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Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman did not practice Thursday and had a walking boot on his left foot in the locker room. His status for Saturday afternoon’s crucial AFC North showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium is unclear. The injury report is due out later Friday afternoon. Coach John Harbaugh was also non-committal about the fourth-year receiver’s availability. “I really have nothing to report on any of that stuff,” he said. “We’ll be working through all those things the next few hours, few days even.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | READERS RESPOND: Here’s who fans are picking to win Ravens-Steelers showdown Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: What’s needed to beat the Steelers? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens trust LB Tavius Robinson in bigger role: ‘He’s just scratching the surface’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens have 4 starters limited at practice; Steelers’ T.J. Watt returns Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers Week 16 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Bateman is coming off the first multi-touchdown performance of his career after catching three passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns in Baltimore’s 35-14 road win over the New York Giants on Sunday. He’s also having easily the best season of his career with 38 catches for 654 yards and seven touchdowns. But the injury could be cause for concern. The boot was on the same foot that he underwent season-ending Lisfranc surgery on in 2022 and continued to bother him into training camp in 2023. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

We asked readers who will win Saturday’s AFC North showdown between the Ravens and Steelers. Here are the results from our online poll, Instagram and X: Ravens — 1,224 votes (71%) Steelers — 507 votes (29%) Here’s what some fans told us about their pick (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): The Ravens have been inconsistent all year. They have not been disciplined. Penalties have been the worst in the league. You can’t beat good teams playing this way. I was hoping that they would come back from the bye week and fix that issue. Unfortunately, they didn’t. I feel this is a coaching problem. If the Ravens don’t make it to the Super Bowl (which I don’t believe they will) it’s time to move on from John Harbaugh. He has shown us since the first Super Bowl that he does not want dawgs on his team. I don’t believe he will ever win one without some of those personalities. Just my opinion. — Danny Eight out of nine for the Steelers is plenty. If Justin Tucker makes his field goals in Pittsburgh, the Ravens probably win that game, too. Ravens have to have this in order to win the division. If they can cut down on the stupid penalties, they should take the rematch. — Chris McGloin Steelers have owned Lamar and I have a feeling that won’t change. Ravens won’t be able to run the ball and the Steelers offense will break down a shaky Baltimore defense. Hope I’m wrong. — Tom Speal If Lamar can show his best leadership side, that always brings the rest of the team along. But when he’s too self-absorbed in blaming himself for a poor pass, it seems to leave the others out of the equation. Lamar: Each play is a TEAM play; on the sidelines, confer as needed. Mr. Henry: We sure miss a Ray Lewis. He led by his example of stellar playing AND stellar motivation. All players looked up to his example— you are 95% of the way there. Coach: Please don’t stand on the sidelines with your mouth hanging open. Nothing the players or refs do should surprise you. But, evidently, they sometimes do. Don’t appear so distressed — you got this! — R. de Pontbriand We hired a “smash-mouth” running back for exactly this kind of game, and for the month of December and playoffs. If “King Henry” gets 20-plus touches, the Ravens win. If the coaching staff can’t figure that out then we lose. Just watch the Eagles game if you need convincing. — Thom Schiavone Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Rashod Bateman in walking boot ahead of Steelers showdown Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: What’s needed to beat the Steelers? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens trust LB Tavius Robinson in bigger role: ‘He’s just scratching the surface’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens have 4 starters limited at practice; Steelers’ T.J. Watt returns Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers Week 16 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds I want to believe in the Ravens. I really do. But coaching has been less than good and we are not a consistently good team right now. Not to mention my daughter told me mercury is in retrograde, which apparently is bad, bad news. Color scheme-wise, we win. Football-wise, I think we lose. Hope I’m wrong. — Bill Spiel The Ravens will win big time. They also will win all of their regular-season games, My Lamar Jackson is ready!!!!! — Ms. Bee It’s a matter of coaching. If offensive coordinator Todd Monken calls another bad game, not having Henry get at least 22 carries and Harbaugh just stands there doing nothing about it, then the Ravens will lose. And if they do lose again to Pittsburgh, goodbye, Harbaugh! — Benny The Ravens will have learned from the previous Steelers game what works and what doesn’t and have had time to address the things that needed improvement. — Rich I think the Ravens can win. They have to get out of their head — they are better than them. Play hard but smart. — Jess The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a pass while Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt tackles him on Nov. 17 in Pittsburgh. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) View the full article

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer fans’ questions in the middle of each week throughout the Ravens’ season. After an easy win over the lowly New York Giants, Baltimore (9-5) hosts the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) in Week 16 of the NFL season. Here’s Preston’s take on a handful of questions from readers: (Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.) Lamar is having an amazing year. But how can he be MVP material if he can’t beat Pittsburgh at least once? — Dan Gainor on X Dan, forget about beating Pittsburgh just once. Jackson has great statistics and is a threat from anywhere on the field. He is the most dangerous running quarterback in NFL history, but the Most Valuable Player of the 2024 season should be Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen over both Jackson and Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. We don’t need to compare numbers, just rosters. Barkley might have the best offensive line in the game, especially tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson. Jackson has weapons in running back Derrick Henry, receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. On defense, the Ravens have middle linebacker Roquan Smith, cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Kyle Hamilton, while the Eagles might have the best front four in the NFL. Those are pretty impressive groups. Allen has running back James Cook. That’s pretty much it. The Bills added wide receiver Amari Cooper, but that was well into the season, and he has missed time because of injuries. As for the defense, Buffalo has no defense. In fact, if the Ravens somehow play the Bills in the AFC championship game, the Ravens would destroy them with their running game. It’s the same with the Eagles if they play Buffalo in the Super Bowl. The analysts and so-called experts want to compare numbers and so forth, but without Allen, the Bills are horrible. Without Jackson, the Ravens wouldn’t be as successful, but they could at least hold their own in the mediocre, watered-down NFL. I understand the Jackson “syndrome” in Baltimore, including how some of the local media want to jump on the bandwagon. But let’s not get too carried away, and show some good, old common sense. How do the Ravens beat the Steelers? — James Spragins on X First, eliminate the head games. Pittsburgh has won eight of the past nine matchups against Baltimore, but that will be meaningless Saturday. The Ravens simply need to go out and “out-tough” the Steelers. They’ve beaten the Ravens because they play much more aggressively and attack physically. Second, score touchdowns instead of trading field goals. The Steelers have problems scoring inside the red zone and are content kicking field goals and keeping the score close. That’s been their strategy all season. They rely on defense, winning the field position game and getting enough big plays in their short-passing offense. The Ravens also have to control Pittsburgh edge rushers Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt. Many national critics want to know why Jackson has played so poorly against Pittsburgh in the past. The Steelers are disciplined with their lane integrity, and both Watt and Highsmith can bring the heat from the outside. Not only are they athletic, but they are complete players. Both are sound in every aspect of the game. The Ravens should win the game. A week ago, they played the NFL’s version of the junior varsity beating up on the Giants. Meanwhile, the Steelers were physically beaten up and worn down by the Eagles in the battle of Pennsylvania. This is a short week for the Steelers and Ravens, but the Steelers are at a disadvantage because they are on the road. The Ravens just need to come out with a tough-guy attitude. They have it against a lot of teams, but not Pittsburgh. It’s time for a change. Ravens coach John Harbaugh has struggled in recent meetings against the Steelers. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) It’s now Week 16 and these Ravens have been together as a team (not counting minicamps) for 23 1/2 weeks, approximately 150 practices and 14 regular-season games. Every team in the NFL appears to have flaws, but two of Baltimore’s are frustratingly head-scratching; avoidable penalties and professional defensive backs not being able to turn their heads and look for the ball. At this stage of the season, is it possible to think either of these can be fixed? And if not, why? — Brian Anything can be fixed; players just have to have the right attitude. Some penalties, like holding, can’t be reduced because it essentially happens on every play. Pass interference calls are questionable because they’ve become more subjective than objective. But these penalties for illegal formations on the offense are ridiculous. It’s the same for having a nose guard or defensive tackle jump offside when the ball is right in front of them. I still don’t know why certain cornerbacks don’t turn around and look for the ball. That’s something coach John Harbaugh should have addressed with secondary coach Chris Hewitt by now. There are calls to alert offensive linemen when to release and run down the field, but the Ravens still get a couple of those penalties — although Jackson might be partly to blame. I’ve had people email me and say that a coach can’t be blamed for the penalties because it might hurt the overall play of the team if that player is benched. Big deal. Consistency is a major word in the NFL and the key to greatness. If a player doesn’t perform to that status, then he needs to get benched. This is the NFL. You can always find a replacement. Once the players’ personality or reluctance to change becomes greater than his production, then it’s time to move on. Are there any Ravens you’d characterize as “unsung heroes” for offense and defense? — Grant H. from North East Offensively, it would be running back Justice Hill. He doesn’t get the notoriety of Henry, but he does have 45 carries for 198 yards and a touchdown this season. As a receiver, he is third on the team in catches behind Flowers and Andrews with 42 for 383 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 9.1 yards per reception. Maybe his most impressive trait is being able to block or chip on ends or outside linebackers in pass protection. I think he is a great complement to Henry. Defensively, it would be tackle Travis Jones. His future looks bright and the Ravens are a much better run-stopping group when he is in the game. Jones has 34 tackles this season, including one sack. He has been bothered by an ankle injury since the midway point of the season, but he can also provide pressure up the middle as a pass rusher. What has happened to Brandon Stephens? It seems if he’s isolated on a receiver it’s an automatic pass interference call. — Clarke Fox Opposing teams have zeroed in on Stephens, and that’s been evident since the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. At this point, I’m not sure what else can be done. He either makes the play or he doesn’t. It’s about instincts and awareness. The instincts are there, but I’m not sure about the awareness part. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Rashod Bateman in walking boot ahead of Steelers showdown Baltimore Ravens | READERS RESPOND: Here’s who fans are picking to win Ravens-Steelers showdown Baltimore Ravens | Ravens trust LB Tavius Robinson in bigger role: ‘He’s just scratching the surface’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens have 4 starters limited at practice; Steelers’ T.J. Watt returns Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers Week 16 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Is possible the Ravens are holding back Keaton Mitchell so they don’t put a lot of tape out on him? Then swing some special packages for him in the playoffs and catch teams off guard? — Rob Kalish What is going on with Keaton Mitchell and why has he been inactive two straight weeks? — timpoole78 on X Honestly, I can’t say what is going on with Mitchell. First of all, who is he going to replace? Both Henry and Hill have played well in their designated roles. Mitchell’s knee injury a year ago was extremely serious, so there really is no need to rush him back onto the field. In addition, there have been a lot of questions surrounding the playing surface at MetLife Stadium, so the Ravens didn’t need him on the field to pummel New York. The Ravens will probably have a couple of new wrinkles with Mitchell for the postseason, but I’m not sure that’s the reason he isn’t on the field. All teams like to have a few aces up their sleeves in the postseason, but it isn’t as if the NFL didn’t get a chance to see Mitchell last season. The kid could flat-out fly, but there is no need to get him on the field at this point. It’s good to be patient. Is it too early to think about what the Ravens will be looking for in April’s NFL draft? — Bob in North Carolina Bob, it’s never too early and I am sure the Ravens have already had preliminary discussions. But the injury bug could hit and alter plans. Right now, there is a need for a pass rusher and a team can never go wrong with an offensive lineman. Another cornerback to complement rookie Nate Wiggins would be an excellent choice as well. Have a question for Mike Preston? Email sports@baltsun.com with “Ravens mailbag” in the subject line and it could be answered in The Baltimore Sun. View the full article

