ExtremeRavens

Episode 8 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law is here. Preston and Coleman break down the Ravens’ latest loss to the Rams. Baltimore is just 1-5 on the season as it enters a much-needed bye week. 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 Ravens (1-5) enter their bye week with an alarming set of numbers that define their season-long struggles. “Our focus is going forward,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “We still believe we can do it.” Zero: Quarterback hits from Ravens edge rushers Just days after trading Odafe Oweh to the Chargers, Baltimore’s depleted edge group produced … nothing. Over 54 combined pass-rush snaps in Sunday’s 17-3 loss to the Rams, Kyle Van Noy, Mike Green, David Ojabo and Tavius Robinson failed to register a single quarterback hit against veteran Matthew Stafford. To make matters worse, Robinson, who is tied with defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike for the team lead with two sacks, fractured his foot in the second quarter and will miss between 6-8 weeks, according to Harbaugh. That leaves a pass rush already thin on production scrambling for answers. Among the trio of healthy pass rushers, only Van Noy has registered a single sack this season. Van Noy’s 14.3% pass-rush win rate ranks 42nd in the NFL, according to TruMedia. Green, a second-round draft pick, has just a 5.7% win rate, ranked 107th among 131 qualified pass rushers in the NFL. Across 122 pass-rush snaps, Green has six pressures, two quarterback hits and zero sacks after he led college football last season with 17 sacks at Marshall. Ojabo’s 6.7% win rate would rank 96th if he qualified. If general manager Eric DeCosta truly believes the Ravens are bound for a post-bye turnaround, it’d be within his best interest to acquire external help to beef up the edges. Baltimore’s eight sacks – four of which are from injured players Robinson and Madubuike – are tied for third fewest in the NFL. “It’s been a challenge all year to generate pressure,” Harbaugh said. “We’re going to have to manufacture pressure … but our guys are going to have to step up and create pressure on the four-man rush.” 44.4%: Red-zone touchdown percentage The red alarm should be blaring when it comes to the team’s issues in the most critical part of the field. Baltimore went 0-for-3 inside the red zone against Los Angeles, including an ugly three-play sequence at the goal line before halftime. The Ravens have now converted just 44.4% of their red-zone trips into touchdowns this season, ranking among the bottom dwellers in the league and a steep fall from their efficiency in recent seasons. Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley lies on the turf after being sacked in a 17-3 loss to the Rams. The Ravens' offense has struggled in recent weeks, especially in short-yardage situations. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Short-yardage failures have become defining moments in several of the team’s losses. On Sunday, the Mark Andrews tush push failed on consecutive attempts with the offensive line lacking the push needed, while backups Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley were unable to compensate for the lack of physicality up front. “We should be way better than we are,” Harbaugh said. “We’ve been talking about fixing it for weeks, and we haven’t done a good job. That’s like the No. 1 thing in my mind on offense – short yardage and goal line.” 80: Season-high penalty yards For the second straight week, the Ravens were buried by penalties. After they were penalized a season-high nine times in Week 5 against Houston, the Ravens were penalized seven times for a season-high 80 yards against the Rams. Baltimore’s 36 total penalties through six games rank 13th in the league. But the timing of its flags has been brutal. A pair of penalties on offensive linemen Daniel Faalele and Ronnie Staley proved to be detrimental on the team’s opening drive. The Ravens had reached the Rams’ 11-yard line, but committed two penalties within three plays to set up third-and-18. Rush, who never completed a pass longer than 10 yards, then connected with Zay Flowers for a four-yard reception, leading to the Ravens’ only points of the day off Tyler Loop’s 37-yard field goal. The Ravens won the coin toss, but insisted they start with possession given the defense’s recent struggles. Had Baltimore come away with seven points rather than three on the opening drive, maybe the result would have been different. But for the second consecutive game, penalties torched the home team. “It feels that way,” Harbaugh said of the momentum effect from self-inflicted mistakes. “You just have to fight to play clean football and do the best you can to play clean football, so they just can’t call you for something … You have to find a way to just keep coaching those things, talking to the guys about those things and drilling those things, because the momentum does start to swing if you keep coaching, and you keep teaching, and the guys want to get better, which our guys do. “That’s all you can do. You just have to keep after it and try to do things the right way.” 439: Derrick Henry rushing yards There was at least one bright spot Sunday. Derrick Henry looked like Derrick Henry again. After four straight sub-50-yard outings, one of the worst stretches of his brilliant career, the All-Pro running back ripped off 122 yards on 24 carries. His 439 rushing yards now rank seventh in the NFL behind Jonathan Taylor, Javonte Williams, Rico Dowdle, Travis Etienne, James Cook and JK Dobbins. “I wish we could play tomorrow,” Henry said. “Anytime you have a couple weeks [like the ones] that we’ve had, I always wish we could play the next day, but that’s not how it goes. It isn’t basketball, so you have to wait. The bye lets guys rest up who need it and come back next week ready to go to work. [We will] get better through this week, through the bye week, and then hit the ground running when it’s time to go.” Related Articles Ravens season has been ‘test,’ coach John Harbaugh says as he eyes fixes Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh react to Joe Flacco being traded within division Former Ravens pass rusher Za’Darius Smith abruptly retires READER POLL: Who had the more disappointing start to their season: The Ravens or Orioles? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Rams 10: Total turnovers, tied for second most in the NFL The Ravens have committed 10 turnovers through six games, including three more against the Rams. Baltimore’s 10 giveaways are tied for the second most in the NFL. During a game in which the Ravens finally ended their four-week takeaway drought, the team’s offense wasted that effort. Sloppy execution and timely mistakes continue to play a major role in Baltimore’s disappointing season. Wide receiver Zay Flowers, who was involved in two fumbles lost on consecutive possessions in the second half, was a quick departure from the postgame locker room, declining to discuss his critical mistakes. “You can’t win by turning the ball over,” Harbaugh said. “You want to look at why the record is the way it is – start with that. That’s the main thing.” 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

Ravens coach John Harbaugh spoke for 31 minutes Monday afternoon in Owings Mills. Questions abounded. About the lack of pass rush. An offensive line that lacks push and has struggled to block. Goal-to-go foibles. A once-Super Bowl favorite is now the antithesis following a disastrous 1-5 start that included a fourth straight loss Sunday in familiarly ignominious fashion, 17-3, to the Los Angeles Rams. What has it been like? “It’s been a test,” Harbaugh said amid a four-minute response. “It’s been a test of faith, your family, it’s a test for your family, a test for everybody in the building.” Now comes a bye week and another attempt to locate the answers. Players will practice Tuesday and Wednesday before having four days off, as required by the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. Coaches, of course, will spend the entirety of the week at the team’s facility. One problem for them to figure out is, where will the pass rush come from now? Last week, Baltimore traded Odafe Oweh — who registered his first sack of the season on Sunday — to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman. Then, the Ravens lost outside linebacker Tavius Robinson, who broke his foot Sunday and will miss 6-8 weeks, Harbaugh said. That leaves just three outside linebackers (veteran Kyle Van Noy, rookie Mike Green and David Ojabo) on the 53-man roster, with Adisa Isaac, who suffered a dislocated elbow during the Ravens’ second preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, not expected to come off injured reserve until at least mid or late November. “It’s been a challenge all year to generate pressure, so we’re gonna have to manufacture pressure,” Harbaugh said of a unit that came into the week ranked 16th in pass rush win-rate, according to ESPN analytics. “Our guys are going to have to step up and create pressure on the four-man rush.” It hasn’t happened. Baltimore has just one current defender on the roster (tackle Travis Jones) who ranks in the top 100 in pass rush win percentage, according to Pro Football Focus. The only other player in the top 150 is Van Noy. The Ravens can try to scheme pressure with simulated pressures or actual blitzes, but they have largely not been effective. Related Articles Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh react to Joe Flacco being traded within division Former Ravens pass rusher Za’Darius Smith abruptly retires READER POLL: Who had the more disappointing start to their season: The Ravens or Orioles? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Rams Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 Still, at this point, they just need healthy players. They have Malik Hamm and Kaimon Rucker on the practice squad, and one or both will get a shot. Or, they could look outside the building, something that Harbaugh said is “certainly” on the table. That might not be the only change. Asked if he is further considering changes on the offensive line, where left guard Andrew Vorhees and right guard Daniel Faalele in particular have struggled, he said, “absolutely.” Of course, he has said that before, and the lineup has remained intact. But a bye week should buy some time to at least experiment. One option could be third-round rookie Emery Jones, who began practicing two weeks ago after missing all of the spring and summer because of shoulder surgery. Harbaugh also said Jones hasn’t been able to work on pass protection because of the shoulder, but they are “trying to get him up to speed as quick as we possibly can.” Other possibilities are second-year Corey Bullock, a former Maryland standout, and veteran Ben Cleveland, though Harbaugh has been reluctant to turn to Cleveland on several opportunities in recent years. Of course, the most significant difference for the Ravens the next time they take the field will be at quarterback, with Lamar Jackson expected back for a Week 8 home game against the Chicago Bears. Without Jackson, who has missed the past two games because of a hamstring injury, Baltimore’s offense has struggled mightily and especially at the unit’s most important position. In his absence, backup Cooper Rush has completed 64% of his passes for 251 yards with zero touchdowns and four interceptions in two starts. Ravens quarterbacks Cooper Rush, center, and Tyler Huntley, right, warm up before Sunday's game against the Rams. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Asked whether Rush will remain the backup quarterback once Jackson returns, Harbaugh parsed his words. “Is Cooper Rush still the second-string quarterback?” he said, repeating the question as if pondering a response. “I’m gonna say yes. But I will also say we’ve got two backup quarterbacks.” The other is Tyler Huntley, who momentarily injected some life into the offense on Sunday in relief of Rush. But Harbaugh also said there are some roster decisions that have to be made. Huntley has one practice squad elevation remaining. Injury updates For a second straight week, left tackle Ronnie Stanley has either been inactive or had to leave the game early because of an ankle injury, which he did in the second quarter Sunday against the Rams, retreating to the bench, where he sat with a towel over his head for the duration. “It’s structurally good, or he wouldn’t be out there playing,” Harbaugh said. “It becomes a matter of his ability to perform on it, and the only person that knows that is the player; so you’ve got to go by that. But he’s fighting to get out there and play.” When fullback Patrick Ricard began practicing for the first time since mid-August last week, Harbaugh said the target for his return would be the Bears game. Monday, he was a little less definitive about whether the All-Pro, who has been sidelined with a calf injury, would be ready by then. “I don’t know,” he said. “The way it works — the way the injury is — is it’s pretty much recovered from that kind of a standpoint; it’s just a matter of him being comfortable with his level of strength and his ability to perform. It’s him being able to get out there and push himself through practice and feel like it’s going to stay healthy, feel like he can move and run, change direction and power into people.” On a more positive note for Baltimore, Harbaugh said cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who appeared to be banged up Sunday, is physically OK. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Joe Flacco started the season with the Cleveland Browns. After benching the veteran in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland traded Flacco to an AFC North rival. The Cincinnati Bengals brought in Flacco, who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2012, to help replace the injured Joe Burrow. Flacco started Sunday in Cincinnati’s loss to the Packers, and he’s expected to start Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Count Steelers coach Mike Tomlin among those perplexed by the divisional trade. “To be honest, it was shocking to me,” he said Monday. “[Cleveland general manager] Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that area. But that’s just my personal feelings.” Tomlin made clear his confusion lies solely with the Browns’ side of the decision. “It certainly makes sense from Cincinnati’s perspective,” Tomlin said with a wide grin. The smiles spread through the division. When asked about Tomlin’s reaction Monday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh cracked a smile. He kept his thoughts about the deal mostly to himself, though. “I didn’t think about it that much, probably because we don’t play the Browns or the Bengals for four or five weeks or something like that. … I was surprised,” Harbaugh admitted. “I will say that.” While the Browns’ and Bengals’ moves at quarterback have at least caught the attention of opposing franchises in the division, most people anticipate the division to be decided by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers (4-1) currently hold a 3 1/2-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North, but Jackson is expected to return from injury in Week 8 after the Ravens’ Week 7 bye. Even with a 1-5 record, FanDuel gives Baltimore the second-best odds to win the AFC North at +165. The Steelers are finally the favorite (-150) after the Ravens were still the betting favorite at 1-4. The Bengals (+1400) and Browns (+3300) aren’t expected to factor into the divisional race. Despite a growing deficit in the division, the Ravens are banking that Jackson’s return can turn the tide. “If I was on the couch with a psychiatrist right now, if I was spilling it, I’d say I’m leaning really hard into that,” Harbaugh said of Jackson’s expected return. Tomlin didn’t need a hypothetical shrink to share his feelings about the Flacco trade. Related Articles Ravens season has been ‘test,’ coach John Harbaugh says as he eyes fixes Former Ravens pass rusher Za’Darius Smith abruptly retires READER POLL: Who had the more disappointing start to their season: The Ravens or Orioles? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Rams Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 His disdain for the Browns’ front office might be caused by Pittsburgh’s upcoming schedule. The Steelers face Flacco and the Bengals on Thursday and again in a month on Nov. 16. Pittsburgh beat Cleveland on Sunday, holding Gabriel to 221 passing yards on 53 attempts in a 23-9 victory. The Ravens don’t face the Bengals until Thanksgiving, although they did beat Flacco and the Browns in Week 2. It’s possible Baltimore could face Flacco three times this season, depending on when Burrow’s turf toe injury heals. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Za’Darius Smith abruptly announced his retirement Monday, five games into his eighth NFL season and first with the Philadelphia Eagles. The 33-year-old pass rusher called it a career in a post on Instagram. The Eagles lost Thursday night at the New York Giants to fall to 4-2 and play at Minnesota on Sunday. Smith signed with the reigning Super Bowl champions the day after their Week 1 win against Dallas. He spent last season with Cleveland and Detroit. “As I step into the newest season of my life, please know this game has meant the world to me,” Smith said. “The lessons learned on and off the field will stay with me forever.” Smith was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, in 2019 and ’20 with Green Bay and again in 2022 with Minnesota. He had 10 tackles in five games with the Eagles. Smith played for Baltimore from 2015 through 2018, with the Ravens drafting him in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. His best season with the Ravens came in 2018, when he posted 8 1/2 sacks across 16 games played and eight starts. The Baltimore Sun’s staff contributed to this article. View the full article

