ExtremeRavens

If the Ravens can’t pressure or move Cleveland quarterback Joe Flacco in the pocket on Sunday, they are in trouble. Big trouble. A week ago, Bills quarterback Josh Allen tortured the Ravens’ secondary, completing 33 of 46 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns in Buffalo’s 41-40 come-from-behind victory. In that game, in which the Ravens had a 15-point lead with four minutes remaining, Allen was sacked only once. But the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player is part of the new wave of quarterbacks who are mobile and can improvise. Flacco, 40, is part of the old guard that has to stand in the pocket to be successful. Let’s be more specific. He’s a statue. But this is a Ravens squad that doesn’t have a dominant pass rusher. In the early days after the team moved here from Cleveland, Baltimore had outside linebacker Peter Boulware and later defensive end Michael McCrary. Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs was one of the most dominant players in the NFL from 2003 to 2018 and holds the club record with 139 sacks. So, maybe Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens can get to Flacco, forcing him to move in the pocket. In a 17-16 loss to Cincinnati last week, Flacco completed 31 of 45 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown. He also had two interceptions, but those were both catchable passes. “It’s crazy that he’s still playing, and he’s still playing at a high level,” Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “The challenges he does pose is that he’s a veteran, so there is not a lot of stuff you’re going to be able to throw at him that he hasn’t seen. You have to make it as difficult as possible for him. And then, there is a reason why he’s still in this league. “His arm talent is still legit. He can still push the ball down the field at a very accurate and dangerous rate. So, we have to do everything we can to make him uncomfortable and get after him.” Translation: The Ravens have to mix coverages and pass-rushing responsibilities better. A week ago, they weren’t very aggressive. Actually, passive is a better word. Very seldom did the Ravens blitz safety Kyle Hamilton or nickel cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Both Orr and coach John Harbaugh talked about the Ravens being more disciplined in their rushing lanes because they allowed Allen to get outside and throw. Cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Nate Wiggins seemed to be stuck in last year’s early season time warp as far as knowing when to go into press coverage or when to back off. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr, left, and coach John Harbaugh watch practice last week. "You have to have good rush lanes to ‘muddy up’ the picture for the quarterback so he can't step up cleanly and get in the rhythm," Orr said. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) To be honest, this was expected. There is a difference between practice and game speed. This group didn’t play together in a preseason game, so there was going to be some miscommunication. “Yes, well that was the biggest issue,” Harbaugh said of containing Allen. “We understand Josh Allen; we have played him quite a few times. We had a little more success here at our place last year. The last two times there, not quite as much, but we had a plan, and we just didn’t get it done. We weren’t able to execute; we couldn’t keep him in the pocket.” “That’s probably the No. 1 disappointment for me,” Harbaugh added. “I think when you let him extend plays like that, he’ll run for yards, but he’ll also find receivers downfield, and they do a good job of getting open. It’s just hard to extend that coverage long enough with his arm strength and accuracy on the move. So that’s the No. 1 thing.” The Ravens have needed a dominant pass rusher for years, someone in the Lawrence Taylor or Von Miller mold, and it’s one aspect that is missing. Regardless if that player is double teamed or chipped by a tight end, his presence will cause a disturbance. Rookie outside linebacker Mike Green, the second-round draft pick from Marshall, might be that guy one day, but not in his first season. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy plays well and was strong against the run versus Buffalo, but the 34-year-old was not much of a factor against the Bills’ offensive line, which surrendered only 14 sacks last season. As for fifth-year outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, stories have come out of training camp every year on how he has improved, but he had only one tackle and one hurry against Allen. Green had one tackle and was a nonfactor as well. “Like I said, you have to give credit to [Buffalo], but our rush lanes — when you talk about defense — it all has to work together,” Orr said. “You have to have good rush lanes to ‘muddy up’ the picture for the quarterback so he can’t step up cleanly and get in the rhythm. At times when we did that, we were just a little bit off in the coverage. At times when the coverage was really nice and tight, what happened? He got out of the pocket and extended plays, and that was a point of emphasis that we didn’t want to allow happen.” Related Articles MTA makes adjustments for Ravens opener Ravens injury report: Isaiah Likely closer to return; 2 Browns questionable Ravens vs. Browns staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s home opener in Baltimore? Ravens vs. Browns scouting report for Week 2: Who has the edge? Joe Flacco’s return to Baltimore: Ravens celebration and a critical game Flacco can’t move as well as Allen. Few can. But he still has that strong arm. In 11 seasons in Baltimore, Flacco was 96-67 as a starter and was 10-5 in the playoffs before being traded to Denver in 2019. Cleveland still has a good offensive line with tackles Dawand Jones and Jack Conklin and left guard Joel Bitonio, but it’s not the same group without star running back Nick Chubb, who rushed for 6,843 yards and 51 touchdowns in seven seasons with the Browns before signing with the Houston Texans. Sunday’s outcome might come down to Flacco. The Browns don’t have a lot of weapons offensively, and their defense is ranked a respectable No. 13 overall. Some Browns fans have complained about the Ravens celebrating 30 years in Baltimore while facing the franchise that moved here for the start of the 1996 season. They are minor issues. The Ravens have to make Flacco unhappy in the pocket. If they can flush him, they’ll win. If not … Oh well, they are in trouble. Big trouble. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The Ravens’ Isaiah Likely was in uniform on the practice field Friday in Owings Mills for the first time since undergoing foot surgery on Aug. 2, signaling that a return to the lineup for the ascendant fourth-year tight end could potentially come as soon as Week 3. As for this week’s home opener against the Cleveland Browns, Likely was unsurprisingly ruled out. He’s also just one of two players who won’t suit up for Baltimore this week, with fullback Pat Ricard (calf) the other. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (personal) was also absent from practice Friday but is expected to play Sunday. A largely healthy roster bodes well for the Ravens, who are coming off a crushing 41-40 defeat to the Buffalo Bills and are already a game behind the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals as the AFC North rival Browns come to town. Cleveland, meanwhile, could be without right tackle Jack Conklin (eye, elbow), who is listed as questionable after being limited in practice for a third straight day. Coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that Conklin has a “50-50” chance to play. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins (personal) is also questionable, albeit for a far different reason. The second-round draft pick out of Ohio State met with the NFL earlier this week as part of an investigation into a potential violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. Judkins missed all of training camp and practiced Thursday for the first time since mandatory minicamp in June after being accused of domestic violence in Florida. However, prosecutors declined to pursue a case against him on Aug. 14 after a state attorney’s office investigation. Judkins was one of the top running backs in the draft after rushing for 3,785 yards and 45 touchdowns and catching 59 passes for 442 yards over three college seasons between Ole Miss and then Ohio State. Related Articles Ravens vs. Browns staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s home opener in Baltimore? Ravens vs. Browns scouting report for Week 2: Who has the edge? Joe Flacco’s return to Baltimore: Ravens celebration and a critical game How players-only dinner set stage for Ravens’ defense response to collapse ‘Not hard’ to tackle? Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s play says otherwise. | COMMENTARY The only player ruled out for the Browns is reserve defensive tackle Michael Hall (knee). Cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder, Achilles tendon), offensive tackle Dawand Jones (knee) and guard Joel Bitonio (rest) were all full participants in practice Friday after being limited earlier in the week and do not have an injury designation for the game. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 2 game between the Ravens and Browns at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 24, Browns 13: Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy might think the Ravens’ secondary presents “no challenges,” as he told reporters earlier this week, but Cleveland’s offense as a whole doesn’t, either. Outside of Jeudy, tight end David Njoku and 41-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco, the Browns simply don’t have enough firepower to keep up with a Baltimore offense that racked up 432 yards against the Bills last week. Cleveland’s defense presents a different challenge with star edge rusher Myles Garrett, cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome and safety Grant Delpit, but the Ravens should be able to move the ball. Expect Baltimore’s defense to be more aggressive, too, as it looks to wash the stench emanating from last week’s collapse. Sam Cohn, reporter Ravens 35, Browns 21: The Browns are doing their best to stir the pot. Safety Grant Delpit said it’s “not hard” to tackle Derrick Henry. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy said there’s “no challenge” in facing the Ravens secondary. The difference between these two teams is that one was projected to win five games and the other, despite a mystifying Week 1 loss, can contend for a Super Bowl. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton was dismissive of the so-called bulletin board material. It won’t change how they play. They’re motivated enough by an 0-1 start. Expect Baltimore to play angry — not because of the comments coming out of Browns practice, but because of how their season opener unfolded. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 28, Browns 21: The Browns don’t have enough quality players to pull an upset. Cleveland quarterback Joe Flacco is playing reasonably well, but the Browns don’t have a strong enough running game to complement him or the passing game. In the end, their defense will wear down. The Browns usually play well in Cleveland, but they get the Ravens on the road. Ravens, Browns: Josh Tolentino, columnist Ravens 31, Browns 13: Expect Baltimore to lean on a bruising attack led by Lamar Jackson’s option game and Derrick Henry’s freshly motivated downhill runs. With the M&T Bank Stadium crowd juiced for the home opener and the team’s 30th anniversary celebration, Zach Orr’s defense can dictate terms with a much-improved performance from its secondary. Looking back, the defense settled in nicely against Buffalo before the wheels came off in the second half. The Ravens can’t afford to repeat last season’s 0-2 start with four consecutive 2024 playoff opponents looming ahead of the team’s Week 7 bye. This early season date with lowly Cleveland feels like an emphatic bounce-back spot for an apparent AFC heavyweight. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 20, Browns 17: Will the Ravens avoid a carbon copy of last year, when they lost a heartbreaker on the road to the Chiefs only to lay an egg at home against the Raiders? This has “trap game” written all over it, with Myles Garrett potentially playing the same game-wrecking role that Maxx Crosby did last season against the Ravens’ offensive line. It’s not a guarantee that the Ravens’ defense has figured out what caused its epic collapse against Buffalo either, and Joe Flacco is not going to be afraid to test a secondary that has perhaps lost some confidence. I’ve got my eye on tight ends Harold Fannin Jr. and David Njoku creating some mismatches with their size and skill, but it will be hard for the Browns to score enough points to steal a win on the road here. Related Articles Ravens vs. Browns scouting report for Week 2: Who has the edge? Joe Flacco’s return to Baltimore: Ravens celebration and a critical game How players-only dinner set stage for Ravens’ defense response to collapse ‘Not hard’ to tackle? Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s play says otherwise. | COMMENTARY Ravens injury report: Top DT returns to practice; Browns RB ramping up Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 35, Browns 17: Jackson is 15-1 overall and 10-6 against the spread when playing as a double-digit favorite. He’s one of the best regular-season quarterbacks in recent memory, and he played exceptionally well against the Bills in Week 1. Baltimore has serious late-game lapses, but those often occur against capable teams. I give the Browns a better chance of contending for a top-three draft pick than finishing in the top three of the AFC North. After losing to the lowly Raiders in Week 2 a season ago, the Ravens won’t overlook this game or the importance of finishing off a big lead. Look for Baltimore to quickly bounce back and move to 1-1 before a “Monday Night Football” clash with the Lions. Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 38, Browns 20: How loud will the applause be for Joe Flacco before the home team beats the brakes off Cleveland? That’s the only thing in question for me. The result should not be. But we learned Sunday night that the Ravens are still susceptible to falling apart when it’s time to close a game, and having Flacco back at M&T Bank Stadium could make things interesting. But I don’t think it will. The Browns are not nearly as good as the Ravens in any facet of the game, and an 0-2 start would be shocking to everyone in Baltimore. A comfortable win should be in store. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 28, Browns 17: You can’t overlook the fact that this is Flacco’s first time coming back to Baltimore to play against his former team. A lot of fans will cheer him, thinking back to when he was the quarterback of the Super Bowl-winning team. But then it’s game time. I expect the Ravens’ defense to be a lot better than it was against Buffalo, particularly late in the game. If the offensive line can contain Myles Garrett, then Baltimore’s offense should have no problem. The Ravens always bounce back after a bad loss, and I expect the same this week, especially for the home opener. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

