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The Ravens were successful in almost every phase in beating the Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-14, in Saturday night’s AFC wild-card game, but pass coverage in the secondary is still a primary concern. Pittsburgh had touchdowns passes of 30 and 36 yards in the third quarter to pull within two scores with 3:24 remaining in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson completed 20 of 29 passes for 270 yards and finished with a passer rating of 121.3. That’s disturbing. “Their offense came in the second half, and they made some plays,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “They hit us on three third downs. They found the weakness in the coverage, and we didn’t play it quite perfectly. We have to chase perfection and play those things a little better. “But they made those plays, and then, I mean, those throws up the sideline, they were just great throws and great catches. Those were well-covered plays, and they made them. That’s a really good football team, and it’s a really good win for us.” Pittsburgh has lost five games in a row, so the Steelers aren’t a really good team. Lost among the euphoria of the Ravens’ offensive line beating down a talented Steelers front five and both quarterback Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry running wild was the fact that the Ravens’ coverage got exposed again. It wasn’t as bad as it was earlier in the season, but the Steelers aren’t exactly the Cincinnati Bengals, either. Wilson is no Joe Burrow and George Pickens isn’t in the same class with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The next two matchups might include quarterbacks Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. On Saturday night, it was amazing that Pittsburgh didn’t go after cornerbacks Brandon Stephens or Tre’Davious White early in the game. Those two, and to a degree rookie Nate Wiggins, have struggled all season, but Pickens had only one catch for 8 yards in the first half. You’d figure the Steelers would get Pickens involved early in the game, but that didn’t happen until they trailed, 21-0, at the half. That’s when Pittsburgh went into attack mode and Van Jefferson beat Stephens over the top for the 30-yard touchdown pass. About five minutes later, Pickens beat Wiggins for a long touchdown. It wasn’t so much that they got beat, but watching safety Kyle Hamilton lifting up his hands as if to quietly ask, “How can Stephens get beat like this again and again?” Stephens often has great position, but never turns around to locate the ball. With White, he is 29 and near the end of his career. The Ravens didn’t acquire him until early November, so they knew what they were getting and hoping for the best. As for Wiggins, he’ll become a good cornerback but is still too handsy, which means he hasn’t made the adjustment yet from college to the NFL. The Ravens have made improvements on the back end since the beginning of the season, but they couldn’t have gotten worse. They made moves by putting Hamilton deeper in coverage rather than near the line of scrimmage and starting fellow safety Ar’Darius Washington over Marcus Williams. Overall, though, the Ravens were still ranked No. 31 in pass defense, allowing nearly 245 yards per game. They really haven’t played a good passing team in more than a month with a schedule that has included Pittsburgh twice, the Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Houston Texans and Cleveland. Even Browns quarterback Bailey Zappe started targeting Stephens last week. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ defense pummels Pittsburgh early and finishes strong in AFC wild-card win Baltimore Ravens | 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 28-14 playoff win over the Steelers Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 28-14 playoff win over Steelers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens run over rival Steelers, 28-14, in wild-card playoff game Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 28-14 win over Steelers in wild-card round The schedule will get tougher against Allen and Bills receivers Amari Cooper and Khalil Shakir, as well as Mahomes and his receivers Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Travis Kelce. Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s game plan always focuses on matchups. Maybe it’s nitpicking, but the Ravens need to improve in two areas right now: They need to find a punt returner who can handle the ball and get better in coverage. They’ll be fine if their next opponent is Buffalo, because the Ravens’ running game will help neutralize Allen. But if Kansas City advances, the Chiefs could cause problems in an area that is still a major concern. It might not get better until next season. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Roquan Smith doesn’t spend much time preparing his pregame speeches. It’s not front of mind when he’s driving to the stadium. They’re an off-the-cuff emotional release from the heart and soul of the Ravens’ defense. His Saturday evening freestyle nailed it: “They don’t belong on the field with us.” Prime Video cameras snuck between the waists of a few Ravens to catch Smith’s words of encouragement. His eyes bulged out of his head. Every word lingered in the air in the shape of frosty breath through freezing temperatures. Smith said his message has been consistent all year, even when the numbers didn’t reflect the sentiment. For most of the Ravens’ 28-14 win in an AFC wild-card game, Smith’s words rang true. Pittsburgh didn’t look like it belonged. “In the locker room, we were just talking about on defense, ‘Start fast. Start really fast. Pummel them early,’” defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike said. “And I feel like that’s what we did in the first half, and the second half was just about finishing. Just finishing.” Start fast, they did. The Steelers managed only two first downs by halftime. They were 1-for-5 on 3rd downs. A Russell Wilson-piloted offense mustered a dismal 59 net yards — 40 by air and 19 by ground at the break. Pittsburgh punted on all four of its first-half possessions because the Ravens’ pass rush made Wilson’s life hell in the pocket. One of those early drives advanced to a third-and-2 near midfield. When Wilson found his tight end, Pat Freiermuth, in the flat, the play was blown up by Ar’Darius Washington, Baltimore’s fearless safety with a 9-inch height disadvantage. Wilson noted that stop in particular when trying to explain how the game “felt like it was getting out of hand.” By night’s end, the defense collected four sacks — one shy of their season high. Once they got a lead, defensive coordinator Zach Orr “let the horses go,” Odafe Oweh said. Madubuike accounted for two sacks. Michael Pierce and Oweh each chipped in one. The Ravens have held their AFC North rival to as few as 14 points only one other time in 10 previous meetings dating to 2020. Saturday marked the fewest total yards they allowed (280) in three meetings this season. The team effort largely felt like they were clearing the black-and-gold hurdle that has confounded them for years. Asked if it felt like a vintage Ravens defensive performance, Smith said that’s what the playoffs are about. “Playing tough, stingy defense.” A few poster men of that era showed up to witness it firsthand. Seeing Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis emerge from the tunnel to dance and hype up the crowd “turnt me up,” Smith said. “Then Haloti Ngata at the coin toss, it was pretty awesome just seeing him.” Terrell Suggs, who was honored as the Legend of the Game, was there, too. Smith has good reason to be so confident in his group beginning a playoff run with Super Bowl aspirations. Coordinator Zach Orr, middle, and the Ravens have held five consecutive opponents to fewer than 20 points. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) At their best, which we’ve seen plenty of over the past six weeks, is why Smith touted that he was keeping receipts of anyone disparaging Baltimore’s defense when they were among the worst in the NFL. But the road only gets harder after the free-falling Steelers, losers of five straight to end their season. Should the Bills beat the Broncos on Sunday, the Ravens will fly to Buffalo to see Most Valuable Player Award candidate Josh Allen. A win presumably means a trip to Kansas City to play Patrick Mahomes and the two-time reigning champion Chiefs in an AFC championship rematch. “If we are who we are, it’ll make any quarterback’s life a living hell,” Smith said. “We just gotta keep our composure and do that throughout the game. Yeah, there was some adversity throughout the game but there was adversity throughout the season as well and we stood tall.” On Saturday night, adversity caused slight feelings of unease among the 70,546 in attendance in the third quarter. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 28-14 playoff win over Steelers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens run over rival Steelers, 28-14, in wild-card playoff game Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 28-14 win over Steelers in wild-card round Baltimore Ravens | Police investigating after drone pauses Ravens-Steelers playoff game Baltimore Ravens | Kirk Herbstreit questions Steelers’ effort vs. Ravens in first half: ‘I don’t see any fight’ Ravens punter Jordan Stout delivered a 49-yard dot that pinned Pittsburgh at its own 2. Stout shouted a few choice words to the visiting sideline after that. The Steelers manufactured a nine-play, 98-yard scoring drive in nearly seven minutes. The marathon march was capped by a 30-yard touchdown pass to Van Jefferson, who burned cornerback Brandon Stephens up the left sideline. On the following possession, George Pickens caught a deep ball over rookie defensive back Nate Wiggins. He spun through Washington for a 36-yard touchdown, making it a two-score game. “We gave ourselves a chance and a little glimpse of hope,” Wilson said of their third-quarter push. The Ravens quickly shut that window. They lost the first of three meetings with Pittsburgh this year, a sloppy mistake-filled contest, in November. Baltimore romped the Steelers when they met again just before Christmas. And they won again with the season on the line. The Ravens’ defense improved drastically, but Smith’s messaging never changed. It’s forged them for these moments. “We’re aware of who we are, aware of where we are in the moment,” Oweh said. “I think last year we took it for granted. Like Ro said, teams that don’t belong on the field with us, it’s good to just kill ’em right there. Keep your foot on they neck.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The Ravens sent their archrival to a miserable end, overpowering the Steelers with an unstoppable ground game to advance to the divisional round of the playoffs. Here are five things we learned from the game: The Ravens hit a new postseason peak in the Lamar Jackson era The halftime statistics took your breath away: 308 yards for the Ravens, 59 for the Steelers; 19 first downs for Baltimore, two for Pittsburgh; 164 rushing yards for the Ravens, more than anyone but them had amassed in a full game against the Steelers this season. The scoreboard said 21-0, but that did not capture the totality of the beating they inflicted on an opponent long viewed as living in their heads like some black-and-gold phantasm. Were the Ravens nervous to begin their march to Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans against a team that had beaten them in eight of their previous 10 matchups? Nah. If anything, they relished this chance to demonstrate their utter superiority. “They understood how to win in a football game like this,” coach John Harbaugh said after his team had obliterated any lingering questions about its playoff readiness. That story began, as it usually does, with Jackson. It wasn’t his most absurd statistical performance. His highlights were relatively tame by his standards. But he played within himself while also making it impossible for Pittsburgh’s proud defense to know what was coming next. “The X factor was Lamar’s unique talents,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “It seems like every time we got him behind the sticks, he made up for it, or we got him in a possession-down circumstance, and he extended and won those circumstances.” The Ravens’ magnificent ground game seized center stage because of the quarterback’s uncanny feel for when to keep the ball on a few crucial third downs early in the first quarter. It wasn’t that defenders keyed on Derrick Henry (26 carries, 186 yards) instead of him, Jackson said. It was simply that he played the “cat-and-mouse game” better than the guys trying to stop him. And then there was Jackson’s touchdown pass to Justice Hill in the waning seconds of the first half, when he seemed to have overplayed his hand by dancing too long. “Hey, throw that thing away,” Harbaugh recalled thinking to himself. Jackson, of course, knew better. “I just think in his head, he knows what 11 seconds is,” Harbaugh marveled. “He is very much in control.” The Ravens rolled up 464 yards at a rate of 6.4 per play and owned timed of possession, all without their top wide receiver, Zay Flowers, who was Jackson’s most dynamic target when last they beat Pittsburgh. Henry, always stronger as the season goes on, has averaged 158 rushing yards over his past four games as the superstar complement Jackson never had in past playoff runs. They’re two Hall of Fame sure things peaking together. The Ravens’ defense, meanwhile, has not allowed more than 17 points in a game since Dec. 1. Will any of that scare the Bills or the Chiefs with a Super Bowl trip on the line? No. But the Ravens left no doubts that they’re prepared to slug in that class. Ravens running back Derrick Henry dives for a touchdown in the second quarter on Saturday against the Steelers. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) The Ravens raised the running game to the realm of art Three weeks earlier, the Ravens had blasted through the heart of Pittsburgh’s star-studded defensive front for 220 rushing yards, 63 more than the Steelers surrendered to any other opponent this season. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken wasted no time revealing his intention to do the same this time around, calling nine runs on a 13-play, 95-yard touchdown drive on their first possession. That wondrous variety included five keepers for Jackson, two of which went for clutch first downs deep in Baltimore territory, and a direct snap to Henry, who blasted 34 yards into the red zone. The Ravens did it again on a 13-play touchdown drive in the second quarter. All 85 yards of that march came on the ground, with Jackson holding the defense on a string and Henry breaking loose on a sweep the Ravens had set up beautifully with all their work between the tackles. This was power football as art, and if the Ravens go all the way this year, it will probably be because they do it better than anyone. Did Harbaugh know his team would seize the day by running 24 times on its first 32 plays? “I couldn’t sit up here and tell you that 24 out of 32 was the play,” he said. “There’s a lot of people out there happy about that though right now, and when you can do that, you want to do it.” When Pittsburgh finally discovered its pulse on a touchdown drive early in the third quarter, the Ravens simply went back to the ground to answer, slashing the Steelers with a surprise 15-yard end-around to Steven Sims before Henry charged through the heart of the defense for a 44-yard score. Three days before the game, Monken said: “It’s hard to control the game if you can’t run the football. Let’s just say that. You control the game with physicality. You control the game with being able to run the football, especially in weather conditions, and it sets everything else up that you do.” It was as if he had already guessed the nature of the Ravens’ coming victory. Harbaugh said the beauty of Monken, unsurprisingly a head coach candidate in several NFL cities, is that he’s never locked into one method. The Ravens ran 50 times for 299 yards because that was the best fit on this chilly night. “We don’t have to do it one certain kind of way,” Harbaugh said. “We don’t have a particular back system that we’re in. We’re not like the West Coast system or something like that. We’re just the Ravens system. What’s the best offense that we can put together for our players at this time?” Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr celebrates with defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh after a stop in the third quarter Saturday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) It’s no longer so easy to pick on the Ravens’ defensive weaknesses George Pickens did not play when the Ravens beat the Steelers four days before Christmas. The nightmare scenario fretful fans concocted going into the playoff rematch had Pittsburgh’s best big-play threat victimizing error-prone cornerback Brandon Stephens at a crucial moment. Instead, Pickens caught one pass for 8 yards in the first half. His most consequential play was a push-off on Marlon Humphrey. No, this was not going to be about the wounds Pittsburgh could inflict. Instead, it was an all-points declaration of purpose from a defense that was lost through 10 weeks and began, quietly at first, to find itself in an 18-16 loss to the Steelers back in November. “Start fast. Start really fast. Pummel them early,” defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike recalled the team’s leaders saying in the pregame locker room. In the first half, Pittsburgh ran for all of 19 yards, converted on 1 of 5 third downs and averaged a paltry 3.3 yards per play. There were highlights, such as safety Ar’Darius Washington’s open-field tackle to stop Pat Freiermuth on third-and-2 in the second quarter. But there was no defining play on par with Washington’s forced fumble near the goal line or Humphrey’s momentum-stealing pick-six in the Ravens’ win over Pittsburgh in December. Instead, they simply took away everything the Steelers wanted to do. Pittsburgh finally gained some traction by going over the top of Stephens and Tre’Davious White on a 98-yard touchdown drive to pull within 21-7. Russell Wilson later beat rookie Nate Wiggins on a nifty 36-yard touchdown connection with Pickens. So there is still some cause for concern regarding the Ravens’ corners. However, when tension crept into M&T Bank Stadium with the score 28-14, coordinator Zach Orr’s defense rose again with stops on consecutive drives, one punctuated by Madubuike’s cleverly designed rush on Wilson and the other by Washington’s pass breakup in the end zone. We all remember the feeling of those fourth quarters early in the season when no Ravens defender seemed able to stick his finger in the dam as double-digit leads vanished. That fragility is gone. This was one to savor for the Ravens’ offensive line If nightmare scenario No. 1 was the Steelers picking on Stephens, No. 2 was Pittsburgh’s front seven living in Jackson’s face at the expense of the Ravens’ offensive line. Instead, the five men charged with protecting Jackson turned this playoff grudge match into their finest moment, an emphatic retort to those critics who said the offensive line would lower the Ravens’ ceiling for 2024. Coming into the season, no one was sure how Daniel Faalele or Roger Rosengarten or Patrick Mekari would hold up to world-class defenders such as T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward in a do-or-die game. Quite well, thanks. That 85-yard, pass-free drive in the second quarter was their road-grading masterpiece. “I know we were tired. I hope they were tired, too,” center Tyler Linderbaum said, grinning after one of the best games of his career. “That’s a lineman’s dream right there.” Harbaugh said it was a signature performance for the entire unit. “Their guys on the edge are just a nightmare to deal with,” he said. “They were crashing the ends off the edge. It was very physical. We were able to control the edges for the run game as much as anything, and how about our tackles in the pass game? It was not like we were chipping all the time when we were passing. I thought our tackles did a great job.” They kept Watt, Heyward and past Ravens killer Alex Highsmith from unleashing havoc as pass rushers. Highsmith was the only Steeler to register a sack or quarterback hit. Did these underestimated blockers feel inclined to say they told us so when it was over? “There’s a lot of outside noise; media and fans say [stuff],” Mekari said. “It’s not something that we are paying attention to. Whether there’s doubt or love or support, it doesn’t affect us. We’ve got a job to do.” There was plenty of love, with Jackson and Henry going out of their way to laud their protectors. “I think you build off of it,” Linderbaum said. Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely makes a catch in the first quarter on Saturday. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) This was the launching point the Ravens needed as they try to change their postseason narrative Coaches and players rejected the notion of the playoffs as a new season, one in which the Ravens might be thrown off stride by thoughts of past failures. Monken, for example, had said: “We’ve been ascending. This isn’t a new season. This isn’t starting over. It’s just building [from] where we’ve started and where we’ve come.” Confident words, but just words until the Ravens turned them into action against an opponent that has dragged them into so many weird, ugly, maddening games. Saturday night’s game certainly could have been an occasion for the Ravens to turn skittish and cut out their own legs with penalties, turnovers and special teams snafus. How many times did we (and they) use the phrase “own worst enemy” in the early part of this season? A few missteps against Steelers and all those old misgivings might have flooded right back into M&T Bank Stadium. Instead, the Ravens operated from a stance of total confidence. Bad luck never entered the equation. They had won four games in a row to surge past the Steelers in the AFC North. Analytics such as DVOA said they had the makings of an all-time great team with their historically explosive offense, vastly improved defense and stellar record against playoff teams. No one could question their bona fides as a regular-season titan. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 28-14 playoff win over Steelers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens run over rival Steelers, 28-14, in wild-card playoff game Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 28-14 win over Steelers in wild-card round Baltimore Ravens | Police investigating after drone pauses Ravens-Steelers playoff game Baltimore Ravens | Kirk Herbstreit questions Steelers’ effort vs. Ravens in first half: ‘I don’t see any fight’ But they needed to do it in the playoffs, with oblivion staring them in the face if they came up small. The Ravens did not leave the stadium knowing what’s next, though a trip to Buffalo to face the No. 2 seed Bills and Jackson’s potential NFL Most Valuable Player foil, Josh Allen, seemed most likely. That would be a sterner assignment than Pittsburgh, even though the Ravens ran Allen ragged and spanked the Bills by 25 points early in the season. We’ll have a week to dissect the matchup. What we know after Saturday is that the Ravens have come to this tournament as a fully realized power with a good chance to beat anyone. Jackson said he wouldn’t be rooting for or against the Bills when they host the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon. A trip to Buffalo? A home date against Houston? “It doesn’t matter,” he said. “We’re ready.” Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. Divisional round Ravens vs. Bills/Broncos TBA TV: TBA Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM View the full article

Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position after a 28-14 AFC wild-card round win over the Steelers on Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Quarterback Lamar Jackson beat up on the Steelers with both his legs and his arm. Jackson had big runs early as the Steelers crashed down with their outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, forcing running back Derrick Henry inside. Jackson beat them to the outside with option plays off the edge. The NFL Most Valuable Player contender had 81 yards on 15 carries and also completed 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. His scrambles kept several passing plays alive, but Jackson was also sharp throwing across the middle. His timing was nearly perfect on almost every throw in the first half. Grade: A Running backs Pittsburgh had no way of containing Henry, who rushed 26 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Henry wore the Steelers down, and it was evident he would have a big game after the first quarter. The Ravens also got backup Justice Hill in the mix. Henry, however, was in beast mode and had good cutback runs inside the tackles early, but also nice gains on pitches around the corner. He finished with 186 yards and two scores on 26 carries as Baltimore finished with 299 yards on the ground. Grade: A Offensive line The tackles, Ronnie Stanley and rookie Roger Rosengarten, did a nice job controlling a Pittsburgh strength in outside linebackers Highsmith and Watt. Both tackles played well as far as allowing both linebackers to go inside and then sometimes they would just reverse-shoulder them down. On passing plays, both Ravens were successful in hooking the Steelers’ rushers inside and allowing Jackson to get outside. In the running game, guards Patrick Mekari and Daniel Faalele wore down the Steelers’ interior and had no problems getting into linebackers Elandon Roberts and Patrick Queen. The only disappointing plays were the presnap penalties. Stanley had two and Rosengarten had one. Grade: A Receivers The Ravens had success in almost every area of the field except outside the numbers. But they didn’t have to attack there because Jackson was successful in the intermediate area of the field. Pittsburgh adjusted its coverage in the second half, but the Ravens made enough plays to keep drives alive in the first 30 minutes. Tight end Isaiah Likely led the Ravens with 53 yards on three catches, and fellow tight end Mark Andrews had two for 27. The Ravens needed major contributions without slot receiver Zay Flowers, who was out with a knee injury, and Jackson completed passes to seven players. It was a good blend of mixing and matching and getting everyone involved. Grade: A Defensive line This group swallowed up Pittsburgh’s running game and made the Steelers one-dimensional. Pittsburgh had only 29 rushing yards and finished with 280 yards of total offense. The Ravens kept consistent pressure on Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson, who is basically a statue compared with his younger self. Tackle Nnamdi Madubuike had four tackles and two sacks and looked relentless in pursuit. He didn’t play that way earlier in the season. Nose tackle Michael Pierce had one sack and one pressure but, perhaps most importantly, has been healthy for his second straight game. Grade: A Linebackers Middle man Roquan Smith led the group with five tackles and weakside linebacker Malik Harrison had four. Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh had a sack and three pressures on Wilson. The Ravens came up and tackled well and kept everything inside of them. They occasionally let Wilson get outside of the pocket, but they might have underestimated his ability or speed. Overall, though, Pittsburgh’s biggest plays came on the outside in one-on-one matchups against the cornerbacks. Grade: A Secondary The Ravens played well enough to win, but there are still questions about this secondary, especially at one cornerback position where the Ravens have used both Brandon Stephens and Tre’Davious White. Both have had problems in coverage and give up long passing plays. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin has to shoulder some responsibility for not going after both earlier in the game. The Ravens seem to have several standouts in cornerback Marlon Humphrey (four tackles) and safeties Kyle Hamilton (three) and Ar’Darius Washington (seven), but this unit still seems confused at times and might have trouble against a good offensive team like Kansas City. Grade: C+ Special teams Punt returner Steven Sims is scary. Not only did he fumble one return, but he was also indecisive as to when to make a return. Whenever he is back there, he doesn’t provide a comfort level. The Ravens also had other goof-ups on special teams, such as Jordan Stout kicking a punt into the end zone even though the Steelers didn’t have a returner. How about kicking it to the 20-yard line and allowing it to bounce? Stout averaged 45.8 yards per punt. These units have to perform better in the postseason. Grade: C+ Coach John Harbaugh, left, celebrates the Ravens’ 28-14 wild-card victory over the Steelers with running back Derrick Henry on Saturday. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Coaching The Ravens came out early and scored often, something they have struggled to do in the postseason under Jackson. They were physically stronger and better than Pittsburgh, and it showed. Coach John Harbaugh finally has this team playing with some toughness, and it’s been that way for the past month. Coordinator Todd Monken seems to have settled in on using the running game, and Henry doesn’t allow Monken to second-guess himself about throwing more often. Defensively, the Ravens still seem lost in coverage sometimes, and it shows on the faces of both safeties, Hamilton and Washington. Overall, the Ravens did what needed to be done and that’s advance in the postseason, but there are areas to improve. Grade: B Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson strode into M&T Bank Stadium clad in all black Saturday night. It turned out to be an appropriate motif for the voodoo burial he was about to preside over. Baltimore entered its AFC wild-card game against the Steelers winners of four straight but with the annual questions it faces this time of year about whether Jackson’s regular-season brilliance would fail to carry over to the playoffs as it had so many times before. Especially without his top receiver, Zay Flowers, who was ruled out earlier in the week with a knee injury, and in particular against a Pittsburgh team that had vexed Jackson and the Ravens in recent years. The game lasted 60 minutes, but it took half of that time to get a resounding answer: There was no slowing down the NFL’s top offense no matter what time of year it was. Behind a gashing and demoralizing 299 rushing yards, led by Derrick Henry’s 186 and two touchdowns on 26 carries, and Jackson’s 175 passing yards and two touchdowns along with 81 more rushing yards, the Ravens pounded their nemesis, rolling to a 28-14 victory in front of a crowd of 70,546. “It look like a movie clip,” Jackson said of watching Henry run the Steelers out of the building, adding that the speedy and bruising back reminded him of the movie “Cars” and the character Lightning McQueen. “You know when Lightning McQueen is just flying and flashing past, and it’s like ‘[whooshing sound].’ That’s how Derrick looked when he was running past all those guys. It looked like a movie. I’m not going to lie to you, but I’d rather be watching it than be on the other side of the ball; I know that. “I could just hand the ball off and he takes off; 20 yards, 30 yards and I’m just chillin’. Now when they attacking him, then I go. I’m fresh. It’s making my job a lot easier. We just piggyback off of each other.” The victory sets up a potential divisional round showdown on the road next weekend against the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen if Buffalo beats the Denver Broncos on Sunday. If the Broncos upset the second-seeded Bills, Baltimore will host the AFC South champion Houston Texans, who eliminated Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers. The Steelers, meanwhile, ended their season losers of five straight — and it was obvious from the start that this one would be different than many of the previous close and weird contests between rivals. The Ravens marched 95 yards on 13 plays and chewed up nearly half of the first quarter on their opening drive. Sixty-five of those yards came on the legs of Jackson — who at one point ran five straight times — and Henry, who ripped off a 34-yard run on a wildcat direct snap that was only just installed in the playbook two days earlier, though it was a familiar play. The Tennessee Titans had run a version of it with success against the Ravens in London last season. Then the All-Pro quarterback and NFL Most Valuable Player Award candidate connected with Rashod Bateman streaking across the back of the end zone for a touchdown, capping what was the longest drive against the Steelers in the playoffs since the 2005 divisional round. “If you can run the ball, it makes the offense a lot simpler because you can just run the ball,” said tight end Charlie Kolar, who played his first game since suffering a broken forearm in a late November win over the Chargers. “It sounds cliche, but whoever controls the line of scrimmage usually wins the game.” It was the first time Baltimore had scored on an opening drive in any playoff game Jackson had started. It also set the tone. The Ravens’ second scoring drive was nearly as long, covering 85 yards, again on 13 plays, and chewed up 7:56. Henry finished it off with an 8-yard run through the left side of the line. Baltimore’s next possession lasted just nine plays, but it again nearly went the length of the field. It covered 90 yards in 1:51 with Jackson eluding trouble and eventually finding an open Justice Hill for a 5-yard touchdown pass with just two seconds left on the first-half clock. “You can’t get over how physically tough he is, how mentally tough he is,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of his quarterback. “He’s in there running the ball, he’s getting hit and he’s taking shots and he gets back up and he jumps up and makes a play, runs around and throws a touchdown pass. “In his head he knows what 11 seconds is. The clock was going a little faster in my mind. … All I could say is ‘wow.'” Jackson’s toughness was on display in the second quarter in particular, when he took a knee to the back that led to him wrapping his torso and right ribs in a heating pad. He said afterward that he was “good” and called it a little “nag.” Meanwhile, all the Steelers could do was try to catch their breath. The Ravens finished the first half with 308 yards, while the Steelers managed a paltry 60. Baltimore had 19 first downs in the first half, while Pittsburgh had just two. The Ravens held the ball for 20:27, the Steelers just 9:33. The Ravens’ offensive line also shut down the Steelers’ normally attacking defense, most notably keeping star edge rusher T.J. Watt to a stunning one pressure, zero sacks and no tackles on 63 snaps. Ravens defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike sacks Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson in the third quarter. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) “Lamar was seeing it,” Henry said. “He was doing a great job of pulling it and taking plays and getting the most out of a play and guys did a great job blocking for it to open up.” The same couldn’t be said for Pittsburgh. Even when there were opportunities to move the ball, it was largely a struggle, particularly against an ascending defense that was the NFL’s best over the final two months of the regular season. On a third-and-2 from their own 29-yard line early in the second quarter from their own 29, quarterback Russell Wilson (20 of 29 passing, 270 yards, two touchdowns) hit Pat Freiermuth in the right flat, but safety Ar’Darius Washington raced in and dropped the much bigger tight end for a gain of just 1 yard. Things didn’t go any better for the Steelers on their next possession, either. On third-and-8 from their own 44, Wilson’s moonball to George Pickens up the right side of the field landed perfectly in the receiver’s hands for a 49-yard gain and the offensive’s biggest play of the game to that point. Except he pushed off cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and was flagged for offensive pass interference. Two plays later, Pittsburgh punted again. Still, the Steelers showed some signs of life in the second half, albeit only momentarily. On their opening possession of the third quarter, Wilson hit Calvin Austin III for a 25-yard gain. Then, he dropped one into the hands of Mike Williams, who slipped past Tre’Davious White for 37 more. Finally, he connected with Van Jefferson, who zoomed past Brandon Stephens for an easy 30-yard touchdown catch. Then, the Steelers’ defense sacked Jackson for a 10-yard loss. Perhaps the ghosts of Steelers past were stirring. Ravens running back Justice Hill celebrates his 5-yard touchdown catch late in the first half. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Before last month’s victory over Pittsburgh, Baltimore had dropped eight of nine games against the Steelers. Jackson had come into the game with just a 2-4 career record in the playoffs and a matching mark against Pittsburgh. In his six postseason starts, he’d thrown six interceptions and lost three fumbles. But that was then. He also never had a finisher like Henry. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 28-14 playoff win over Steelers Baltimore Ravens | Instant analysis from Ravens’ 28-14 win over Steelers in wild-card round Baltimore Ravens | Police investigating after drone pauses Ravens-Steelers playoff game Baltimore Ravens | Kirk Herbstreit questions Steelers’ effort vs. Ravens in first half: ‘I don’t see any fight’ Baltimore Ravens | John Harbaugh explains Ravens’ captain patches vs. Steelers On second-and-20 midway through the third quarter, Jackson hit Tylan Wallace on a short pass that the receiver pushed to a 21-yard gain. Two plays later, the Steelers’ defense parted and Henry raced 44 yards up the middle for another touchdown. The Steelers shot right back, going 70 yards in just five plays. Wilson again launched one deep and connected with Pickens, who raced past rookie Nate Wiggins, for a 36-yard touchdown that cut the deficit to 28-14 with 3:32 left in the third quarter. But that was as close as Pittsburgh would get the rest of the night. And throughout it all chants of “MVP! MVP!” repeatedly broke out. Jackson finally played like one in the playoffs. “He is very much in control,” Harbaugh said. “He has a great handle on the game plan, but when the play starts, he’s just seeing things.” So is everyone else. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Divisional round Ravens vs. Bills/Broncos TBA TV: TBA Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, left, celebrates a touchdown run by Derrick Henry, second from right, in the third quarter. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Saturday night’s AFC wild-card game at M&T Bank Stadium. Brian Wacker, reporter: The Ravens bullied the Steelers from the start. Behind their league-leading ground game, Baltimore controlled the tempo, the clock and the game. The Ravens also broke the Steelers’ spirits with the way Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry overpowered them. They also perhaps vanquished some ghosts of playoffs past, or at least against their biggest rival. The regular season can often be a rouge for a team’s weaknesses, but the postseason exposes warts. Pittsburgh, which had lost four in a row coming in, was badly exposed. Even with the Ravens missing Zay Flowers, the Steelers showed little ability or fight to stop the NFL’s best offense. Chants of “MVP!” broke out for Jackson throughout the night as he finally played like one in the playoffs, while an ascending defense continued its dominance. Childs Walker, reporter: Apparently, the Ravens were not nervous. They outgained their most vexing rival 308 yards to 60 before halftime as they built a three-touchdown lead. The Ravens opened with a show of strength, driving 95 yards, 68 of those on the ground, to go up 7-0. The Steelers could not figure out how to account for both Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. It was the most impressive half of playoff football the Ravens have played in the Jackson era. The Baltimore defense took away everything Pittsburgh wanted to do until Russell Wilson finally went over the top of cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Brandon Stephens on a touchdown drive early in the third quarter. No problem. The Ravens answered with another display of ground force, finished by Henry’s 44-yard touchdown charge through the heart of the defense. There were tense moments with Pittsburgh down just 28-14 and driving in the fourth quarter, but the Ravens’ defense held when it needed to. This was exactly the launch the Ravens needed with more difficult competition ahead on the road to an elusive Super Bowl. Mike Preston, columnist: All you need to know is that the Ravens had 300 yards of total offense in the first half and had a 21-0 lead. Zay Flowers? Who needs him? The Ravens took apart one of the NFL’s most storied franchises Saturday night, and they made it look easy. They ran at will with quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry, which opened up the passing game. Jackson easily took the Steelers apart with short passes over the middle and in the flats. Defensively, the Ravens shut down Pittsburgh’s running game and controlled the Steelers’ short passing offense. The game played out like most during the regular season. There are four good teams in the NFL: the Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. It’s like I’ve been saying since the Ravens lost the season opener to the Chiefs: It will be Baltimore against Kansas City in the AFC championship game. Then we’ll see if the Ravens are good enough to deny the Chiefs the opportunity to three-peat as Super Bowl champions for the first time in NFL history. Sam Cohn, reporter: This is why Baltimore signed Derrick Henry in the offseason. Specifically for nights like Saturday’s, in frigid conditions, in which the hulking 245-pound bell cow back could play bully ball and go win the Ravens a playoff game behind 186 yards on 26 carries and two scores. The Ravens’ second-quarter scoring drive went 85 yards because of 13 plays — all on the ground — split between Henry, Lamar Jackson and one direct snap by Mark Andrews. Of course, this quasi beat down wasn’t all Henry. Jackson had his fair share of plays that warranted “MVP” chants using all of his appendages. He spread the ball around in a manner that quickly eased any worries of an offense without Pro Bowl selection Zay Flowers. And outside of a few gaffes in the back end, the defense kept Pittsburgh’s offense quiet. The Ravens won’t get any more questions about the Steelers having their number any time soon. C.J. Doon, editor: Only the Ravens can fill a two-score playoff victory with some anxiety. When it was 21-0 at halftime, Kirk Herbstreit and Tony Gonzalez were questioning the Steelers’ fight and lack of urgency. But things flipped quickly in the second half when Brandon Stephens and Kyle Hamilton had a miscommunication on Russell Wilson’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Van Jefferson. Then, even after a brilliant 44-yard touchdown run by Derrick Henry, Wilson again marched the Steelers down the field and hit George Pickens for a 36-yard touchdown pass after he raced past rookie Nate Wiggins and shrugged off a bad tackle attempt by Ar’Darius Washington. Stephens was later beat by Pickens on a jump ball down the sideline. All of the sudden, old fears about a shoddy defense and leaky secondary started to bubble to the surface. To make matters worse, the Ravens offense that completely dominated the first half — piling up 308 total yards, including 164 on the ground — started to sputter. Henry was stuffed on third-and-short to start the second half, and then Lamar Jackson threw a bad pass behind Isaiah Likely to end a woeful three-and-out. If not for Henry’s long run, the pressure on Jackson and company would have been almost unbearable. That third-down pass to Justice Hill and Mark Andrews’ fourth-down sneak (and/or the Steelers’ 12 men on the field penalty) to keep the chains moving early in the fourth quarter were huge, if just to settle Jackson down and kill some clock. Those are the kinds of winning plays that have been missing during some of the Ravens’ most painful losses over the years. That drive ended with a punt, but time mattered more than points at that juncture. Does this game change your feelings about the Ravens’ Super Bowl chances? It doesn’t for me, at least not significantly. They still need to prove they can be consistent, not only week-to-week but over the course of a full 60 minutes. Their ceiling is still the highest in the league when Jackson and Henry are carrying the ball. The question is whether they can sustain those peaks long enough — and give Henry enough carries — to take down Buffalo and Kansas City. Maybe I’m being too negative, but this game would be a far different experience with Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes on the opposing sideline. Tim Schwartz, editor: What a first half. That was about as dominant as the Ravens have looked with their star backfield duo of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. Things got a little squirrelly in the second half, but they never lost their double-digit lead and the result never felt in doubt — and that’s all you can ask for when it’s win or go home. The Steelers looked like they were planning their vacations in the first half while the Ravens simply ran them over with ease. If Jackson can stay upright and healthy — he did have a heating wrap on the sideline and appeared to get kneed in the back in the first half — he should continue to run the ball when the defense allows him. It’s nearly impossible to stop when the other option is Henry. Defensively, Ar’Darius Washington continues his rise, and the front did its job getting in Wilson’s face. A win is a win, but this Ravens team with his recipe seems destined for several more victories this postseason. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 28-14 playoff win over Steelers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens run over rival Steelers, 28-14, in wild-card playoff game Baltimore Ravens | Police investigating after drone pauses Ravens-Steelers playoff game Baltimore Ravens | Kirk Herbstreit questions Steelers’ effort vs. Ravens in first half: ‘I don’t see any fight’ Baltimore Ravens | John Harbaugh explains Ravens’ captain patches vs. Steelers Bennett Conlin, editor: Is Derrick Henry the missing piece for the Ravens to make a Super Bowl run? He sure looked like it Saturday, throwing a vintage stiff-arm on Baltimore’s first drive, which ended in a gorgeous touchdown pass from Jackson to Rashod Bateman. The bruising tailback finished off the Ravens’ second scoring drive — a 13-play drive with only runs — with an 8-yard run through the middle of the Steelers’ defense. Henry hit 100 rushing yards in the opening half, making Baltimore’s offense look nearly unstoppable with Jackson scrambling and throwing pinpoint passes. Even without Zay Flowers, the Ravens were explosive offensively. Jackson didn’t look like he was pressing — a concern in previous playoff games — instead playing calmly and taking what was available through the air and on the ground. The defense held up its end of the bargain, shutting out the Steelers in the first half and holding on in the final 30 minutes. Yes, the skidding Steelers aren’t the Bills or Chiefs. It’s one thing to beat a Pittsburgh team that coughed up the AFC North title down the stretch. It’s another to beat two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL on the road, which is the scenario likely facing Baltimore in the next two weeks. But the Bills and Chiefs should be equally worried about this version of the Ravens. They’ll need their best to beat the NFL’s most dynamic backfield. 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

A drone flying above M&T Bank Stadium halted a Steelers’ drive in the third quarter of the Ravens’ eventual 28-14 wild-card playoff victory on Saturday night — an issue that has plagued Baltimore’s games before. “The Maryland Stadium Authority can confirm that at 10:04 p.m. an unauthorized drone flew above the seating bowl at M&T Bank Stadium prompting a stoppage of play and that law enforcement is investigating,” the MSA said. The most recent home Ravens playoff game — the AFC championship against the Kansas City Chiefs last January — was also paused when a Pennsylvania man flew a drone over the stadium leading to an “administrative timeout.” The man, Matthew Hebert, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor, paid a $500 fine and received one year of probation. Because of that incident, the FBI issued a warning during the past week for fans to leave their drones at home. The FBI placed a Temporary Flight Restriction and deemed Baltimore’s football stadium a “No Drone Zone.” Federal law restricts unmanned aircraft systems, such as drones, from flying at or below a 3-mile radius of any stadium with a seating capacity of 30,000 or more people. The MSA invoked an increase in police presence and security personnel. That decision came in the aftermath of a terrorist attack in New Orleans earlier this month. But Saturday’s stoppage was not the first time unauthorized drone flights have disrupted Ravens game days. There were eight temporary flight restriction violations and unauthorized drone flights during five of Baltimore’s regular-season games, but most of them occurred in the early portion of the season. Incidents occurred in a pair of preseason games, as well as home games on Sept. 15 and 29, Oct. 13 and Nov. 3. M&T Bank Stadium has not had a drone incident reported since the Ravens’ “Thursday Night Football” win against the Bengals on Nov. 7. M&T Bank Stadium also dealt with drone issues last year, including in the AFC championship game and during a November meeting between the Ravens and Cincinnati. In some instances, including the pilot who violated the regulation during the 2023 Bengals-Ravens game, drone pilots are unaware of the restrictions and unknowingly violate the policy. Their lack of knowledge hasn’t prevented minor delays to Ravens’ games, as officials seek to maintain a safe stadium. The delay Saturday night did not slow down the Ravens, who advanced to the divisional round. If the Denver Broncos upset the Bills on Sunday, Baltimore would host the Houston Texans next weekend, though it would travel to Buffalo if the Bills win. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Kirk Herbstreit is not impressed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Late in the second quarter of Saturday night’s AFC wild-card game, the Prime Video and longtime “College GameDay” analyst questioned the team’s effort as they fell behind 14-0 against the archrival Ravens. “Where the hell is the fight?” Herbstreit said between plays. “This is the Pittsburgh Steelers. There’s nothing. They’re just going through the motions.” When interviewed by sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung at halftime, Tomlin did not have many answers. “It’s Lamar, man,” he said when asked how he could potentially stop the Ravens’ rushing attack. “He’s making plays. We’ve just got to be more solid. As for making a comeback? “We’ve gotta take it one snap at a time. That’s all we can do.” 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

The Ravens’ uniforms will have a new look for the postseason. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was one of several players to sport a white “C” patch denoting team captains when he jogged out of the tunnel for Saturday night’s wild-card playoff game against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. While many NFL teams have worn captain patches since they were formally introduced in 2007, the Ravens have not been one of them. Coach John Harbaugh has instead elected to have weekly captains who handle the pregame coin toss at midfield. Teams are permitted, but not required, to have players wear the patch. However, Saturday marked the beginning of a new era. Along with Jackson, tight end Mark Andrews, linebackers Roquan Smith and Chris Board, cornerback Marlon Humphrey and running back Derrick Henry wore a patch on their purple jerseys. While the Ravens have largely stuck with the same uniform for most of their nearly 30-year history in Baltimore, they did introduce an alternate purple and gold helmet this season that they wore in a “Thursday Night Football” win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 7. 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

The Ravens (12-5) take on the AFC North rival Steelers (10-7) on Saturday night in a wild-card playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The game will be streamed live on Prime Video and broadcast on ABC in the Baltimore area. The winner will advance to next weekend’s AFC divisional round. Follow along here for live postgame coverage and analysis. View the full article