You can’t see it when Ravens outside linebacker Tavius Robinson is on the field, but there’s a good chance he’s smiling underneath his helmet. “He’s always smiling!” fellow linebacker Odafe Oweh exclaims, eyes widening. “He always has good energy. He’s never mad at nobody. If something bad happens, he doesn’t fret. He’s always even-keeled. He’s always smiling, though. I think it’s a Canadian thing.” Defensive end Brent Urban — the only other Canadian on the roster — concurs. “Canadians are generally regarded as nice, polite, friendly,” he says, laughing, of course. “It’s hard to generalize an entire country, but all the Canadians I know are happy-go-lucky.” It’s not the first time this has been pointed out to Robinson, a 2023 fourth-round draft pick out of Ole Miss by way of the University of Guelph. “I’m a happy person,” Robinson grins. “When I’m on the field, I’m not smiling.” Baltimore certainly is these days when it comes to the progress the organization has seen in the rangy 25-year-old, who has ascended to starter status over the past four games — in part out of necessity, but also because of his improvements in his second season. Statistically, Robinson does not particularly impress — he has 26 tackles, including four for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, 13 pressures and one pass breakup — but he has flashed in spurts and has quickly developed into a trustworthy defender. In a blowout win over the Broncos last month, he sacked Denver quarterback Bo Nix twice, one of which came on third down. Against the Steelers two weeks later, he blew up a pulling tight end on one play. Last week against the New York Giants, coach John Harbaugh lauded him for retracing on a draw to make a tackle. It’s plays like those that have resulted in more playing time, with Robinson seeing his snaps per game climb from an average of 22.6 in the first 10 weeks of the season to an average of 43 over the past four games. “He’s always been a really smart player,” Urban said. “Early on, he knew the playbook in and out. He’d always be on top of what’s really going on. He’s become a guy that’s just dependable. “He plays a lot more mature than he is — just being consistent and dependable. You don’t see a lot of young players doing that, to be honest. That’s a really hard thing to do in this league.” Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson has gained the trust of his teammates and coaches in his second NFL season. (Jason Behnken/AP) To the point, 2022 second-round draft pick David Ojabo, who was beset with injuries his first two seasons, was expected to be a meaningful contributor on the edge this season. It hasn’t worked out that way. He’s been inactive for four games this year, has just four tackles in the 10 he has appeared in and has seen his snap count diminish. Likewise, this year’s third-round pick, outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, has also been injury-prone and has appeared sparingly in just four games. “It’s very significant,” Harbaugh said of Robinson’s role. “He has established himself as a three-down player. He’s gone from a run-down player to a guy that’s out there all the time.” Long and rangy at 6 feet 6 and 262 pounds, Robinson had all the physical attributes to be a stout defender, particularly against the run. In his final season at Ole Miss in 2022, he finally broke through. Robinson tied for second in the FBS with five forced fumbles and had 44 tackles, including eight for loss, with seven sacks in 13 games. As a rookie in Baltimore, though, his lack of pass rush moves was obvious. He was a hard-working but raw prospect who lacked polish. The Ravens, who led the NFL in sacks, takeaways and points allowed last season, could afford to let him continue to develop. The speed of the professional game was also something that took getting accustomed to. “Your brain is so cluttered,” Robinson said. “My rookie year to now, it was more of trying not to make a mistake rather than trying to make plays. Having a year under your belt and another full [training] camp is huge, for sure.” He’s still working on those pass rush moves, but they’re coming along. In college, he studied players such as Las Vegas Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. When he got to Baltimore, he had the Ravens put together a cut-up of the team’s all-time sack leader, Terrell Suggs. He has also learned to study the tendencies of opposing offensive linemen around the league and what moves work best against them. Teammates have also praised not just his improvements from Year 1 to Year 2, but his work ethic. Veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy describes Robinson as a “weight room junkie” and “gladiator.” Oweh added that he’s learning how to use his strength, specifically when it comes to dipping his shoulder to create space to bend the edge, something Oweh said Robinson didn’t do his first year. And he’s a guy that enjoys mixing it up. Said Oweh: “One thing everybody here knows about him is he’s not afraid of contact.” Perhaps not coincidentally, about the time that Robinson was inserted into the starting lineup is when the Ravens’ defense began to show significant signs of improvement from its struggles earlier in the season. Much of that turnaround can be attributed to changes in the secondary as well as a more simplified scheme, but Robinson has played his part. “I think now that the game has kind of just slowed down for him, and you’re able to see him just play even faster, play more aggressive and play more even more physical, and I think he’s even developed better as a rusher as well,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “‘T-Rob’ is one of those guys who [is] a Raven through and through. “[He’s] not talked about a lot, but just does his job consistently. He might not get the praise on the outside, but he gets the praise in our meeting room and our building because he does everything the right way. If he doesn’t do it right, then he’s trying to do it right and he’s going to correct it. … I think he’s only going to continue to grow and get better, and he’s going to be very important for us down in these last four games.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Rashod Bateman in walking boot ahead of Steelers showdown Baltimore Ravens | READERS RESPOND: Here’s who fans are picking to win Ravens-Steelers showdown Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: What’s needed to beat the Steelers? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Ravens have 4 starters limited at practice; Steelers’ T.J. Watt returns Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers Week 16 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Off the field, Robinson and the rest of the defense have grown, too. Last season, dinners among teammates were a staple of the schedule. But that had fallen by the wayside earlier this year until more recently, with most if not all of the defense dining together at a local Ruth’s Chris or other restaurants in the area. The camaraderie, he says, has made a difference. “It’s been huge,” Robinson said. “It just makes us closer and that makes us closer on the field. I think it translates, for sure. These guys are like my brothers now.” Now, Robinson is one of them, too. “Where he’s come as a football player, it’s been remarkable,” Harbaugh said. “It’s been really fun to watch, but I think he’s just scratching the surface. I really think he’s going to be even better than he’s been so far.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Week 16 Steelers at Ravens Saturday, 4:30 p.m. TV: FOX Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 6 1/2 View the full article

The bye week provided the Ravens a healthy breath of fresh air. It’s already starting to evaporate. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (foot), guard Daniel Faalele (knee) and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (ankle) were all limited in Wednesday’s practice. Safety Ar’Darius Washington (ankle) was also limited for the second straight day. Wide receiver Nelson Agholor is still in concussion protocol, cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis again missed practice with a hamstring injury and running back Justice Hill was absent for personal reasons. This hefty list comes four days out from a long-awaited and decisive matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday afternoon in Baltimore. With a win, the Ravens (9-5) keep their hopes of an AFC North title alive. A loss would give Pittsburgh (10-4) the division crown and pin Baltimore to a wild-card berth and almost certainly a playoff path entirely on the road. Bateman was limited in practice last week as well while dealing with lingering knee soreness from a Dec. 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. But the fourth-year receiver was healthy by Sunday, scorching the New York Giants for 80 yards and two touchdowns — the first multi-score game of his career. Rookie cornerback T.J. Tampa was listed as a full participant for both practices this week. And, as expected, wide receiver Diontae Johnson is not with the team having been excused from all team activities this week. The Steelers, meanwhile, got a bit of positive injury news. All-Pro pass rusher T.J. Watt was seen going through agility work off to the side of Wednesday’s walk-through. He was a limited participant and is the most notable question mark heading into Saturday as the cornerstone of a top-10 defense. When the Ravens and Steelers met in November, Watt had three tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and landed two hits on quarterback Lamar Jackson. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that he’s “optimistic” Watt will be available for Saturday. That said, both sides are preparing for either scenario. “I think with a young Nick [Herbig] coming on and having Preston [Smith] as a veteran guy, I know those guys aren’t T.J., but we feel they’re good quality players that we can fit in our system and do the things that we need to do,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “Obviously if you don’t have an impact player like T.J., it affects your game, but I don’t think it’ll affect our overall schematics.” Austin declined to comment on when the Steelers might know Watt’s status but said simply, “I just know if he is available, we’ll be happy. If he’s not available, we won’t be very happy.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers Week 16 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers scouting report for Week 16: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | ‘Hard Knocks’ episode 3 recap: Ravens LB Roquan Smith makes an impression Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers says Steelers’ defense doesn’t do anything to stress him Baltimore Ravens | Steelers LB and ex-Raven Patrick Queen expects boos, ‘FUs’ in Baltimore return “We assume he’s gonna play,” Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken added. “Would be much easier if he doesn’t.” Elsewhere in western Pennsylvania, defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi was limited for the second consecutive day. Former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen, who is anticipating boos in his return to Baltimore, was a full participant. Wide receiver George Pickens, safety DeShon Elliot (hamstring), cornerback Donte Jackson (back), defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (rest) and backup quarterback Justin Fields (abdominal) were all out both Tuesday and Wednesday. Their Thursday status should provide more clarity for Saturday’s availability. Pickens has missed the past two games with a Grade 2 hamstring injury. Without their top receiver, the Steelers’ passing attack has noticeably struggled. Their 163 yards of offense in a recent loss to the Eagles sans Pickens was Pittsburgh’s lowest output since the 2010 season. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

It’s not an exaggeration to say Saturday’s game is the Ravens’ most important of the season. With a win over the visiting Steelers, Baltimore pulls into a tie for the AFC North lead. With a loss, the Ravens are officially out of the race to win the division and guarantee a home playoff game. “We just know what’s at stake,” tight end Mark Andrews said. “It’s the time of year. We’ve got to win games. We’ve put ourselves in a great position.” For those that put stock into sports betting odds, it spells good news for the Ravens (9-5). Sportsbooks across Maryland list Baltimore as nearly a touchdown favorite against the division-leading Steelers (10-4). The bad news for Ravens fans? Coach Mike Tomlin’s team has far surpassed oddsmakers’ expectations through their first 14 games of the year. What are the odds? The Ravens will enter a game as a betting favorite for the 14th consecutive time this season. They’ve been favored in every game this year, aside from the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. Spread: Ravens by 6 1/2 (FanDuel) Total: 45 1/2 points Moneyline: Ravens -290, Steelers +245 The Steelers are one of the NFL’s best teams against the spread, boasting a 10-4 record. The Ravens, meanwhile, are a solid 7-6-1. Ravens games often trend toward the over, with 11 of their 14 games going over the projected point total. Baltimore had its lowest scoring output of the season in an 18-16 loss to Pittsburgh on Nov. 17, as the Steelers’ defense stifled the Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson. The NFL Most Valuable Player candidate completed fewer than 50% of his passes, only averaging 6.3 yards per attempt and throwing one of his three interceptions this season in the November meeting. “They do a lot of things well,” Andrews said of Pittsburgh’s defense. Ravens send a message The recent series history paints a bleak picture for the Ravens against the Steelers. Baltimore has lost eight of its past nine meetings with its division rival, forcing players to answer questions about why the Steelers have their number. Even this year’s record suggests the Steelers are the superior team, as they hold a one-game lead in the division. The advanced analytics tell a different story. Baltimore ranks first in the NFL in DVOA, implying the Ravens are just as worthy a Super Bowl contender as the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, ranks 11th, behind teams such as Denver and San Francisco. Advanced analytics aren’t gospel, but it’s fair to question this iteration of the Steelers. Just last week, Pittsburgh suffered a 27-13 loss to the Eagles, but the final score masks the lopsided matchup. Philadelphia recorded 238 more yards, 16 more first downs and nearly 20 more minutes of possession than Pittsburgh. The Steelers were thoroughly outplayed by one of the NFL’s best teams. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers scouting report for Week 16: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | ‘Hard Knocks’ episode 3 recap: Ravens LB Roquan Smith makes an impression Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers says Steelers’ defense doesn’t do anything to stress him Baltimore Ravens | Steelers LB and ex-Raven Patrick Queen expects boos, ‘FUs’ in Baltimore return Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews’ head butts and TDs are ‘a reflection of the Raven way’ In the first meeting between the Ravens and Steelers, penalties (12 for 80 yards), turnovers (three that led to nine points) and missed field goal attempts (two) were Baltimore’s undoing. The Ravens beat themselves. “Us just being on schedule with those guys, I feel like we’ll be where we need to be,” Jackson said this week. If Baltimore can avoid those self-inflicted mishaps — a task that’s easier said than done this season — the Ravens are the better team. They’re playing at home, and they’re coming off a crisp showing against the lowly Giants. Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith is healthy, and Pittsburgh’s No. 1 wide receiver, George Pickens, is battling a hamstring problem. Baltimore has delivered a few special home showings this season against likely playoff teams, beating the Bills, Commanders and Broncos by a combined 63 points. Saturday will be another statement win for the Ravens. Best bet: Ravens by 6 1/2 Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