After spending all week lamenting a preposterous spiral and 15-point blown lead in Buffalo, the Ravens can finally turn their attention to their home opener against Cleveland. This matchup will do one of two things, offer a confidence-boosting beatdown or raise serious concerns about the veracity of this season’s end goals. Who will have the advantage in Week 2? Ravens passing game vs. Browns pass defense In more games than not, Lamar Jackson does something that nearly no other quarterback in the NFL can do. Against Buffalo, it was his 15-yard backward scramble, hounded by two hulking defensive linemen. Jackson had his back to the first-down line, he jabbed right then left, spun and slivered into an opening. He picked up 19 yards and a first down, traveling 75.9 total yards in the process, according to NextGenStats. That was the dazzling part of Jackson’s game we’ve come to expect. On top of that, he threw the ball for 209 yards and two scores on 14 of 19 passing. DeAndre Hopkins introduced himself to his new team with a one-handed grab for a touchdown. And Zay Flowers torched the secondary for 143 on seven catches. Baltimore’s offense looked unstoppable – at least for 3 1/2 quarters. Cleveland’s pass rush and defensive line is its strongest positional group. Myles Garrett is the head of the snake. The 2023 defensive Player of the Year has 14 or more sacks in four consecutive seasons, but managed only one quarterback hit in two games versus Baltimore last year. He’s flanked by Mason Graham, who saw more double teams than Garrett against Cincinnati. That opened lanes for Isaiah McGuire and Maliek Collins, too. Per Pro Football Focus, Cleveland had the fourth-best pass rush grade of any team in Week 1. The Ravens’ offensive line — and more notably the versatility of Todd Monken’s play calling — should be enough to keep the defense a step off balance. EDGE: Ravens Browns passing game vs. Ravens pass defense A familiar face makes his return to M&T Bank Stadium Sunday afternoon. Joe Flacco hasn’t been back in Baltimore since a 2018 injury gave way to his successor in Jackson. The last time he faced a Ravens’ defense was Week 1 2022. The then-Jets quarterback threw the ball 59 times, with one touchdown and an interception. Flacco flirted with a similar volume last week, completing 31 of 45 attempts. As coach John Harbaugh said before the start of the season, “we know Joe can sling it.” In Buffalo, the Ravens struggled mightily with passing lanes. They barely got hands on the quarterback and brought him down only once. Don’t be surprised by a corrective step from the Ravens defense. One of Flacco’s top targets had no issue taking a shot at his quarterback’s former team this week. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy was asked on Wednesday what challenges the Ravens secondary presents. Jeudy deadpanned, “No challenges.” That’s motivational jet fuel for a group of five first-round picks and the highest paid safety in NFL history, collectively in need of a rebound performance. That is, after letting up 397 passing yards, 251 of which came in the fourth quarter on Sunday. A 40-year-old Flacco can’t hold a candle to Josh Allen, the reigning Most Valuable Player. If there’s a chance to capitalize on bulletin board material for that group and bounce back from a sickly showing, it’ll be this home opener. Looking at Week 1 in a vacuum, Cleveland gets the edge. But based on talent and the expectation for how Sunday plays out, it goes the other way. EDGE: Ravens Ravens running game vs. Browns run defense Based on what we saw Sunday night in Western New York, there may not be a better run game in the NFL. Derrick Henry, at 31 years old, built like a brick designed to trample defensive backs, still has a second gear in open space. Henry turned 18 attempts into 169 yards with two touchdowns, a dominant performance despite his costly fumble in the fourth quarter. According to NextGenStats, he hit a top speed of 21.07 miles per hour, eight-tenths slower than his career high. Through one week, he leads the NFL in rushing yards — 26 more yards than the next best on that list. Harbaugh called him explosive and fast — “it’s what we expected to see.” “Their mentality is that they don’t want to give you anything,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “You have to be able to run the football against these guys. You can’t just let them tee off and get after you.” There’s still emotionless confidence in Cleveland. Browns safety Grant Delpit was asked how hard it is to bring down the 6-foot-2, 250-pound Derrick Henry. Delpit shook his head, “Not hard.” On a follow-up question, Delpit continued, “Somebody’s got the ball, you got to bring him down.” Henry returned serve with a stoic, “We’ll see on Sunday.” To Cleveland’s credit, they allowed the fewest rushing yards in the NFL last week. Cincinnati managed only 46 yards on the ground, split between Chase Brown’s 43 and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s three. Henry is four inches taller and about 40 pounds heavier. Plus, he combined for 211 yards on 31 carries in two meetings against the Browns last year. EDGE: Ravens Ravens running back Derrick Henry, shown in Week 1 against the Bills, ran for an NFL-best 169 yards in the season opener. (Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP) Browns running game vs. Ravens run defense The biggest question mark here is Quinshon Judkins. Cleveland’s second-round rookie running back returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since minicamp. How Judkins looks in two practices will determine his availability but it would be a surprising choice to play him off two practices. Cleveland’s ground game was paced by rookie fourth-rounder Dylan Sampson, who took 12 carries for 29 yards (he was more effective as a pass catcher). Jerome Ford contributed six carries for eight yards. That lack of production against Baltimore’s top-tier run defense might leave Cleveland more inclined to push for Judkins. But that shouldn’t be enough to tip the scale. EDGE: Ravens Ravens special teams vs. Browns special teams Both the Ravens and Browns have a kicker who missed an extra point in Week 1. Both the Ravens and Browns wound up losing by one point. But there’s more reason for confidence in Baltimore’s Tyler Loop than Cleveland’s Andre Szmyt. Loop nailed two field goals, one from 52 yards, in his NFL debut. He was transparent about the timing issue of the errant extra-point. Szmyt made one 45 yarder on two attempts, a performance that required coach Kevin Stefanski to confirm he will be the kicker on Sunday. Baltimore made one other major special teams gaffe in Week 1. Jordan Stout skied a near-perfect punt that likely would have died inside the 1-yard line until linebacker Trenton Simpson came screaming into frame, sliding down and ever-so-slightly crossing the end zone line for a touchback. That’s a mistake you don’t make twice. EDGE: Ravens Related Articles Joe Flacco’s return to Baltimore: Ravens celebration and a critical game How players-only dinner set stage for Ravens’ defense response to collapse ‘Not hard’ to tackle? Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s play says otherwise. | COMMENTARY Ravens injury report: Top DT returns to practice; Browns RB ramping up Ravens’ Zay Flowers isn’t a typical WR1: ‘I’m all about winning’ Ravens intangibles vs. Browns intangibles The Ravens have far more at stake. Most pundits are guaranteeing victory. Baltimore’s 0-1 start can’t drop to 0-2 heading into four straight games against playoff teams. At risk of sounding like a prisoner of the moment, the ‘confidence in this team’ scale tips pretty far if they roll over in the home opener. By no stretch would the season be over, as evidenced by the poor start to last year that still yielded a 12-5 record and second consecutive division title. It would just derail the discourse. Cleveland, meanwhile, is coming off a near upset against the Bengals. They’re projected to finish in the realm of five wins, at the bottom of the AFC North. There’s kerosine being dumped on the fire: Jeudy chirped the defense, Delpit downplayed Henry and a corner of fans on social media are irate about the Ravens’ 30th anniversary celebration being scheduled for Sunday considering the history of the two teams. If Flacco slings it and the defensive line can disrupt Jackson to extreme levels, this could turn into quite the upset. What do they have to lose? EDGE: Browns Prediction No one is looking at this game saying anything other than Baltimore is outfitted with a far more talented roster. The disparity between Super Bowl contender and projected 5-win team is stark. This is – to pull a phrase from the college ranks – the Ravens’ cupcake game in a six-week start that includes five playoffs teams. It also feels similar to Baltimore’s Week 2 loss to Las Vegas last year. And against Miami Week 2 of 2022, another late unraveling. But Joe Flacco can “still sling it,” so he should find ways to put points on the board against what appeared to be a leaky secondary. Ravens 35, Browns 21. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The last time Joe Flacco was at M&T Bank Stadium, chants of “We want Joe!” emanated through the stands. It was January 2019, and a frustrated mob was calling for Super Bowl 47’s Most Valuable Player six years earlier to save the day against the Los Angeles Chargers. He never got the chance, of course. The baton was officially passed to Lamar Jackson before that wild-card defeat and Flacco was traded to the Denver Broncos in the offseason. Sunday though, Flacco, 40, will return to the house of some of his greatest triumphs. This time, the Ravens’ winningest quarterback in franchise history will be on the opposing sideline with the AFC North rival Cleveland Browns for Baltimore’s home opener. The Ravens will also be celebrating their 30th anniversary, marking the occasion of their controversial 1996 exit from Cleveland as the then-Browns to the Charm City with a plethora of former stars on hand for the festivities in what could be construed as an awkward confluence. “Listen, they do these things and I think you can take it however you want,” Flacco told reporters in Cleveland earlier this week. “If you’re from Cleveland, you can take it one way and if you’re from Baltimore you can say it’s not a big deal, it’s just one of those things. “Honestly, for me, it kind of makes it more exciting. We get to go in there when they’re having some people back and just more ex-players, more eyes on you. It’ll make it more interesting.” Time often heals old wounds, so if there’s animosity toward Baltimore for moving on, Flacco isn’t showing any. “We were on good terms when I left,” he said. “But at the same time, you know, it’s natural to feel a certain way when you’re going against a team that you’re not playing for anymore. I’ve been a part of other players that do that and you kind of try to act normal, but it is a big deal. You do want to go beat them, and it’s a little bit of a difference.” Flacco added that Baltimore is a “very special place” and said it’s somewhere that he made “many good memories.” But he’s also wise enough to understand the significance of the moment that awaits — which is why, he said, he will likely venture onto the field a little earlier than normal to connect with what will be many familiar faces. The Ravens will be trying to do the same, particularly after a stunning collapse against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night in Orchard Park, New York, where Baltimore inexplicably twice squandered a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter, including one with under five minutes remaining and fell, 41-40. Cleveland is likewise coming off its own crushing defea, 17-16 to the Cincinnati Bengals, despite holding Joe Burrow to 113 passing yards and one touchdown. Flacco, meanwhile, threw for 290 yards and a touchdown, though he did toss a pair of interceptions. Now comes a reunion against his former coach, John Harbaugh, whom the Ravens hired three months before drafting Flacco 18th overall out of Delaware in 2008. Joe FlaccoSun photo by Kenneth K. LamFormer Ravens first-round pick Joe Flacco talks to the media in 2008 during a news conference. Flacco will visit M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday playing for a division rival. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff file) “Joe is iconic, I think, in Baltimore football history,” Harbaugh said. “I respect that and admire that, and I still keep in touch with him, except not this week. This week, it’s not about that for us as a football team. It’s about us getting prepared for a good quarterback that knows how to play the game, that’s capable of making plays against you. We’re going to have to be at our very best to defend against Joe and the whole offense.” The occasion will also be Flacco’s second career game against Baltimore. He last played against the Ravens in 2022 when he was with the New York Jets. Baltimore won, 24-9, at MetLife Stadium, where Flacco chucked it 59 times, completing 37 passes for 309 yards and a touchdown with an interception. Now in his 18th season, Flacco can still fling it. “He operates the passing game really well,” Harbaugh said. “He does a good job with all the play-action stuff. He’s going to get them in the runs they want to get in. … He is still big, he’s still got a good arm, he’s very accurate. It’s a good catchable ball, and he knows where to go with it. So that’s kind of the classic drop-back quarterback kind of guy that Joe is, and that’s the way they’re playing with him.” A handful of Baltimore players are looking forward to seeing and going up against their former teammate as well. Jackson along with tight end Mark Andrews, left tackle Ronnie Stanley, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, defensive end Brent Urban and fullback Patrick Ricard, who likely won’t play because of a calf injury that has kept him out of practice since mid-August, all played with Flacco when he was in Baltimore. Each remembers their experience fondly. “How cool he was with things he would say, and how funny he was,” Jackson said when asked what he remembers about his rookie season alongside the player he replaced midway through the season. “I don’t know if people know, but ‘Flacc’ is funny. He used to have me rolling as a rookie. I used to be like, ‘Man, this man just says stuff so nonchalantly.’ It is great. He is a great person to be around.” Nick Wass / APRavens quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Joe Flacco walk onto the field before a playoff game in January 2019. Soon after the loss to the Chargers, Flacco was traded to the Broncos. (AP file) Though the dynamic of incumbent quarterback being replaced by a rookie — it was a month after an overtime loss in Cleveland that Baltimore subbed Jackson in for the injured Flacco — can be uneasy, Jackson didn’t necessarily feel it. “I was just trying to learn as much as I could my rookie year,” he said. “I can’t speak for ‘Flacc.’ I was cool. I feel like we had a great relationship.” Though the two don’t keep in regular contact, they also had a moment years later. At the 2024 NFL Honors, Jackson was on hand to collect his second NFL MVP Award; Flacco the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Though Jackson also said that seeing him in a Browns uniform inside M&T Bank Stadium will be “different,” he isn’t surprised that his former teammate has lasted this long. Jackson recalled an 80-yard bomb from Flacco to Chris Moore during one practice that still resonates. “It was ridiculous,” he said. “So for me to see that back then, no doubt in my mind.” Humphrey’s recollection also stems from his rookie season in 2017 when Flacco surprisingly joined him for lunch. “I just thought that a quarterback, a Super Bowl MVP would not just join a rookie at the lunch table, so I thought that was cool,” he said. “I was young coming in [and thought] quarterbacks were probably just arrogant guys. So, that’s my first memory of Joe.” Watching him nearly a decade later not much has changed, Humphrey said. “He’s kind of still the same Joe,” he said. “He looks at all his reads. To me, it’s almost a lost art [of] quarterbacks — the three-step drop, five-step drop [and] go through all their progressions the way Joe does. Obviously, it’s a familiar face coming back to Baltimore. It is a weird thing, being in that Browns’ jersey, but we’re excited to go against him and hopefully come out on top.” This past offseason, Flacco also had a chance to be back in a Ravens uniform. Related Articles Ravens vs. Browns scouting report for Week 2: Who has the edge? How players-only dinner set stage for Ravens’ defense response to collapse ‘Not hard’ to tackle? Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s play says otherwise. | COMMENTARY Ravens injury report: Top DT returns to practice; Browns RB ramping up Ravens’ Zay Flowers isn’t a typical WR1: ‘I’m all about winning’ Baltimore talked to Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, about bringing him back and there was interest from both sides. It never materialized, though, and Flacco signed with the Browns two weeks before the April draft, marking his second stint with Cleveland after joining the Browns late in the 2023 season and leading them to the playoffs. A wild-card loss to the Texans that year also ended a chance for a return trip to Baltimore to face his old team in the divisional round, and Flacco spent the 2024 season with the Indianapolis Colts, making six starts. When he finally returns to Baltimore on Sunday, the stakes won’t be quite as high, but it will be an important game for both teams. It will also be a chance for fans and players to remember one of the organization’s most popular players who will one day after he retires end up in the team’s Ring of Honor. “Once a Raven, always a Raven,” Jackson said. “I believe that’s a fact.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

On Monday night, Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton organized a players-only dinner for the Ravens’ defense. Whether it was a response to their blunders in Buffalo or preordained in the week’s schedule matters less than what they got out of having everybody in the same room less than 24 hours after falling to 0-1. “It’s going to be private — just because I don’t need to express what was said,” veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy said. “But things were talked about, and we have to turn the page.” The nature of the NFL schedule doesn’t allow much room for deep reflection. There’s a home opener against a division foe Sunday, then 15 more regular-season games to worry about. But this loss was weighed down by well-documented emotional baggage. For one, it was the same building where Baltimore’s 2024 season ended in backbreaking fashion. The Ravens spent all season plotting vengeance in the form of a projected top-tier defense — the kind that can rack up takeaways. That defense let up 397 passing yards, 251 of which came in the fourth quarter, and failed to force a turnover. Quarterback Josh Allen spun a 15-point comeback, dismantling analytical models predicting a 99.1% chance of Ravens victory. For Baltimore, that required some additional dialogue. Two messages emerged from the dinner: Defensive coordinator Zach Orr assured his players that they would not be “repeat offenders” and, as cornerback Marlon Humphrey put it, “the guys that are doing it right are going to play.” “When you come together as a team, as men, everyone can be vulnerable,” outside linebacker Odafe Oweh told The Baltimore Sun. “You can tell each other, ‘I messed up.’ We all have each other’s back. … That dinner helped a lot of guys to understand that if the outside world wants to write us out, we got each other.” Timing wise, that meeting pressed up against what is a common rule of thumb in professional sports: The 24-hour rule. No loss shall be bothersome more than one day after the final horn. Rules are meant to be broken. Van Noy amended that sometimes losses can linger into a second day of reflection, but moping about Sunday night’s loss hit a hard deadline Tuesday night. “After emotional loss like that, I think it was OK to take 48,” Van Noy said Wednesday. “It was one of those games where you have to really look at yourself in the mirror, personally, on defense, collectively.” When Orr played back the film, he wasn’t impressed by his team’s “fundamentals and technique.” "That dinner helped a lot of guys to understand that if the outside world wants to write us out, we got each other," Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh said. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) They were in the right positions. Humphrey went as far as to call them “perfect calls” that players failed to execute on. That snowballed into an inability to get off the field and a comeback that will live on through “NFL Films” highlight tapes. The fourth quarter alone warranted a standalone video on the league’s YouTube channel. Orr started counting on his fingers. The league average for defensive snaps per game is in the low-60s. Seventy or more is considered high. Baltimore played 85, which forced Orr to unload his call sheet. They tried man coverage, zone, blitzing, burning off the edge, showing one thing and doing another. Buffalo concocted five drives with eight or more plays (compared with the Ravens’ two). In the fourth quarter, the Ravens’ defense spent a grueling 10 minutes and 27 seconds on the field. “To our own undoing, we were out there for a long time,” Orr said. “Mentally and physically, we got worn out, which is tough to say, but that’s the truth.” There were issues all over the defense. Harbaugh’s “No. 1 disappointment” was the Ravens’ inability to keep Allen contained to the pocket. Orr said that their pass rush lanes weren’t “as tight and crisp” as they needed to be, according to Van Noy. Safety Kyle Hamilton said that practices this week have been “very intentional” in address their mistakes. Earlier this week, Humphrey said, rather bluntly, that Baltimore’s defense showed they’re “just not mature enough as a team yet.” That was something Harbaugh voiced in a meeting. Hamilton preferred the term “lackadaisical,” arguing that no offense should score 40 and “be trying to fight for the game.” Orr agreed with all of it. “Last week, the film showed it,” Orr said. “We weren’t mature enough to close out that game.” Related Articles Ravens vs. Browns scouting report for Week 2: Who has the edge? Joe Flacco’s return to Baltimore: Ravens celebration and a critical game ‘Not hard’ to tackle? Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s play says otherwise. | COMMENTARY Ravens injury report: Top DT returns to practice; Browns RB ramping up Ravens’ Zay Flowers isn’t a typical WR1: ‘I’m all about winning’ The difference between a Ravens team bouncing back from their loss in Buffalo compared with last year’s 10 weeks of defensive troubles is their unwillingness to be patient. There’s a transparency between those walls about who is making plays and who isn’t. No player is safe, because this team can’t afford to waste away games. Orr won’t be as patient as he has been in the past. As Humphrey put it, they can’t afford to “protect this guy or protect that guy” until that guy starts making plays again. Last year, safety Marcus Williams was benched nine starts into the worst season of his career, leading to his release in March. Offseason acquisition Eddie Jackson was given a similarly long leash to correct his poor performances before the Ravens eventually turned to back-end band-aid Ar’Darius Washington. That group is a distant memory. Once Tuesday night hit, the loss in Buffalo was left behind too. They’re solely concerned with not opening 0-2 like they did last fall. During a meeting Thursday, Humphrey stood up to share a nugget with the class. He spoke with his dad this week, rehashing all that went awry in Buffalo. Bobby Humphrey, a former NFL running back in the early 1990s, told his son something that Marlon reiterated to his teammates and that stuck with rookie Mike Green. “Don’t be surprised if y’all don’t lose another game.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Conventional wisdom said that Derrick Henry would be slowing down. Running backs his age almost always do. Henry, though, didn’t just deliver the Ravens a few highlights in Buffalo. He reminded everyone what Baltimore’s Super Bowl hopes ride on. A running back who turns 32 in January isn’t supposed to hit 21.07 mph on a 46-yard fourth-quarter rushing touchdown. For a veteran with nearly 2,400 career carries, that kind of burst isn’t normal. But for Henry, his latest performance served as validation that the tank isn’t empty yet. The Ravens didn’t bring Henry here to be ordinary, either. They brought him to be an elite difference-maker, to carry a load that once fell too often on quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson. And if the Ravens are going to make a special run this season, it will be because Henry’s legs keep churning. On a night when Baltimore’s collapse stole the headlines, Henry was the one silver lining. His 169 rushing yards, two touchdowns and 9.4 yards per carry represented evidence that, even in a disastrous defeat, the dynamic one-two punch of Jackson and Henry is the most punishing duo in football. If the Ravens are going to make a push for the franchise’s third Super Bowl title, it’ll be because Henry is still his dominant self. In Week 1, he was nearly unstoppable until his infamous turnover late in the fourth quarter. His fumble was part of the offense turtling over the final two drives. But earlier in the contest, coordinator Todd Monken leaned into Henry and married his calls with Jackson’s effective play-action and option looks. Add in Zay Flowers blossoming into a true No. 1 receiver, and Baltimore’s offense looked terrifying before everything unraveled. Even after Sunday, though, the respect isn’t universal. Ravens running back Derrick Henry breaks a tackle by Bills safety Cole Bishop during Sunday's season opener in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) How difficult is Henry to tackle? Browns safety Grant Delpit was prompted Wednesday by local reporters. He didn’t flinch. “Not hard,” Delpit replied. Count that as bulletin-board material for the 252-pound back, who has built an illustrious career by stiff-arming and pulverizing opponents. Team sources indicated to The Baltimore Sun that Henry, a four-time All-Pro selection, had strong feelings about Delpit’s comments, but publicly, he kept his remarks short. “I saw that,” Henry said. “His coach had a quote. He had a quote. We’ll see on Sunday.” History shows repeatedly that running backs don’t ease into decline. The drop-off is almost never gradual, but sudden and unforgiving. Frank Gore was the last 32-year-old tailback to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards back in 2016. Baltimore bet that Henry could be the exception when they awarded him a two-year contract worth $30 million last offseason. Each carry moving forward will be measured against that reality. Can Henry hit 21-plus mph in December? Can he still close games and silence stadiums, the way he did in Buffalo when a frustrated fan threw a frozen water bottle at his feet? Thus far, Henry continues to turn the clock back and defy those odds. Related Articles Ravens injury report: Top DT returns to practice; Browns RB ramping up Ravens’ Zay Flowers isn’t a typical WR1: ‘I’m all about winning’ Ravens Week 1 high school football Coaches of the Week Ravens QB Lamar Jackson won’t face NFL discipline for shoving Bills fan READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans worried by late-game collapse vs. Bills Henry made it abundantly clear this week that last year’s success, when he rushed for a whopping 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns, is in the rear-view mirror. The same should be true of Baltimore’s epic collapse at Buffalo. “Last year don’t matter,” Henry said. “We just need to focus on the present, what we need to do to help us win. Focus on being efficient, doing our job effectively and put ourselves in the best position to win. Last year is last year.” The Ravens’ Super Bowl hopes aren’t complicated. Baltimore’s season hinges on whether the defense can shake off Buffalo’s meltdown and whether Henry and Jackson can stay upright long enough to finish the job. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