The Ravens are not who we thought they were. A team with Super Bowl aspirations is 1-5 and losers of four straight after another embarrassing defeat, the latest a 17-3 loss to the Rams at home on Sunday. Yet, somehow their brutal start might not even be the worst for a professional franchise in Baltimore this year. The Orioles, another team that entered the year with a championship on their minds, started 15-28 before they fired manager Brandon Hyde and never recovered to finish with a losing record. Which team had the more disappointing start to their season? We want to hear from you. Are you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

Right now, the only thing that can slow the bleeding of this Ravens season from hell is the bye week. We’ve finally arrived, but not before another Baltimore clunker. This one, a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Here are five things we learned: If it’s not one thing with this team, it’s another In a postgame locker room largely cleared out by players itching to get home and flush this fourth straight loss — a first for Baltimore since 2021 — there stood DeAndre Hopkins. He’s a 33-year-old veteran who has experienced the many highs and lows football has to offer. Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro in Year 13, is as thoughtful as he is talented. This particular question in a postgame media scrum didn’t warrant much musing. Was Hopkins surprised by the Ravens’ 1-5 start? He shook his head no, “Bad football will get you 1-5.” Unfortunately for these Ravens, that’s not a singular fix. They can’t point to just one facet of their play, six weeks into the season, that consolidates all their “bad football.” It seems every week offers something new. For much of this season, enough of it could be blamed on the defense. Sunday was different. “Our defense did a hell of a job,” running back Derrick Henry said. “But as far as offense, we definitely have to be better.” If it’s not one thing with this team, it’s another. Baltimore returned defensive staples Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey from injury. Then outside linebacker Tavius Robinson broke his foot. The Ravens forced their first takeaway since Week 2. But they turned the ball over thrice. The defense held Los Angeles’ very good offense to a manageable 17 points. But the offense was held out of the end zone for the first time in three years. Henry clocked his most yards on the ground (122) since Week 1. But the Ravens failed to convert 4 of 6 fourth-down tries. Now, Baltimore’s season enters unsalvageable territory. One win through six weeks matches the worst start in franchise history. Three points marks their fewest points scored in a home game since 2002. Every week, players and coaches try to make sense of what went wrong the previous Sunday. They vow to correct it. Then they find another way to box themselves out of the win column. “Obviously, a little tired of getting up here and having this conversation,” coach John Harbaugh said. The Ravens’ only option is to stack a win streak coming out of the bye, with games against Chicago, Miami then Minnesota. It’s not impossible. “I feel like we still have time,” Henry said. “Just believe in us.” Related Articles Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 Mike Preston: Ravens need Lamar Jackson to pull off a miracle | COMMENTARY Josh Tolentino: The Ravens look lost. The boos said it all. | COMMENTARY For Ravens fans, apathy is setting in: ‘Vibes are just really bad’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 17-3 loss to Rams The Ravens finally lost faith in Cooper Rush With 13:30 left in the fourth quarter and the Ravens trailing by two scores, a No. 5 purple jersey emerged from the bench. Third-string quarterback Tyler Huntley, whom Baltimore signed to its practice squad in late August, refocused all the wandering eyes. Every fan who might have opened the discussion among their traveling party about heading for the exits early was now locked in, leaning forward in their seats. Even Lamar Jackson stood up to watch Huntley — who replaced the injured two-time Most Valuable Player in 2022 — take over. Harbaugh said he planned to play both throughout the game. He claimed to have not seen an obvious mid-game opening to pull Cooper Rush and give Huntley a try. Those watching such an uninspiring offense seemed to think differently. Fans on a windy October Sunday let Rush hear it. They already saw him throw three interceptions last week. Baltimore’s slugfest rolled into Week 6, and so fans called for Huntley. But not before booing Rush off the field on three straight drives. When Rams kicker Joshua Karty shanked a chip shot in the first quarter that gave the ball back to Baltimore with a lead (something we haven’t seen much of this year), Rush threw his fourth interception in five quarters as a Ravens starter. When the Ravens opted to go for it on fourth-and-3, Rush rolled out to his right and sailed a throw intended for Zay Flowers streaking into open grass. That pulled the plug on any momentum gained from the forced turnover moments before. When Todd Monken’s offense picked up some steam and reached midfield, Rush threw a third-and-8 ball at the feet of an open Mark Andrews. So ensued the negative energy from an antsy home crowd. Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush threw for only 72 yards against the Rams before being replaced by Tyler Huntley in the fourth quarter Sunday. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Rush finished the day 11 of 19 for 72 yards. His replacement finished out the fourth quarter 10 of 15 with 68 yards through the air, albeit against a fourth-quarter defense that was protecting a 14-point lead. Huntley’s magnetism climaxed on a fourth-and-12 try. There were four minutes left, and punting would have been the ultimate white flag. Huntley scampered for 19 yards by himself, extending a drive that reached the red zone but yielded no points. “If I were in ‘Coop’s situation, I wouldn’t want to get pulled when you’re trying to win the game,” Huntley said. “There’s a lot of stuff that, as a quarterback, you just have to be ready for.” Surely, everyone in that locker room is ready to be done with the conversation once Jackson returns after the bye week. Goal-line offense issues haven’t been resolved This offseason, the Ravens were one of 10 teams that voted in favor of keeping the “tush push” — the short-distance set in which a player takes the snap and teammates shove his derrière over the line, made popular by the Philadelphia Eagles. Detractors claim it ruins the product of the game. The play requires “no skill,” one high-ranking Packers front office member said after a playoff loss last season. He called it an “automatic first down.” The Ravens would like to have a word. In the waning seconds before halftime, they failed twice at the sure-thing, then got stuffed trying a regular Henry run on fourth down. While Baltimore has had success pushing Andrews’ tush in the past, this anticlimactic goal-line bust “didn’t get any push,” Harbaugh said. That took the wind out of Baltimore’s sails heading into halftime tied at 3 when they could have been up 10-3. “That sucks,” center Tyler Linderbaum said. “We just didn’t get a yard. They wanted it more than us. When it comes down to it, who wants it more?” The tush push was a new approach to an issue that’s plagued the Ravens all season. There are 22 NFL teams better than Baltimore at scoring touchdowns once they get inside the red zone. The Ravens score at a 53.3% clip. Remember when Jackson fumbled against the Lions after three failed attempts from inside the 5-yard line? Or against Cleveland, when Baltimore needed all four tries to finally punch in a touchdown? Those frustrations resurfaced with the two holding penalties that foiled the Ravens’ opening drive, instead leaving them with a field goal, their only points. Add Sunday’s goal-line meltdown to the growing list. “I mean, that’s just unacceptable,” Henry said. Defense finally showed some life The 6-foot-3, 360-pound John Jenkins lumbered up field, holding the football to the gray sky, wearing a toothy smile under his face mask. His Ravens teammates were right there beside him on a celebratory caravan for the team’s first takeaway since Week 2 vs. Cleveland. That romping against a division foe was the last time Baltimore’s defense showed this much juice. Ravens defensive tackle John Jenkins sacks Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and recovers Stafford's fumble Sunday. The takeaway was the team's first forced turnover since Week 2. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Jenkins’ strip-sack answered the prayers of a defense that spent all offseason touting the importance of takeaways and has since failed to deliver. Not to mention, the Ravens were one of the worst teams in football at bringing down the quarterback. On Sunday, linebackers Teddye Buchanan and Trenton Simpson teamed up for the Ravens’ second of the day on a crucial fourth-and-short. “I thought our defense played pretty darn well against a high-powered offense,” Harbaugh said. It may have cooled the seat under defensive coordinator Zach Orr. With each loss, his job has come into question. Harbaugh continually backed his young coach. But if a staffing change were to happen, this break in the schedule would be the time. And yet, Sunday night, Harbaugh didn’t waiver: “I don’t really have any plans to do that. No, I don’t think there’s any obvious move there that would make us better.” Ravens defensive players have all insisted these shortcomings are on them. Not Orr. At the very least, they held up their end of the bargain Sunday afternoon. Rams running back Kyren Williams’ 50 rushing yards were his fewest this season. Matthew Stafford, the league’s leader in passing yards, threw for only 181 yards, his lowest mark this season (granted, he was without star receiver Puka Nacua for much of the game). And the Ravens’ defense walled up on fourth down for the first time since Week 2 (Lions, Chiefs and Texans were all perfect converting fourth-down attempts). “We needed to see that,” Harbaugh said. The most noticeable difference was the injection of safety Alohi Gilman, whom Baltimore acquired via trade with the Los Angeles Chargers. Gilman learned a “whole new football scheme in three days” and looked right at home in Baltimore’s offense. It allowed for Orr to play around with three safety looks, which means Hamilton can move closer to the line of scrimmage. Sunday was the first time the Ravens’ defense went consecutive drives without allowing points to a team’s starting quarterback since the second quarter in Week 3 vs. Detroit. They pushed around Los Angeles in two such instances in the loss. While all of this is a good sign for the potential course-correction required after the bye week, Baltimore won’t get home scotch free. Robinson’s broken foot is “a bad one,” Harbaugh said. Baltimore is already light on pass rushers. Nnamdi Madubuike was ruled out for the season with a neck injury, and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh was traded in the Gilman deal. Oweh recorded a sack in his Chargers debut, a 29-27 win over the Dolphins. These guys can’t catch a break. Thank goodness for the bye week The Ravens can sigh a bit of relief. They won’t play another game for 14 days. Baltimore is in desperate need of this break. Both for the emotional reset of the team’s worst start since 2015, which chops off another few percentage points from their playoff chances, and to address the unending injury woes that have plagued the first third of Baltimore’s season. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton warms up before Sunday's game vs. the Rams. Hamilton is one of several Ravens who have battled injuries this season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Most crucially, the Ravens should return their star quarterback from a hamstring injury for Week 8 versus Chicago. They hope to have middle linebacker Roquan Smith and fullback Pat Ricard back. Hamilton, Humphrey, left tackle Ronnie Stanley and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie have all dealt with injuries to varying degrees these past three weeks. The break should offer some solace in that department. These past few weeks have been a sprint, every step weighed down by a loss then the ensuing questions trying to figure out what went wrong. Harbaugh said he doesn’t have “any plans” to make staffing changes over the break. Either way, they’ll spend the next week balancing the urgency to course correct and the obligation to embrace a break in the schedule. “I wish we could play tomorrow,” Henry said. “The bye lets guys rest up who need it … then we’ll hit the ground running when it’s time to go.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Josh Jacobs rushed for two touchdowns and the Green Bay Packers held off Cincinnati for a 27-18 victory in Joe Flacco’s Bengals debut on Sunday. Jacobs had a 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and opened the fourth by scoring on a 14-yard burst up the middle. Jordan Love went 19 of 26 for 259 yards with an interception and a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Kraft. Lucas Havrisik sealed the win by making the second of his two field goals, a 39-yarder with 1:52 remaining. Havrisik also kicked a 43-yarder a day after signing with the Packers because usual kicker Brandon McManus had injured his quadriceps. Cincinnati’s final hope vanished when Evan McPherson was wide right on a 56-yard attempt with 41 seconds left. McPherson also made a 45-yard field goal and was well short on what would have been an NFL-record 67-yarder to end the first half. The Packers (3-1-1) returned from a bye week with their first home game since Sept. 11. They bounced back from two straight subpar performances — a 13-10 loss at Cleveland and a 40-40 tie with Dallas. Flacco was Cleveland’s quarterback in that victory over the Packers three weeks ago. He was acquired by Cincinnati (2-4) on Tuesday. The 40-year-old Flacco was 29 of 45 for 219 yards and two touchdowns, but the Bengals dropped their fourth consecutive game. Although Cincinnati never led, the Bengals made it a one-score game on Flacco’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase on a fourth-and-5 play with 4:11 to go. A 2-point conversion pass from Flacco to Chase Brown cut Green Bay’s lead to 24-18. But the Bengals’ defense couldn’t get a stop down the stretch. Neither team punted in the second half. Love threw a 31-yard pass to Matthew Golden on third-and-8 to get the Packers down to Cincinnati’s 29-yard line with 2:24 remaining. That set up Havrisik’s second field goal. Flacco became the eighth quarterback since at least 1950 to start against the same opponent twice in a season while playing for two different teams. The only quarterback to win both games in that scenario was Jack Kemp, who guided the AFL’s Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers past the New York Titans in 1962. The Bengals' Joe Flacco throws under pressure by the Packers in the first half Sunday in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) Cincinnati was outscored 10-0 and outgained 240-65 in the first half, marking the fourth straight game in which the Bengals failed to reach the end zone before halftime. The Bengals got back into the game by opening the second half with a 17-play, 78-yard touchdown drive that lasted 10 minutes, 14 seconds. On fourth-and-goal, Flacco threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Hudson, who entered Sunday’s game without any catches all season. Jacobs’ second touchdown made it 17-7. Cincinnati cut the lead to 17-10 with 10:43 left before Love and Kraft connected for Green Bay’s longest touchdown completion of the season. Kraft caught the ball a couple of yards beyond the line of scrimmage, shed a tackle and lowered his shoulder to get through cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt and land in the right corner of the end zone. Injuries Bengals: TE Mike Gesicki (pectoral) and DE Trey Hendrickson (back) both left the game. Packers: DE Lukas Van Ness was carted into the locker room with a foot injury in the third quarter. WR Dontayvion Wicks hurt his ankle. S Javon Bullard was evaluated for a concussion. Up next Bengals: Host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Packers: Visit the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. View the full article