The Ravens blew past the hapless Giants, 35-14. The Steelers were pummeled by the Eagles, 27-13. Who will have the advantage when these AFC North rivals meet Saturday with divisional supremacy hanging in the balance? Ravens passing game vs. Steelers pass defense Lamar Jackson delivered a near-perfect performance (21-of-25, 290 yards, five touchdowns) against the Giants, adding to the best passing season of his career. He leads the league in passer rating and yards per attempt, with 34 touchdown throws and just three interceptions. But Pittsburgh’s defense is one of the few hills the two-time Most Valuable Player has not surmounted. Jackson completed just 16 of 33 and threw an interception in the Ravens’ 18-16 loss to the Steelers last month. His passer rating that day, 66.1, was nearly identical to his career mark against Pittsburgh. He’s 2-5 in seven career starts against the Ravens’ archrival. The Steelers don’t throw many blitzes at him, trusting edge rushers T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig and interior star Cam Heyward to pressure without aid from extra bodies. The Steelers also rank first in the league with 30 takeaways. A key part of Watt’s greatness is his gift for knocking the ball loose; he leads the league with 18 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles. he injured his ankle against the Eagles but appears on track to play Saturday. The Ravens’ offensive line did not play terribly in Pittsburgh, but this will be another major test for a group that has delivered uneven results over the last month. Rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten is coming on, and right guard Daniel Faalele has exceeded expectations as a pass blocker. On the left side, tackle Ronnie Stanley and guard Patrick Mekari have not performed as consistently as they did early in the season. The Ravens need to attack cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson, who struggled to cover Philadelphia wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith last Sunday. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman combined for just four catches on 11 targets in Pittsburgh. Tight end Isiah Likely led the Ravens with 75 receiving yards in that loss, and it will be interesting to see if coordinator Todd Monken makes a concerted effort to get his No. 2 tight end into the game plan. EDGE: Even Steelers passing game vs. Ravens pass defense The Ravens did a good job denying Russell Wilson deep shots in the November matchup. He managed just 205 yards on 36 attempts and threw an ugly interception to Marlon Humphrey in the end zone. His top target, George Pickens, caught eight passes for 89 yards in that victory, but 37 of those came on one play. Pickens did not play against the Eagles because of a hamstring injury, and his absence left Wilson (14-of-22 for 128 yards in that loss) bereft of big-play threats. It’s unclear if Pickens will be healthy enough to face the Ravens. If he’s not, Wilson will have to rely on wide receiver Calvin Austin III (16.1 yards per catch) and tight end Pat Freiermuth against a Baltimore secondary that has cleaned up its act in the second half of the season. The Ravens finally pulled out of last place in total pass defense with a solid outing against the anemic Giants, led by safety Ar’Darius Washington and rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins. On the other hand, cornerback Brandon Stephens continued to struggle with a pair of pass-interference penalties, and it’s easy to envision Wilson picking on him with downfield targets. Wilson holds the ball, waiting for big plays to develop, and the Ravens sacked him three times in Pittsburgh. They’d like to get more than 14 total pressures. A healthier Travis Jones, who played just 18 snaps in the previous meeting, will help, but the Ravens will need more production from their highest-paid defensive lineman, Nnamdi Madubuike, who wasn’t much of a factor. Pittsburgh right tackle Broderick Jones is a vulnerable target. For all Wilson has done to lift the Steelers’ offensive ceiling, they still rank just 15th in passing DVOA. EDGE: Even Ravens running game vs. Steelers run defense Jackson made good on his promise to come out running more aggressively against the Giants, carrying four times for 55 yards in the first half. He’s averaging a career-low 8.4 attempts per game but leading the league at 6.4 yards per carry. The Ravens didn’t need to lean on Derrick Henry against New York, but this could be a big week for the league’s second-leading rusher, who has traditionally thrived in December. The Steelers have allowed the fifth-fewest yards per game and per attempt in the league and held the Ravens to 124 yards on 19 attempts in Week 11. Both Henry and Jackson were efficient, but they did not carry enough to dictate the flow of the game, especially in the second half, when the Ravens played from behind. Linebacker Patrick Queen played well against his former team with six tackles and a forced fumble. Watt is the rare edge defender just as capable of making a game-altering play against the run as against the pass. Former Ravens safety DeShon Elliott is another key thumper in Pittsburgh’s run defense, but he missed the Eagles game with a hamstring injury. EDGE: Ravens Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, left, was injured during the first Ravens-Steelers game this season. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) Steelers running game vs. Ravens run defense The Ravens continue to allow the fewest yards per game and per attempt of any defense in the league. Nose tackle Michael Pierce came back from a calf injury with a strong performance against the Giants, and linebacker Roquan Smith appeared fully recovered from the hamstring injury that knocked him out of the first Steelers game and sidelined him for Baltimore’s Thanksgiving week victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. The Steelers were one of just four opponents to surpass 100 rushing yards in a game against the Ravens. They’re not efficient, averaging just 3.9 yards per attempt (the Ravens average 5.7), but they keep at it, ranking second in the league in attempts. Their 122 yards against Baltimore came on 34 carries, with running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren combining for the lion’s share. Philadelphia’s mauling run defense rendered them non-factors as the Steelers went for just 56 yards on 17 carries. The Ravens would love to do the same and win the time-of-possession battle as handily as the Eagles did. If the game is close, they’ll have to account for Wilson’s backup, Justin Fields, as a running threat on key short-yardage downs. EDGE: Ravens Ravens special teams vs. Steelers special teams This is the game’s biggest mismatch, with Pittsburgh’s league-best special teams unit pitted against the Ravens’ mistake-prone crew. Justin Tucker did not attempt a field goal against the Giants but did not flirt with misses on any of his five extra points. He has made 19 of 27 field goals, easily the worst accuracy of his glittering career, and the crowd at M&T Bank Stadium will grow tense if he lines up for a clutch kick Saturday. The Ravens showed signs of life in their return game against the Giants, with Justice Hill running the opening kickoff back 59 yards and new punt returner Desmond King II giving them excellent field position on an aggressive 22-yard runback later in the first quarter. Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell has made 38 of 41 field-goal attempts, including 11 of 13 from 50 yards or beyond, and is one of the team’s most valuable weapons. Punter Corliss Waitman is also a Pro Bowl candidate. To top it off, the Steelers excel at blocking field goals. EDGE: Steelers Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers Week 16 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | ‘Hard Knocks’ episode 3 recap: Ravens LB Roquan Smith makes an impression Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers says Steelers’ defense doesn’t do anything to stress him Baltimore Ravens | Steelers LB and ex-Raven Patrick Queen expects boos, ‘FUs’ in Baltimore return Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews’ head butts and TDs are ‘a reflection of the Raven way’ Ravens intangibles vs. Steelers intangibles It’s difficult to pinpoint why the Steelers have seized such firm control of the AFC North’s most enduring rivalry, but they have won eight of their last nine against the Ravens, none of those by more than a touchdown. Pittsburgh disrupts Jackson’s beautiful game like no other opponent, and coach Mike Tomlin’s team delights in winning ugly. The Steelers are underdogs on paper, but Tomlin will surely use that as another motivational tool in his team’s quest to clinch the AFC North in Baltimore. The Ravens will come in healthier and better rested after enjoying their bye week and an easy win over the Giants. Coach John Harbaugh won’t need to remind his team that its only chance to capture home-field advantage in the first round of the playoff depends on beating the Steelers. The Ravens have fixed their defense on the fly, and Jackson is 67-24 as a regular-season NFL starter, but he and his team have much to prove against Pittsburgh. EDGE: Steelers Prediction The Ravens have looked like the better team going into almost every matchup with Pittsburgh over the last five years, but the Steelers have owned them in close game after close game. Picking the Ravens makes you Charlie Brown lining up to kick that next ball. At some point, Jackson has to break through with a great performance against his AFC North nemesis, and this feels like the occasion. The Ravens can run on Pittsburgh and stop the Steelers’ determined running game. Their offensive upside is far greater. They played perhaps their worst all-around game of the season in the first matchup and still lost by just two. They’ll finally get it done at home with a divisional title hanging in the balance. Ravens 27, Steelers 20 Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

The Ravens are back on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” for the first time since the venerable series’ 2001 premiere season, this time sharing each hour with their AFC North neighbors. The third episode of this in-season look at the division debuted Tuesday night, placing a spotlight on one leader from each team: Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson, Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Browns cornerback Denzel Ward. From now until the end of the season, we’ll recap each episode, highlighting striking moments, memorable characters and tasty Ravens-related nuggets. Key Ravens scene Smith dominated the first quarter of the episode, with a camera capturing his free-flowing thoughts as he drove to the Ravens’ practice facility in Owings Mills. “I’ve had the mentality — just try to embarrass a cat every chance you get,” he said, drawing a connection between himself and the greatest Ravens linebacker, Ray Lewis. Managing stress was a major theme of the segment. “Man, why does my mind feel so clear?” Smith said, reflecting on the benefits of his bye week. Then, we saw him enjoy a massage from therapist Sara Miranda. “She goes from scalp all the way to my big toe,” he said. Those scenes set up the contrast between Smith in preparation and Smith on game day when he’s an all-confident, yapping menace. “You told it, running back,” he taunted early in the Ravens’ 35-14 rout of the New York Giants, reading ball carrier Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s eyes. “You’re going that way.” Even on the sideline, Smith’s innate curiosity shined through. A glimpse at a bird flying overhead evoked an article he had read — maybe nonsense, he noted — about Chinese drones disguised as birds. Other Ravens tidbits Coach John Harbaugh stood before his players at the front of the team auditorium, laying out his message for the last four weeks of the regular season. “We had an opportunity to get a bye week late, heading into December football, heading into the real season,” he said. “It’s time, man. We get on a roll, this thing is going to look how it’s supposed to look, right on time.” The episode featured plenty of Lamar Jackson, from him lamenting the frigid air — “It’s cold!” — at a midweek practice to his five pristine touchdown throws against the Giants. As No. 8 used one hand to hold up his pants on a magic scramble, narrator Liev Schreiber commented, “If Jackson can juke himself out of his own pants, what chance do the Giants have?” “That was my play!” Harbaugh shouted with glee after Jackson rolled right, stopped suddenly and found rookie Devontez Walker in the back of the end zone. Apparently, the play is named “Harbs” for reasons “Hard Knocks” did not elucidate. Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker’s touchdown catch was highlighted on the latest episode of “Hard Knocks.” (Adam Hunger/AP) Best non-Ravens scene Steelers coach Mike Tomlin remains unmatched on this show at capturing the stakes of a given week’s matchup. He opened the episode telling the Steelers they’d be playing for the five-star Pennsylvania championship against cross-state foe Philadelphia. “I love playing good people because it brings out the best in us,” he said. “I always want to be the group that puts the fire out.” It wouldn’t be about schemes, he promised, so much as collective ferocity. “If you consider yourself kick-ass in any way, bring it everywhere you go,” Tomlin said. “That kick-ass travels.” Ravens fans no doubt found it satisfying to watch the Eagles turn that kick-ass around on Tomlin’s crew. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers Week 16 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers scouting report for Week 16: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers says Steelers’ defense doesn’t do anything to stress him Baltimore Ravens | Steelers LB and ex-Raven Patrick Queen expects boos, ‘FUs’ in Baltimore return Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews’ head butts and TDs are ‘a reflection of the Raven way’ Episode MVP The last segment of the episode offered a panoramic depiction of Wilson, who has revived his career and Pittsburgh’s deep passing game over the last two months. He ran through quarterback drops and sprints in a pool. He recounted a rookie-year conversation with a veteran teammate, who advised him to get three massages a week and promised the $6,000 he’d spend over a season would ultimately be worth $60 million in career earnings. He opened a Pittsburgh rec center with his pop-star wife, Ciara. He sat in an offensive meeting, hearing how Philadelphia’s two-deep defense was designed to “stop the shots” that are Wilson’s bread and butter. The Eagles did take those shots away and took the ball out of Wilson’s hands, leaving him to watch helplessly from the sideline. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been in a game where we got two possessions in a half,” he said as Philadelphia ground through more than 10 minutes of a clock-killing drive. Wilson has long been a divisive NFL figure, but this “Hard Knocks” offered a sense of why he has endured. The episode ended with him looking ahead to Saturday’s matchup with the Ravens and a golden chance to clinch the AFC North with two weeks to go. “We gotta go take it,” Wilson said. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article

Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has only played the Steelers twice in his burgeoning career, so perhaps a lack of mental scar tissue and an abundance of youthful bravado explains his perspective on Pittsburgh’s recent dominance over Baltimore. “Nothing,” the second-year player said bluntly Tuesday when asked what the Steelers do that makes the Ravens’ life so difficult against them. “They don’t really do nothing that really stresses me, if I’m being honest. “I don’t think it’s trouble. I think we always have turnovers, missed kicks, stuff like that during the game, so if we just eliminate those — because we move the ball downfield — I know you see that. … We just have to take care of the ball, make kicks and try to put the ball in the end zone.” Of course, that’s been easier said than done with the Steelers winning eight of their past nine against Baltimore, including earlier this season in Pittsburgh. Now the two will meet again, this time at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday with the AFC North on the line. If the Steelers win, the division title is theirs. If the Ravens do, they still have a shot, though they’ll need help. But if Baltimore has any hope, it will have to reverse what’s been a frighteningly bad trend against their most hated rival. Over their past nine meetings, the Ravens have racked up a whopping 53 penalties for 458 yards. They’ve also turned the ball over an astonishing 19 times. That included a bumbling, mistake-filled 18-16 loss in Week 11 in Pittsburgh, where Baltimore committed 12 penalties for 80 yards, coughed it up three times and Justin Tucker missed two of four field goal attempts. He wasn’t the only culprit, though. Flowers had just two catches for 39 yards and a touchdown but also had a crucial drop when he was wide-open and was flagged for a false start on third-and-5 at the start of the fourth quarter from deep in the Ravens’ end that led to a punt two plays later. In two career games against the Steelers, he has seven catches on 17 targets for 112 yards and one score but also has three drops, and his second-lowest graded games of last season and this one, per Pro Football Focus, have come against Pittsburgh. It’s not an indictment of Flowers — who leads the Ravens in catches (66) and receiving yards (916) to go with four touchdowns — as much as it is a microcosm of Baltimore’s struggles against its fiercest rival. “Coach Harbaugh always tells us we have to learn how to not lose games before we can win games, so it’s very true in this sport,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “There is stuff that we have to clean up, and we know we will.” So far, they haven’t been able to. Some of Baltimore’s struggles, of course, can be traced to not having quarterback Lamar Jackson for nearly half of those nine games. In the 2023 regular-season finale, the Ravens rested Jackson and others with their playoff seeding already secured. In 2020, he missed a December game in Pittsburgh because of COVID-19. The next season, he was out with an ankle injury for a Week 18 game in Baltimore. In 2022, a season-ending knee injury caused him to miss both contests. But even when he has been on the field, Jackson has been flummoxed by Pittsburgh, with the Ravens just 1-4 with him as a starter; his lone win was a 26-23 overtime victory in Week 5 in 2019. In their most recent meeting, he completed just 16 of 33 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown pass with one interception and was sacked twice. For his career, Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, has completed 66.7% of his passes for 1,077 yards with five touchdowns and eight interceptions in seven games. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson struggled in Week 11 against the Steelers. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) “Just losing in general bothers me,” he said Tuesday, noting the proliferation of penalties and self-inflicted mistakes that always seem to play a significant role when the two teams meet. “Not the team really. Just gotta find a way to get a ‘dub. “I’m one of the vets now, so obviously I gotta lead by example.” He’s not the only one. “There’s been a lot of different things that seems like it hasn’t went our way,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “But it’s not like we were just unlucky. It was just you gotta play disciplined.” That’s been a major problem for Baltimore and a point of emphasis this week. “We all believe we should’ve won the last game,” defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike said. “We made mistakes, self-inflicted mistakes, so we’re here to finish the mess that we started earlier.” Yet, the Ravens have the dubious distinction of continuing to lead the NFL in penalties with 117 after committing a dozen against the lowly 2-12 New York Giants on Sunday. It hasn’t been on just one side of the ball, either. Baltimore has the second-most offensive holding penalties this season with 23. On defense, they share the lead with the most holding penalties (12), are tied for the most roughing the passer penalties (6) and have drawn the third-most pass interference flags (13). In a series in which the average margin of victory over the past nine games has been 3.78 points, those kind of mistakes prove costly and show a lack of discipline. Now all that’s at stake is the division title, and ending what’s been a miserable run in a very particular way. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers Week 16 betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers scouting report for Week 16: Who has the edge? Baltimore Ravens | ‘Hard Knocks’ episode 3 recap: Ravens LB Roquan Smith makes an impression Baltimore Ravens | Steelers LB and ex-Raven Patrick Queen expects boos, ‘FUs’ in Baltimore return Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews’ head butts and TDs are ‘a reflection of the Raven way’ “I don’t think we’re going into this game like, ‘We can’t lose nine out of 10,’” Hamilton said. “We’re just trying to win this one game and take it one week at a time, and I know you all hear that a lot from us, but it’s really true. We have one-week lives, kind of, and last week, we were all about the Giants and got that win. Now, we’re all about the Steelers, and whatever comes next.” Which begs the question: Can the Ravens solve their Steelers riddle, or will it be more of the same? “[Pittsburgh coach Mike] Tomlin, I feel like he wants to just keep the game close, keep the game close and then win it at the end,” Humphrey said. “Honestly, that strategy works pretty well when they play us.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Ravens Steelers FootballMatt Durisko/APSteelers linebacker T.J. Watt, right, breaks up a pass intended for Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers on Oct. 8, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Durisko/AP) View the full article

Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen expects a hostile crowd in his return to M&T Bank Stadium. Queen, who began his career in Baltimore and played for the Ravens from 2020 through 2023, will play in M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday for the first time as a visiting member. “I’m probably going to get a lot of FUs and boos and stuff, but at the end of the day, I wouldn’t want [it] any other way,” Queen told reporters Tuesday. “That’s football, that’s competition.” Earlier this season, Queen starred in a Steelers victory over the Ravens. The linebacker posted 10 tackles and forced a key fumble in an 18-16 win on Nov. 17. The Pittsburgh triumph is currently the difference in the AFC North, with the Ravens (9-5) entering Saturday’s home contest one game back of the AFC-North leading Steelers (10-4). After the November win, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin praised Queen while taking a shot at the Ravens’ decision not to re-sign the linebacker to play alongside Roquan Smith. Queen leads the Steelers with 109 tackles this season. “You know, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” Tomlin told reporters after the November meeting. “I’m glad he is on our team.” While Queen says he expects boos this weekend from Baltimore fans, he mostly downplayed his role in Saturday’s rivalry game when meeting with the media Tuesday. Queen instead spoke about the importance of the game, which would give the Steelers the AFC North title if they come away with the road win. “I’m all for the rivalry, but I’m over the ‘my old team’ stuff,” Queen said. Pittsburgh’s new linebacker spoke highly of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is enjoying perhaps the best year of his career. Jackson is averaging a career-best 8.9 yards per pass attempt, throwing for 34 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. He’s also added 743 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews’ head butts and TDs are ‘a reflection of the Raven way’ Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Nelson Agholor in concussion protocol; 6 Steelers starters absent Tuesday Baltimore Ravens | Social media chef Tini Younger to cook at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood tailgate for Ravens vs. Steelers game Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 15: Lamar Jackson back in MVP race? He never left. Baltimore Ravens | Steelers coach Mike Tomlin optimistic T.J. Watt will be available against Ravens Jackson ranks second to Buffalo’s Josh Allen in QBR, and only Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow (36) has more passing touchdowns this season. If Allen wasn’t having such a strong season for the 11-3 Bills, Jackson would likely be the favorite to win his third career MVP Award. Queen called Jackson “the most dangerous guy in the NFL,” although the Steelers did well to slow him in their first meeting. Jackson completed just 16 of his 33 passes in the Nov. 17 meeting between the division foes, throwing for 207 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His passer rating of 66.1 against Pittsburgh is the lowest of the season. Jackson has thrown nine touchdowns and zero interceptions in the three games since, hitting his stride as the season hits its final stretch. Perhaps Jackson’s late-season surge is why Queen is more focused on stopping Baltimore’s quarterback than the insults he expects Ravens fans to hurl his way in a few days. “He’s a great player,” Queen said, “the best in the world, honestly.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

When Mark Andrews caught his Ravens record 48th career touchdown pass through a cluster of New York Giants defenders on Sunday, notice his teammates celebrated from every other corner of the field. Isaiah Likely’s crossing route took him toward the left sideline, where he threw his arms up. Tylan Wallace did the same from that corner of the end zone. Quarterback Lamar Jackson made sure to meet his tight end in the air for a chest bump. These were business decisions. “Nobody’s ever trying to be the first one [there] when Mark scores after the spike because that’s the strongest head butt that’s gonna happen the whole game,” Likely laughed. “You’ll see everybody trying to see who’s gonna be over there first, then you’ll see everybody try to get the little side head butt in.” That’s because Andrews’ celebratory head butts are vicious, emblematic of the football alter ego of the new all-time Ravens’ touchdown leader, passing running back Jamal Lewis on Sunday to become the only tight end in NFL history atop a franchise’s total touchdowns leaderboard. But the 29-year-old’s reputation for thumping his forehead to greet teammates like an ox — which wideout Nelson Agholor loves from afar and Likely caps after two — is a testament to his longstanding success through a lens illustrating the rugged veteran who Agholor dubbed, “a reflection of the Raven way.” Baltimore drafted Andrews in the third round of the 2018 draft out of Oklahoma. He caught his first two touchdown passes from Joe Flacco before fellow rookie Lamar Jackson was given the keys to the offense. The two quickly became a dynamo pair. Andrews has been Jackson’s most reliable target through years of a revolving wide receiver group. But this season began with doubts that maybe the partnership had reached its final stage. Andrews’ usage rate in the pass game tanked to the tune of six catches in four weeks. He was scoreless until Week 6. This all coming after a severe ankle injury sidelined him much of last season and a car accident kept him out for over two weeks of training camp. “He got injured last year, came back, [and] people were talking about this and that. ‘We need to trade Mark, this and that,’” Jackson said. “I didn’t forget that. And I know he didn’t forget that.” Since then, he’s been back to his copper-bottomed, head-butting self. With Sunday’s romp, Andrews is up to 514 yards on 45 catches. His eight touchdowns are tied with San Francisco’s George Kittle for a league-high among tight ends and two shy of tying his single-season career high (10 in 2019). Last week, Jackson tried to think back on a favorite Andrews moment. His face crinkled. “There’s a lot,” he said, thinking back on more than half a decade together. He and Andrews came into the league at the same time. He’s responsible for the lion’s share of the record mark. The memory he landed on has two connecting pieces. First was Week 12 in 2018. The Ravens were hosting the Oakland Raiders. In the second quarter, pinned inside their own 20-yard line, Jackson faked the handoff and scanned upfield. To his right was a streaking Andrews. Jackson found him with only green grass ahead. “It’s a foot race!” the announcer shouted. But Andrews lost that foot race, dragged down five yards shy of the end zone. He walked right up to Jackson on the sideline, as the quarterback recalled, and said, “That’s not happening anymore.” Four weeks later, they’re in Los Angeles playing the Chargers. Andrews burst off the line of scrimmage into a cross route. He knifed through the middle of the defense and caught a lob over the linebackers, shed a tackle and, as his quarterback remembers, “just hauled tail” for the duo’s first touchdown connection. “After that,” Jackson said, “it was like, ‘Yes, that’s my guy right there. That’s my guy.’” Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) celebrates with quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) “He can go up and get the ball [and] track the ball well like a receiver,” Jackson continued. “He’s a big body receiver. I feel like anybody [who] guards him, I have a shot at having a successful catch with Mark. Him just being who he is since we first stepped foot in the league, he’s just made my job a lot easier. I always say that.” That relationship between quarterback and tight end, in coach John Harbaugh’s words, is “institutionalized,” and “proven now with the record.” The coach who has been there for every bit of the duo’s interwoven ascension grinned, revealing, “they make route adjustments that are not always in the playbook. … A lot of those touchdown passes are those two guys just having that chemistry.” Mention Andrews to anyone around the Ravens’ Owings Mills facility and you’ll hear some variation of the same 10-letter word: Competitor. Harbaugh said the thing he loves most about Andrews is how he’s all ball, all the time. “He probably dreams about football,” Harbaugh said. Andrews is the “pinnacle” of a competitor, according to All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, who sits next to the veteran in meetings trying to mimic his detail-oriented approach. Same goes for Likely, who has leaned on his vet since he got in the league. Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken has been coaching football for over three decades and firmly called Andrews, “one of the top competitors I’ve ever been around.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Steeler and ex-Ravens LB Patrick Queen expects boos, ‘FUs’ in Baltimore return Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Nelson Agholor in concussion protocol; 6 Steelers starters absent Tuesday Baltimore Ravens | Social media chef Tini Younger to cook at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood tailgate for Ravens vs. Steelers game Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 15: Lamar Jackson back in MVP race? He never left. Baltimore Ravens | Steelers coach Mike Tomlin optimistic T.J. Watt will be available against Ravens It’s helped Andrews reach the Pro Bowl three times (2019, 2021 and 2022). He made first-team All-Pro in 2021. His other Ravens record was from a 2021 outburst, logging the most single-season receptions (107) and yards (1,361) of any position. And in February of this year, while on a flight home to Arizona, he helped save a woman’s life. A pretty well-rounded resume; the least bit surprising to teammates because of his attention to detail. “Mark doesn’t only know the tight end position on offense, he knows what everybody’s supposed to be doing,” Likely said. “All you see is post-snap, what he’s doing mid-route, mid-block. But to see it from his eyes before the ball even snaps, that’s what I admire about Mark. “He knows everything that’s going on before the play and that’s when he’s able to show he’s Mark Andrews.” And that’s when the head butting starts. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The Ravens continue to have an uncommonly clean sheet of health for mid-December. They’ll face a Steelers team that isn’t as fortunate leading into the rivalry showdown Saturday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium that will help decide the AFC North division title. Wide receiver Nelson Agholor was Baltimore’s lone surprise nonparticipant. According to the injury report, which was a practice estimation for Tuesday’s walk-through, he is in the concussion protocol. Agholor caught his only target for 26 yards in Sunday’s win over the New York Giants — his first catch since Week 10 vs. Cincinnati. Diontae Johnson will not practice this week having been excused from team activities following his one-game suspension. Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring) did not practice. Coach John Harbaugh said Monday it was a soft-tissue injury that happened before Sunday’s game against the Giants but it’s “not too serious.” Safety Ar’Darius Washington (ankle) was limited but appeared to move around the locker room without issue. Rookies Sanoussi Kane (hamstring) and Adisa Isaac (hamstring) were limited, too. Cornerback T.J. Tampa (ankle) was listed but was a full go. Pittsburgh had seven players, including six starters, absent from their practice Tuesday. Linebacker and former Raven Patrick Queen (rest), wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring), safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring), cornerback Donte Jackson (back), linebacker T.J. Watt (ankle) and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward (rest) were all out for the first practice of the week. Fellow starting defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi (groin) was limited. And backup quarterback Justin Fields, whom the Steelers have used in specific packages since Russell Wilson claimed the starting job, was absent Tuesday because of an abdominal injury. Watt missing Saturday’s contest would be the biggest blow for Pittsburgh, which has bested Baltimore in eight of the past nine meetings. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Steeler and ex-Ravens LB Patrick Queen expects boos, ‘FUs’ in Baltimore return Baltimore Ravens | Ravens TE Mark Andrews’ head butts and TDs are ‘a reflection of the Raven way’ Baltimore Ravens | Social media chef Tini Younger to cook at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood tailgate for Ravens vs. Steelers game Baltimore Ravens | NFL winners and losers, Week 15: Lamar Jackson back in MVP race? He never left. Baltimore Ravens | Steelers coach Mike Tomlin optimistic T.J. Watt will be available against Ravens The outside linebacker exited in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Eagles with a low ankle injury. That came after recording two sacks and a forced fumble. Watt told reporters on Tuesday he’s in “wait-and-see mode” for Saturday’s game. Coach Mike Tomlin added he was walking around the facility “rather comfortably” and is optimistic the star pass rusher who is third in the NFL with 11 1/2 sacks can play. As for the rest of Pittsburgh’s absences, Tomlin told local reporters he’ll “formulate a plan for having increased participation from those guys over the course of the week.” Like the Ravens managing three games in 11 days, the Steelers are on a short-week schedule facing Baltimore then Kansas City in an 11-day span. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Maryland native and cooking sensation Tineke “Tini” Younger is bringing her viral mac and cheese to Baltimore. The social media chef will cook at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood’s tailgate party on Saturday before the Ravens take on the Steelers. Born a Ravens fan, the cookbook author and Next Level Chef competitor from Frederick has amassed over 11 million followers between Instagram and TikTok. Her online fans often see her outfitted in several Ravens jersey options in her closet, including a black No. 52 for her favorite player, former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. Younger shared a link to the tailgate party’s tickets along with a promotional photo stating her Maryland crab dip, famous mac and cheese and Old Bay hot honey sliders will be on the menu at 1 p.m. before the game. Jimmy’s TailGOAT party at 1300 Russell Street will also feature boy band O-Town and Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC. Guests will be able to partake in a buffet and bottomless drinks, as well as cornhole and jousting among other entertainment options, according to the event’s ticketing page. Transportation to the event from Jimmy’s is available for an additional fee. The tailgate will end half an hour before the game. Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@baltsun.com, 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks. View the full article

Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will recap the best and worst from around the league. Here are our winners and losers from Week 15: Winner: Lamar Jackson Here’s your annual reminder: The NFL Most Valuable Player Award race isn’t over until the final votes are cast. The NFL is a week-to-week league, so it’s tempting to declare a favorite after each game. Who played the best in prime time? Who put up the best stats? Which team has a better record? Who is getting more help from their teammates and coaches? This year is no different. Entering the season, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had the best odds at +650, according to Vegas Insider, followed by Bills quarterback Josh Allen (+800), Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (+1,000), Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (+1,100) and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (+1,200). Unsurprisingly, the odds have shifted throughout the season. Mahomes is now considered a longshot despite leading the Chiefs to an AFC-best 13-1 record because of his pedestrian stats. Ditto for Jalen Hurts, who has helped the Eagles go 12-2. Burrow leads the league in most passing categories, but his team is 6-8 and unlikely to make the playoffs. By virtue of their scintillating performances and team records, Allen and Jackson are the top two names still in the hunt, but they’ve been joined by a running back (Saquon Barkley) and a trio of unlikely quarterbacks (Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold). In other words, it’s pretty wide-open. That’s why it’s odd to see Allen listed as the overwhelming favorite after Week 15 at -1,000, according to Vegas Insider. Recency bias might help explain that, since Allen is coming off huge performances in shootouts against the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions in which he’s thrown for a combined 704 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 150 yards and five scores to lead the AFC East champion Bills (11-3). Before that, he led high-profile wins over the San Francisco 49ers and Chiefs, the latter of which was Kansas City’s first loss of the season and first since Christmas. The splash moments have been there, too, with Allen scoring a touchdown on a pass he threw thanks to a lateral from Amari Cooper and some more highlight-reel plays — including a chest pass that ultimately didn’t count — in Sunday’s win over the NFC-leading Lions that was hyped as a potential Super Bowl preview. ESPN’s Rex Ryan went as far as to say that anybody who doesn’t vote for Allen this season should no longer be allowed to vote for the award. That’s extreme. Both Jackson and Barkley have legitimate cases, and the season is far from over. Take Jackson’s case, for example. The reigning and two-time MVP completed 21 of 25 passes for 290 yards with five touchdowns and had six carries for 65 yards in a 35-14 win over the Giants on Sunday. Beating a team in contention for the league’s worst record won’t earn many style points, but he completely dominated New York in a way no other quarterback has this season. He also accomplished a feat that we should start naming in his honor: Jackson now has five career games with five or more touchdown passes and five or fewer incompletions. In NFL history, nobody has more than three such games. By the numbers, this might be the best season of Jackson’s career. With 3,580 passing yards and 743 rushing yards, he could become the first quarterback in NFL history to eclipse 4,000 through the air and 1,000 on the ground in a single season. He’s just two touchdown passes away from matching his career high (36) and is trailing only Justin Herbert in interception rate (0.7%) with just three picks on 404 attempts. And if we’re talking simply about the word “valuable,” Jackson’s offense is by far the best in the league while carrying a defense that has been one of the worst. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is playing perhaps the best football of his professional career, but betting markets say Bills quarterback Josh Allen is the MVP favorite. (Adam Hunger/AP) Just like last season, the next few weeks could favor Jackson in terms of national attention, too. Saturday’s home game against the Steelers is a de facto AFC North championship game with the Ravens (9-5) needing to win to keep their division title hopes alive. Then Baltimore heads to Houston on Christmas Day in front of a first-of-its-kind Netflix audience before closing the regular season against Cleveland. Allen, meanwhile, faces the lowly Patriots (twice) and Jets to finish the campaign, and he might not play all of those games if Buffalo’s seeding is secured. (Don’t forget that Jackson’s Ravens crushed Allen’s Bills, 35-10, way back in Week 4.) If Jackson plays well down the stretch and leads the Ravens to an AFC North title, MV3 watch is on. Loser: More injuries Mahomes reportedly suffered a high-ankle sprain. Geno Smith exited “Sunday Night Football” with a knee injury. T.J. Watt is in “wait-and-see” mode with his ankle injury. The Lions lost two more defensive starters, and now running back David Montgomery is likely out for the season with a knee injury. Not even Barkley was spared, with the Eagles’ star running back was sidelined for most of the second half Sunday with an undisclosed issue. All he would say is that he’s “dealing with a little something.” The NFL season is a grind, and injuries, however random, always play a factor in determining the champion. That’s why it’s so disappointing to see stars such as Mahomes, Watt and Barkley banged up and a Super Bowl contender like the Lions hanging on by a thread heading into the most exciting time of the year. The schedule really should be more favorable, especially this late in the season. Like the Ravens, Steelers and Texans, the Chiefs are in the middle of a stretch of three games in 11 days that includes a rare Wednesday kickoff on Christmas Day. It’s an unfair arrangement that puts television money over player health, and the NFL and Netflix could be paying for it if Carson Wentz is taking snaps for Kansas City. Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers On a day of outstanding quarterback performances, Mayfield’s shouldn’t be overlooked. The 29-year-old journeyman completed 22 of 27 passes for 288 yards with four touchdowns and one interception, propelling the Buccaneers to a 40-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers that puts Tampa Bay on the cusp of a fourth straight NFC South title. It was even more impressive when you consider the competition. Coach Jim Harbaugh’s team had held opponents to 20 points or fewer in 11 of 13 games, and coordinator Jesse Minter’s defense hadn’t yielded more than 30 all season. Wide receiver Mike Evans had a season-high 159 yards receiving and two touchdowns, rookie Jalen McMillan had five catches for 75 yards and a score and rookie running back Bucky Irving returned from injury to rush for 115 yards on just 15 carries, providing plenty of hope that the Bucs’ offense can remain effective without star Chris Godwin. A four-game winning streak has Baker Mayfield, right, and the Buccaneers on the verge of the postseason again. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty) One of the biggest reasons is the play of offensive tackles Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke. Among the 47 offensive tackles who have had at least 400 snaps in pass protection, as noted by analyst Jon Ledyard per Pro Football Focus, Wirfs has surrendered the fewest pressures in the NFL (nine). Goedeke is second with just 12 pressures surrendered. After losing four straight in the middle of the season, Tampa Bay has bounced back in a big way, winning four straight while averaging 31 points and allowing just 15. Coach Todd Bowles’ defense has leaned into its aggressive approach, increasing its already high blitz and stunt rates since its Week 11 bye, and it’s paying dividends. Last season, the Bucs beat the Eagles in the wild-card round and nearly took down the Lions the following week. With injuries mounting in Detroit, Philadelphia seemingly teetering on the edge of combustion every week and untrustworthy quarterbacks in Minnesota and Green Bay, it might be time to take Tampa Bay seriously as a Super Bowl contender. Loser: Indianapolis Colts The Colts quite literally threw their season away. Needing a win to keep pace in the AFC playoff race, Indianapolis led the Broncos, 13-7, in the third quarter Sunday. A calamity of errors followed. First, running back Jonathan Taylor broke free for what appeared to be a 41-yard touchdown run, giving the Colts a commanding lead. But the celebration was short-lived, as replay confirmed that Taylor dropped the ball just before crossing the goal line. It bounced out of the end zone for a touchback, giving Denver the ball. Then, after the Colts forced a punt and recorded their third interception of rookie quarterback Bo Nix to regain possession midway through the third quarter, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. fumbled, allowing Denver to kick a 44-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 13-10. A three-and-out by the Colts to begin the fourth quarter led to a punt that Broncos receiver Marvin Mims Jr. returned 61 yards to the 15-yard line, and Denver scored two plays later to take its first lead, 17-13. What was shaping up to be an uplifting win had suddenly gone sideways. So what did coach Shane Steichen draw up with the season on the line? One of the worst trick plays you’ll ever see. Quarterback Anthony Richardson threw a quick pass to rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell, who drifted behind the line of scrimmage and threw back across the middle of the field to Richardson, who was waiting to throw the ball again to another receiver down the field. Only Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonnito sniffed it out, jumping in front of the pass from Mitchell and racing 50 yards for a touchdown to effectively seal the victory. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Steelers coach Mike Tomlin optimistic T.J. Watt will be available against Ravens Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ John Harbaugh explains benching of LB Trenton Simpson Baltimore Ravens | Ravens excuse Diontae Johnson from team activities ahead of Steelers game Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who will win Saturday’s AFC North showdown between Ravens and Steelers? Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 35-14 win over the New York Giants It goes in the books as a fumble recovery, but it was essentially a pick-six. “We worked on that play all week, and it was great,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “It looked great all week. We padded up, and it was good in practice. He threw it great. Obviously, he’s thrown double passes before that he’s had success with, and that one didn’t work out.” It’s impossible to overstate just how crushing this loss is for Indianapolis. A win would have given the Colts (6-8) a 61% chance of making the postseason, but now they only have a 15.6% shot, according to The Athletic’s playoff projection model. The Houston Texans (9-5) clinched the AFC South title on Sunday with a win over the Miami Dolphins, so the Colts’ only chance is vaulting over the Chargers (8-6) for the final wild-card spot. The good news is the Colts have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league that includes the Titans, Giants and Jaguars, while the Chargers face the Broncos, Patriots and Raiders. It’s not inconceivable for Indianapolis to go 3-0 and L.A. to stumble to 1-2 down the stretch, but the Colts’ best chance went up in smoke Sunday in brutal fashion. 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

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is optimistic star linebacker T.J. Watt’s balky ankle won’t keep him out of Saturday’s visit to Baltimore. The perennial All-Pro twisted his left ankle late in the fourth quarter of a 27-13 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. Watt said afterward X-rays on the ankle were negative and he was in “wait and see” mode. Tomlin said he saw Watt walking around the team’s facility on Monday morning without much issue. The 30-year-old was one of the few bright spots for the AFC North-leading Steelers (10-4) in the loss, getting two sacks and forcing a fumble. Tomlin defended having Watt in the game with Philadelphia driving up two scores in the waning minutes, saying he was playing to win. Watt made a notable impact in the first meeting between the AFC North rivals, as he recorded three tackles and a sack against Baltimore on Nov. 17. The Steelers held the Ravens to a season-low 16 points in a Pittsburgh. The Ravens are coming off one of their most efficient offensive performances in recent weeks, scoring 35 points and averaging 7.5 yards per play in an easy win over the Giants. There’s a chance injured Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring), safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin) would be available to practice this week as well. Pittsburgh’s passing game has slowed in two games without Pickens. Russell Wilson has averaged 143 yards passing with Pickens out of the lineup, including a season-low 128 against the Eagles. Pickens led the Steelers with eight catches for 89 yards in the first Ravens-Steelers game, leading Pittsburgh in targets (12), receptions and receiving yards. Baltimore Sun staff contributed to this article. View the full article

