZAY GET THE RAVENS ON THE BOARD
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/kIn20pXMSy— Overtime (@overtime) January 28, 2024
Flowers followed up his diving catch by flinging the ball toward the sky sending the M&T Bank crowd into a frenzy. Some X, formerly known as Twitter, users believe the offense’s “swag surf” celebration might have been a trolling nod to Taylor Swift swag surfing in Kansas City earlier this month.
RAVENS SWAG SURF AFTER THEIR FIRST TD
(via @Ravens)pic.twitter.com/wnWoj24RcV
— ESPN (@espn) January 28, 2024
The Chiefs, however, answered quickly, driving 75 yards on the next drive to take a 14-7 advantage as Isiah Pacheco scored on a 2-yard run early in the second quarter.
Ravens Insider: Seahawks hiring Ravens DC Mike Macdonald as next head coach
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After masterminding a historic defense for the Ravens in 2023, Mike Macdonald will get a shot to run his own team next season.
The Seattle Seahawks are hiring Baltimore’s defensive coordinator to be their next coach, a source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. At 36 years old, he will be the NFL’s youngest head coach. NFL Network, which was first to report the news alongside ESPN, reported Macdonald has signed a six-year deal.
He replaces Pete Carroll, 72, who stepped down earlier this month after 14 seasons in Seattle, where he led the Seahawks to their only Super Bowl title in 2013. This season, Seattle finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs.
Macdonald, meanwhile, had become one of the hottest candidates in the league, interviewing this year with at least a half-dozen teams after helming a Baltimore defense that over the past two seasons ranked in the top five in scoring, total yards, rushing yards, red-zone touchdown rate and third-down conversion rate. Along the way, he also drew high praise for his intelligence, high-level defensive schemes that wreaked havoc for opposing offenses, as well as his ability to connect with players.
This season, the Ravens became the first team in NFL history to have a defense that led the league in sacks (60), takeaways (31) and points allowed per game (16.1), despite fielding a unit that entered the year with questions about its secondary and defensive front and was without a bona fide pass rusher.
They also ranked first in passing yards allowed per play, first in rushing touchdowns allowed per game, second in overall yards allowed per play and had several players who flourished in his scheme. Veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy had a career-high nine sacks in the regular season, while fellow outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney also experienced a resurgence, matching his career high with 9 1/2 sacks. Defensive tackle Justin Madbuike, meanwhile, led all interior linemen with 13 sacks, while inside linebacker Roquan Smith led the team with 158 tackles and inside linebacker Patrick Queen surpassed his previous career high from a season ago with 133 tackles.
Dubbed a “mad scientist” by Smith, Clowney, a 10-year NFL veteran, called Macdonald the smartest defensive coordinator he’s ever been around.
He’s also been dubbed in league circles as a defensive-minded version of Sean McVay, the Los Angeles Rams coach who, at age 30, was the youngest NFL coach in history when they hired him in 2017. McVay then became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl and be named NFL Coach of the Year when the Rams won the title in the 2021 season.
Like McVay, Macdonald’s rise has been rapid.
He first arrived in the Ravens’ Owings Mills offices in 2014 as a coaching intern after serving as a graduate assistant and safeties and defensive quality control coach at the University of Georgia, and his brilliance and tireless work ethic quickly paid off. Macdonald was promoted to a defensive assistant the following year then continued to work his way up the ranks, serving as defensive backs coach in 2017 before being promoted to linebackers coach the next year.
When the University of Michigan had an opening for a defensive coordinator after its 2020 season, Harbaugh suggested Macdonald to his younger brother Jim. In his first and only season in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines went from ranking 84th in total defense the year before to 20th. Michigan also routed Ohio State and went on to the College Football Playoff, with three of its defensive players being selected in the first 45 picks of the NFL draft.
Following the departure of defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale after Baltimore’s 2021 season, Harbaugh lured Macdonald back for the opening, and in his first season as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, only four teams had more sacks.
This season, Baltimore’s defense produced two All-Pros — Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton — and four Pro Bowl selections, including Queen and Madubuike.
Said Clowney: “I’ve been saying it since I got here, Mike Macdonald is the smartest defensive coordinator I’ve ever had.”
And now he’ll take his talents to Seattle.
This story might be updated.
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