The Ravens are close to full health for Sunday’s home opener against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike returned to practice Thursday as a limited participant after missing Wednesday’s session with an ankle injury. Cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) also practiced fully after being limited Wednesday. Tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) and fullback/tight end Patrick Ricard (calf) remained out, likely keeping them on the sideline for the second consecutive game. Likely had surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot in late July and Ricard has not practiced since the middle of August, though coach John Harbaugh said Monday that he expected the five-time Pro Bowl selection to return this week. But perhaps the biggest intrigue comes on Cleveland’s side. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins practiced Thursday for the first time since mandatory minicamp in June. Judkins was at the Browns’ complex in Berea, Ohio, on Monday and Tuesday getting back up to speed and in New York on Wednesday meeting with NFL officials as part of an investigation into a potential violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. Judkins signed with the Browns last Saturday. The second-round draft pick from Ohio State missed all of training camp after he was accused of domestic violence in Florida. Prosecutors declined to pursue a case against him on Aug. 14 following a state attorney’s office investigation that found inconsistencies in the accuser’s story. “We’ve been able to work with him physically over the last few days,” coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday. “He appears to be in very good shape, but I think it’s important that we take this day-by-day.” Fourth-round pick Dylan Sampson got the start in Sunday’s 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and had only 29 rushing yards on 12 carries. Jerome Ford was held to 8 yards on six attempts. “We’ll take it day-by-day to see how he continues to progress in practice,” offensive coordinator Tommy Rees told reporters Thursday. “It takes some extra work to make sure that we can catch him up after a Wednesday practice, but Thursdays and Fridays are really pivotal days throughout the week, so finding ways to make sure we give him the proper work to give him an opportunity.” Judkins, a transfer from Ole Miss, rushed for 3,785 yards and 45 touchdowns while catching 59 passes for 442 yards in three college seasons. The 6-foot, 221-pound Judkins was considered one of the top running backs in the draft, with analyst Lance Zierlein describing him as a “productive runner possessing good size and great contact aggression.” His potential return would be a significant boost for an offense led by former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. Related Articles ‘Not hard’ to tackle? Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s play says otherwise. | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Zay Flowers isn’t a typical WR1: ‘I’m all about winning’ Ravens Week 1 high school football Coaches of the Week Ravens QB Lamar Jackson won’t face NFL discipline for shoving Bills fan READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans worried by late-game collapse vs. Bills “Yeah, I mean, for us to play well, we have to be able to run the ball better than we did in Week 1,” Stefanski said. “We have to perform better as players. We have to give them a better plan. As coaches, you need to strain a little bit more. You have to use technique a little bit more. It’s all the little things that add up to being a big thing when you talk about having rushing success.” The Browns had four players limited at Thursday’s practice: offensive tackles Jack Conklin (eye, elbow) and Dawand Jones (knee), defensive tackle Michael Hall (knee) and cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder, Achilles tendon). Guard Joel Bitonio returned after getting a day off Wednesday. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Zay Flowers doesn’t look or act like a typical No. 1 wide receiver. Ja’Marr Chase, A.J. Brown and CeeDee Lamb fit the mold of elite wide receivers. Physically dominant and fully aware of their skill set, they command the ball accordingly. But Flowers isn’t that type of wideout. He’s 5’9, 183 pounds and lines up in the slot for a majority of games. Then there’s the personality aspect. Flowers has never complained about his amount of targets, nor his role in the offense. The wideout posted a career-high 143 yards in the Ravens’ narrow loss to the Buffalo Bills. He also added seven catches — which tied for the second most he had in 2024. Flowers also scored on a 23-yard touchdown reception and caught a downfield pass for 39 yards. The 2024 Pro Bowl selection leads the NFL in receiving yards after Week 1. But there were times last year when Flowers would explode for a big game, then follow it with minimal production. In 2024, Flowers backed up 100-yard games with performances of 35 receiving yards or fewer three times. When asked Wednesday if he wanted more consistent opportunities this season, he offered a mature response. “Honestly, that’s not really my job, I don’t really draw up [any plays],” Flowers said. “I just go with what the coaches tell me to do. “In one of those games, Derrick Henry had like 160, 170 rushing yards. I can’t really control that either. And if we’re winning, keep giving it to him. Like I said, I’m all about winning.” Mark Andrews has been quarterback Lamar Jackson’s favorite target for much of his career. Whenever there’s a big play, Jackson tends to turn toward his tight end. That has shifted in recent seasons, with Flowers leading the team in targets in 2023 and 2024. Andrews is getting older, Isaiah Likely is still injured and there are strong complementary weapons around Flowers. The third-year wideout is entering a prime opportunity to cement himself as the best receiver Jackson’s played with in Baltimore. “Zay is a matchup problem anywhere on the field. If you can get him the ball, something special is going to happen,” wide receivers coach Greg Lewis said in July. It’s no question Baltimore’s offense runs through Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. When the Ravens are at their best, Henry’s running downhill and Jackson’s orchestrating a lethal quarterback run game and vertical passing attack. Henry leads the NFL in rushing after his 169-yard performance in Week 1. Related Articles ‘Not hard’ to tackle? Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s play says otherwise. | COMMENTARY Ravens injury report: Top DT returns to practice; Browns RB ramping up Ravens Week 1 high school football Coaches of the Week Ravens QB Lamar Jackson won’t face NFL discipline for shoving Bills fan READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans worried by late-game collapse vs. Bills “If you get the ball a lot at receiver, that means your run game isn’t good. We got Derrick Henry, a lot of teams don’t got Derrick Henry and Lamar,” Flowers said. “You get what you get, and you do what you can with it.” Flowers played on 90.2% of offensive snaps in Week 1 to lead all Ravens wide receivers, with Rashod Bateman next at 72.5%. The Boston College product is clearly the team’s primary receiver. If the team can rely on Flowers as a legitimate game-breaker, the offense opens up even more. Several of his biggest plays came on deep crossing routes over the middle of the field, a route that Flowers said he excels at because of his quickness and ability to create separation. He might not posture like one, but Flowers’ season opener was a reminder of why he’s the Ravens’ top wideout. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers runs with the ball during the first half of the Ravens' Week 1 loss to the Bills. Flowers played well in the game, recording a career-best 143 receiving yards. (Adrian Kraus/AP) View the full article

Each week during the high school football season, The Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore Ravens will select one tackle football and one girls flag football Coach of the Week. Here are the winners for Week 1: Tackle football Trey Gibson, Severn Run: Gibson led Severn Run to its first victory in program history, a 21-13 win over Wilde Lake. The Wildecats jumped out to a 13-0 lead, but the Wolves rallied to score the final 21 points and move to 1-0 on the season. Girls flag football Alexis Wade, Edmonson-Westside: The Red Storm took down the reigning Baltimore City champion, Dunbar, 19-14. Edmonson-Westside had a strong finish to the 2024 season and picked up where it left off to begin the 2025 campaign. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will not face discipline from the NFL for shoving a Bills fan during Sunday night’s season-opening loss to Buffalo at Highmark Stadium, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Thursday. “The matter has been addressed by the club and there is no further action from the league,” he wrote in a text. Jackson was celebrating with teammates behind the end zone following a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins late in the third quarter when a fan in a red Bills jersey hit Hopkins on the helmet. The same fan also pushed Jackson in the head seconds later, and the quarterback responded by shoving the fan in the chest with both hands. The fan was ejected and has since been “indefinitely banned from Bills and NFL stadiums,” a Bills official told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday. On Wednesday, Jackson apologized to the fan. “It just happened,” he said. “My apologies to whoever that was. Just chill next time. You could talk trash, but keep your hands to yourself.” Ravens coach John Harbaugh also said that general manager Eric DeCosta and team president Sashi Brown spoke with the league about the incident and that he also talked to Jackson. “I’m very confident he understands what he needs to understand,” Harbaugh said. Later, Ravens running back Derrick Henry was nearly hit by a frozen water bottle in the end zone at the other end of the field after scoring on his 46-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. “Stuff like that shouldn’t be happening. It’s not WWE,” Jackson said. “We’re playing football out here. So just keep it to football. I know guys are going to talk trash. I know the opposing team is going to talk trash. Keep it that way. But keep your hands and keep your objects to yourself.” The Ravens will face the Cleveland Browns in their home opener Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans worried by late-game collapse vs. Bills Staff picks for Week 2 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Packers, Eagles vs. Chiefs and more How the Ravens’ renovations to M&T Bank Stadium affect fans: ‘I got screwed’ Mike Preston: Ravens beware, Joe Flacco ‘can still bring it’ | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ View the full article

We asked readers if the Ravens’ shocking loss to the Bills in Week 1 changes their outlook on Baltimore’s season. The Ravens led, 40-25, late in the fourth quarter before allowing 16 consecutive points to lose, 41-40. Here are the results from our online poll: Yes — 64% (326 votes) No — 36% (183 votes) Here’s what some fans have told us about the team’s season-opening loss and future outlook (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): Honestly, I was nervous the whole game. Buffalo was only one big play away (see Henry fumble) from a momentum shift. As for the last five minutes, if you can’t get closer to the quarterback than they did, it is going to be a long season. But no worries, the Commanders have brought in more bandwagon buses. There will be room for us. — Jay Esterson As long as John Harbaugh is the coach, this is who the Ravens are as a team. The Ravens are full of talent but they frequently get out-coached in big games against better coaches. The Ravens will make the playoffs again and choke again. What reason do we have to believe otherwise? Prior performance is the best predictor of future performance. — David Carroll Someone needs to remind the Ravens that the game is for 60 MINUTES!! Last night’s game should rank as one of the WORST LOSSES suffered by a team in the history of the NFL! — Scot Howard Expectations remain the same (i.e., making the playoffs and then finding a creative way to lose to a lesser team). — Dave C New year, new defensive players, and the same old problems. This has been going on for several years. No pass rush, defensive backfield shoddy, and relying on the offense to outscore the opponent. I think this comes down to inferior coaching. Harbaugh can talk all he wants about how good his defense is, but until proven otherwise, it could be a long season considering the quality of Ravens’ opponents. — Robert I was a Ravens season-ticket holder for 26 years, since their inception, starting at Memorial Stadium. I moved to Denver and still watch Ravens religiously. Not impressed with Harbaugh any longer. He hardly ever speaks to coordinators on his headset like other head coaches. His news conferences are totally boring, e.g. “They are a good football team, we played hard, we go to work tomorrow, we have more games to play.” Hold somebody accountable, maybe owner Steve Bisciotti should. If we get to the playoffs and go one and done, I don’t think Lamar Jackson or coaching staff can do it. Thank you for letting me vent my frustrations. — Charles Ignatavicius I am a lifelong Baltimore Colts and Ravens fan in Richmond, Virginia. I am a loyal supporter of the Ravens and say this with respect as I know these players work so hard and give everything for this team and the Baltimore community. I also think the Ravens may have the most talent of any team in the NFL. But something is wrong somewhere, when over a period of several years now you continue to blow big leads in the fourth quarter. Watching the Bills game in the fourth quarter I got this sick feeling that I have seen this movie before. And sure enough, it had the same ending. Not sure what the answer is? — WT Brown Are you kidding? First game of the season, and the Bills got lucky. End of story. The first 3 1/2 quarters of the game the Ravens’ offense was making shockingly amazing plays, anyone remember? This loss is on the Ravens’ defense but it does not alter my high hopes for this immensely talented Ravens team — maybe the best ever — to go all the way this year. They won’t forget the pain from this, and it will just drive them on to greater heights. Watch out next time Bills, and all other haters. Go Ravens! — JD Bills kicker Matt Prater kicks a field goal from the hold of punter Brad Robbins as time expires in the second half of this past week's Bills-Ravens game. The Ravens gave away a 15-point fourth-quarter lead in the loss. (Adrian Kraus/AP) No, if you are interested in the Super Bowl talk, this loss, although disappointing, has no effect on it. Teams in the Super Bowl are mostly those hot at the end of the season, relatively healthy, and have strong leadership. History tells us this. Look at the Ravens’ Super Bowls. Do you really think Kansas