The Ravens’ defense continues to undergo changes. After benching struggling starting safety Marcus Williams in favor of Ar’Darius Washington last month, inside linebacker Trenton Simpson was the latest to get the treatment in Sunday’s win over the Giants. Simpson, who started the first 13 games this season, played just five snaps in garbage time of Baltimore’s 35-14 blowout of New York. It continued a downward trend for the the 2023 third-round pick out of Clemson who was drafted to replace the departed Patrick Queen this season. In the Ravens’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Simpson played just 22 snaps. The week before in a win over the Los Angeles Chargers, he was on the field for 30 snaps. The turning point perhaps was Baltimore’s loss to the Steelers in Week 11 when he had one of his worst games of the year with two missed tackles and three catches allowed on three targets for 31 yards, 22 of which came after the catch, per Pro Football Focus. That earned him a dismal overall grade of 32.2. Simpson played 66 snaps in that game but has seen his time on the field cut significantly since and even then continued to struggle with an even lower PFF mark (26) against the Eagles, despite the limited role. “From the standpoint of Trent it’s good for Trent, maybe takes some pressure off him a little bit,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “He’s a young guy. “He can take a breath a little bit just in terms of his picture, his side of it.” While Harbaugh said only that the decision is “week to week,” it seems likely Baltimore will continue to rely on others instead of Simpson in the middle of its defense. Veterans Malik Harrison and Chris Board have both seen significant increases in their snap counts and that figures to continue, with the former a reliable run defender who has also played outside and the latter the Ravens can utilize against the pass. Safety Kyle Hamilton being deployed deeper on the field more often to shore up the back end of the defense also means fewer snaps closer to the line of scrimmage as a dime linebacker. Harbaugh has also been pleased with the performances of the two veteran linebackers. Over the past three games, Board has 14 tackles (one for loss), which included seven against the Eagles. Harrison, meanwhile, has 29 tackles (two for loss) in his last four games, which included a career-high 13 in a win over the Chargers when Smith was out with a hamstring injury. That earned Harrison a game ball. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens excuse Diontae Johnson from team activities ahead of Steelers game Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who will win Saturday’s AFC North showdown between Ravens and Steelers? Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 35-14 win over the New York Giants Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers battle for AFC North could come down to tiebreakers Baltimore Ravens | Steelers lose to Eagles, 27-13, but still clinch playoff spot; T.J. Watt injured “It’s a lot of people that doubted me coming into this game,” he said after the win over Los Angeles. “So I’m happy I was able to ball out and show them that I can be in this league, and I can play at a high level.” Harrison’s PFF grade of 81.5 that week was the highest on the team and it came when he played a team-high 73 snaps. In all, Board has played 107 snaps on defense (11%) and Harrison 269 (33%) this season. But those numbers figure to only go up. “They played really well,” Harbaugh said of their performance against the Giants. “For Malik to get this opportunity to prove himself – he’s been working hard for that opportunity, and he’s done great with it. And Chris Board same thing – he’s even more of a veteran guy. I know those guys appreciate that, and they’re making the most of it.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson isn’t returning to the field — at least not yet. A statement released by the team Monday shared that both the Ravens and Johnson “mutually agreed” to allow the wide receiver to miss team activities this week. He won’t play in Saturday’s pivotal AFC North showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who hold a one-game lead over the Ravens. Johnson also missed Sunday’s win over the Giants, as he was serving a one-game suspension for refusing to enter the Ravens’ game against the Eagles on Dec. 1. Coach John Harbaugh’s played his comments close to the vest, as he has since this saga began. “All I’m really thinking about right now is Pittsburgh and getting our team ready for Pittsburgh,” Harbaugh said. “So he won’t be here this week and next week will take care of itself.” Asked why the Ravens opted to keep him out of team activities this week rather than release him entirely, Harbaugh said, “I’m really interested in the Pittsburgh Steelers, to be honest with you. I know you guys want to hear the story. There are a lot of moving parts. There are reasons for doing things and our front office had reasons. Do I want to sit here and get into all the different calculations that [general manager] Eric [DeCosta] makes? I really don’t. I want to think about Pittsburgh and the guys who are going to be here playing against Pittsburgh. That’s my focus, 100%.” If Johnson were to sign elsewhere in free agency after the season, the Ravens would receive a potential compensatory pick for the 2026 draft. Releasing Johnson would yield no return. Johnson, 28, began his contract year with Carolina before being traded to Baltimore in late October. He struggled to gain footing in the offense, as other wide receivers outperformed him. Johnson, who caught 30 passes for the Panthers and was featured regularly in their offense, has just one catch for Baltimore. There was some credence given to Baltimore’s first matchup in Pittsburgh, Johnson’s former team, being a chance to see an uptick in reps. He was targeted twice but finished without a catch. Then when Rashod Bateman was sidelined with knee soreness against the Philadelphia Eagles, that could have opened the door for Johnson. It did not and he was ultimately suspended by the team for one game for refusing to take the field. Johnson’s fellow receivers said the suspension would not be a distraction entering a pivotal stretch in the Ravens’ schedule, now through one of three games in 11 days. “He’s still one of my guys. He’s one of our guys,” Flowers said last week, adding, “Yeah, he’d be welcomed back.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | READER POLL: Who will win Saturday’s AFC North showdown between Ravens and Steelers? Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 35-14 win over the New York Giants Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers battle for AFC North could come down to tiebreakers Baltimore Ravens | Steelers lose to Eagles, 27-13, but still clinch playoff spot; T.J. Watt injured Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 35-14 win over Giants “We all understand both sides,” Bateman said, last week. “There are consequences that come with this game. I know he’ll be back soon, and that’s all we worry about.” And Lamar Jackson vouched for Johnson after the Eagles loss, saying, “We want him out there. He’s a great receiver. We didn’t get him from the Panthers for nothing.” Sunday in a blowout win over New York, five receivers caught passes from Lamar Jackson. Rookie Devontez Walker even hauled in his first career catch, a 21-yard touchdown. Jackson has been quicker to look to Zay Flowers, Bateman, Nelson Agholor and Tylan Wallace in recent weeks. With Johnson’s role on Baltimore’s offense seemingly nonexistent, the veteran receiver who began his career in Pittsburgh won’t see action on game day for the third consecutive week. His future in Baltimore appears murky, at best. Bennett Conlin contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

There’s plenty at stake on Saturday when the Ravens host the Steelers in Week 16. Pittsburgh can win the AFC North crown with a victory, while Baltimore can take the division lead with a win. Tell us who you think will win the showdown. After you vote, tell us what you think by clicking the comments button and we might publish 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

The overmatched New York Giants had no chance to keep up with the NFL’s most explosive offense as the Ravens rolled, 35-14, coming off their bye week. Here are five things we learned from the game: The Ravens’ offense is too much for the NFL’s bottom feeders How much could they really prove against a foe that started the season on its heels and has done nothing but lose games and key players over the past two months? We don’t often see an NFL team favored by more than two touchdowns on the road, but bookmakers didn’t have to look deep to see how little chance the Giants had to match the Ravens’ explosiveness. Only a disastrous performance that allowed New York to hang close or a catastrophic injury would make major headlines on this post-bye trip. The Ravens messed around briefly with the former possibility. They started with a 59-yard kickoff return from Justice Hill and gains of 10 and 15 yards on their first two plays from scrimmage, but Lamar Jackson fumbled away near-certain points on that opening drive. Then, they invited the Giants to cut the lead to 14-7 with a remarkable 41 penalty yards on an 80-yard scoring drive in the second quarter. Could this obvious mismatch have gone pear-shaped from that point? We saw it in an early-season loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. But the Ravens have a much greater sense of their offensive capacity than they did three months ago, and their defense is less prone to fall apart on the back end. In any event, they never let this game get dicey, scoring touchdowns on five straight drives as Jackson struck with deadly accuracy on third down (9 of 11) and whenever he even sniffed the goal line. Explosive plays set the Ravens apart, especially from stuck-in-the-mud opponents such as the Giants. There was no way on earth for New York to answer such steady fire, not with Tommy DeVito and Tim Boyle at quarterback. Jackson played with obvious joy two weeks after he raged against himself in the wake of a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He made a statistical case to stick close to Josh Allen in the Most Valuable Player race. He threw a strike to Mark Andrews to get his favorite target the franchise record for touchdowns. He turned a third-and-short into the first catch and touchdown of rookie Devontez Walker’s career. Sure, the Giants had played terribly for months, but no offense had torched them quite like this. On a day when they couldn’t teach us anything new, Jackson and his teammates at least reminded us why their upside is special. Rashod Bateman showed that the past need not be the prologue Bateman left the loss to the Eagles with knee soreness, having failed to mark the box score even once. Fans have learned to fret after the 2021 first-round draft pick endures these empty afternoons. This season has been his most productive and promising, but could he still be in danger of drifting off course? Bateman rejected this notion when the Ravens returned to work after their bye. “I got a little banged up [in the] Eagles game, but the bye week was big for me,” he said. “I was able to get healthy. I got back on the practice field, felt good, so I’m looking forward to finishing the season strong.” Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman caught a pair of touchdown passes in a blowout win over the Giants. (Seth Wenig/AP) He backed up those words with one of his finest games as a Raven. Early in the second quarter, Bateman spun his defender the wrong way with an ultra-fluid fake to the inside, and a rolling Jackson found him all by himself for a 49-yard score. Moments later in the two-minute drill, Bateman glided free in the back of the end zone and dragged his toes inside the back line for a 20-yard score that put the Ravens up 21-7. On a day when explosiveness gave the Ravens a commanding advantage, Bateman was their most explosive playmaker. He might’ve had a third touchdown if Jackson hadn’t underthrown him on a play-action bomb in the third quarter. “I think I’ve definitely shown myself that I am what I say I am,” he said afterward. “And hopefully, I’ve shown the Ravens fans, this organization, coach ‘Harbs’ [coach John Harbaugh], ‘Monk’ [offensive coordinator Todd Monken] — whoever — that I am a playmaker.” Jackson has made a point of saying there is no substance to past perceptions that he did not fully trust Bateman. They have combined to make a convincing case this season, with Jackson regularly looking for No. 7 as his big-play option when he scrambles to create extra time. “Yes, ’Bate’ is that guy,” Jackson said after the first two-score game of the wide receiver’s Ravens career. It was essential for Bateman to rebound from his most frustrating week of the year, and he was outstanding. This was another day to remind us how fresh faces have lifted the secondary Despite losses to the Steelers and Eagles, first-year coordinator Zach Orr’s defense found its footing as the weather turned chilly, streamlining its tactics on the back end and embracing a culture of (sometimes) harsh accountability. New York wasn’t armed to present much of a test to Baltimore’s reinvigorated secondary, but the Ravens did their part, stopping the Giants on 10 of 12 third downs and holding them to 3.9 yards per play. Safety Ar’Darius Washington and cornerback Nate Wiggins starred in the effort, and it’s worth reminding ourselves that they played significantly smaller roles back when the Ravens were struggling to hold leads against mediocre offenses. Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins performed well in coverage against Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers. (Seth Wenig/AP) We’ve covered the positive changes that not so coincidentally began when the Ravens released Eddie Jackson, benched Marcus Williams and installed the undersized Washington as a starting safety. After he didn’t travel with the team Saturday because of a personal matter, Washington played another excellent game against the Giants, picking off a pass late and earning one of the top coverage grades on the team from Pro Football Focus. We’ve talked less about Wiggins, but the 2024 first-round pick will be every bit as important going forward. The Ravens’ growing trust that the rookie will lock up outside receivers — Wiggins allowed just two catches on six targets against the Giants and his sticky coverage thwarted them in the red zone — allows Orr to play Marlon Humphrey primarily in the slot and send the veteran on blitzes. The secondary makes more sense with Wiggins on the field, as he was for the vast majority of snaps against New York. There are rare seasons when a team’s best lineup is obvious from Week 1, and perhaps we thought that would be the case for the Ravens’ star-studded defense in 2024. Instead, this has become a story of adaptability, with Orr learning to trust his instincts on whom to play. Washington and Wiggins are turning out to be major parts of the solution. The Ravens practically had to score for the Giants with their familiar foible, the penalty The Giants were advancing at an anemic 3.9 yards per play. They had not scored and faced second-and-17 after a Kyle Van Noy sack on DeVito. And then the Ravens, the NFL’s most penalized team, did their darnedest to usher an overmatched foe back into the game. First, Nnamdi Madubuike drew a 15-yard roughing penalty for landing on DeVito. Yes, it’s maddening for longtime fans to watch a flag fly after a pass rusher simply follows through on a hit. But that’s the way the modern game is officiated. Madubuike has to know better. Next, cornerback Brandon Stephens drew a pass interference flag for gripping Malik Nabers’ shoulder. A close call? Sure, but it highlighted Stephens’ inconsistent feel in tight coverage and more importantly, handed the Giants first-and-goal at the 3-yard line. The Ravens seemed on the verge of keeping them out of the end zone anyway, but one last penalty, a third-down illegal use of hands by Odafe Oweh, gave New York a fresh shot to score seven. On an 80-yard scoring drive, the Giants’ offense accounted for 39; Ravens penalties accounted for 41. Maddening stuff. “Their drives were penalty-inspired,” said Harbaugh, who has said the buck for his team’s errors has to stop with him. “If it wasn’t for the penalties, those drives wouldn’t have happened, so it’s obviously something that’s very important.” Penalties were about the only negative for the Ravens in a dominant showing against the overmatched Giants. (Seth Wenig/AP) That touchdown drive wasn’t the end of their yellow-flagged hijinks. Stephens again handed the Giants first-and-goal late in the third quarter when he dragged Nabers to the ground while defending a pass that seemed headed out of bounds. Too often, we see Stephens fight for excellent position in man coverage only to blow it by losing his radar lock on the ball. He was a terrific developmental story last season but has taken a step back with free agency looming. Again and again, we hear players say that only the Ravens can beat the Ravens. Again and again, they feed this gloomy prophecy. Now comes the game that could define the Ravens’ season There wasn’t a lot to learn about the Ravens against an opponent as injury-depleted and devoid of hope as the Giants. We already knew that their offensive firepower puts them in a different class than the NFL’s bottom feeders, especially at this advanced point in the season. A fine showing and no debilitating injuries would be sufficient payoff for their quick trip up I-95. They checked those boxes. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers battle for AFC North could come down to tiebreakers Baltimore Ravens | Steelers lose to Eagles, 27-13, but still clinch playoff spot; T.J. Watt injured Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 35-14 win over Giants Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson lights up Giants with 5 TDs in Ravens’ 35-14 win Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 35-14 win over New York Giants Now, the tension returns to their season as they prepare to host their archrival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a Christmas trip to AFC South-leading Houston on tap four days after that. These games will determine the Ravens’ playoff path and tell us whether they’ve grown up. The Pittsburgh rematch Saturday in Baltimore is the AFC North game of the year. Win and the Ravens will be right back in the hunt for a repeat divisional crown. Lose and they’ll be left to fight for wild-card positioning. Beyond such obvious stakes, this feels like the Ravens’ chance to prove there’s real mettle underneath all their offensive flash. The Steelers have won eight of the past nine matchups in one of the league’s signature rivalries, not one of those decided by more than a touchdown. With their disciplined pass rush and aggressive coverage, they knock Jackson out of sorts more regularly than any other opponent. They did it again in an 18-16 win in Pittsburgh last month, picking Jackson off, harassing him into 16-for-33 inefficiency and outclassing the Ravens on special teams. Mike Tomlin’s team goes in 100% confident it will outplay Baltimore on the margins, a narrative that will hold until the Ravens reverse it. Does Jackson have to break through against the Steelers for his team to get where it wants to go in the playoffs? No. But there would be no greater way for the Ravens to convince themselves they have what it takes. If they win Saturday, then we’ll talk about the toll of three games in 11 days, Houston’s validity as an AFC contender and all the possibilities ahead in January. For now, there’s a roadblock of black and gold granite anchored directly in the Ravens’ path. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. Week 16 Steelers at Ravens Saturday, 4:30 p.m. TV: FOX Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 6 1/2 View the full article