The Ravens’ season is now down to the return of quarterback Lamar Jackson. That’s because there is no other hope. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player has to pull off another miracle if the Ravens have any playoff aspirations. Can that happen? Probably not, at least not with what we’ve seen from Jackson in the first four weeks of the season. He appeared a few steps slower and was even run down on several occasions, which has never happened to Jackson throughout his eight-year career. His decision making was slow, which might have been from the injured hamstring, or it’s from opposing teams blitzing him and keeping spies around the line of scrimmage, not allowing him to escape. But that’s where this team is right now. The Ravens are 1-5 after losing, 17-3, to the Los Angeles Rams in a game they could have won. That’s the new course chartered by the Ravens. They are staring into the abyss. A team that many predicted as Super Bowl champion has lost it way. It’s sad to see, downright humiliating. The most talented team in the 30-year history of this franchise has gone bust. And now, all hopes are on Jackson. Regardless of the score Sunday, it’s apparent that the Ravens have to score 30 or 40 points to win. They lost, 41-40, in a stunning comeback by the Buffalo Bills in the season opener. They handled Cleveland in Week 2 (after a scary first half) but then gave up 38, 37 points and 44 in losses to Detroit, Kansas City and Houston. There is a trend here. When it comes to the supposedly elite teams, the Ravens are getting mauled. That is where Jackson enters the picture. Before the hamstring injury sidelined him for the past two games, the Ravens had some semblance of a real NFL offense. The team’s best play always consisted of Jackson running around with his scrambling ability. That’s why NFL fans, especially those in Baltimore, are mesmerized by his playmaking ability and his improvement throwing the long ball. With this team, Jackson has to pull another rabbit out of the hat. The Ravens’ backup quarterbacks are awful. No. 2 Cooper Rush completed 11 of 19 passes Sunday for 72 yards and finished with a passer rating of 44.2. Most of his throws were of the dink-and-dunk variety, with nothing more than 10 yards. Question: Is this the NFL or high school football? No. 3 quarterback Tyler Huntley has a skill set similar to Jackson’s, but can’t throw as well. By the time he came into the game in the fourth quarter, he was harassed by the Rams’ defense, which totaled four sacks and 11 hits on the quarterback. Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley passes in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Rams. The Ravens used Huntley and Cooper Rush, but only scored three points in a 17-3 defeat. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) This offensive line is not very good. Even though running back Derrick Henry had a strong performance, rushing for 122 yards on 24 carries, the Ravens couldn’t pass block. That 14-point deficit in the third quarter was practically insurmountable. And do we really want to talk about defense? The Ravens had nearly a 15-minute advantage as far as time of possession, but still allowed 241 yards of total offense. Rams wide receiver Davante Adams dropped three passes and quarterback Matthew Stafford overthrew him twice in the end zone on the Rams’ first drive, or the score might have been worse. The 8-yard touchdown pass that Stafford threw to tight end Tyler Higbee in the third quarter was the same type of play Houston and Detroit used in previous games. There were signs that the Ravens’ defense improved Sunday, but not to the point where it can be counted on week after week. OK, Mr. Jackson, time to play. The Ravens have no other chance. At least with Jackson and Henry, the Ravens have an inside and outside threat with both players, especially on option plays. They have a quarterback who has improved significantly in the past two years throwing long passes and can roll to his left and hit open receivers. More importantly, Jackson gives this team hope. It’s not phony. They believe in him and that they can win any game with him as the starter. Related Articles Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 Josh Tolentino: The Ravens look lost. The boos said it all. | COMMENTARY For Ravens fans, apathy is setting in: ‘Vibes are just really bad’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 17-3 loss to Rams What Tom Brady said about the Ravens during ugly loss to Rams That’s the key for a team that is void of leadership, especially from the veterans. There are no alpha males on this team, even with Jackson. In 2000, the Ravens had defensive linemen like Tony Siragusa, Rob Burnett, Sam Adams and Mike McCrary. In 2012, they had receiver Anquan Boldin, linebacker Ray Lewis and safeties Bernard Pollard and Ed Reed. Now, they have no one, but only the hope that comes from Jackson. The magic number to get to the playoffs as always is about 10 wins, and the Ravens have 11 games remaining and just one victory. Can Jackson help them go on a nine-game winning streak in a sorry league with games against Miami, Minnesota, Cleveland and Cincinnati? Those are all teams without bonafide starting quarterbacks. No, but at least his return adds some intrigue to a season that has gone south. That’s all there is left. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The boos at M&T Bank Stadium had already started, but they intensified after the Ravens somehow failed to punch it in from the 1-yard line — an inexplicable three-play sequence that ended with nothing but frustration echoing through the building near the end of the first half. The boos were sharp and unrelenting, loud enough to seep through the thick press box glass. That’s what led me to wander out to the 500 level at halftime, curious to stand among a few family members and the disgruntled 70,000-plus in attendance (paid attendance, anyway), an opportunity to see what this 17-3 loss to the Los Angles Rams looked like through Flock Nation’s eyes and to fully hear the discontent from a fan base that expected much more. Section 529 overlooks the Ravens’ sideline, a perfect perch to take in the unraveling that happened moments later. Even from way up there, nothing felt distant. The Lamar Jackson-less Ravens opened the second half with back-to-back turnovers, shiny gifts the Rams quickly turned into a pair of touchdowns. Baltimore’s top wide receiver, Zay Flowers, was involved in both ugly sequences; he first fumbled while trying to gain extra yards and then botched a handoff from veteran backup quarterback Cooper Rush. As Flowers and company slowly retreated to the sideline, the boos poured in even louder as pockets of fans simultaneously streamed toward the exits. The irony in all of this is that Baltimore commanded the exact type of slugfest it wanted Sunday afternoon. The Ravens dominated the clock, holding the ball for more than 37 minutes compared with the Rams’ 22:05. All-Pro tailback Derrick Henry finally exploded for one of his best outings of the season (24 carries for 122 yards), hammering through the Rams’ first and second levels of defenders and dictating tempo in Baltimore’s favor. This was the type of game the Ravens used to dominate with a bruising rush attack paired with a disciplined and much-improved defense that limited the high-powered Rams to a season-low 241 yards. The Ravens also finally ended a four-week takeaway drought when veteran defensive lineman John Jenkins strip-sacked quarterback Matthew Stafford. According to the franchise’s history and standard, this looked much more like Ravens football. Yet, Baltimore was held out of the end zone, its offense sputtering time and time again, undone by its own repetitive mistakes. “Bad football will get you 1-5,” veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins said. “Whatever you put out there … that’s how football works. When the other team is not playing bad football and doing whatever they need to do, that’s the result, man.” Related Articles Packers overcome Joe Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat Bengals, 27-18 Mike Preston: Ravens need Lamar Jackson to pull off a miracle | COMMENTARY For Ravens fans, apathy is setting in: ‘Vibes are just really bad’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 17-3 loss to Rams What Tom Brady said about the Ravens during ugly loss to Rams The Ravens committed three turnovers, seven penalties, and went 0-for-3 in the red zone, unable to capitalize on a much-needed bounce-back performance from their defense. There should be absolutely no place in today’s modern NFL in which Baltimore spends nearly 38 minutes with the ball but walks away with no touchdowns. “When it comes down to it, who wants it more?” center Tyler Linderbaum said. “[The Rams] wanted it more than us.” That failure isn’t just about three poor play calls flaming out within four feet of the pylon. Rather, Baltimore’s latest failure is unveiling a pattern that’s formed over the season’s first six weeks. “We made some critical mistakes that cost us an opportunity to win the game,” Harbaugh said. “That’s what we have to get straightened out. That’ll be the key going forward.” Many seats were empty in the fourth quarter Sunday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) From my view above the home sideline, the mood on the bench reflected the fed-up crowd. Helmets and heads hung lower with each mistake. Words exchanged between players carried a sense of added frustration. The sense of stability this team has leaned on for years — the trademark calm under Harbaugh — felt like it was disappearing just as it did in the team’s other four disappointing defeats. The Ravens have spent weeks saying that they need to clean things up, that they have too much talent to be where they are. But ceilings and talent don’t matter when Baltimore keeps tripping over itself. This team continues to find new ways to lose, and on Sunday, that played out in front of a restless fan base. To be clear, this isn’t a call to fire Harbaugh as the team enters the much-needed bye. Over the next 14 days until Baltimore’s next game against Chicago, Harbaugh’s renowned stability and longtime messaging need a deep revisit, along with the team’s many issues. Getting Jackson back in the starting lineup will be key, too (you can only imagine the Ravens beat the Rams handily if he’s in the huddle paired with the defense’s rebound outing), as Baltimore approaches a softer part of its schedule. “You can’t allow the weight of the disappointment or the weight of the scrutiny to derail you,” Harbaugh said. “We can accomplish what we want to accomplish. We can do it. We’re the kind of team that can do it.” The Ravens face a herculean task over the season’s final 10 weeks coming out of their Week 7 bye. Only four teams in NFL history have started 1-5 and still made the playoffs. Under the league’s current playoff format that was implemented in 2020, only the 2020 Washington Commanders have accomplished the feat. Back in the upper bowl at The Bank, the boos and expletives directed toward the home team represented a passionate but tired fan base. Down on the field, the skidding Ravens dropped their fourth consecutive game, looking like a lost team in desperate need of direction. 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 tenor of M&T Bank Stadium was encapsulated by two fights that broke out midway through the second quarter. Ten people were ejected from the stadium, stadium employee Asut Ames said. The fights reflected the frustration of a fan base that, for the second straight week, filed out of the stadium long before the final whistle. “Fire Harbaugh” chants broke out, boos rained down as the Ravens went into halftime tied at 3, and a loud “Tyler Huntley” chant echoed through the stands in the third quarter as Baltimore failed to score a touchdown in its 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday afternoon. Even before the game, it was clear Ravens fans were growing frustrated with the team — and, at times, each other. Paid attendance for Sunday’s game was 70,055 — the fifth-lowest at M&T Bank Stadium in the past decade — but the stands weren’t nearly that full at any point on the windy and dreary afternoon as many fans decided to stay home. A year ago, Baltimore averaged 71,052 fans per game, the ninth-highest mark in the NFL. The fans who showed up Sunday were displeased with the team’s effort. “The vibes are just really bad. It’s kind of like a heavy cloud over the stadium,” said 30-year-old season-ticket holder Dakota London, of Abingdon. “It’s just not good, man, there’s a bad vibe going around right now.” Several fans said Sunday’s contest was one of the quietest atmospheres they have attended at M&T Bank Stadium. Glen Burnie native Gage Utz said the stadium “felt more empty than it usually is.” Even fans who did attend seemed not to be focused on the game, Utz said. Season-ticket holder Luke Milliken, 25, said he typically sells his tickets for more than $140. He said the market value for Sunday’s game was much lower than usual. “It’s the whole team. They’re not performing on either side of the ball, and they’re trading guys away,” Utz, 24, said. “You see all these other teams, like the 49ers and all these other teams have backup guys, they’re still winning games, and obviously we’re not doing that.” The Ravens’ play did not inspire much confidence for their fan base. Baltimore’s offense was booed off the field after it failed to score from the goal line in the first half. Quarterback Cooper Rush missed several throws, and Zay Flowers fumbled the ball twice (although one was credited to Rush on the handoff). Related Articles The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 17-3 loss to Rams What Tom Brady said about the Ravens during ugly loss to Rams Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-3 loss to Rams to fall to 1-5 Ravens’ free fall continues with embarrassing 17-3 loss to Rams Ravens’ Tavius Robinson breaks foot vs. Rams; Ronnie Stanley leaves early Ontario native Tyler Morwood and his friends made the eight-hour drive from Canada to watch their annual Ravens game. The long-time fans said Sunday was a shocking atmosphere to experience, as they watched another blowout loss. “[Teams] used to come here and know they were going to be in a dog fight. That doesn’t happen anymore,” Morwood, 35, said. “It sucks. We didn’t even get to see a touchdown.” “This is the first time I’ve ever seen this. I’ve never seen people leaving this stadium before [fourth quarter] kicks off. I’ve never seen people leaving like this, and that’s the sign of the time. The wheels have fallen off the wagon, and the wagon’s on fire.” For a team that started with such high expectations, a 1-5 record at the bye week is a sobering reminder of how poorly this season has gone. Running back Derrick Henry admitted the record was bad, but asked fans to stick with the team. “We always appreciate the fans through everything. We know it’s rough right now, they want to see a good product out there, and we haven’t been displaying that,” Henry said. “Them leaving early is a given.” Fans head toward the exits early in the fourth quarter of the Ravens' game Sunday against the Rams. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The upper section of the stadium was nearly 80% empty by the time the game reached the fourth quarter. The concourse was filled with fans exiting early, hoping to beat the traffic instead of watching their team struggle through another loss. Utz and Milliken left their seats in the second quarter, choosing to watch the game from the concourse instead. As the fourth quarter rolled around, they decided to leave, choosing not to spend the remainder of their weekend at M&T Bank Stadium. They made new plans. “Probably just going to try and drown our sorrows at the bars instead of being here,” Utz said. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Baltimore Ravens fans head down to the exits as the Los Angeles Rams continue to dominate during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Most fans heave abandoned their seats with the Baltimore Ravens down against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Seats were empty throughout the afternoon as the Baltimore Ravens play the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Empty seats show in every section as the Baltimore Ravens play the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens fans appear stunned as their team fail to make progress against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens fans express their disappointment with not attempting a field goal or failing to convert on fourth down as a pass by quarterback Cooper Rush is overthrown against the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Baltimore Ravens fans are speechless after the team fail to pound the ball into the end zone against the Los Angeles Rams on four downs, failing to chalk up a single point during the second quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Empty seats in M&T Bank Stadium during Ravens Rams game in the first quarter. The Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Many empty seats can be seen throughout the seating bowl as the Los Angeles Rams kick off to the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Ravens fans leave the stadium in the fourth quarter. The Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Ravens fans sit quietly late in the fourth quarter as the Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Dejected Ravens fans late in the fourth quarter. The Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)A Ravens fan Rams watches late in the fourth quarter as the Rams defeated the Ravens 17-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)Fans walk in the concourse at M&T Bank Stadium for the Ravens to play the Rams. (Sam Jane/Staff)There are many empty seats at M&T Bank Stadium for the Ravens to play the Rams. (Sam Jane/Staff)Many empty seats are visible at M&T Bank Stadium during the Baltimore Ravens’ game against the Los Angeles Rams in Baltimore, Maryland. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Many empty seats are visible at M&T Bank Stadium during the Baltimore Ravens’ game against the Los Angeles Rams in Baltimore, Maryland. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Fans shout their displeasure during the Baltimore Ravens’ game against the Los Angeles Rams at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Show Caption1 of 18Baltimore Ravens fans head down to the exits as the Los Angeles Rams continue to dominate during the fourth quarter in Baltimore. The Ravens dropped to 1-5 with a 17-3 loss. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)Expand View the full article

Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position after a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium: Quarterbacks The Ravens started Cooper Rush until he was replaced by Tyler Huntley in the fourth quarter. The substitution should have been made sooner, but the Ravens wanted to stay with Rush, their $6 million man. The 31-year-old backup overthrew receivers several times on out patterns, and Huntley was under constant duress during his drives. Rush wasn’t effective, completing 11 of 19 passes for 72 yards with an interception. Huntley had no chance, completing 10 of 15 attempts for 68 yards. Grade: D Running backs Derrick Henry showed some life in the running game, gaining 122 yards on 24 carries, and he had some nasty runs that looked vintage. I still don’t know why the Ravens didn’t pound him up the gut on those two straight tush pushes at the goal line right before the end of the half, but I guess they wanted to see what tight end Mark Andrews can do. Andrews, though, is not Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who can squat more than 500 pounds. Justice Hill had five catches for 28 yards as Henry’s backup. Grade: B Receivers Memo to Zay Flowers: Stop fumbling the ball. Being involved in two fumbles during a single game is unacceptable. Worse yet, one was on a jet sweep that was credited to Rush, but it wasn’t a good day for the No. 1 receiver. The rest of the group was quiet as well. Flowers had six catches for 46 yards, but his fumble in the third quarter turned the game in Los Angeles’ favor. Andrews had four catches for 24 yards, but it was more of a small ball passing game. The Ravens need to work DeAndre Hopkins into the offense more often. He had two catches for 20 yards, but cornerbacks have to grab him to defend him. Grade: C- Offensive line The Ravens came out strong and initially knocked the Rams off the ball. They ran on both sides of the line both inside and outside the tackles. But once they got behind 17-3 in the third quarter, their weakness in pass protection was exposed. Rush became more susceptible to pressure because he can’t scramble, and even Huntley had problems with the relentless pressure. It wasn’t a bad day for this group, but nothing to brag about either. One other thing: Stop holding so much. Grade: D Defensive line The Ravens came into the game against an offense that averaged 112.2 rushing yards per game, and they held the Rams to 74 yards on the ground. It was a strong effort, and this group got better this weekend compared with previous games. Even defensive tackle John Jenkins had a sack and fumble recovery when he stripped Matthew Stafford. But by the end of the game, the Ravens were starting to wear down. Jenkins finished with three tackles and Brent Urban (who was evaluated for concussion) also had two. The Rams had only 241 yards of total offense. Grade: B Linebackers Weakside linebacker Trenton Simpson might have had his best day as a pro, finishing with nine tackles including a half sack. Rookie middle linebacker Teddye Buchanan also had nine tackles and finished with a half sack as well. The Ravens though, got caught several times when their outside linebackers dashed inside instead of playing run support. Veteran Kyle Van Noy finished with only one tackle and David Ojabo had zero. Tavius Robinson also didn’t have a tackle and left the game in the first half with what coach John Harbaugh later said was a broken foot. Grade C+ Secondary Stafford threw for 181 yards, but he fooled the Ravens several times on short rollouts and passes into the flat. Overall, this group actually had a clue to where to find the Rams’ receivers because they had a near 15-minute advantage in time of possession, but you never thought the Ravens were in total control. Los Angeles had receivers open across the middle most of the game, and the Ravers were helped because receiver Davante Adams dropped three passes. Stafford’s 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee in the third quarter was embarrassing, and we’ve seen this before against Detroit and Houston. Grade: C- Related Articles For Ravens fans, apathy is setting in: ‘Vibes are just really bad’ What Tom Brady said about the Ravens during ugly loss to Rams Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-3 loss to Rams to fall to 1-5 Ravens’ free fall continues with embarrassing 17-3 loss to Rams Ravens’ Tavius Robinson breaks foot vs. Rams; Ronnie Stanley leaves early Special teams Rookie LaJohntay Wester looked like he was close to breaking one for a touchdown with a 35-yard punt return in the second quarter after his fumble was nullified by a Rams penalty, but he needed to choose the right angle on Los Angeles’ last punt of the day with two minutes left in the game. Jordan Stout only had one punt for 53 yards, and rookie Tyler Loop converted his only field goal attempt of 37 yards in the first quarter. But Loop needs to get more distance on his kickoffs, and Wester shouldn’t have let a punter tackle him on his long return. That’s a big no no. Grade: C Coaching I’m still waiting for some imagination in coordinator Todd Monken’s offense. How about a little razzle-dazzle? How about some double reverses or other trick plays? Give me some imagination, please. Maybe a bomb to Flowers or Hopkins if Flowers didn’t fumble. How about a screen or two to slow the Rams’ pass rush? As for the defense, the Ravens got better this week but the Rams are an undisciplined bunch. Still, L.A. had plenty of time to throw over the middle. The Rams had four sacks and 11 quarterback hurries, while the Ravens had just two sacks and three hurries. Enough said. Grade: D Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley passes as Rams outside linebacker Byron Young closes in during the fourth quarter. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