City with its loss, won’t be there at the end of the season? My only concern with this loss is it was head to head with Buffalo and could impact playoff seeding. — Stephen Daryl Smith Like the Four Tops record from 1965 “It’s The Same Old Song.” Year after year with the same failures. And what bugs me the most is that after so many mistakes and failures all we hear from Harbaugh is, “We have to work on that.” Like, hello, players get paid not to make those mistakes. The real games start with the playoffs and the Ravens hold on just enough to get there but then DONE. We have a great team overall, and I’m just wondering how long the owner will stand for this … it’s already too long in my opinion. A change NEEDS to be coming. — Jerry Solomon This is becoming a common problem for Harbaugh. He by far leads the league with blown leads late in the game. This is just not coincidence. With the talent he has been given, this should not happen. Bisciotti should be asking Harbaugh some tough questions and demand reasonable answers. — Chuckie The Ravens have the best running attack in the league, great receivers and phenomenal defensive talent. But their coach can’t seem to maximize their talent. He doesn’t get the most from the Jackson/Henry duo. He’s a good-not-great head coach. — Ronald Related Articles Staff picks for Week 2 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Packers, Eagles vs. Chiefs and more How the Ravens’ renovations to M&T Bank Stadium affect fans: ‘I got screwed’ Mike Preston: Ravens beware, Joe Flacco ‘can still bring it’ | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills Why was Derrick Henry on the sideline on the last offensive possession? Why didn’t the defense rush more in the fourth quarter? Why did Hopkins run less than the yards he needed for a first down? Harbaugh blew another game with poor play calling and the defense was terrible. Missed tackles, open receivers, no pass rush. — Tim Malstrom This loss actually gives me more hope. These are things they will clean up … no problem! We have coach John Harbaugh! — Joshua Valladares Until the defense gets it together, we’re in trouble. I know that we’re not in the Ray Lewis or Terrell Suggs era but this defense couldn’t stop a Pop Warner team. I pray there are better defensive days for our Ravens! — Candy Hall No, my expectations are the same. The Ravens will make it to the playoffs and lose. — Andrew K The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers and FOX45’s Patrice Sanders pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 2: Washington Commanders at Green Bay Packers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (12-4 last week): Packers Sam Cohn (11-5 last week): Packers Mike Preston (12-4 last week): Packers Josh Tolentino (11-5 last week): Packers C.J. Doon (10-6 last week): Commanders Bennett Conlin (13-3 last week): Packers Tim Schwartz (11-5 last week): Commanders Patrice Sanders (10-6 last week): Packers Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bengals Cohn: Jaguars Preston: Bengals Tolentino: Bengals Doon: Jaguars Conlin: Bengals Schwartz: Bengals Sanders: Bengals New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Cowboys Cohn: Cowboys Preston: Cowboys Tolentino: Cowboys Doon: Cowboys Conlin: Cowboys Schwartz: Cowboys Sanders: Cowboys Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans worried by late-game collapse vs. Bills How the Ravens’ renovations to M&T Bank Stadium affect fans: ‘I got screwed’ Mike Preston: Ravens beware, Joe Flacco ‘can still bring it’ | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Lions Cohn: Lions Preston: Lions Tolentino: Lions Doon: Lions Conlin: Lions Schwartz: Lions Sanders: Lions New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Patriots Cohn: Patriots Preston: Patriots Tolentino: Patriots Doon: Patriots Conlin: Dolphins Schwartz: Patriots Sanders: Patriots San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: 49ers Cohn: 49ers Preston: 49ers Tolentino: 49ers Doon: 49ers Conlin: 49ers Schwartz: 49ers Sanders: 49ers Buffalo Bills at New York Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bills Cohn: Bills Preston: Bills Tolentino: Bills Doon: Bills Conlin: Bills Schwartz: Bills Sanders: Bills Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Steelers Cohn: Seahawks Preston: Steelers Tolentino: Steelers Doon: Seahawks Conlin: Steelers Schwartz: Steelers Sanders: Steelers Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Rams Cohn: Rams Preston: Rams Tolentino: Rams Doon: Rams Conlin: Rams Schwartz: Rams Sanders: Rams Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Cardinals Cohn: Cardinals Preston: Cardinals Tolentino: Panthers Doon: Cardinals Conlin: Cardinals Schwartz: Cardinals Sanders: Cardinals Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Broncos Cohn: Broncos Preston: Broncos Tolentino: Colts Doon: Broncos Conlin: Colts Schwartz: Broncos Sanders: Broncos Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Cohn: Eagles Preston: Chiefs Tolentino: Eagles Doon: Eagles Conlin: Chiefs Schwartz: Chiefs Sanders: Eagles Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) Wacker: Vikings Cohn: Falcons Preston: Vikings Tolentino: Vikings Doon: Falcons Conlin: Vikings Schwartz: Falcons Sanders: Vikings Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans (Monday, 7 p.m.) Wacker: Buccaneers Cohn: Buccaneers Preston: Texans Tolentino: Texans Doon: Buccaneers Conlin: Texans Schwartz: Buccaneers Sanders: Texans Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders (Monday, 10 p.m.) Wacker: Chargers Cohn: Chargers Preston: Chargers Tolentino: Chargers Doon: Raiders Conlin: Chargers Schwartz: Chargers Sanders: Chargers Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

Chris Santoro, a Ravens season-ticket holder since 2002, was furious at the Dec. 11 email he received from the team, saying that his seats would be moved for the 2025 season. Why? Because of the $489 million in upgrades to M&T Bank Stadium — particularly the addition of premium seating behind the west end zone. “Knowing that some fans may feel negatively impacted is difficult for us, but these projects will allow M&T Bank Stadium to remain a first-class facility for the next decade and beyond,” the team email said. “Please know that we are firmly committed to doing everything we can to make this an easy process and transition.” “I was shocked,” said Santoro, a 44-year-old Baltimore native who has been to nearly every home game for the past 20 years. “I got screwed.” The seating upheaval is largely the result of the addition of a costly, private “Legends Suite” that caters to corporate owners and wealthy fans, offering access to a members-only bar and food service, along with two rows of seats — 160 in total — on the field level. Regular season-ticket holders, who can pay several thousand dollars for their seats, feel as if they’re suddenly second-class fans. The Ravens did not respond to multiple requests asking how many season-ticket holders were moved before the 2025 season. Team president Sashi Brown said they “spent a lot of time limiting the impact on the bowl seats for season-ticket holders,” which Chad Steele, the Ravens’ senior vice president of communications, echoed in an emailed statement to The Baltimore Sun. “As is often the case with large-scale stadium modernizations, impact to seating bowl are unavoidable,” Steele said. “We worked diligently with our architects to minimize the changes to and limit the number of seats affected by our renovations. Where fans were affected, our team collaborated directly with them to deliver solutions and ensure a smooth transition.” But that’s little comfort to longtime fans like Santoro, who says the team offered him either a payout for his tickets or corner seats — an option he said that he specifically asked to avoid. He’s holding onto the tickets this year despite being relocated with the hope of watching a Super Bowl contender, but he plans to consider selling them once the season ends. “The suites aren’t for fans. All the money is getting dumped into corporate stuff. None of that money is going directly to benefit any fan in that stadium,” Santoro said. Anthony Rosso feels the same way. The 52-year-old Glenwood native has held season tickets since 1996 and owned 16 seats along the field level in the west end zone for years. Until this season. Rosso and his family were informed by the Ravens that their seats would be moved back eight rows to make room for the Legends Suite renovations. Rosso, who attends games with his 84-year-old father, Joe, pleaded with a team representative over the phone. He said nothing compared to the field-level view — watching his children celebrate with players after a touchdown or hearing the pads collide near the goal line. “We were extremely disappointed. We didn’t have any say in it,” said Rosso, who is keeping his tickets. Anthony Rosso, 52, of Glenwood, and his father Joe Rosso, 84, of Catonsville. They’ve held 16 season-tickets in the field level rows of the west end zone since 1996 — until this year when the Ravens moved them back eight rows to accommodate the addition of the Legends Suite, a new premium seating option. (Sam Jane/Staff) In 2022, the Maryland General Assembly passed a law that increased the Maryland Stadium Authority’s bond issuing authority to $1.2 billion, to be split evenly between Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium. The state earmarked $434 million in public money for the renovations to M&T Bank Stadium, which are expected to be completed in 2026. But because the project ran over budget because of increased construction costs and design changes, the Ravens will kick in $55 million, with the MSA reimbursing them up to $35 million. Brown said most of the team’s money was spent on technology in the upper concourse and plazas in the main concourse. The use of tax money for the implementation of luxury seating and a pricier option to view games is a trend among professional sports teams. The Jacksonville Jaguars are spending $775 million to upgrade their stadium, while the Carolina Panthers are spending $650 million of state funds to renovate theirs. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans worried by late-game collapse vs. Bills Staff picks for Week 2 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Packers, Eagles vs. Chiefs and more Mike Preston: Ravens beware, Joe Flacco ‘can still bring it’ | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills “A lot of these experiences we’re creating [are] commonplace now,” Ravens senior vice president of marketing Brad Downs said at a September stadium tour. “This helps keep us competitive.” Reimbursable projects by MSA will include concourse improvements, including more bathrooms, according to the contract the MSA and team signed. Nonreimbursable renovations include the retail store at the west end of the stadium, LED videoboards and “ancillary work,” which is estimated to cost $20 million. Brown said at a February state meeting that a majority of renovations are expected to be completed in August. At that meeting, Bill Marker — a longtime Baltimore resident — provided the one public comment. Marker lamented the slashing of federal government jobs, public education and the allocation of the state’s funds to luxury seating. “Certainly the picture that Mr. Marker paints is not one that most of us would support if this was, in fact, a vote to allocate additional funding to the Ravens,” state comptroller Brooke Lierman said at the February meeting. “But this is not allocating additional funding to the Ravens. This money has already been voted on and allocated from a special fund to support bonds by the general assembly, signed by the governor, several years ago. “If this was a vote by the General Assembly now to allocate additional money to the Ravens when we have so many other needs, that would be certainly not be one I would support.” The Champions Club is one of the new premium clubs at M&T Bank Stadium and part of the improvement projects taking place at the stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The Champions Club is one of the new premium clubs at M&T Bank Stadium and part of the improvement projects taking place at the stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The new Legends Suite at M&T Bank Stadium caters to corporate owners and wealthy fans, offering access to a members-only bar and food service, along with two rows of seats — 160 in total — on the field level. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)Construction takes place at the North Plaza at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The Legends Suites at M&T Bank Stadium. Suite holders can watch the game from two rows of seating directly on the field. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The Legends Suites at M&T Bank Stadium. Suite holders can watch the game from two rows of seating directly on the field. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)Tickets for The Trust, a new luxury club at M&T Bank Stadium, are sold out for the season. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The Trust is one of the premium clubs at M&T Bank Stadium and part of the improvement projects taking place. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The Trust is one of the new premium clubs at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)The Trust is one of the premium clubs at M&T Bank Stadium and part of the improvement projects taking place. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)Dave Benfield, left of Bel Air, and son Kyle stand in their Field seats before the start of the preseason game between the Ravens and the Colts at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Dave Benfield, left of Bel Air, and son Kyle stand in their Field seats before the start of the preseason game between the Ravens and the Colts at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)A wide view of the Blackwing Suites before the start of the preseason game between the Ravens and the Colts at M&T Bank Stadium last month. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)TV screens on the lower wall of the Legends Suites seats at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Show Caption1 of 14The Champions Club is one of the new premium clubs at M&T Bank Stadium and part of the improvement projects taking place at the stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff)Expand The state has some control over how the Ravens spend the money. The contract says the MSA will provide the team with “input, comments and decisions throughout the construction.” The organizations have agreed to nominate a bipartisan agent to monitor the renovations. An MSA spokesperson said the team has not used any “payments associated with the $35 million contribution for the Reimbursable Projects under the [contract].” But a large portion of the state’s funding will likely be targeted toward fans with larger pockets. There will be three exclusive clubs and one premium suite seating. The Legends Suite costs $400,000 for the entire season and at least $40,000 to attend one game, and it comes with 16 tickets and four VIP parking passes with food and beverage included. There’s also the Champions Club, The Raven, presented by T. Rowe Price, and The Trust, presented by M&T Bank. The clubs feature a variety of amenities, including both of the franchise’s Super Bowl rings, an Ed Reed Super Bowl jersey and decorations from the Ravens’ championship runs. The Trust and The Raven are sold out for the 2025 season. The Champions Club costs $4,000 per season pass, and attendees need to have a separate ticket elsewhere in the stadium. Some fans are pleased with some of the changes. Ed Whitesell, of Halethorpe, said that adding easier transportation access to upper levels, increased restroom options and the new retail store are all worthy upgrades. The Ravens also added more than 12,000 square feet of new videoboards to the main concourses, five new venues within the new north plaza, including a sports bar concert venue and the “Flock Friendly Fare “ — a food menu that includes 11 items under $5. Still, some fans are upset with the allocation of funds. “I don’t really see where they improve the game experience for the average fan,” Montgomery County native and season-ticket holder Robin Ficker, 82, said. Baltimore isn’t unique in making these types of upgrades across the NFL. But for a stadium just 27 years old — and often ranked among the league’s best — the timing felt puzzling, for some fans. “I think that was a waste,” Ficker said. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Ravens president Sashi Brown discusses the latest M&T Bank Stadium improvement projects on Tuesday. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) View the full article