It’s all on the line Saturday. The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) come to Baltimore to face the Ravens (9-5) at 4:30 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium with first place in the AFC North up for grabs. A win by the Steelers would clinch the division title since Pittsburgh could not finish worse than 11-6 and would own the head-to-head tiebreaker with a season sweep of its archrival. However, a win by the Ravens opens the door for an exciting finish to the regular season. Pittsburgh has already clinched a playoff spot, while Baltimore is a virtual lock to make it at 99%, according to Next Gen Stats. So although this matchup does not carry the weight of an elimination game, winning the division guarantees a home game in the wild-card round of the playoffs, likely against either the Denver Broncos or Los Angeles Chargers. With a Baltimore win Saturday, the Ravens and Steelers would split the season series and have identical 10-5 records entering the final two games of the regular season. If both teams finish with the same record, the next tiebreaker would be best win-loss-tied percentage in games played within the division. Pittsburgh ends its season with home games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals, while the Ravens play at the Houston Texans and host the Cleveland Browns. There’s the added twist of both Baltimore and Pittsburgh playing on Christmas Day, with Steelers vs. Chiefs kicking off at 1 p.m. and Ravens vs. Texans to follow at 4:30 p.m. in a first-of-its-kind doubleheader on Netflix. Entering Week 16, the Ravens are 2-2 against AFC North opponents while the Steelers are 3-1. So if Baltimore beats Pittsburgh on Saturday, they would both be 3-2 in the division heading into their final AFC North matchup in Week 18. The third tiebreaker is best win-loss-tied percentage in common games. Their common opponents are the Browns, Bengals, Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers, Broncos, Cowboys, Giants, Commanders and Eagles. The Ravens are 7-4 against that group with a game against Cleveland remaining, while the Steelers are 7-3 with the Chiefs and Bengals still to come. Here’s a look at the other tiebreakers and where each team stands, according to the NFL’s official standings: Best win-loss-tied percentage in games played within the conference Ravens: 5-4 (.555) Steelers: 7-2 (.777) Strength of victory in all games (combined record of all teams beaten) Ravens: .516 Steelers: .420 Strength of schedule in all games (combined record of all opponents) Ravens: .538 Steelers: .438 Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed in all games Ravens: 12th Steelers: 8th Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games Ravens: 25th Steelers: 16th Best net points in common games TBD Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Steelers lose to Eagles, 27-13, but still clinch playoff spot; T.J. Watt injured Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 35-14 win over Giants Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson lights up Giants with 5 TDs in Ravens’ 35-14 win Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 35-14 win over New York Giants Baltimore Ravens | Mark Andrews becomes Ravens’ all-time touchdown leader Best net points in all games Ravens: +86 Steelers: +71 Best net touchdowns in all games Ravens: +16 Steelers: +2 Coin toss That’s right. Heads or tails? 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

PHILADELPHIA — The Steelers had every reason to fear the worst. T.J. Watt’s pursuit of Jalen Hurts ended with the star linebacker briefly hopping before he crumbled to the turf in the fourth quarter against the Eagles and clutched his left ankle. A highly anticipated cross-state matchup with Philadelphia had already turned into a dud for Pittsburgh on Sunday. Losing Watt for an extended stretch with the AFC North still at stake would have been a brutal blow — especially with a matchup against division rival Baltimore looming next weekend. Watt said after the game he was in “wait-and-see” mode for that game. The 30-year-old former defensive player of the year came away with a rolled ankle that he didn’t necessarily believe was a serious injury. Watt, who leads the Steelers with 11 1/2 sacks, was checked out in the medical tent and did not return. Watt and the rest of the Steelers’ defense couldn’t put enough pressure on Hurts or slow down DeVonta Smith and A.J Brown — each of whom topped 100 yards receiving — in a 27-13 loss to the Eagles. The Steelers (10-4) clinched a playoff berth thanks to losses by Indianapolis and Miami. “No consolation,” Watt said. The Ravens trail their division rivals by one game, and the teams play Saturday at Baltimore. Russell Wilson led the Steelers to the division lead thanks in part to six wins against teams that currently have losing records. The schedule toughens up down the stretch and the first test was a disaster. “We need to find ways to get off” the field, Watt said. “We’ve been pretty good all year long on three-and-outs and getting off the field on third downs. We weren’t good enough today. There were a lot of long, sustained drives.” Wilson threw for a season-low 128 yards and fell to 6-1 lifetime against the Eagles. After facing the Ravens, the Steelers then host Kansas City and finish the season at home against Cincinnati. Playoff seeding and a division title remain in the balance. “It is a loss. I mean, let’s not get dramatic,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. But it wasn’t pretty. Wilson botched a pitch to Najee Harris in the third quarter and the Eagles recovered. That led to Hurts’ score on a 1-yard tush push for a 27-13 lead. “That was the play we had going on. It just unfortunately didn’t work out,” Wilson said. It was clear the Steelers missed receiver George Pickens, who leads the team in receptions (55) and yards receiving (850) by a wide margin. He missed a second straight game with a hamstring injury. Related Articles NFL | Ravens vs. Steelers battle for AFC North could come down to tiebreakers NFL | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 35-14 win over Giants NFL | Mahomes throws 2 TD passes, leaves with ankle injury in Chiefs’ 21-7 win. X-rays negative on star QB NFL | Lamar Jackson lights up Giants with 5 TDs in Ravens’ 35-14 win NFL | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 35-14 win over New York Giants “Having George Pickens out there on the field is a good thing for the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Wilson said. “But either way, we still have to respond and find ways to make plays.” The Steelers also lost backup quarterback Justin Fields when took a hard hit to the abdomen from safety Reed Blankenship, and cornerback Donte Jackson suffered a back injury. The injuries made it hard for some Steelers — such as Watt — to appreciate making the playoffs. However, the team’s fourth playoff appearances in the last five seasons did soothe some feelings inside the locker room. “It’s a great thing for us. That’s our expectation,” Wilson said. “But we want to win this division, that’s our goal. It’s our first goal, to win the division. We’ve got to go take it. Got to go take it. We’ve got to go find a way on the road in Baltimore, which we know is going to be a great football game.” It would be better for the Steelers if Watt and Pickens were along for the ride. View the full article