Canadian rapper, actor and entrepreneur Drake is betting heavily on the Ravens, but fans fear a jinx in their future. The pop icon is known to place large bets on marquee sporting events and says he is confident Lamar Jackson will glide past the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC wild-card game. Drake posted on Instagram that he placed a $210,000 bet on the Ravens to beat the Steelers for an estimated payout of just over $630,000. In the past, Drake has shown respect for the Ravens, and even brought Jackson onto the stage during a concert in Washington, D.C., in July. Many Ravens fans were unhappy with the betting scenario on social media, expressing worry that Drake’s bet might have jinxed the team in a scenario known as “the Drake curse.” A website called thedrakecurse.com explains that Drake’s public support for any team or player inevitably leads to a downfall. In November, Drake reportedly beat heavily on the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul fight, sharing a screenshot of his betting slip, which showed he had risked $355,000 on Tyson. If Tyson beat his opponent, Drake would have cashed in on $1,011,750. Paul landed nearly four times as many punches as Tyson and was named the champion. In 2019, Drake became the subject of memes blaming him for Alabama’s loss after he reportedly favored them to beat Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship. The Tigers beat the Crimson Tide 44-16. However, Drake doesn’t always lose. When the Dallas Mavericks beat the Boston Celtics 122-84 in Game 4 of the NBA finals in June 2024, Drake won $1.3 million, according to a betting slip he posted on Instagram. He also won $1.2 millon when Alex Pereira beat Jamahal Hill in UFC 307 last April. Despite rooting for a win Saturday, some fans are not happy with Drake’s recent bet. “@Drake stay away from The Ravens, go bet on The Bills,” one fan wrote on X. The Ravens are favored by 10 points over the Steelers, according to the latest line by BetMGM. However, Pittsburgh has won eight of the last 10 meeting with the Ravens and the teams split this season’s two regular-season meetings. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich. View the full article

The Broadway musical to Baltimore playoff game pipeline is strong. Orioles fans may remember the name Kayla Pecchioni. She fondly became known as “the understudy” for her role as Daisy in the Broadway musical, “The Great Gatsby.” In late September, outfielder Colton Cowser spent his day off at the theater, then homered the following evening against the New York Yankees, helping sew up a playoff berth. A gleeful Cowser shouted out Pecchioni during his postgame interview from inside a champagne-showered clubhouse. The whole interaction went viral. And days later, Pecchioni was in Baltimore to sing the national anthem for Game 2 of the American League wild-card series. With her that fall day was Pecchioni’s best friend and cast mate from Hampstead, Maryland. Samantha Pollino was the one who first showed Pecchioni Cowser’s viral moment. She tagged along to the Orioles playoff game, starstruck meeting Cal Ripken. Now, on Saturday night, she’ll sing the National Anthem before the Ravens’ AFC wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. “They messaged me,” Pollino said, “and I was kind of like, ‘This is too much of a dream for me. I’ll believe it when I see it.’” Pollino posted the announcement on social media accompanied by a picture of her as a child wearing an oversized T-shirt of Ravens legends Jamal Lewis and Ray Lewis. And a purple hat with a retro logo drowns her peanut-sized head. “It feels very full circle,” she said. “I always joke, but it’s true, I don’t know that anybody is more proud of Baltimore than I am.” Pollino went on to make her Broadway debut in 2006 in the musical “Hot Feet” — she was 11 years old. In 2016, she was an original member of the “Hamilton” Chicago cast. And before Saturday, she’s only sang the National Anthem at a few Johns Hopkins lacrosse games and one Yankees game. The grass field at M&T Bank Stadium might be her magnum opus as sports fan. After performing in “The Great Gatsby” Friday night, her and her fiancé will train to Baltimore on Saturday morning in time for an afternoon sound check then a primetime kick off with the Ravens’ season on the line. “I don’t see a world where they don’t go all the way this year,” Pollino said, after offering her own prognosis of the current team led by a “thrilling” Lamar Jackson with Derrick Henry and Mark Andrews each playing at a high level opposite Baltimore’s upswing defense. Samantha Pollino catching a glimpse of the Ravens vs. Bengals game during a Broadway performance of “Hamilton.” (Courtesy: Samantha Pollino) Pollino’s fandom is no joke. She’s been known to stream the Ravens on her iPad backstage. During shows, dressed in full costume waiting to go back out, she’ll be tuned into Jackson piloting the NFL’s best offense. She grew up going to training camp for a close-up view under the August sun. As a college student at University of Cincinnati during Super Bowl 47, Pollino requested a car full of theater kids, “who did not care about football,” turn the radio dial to hear the Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers. Even Pollino’s first Ravens game was against their archnemesis of the AFC North. It was 2002, and her late grandfather was in the hospital. The family had Ravens tickets to a late-season game shortly after Christmas. Her mom had to stay with Pollino’s grandfather, but her father and daughter made it to M&T Bank Stadium on a frigid December night. “I’ve gone to many Ravens and Steelers games since,” she said. “So it feels kind of surreal that I’m going to be singing at one.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

A smile stretched across Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s face as running back Derrick Henry extended a congratulatory hand, while sporting a freshly unpacked AFC North champions T-shirt and hat. The two men were inside the locker room at M&T Bank Stadium, where the victorious scent of cigar smoke still hung in the air. Moments later coach John Harbaugh handed out a series of game balls, one of which went to Jackson for a historic regular season. Henry nudged the quarterback to make a speech. Jackson, whom Baltimore signed to a five-year, $260 million contract before the 2023 season, was brief. “We gotta lock in, ’cause it’s go time,” he said. “A lot of us have been here plenty of times, and we ain’t finish. So, let’s just get started right now.” The job, as Jackson said later in his news conference, was still “undone.” For all his records and accolades over the past seven seasons and the Ravens’ accomplishments in that span, the only measure remaining that matters is the draft night promise of a Super Bowl title that he made to the city the day the organization selected him in 2018. So far, Jackson has failed to maintain his same level of play in the postseason; the Ravens are just 2-4 in the playoffs and have never reached a Super Bowl with him at the helm. Perhaps it’s fitting that to get there this year, Baltimore will have to go through its most bitter nemesis, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Tomlin — the only NFL coach with a longer tenure than Harbaugh — in an AFC wild-card game Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium. It marks the just the fifth time, and first since 2015, that the teams have met in the playoffs, but time hasn’t softened the rivalry. “There’s a history of epic plays and epic finishes on both sides that just adds to the lore that is the rivalry between Baltimore and Pittsburgh,” Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, right, said. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) “I don’t know if I have any one particular moment that makes me hate those guys,” said Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, who is the team’s longest-tenured player and lone holdover from their last playoff meeting. “I think it’s a slow burn over a number of years. It’s one little thing here. One bigger thing there. One play that gets made, one play that doesn’t get made. For whatever reason you remember those. You hold onto them. That makes it a little more personal. … It all kind of adds up into one big, emotional experience. “To sum it up in a word, it’s intense. There’s a lot of emotion, lot of energy that goes into any football game. But you talk about two teams that are very familiar with one another, that have had great players on both sides, playing at the highest level in games with the highest stakes. There’s a history of epic plays and epic finishes on both sides that just adds to the lore that is the rivalry between Baltimore and Pittsburgh.” That history, be it against the Steelers or in the postseason, has not been kind to the Ravens in recent years. Baltimore rallied to a division title for a second straight year with four straight victories to ultimately set up Saturday’s game. And along the way, Jackson became the first player in NFL history to throw for more than 4,000 yards and run for more than 900 in the same season. He is again an NFL Most Valuable Player candidate, an award he has already won twice, and a first-team All-Pro. But in Jackson’s six playoff games, he has thrown six interceptions and lost three fumbles. Until 2015, Pittsburgh had also won three straight playoff games against the Ravens, including the 2009 AFC championship game. And until the Ravens’ most recent victory over the Steelers on Dec. 21, Pittsburgh had won eight of the previous nine regular-season matchups, though Jackson did not play in more than half of those games. Even when he has, it’s often been a struggle, which has largely been true of his postseason performances as a whole. “I’m just too excited, that’s all, too antsy,” he said of his past playoff foibles. “I’m seeing things before it happens like, ‘Oh, I have to calm myself down.’ Being more experienced, I’ve found a way to balance it out.” That remains to be seen, particularly against a familiar foe that has often vexed if not frustrated the Ravens into mistakes. “I think everybody had their guy that they wanted to just punch in the mouth,” said former Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis, whose biggest adversaries were vaunted defenders Larry Foote, James Farrior and Joey Porter Sr. “We just hated each other.” Lewis remembers one year stiff-arming a Steelers defender and bouncing into space. Then he put his mitt into Porter’s face mask, driving him to the ground. There’s a picture of Lewis standing over his most hated rival like Muhammed Ali above Sonny Liston, and he still sends that picture to his Steelers fan friends as a reminder. AP photoFormer Ravens running back Jamal Lewis and former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter exchange words after a play. “I think everybody had their guy that they wanted to just punch in the mouth,” Lewis said. (AP file) It goes both ways, of course. On an episode of “Hard Knocks” last month, Joey Porter Sr. lounged at home explaining to his son and current Steelers defensive back, Joey Porter Jr., “It’s way more intense than anybody can speak on.” Porter Sr. went on to say he’s heard all about Baltimore’s famous crabs. “I ain’t never had it,” he deadpanned. Tucker didn’t hold back in his response to the moment. “Joey Porter was a great player,” he said. “But I don’t [care] what he has to say.” Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens have 6 named All-Pro, including first-team QB Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers wild-card round staff picks: Who wins Saturday in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens’ offensive line holds the key to victory vs. Steelers | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Where do Lamar Jackson, Gunnar Henderson seasons rank in Baltimore history? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers wild-card round betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Former NFL safety Rod Woodson is perhaps best positioned to explain how both teams view one another. He spent from 1987 to 1996 with the Steelers. He also played for the Ravens from 1998 to 2001 and is the team’s radio color commentator. “They’re very similar in the way they like to play,” he said. “They like to run, like to beat you up, like to get after the quarterback. “The organizations are very similar.” It’s a rivalry that, as former Ravens receiver Qadry Ismail said, is “just different,” particularly when it comes to the postseason. “It sticks with you if you lose” to the Steelers, he said. “It’s like … we lost to them?!” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Lamar Jackson is an All-Pro again. The Ravens quarterback beat out Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen with 30 first-place votes to Allen’s 18 to make The Associated Press All-Pro first team for the second straight year and third overall. Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (7) and current New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (4) are the only quarterbacks to earn more nominations in the Super Bowl era. Jackson, who was also an All-Pro in 2019 and 2023 when he was also named NFL Most Valuable Player both years, was one of six Baltimore players selected. Joining him are fullback Patrick Ricard (first time), middle linebacker Roquan Smith (third time) and slot cornerback Marlon Humphrey (second time). Two other Ravens made the second-team: running back Derrick Henry and safety Kyle Hamilton. Though Henry received two first-place votes, he was beaten out by NFL rushing leader and Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley. Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph and Green Bay Packers standout Xavier McKinney — who rank first and second in the league in interceptions, respectively — were the top two safeties chosen over Hamilton. Among the Ravens, Jackson’s historic season stood out the most. He became the first player to pass for more than 4,000 yards and run for more than 900 yards in the same season. His 41 touchdown passes were second-most behind only the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow while throwing just four interceptions, and his passer rating of 119.6 was also tops in the league and fourth-best in history. Jackson, who led the league in passing yards per attempt and whose 915 rushing yards were tops among quarterbacks, also led the Ravens to a 12-5 record, the AFC North title and the No. 3 seed in the conference. Henry, meanwhile, was second in the NFL in rushing with 1,921 yards in his age 30 season and his 5.9 yards per carry were the highest of his nine-year career. Ricard was the one often helping clear the way for the majority of those yards along with helping pave the way for the league’s top rushing attack. Henry’s 16 rushing touchdowns also tied for most in the league and were a single-season franchise record. He was also first or second in runs of over 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards and his 87-yard touchdown in a Week 4 blowout of the Buffalo Bills was the second-longest run among backs this season. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers wild-card round staff picks: Who wins Saturday in Baltimore? Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens’ offensive line holds the key to victory vs. Steelers | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Where do Lamar Jackson, Gunnar Henderson seasons rank in Baltimore history? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers wild-card round betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Last time Steelers came to Baltimore for a playoff game, it ended with a plane crash at Memorial Stadium Humphrey, who had a bounce back eighth season after an injury-plagued 2023, had the third-most most interceptions in the league with a career-high six this season. He nabbed 26 first-place votes at the slot position and joins a defensive backfield that includes Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II and Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. Smith, who is the emotional leader of a Ravens defense that over the past two months of the regular season was one of the best in the NFL, had the second-most tackles (154) in the league and was one of only three players with at least 150 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Hamilton, meanwhile, has been the lynchpin in the secondary for a defense that allowed a league-low 261.7 yards per game and just 15.4 points per game since Week 11, which is 10.1 points fewer than they averaged surrendering over the first 10 weeks. Not coincidentally, that is when Baltimore started deploying the the third-year former first-round pick at deep safety more often. A national panel of 50 media members casts ballots for the honors. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Saturday’s wild-card game between the Ravens (12-5) and Steelers (10-7) at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 23, Steelers 16: With Zay Flowers out, the Ravens’ offense becomes less explosive. The Steelers are also healthy after being without a handful of key players, including safety DeShon Elliott and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, the last time these teams met. Still, Lamar Jackson is playing his best football at a time of year when it matters most, and having Derrick Henry (along with a now healthy Justice Hill) makes a difference compared to previous playoff games. If things get ugly and sloppy, though, that will likely spell trouble for Baltimore. But the Ravens’ offense still has enough firepower to outscore what has been a struggling Steelers offense that will have its problems against an ascending defense. Childs Walker, reporter Ravens 27, Steelers 19: Zay Flowers won’t play, and that’s a big deal, but not such a big deal that the Ravens won’t survive without their Pro Bowl wide receiver. They’ll still have the dominant playmakers on the field in Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, and in Rashod Bateman and Isaiah Likely, they have pass catchers gifted enough to replace much of Flowers’ production. If Jackson plays close to the peaks he reached this season and avoids turnovers, Pittsburgh’s sputtering offense won’t keep up. The Steelers have the pass rush and the big-play capability to make this a closer game than the point spread would suggest. We’ve seen them upend superior Ravens teams in the past five years. They just won’t score quite enough on a cold night in Baltimore. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 28, Steelers 14: The only chance the Steelers have is if their defensive front dominates. Pittsburgh has enough talent on the outside in linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith to keep quarterback Lamar Jackson in the pocket. If the defensive tackles can maintain lane integrity, Jackson will struggle as he has in the past against Pittsburgh. Offensively, the Steelers have to cut down on turnovers because the team with fewer in the previous two meetings this season has been victorious. Overall, this is probably too high of a mountain for Pittsburgh to climb. The Ravens have a cold-weather answer in running back Derrick Henry and they will be able to cut off Pittsburgh’s short passing game. Look for the Ravens to double up on Steelers receiver George Pickens on the outside. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 23, Steelers 20: I’m surprised to see the Ravens favored by more than a touchdown. Baltimore is the better team on paper, no doubt, but it hasn’t exactly covered itself in glory against its biggest rival. Pittsburgh won the first matchup at home, then had a chance to drive for the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium before Russell Wilson threw a pick-six. Not exactly dominant from Lamar Jackson and company. Here’s a quick history lesson: 29 of the 37 matchups between John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin have been one-score games, and more than half have been decided by three points or fewer. All these teams do is play nail-biters. I’m not expecting that to change anytime soon, especially with the pressure of the postseason ramped up. In a fun reversal from Week 11, it’s Justin Tucker who saves the day for the Ravens this time around. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston: Ravens’ offensive line holds the key to victory vs. Steelers | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Where do Lamar Jackson, Gunnar Henderson seasons rank in Baltimore history? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers wild-card round betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Last time Steelers came to Baltimore for a playoff game, it ended with a plane crash at Memorial Stadium Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens offense could look without WR Zay Flowers Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 28, Steelers 21: This should be the Derrick Henry show. The Ravens have to remember what happened in the AFC championship game last year when they abandoned their running game — and therefore their identity. The Steelers won’t be able to keep up offensively with Baltimore, but the home team needs to make sure of that by limiting Pittsburgh’s time of possession and controlling the clock and pace of the game. Lamar Jackson hasn’t been shy about taking off on scrambles lately, and now is the time to be his most dynamic self and show no hesitation when a hole opens up. Not having Zay Flowers will make this offense far less explosive — all the more reason to rely on the NFL’s best backfield duo and do what they do best. Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 27, Steelers 14: The Ravens are the better team, and they’re playing like it. While Baltimore enters the postseason on a four-game winning streak, the Steelers own a four-game losing streak that includes a defeat in Baltimore. Mike Tomlin is a great coach who deserves endless credit for his ability to avoid losing seasons, but Pittsburgh’s leader is hardly a playoff behemoth (8-10 overall in the postseason). Pittsburgh didn’t have an answer to Derrick Henry a few weeks ago. Will they Saturday? A playoff victory over a longtime rival should offer a boost of confidence to Lamar Jackson and company ahead of potential matchups with the Bills and Chiefs. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

When the Ravens lost their first two games this season, some thought the team didn’t know how to use running back Derrick Henry, who had only 31 carries for 130 yards in those contests. They were wrong. This season has only been partially about Henry, but more about the five guys in front of him: tackles Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten, center Tyler Linderbaum and guards Patrick Mekari and Daniel Faalele. This group will determine the winner of Saturday’s wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the Ravens’ five losses this season, their offensive line was outplayed. All of those defeats were against teams with strong defensive fronts, specifically outstanding linebackers and tackles. That’s vintage Pittsburgh. In Week 16, the Ravens dominated Pittsburgh in a 34-17 win, but the Steelers were without injured starters Larry Ogunjobi, a defensive tackle, and safety DeShon Elliott. In addition, outside linebacker T.J. Watt was slowed with an ankle injury he suffered the week before against Philadelphia, and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. got hurt and left the game in the second quarter. Henry rushed for 162 yards on 24 carries that day, and backup Justice Hill had two carries for 30 yards. On Saturday, the Steelers will be healthy again, and they are familiar with both Henry (1,921 rushing yards, 5.9 per carry) and Jackson (915, 6.6). “I think one thing, I think when you see ’em a lot, it helps, right?,” said Ryan Clark, who played safety for the Steelers from 2006 through 2013 and is now an analyst for ESPN. “When you see them two times a year, it doesn’t feel as fast, it doesn’t feel as foreign. You got to think about some of these other teams, they only see them every couple of years. The Steelers get to see it pretty consistently.” Maybe that’s why the Steelers have won eight of the past 10 games against Baltimore, but there is another reason. They have the ideal group to go against Jackson with athletic outside linebackers in Alex Highsmith (six sacks) and Watt (11 1/2), and they are bullish on the inside with tackles Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton and Ogunjobi. Maintaining lane integrity is important in allowing Jackson not to step up in the pocket. Pittsburgh is the only team that Jackson has thrown more interceptions (nine) than touchdown passes (eight) against. “I think when you have the outside linebacker play that the Pittsburgh Steelers have throughout history, it’s just been a position of dominance for this team,” Clark said. “I think they do their best to force the football out of Lamar’s hands if it’s a zone read or zone option. They want to see him give up the ball. “So you have T.J. attacking Lamar, putting hands on and being physical with them when they rush the passer. Obviously they’re great on the outside, but you have someone like Cam in the middle anchoring the interior of that defense. So I just think from a front five standpoint, this team is really built in a way to corral Lamar as much as any team is. And I think you have a coach in Mike Tomlin who can truly relay the ways in which you want to play against them.” Stopping the Ravens, though, is another matter. There were a lot of questions surrounding the offensive line entering training camp, but a lot of those have subsided throughout the year. The Ravens’ offensive line has helped open huge holes for running back Derrick Henry, who rushed for nearly 2,000 yards in the regular season. (Kim Hairston/Staff) The Ravens are No. 1 in total offense, averaging 424.9 yards per game, and No. 1 in rushing offense (187.6). They are No. 1 in red zone offense (inside the opponents’ 20-yard line), scoring touchdowns 74.2% of the time, and No. 3 in third-down efficiency at 48.2%. But here is the rub. Like most offenses, the Ravens are built off the running game. When things are going well, they have a strong play-action passing game and opposing defenses are slowed by those run-pass option plays. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Where do Lamar Jackson, Gunnar Henderson seasons rank in Baltimore history? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens vs. Steelers wild-card round betting guide: Picks, predictions and odds Baltimore Ravens | Last time Steelers came to Baltimore for a playoff game, it ended with a plane crash at Memorial Stadium Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens offense could look without WR Zay Flowers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens playoff guide: Everything you need to know before kickoff When the Ravens lost, Henry couldn’t run. He had only 46 yards against Kansas City, 84 against Las Vegas, 73 against Cleveland, 65 against Pittsburgh and 82 against Philadelphia. Jackson has been sacked only 24 times because of his ability to evade rushers, but hit 57 times. The Ravens’ offensive line has made significant improvements, but Pittsburgh is ranked No. 12 in total defense, allowing 326.7 yards per game, and No. 6 in rushing defense (98.7). Something has to give. A lot is predicated off the Ravens’ running game. “There’s nothing like being able to turn around and comfortably hand the ball off,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “That’s the start of everything you do. It’s hard to control the game if you can’t run the football. Let’s just say that. You control the game with physicality. You control the game with being able to run the football, especially in weather conditions, and it sets everything else up that you do, so that’s critical. “That’s not just us. That’s everybody, so [I’m] looking forward to Saturday.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The history of Baltimore sports is filled with star players and stellar seasons. But what Baltimore fans witnessed from their superstars in 2024 was historic. Gunnar Henderson, the fierce and young shortstop of the Orioles, put up one of the greatest seasons in the history of a storied franchise with 17 Hall of Fame players. Lamar Jackson, the athletic and affable quarterback of the Ravens, is in the midst of not just one of the best seasons by a Baltimore athlete, but one of the most impressive campaigns from a signal caller in NFL history. From Brooks Robinson to Cal Ripken Jr. and Johnny Unitas to Ray Lewis, Charm City isn’t lacking in superstars. With 13 Most Valuable Player Awards between the Colts, Ravens, Orioles and Bullets, Baltimore fans have witnessed their fair share of dominant campaigns. But for Jackson and Henderson to do so in the same year hasn’t happened in Baltimore in nearly six decades. It was 1967 the last time two bona fide superstars — one Oriole, one Raven/Colt — in the primes of their careers put up excellent seasons like what Baltimore fans witnessed in 2024 with Jackson and Henderson. That year, Unitas won his third and final MVP award, while Robinson put up 7.7 wins above replacement for the third best season of his career. While Henderson finished fourth in American League MVP voting, his numbers would have been worthy of winning the award in many other seasons. The 23-year-old hit .281 with an .893 OPS and 37 home runs. His 9.1 WAR by Baseball-Reference’s estimation marks the third-best season in Orioles history, behind only Ripken’s two best campaigns. Jackson might also miss out on winning his third NFL MVP Award despite having numbers good enough to take home the award, as Buffalo Bills signal caller Josh Allen is the betting favorite to win it. The 28-year-old Jackson threw for 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions to lead the Ravens to another AFC North title. He also became the first quarterback in NFL history with at least 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards in the same season. His 119.4 passer rating this season ranks fourth all-time, behind only Aaron Rodgers (2011 and 2020) and Peyton Manning (2004). One common thread between Henderson and Jackson is the emotion they show when they fail — the frustration with themselves if they don’t meet their own lofty expectations. That’s perhaps why they’ve both led their teams to consecutive playoff appearances, marking the first time Baltimore’s football and baseball teams have done so since the Colts and Orioles in 1970 and 1971. “They’re just made a little bit differently,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said in December when asked about Henderson. “There’s no satisfaction. You see when he doesn’t do something well, there’s a little bit of emotion behind it. Because he doesn’t think he should ever make a mistake. That’s what drives him the most. That’s why he is such a good player.” But where do their 2024 campaigns stack up among the best seasons in Baltimore sports history? Here are 12 of the other best. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson made a strong case to win his third NFL MVP Award in 2024. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Dec. 25, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens holds a football cake after a win over the against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Dec. 25, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson fell just short of winning the AL MVP Award in 2024. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson grabs a grounder and fires across the diamond to get Bobby Whitt Jr. during game 2 of the wild-card series against the Royals held at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Gunnar Henderson runs on orange carpet during pregame opening day ceremonies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Show Caption1 of 6Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson made a strong case to win his third NFL MVP Award in 2024. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Expand Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas, 1959 After winning the “Greatest Game Ever Played” over the New York Giants in the 1958 NFL Championship, Unitas followed that up with his first of three MVP Awards. He led the Colts to a 9-3 record, passing for a league-high 2,899 yards and 32 touchdowns, and another championship in a rematch with the Giants. Colts wide receiver Raymond Berry, 1960 Berry led the league in receiving touchdowns with 14 in 12 games in 1959 to finish fifth in MVP voting, but his best season came the next year when he caught 74 passes for 1,298 yards and 10 touchdowns. Extrapolated across a modern 17-game season, Berry’s 1960 season would have amounted to 105 receptions for 1,839 yards and 14 touchdowns. Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson, 1964 Robinson had already established himself as a solid hitter and an elite defender, but he emerged as one of baseball’s best players in 1964. He hit .317 with a league-best 118 RBIs, a career-high 28 homers and 8.1 WAR to win his first and only AL MVP Award. Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson, 1966 Two years after Brooks won the award, Frank did the same in his first season in Baltimore. He won the AL Triple Crown, leading the Junior Circuit in batting average (.316), home runs (49) and RBIs (122) to help lead the Orioles to their first World Series title. Bullets center Wes Unseld, 1969 Unseld joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only rookies in NBA history to win the MVP Award. Four years before the Bullets moved to Washington, Unseld was named the NBA’s best player, averaging 13.8 points and a whopping 18.2 rebounds per game. Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer, 1975 Palmer won the AL Cy Young Award three times in a span of four seasons between 1973-76, but his 1975 campaign was his best. He set career highs in wins (23), shutouts (10) and WAR (8.4) as he posted an AL-best 2.09 ERA across 323 innings. Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., 1983 After winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 1982, Ripken was voted as the AL’s best player in 1983 as he helped lead the Orioles to their third and most recent World Series title. Ripken hit .318 and led the AL in runs (121), hits (211), doubles (47) and WAR (8.2). Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., 1991 The peak of his illustrious career, Ripken posted a whopping 11.5 WAR in 1991 to win his second and final MVP. He hit 34 homers and led the AL in total bases as he hit .323 with a career-best .940 OPS. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, 2000 Lewis has half a dozen seasons that could be classified as his best, but his stardom reached a peak in 2000 when he won his first NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award and led the Ravens to their first Super Bowl title. Lewis tallied 137 tackles, three sacks and 14 tackles for loss in the heart of a defense considered one of the best in NFL history. Related Articles Sports | Ravens vs. Steelers wild-card round staff picks: Who wins Saturday in Baltimore? Sports | Mike Preston: Ravens’ offensive line holds the key to victory vs. Steelers | COMMENTARY Sports | Capital Gazette boys and girls high school Athlete of the Week (Dec. 30-Jan. 4) Sports | UCBAC to undergo division realignment this spring, some coaches skeptical Sports | Orioles, reliever Andrew Kittredge reportedly agree to one-year, $10 million deal Ravens running back Jamal Lewis, 2003 Nine players in NFL history have rushed for 2,000 yards in a season, including Lewis in 2003. The bruising running back totaled 2,066 yards — averaging 129.1 per game — and rushed for 14 touchdowns. Ravens safety Ed Reed, 2004 His first of five All-Pro seasons, Reed won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in his third NFL season. He led the league in interceptions (nine) and interception return yards (358) while totaling 78 tackles, 17 passes defended and three forced fumbles. His 106-yard interception return touchdown that year is the second-longest in NFL history, behind only his 107-yarder in 2008. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, 2019 He’s rivaling it this season, but Jackson’s breakout sophomore campaign is one of the best by a quarterback in NFL history. Despite being pegged as a run-first quarterback out of college, Jackson led the league in passing touchdowns (36) and QBR (83.0) to lead the Ravens to a 14-2 record. Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer. View the full article

For football fans, the next few days are a dream. The NFL playoffs kick off Saturday with six games in three days, including the Ravens’ home wild-card game Saturday night against the Steelers. Before that, the College Football Playoff semifinals take place Thursday and Friday night, with four well-known programs competing for spots in the national title game serving as the ideal appetizer. Many of the postseason games are expected to be hard-fought battles — both college showdowns have point spreads within a touchdown, as do four of the six NFL games — but betting oddsmakers aren’t expecting a one-possession Baltimore-Pittsburgh game that we’ve grown used to in recent years. “It’s an aberration to have this spread this high,” said Johnny Avello, DraftKings’ director of sports operations. What are the odds? Baltimore is nearly a 10-point favorite Saturday, as it has home-field advantage and beat a slumping Pittsburgh team by 17 points in the most recent meeting. Power rankings across sportsbooks and sports analytics sites view the Ravens as one of the NFL’s best teams, and that’s reflected in Saturday’s spread. Spread: Ravens by 9 1/2 (DraftKings) Total: 43 1/2 points Moneyline: Ravens -485, Steelers +370 While the Ravens’ moneyline has fairly short odds, bettors are still flocking to back the Ravens to win. According to bet tracking site Pikkit, nearly 91% of tracked moneyline bets on the platform are on the Ravens. Using the Ravens’ moneyline in a parlay has been popular this week at DraftKings, according to Avello. “The bettors just don’t have a lot of faith in the Steelers right now,” Avello said. Baltimore’s Super Bowl path Baltimore’s Super Bowl path, if it beats the Steelers, could include road games against the Bills and Chiefs. That’s a gantlet for John Harbaugh’s team just to make the Super Bowl. Barring upsets, Lamar Jackson will need to beat two of his elite quarterback peers to reach his first Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ postseason schedule looks extremely favorable compared with the Bills and Ravens, with Kansas City perhaps only needing to beat the Texans or Chargers to advance to the AFC championship game. “I’m not saying it’s a guaranteed win,” Avello said, “but it’s a softer game for their first game, and then the Ravens and the Bills have to go up against each other … [the Chiefs’] path to get [to the Super Bowl] is much easier than anybody else’s.” The odds reflect that, with Kansas City’s Super Bowl odds (+350) the shortest of any team in the AFC. Only the Detroit Lions (+285) have shorter odds than the Chiefs to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Interestingly, Baltimore holds shorter Super Bowl odds (+550) than the Bills (+650), even though the Ravens would have to play at Buffalo if both teams win this weekend. The Bills are a perfect 8-0 at home this season, but they did lose by 25 points in Baltimore earlier this season. “There’s still a ways to go,” Avello said, cautioning that the projected Bills-Ravens matchup isn’t set in stone. Buffalo seemingly has the tougher wild-card round matchup — although neither is all that scary on paper — as it hosts a Denver team that is 5-2 over its last seven games. The Broncos are playing solid football, while the Steelers are 2-5 in their past seven contests with three double-digit losses during that span. If Buffalo and Baltimore successfully avoid upsets, the two favorites to win MVP (Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen and Jackson) will square off for a spot in the AFC championship game. While Jackson holds the edge over Allen in several