Tom Brady has seen a lot of football. What he’s not very familiar with is bad Ravens football. The seven-time Super Bowl champion was on the call providing color commentary for FOX Sports on Sunday afternoon and saw Baltimore limp to a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at M&T Bank Stadium. It’s the first time that the Ravens have lost four straight since 2021 and just the second time in franchise history that the team has lost five of its first six games. Needless to say, the Ravens team that Brady saw on the field Sunday is a far cry from the groups led by Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs and later Lamar Jackson during his 23-year career in New England and Tampa Bay. Here’s a sample of what Brady had to say about the Ravens and their continued struggles to begin the season: On Ravens’ offense “Don’t put too much on Cooper Rush’s plate. … Be this physical, tough Baltimore team that they’ve always been.” “If I’m [offensive coordinator] Todd Monken, especially after Cooper Rush throws that interception, let’s run the big fella [Derrick Henry] as much as we can. Let’s force them to stop him first and then see if they can stop some other things.” “What’s really impressed me so far is this offensive line has really displaced the line of scrimmage. You call it resetting the line of scrimmage in their own defensive backfield. Every handoff, I’m just seeing all those purple jerseys on the Rams’ side of the football. That’s a great thing to see if you’re calling plays for the Ravens.” “It’s just simple execution. If we make our blocks, we stay on them and we fit those defenders head up, we’re going to give Derrick a chance to get going.” On Zay Flowers’ first fumble “You just have to understand, all these bodies are pursuing you. When you got east and west, sideline to sideline, you’re not really gaining any ground on the defense and they’re just hunting that ball out. That’s what good coaches will teach you.” On Derrick Henry “When he can stay on his track and not stop his feet in the hole, he’s impossible to get on the ground.” “He’s not necessarily a jump-cut type runner. He needs to see his spot and hit it.” On Ravens’ defense “Baltimore’s defense has struggled this year in so many different areas. Certainly third downs has been one of the key issues. Coach Harbaugh said we just can’t get them off the field on third down. A lot of that’s been their limitations, giving up explosive plays. When you get to third-and-9 in the NFL, you’re banking on getting them off the field 80% of the time.” “NFL coaching is all about solving problems. You saw it on a weekly basis, sometimes you saw it on a play-by-play basis.” “Love the way they’ve come out and been so physical today.” On Mark Andrews “He’s such a reliable target and has been that way with Lamar. He needs to be that way when Lamar is not in there as well. … It’s different. When you come in with a new quarterback, there are a lot of unseen body language things that need to happen in the passing game for solid execution.” On playing with backup QB Cooper Rush “It’s a different style. He’s more of a pocket passer, which is a very different style of offense than what Lamar’s running. And you don’t install two offenses, you install one. So Todd Monken is tasked this week with cherry picking things from the Lamar offense that will actually work with Cooper Rush.” “The quarterback has to take control of the protection. [The defenders are] already up there at the line of scrimmage. You probably think they’re coming, you redirect the line to protect and you’re able to stand in there and make a throw.” “Just not super comfortable in the pocket. If you get clean pockets and you’re running from those, well, there’s a sense of unsettling footwork that’s happening in his head.” On Rams’ goal line stand “They have this guy [Henry] who I would probably want to give the ball. I love Mark Andrews, but [the tush push quarterback sneak is] just a hard thing. You don’t practice that much. The ball’s not in his hands [often].” Related Articles Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-3 loss to Rams to fall to 1-5 Ravens’ free fall continues with embarrassing 17-3 loss to Rams Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley, Tavius Robinson exit game vs. Rams with injuries Ravens vs. Rams, October 12, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Rams live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 17-3 loss “If you have a 250-pound back [Henry] who’s been the best back in the NFL in the last 10 years, my version of this if I’m Todd Monken is let me just give it to him and try to let him go over the top and see if they can stop him.” “If you can’t get a yard, you don’t deserve to win.” “They miss [fullback Patrick] Ricard. Just not enough physicality at that position. [Left guard Andrew] Vorhees doesn’t do his job. And instead of even giving Derrick a chance to go over the top, it’s stopped 2 yards in the backfield.” On offense with Huntley “You just don’t want it to become too much of passing game. He hasn’t had any reps this week. Now all of the sudden it’s like, ‘Here’s the whole offense.’ Still have to manage the quarterback position a bit and I like the idea of these dual-threat type runs with [Justice] Hill in the backfield or Henry or some of these quick rhythm passing throws to the perimeter. Some screen plays. Anything to get Huntley in rhythm.” On 4th straight loss “Very deflating for this team for so many reasons. And you see it on Harbaugh’s face right there. You know it’s just been a total morale killer for six weeks of the season. Hopefully they get Lamar back. The division isn’t great.” “All is not lost. I know that’s a narrative sometimes when you come into these bye weeks. Everything’s ahead of us. But for this team, it truly is. They’re getting their best player back. Some of these defensive players are getting healthy. There’s no margin for error at this point going forward. But they are the Ravens, and they usually figure it out.” On Ray Lewis meeting before the game “Where are you Ed Reed? Where are you Terrell Suggs? I want a piece of you too.” “It still hurt me more than it hurt Ray I’m sure when I hit him right there.” “Ray wouldn’t always say the nicest thing to me. I’m glad we’re friends post career. Not someone I want on my bad side.” “It is nice to be in Baltimore and not be sore on my flight home.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. Former Patriots quarterback and current FOX Sports announcer Tom Brady jokes around with former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis on the field before the Ravens' 17-3 loss to the Rams. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6 of the NFL season on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium: Brian Wacker, reporter The Ravens simply can’t get out of their own way. Three cracks from the Rams’ 1-yard line yielded no points. Three turnovers and three failed fourth-down attempts. It looked early on as if Baltimore might be able to ride the legs of running back Derrick Henry to a possible if not improbable victory. Even as he became the first runner to crack the 100-yard mark against the Rams this season, though, it was only a matter of time before the cracks in this team would prove too much to overcome. Without Lamar Jackson, the offense has been disjointed. The offensive line has been a sieve. The defense mostly contained quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Kyren Williams and receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, but the hard truth is this not a very good team, both in scheme and execution, and there are serious questions as to whether they have the leadership and ability to pull out of this spiral. Mike Preston, columnist The mediocre NFL was on display Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium and it seemed like neither team wanted to win. It was an awful game played by two poorly coached teams. The major difference was that Matthew Stafford was the Rams’ starting quarterback, and even though he didn’t play well, the Rams had enough on offense to overcome Baltimore, which was without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson for the second straight week because of a hamstring injury. The difference in the game occurred at the start of the third quarter when the Rams came out in a hurry-up offense to spark a nine-play, 76-yard drive that was highlighted by a 3-yard touchdown run from running back Kyren Williams. On the Ravens’ next offensive series, receiver Zay Flowers fumbled. That led to another Rams touchdown, this time in two plays that covered 21 yards. Game over. The Ravens had several opportunities, but they don’t have enough firepower at this point. This was a game they could have won. Josh Tolentino, columnist The Ravens finally halted their four-week long takeaway drought … only to commit three of their own turnovers, which proved to be detrimental to their fate, another ugly home loss that featured more empty seats and boos from the sparse crowd in attendance. Sure, Lamar Jackson was out for his second consecutive game, but veteran Cooper Rush was handed a pretty handsome contract for a backup quarterback to avoid disasters like this. His outing (11 of 19 passing for 72 yards, one interception, one fumble, zero touchdowns) underscored a rough day for the Ravens offense and coordinator Todd Monken, as Baltimore inexplicably failed to score on three consecutive attempts from the 1-yard line near the end of the first half. The defense shored up a bit, limiting the Rams’ high-powered offense to just 17 points — and 14 of those were scored off a pair of second-half turnovers. This loss falls squarely on the offense, which claims to boast so much firepower, and coach John Harbaugh, whose team continues to get in its own way. Sam Cohn, reporter The Ravens had every chance to put points on the board and make this game competitive (a two-score fourth-quarter deficit felt like an unscalable mountain). Los Angeles’ defense helped them convert multiple third downs with penalties. Derrick Henry had his best day since Week 1. Baltimore’s defense forced their first turnover since Week 2. But the Ravens insisted on making life tough for themselves. They couldn’t convert on three tries from the goal line. And even with the Ravens’ defense holding Los Angeles — one of the league’s top-scoring offenses — to less than 20 points, their offense couldn’t match the pace. Maybe they should have turned to Tyler Huntley sooner. Either way, the Ravens are taking one collective sigh of relief to finally be at the bye week. It’ll be a chance to completely reset, physically and emotionally, before confronting razor-thin margins of salvaging this season. Sam Jane, reporter Fans in M&T Bank Stadium have had enough. Two fights broke out, “Fire Harbaugh” chants emerged and boo birds rang down throughout the game. The Ravens failed to score a touchdown, and despite improved play on defense, lost by multiple scores for the third consecutive week. Baltimore is now 1-5, which is a precarious spot to be in despite the eventual return of quarterback Lamar Jackson. For the second straight week, the game ended with a nearly empty stadium. As one fan put it, “the vibes are horrible right now.” C.J. Doon, editor I thought last week was going to be rock bottom for the Ravens. I underestimated just how bad things could get. This was about as depressing a performance from a John Harbaugh-coached team that I can remember. Cooper Rush didn’t look like he belonged on an NFL field. The Ravens couldn’t get 1 yard at the goal line during an embarrassing sequence of failed tush pushes and Derrick Henry runs. The beleaguered defense gave an inspired effort but still couldn’t get off the field enough on third down. It ultimately didn’t matter with how inept the Ravens’ offense was. It’s a backup quarterback behind a two-time NFL MVP, yes, but the Rush signing might be one of the worst moves general manager Eric DeCosta has ever made. He was brought in to steady the ship if Lamar Jackson went down and has only made things worse. This roster should be good enough to at least be competitive, and yet the Ravens’ have looked hopeless. Zay Flowers fumbled twice Sunday, and he’s supposed to be the reliable No. 1 target. DeAndre Hopkins, at age 33, looks like he has the most fight of any of the pass catchers. That’s a huge problem, but far from their biggest. Jackson might come back after the bye, and that will be a huge boost. But is the Ravens’ season already over? The cracks that Jackson has papered over are starting to show, leaving little faith that his eventual return will be enough to propel this team to the playoffs. Something’s rotten here. Harbaugh has pulled his teams out of ruts before, but this feels like a canyon too large to overcome. Related Articles Ravens’ free fall continues with embarrassing 17-3 loss to Rams Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley, Tavius Robinson exit game vs. Rams with injuries Ravens vs. Rams, October 12, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Rams live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 17-3 loss Ravens cut undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery III to open space on roster Tim Schwartz, editor The Ravens are toast. This team looks so uninspired it’s almost hard to watch. It took an above-average first half and a pathetic first 30 minutes from the Rams to simply be tied at 3. Once Los Angeles realized they were playing the Ravens and their no-good, awful, sleepy defense, they found the end zone. Once would be enough with Cooper Rush and company on the other side. At least Derrick Henry got the ball and gave them some resemblance of hope early. But Rush missed wide-open receivers, threw a terrible interception early and got benched in the fourth quarter. Deservedly so. The bye week comes a week too late for Baltimore, which will need to shake things up in a big way to get their season back on track with Lamar Jackson likely to return in two weeks. But this team has so many problems beyond who is under center that it’s difficult to see their path to the postseason. Bennett Conlin, editor The Ravens miss Lamar Jackson. They had some of the ingredients needed to beat the Rams on Sunday, with an early turnover forced and Derrick Henry going over 100 rushing yards. But Cooper Rush is not Jackson, obviously. The Ravens’ backup quarterback struggled to operate the offense efficiently for the second consecutive week, and it cost Baltimore. Jackson’s best traits are seemingly everything. He runs and passes in a way we’ve never seen in the NFL. Rush’s best trait Sunday? His hard count. That’s not a lot for offensive coordinator Todd Monken to use. Nobody on either side of the ball picked up the slack. Sunday wasn’t Monken’s fault. It wasn’t John Harbaugh’s, either. Rush was dreadful, and his teammates didn’t do enough to pick up the slack. Zay Flowers can’t fumble twice if Baltimore wants any chance against a Super Bowl contender. Baltimore might make coaching changes during the bye week because coaches often take the brunt of the blame and defensive coordinator Zach Orr wasn’t blameless this week, but Sunday’s loss was largely on the players — and maybe general manager Eric DeCosta for thinking Cooper Rush was a worthwhile way to spend offseason dollars. 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