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Here’s how the Ravens (9-5) graded out at every position after a 35-14 win over the Giants (2-12) on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium: Quarterback Lamar Jackson completed his first eight passes and, besides his fumble on the opening possession, this was more of a 7-on-7 drill for the seventh-year quarterback. There were times when Jackson held onto the ball too long, but it was clear he wanted to run more Sunday compared with two weeks ago against the Philadelphia Eagles. Jackson completed 21 of 25 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed six times for 65 yards and avoided pressure several times by scrambling. Grade: A Running backs The Ravens didn’t use halfback Derrick Henry much in the first half and that was to be expected with the Giants crowding the line of scrimmage. But it was clear in the second half that Henry was going to be the focus of the offense and he grinded the Giants down in the final two quarters. Henry finished the game with 67 yards on 14 carries, including 42 yards in the second half. Backup Justice Hill had two carries for 7 yards and five catches for 61 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown off a screen pass in the fourth quarter. Grade: B Offensive line The Ravens finished with 445 yards of total offense, and this group dominated up front from the start of the Ravens’ second possession until they were ahead 28-7 late in the third quarter. The Ravens did a good job of working on combination blocks and provided Henry with lanes both inside and outside. Tackles Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten allowed too much pressure from the outside and Jackson made both look better with his elusiveness. Grade: B Receivers The Ravens picked apart a secondary that has been ravaged by injuries. In fact, New York was down to using developmental players as starters, and it showed. Ravens receivers were open most of the game on short to long patterns. Rashod Bateman had three catches for 80 yards, including two touchdowns in the first half. Zay Flowers also had six catches for 53 yards, and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely combined for four catches for 41 yards and a score. Andrews’ touchdown early in the first quarter was the 48th of his career, setting the Ravens’ all-time record. Flowers, though, needs to work on his run blocking. He stood around too much during the game. Grade: A Defensive line This was another area in which the Ravens dominated. The Giants had virtually no running game and finished with only 55 yards on 20 carries. It was a strong showing by all four tackles, including Michael Pierce, Broderick Washington, Travis Jones and Nnamdi Madubuike. Even in short-yardage situations, they all got good push and shut down running plays on the inside. Jones led this group with four tackles while Madubuike, Pierce and Washington contributed a combined five tackles. Neither of the Giants’ two starting quarterbacks had room to step up and throw in the pocket. Grade: A Linebackers Middle linebacker Roquan Smith had five tackles and his teammates did a good job of keeping offensive linemen off of him for most of the game. Smith didn’t have that same burst he showed two weeks ago against the Eagles, but he was still all over the field and even made one tackle 30 yards down the field on a passing play. The Ravens’ other inside linebacker, Malik Harrison, finished with eight tackles, six of those assisted. Kyle Van Noy and Chris Board had three tackles each, and Van Noy finished with one sack and one pressure. The group might have had more, but New York threw a lot of quick passes and screens. Grade: A- Secondary The Giants passed for only 181 yards but had receivers open several times. Early in the game, the Ravens’ tackling was poor, led by cornerback Tre’Davious White. When White went out and the Ravens brought in Brandon Stephens, New York went after him and Stephens was called for two pass interference penalties. There were also times when he failed to turn and look for the ball in an effort to recover and regain steps on the receiver. Despite the limitations of Giants quarterbacks Tommy DeVito and Tim Boyle, the Ravens still gave up a lot of big plays on the back end. They should be thankful they were playing the Giants, not a high-octane offense like the one in Detroit. Grade: C- Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Lamar Jackson lights up Giants with 5 TDs in Ravens’ 35-14 win Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 35-14 win over New York Giants Baltimore Ravens | Mark Andrews becomes Ravens’ all-time touchdown leader Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s 35-14 win Baltimore Ravens | Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington won’t travel with team; DT Michael Pierce activated Special teams Hill had a kickoff return of 59 yards and Desmond King had a punt return of 22 yards to give the Ravens good field position. Jordan Stout had two punts for an average of 46 yards and Harrison made a special teams tackle. New York, though, did have two kickoff returns for an average of 27 yards, including a 30-yarder. Struggling kicker Justin Tucker made all of his extra point attempts but did not try a field goal as the Ravens scored touchdowns on five straight possessions at one point. Grade: B+ Coaching The Ravens were up to the task and dominated an inferior team, something they had struggled to do earlier this season. The Giants had no answers for the Ravens’ offense and were ill-equipped to challenge Baltimore’s defense with two inferior quarterbacks. Overall, the game went as expected. The Ravens came, conquered and went home with a win. But it will be a different game Saturday when the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers come to Baltimore. Certainly, the challenge will be more daunting and certainly more physical. The Ravens, though, can’t afford to keep piling up the penalties after committing a season-high 12 for 112 yards against the Giants. This team needs some discipline. Grade: B Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — On to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s who the Ravens will play Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium, where any hopes of an AFC North title will hang in the balance in a game that will likely define Baltimore’s season. Sunday’s contest against a woefully bad and injury-ravaged New York Giants team sure wasn’t going to. The Ravens’ biggest concern against New York — which entered losers of eight straight — was escaping without any serious injuries, getting back into rhythm off a bye week, and, of course, a victory to keep pace with the division-leading Steelers. Check, check and check. Quarterback Lamar Jackson completed 21 of 25 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns and a fumble before being pulled in the fourth quarter, tight end Mark Andrews became the franchise’s all-time leading touchdown scorer and wide receiver Rashod Bateman had the first multi-score game of his career as Baltimore rolled over the Giants, 35-14. The Ravens improved to 9-5 with the win and are 1 1/2 games back of Pittsburgh (10-3), which plays the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon, with three games left in the regular season. The biggest point of interest for Giants fans took place long before kickoff, with a plane flying a banner overhead for the second straight game directed at owner John Mara, this one reading: “Mr Mara enough — we won’t stop until you fire everyone.” Things only went downhill from there for New York (2-12), which tied a franchise record with its ninth straight defeat. When Ravens running back Justice Hill returned the opening kickoff 59 yards to New York’s 37-yard line, the crowd cheered sardonically. On Baltimore’s second possession, cornerback and practice squad call-up Desmond King set up the offense at the Giants’ 32 after a nifty 23-yard punt return. Six plays later, the Ravens found the end zone, with Jackson connecting with his favorite target, Andrews, over the middle for a touchdown on third-and-goal from the 13. The score was the 48th of Andrews’ career, breaking former running back Jamal Lewis’ franchise record for career touchdowns. Baltimore kept things rolling on its next possession, covering 70 yards in five plays, highlighted by a 49-yard bomb to a wide-open Bateman, who side-stepped two defenders and waltzed into the end zone to put Baltimore up 14-0 less than five minutes into the second quarter. It marked the receiver’s third touchdown of at least 40 yards and fifth score of the season after having just four in his first three seasons. Still, some of the same old problems cropped up for Baltimore. The Giants’ first score — a 2-yard run by Devin Singletary to cap a 13-play, 80-yard drive late in the first half — came largely because of a string of boneheaded penalties. First, cornerback Marlon Humphrey was flagged for holding rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers on a third-down incompletion. On a second-and-17 later in the drive, it was Nnamdi Madubuike’s turn with a roughing the passer penalty. One play later, cornerback Brandon Stephens knocked a would-be touchdown pass away from Nabers but was flagged for pass interference. Then, on third-and-goal from the 5, outside linebacker Odafe Oweh breathed life back into New York with a penalty for illegal hands to the face, wiping out a sack of quarterback Tommy DeVito to set up Singletary’s score. Their 12 penalties for 112 yards in the game marked a season high for the Ravens, who lead the NFL in penalties. It also marked the fourth time this season they have topped 100 yards in penalties. Ravens running back Justice Hill jogs into the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. (Frank Franklin II/AP) Still, there was little hope the Giants would be able to keep pace or slow the league’s top offense. Just before halftime, Baltimore swiftly moved 80 yards in nine plays with Bateman hauling in a 20-yard touchdown catch in the back corner of the end zone, extending the lead to 21-7 at the break. The Ravens then tacked on two more touchdowns, with Jackson hitting Devontez Walker for a 21-yard score in the third quarter for the first catch and touchdown of the rookie receiver’s career, followed by a short pass to Justice Hill that went for a 27-yard touchdown early in the fourth. Meanwhile, things continued to spiral for the Giants. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 35-14 win over New York Giants Baltimore Ravens | Mark Andrews becomes Ravens’ all-time touchdown leader Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s 35-14 win Baltimore Ravens | Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington won’t travel with team; DT Michael Pierce activated Baltimore Ravens | Ravens remarkably healthy entering stretch of 3 games in 11 days Though DeVito completed 10 of 13 passes in the first half, he managed just 60 yards with New York gaining just 96 total yards in the first 30 minutes. The Giants also converted just one first down in the first half and averaged a meager 3.3 yards per play. With DeVito ruled out of the game with a concussion to start the second half, third-string quarterback Tim Boyle hit Nabers for a 23-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. With the outcome in hand, backup Josh Johnson relieved Jackson and the Ravens could turn their attention to their showdown with the Steelers. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Week 16 Steelers at Ravens Saturday, 4:30 p.m. TV: FOX Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike bears down on Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito in the first half. (Adam Hunger/AP) View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 35-14 win over the New York Giants in Sunday’s Week 15 game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Brian Wacker, reporter: This game was as much about escaping without serious injury and getting back into a rhythm as much as it was about winning. The Giants (2-12) are a hapless, injury-ravaged team and didn’t have a chance of keeping up with the league’s top offense. Lamar Jackson knew the assignment and mostly delivered. Still, the same old penalty problems popped up for the Ravens (9-5), which is more concerning given they were coming off a bye. They could afford that against New York, but they won’t be able to get away with that in next week’s massive AFC North showdown against the Steelers. Childs Walker, reporter: This was the mismatch forecasted — the NFL’s most explosive offense against one of its least explosive. The Ravens goofed away chances to make their victory even more emphatic. Justice Hill ran the opening kickoff back 59 yards, but Lamar Jackson fumbled away a near-certain scoring drive. They basically handed the Giants a touchdown with 41 penalty yards on an 80-yard drive in the second quarter. New York simply wasn’t equipped to punish them for their mishaps, not on an afternoon when Jackson was deadly accurate with the downfield throws that create first downs and touchdowns. Yes, the injury-ravaged Giants were easy pickings, but no other offense had shredded them so casually. Aside from the penalties, the Ravens’ defense also did its job on third down and in the red zone. Now comes the real test against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who disorient Jackson more consistently than any other opponent. What we saw against the Giants didn’t tell us much about what we’ll see Saturday in the AFC North’s game of the year. Mike Preston, columnist: As expected, the Ravens dominated a Giants team that has been hit hard by injuries. With four of New York’s defensive front seven on the injured reserve list, Baltimore easily took control and dominated offensively. Lamar Jackson had a relatively easy day, passing for nearly 300 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, though, the Ravens struggled and missed quite a few tackles early from players in the secondary. Those mishaps, along with poor coverage and penalties, were disturbing because the Ravens have a big showdown coming up Saturday with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have won eight of their past nine games against Baltimore. Despite having a week off from the bye last Sunday, the Ravens still show signs of a team that needs improvement. C.J. Doon, editor: Lamar Jackson looks playoff ready. Will the rest of the Ravens follow suit? There’s not too much we can learn from a game against perhaps the league’s worst team (especially with journeyman Tim Boyle under center), but Jackson certainly didn’t take the Giants lightly. He was nearly perfect in the first half, completing 13 of 14 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 55 yards on four carries. He took what the defense gave him on the ground and delivered pinpoint throws from the pocket, including a 20-yard strike to Rashod Bateman in the back of the end zone. He was in complete command. Might it be enough to push Jackson back into the MVP conversation? Remember, it was this time last year when he and the Ravens dominated to secure the top spot in the AFC. The AFC North race is far from over. For the defense, there are still plenty of concerns. During the Giants’ 13-play, 80-yard touchdown march in the second quarter, the Ravens were flagged four times, including a defensive holding penalty on Marlon Humphrey, a roughing the passer penalty on Nnamdi Madubuike, a (questionable) pass interference penalty on Brandon Stephens and an illegal hands to the face penalty on Odafe Oweh that helped extend the drive. Stephens committed another pass interference penalty on fourth down in the third quarter that extended a drive in the red zone, and Nate Wiggins earned one in the fourth quarter. Recently signed cornerback Desmond King couldn’t find the ball on Boyle’s touchdown pass to Malik Nabers and then joined the party with a pass interference penalty late in the fourth quarter, the Ravens’ 13th such infraction this season. The secondary can ill-afford such mistakes in bigger games against better opponents. Baltimore finished the game with a season-high 12 penalties for 112 yards, adding to their league-worst total. When they aren’t shooting themselves in the foot, this is a good team, perhaps even great. But seeing the same sloppiness after the bye week is frustrating for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mark Andrews becomes Ravens’ all-time touchdown leader Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Giants live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s 35-14 win Baltimore Ravens | Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington won’t travel with team; DT Michael Pierce activated Baltimore Ravens | Ravens remarkably healthy entering stretch of 3 games in 11 days Baltimore Ravens | Arundel’s Jack Walsh, Boonsboro’s Chad Hartman named Ravens High School Coaches of the Year Tim Schwartz, editor: Ho hum. That was pretty much what we expected. Lamar Jackson was dominant and took his mom’s advice by running more. The defense had no issues against whoever was under center for New York. But the biggest takeaway for me is that the Ravens did not use the bye week to focus on being more disciplined. They are committing way too many penalties — still. It won’t hurt them against bad teams like the Giants, but Saturday against the Steelers and the playoffs will be a different animal. Cornerbacks aren’t finding the ball. Offensive linemen are committing presnap infractions. At some point it needs to be an indictment on the coaching staff. Nobody will be surprised at this rate if a penalty in a key moment dooms their season. Bennett Conlin, editor: Baltimore is one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL because Lamar Jackson is the best player in the league. Jackson’s efficient performance highlighted a strong showing against a bad team, and Rashod Bateman’s emergence as well as successful punt and kickoff returns were other obvious positives. There were also frustrating plays against an overmatched opponent. Jackson turned the ball over on a promising opening drive, and coach John Harbaugh opted to punt on fourth-and-1 at midfield the next possession despite having Derrick Henry and Jackson in the backfield. Defensive penalties handed the Giants their first touchdown of the game. Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh will tell us a lot about whether the Ravens are ready for a late-season surge or if the same issues that plagued the team in Weeks 1 and 2 are going to linger into January. The Ravens are a Super Bowl contender when they’re clicking. It’s one thing to click against the Giants. It’s another to deliver a strong showing against Pittsburgh. Next weekend’s game will tell us much more about Baltimore’s postseason prospects. View the full article

It didn’t take long for Mark Andrews to write his name into the Ravens’ record book. The seventh-year tight end and three-time Pro Bowl selection caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, surpassing running back Jamal Lewis for the most touchdowns in franchise history with the 48th of his career. The 29-year-old Andrews is the only tight end in NFL history to lead his franchise in career touchdowns. Former Chargers star Antonio Gates has the most touchdown receptions by a tight end in league history with 116 across his 16-year career. Andrews, a third-round pick in the Ravens’ 2018 draft that also landed Jackson, has eight touchdown catches in his past nine games after getting off to a slow start this season. He has long been a team leader, drawing praise for his work ethic and selflessness. “From the moment he steps in the building to the moment he leaves, there is a purpose with everything that he does,” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said earlier this season. “He’s just super intentional about everything he does. He’s in Year 7, but yes, you can tell that it didn’t just happen overnight. So, he’s built like that, and I feel like he kind of rubs off on everybody.” Andrews, who entered Sunday with 424 career receptions for 5,347 yards, returned this season after suffering a severe ankle injury last November against the Cincinnati Bengals. “Mark Andrews is just one of a kind. … He’s all ball all the time,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said earlier this season. “You can just tell he thinks about [football] driving home [and] driving into work, probably while he’s sleeping. He probably dreams about it. He eats football [and] sleeps football for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That’s really who he is.” This article will be updated. 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