In Week 15 of the 2012 regular season, then-Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco threw an interception that Denver cornerback Chris Harris Jr. returned 98 yards for a touchdown with 30 seconds left in the first half. Flacco tried to run Harris down, but missed a shoestring tackle. The result was Flacco lying flat on his face and motionless as the Broncos went on to secure a 34-17 victory. The only thing missing was movement, because everyone might have thought that Flacco was a snow angel. But two weeks later, he started to put together one of the best postseasons in NFL history as the Ravens went on to beat the San Francisco 49ers, 34-31, in Super Bowl XLVII. If there is any doubt, ask Ozzie Newsome, the Hall of Fame tight end with the Cleveland Browns (1978-90) and later the architect and general manager of the Ravens (2002-18) who built two Super teams in Baltimore before becoming executive vice president/player personnel in 2019. “I don’t know if Steve Young had those kind of numbers with the 49ers, but I can’t recall anyone posting numbers like Joe,” Newsome said. “He got into a rhythm and on the same page with Jim Caldwell and what Jim wanted to do, and Jim played into that.” Flacco, 40, will be the starting quarterback for Cleveland on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium for the Ravens’ home opener. A lot of visiting teams back away from player introductions, but Flacco would probably command a standing ovation. In four playoff games in 2012-13, he passed for 1,140 yards and 11 touchdowns, which tied him with Kurt Warner and Joe Montana for the most touchdown passes without an interception in a single postseason. His 117.2 passer rating tied him for third place with Young in a Super Bowl-winning postseason. Along the way, Flacco beat Indianapolis in a wild-card game, followed by Denver, which was favored by nine points, and then New England in the AFC championship game. He became the second quarterback to beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in the same postseason since both became starters. That’s not bad for a quarterback from the University of Delaware who was selected with the 18th pick of 2008 draft — or a player who was the team’s second option. The Ravens tried to trade for Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, but he was selected as the third overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons. Needless to say, it worked out extremely well for the Ravens. Flacco went 96-67 in the regular season and 10-5 in the postseason in 11 years in Baltimore before being traded to the Broncos in 2019, one year after the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson in the first round. “Joe had arm talent, first and foremost,” Newsome said. “That made him a first-round pick. That’s what carried us in the playoffs. You could see the fire in him, but his demeanor was the same. Joe was still Joe.” His nickname was “Joe Cool.” Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and coach John Harbaugh celebrate their victory over the Patriots in the AFC championship game in January 2013. (Staff file) The only Ravens quarterback in team history who had a stronger arm was Vinny Testaverde, the former University of Miami star who lasted for two years in Baltimore. Flacco, though, was a gunslinger in the 2012 postseason, which was quite unusual considering the Ravens changed offensive coordinators after a Week 14 loss to Washington. Harbaugh fired Cam Cameron and replaced him with Caldwell, the quarterbacks coach who had previously been the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2009 to 2011. It was a perfect marriage. It coincided with a rough beginning as the Ravens tried to sign Flacco to a contract extension before the start of the 2012 season. “We just couldn’t get it done,” Newsome said of the extension talks. “We were sure he could lead us, and he was well respected in the locker room, and that’s a major key. But who can predict if he was going to be a Super Bowl-winning quarterback?” Flacco was 12 of 23 for 282 yards and two touchdowns in the Ravens’ wild-card game, a 24-9 win over Indianapolis in Baltimore. He threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns against Denver in the divisional round, and then had 240 yards and three touchdowns in the Ravens’ 28-13 win over the Patriots in the AFC championship game. But it was in Denver where Flacco earned icon status. Facing a third-and-3 with less than 45 seconds remaining and no timeouts, Flacco threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to late receiver Jacoby Jones to send the game into overtime. It became known as the “Mile High Miracle.” The Ravens eventually won, 38-35, in double overtime. It’s still one of the greatest touchdown passes in NFL history, right up there with the “Immaculate Reception.” In fact, the pass was thrown so high that it seemed to have dew on it when it reached Jones’ hands. Baltimore held off a late comeback bid to beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl, and Flacco was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after completing 22 of 33 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns. He was given a Chevrolet Corvette and later a six-year, $120.6 million contract, a record at the time. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans worried by late-game collapse vs. Bills Staff picks for Week 2 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Packers, Eagles vs. Chiefs and more How the Ravens’ renovations to M&T Bank Stadium affect fans: ‘I got screwed’ Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills But the “Mile High Miracle” pass was his claim to fame in Baltimore. Newsome acknowledged that he was packing his bag and headed to the elevator to what he thought would be the losing locker room. “In terms of looking back, what an amazing run, and what an era for the Ravens, the ‘Joe Flacco era,'” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said this week. “In the early part of his career, was with Ray [Lewis], Ed [Reed] and those guys in the later part of his career with another set of guys. He’s iconic, I think, in Baltimore football history. I respect that and admire that and still keep in touch with him, except not this week. “This week, it’s not about that for us as a football team, it’s about us getting prepared for a good quarterback that knows how to play the game, [who’s] capable of making plays against you, and we’re going to have to be at our very best to defend against Joe and the whole offense.” It was a remarkable run, one that will go down in Baltimore history like the so-called “Greatest Game Ever Played” between the Colts and Giants for the 1958 title or the city’s Super Bowl wins in 1971 and again in 2000. But if the Ravens think that they will walk over Flacco on Sunday, Newsome suggests otherwise. They’d better beware and heed his warning. “I tried to trade up and get Matt Ryan,” Newsome said, “so I was sitting there in the bottom of the first round or wherever, and we took Joe. We had sent a contingent of coaches and scouts to watch him and they all came back glowing. Cam had plans to utilize Joe and that arm talent. We had four or five people go up there, and they said Joe was putting on a show and had a great workout. “When you have arm talent, you don’t lose that. Aaron Rodgers is still playing because he has arm talent. It’s like being a great pitcher. Unless you have some type of injury or surgery, that arm talent never goes away. He can still bring it.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The longest-tenured Ravens defender sat at his locker Wednesday engulfed by cameras and recorders. On the heels of a head-scratching collapse in Buffalo, Marlon Humphrey, calmly, gave his two cents about what went wrong. “We’re just not mature enough as a team yet,” Humphrey said, those words landing with a thud. He went on to say: “It’s very clear we’ve got great players on both sides of the ball but defensively we have to work on our maturity. It doesn’t matter what our offense is doing. We have to go out there and win the game.” The ninth-year cornerback remembered looking up at the scoreboard with the Ravens clutching a 15-point lead over the Bills. There were about five minutes remaining. He turned to Roquan Smith, linebacker and fellow defensive leader, to say, “Hey, let’s go win this game.” What unfolded over those final minutes has dominated NFL discourse this week. Josh Allen converted a fourth down into a miraculous touchdown, Baltimore’s unstoppable offense went stale and Allen’s Most-Valuable-Player-caliber heroics piloted Buffalo to a season-opening 41-40 win. The Ravens defense, meanwhile, played a significant role in letting slip what ESPN Analytics deemed a 99.1% chance at victory. At one point, safety Kyle Hamilton looked up at the scoreboard to see that Allen had thrashed them for nearly 400 passing yards and felt sick to his stomach. Coach John Harbaugh said his “No. 1 disappointment” was their inability to keep Allen in the pocket. Humphrey has been one of the most vocal defensive leaders when it comes to articulating the state of the organization. The two-time All-Pro selection has been the flag bearer in the fight to get Baltimore’s defense back to being “feared.” When the team hit its nadir last November, he waxed openly about the standard. When they lost in Buffalo in January, he was blunt that the message was, “We lost. Get over it.” Only they could control how they respond, he posited. And after a Week 1 loss, Humphrey was blunt. “The current problem on the team,” he said, “is the defense.” Humphrey was adamant that he feels as if the group is together and well-equipped to rebound. Baltimore’s defense has a good mix of veteran leadership, highly paid stars and top draft picks. The team’s voice of reason wasn’t particularly a star Sunday night. He managed four tackles, eighth most on the team. Pro Football Focus graded him a 47.3 on defense and 52.7 in coverage. Ravens coach John Harbaugh speaks to the media after practice Wednesday. Harbaugh's team allowed an NFL-worst 41 points in its season opener. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) His frustration, and thus the lack of maturity Humphrey alluded to, is that “everyone wants to make a play. … Do your job and if a play comes to you to make, make it. I think working on maturity comes in practice.” When the defense gets disjointed, it falls apart. That’s something this group has preached going back to their troubles from last year. Humphrey’s message coming out of their 0-1 start? They can’t afford to “protect this guy or that guy.” If the Ravens are going to avoid a poor defensive start like 2024, “it’s not going to be a situation where somebody’s been doing something wrong and nothing gets said.” There’s an attitude shift in the locker room. One teeming with urgency. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills Ravens injury report: Star DT misses practice; 2 others still sidelined Browns WR Jerry Jeudy on threat of Ravens’ defense: ‘No challenges’ Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Ravens film study: Looking at 5 problems they need to address Humphrey let out a laugh in disbelief just thinking about it. So many of the plays Baltimore saw in practice leading up to Week 1 showed up as they anticipated Sunday night. They were in “perfect calls” for much of the night. Some of that is a lack of execution based on what defensive coordinator Zach Orr is feeding for a given play. And some of that means how the Bills orchestrated their offense. Either way, the Ravens felt prepared enough to win. “That’s why the loss hurts so bad,” Humphrey said, “because we knew exactly what they were gonna do in a couple different situations and all 11 guys couldn’t get together.