One yard, three tries. First, it was Ravens tight end Mark Andrews on consecutive tush-push plays. Then, a handoff to Derrick Henry that went backward 2 yards. Baltimore’s inability to cross the Los Angeles Rams’ goal line on three straight cracks at the end of the first half Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium was emblematic. Of an offense that has looked dysfunctional without injured quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson, its struggles the closer the ball gets to the end zone, but mostly a floundering Super Bowl favorite that is spiraling with five losses, including four in a row in its first six games. The Ravens (1-5) turned the ball over three times, failed to convert three of four fourth-down tries, and even with Derrick Henry (122 yards, 24 carries) becoming the first running back to crack the 100-yard rushing mark against the Rams this season, stumbled their way through a 17-3 loss to Los Angeles (4-2). Baltimore held Matt Stafford to 17 of 26 passing for 181 yards and one touchdown, while running back Kyren Williams had 50 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, but it didn’t matter. Not for a Ravens offense that managed just 296 total yards, including just 72 through the air on 11 of 19 completions from backup Cooper Rush, who was also intercepted once and fumbled once before being replaced early in the fourth quarter by Tyler Huntley, who finished 10-for-15 passing for 68 yards while running for 39 yards on three carries. And even when Huntley sparked the offense and the crowd, it turned out to be short-lived. After driving Baltimore from its own 11-yard line to the Rams’ 15, the offensive line collapsed and Huntley’s fourth-and-10 desperation toss to Rashod Bateman fell incomplete. On his knees after the ball had fallen harmlessly to the ground, he put his hands out in helplessness. It was a scene that had repeated throughout the day. At one point, as the Ravens were on their way to failing to punch it in from the 1-yard line, Henry threw his hands up in exasperation. Later, after Zay Flowers, whose fumble at his own 36-yard line early in the third quarter to set up a touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee two plays later, spiked his helmet in disgust. The frustration was palpable all afternoon, at least for those who bore witness with a stadium that had a lot of empty seats in the upper level at kickoff. Still, for the first 30 minutes, it felt like a game between two teams dueling to see which one could do less with more. Baltimore’s struggles on both sides of the ball have been well-documented, with a defense that hasn’t been able to stop anyone and an offense that has been out of sync and lackluster without Jackson. The Rams, meanwhile, have had a habit of playing down to teams this season, and it showed in their opening two series. First, they marched 57 yards to the Baltimore 8-yard line only for Stafford to inexplicably misfire on two straight passes to an open Adams, first across the back of the end zone and then on a fade. Then, Josh Karty doinked a 26-yard field goal try off the right upright in what’s been a continuation of their special teams woes. But not to be outdone, Baltimore turned the ball over on its next possession as Rush made an ill-advised late throw across the middle to a well-covered Flowers, and it was intercepted by Quentin Lake. Related Articles Instant analysis from Ravens’ 17-3 loss to Rams to fall to 1-5 Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley, Tavius Robinson exit game vs. Rams with injuries Ravens vs. Rams, October 12, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Rams live updates: Postgame reaction, analysis from 17-3 loss Ravens cut undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery III to open space on roster The comedic back and forth continued one play later, with defensive tackle John Jenkins bullying his way through the middle of the Rams’ offensive line to strip-sack Stafford and recover the fumble. The Ravens couldn’t capitalize, though. On a fourth-and-3 from the Rams’ 34, rather than attempt a field goal in the breezy conditions, they decided to go for it. Rush’s fade up the right side sailed over the blanketed Flowers. That eventually led to a 36-yard field goal by Karty to even things early in the second quarter. Baltimore had a chance to surge ahead just before the half, but its ineptitude from near the goal line reared its ugly head again. After a 36-yard punt return by Wester — whose fumble on the first attempt was wiped out by a penalty on the Rams — the Ravens eventually worked their way to the 1-yard line and were poised to finally find the end zone. Except they couldn’t get across the goal line on two straight tush-pushes with Andrews and a handoff to Henry. Coming into the week, Baltimore scored a touchdown on goal-to-go situations just 67% of the time, and that number rose with its fourth failure in seven attempts. It also marked the first time in three years that the Ravens had gone consecutive weeks without scoring a touchdown in the first half. Now, they are in more unfamiliar territory: In last place in the AFC North, three games back in the win column of the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. The bye week can’t get here soon enough for the Ravens. They will get healthier with Jackson expected and others expected to return. Without Jackson, the Ravens have gone 4-11 and lost five straight in that span. They also haven’t scored more than 17 points in any of those games. The question is, will they have enough time to recover? Only four teams in NFL history have started 1-5 and gone on to make the playoffs, with the Commanders (7-9) in 2020 the most recent to do so. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. A dejected coach John Harbaugh looks on after the Ravens turned the ball over on downs at the goal line in the second quarter. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

The injury bug continued to bite the Ravens. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and edge rusher Tavius Robinson (foot) both exited Sunday’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Rams and are questionable to return. Defensive end Brent Urban also entered concussion protocol. Stanley was sitting on the bench with a towel on his head during the second quarter. Reserve tackle Joseph Noteboom replaced Stanley midway through the frame. The two losses along the defensive line are testing their depth. Baltimore entered the game with only four active interior defensive linemen: Travis Jones, Urban, John Jenkins and C.J. Okoye. But the Ravens’ defense played one of their best halves of the season Sunday, holding the high-powered Rams’ offense to just three points. Jenkins forced and recovered a fumble on Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Rams also lost two crucial pieces. Puka Nacua — the NFL’s leading wide receiver — exited the game with a foot injury. He is questionable to return but returned to the sideline with a helmet and was seen warming up. Nacua injured his foot on a deep pass to the end zone in the first half, as he limped off the field with support and went into the locker room. Rams backup running back Blake Corum (ankle) is also questionable to return after getting his ankle rolled on. Sunday was a hometown reunion for Corum, who played high school football at St. Frances. Corum returned to the sideline and was sprinting up and down the sideline with less than two minutes to go in the first half. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. Related Articles Ravens vs. Rams, October 12, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Rams live updates: Game tied at 3-3 at halftime Ravens cut undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery III to open space on roster Joe Flacco confident stepping in as Bengals’ starting quarterback Craig Heist, longtime sports broadcaster in Baltimore and Washington, dies View the full article

Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush warms up before the game against the Rams at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley warms up before the game against the Rams at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton warms up before the game against the Rams at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens’ Keondre Jackson warms up before the game against the Rams at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Former Patriots quarterback and current announcer for FOX Sports Tom Brady jokes around with former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis on the field before the Ravens play the Rams. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Former Patriots quarterback and current announcer for FOX Sports talks to former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti on the field before the Ravens play the Rams. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

The Ravens (1-4) host the Los Angeles Rams (3-2) on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium seeking to end a three-game losing streak before their Week 7 bye. Baltimore will once again be without star quarterback Lamar Jackson, with Cooper Rush making his second straight start. Kickoff is 1 p.m. on FOX. Follow along here for live coverage and analysis. Pregame updates View the full article

The Ravens continue to shake up one of the league’s worst defenses. Baltimore on Saturday waived undrafted rookie safety Reuben Lowery III, the team announced Saturday, creating an open spot on the 53-man roster as the Ravens (1-4) prepare to host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in a pivotal game ahead of their Week 7 bye. In a corresponding move, the Ravens signed defensive tackle C.J. Okoye from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Okoye, a 6-foot-6, 370-pound lineman from Nigeria who came up through the NFL’s International Pathway Program, helps reinforce a defensive line that is missing Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) and Broderick Washington Jr. (ankle). Okoye, who has seven tackles in two games this season, was down to his last practice squad elevation. Lowery, a 23-year-old former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga standout who was one of three undrafted rookies to make the initial 53-man roster after impressing during training camp and the preseason, started and played 70 snaps on defense in the Ravens’ 44-10 loss to the Houston Texans last Sunday. The 5-foot-9, 192-pound safety filled in for injured All-Pro Kyle Hamilton alongside first-round draft pick Malaki Starks and struggled, earning a 41.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. The move comes only a few days after the Ravens acquired safety Alohi Gilman in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers and signed veteran defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the practice squad. Gilman is expected to play Sunday, but Gardner-Johnson was not elevated as the Ravens activated Tyler Huntley to back up Cooper Rush with Lamar Jackson being ruled out for the second straight game. Safety Keondre Jackson was also elevated from the practice squad and will likely contribute on special teams. In addition to Lamar Jackson, the Ravens ruled out four players for Sunday’s game against the Rams: linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring), fullback Patrick Ricard (calf) and wide receiver Devontez Walker (oblique). That means that two additional players will need to be inactive Sunday. Baltimore Sun reporter Brian Wacker 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. Related Articles Joe Flacco confident stepping in as Bengals’ starting quarterback Craig Heist, longtime sports broadcaster in Baltimore and Washington, dies Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, 5 others ruled out for game vs. Rams Ravens vs. Rams staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens vs. Rams scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? View the full article

CINCINNATI — New Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco said he wouldn’t still be playing at 40 years old if he wasn’t confident he could play at the level of a starter. After the Bengals traded for him on Tuesday and immediately tabbed him as their starter, they’re counting on Flacco being correct. “I think the best way for me to do it is just keep simple,” Flacco said. “I think a lot of the times when you’ve played a lot of ball, and when you’ve been around a lot of ball, you can get to the point where you overcomplicate things and you just, you’re just making things harder on yourself. “So honestly, I think my experience, in this regard, is going to help me, in the sense that I don’t have all the answers. Just keep it simple.” Flacco opened the year as the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback, but was benched last week for rookie Dillon Gabriel. The Bengals were looking for a quarterback following Joe Burrow’s toe injury in Week 2 and Jake Browning’s struggles the last three games. That put the wheels in motion for a trade between the two AFC North rivals. “A lot of the times when you’re going through things as a player, you just adapt,” Flacco said. “You go with it. I think with everything in life, when things happen to you, you’re like all right, how do we go forward? What’s the next step?” Flacco’s next step has been learning a new offense on the fly. Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Flacco’s football IQ and professionalism have helped him hit the ground running. Flacco also faced this week’s opponent, the Green Bay Packers, when Flacco was with the Browns three weeks ago. Flacco completed 21 of 36 passes for 142 yards with one interception and no touchdown passes in Cleveland’s 13-10 victory over the Packers on Sept. 21. “You don’t want to just go get anybody, you want to get somebody you think fits our offense and complements our receivers well and has experience,” Taylor said. “A veteran guy who has real playing experience, bonus that he’s played in this division. His skill set complements our receivers and I think gives everybody a lift here after three losses. “We’re trying to push through it and guys have done a great job of that, but I think this is just a lift of, ’Hey, we’re willing to do anything to go find a way to win.’” Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is questionable for Sunday because of illness. He participated in the walkthrough, but was not present at the practice. Taylor didn’t elaborate further on Chase’s status for Sunday. Flacco hasn’t had much time to gel with his new receivers, including Chase and Tee Higgins, but he said that can be overblown. “You can’t overthink it,” Flacco said. “I know everything you like to talk about all that and the chemistry and everything. Those guys are two of the best in the world at what they do. If you can’t throw to them and get on the same page as them, then you are in trouble.” View the full article

Craig Heist, a longtime sports broadcaster covering teams in the Baltimore and Washington area, has died. Heist was an anchor and reporter for 106.7 The Fan in D.C. and a postgame host on the Nationals Radio Network since 2013. He has also appeared on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network as a guest panelist and occasional host of Nats Talk. The Orioles, Ravens, Nationals and Commanders all paid tribute to Heist on social media Friday. The cause of death was not immediately announced. “Above all, Craig was a husband, friend, and sports lover,” 106.7 The Fan said in a statement posted on X. “Press boxes across the DMV will never be the same without his wide smile and infectious laugh. We will keep his family in our thoughts.” Heist attended Kenwood High School in Baltimore County and graduated from Salisbury University in 1983. He began his broadcasting career at WKHI in Ocean City covering local college and high school sports including play-by-play and color for Salisbury football, according to the Nationals’ website. He worked for WTOP for 14 years before moving to 106.7 The Fan. Over the past 30 years, he has covered Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA, NHL and college basketball for several national networks. He was a three-time winner of the Maryland Sportscaster of the Year, voted on by his peers. “Heisty was the absolute best,” ESPN’s Clinton Yates posted on X. “When I first started at WTOP, he was there and was an institution. Always was supportive, energetic, enough of a crank and knowledgeable in literally everything.” Heist was a longtime fixture at both Nationals Park and Camden Yards, where the Orioles said that he covered the team for more than 35 years. In a statement, Nationals owner Mark Lerner said that Heist “was a friend to all who met him, and we will profoundly miss his kindness, enthusiasm and passion for baseball.” “I can’t begin to fathom the press box at either Nationals Park or Camden Yards without Craig Heist in his usual second-row perch,” wrote Mark Zuckerman, who covers the Nationals for MASNsports.com. “Aside from only a handful of occasions (always involving another local sporting event), he covered every single home game for both teams for decades.” “He was one of a kind and so helpful and kind to me (and so many others),” WNST reporter Luke Jones posted on X. “Baseball season won’t be the same without him.” 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

Lamar Jackson was absent from Ravens practice for a third straight day this week on Friday in Owings Mills as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Jackson, who missed last week’s game against the Houston Texans, is expected to miss his second straight game when Baltimore hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. It would mark the first time since 2022 that the quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player has missed consecutive games because of an injury. Eighth-year veteran Cooper Rush is expected to start in his place for a second consecutive game with Tyler Huntley backing him up. Last week, Rush completed 14 of 20 passes for 179 yards was intercepted three times in a disastrous 44-10 loss at home to the Houston Texans. He was also 9 of 13 for 52 yards in relief of the injured Jackson during Baltimore’s 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 4. The only other players missing from practice for Baltimore on Friday were linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) and wide receiver Devontez Walker (oblique). Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring) was working on a side field at the start of the viewing period but joined the defensive backs for drills at the end of the open portion of practice. Coach John Harbaugh is scheduled to speak to reporters after practice. The final injury report of the week with game statues will also be announced later Friday. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Ravens vs. Rams staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens vs. Rams scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? Ravens talked up takeaways all offseason. Where are they? | COMMENTARY The Ravens’ defense added reinforcements. Will it be enough? Ravens trade targets: 5 players who could bolster defense, plus 1 wild card View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 6 game between the Ravens and Los Angeles Rams at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Brian Wacker, reporter Rams 24, Ravens 13: The Ravens’ defense has already produced three AFC Offensive Players of the Week this season. Now it welcomes quarterback Matt Stafford and star wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams along with standout running back Kyren Williams, who is capable of being an effective pass catcher as well. Baltimore will benefit from having some of its defensive players back and not starting five rookies like it did in last week’s blowout loss to the Houston Texans, but there haven’t been any signs that the defense is about to turn things around from being the worst in the league. Add quarterback Lamar Jackson still being out and the Rams boasting a tough, physical defensive front and this has all the makings of being another tough week for the Ravens before a much-needed bye. Sam Cohn, reporter Rams 35, Ravens 17: The Ravens should be healthier than they were last week, but not by a lot. Assuming Kyle Hamilton is a go, that at least puts the green dot back on the helmet of an experienced defensive leader. Baltimore will still rely on rookies all over the field against one of the league’s best offenses, but there should be far fewer communication issues Sunday. If the so-so Texans can hang 44 points on the Ravens in Baltimore, a much better Rams offense shouldn’t have trouble finding the end zone. I do think a second try for Cooper Rush, one against a softer secondary, will yield a more respectable offensive showing from the home team. Either way, the “urgency is high” line won’t be enough to win this game. Any shot at Baltimore turning its season around will have to wait until after the bye week. Mike Preston, columnist Rams 30, Ravens 20: A lot of West Coast teams play poorly when they travel to the East Coast, but the Rams last played on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 4 and have had a long time to rest. In addition, the Ravens are still a banged-up team with injuries potentially keeping starters such as quarterback Lamar Jackson and middle linebacker Roquan Smith out for another week. Also, the team’s best defensive lineman, Nnamdi Madubuike, is out for the season with a neck injury. If the Ravens win, it would be a major upset. Anything can happen in the NFL, but not Sunday, not after last week’s disaster in a humiliating loss to Houston. Josh Tolentino, columnist Rams 27, Ravens 21: Baltimore’s offensive ceiling looks capped without star Lamar Jackson, and coordinator Todd Monken’s play-calling has felt short on creativity. Tailback Derrick Henry is riding four straight games under 50 rushing yards for the first time in his career, and Monken’s recent sequencing doesn’t suggest that Henry will suddenly break loose. Coming off his three-interception outing, Cooper Rush is now going to be asked to trade scores with Matthew Stafford and early MVP favorite Puka Nacua going up against the NFL’s worst-ranked defense? Whew. The one wild card could be the weather. With steady rain in the forecast, a possession-heavy game could tilt in Baltimore’s favor if it can finally lean on Henry and control tempo. Even then, the Ravens’ takeaway drought and soft zone defense that lacks consistent pass rush spells trouble without Jackson to save the day. This feels like another setback that could force some tough internal conversations heading into the bye. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 23, Rams 20: Let’s lean into the unpredictably of this week-to-week league. Nobody thought that the Browns would beat the Packers or that the Giants would upset the Eagles. Any given Sunday, right? There’s really nothing for the Ravens to hang their hat on right now, and the Rams boast clear advantages across the board. Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Kyren Williams against this Baltimore defense is a recipe for disaster. But the Ravens are slowly getting healthier, added a trusted veteran in Alohi Gilman and get another week of first-team reps with backup quarterback Cooper Rush. Plus, Derrick Henry is due for a breakout game, right? (Behind this offensive line, maybe not.) With the forecasted nor’easter perhaps serving as an equalizer and potentially slowing down the Rams’ passing attack, I’m calling my shot and predicting a statement performance from Zach Orr’s unit. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson expected to miss Sunday’s game vs. Rams Ravens vs. Rams scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? Ravens talked up takeaways all offseason. Where are they? | COMMENTARY The Ravens’ defense added reinforcements. Will it be enough? Ravens trade targets: 5 players who could bolster defense, plus 1 wild card Bennett Conlin, editor Rams 27, Ravens 14: Do the Ravens even think they can win this game? Without Lamar Jackson, this feels like a “hope-for-the-best” game for Baltimore. If the Ravens pull the home upset, great. If they don’t, heal up during the bye week and try to make a postseason push against a weak schedule in Weeks 8 through 18. Winning this game could be the spark for Baltimore’s turnaround. Realistically, however, the Ravens will be outclassed Sunday before regrouping during their much-needed week off. Given the Ravens’ defensive woes, they might be rooting for the forecast to include as much rain as possible. Tim Schwartz, editor Rams 28, Ravens 14: Rock bottom is still a few days away. The Ravens head into this one still battered and without quarterback Lamar Jackson, and based on how the offense looked last week without him, I don’t have much hope for a drastic improvement over a much better Rams team. Even if Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey return, Los Angeles’ playmakers have the edge. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams make one of the NFL’s best wide receiver tandems, and who is going to slow down running back Kyren Williams? I don’t see the tide turning yet for Baltimore. Maybe after the bye week and Superman returns under center. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 24, Rams 21: This is unprecedented territory for the Ravens. Betting money would go with the Rams, but I’m going to keep the faith. People are already talking about playoff implications. At this point, the Ravens’ best opportunity to get to the playoffs is to win the division … which is no small task. The Ravens need to take it one step at a time and hope that builds up to playoff possibilities. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