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Derrick Henry had just fumbled, injecting a shot of life into the Bills and their crowd with just over three minutes remaining Sunday night in Orchard Park, New York. Meanwhile, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson needed a dose of pickle juice. Jackson, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player who last season became the first player to pass for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 900, was cramping in both of his calves. According to a study in the National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine, ingesting small amounts of pickle juices relieves cramps within 35 seconds. Though findings are mixed, it does so by sending a neurological signal to the muscle and quickly influencing nerve pathways, rather than having to wait for the electrolytes or sodium to be absorbed into the blood. Jackson’s calf cramps came at a critical moment. After the Bills scored four plays later to pull within two points of a Ravens team that was desperately clinging to the lead, Baltimore was soon faced with a decision: Whether to punt or go for it on fourth-and-3 from its own 38-yard line with 1:33 remaining. The Ravens punted, of course, and 93 seconds later, Matt Prater’s 32-yard field goal sailed through the uprights to complete the improbable and unbelievable comeback, 41-40. In the aftermath, many questioned whether the Ravens should have gone for it. “If I weren’t cramping, we definitely would’ve have gone for it, I believe,” Jackson said Wednesday. It strangely wasn’t the first time that the quarterback has been in that situation. In a December 2020 home win over the Browns, Jackson left the sideline late in the third quarter and headed to the locker room to deal with cramps to first his forearm and then his legs. He eventually returned to the field with two minutes to play in the game and threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Related Articles Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens injury report: Star DT misses practice; 2 others still sidelined Browns WR Jerry Jeudy on threat of Ravens’ defense: ‘No challenges’ Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Ravens film study: Looking at 5 problems they need to address Jackson later led the game-winning drive that ended with a 55-yard field goal from Justin Tucker and soon the Willis Reid comparisons started to pour in. This time, he never got the chance. After the Ravens punted, Bills quarterback Josh Allen drove Buffalo 66 yards in nine plays to set up the winning kick as time expired. It also wasn’t the only odd circumstance surrounding Jackson that night. After connecting with DeAndre Hopkins on a 29-yard touchdown pass late in the third, the quarterback shoved a Bills fan after being hit on the helmet by the fan amid the scoring celebration. The fan first first hit Hopkins in the head then pushed Jackson’s helmet. Jackson responded by pushing the fan back into the crowd with both hands. “I [saw] him slap D-Hop, which I wasn’t feeling. Then he slapped me. And he was talking [smack]. So I forgot where I was in that moment,” Jackson said afterward. The fan was ejected from the game and has since been indefinitely banned from all NFL stadiums. On Wednesday, coach John Harbaugh said that general manager Eric DeCosta and team president Sashi Brown spoke with the league about the incident and also talked to Jackson. No discipline for Jackson is expected. “I’m very confident he understands what he needs to understand,” Harbaugh said. Jackson, who said that he hadn’t heard directly from the league, concurred. “It just happened,” he said. “My apologies to whoever that was. Just chill next time. You could talk trash, but keep your hands to yourself.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Nnamdi Madubuike hasn’t missed a regular-season game in three years, but the Ravens’ star defensive tackle sat out Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury. Coach John Harbaugh said that he expects Madubuike back Thursday, which should put the two-time Pro Bowl selection in line to play in Baltimore’s home opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Madubuike collected the Ravens’ only sack in a 41-40 loss against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. He also recorded a team-high five pressures and a nearly 30% pass-rush win rate, which was the highest among NFL interior defensive lineman. The 27-year-old defensive tackle was seen receiving treatment Sunday night, although he played 59 snaps and did not seem to leave the field for an injury at any point. In other injury news, tight end Isaiah Likely was seen on a side field going through an individual workout Wednesday. Likely’s been held out of practice since the start of August, when he had surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot. It’s doubtful that the tight end will play against Cleveland this week, with a Week 3 Monday night matchup against the Detroit Lions a more realistic target for his return. Second-year tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden was elevated from the practice squad for the season opener against the Bills. That seems like a probable move for Sunday’s game, as Mitchell-Paden showed positional versatility, repping at tight end and fullback in his 15 snaps. Mitchell-Paden’s elevation is even more likely considering fullback Patrick Ricard (calf) didn’t practice again Wednesday. The 31-year-old veteran hasn’t practiced since Aug. 14, although Harbaugh said that Ricard could return to practice this week. Cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) was also limited Wednesday. The 28-year-old former Green Bay Packers star played 33 snaps in his team debut against the Bills and largely struggled after nursing a knee injury all offseason. Meanwhile, none of Cleveland’s players missed Wednesday’s practice because of injury. Five were limited: guard Joel Bitonio (rest), offensive tackles Jack Conklin (eye, elbow) and Dawand Jones (knee), defensive tackle Michael Hall (knee) and cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder, Achilles tendon). There was an intriguing absence, however. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins met with the NFL on Wednesday to discuss his arrest on domestic battery charge. Judkins, a second-round draft pick from Ohio State, was arrested in July, but prosecutors made the decision to drop the charges last month. The league could still opt to discipline Judkins, however. The former Ohio State star hasn’t practiced with the Browns since June and was the last of the second-round rookies to sign his deal. Judkins is expected to practice with the team Thursday, coach Kevin Stefanski said. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Related Articles Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills Browns WR Jerry Jeudy on threat of Ravens’ defense: ‘No challenges’ Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Ravens film study: Looking at 5 problems they need to address View the full article

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy is coming off a disappointing season opener, but his confidence hasn’t wavered. In fact, Jeudy doesn’t see any reason to be worried about a Ravens defense that allowed 497 total yards and 41 points in an epic Week 1 collapse against the Buffalo Bills. When asked what challenges Baltimore’s defense and its notable names in the secondary present, the 26-year-old former Alabama star gave a blunt answer. “No challenges,” he told reporters Wednesday. It’s a bold statement from a wide receiver who not only led the league with 13 drops last season but had a pass bounce off his hands that was intercepted and dropped a crucial fourth-down pass in Cleveland’s 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Quarterback Joe Flacco’s pass to Jeudy over the middle late in the third quarter should have converted a second-and-16 in Cleveland territory, but the ball was tipped into the air on Jeudy’s diving attempt and was picked off by safety Jordan Battle. That led to a go-ahead 35-yard field goal by Evan McPherson, which proved to be the decisive points. “Flacco did a good job. The two turnovers were unfortunate picks,” said Jeudy, who still led the Browns with five catches for 66 yards. “We had them in our hands.” Despite Cleveland outgaining its in-state and AFC North rivals 327-141 and holding the ball for more than 35 minutes Sunday, that turnover, another interception that bounced off the hands of wide receiver Cedric Tillman and two missed kicks by Andre Szmyt ultimately cost the Browns a chance for a stunning Week 1 upset. Now Cleveland heads to Baltimore on Sunday with a chance to hand the Ravens a second consecutive loss in what will be Flacco’s first game at M&T Bank Stadium with the opposing team. Baltimore is licking its wounds from a shocking night in Orchard Park, New York, in which a defense that said all offseason that it wanted to be “feared” again wilted late against reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen, who delivered the fourth-most passing yards in the fourth quarter this century with a whopping 251 in the final 15 minutes. Safety Kyle Hamilton said the performance made him sick to his stomach. “We know what we have and that’s all that’s important,” Ravens rookie safety Malaki Starks said when asked about Jeudy’s comments. “Like I said, we want to continue to get better. We didn’t have the outcome that we wanted last game but that doesn’t define us. We got a great group so I’m excited.” On paper, Sunday’s game is still a mismatch, with the Ravens considered a Super Bowl contender and the Browns a candidate to finish with the league’s worst record. The spread favors the Ravens by 11 1/2 points, and in Jeudy’s mind, “that’s disrespectful.” Related Articles Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey says talented defense is ‘not mature enough yet’ Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explains cramping issue late in loss to Bills Ravens injury report: Star DT misses practice; 2 others still sidelined Watch ‘Overtime’ of Ep. 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Ravens film study: Looking at 5 problems they need to address “But at the end of the day, if they think Baltimore can beat us like that, we’re gonna have to prove another thing,” said Jeudy, who made a combined 11 catches for 142 yards in two games against the Ravens last season as the teams split the series. Perhaps Jeudy is feeling confident in Flacco getting a measure of revenge against the team that drafted him out of Delaware in 2008 and which Flacco led to a Super Bowl title in the 2012 season with one of the best playoff runs by a quarterback in NFL history. Jeudy himself knows a thing or two about revenge games, catching nine passes for a career-high 235 yards in his first game back in Denver last season after the Broncos traded him for a pair of late-round draft picks. “He’s still got a lot left in the tank,” Jeudy said of Flacco. “You’ve seen it on Sunday. He’ll make a completion driving down the field, giving his guys opportunities. He’ll make the right reads. I feel like he’s still got a lot left.” Flacco said Wednesday that he still has “nothing but love for the people in that facility and the people in that city” and is excited to play again in Baltimore with friends and family from New Jersey making the short drive in. Jeudy, on the other hand, doesn’t want the pleasantries to get in the way of beating the Ravens. “As a competitor, of course you want to be able to dominate your former team,” Jeudy said. “That’s what you play for.” Baltimore Sun reporter Sam Cohn contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Watch the “Overtime” segment of the third episode of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law. The longtime sports columnist answers reader questions from Baltimore Sun subscribers after the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills. The Ravens return to action Sunday against Joe Flacco and the Browns. Missed the second episode of the pod? Watch here. Have a question for Preston about the Ravens? Message us at sports@baltsun.com. You can watch the BMore Football Podcast weekly, posting every Tuesday during the NFL season on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr “tried everything” against the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen on Sunday night in Orchard Park, New York. Man. Zone. Blitzing. Coming off the edge. Showing on the edge and dropping off. “We just didn’t really get them stopped in the last two drives at all,” Harbaugh said Monday afternoon. “And you know the plays that happened, so we didn’t execute a couple times.” Though the last two drives will stand out because Baltimore became the first team in 278 games to score 40-plus points and rush for at least 235 yards and lose, there were plenty of other errors and questions. The film reveals the cracks and concerns. Here’s a look at the five biggest issues that stood out. Where were Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy? Last season, Oweh and Van Noy racked up career highs in sacks, with 10 and 12 1/2, respectively, and Baltimore tallied the second-most in the league. Sunday at Highmark Stadium, they were mere shadows under the lights. Each had just two pressures on Allen, per Pro Football Focus, and the Ravens sacked the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player just once. Oweh ranked 20th in pass rush win rate among edge defenders at 16% with a win rate of just 7% off the edge, per ESPN analytics, while Van Noy, 34, didn’t factor in the top 20. Baltimore was also collectively bad, ranking 30th in pass rush win rate at 19%. Only the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears were worse in Week 1. Second-round rookie Mike Green, who led college football with 17 sacks in 2024, was a nonfactor as well, logging zeroes, save for one tackle, on his 26 defensive snaps. Only the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles perhaps have a better offensive line, and Allen is as elusive as he is difficult to bring down, so that should be taken into account. But the Ravens need to get to the quarterback. “There’s a lot of really good things that we learned about our team — a lot of things that I’m really happy about and excited about. And there’s a lot of things that you learn, and it’s like, ‘Oh boy, we have to go to work on that,’” Harbaugh said. “I would say pass rush lanes — that’s something that we’ve got to go to work on. It’s not just four lanes. There’s different patterns that we use, and we just weren’t as good as we need to be at that.” Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy, left, warms up before Week 1 against the Bills. The Ravens' pass rush was subpar in their season-opening loss to the Bills. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) Jaire Alexander needs the practice Flashy two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander was torched by Allen much of the night but particularly down the stretch. On the Bills’ final drive he gave up a 32-yard gain to Joshua Palmer on one play and on the next yielded 25 more to Keon Coleman, whom Alexander tripped up by his shoestrings as he was flailing to the ground when he would have been better off letting him score. Those were just the obvious struggles. Near the end of the first half, Alexander gave up a good chunk of cushion to Khalil Shakir that resulted in a 26-yard gain. But when it came to the tape, Buchanan appeared to mostly outperform Simpson, who at times was out of position or struggled to make tackles with just one on the game. One sequence that stood out for the rookie came late in the first half when he made a nice tackle on running back James Cook for a short gain down the Ravens’ 7-yard line. One play later, he helped contain Shakir and the Bills had to settle for a field goal. Of course, it was also Buchanan who linebacker Roquan Smith was chewing out following tight end Jackson Hawes’ 29-yard gain down the middle to the Ravens’ 1-yard line with under three minutes to play. Buchanan appeared to have been confused with his responsibility on the coverage and it led to an Allen touchdown that pulled the Bills to within 2 points. Related Articles Cleveland radio host blasts Ravens for celebrating 30th anniversary vs. Browns Watch Episode 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law 5 & Dine: What to eat at Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium Ravens came close to making NFL history on Kyle Hamilton’s risky lateral 5 stats behind the Ravens’ unbelievable Week 1 collapse against Bills Special teams and details still a problem Rookie kicker Tyler Loop made both field goal attempts from 52 and 49 yards. Then he missed a critical extra point. On kickoffs, he had some impressive positional kicks. He also had one that didn’t reach the landing zone to give the Bills the ball at their own 40 after Baltimore had just gone up 27-13 and seemed to be in command of the game. There was also the opening kickoff, on which Tylan Wallace and Keyon Martin struggled to get off their blocks, thus allowing Brandon Codrington to return it 41 yards to midfield. Then midway through the fourth quarter and the Ravens up by 15, Simpson incredibly and uncontrollably slammed into a punt that Jordan Stout had dropped at the Bills 1-yard line. The touchback gave Allen plenty of breathing room and the quarterback then drove Buffalo 80 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown that kept hope alive. It was just one of many small plays that had a big impact. “There are a bunch of things that turn up, but when you lose the game, that’s when you start adding them up where it could have made the difference,” Harbaugh said. “We all have to just learn from that. You just have to learn from those things, otherwise it’s a wasted opportunity.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens will celebrate the team’s 30th anniversary at Sunday’s home opener against the Browns. Cleveland radio host Andy Baskin considers the timing of the event to be “a giant middle finger” to Browns fans. “I just think it’s kind of horse you-know-what that they’re doing this against the Browns,” Baskin said Tuesday on “Cleveland’s Talking Heads,” a show on 92.3 The Fan. “I understand that they probably wanted to do it in their season opener, and I get that, but did you really have to pick the Cleveland game to do this? You want to talk about poking the bear on this one.” Baskin takes exception to celebrating the 30th year of the Ravens’ existence against the Browns. In 1996, Browns owner Art Modell moved the franchise from Cleveland to Baltimore. The team’s name was swapped from Browns to Ravens, and the Cleveland Browns franchise returned in 1999 as an expansion team with different players. Since returning in 1999, the Browns have just three 10-win seasons. They have more winless seasons (one, 2017) than AFC North titles (zero). “It’s such a wound because we haven’t had success since then,” Baskin said. The Ravens have won a pair of Super Bowls since their creation in 1996, and they’re the AFC North favorite this year despite an 0-1 start. “The problem I have with the whole thing is, I care, people my age care, anyone that rooted for the Browns more than 30 years ago cares,” Baskin said. Baskin suggested he can’t be the only Browns supporter who feels the same way, although his cohost, Jeff Phelps, pushed back on Baskin’s idea. Phelps didn’t feel the timing was mean-spirited, but rather a scheduling coincidence that put the Browns in Baltimore for the franchise’s home opener in the Ravens’ 30th season. “What a bunch of clowns the Ravens are,” Baskin said. “Yes, good organization. Yes, we love Ozzie [Newsome] for what he did in Cleveland, but did they really have to pick this game to celebrate their 30th season?” Planned celebrations for the franchise include pregame recognitions of the first Ravens season in 1996 and a halftime show featuring franchise legends. Fans attending the game will also receive a “Ravens Forevermore” flag commemorating the team’s 30th season in existence. “They should’ve spent 30 years in prison for this,” Baskin said. “Ravens Forevermore” is a brand campaign the team plans to use throughout the 2025 season. “Our 30th season is just the start,” Ravens senior vice president of marketing Brad Downs said in an August news release. “The Ravens have solidified themselves as a pillar of Baltimore sports over the last three decades, and this year’s team is excited to add to that remarkable legacy.” “The next line should be, ‘the legacy of how we stole a team from Cleveland the same way Indianapolis stole a team from us,’” Baskin said. Related Articles Watch Episode 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law 5 & Dine: What to eat at Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium Ravens came close to making NFL history on Kyle Hamilton’s risky lateral 5 stats behind the Ravens’ unbelievable Week 1 collapse against Bills John Harbaugh says Ravens need to be more ‘thoughtful’ with late leads The Baltimore Colts, of course, moved to Indianapolis in 1984 in a move that surprised and angered Baltimore football fans. For Ravens fans, Sunday’s game offers a chance to reminisce. Not only about the start of the franchise, but also about its quarterback lineage. The Browns named Joe Flacco their starter ahead of the 2025 season. He famously won a Super Bowl in Baltimore before being replaced by Lamar Jackson. The switch worked well for the Ravens, as Jackson has won a pair of MVPs as the Ravens’ signal-caller while Flacco has bounced around franchises as his career winds to an end. Jackson, however, is still looking for his first Super Bowl. The Ravens are big favorites Sunday, favored by 11 1/2 points over the Browns. “Man, I hope the Browns stick it right to them this weekend,” Baskin said. “I’ve never wanted them to win more than I do this week.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

Episode 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law is here. Preston and Coleman react to the Ravens’ shocking 41-40 loss to the Bills and look ahead to Week 2’s matchup with Joe Flacco and the Cleveland Browns. You can watch it weekly, posting every Tuesday during the NFL season on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The start of football season means the return of well-loved concession stand bites — and the debut of new dining options — at the Baltimore Ravens’ home M&T Bank Stadium. As the stadium reaches the finish line of an infrastructure renovation totaling about $489 million, the stadium has rolled out its official lineup of concessions. Menu items include preexisting fan favorites such as The Ravenous Chicken fried chicken boxes, upgrades to game staples like hot dogs and entirely new concession additions. Prices of new offerings range considerably, from an expanded $5-and-under Flock Friendly Fare menu to exclusive options available at the stadium’s new members-only clubs. “We want to make sure that our fans can come and enjoy themselves but also feel like they’re able to get a good price,” said Jessica Gomes, vice president of hospitality strategy at M&T Bank Stadium, at a Tuesday media tour. Whether you’re looking for a budget meal or a highbrow dining experience, here are five concession stand items at M&T Bank Stadium that you might flock to when catching a Ravens game. Popcorn dusted with the Blackbird seasoning is one of the food items available this year at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Flavor-dusted popcorn This season, M&T Bank Stadium’s popcorn has gotten dressed up, with a slight dusting of the stadium’s proprietary Blackbird seasoning. The seasoning doesn’t obstruct the nostalgic flavor of classic stadium popcorn but rather accentuates it with a smoky, peppery bite; citrus notes; and the occasional whole fennel seed. This year, you’ll find Blackbird seasoning on almost everything at the stadium — including on chicken items, house-made kettle chips and various condiments. A box sells for $1.99, earning it a spot on the 11-item Flock Friendly Fare menu. Vegan hot dogs at M&T Bank Stadium are one of the food items available this year. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Upgraded hot dogs Hot dogs are nothing new at M&T Bank Stadium (or any stadium, for that matter), but this season, they’ve gotten an upgrade with all-beef franks made by national brand Bovine & Swine. Make no mistake — these are hefty dogs, encased in natural beef and with less of the sponginess and artificial meatiness you might find in an inferior product. The original hot dog goes for $3.49, making it another addition to the Flock Friendly Fare menu. The size serves the hot dogs well, especially when they’re topped with a variety of ingredients for the stadium’s rotating “Hot Dog of the Game.” On Tuesday, M&T Bank Stadium Executive Chef Adam Lizak presented the Baltimore Dog, topped with crispy sticks of fried bologna, lightly caramelized onions and mustard spiked with more Blackbird seasoning. Eating plant-based? The stadium also sells vegan dogs, which taste like well-spiced Italian sausages with a bit of the starchy aftertaste you might expect from a meat substitute, topped with pickled onions for, as Lizak said, “a little pop.” Sticky Blackbird wings at M&T Bank Stadium are one of the food items available this year. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Member-exclusive wings As a part of its renovation project, the stadium has also debuted three new members’ clubs — and at The Raven, located near the 50-yard line and designed in honor of Edgar Allan Poe, guests will find premium chicken wings, coated in a sticky, sweet sauce infused with, you guessed it, more Blackbird seasoning. The wings themselves are mild, with a delicate sweetness and a light hand on the seasoning mix. On-the-side ranch dressing is on the thinner side but unnecessary for wings without any heat. (It’s a more natural fit for the rainbow carrot crudité served with them.) The wings’ standout quality, as with the new hot dogs, is their plumpness. If you’re like me, you’ll need to take several bites on one side of the drumette before you hit bone — a virtual anomaly in the world of wings. French fries at M&T Bank Stadium are one of the food items available this year. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Seasoned potato wedges Another vessel for Blackbird seasoning is the stadium’s western-style potato wedges, which are fluffy and meaty on the inside with a percussive crunch, thanks to a light coating on the fries. An order of wedges goes for $3.49, putting it on the Flock Friendly Fare menu and making it a complement for a new Flock Friendly $4.99 BBQ Chicken Sando, a massive square of pizza from the Ravens’ new brand Charm Crust, or an unctuous corned beef stack on marble rye from the stadium’s new O Line Provisions deli concept. Compared to the stadium’s Blackbird kettle chips, the French fries boast more heartiness, sustenance and textural variety for game-day munching. Western Maryland Lemonade at M&T Bank Stadium is one of the drink items available this year. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Local lemonade To wash down all of the new concessions at the stadium, the Ravens have partnered with Western Maryland Lemonade — proclaimed the “official lemonade of the Baltimore Ravens.” It’s a mild, hydrating beverage that might benefit from a bit more tartness but would hit the spot on a hot Sunday afternoon. For sweet bites to pair with the sweet sip, the stadium carries ornately decorated cupcakes, banana pudding and melt-in-your-mouth rock candy sticks from local Baltimore sugar shop Sistahs’ Sweets. Have a news tip? Contact Jane Godiner at jgodiner@baltsun.com or on Instagram as @Jane.Craves. View the full article

Perhaps lost in the Ravens’ hectic 41-40 collapse against the Bills was a risky decision made by safety Kyle Hamilton on a 2-point conversion attempt. With the Ravens leading 34-25 early in the fourth quarter, the Bills attempted a 2-point try to pull within seven. Hamilton intercepted Allen’s pass, effectively ending Buffalo’s chances of making it a one-possession game. Well, that’s until he pitched the ball from the 1-yard line back to linebacker Kyle Van Noy in the end zone. Hamilton’s decision brought into play the little-known 1-point safety. Yes, a 1-point safety. If Van Noy had been tackled or taken a knee in the end zone after Hamilton pitched the ball back to him, the Bills would’ve received one point. Unlike a traditional 2-point safety that would occur during regular game play, the Ravens still would have received the ball on the ensuing kickoff. Fortunately for Baltimore, Van Noy took the ball just out of the end zone and took a knee at the 2-yard line. The linebacker ended the play instead of trying to create a long return — if the Ravens returned the intercepted pass for a score, it would’ve resulted in two points in their favor. The potential for a 2-point play in Baltimore’s favor is why Hamilton tossed the ball to a teammate, but tossing the ball back into the end zone created a risk. Coach John Harbaugh was seen on the TV broadcast speaking to Hamilton as he came back to the sideline. Baltimore’s coach liked the interception, but he hated the desperate attempt for an unneeded return. Harbaugh felt the decision was a mental mistake by the fourth-year professional. “I just questioned whether he actually went to Notre Dame or not,” Harbaugh said at his Monday news conference. There has never been a 1-point safety in the NFL, but Hamilton came close to making the historic error. Harbaugh says he doesn’t expect the NFL’s highest–paid safety to take that risk twice. “I thought that was one of the most foolish things I’ve ever seen,” Harbaugh said. “He agreed, and it should never happen again.” The Ravens got away with that fourth-quarter miscue, but others in the final five minutes handed them their first loss of the season. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. Related Articles 5 stats behind the Ravens’ unbelievable Week 1 collapse against Bills John Harbaugh says Ravens need to be more ‘thoughtful’ with late leads Ravens coach John Harbaugh defends late 4th-down decision vs. Bills READER POLL: Does Ravens’ collapse vs. Bills alter your expectations for the season? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills View the full article