The Ravens are 1-4, having been thumped by the Texans last week in one of the most lopsided losses of the John Harbaugh era, and now face a much tougher test in hosting the Los Angeles Rams (3-2) before a needed bye week. Who will have the advantage Sunday afternoon? Ravens passing game vs. Rams pass defense Baltimore’s quarterback, which has long been a pillar of consistency and high-level play, is now one big, fat question mark. With Lamar Jackson sidelined by a hamstring injury for a second consecutive week, can Cooper Rush course-correct after throwing three interceptions without a touchdown? Is there a chance Rush struggles early against Los Angeles’ middle-of-the-pack secondary and third-string quarterback Tyler Huntley checks in? Coach John Harbaugh didn’t rule out the possibility. “We’ll consider everything,” he said, earlier this week. Either way, Los Angeles’ secondary may be susceptible to a Baltimore backup putting points on the board. Just ask Mac Jones, San Francisco’s backup who threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns. Not to mention the 49ers were without their top-three receivers and All-Pro tight end. A cornerback or a safety will be Los Angeles’ biggest need before the trade deadline. A team that leans more into zone coverage and allows completions underneath benefits a quarterback like Rush who gets rid of the ball quick. That’s not to say this game is trending toward a shootout, but it’s a softer pass defense than Houston’s and Rush wouldn’t be the first backup to take advantage. EDGE: Ravens Rams passing game vs. Ravens pass defense Five first-round picks. That was the selling point for Baltimore’s secondary a month ago. Last week, two of them were replaced by undrafted rookies in a battered secondary that made Houston’s offense look like a juggernaut. Los Angeles has a better quarterback, better offensive line and better pass catchers, accounting for the league’s second most potent air raid (289.6 yards per game) and passing touchdowns (11). Baltimore should be getting reinforcements back on defense. They also brought in safeties Alohi Gilman and CJ Gardner-Johnson. Expect Gilman to debut on Sunday, Gardner-Johnson maybe not. Even at full strength, that group hasn’t proven they can contain elite offenses. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, coming off a 389-yard, three-touchdown showing, could have a field day. As could Puka Nacua, who leads the NFL in receiving yards (588), receptions (52) and receiving first downs (31). EDGE: Rams Ravens running game vs. Rams run defense Three quarters into the season, Derrick Henry appeared poised for another monster season. That small sample size made it feel like we would all be diligently tracking his pacing toward a 2,000-yard season. Henry fumbled in that fourth quarter, coughed the ball up twice more in the next two games and has been a non factor the past four weeks. Opposing defenses have shushed Henry to 50 or fewer yards in four straight games. That happened once all last year. Even in Jackson’s absence, the offensive line struggled to open lanes for Henry. Fullback Pat Ricard’s longer-than-expected absence because of injury has exacerbated the issue. Los Angeles isn’t the team to run amok on. The Rams rank top 10 in bottling up opposing ground games, allowing 93.6 yards per game and 3.5 per attempt, which is the third best mark in football. After beefing up their interior defensive line this offseason, signing run-stuffer Poona Ford, they’re No. 1 in fewest explosive plays allowed. The Rams are the only team through five weeks to have not allowed a run of at least 20 yards, according to TruMedia. EDGE: Rams Rams running game vs. Ravens run defense “I thought we would just play our run defense better than we did,” Harbaugh said, Sunday afternoon after a twist-the-knife loss to the Texans. “It was not up to standard.” That’s been a troubling theme among a whole host of defensive issues this season. At least last year, when Baltimore’s defense struggled, the issues were singular to the secondary. This group’s problems start up front, tied for the second most rushing touchdowns allowed (8) while letting up the NFL’s fourth most yards per game (146.4). Recency bias diminishes the value of Kyren Williams out of Los Angeles’ backfield. Like Henry did in Buffalo earlier this season, three quarters of an elite outing were washed away with a fumble in a crucial spot. Williams’ came inside the 5-yard line, feet from a game-winning touchdown when the ball was jarred loose against the 49ers. “I put this all on me, honestly,” he said, afterward. And yet, Williams sixth among NFL running backs in rushing success and first-down rate, according to TruMedia. After a mini bye week (that game was played last Thursday night), expect an even hungrier Williams. EDGE: Rams Ravens special teams vs. Rams special teams Consider this stat: The Ravens’ expected points added on special teams through five weeks is 3.5. That ranks 12th in the NFL, among 18 teams in the green. The Rams, on the other hand, sit third to last (-16.9). It gets worse. Los Angeles is 22nd in net yards, 21st in punt return yards allowed, 19th in kickoff return yards, 25th in field goal percentage and 29th in extra-point kick percentage. In two Los Angeles losses, special teams have been significant crutches, accounting for a minus-17 point differential between missed kicks and a blocked field goal for a touchdown. The Ravens have had their issues – a penalty on punt team that negated a 60-plus yard kick and a missed extra point in a 1-point loss Week 1. But nothing worthy of sounding the alarm bells when the team has far bigger fish to fry. EDGE: Ravens Ravens intangibles vs. Rams intangibles The Ravens arrived at Week 1 with enough talent to convince outsiders perhaps they could be 5-0 by this point. Instead, they’ve free fallen to 1-4 with omniscient questions about the state of affairs. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is a blocked field goal and questionable fourth-down play call from being 5-0. Both teams have fallen short of where they could and should be – one evidently more worse for the wear. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson expected to miss Sunday’s game vs. Rams Ravens vs. Rams staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens talked up takeaways all offseason. Where are they? | COMMENTARY The Ravens’ defense added reinforcements. Will it be enough? Ravens trade targets: 5 players who could bolster defense, plus 1 wild card As has been the case with the Ravens the past two weeks, expect injuries to play a prominent role. Baltimore got some good news with Hamilton, Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten back to full practice participants. But they’ll still be without their two-time Most Valuable Player at quarterback and an All-Pro cornerback, linebacker, fullback and defensive tackle. The Ravens look like a shell of themselves right now. EDGE: Rams Prediction Offensive coordinator Todd Monken had the right idea. The Ravens, which topped the league in nearly every statistical category last season, are “in a rut,” he said. But a rut is “usually small.” At 1-4, history argues it’s more than that. Only 16 teams have ever made the playoffs after such an unruly start. If it gets worse, Monken said, “then maybe it’s a ditch. And then maybe it’s a canyon. But right now, we consider that a rut.” Houston hung 44 on Baltimore while a Jackson-less offense looked anemic. Perhaps Los Angeles’ defense allows for a few more points piloted by the backup quarterback but this team is hurdling toward canyon status. Rams 35, Ravens 23. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn View the full article

The Ravens spent the entire offseason and summer talking about takeaways, forming their so-called identity around the idea that the defense isn’t truly dangerous until it snatches the football away. Five games in, that identity has yet to surface. Baltimore has just two takeaways, tied for second-fewest in the league and ahead of only the winless New York Jets. In all four of their losses, the Ravens have come up empty in the turnover column. At the current rate, Baltimore is on track to finish the season with just seven takeaways, which would tie the NFL record for fewest in a single season, set by the San Francisco 49ers in 2018. “That’s crazy,” second-year defensive Zach Orr said Thursday of Baltimore’s takeaway drought dating nearly a month to Sept. 14. Crazy indeed. Takeaways, after all, have served as a foundation for the franchise’s most successful teams and most especially during both of the Ravens’ Super Bowl seasons. In 2000, the Ravens led the NFL with an overwhelming 49 takeaways, while in 2012, they tied for 10th with 25 takeaways en route to Baltimore’s second Lombardi Trophy. Those dominant, memorable defenses caused havoc and created extra possessions time and time again. This year’s defense, well … isn’t creating or stopping anything. Entering Week 6, the Ravens rank 32nd in the NFL in scoring defense (35.4 points per game), 31st in total defense (408.8 yards allowed per game), 31st in pass defense (262.6) and 29th in run defense (146.4). The lack of takeaways also is reflection of a unit that is struggling making impact plays elsewhere. The Ravens’ seven passes defensed are the fewest in the AFC North and second fewest in the conference. When the Ravens aren’t disrupting passing lanes, they’re often pushed down the field. Baltimore is credited with 38 missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, and has surrendered 121 first downs, most in the NFL. Orr suggested that early down failures as a root cause for many of the defense’s issues. “We have to get teams into more true drop-back situations,” he said. “Right now, we’re just letting offense be too comfortable, which is our own problem. So we have to be better at making offense uncomfortable by getting stops on early downs and forcing them into situations where they have to force the ball.” Two weeks ago, coach John Harbaugh said that he “wasn’t worried about our defense. Bitterly disappointed, sure. But we will be ready to play. I promise you.” Since then, the Ravens have added two more ugly defeats, only worsening their league-worst defensive ranking. The 177 points allowed by Baltimore are the most surrendered by any team in NFL history through the season’s first five weeks. The revolving door of personnel across the defense’s three levels hasn’t helped; five rookies started in last week’s historically embarrassing 44-10 home loss to Houston. But Orr, 33, still sees hope if his players show more urgency. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr addresses the media Thursday. Orr's unit has forced just two turnovers in five games. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) “I see that guys are in position for the most part,” he said. “Now it’s just time for us to go make our plays, like pull the trigger. Just being where I’m supposed to be at — it’s not good enough. Take chances. That’s the only way you’re going to make plays, is to take chances. ‘Scared money doesn’t make money.’ “We’re just encouraging our guys to go trust yourself … go make the play. I think that’s why we’re so confident that we can get this thing turned around, but we have to start doing it.” Some much-needed assistance could be coming soon. Veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who signed to the practice squad this week, has 18 career interceptions. Only a handful of players in the league have the reputation for being a ball-hawk like Gardner-Johnson. If he can get up to speed quickly with Orr’s scheme and avoid causing unnecessary controversy, Gardner-Johnson could provide a necessary spark. The Ravens also acquired safety Alohi Gilman (252 career tackles, 21 passes defensed, five interceptions, four forced fumbles) this week in a trade that sent 2021 first-round pick and underwhelming defensive end Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers. Baltimore’s defense currently doesn’t possess a defining trait. Because of the unit’s lack of competence, the offense has little room for error. Consider that a daunting task for an offense currently missing star quarterback Lamar Jackson because of a nagging hamstring injury that’s expected to sideline him for a second straight week this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson expected to miss Sunday’s game vs. Rams Ravens vs. Rams staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens vs. Rams scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge? The Ravens’ defense added reinforcements. Will it be enough? Ravens trade targets: 5 players who could bolster defense, plus 1 wild card Still, 12 regular-season games remain. Several predictor models and major sportsbooks still favor Baltimore to win the AFC North, a sign of belief in its softer post-bye schedule — and in Jackson’s expected return. Optimism only goes so far. Orr, viewed by many as an occupant on the hot seat, urgently suggests that the Ravens need to take more chances to create momentum swings, starting with the Rams on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. As polarizing a subject he’s developed into over the course of his brief tenure as the defense’s top coach, Orr is correct. Baltimore’s most dominant defenses once turned games with a single punch. Through the first 1 1/2 months of the season, the Ravens can’t land one. 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