statistics, including touchdown passes (41 to 28), passing yards (4,172 to 3,731) and rushing yards (915 to 531), Allen (-450) is the betting favorite to win MVP. Both quarterbacks would gladly trade the individual accolade for a trip to the Super Bowl. Will the Ravens lean on their star running back? Baltimore’s offense is at its best when the offensive line opens holes for running back Derrick Henry and Jackson. Despite the Steelers’ stout run defense — the unit is one of seven NFL defenses to give up fewer than 100 rushing yards per game this season — Baltimore ran for 220 yards against Pittsburgh on Dec. 21. Henry accounted for 162 of those, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Last time Steelers came to Baltimore for a playoff game, it ended with a plane crash at Memorial Stadium Baltimore Ravens | How Ravens offense could look without WR Zay Flowers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens playoff guide: Everything you need to know before kickoff Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers won’t play in wild-card game Saturday vs. Steelers Baltimore Ravens | READERS RESPOND: Here’s how far fans think Ravens will advance in NFL postseason With typical winter temperatures expected — the temperature should hover around or below freezing Saturday night — the Ravens would be wise to lean on Henry against a seemingly overmatched opponent and limit the potential for Pittsburgh’s defensive line to create strip sacks or tipped passes leading to turnovers. Two of Lamar Jackson’s four interceptions have come against the Steelers, and Baltimore was fortunate to pounce on a fumble by Jackson in the December meeting. Zay Flowers’ knee injury might also persuade the Ravens and offensive coordinator Todd Monken to lean more heavily on the rushing attack. Baltimore is particularly adept at leaning on Henry in the second half of games this season, an ideal plan Saturday if it can build a lead. In the first half, Henry averages 5.1 yards per carry. In the second half, that average climbs to a whopping 6.4. Baltimore acquired Henry for games like Saturday’s, hoping the bruising runner is the missing piece for an elite offense’s playoff struggles. “We know what’s at stake, and we know what we’ve got to do to get where we need to go,” Henry said. Henry won’t admit it publicly, but giving him the ball might be the simple solution to the team’s postseason struggles with Jackson. The former Titan has eclipsed 100 rushing yards in three consecutive games and rushed for 150 yards or more in three of his seven career playoff games. On DraftKings, bettors can take Henry to go over 100 rushing yards at -115 odds. When pairing Henry to go over 100 yards with the Ravens’ moneyline to generate a same-game parlay, the odds climb to +100. The same parlay on FanDuel has -102 odds and it’s -110 at BetMGM. Best bet: Derrick Henry over 100 rushing yards parlayed with Ravens moneyline, +100 on DraftKings Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

As the clock ticked down on a lopsided football game that was anything but memorable, Baltimore Colts season ticket holder Jim Ripken experienced an unforgettable close call. Ripken, then 30, was pondering an early exit when he noticed a low-flying plane hovering over Memorial Stadium as the Pittsburgh Steelers were enjoying the final moments of a 40-14 rout on Dec. 19, 1976. That was the last time the Steelers competed in an NFL playoff game in Baltimore — a drought that will end Saturday night when Pittsburgh plays the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium at 8 p.m. Ripken was attending the game with his brother-in-law Butch Cougle and sitting in the upper deck in row 13 when the blue-and-white Piper Cherokee became a distraction as it flew above the stadium. The lopsided score meant most of the crowd of 60,000 fans had left the game, which might have saved dozens of lives. Moments after the final whistle, the plane, flown by fired MTA bus driver Donald N. Kroner, crashed into the mostly empty upper deck near the seats where Ripken, who had already headed to the exit ramp, had just watched the Colts lose. “I don’t think we even got out of the stadium before the guy hit,” said Ripken, a lifelong Baltimore resident who is a retired steel plant manager and a distant cousin to Cal Ripken Jr. “He hit — best I can tell — not much more than 100 feet from where our seats were. I looked at the photos and was like ‘holy crap,’ I’m glad we got out of there.” The crashed plane still had fuel in its tank and sheared off its left wing, which scattered debris in the upper deck and injured three Baltimore police officers, according to a report by the Evening Sun. Kroner, who also went by the nickname Blue Max, was pulled from the wreckage and amazingly was not seriously injured. Police found a roll of toilet paper, a can of yellow spray paint and a can of spray snow inside the cockpit, The Evening Sun reported. Kroner also had written a note to Colts’ quarterback Bert Jones that said: “To Bert Jones, QB, from Blue Max. Good luck, you B-more Colts.” The late Vince Bagli, then a popular TV sportscaster, was shocked by the incident. “I was walking down to the Colts’ dressing room and heard this rumbling sound,” Bagli told The Baltimore Sun at the time. “I thought someone had rolled a garbage can down the ramp until I looked out and saw the plane sitting upstairs.” Kroner was charged with malicious destruction of property, reckless flying and violating the law that prohibits flying over the stadium, according to The Sun report. Three days later, he was taken to Baltimore City Hospital, now Johns Hopkins Bayview, for a psychiatric evaluation. It wasn’t Kroner’s first brush with the law. The Baltimore Sun reported that Kroner had been arrested by Baltimore County Police earlier that month and charged with reckless flying, littering and making a bomb threat against Bill Pellington, a former Colts player who owned a Timonium restaurant. Kroner was apparently angry about being thrown out of the restaurant. As a result, he flew his plane over Pennington’s restaurant roof to drop rolls of toilet paper and a bottle on the roof. For his antics at Memorial Stadium, Kroner was sentenced to two years in prison. However, he served only three months, but his pilot’s license was revoked, according to The Sun. “I didn’t try to kill anybody or kill myself,” he said at the time. “I’m sorry it happened. I can’t see out of my right eye from being hit by a pipe while in city jail. I’ve never been in trouble before and will never be in trouble again.” Fallston resident Mike Tich was an 11-year-old fan attending that game with his father. They were sitting in the lower bowl and would have been looking directly at the plane wreck from the other side of the stadium. “We were getting destroyed so we decided to leave a little early,” said Tich, now a Ravens season ticket holder. “I remember hearing about it on the radio. It was unimaginable, something I couldn’t even comprehend back then.” As for Ripken, he will never forget the day he might have cheated death. “This airplane was slowly circling around toward the end of the game, and we didn’t think all that much of it at first,” Ripken said. “You typically saw airplanes flying overhead with signs and what have you. But as it got close to the end, the guys started coming down lower and lower and lower. We were trying to figure out what he was trying to do. It looked like he was crazy, or just stupid.” Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich. View the full article

There is no definitive illustration for what the Ravens’ offense will look like without their top wide receiver, Zay Flowers, for Saturday night’s wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team’s leader in receptions (74) and yards (1,059) and the organization’s first Pro Bowl selection at the position was on the field for at least 71% of the offense’s snaps in 12 of Baltimore’s first 15 games this season. His 116 targets were also 44 more than the next closest player, fellow receiver Rashod Bateman, and 47 more than Lamar Jackson’s longtime security blanket, tight end Mark Andrews. Flowers also did not miss a meaningful game last season, playing in the first 16 before he and several other starters sat out the regular-season finale. So how will not having Flowers impact the NFL’s top offense in terms of yards per game and the first in history to pass for more than 4,000 yards and run for more than 3,000? “We’ll move guys around,” coach John Harbaugh said Thursday. “Guys will play spots based on the game plan and the ball will go where it goes based on the way it unfolds in terms of how they play us. “We’ve got a lot of weapons, and Lamar will distribute [the ball] the way he sees fit.” Still, not having his top target could slow things down for what was the league’s third-highest scoring team at 30.5 points per game. The chemistry between Jackson and his fellow South Floridian makes makes Flowers a trustworthy target. He has the speed to separate and stretch defenses, and his quickness makes him (outside of Jackson) perhaps the team’s most elusive player. Zay Flowers is the Ravens’ leader in receptions (74) and yards (1,059) and the organization’s first Pro Bowl selection at the position. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) While the Ravens view Flowers’ absence as a loss but not a crushing one with a “next man up” mantra, there is a lack of quality depth behind him. Next in line is Bateman, whose 756 yards and nine touchdowns are career highs with his 45 catches one shy of his personal best. The numbers are not surprising given his elite route running, ability to separate and good hands. But in two games against Pittsburgh this season, he had just three catches for 44 yards, though one of those did go for a touchdown in their most recent meeting last month. He also dropped a pass in the end zone in the Ravens’ loss at Pittsburgh last season. After him, though, the production at receiver falls off sharply. Nelson Agholor, who hasn’t played since suffering a concussion in a Week 15 win over the New York Giants, has 14 catches for 231 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games. Tylan Wallace, whose time has been divided between special teams and receiver, has 11 catches for 193 yards and one score. Devontez Walker, a rookie fourth-round draft pick out of North Carolina, has played sparingly, appearing in just nine games with just 57 snaps on offense, though he did score a touchdown on his one catch this season. Diontae Johnson, whom the Ravens acquired from Carolina Panthers before the trade deadline, had just one catch for 6 yards before being suspended and released. Still, Bateman is confident he and others can fill the void. “I don’t think it changes anything,” he said of being without Flowers. “The No. 1 goal is to go out and make plays, and that’s what we’re looking forward to doing, and I think that’s what we’ll do.” Asked what he needs to do to be successful against a Steelers defense that ranks 25th in passing yards (228) allowed per game and 20th in yards per pass (7.1), he said, “Just be myself. Don’t go out there and do anything that I haven’t done or try to be anything extra.” Bateman also acknowledged the offense “might look a little different.” That will likely mean leaning on tight ends Andrews (55 catches, 673 yards, 11 TDs) and Isaiah Likely (42 catches, 477 yards, six TDs), along with perhaps more heavy packages involving fullback Pat Ricard and perhaps tight end Charlie Kolar to go with a ground attack that churned out a league-best 3,189 rushing yards, led by running back Derrick Henry’s 1,921 and NFL-best 16 rushing touchdowns. Henry had 138 rushing yards and two scores in last week’s win over the Cleveland Brows and 162 against Pittsburgh last month. Over the past three games, he has averaged 149 on just over 23 carries for an average of 6.3 yards per carry. Jackson has also run for 172 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts in that span, an average of 7.8 yards per carry. The return of Justice Hill could help, too. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens playoff guide: Everything you need to know before kickoff Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers won’t play in wild-card game Saturday vs. Steelers Baltimore Ravens | READERS RESPOND: Here’s how far fans think Ravens will advance in NFL postseason Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ ‘ageless wonder’ Kyle Van Noy is having a career year Baltimore Ravens | Can weatherproof RB Derrick Henry be the difference in Ravens’ playoff destiny? Before missing the past two games following a concussion suffered during the Ravens’ most recent game against the Steelers, he averaged 4.85 yards on 228 carries and 9.1 yards on 42 catches. In Week 11 in Pittsburgh, he had four catches for 28 yards on seven targets and had four other games in which he caught at least four passes. Baltimore could also perhaps deploy the speedy Keaton Mitchell more in the offense, too, as he continues to work his way back from last season’s season-ending knee injury. Though he has played sparingly in the offense since his return in November, the running back proved capable and dangerous before the injury, averaging 8.4 yards per carry and 10.3 yards per reception last season. However it looks, though, it likely will take several players to fills the gaps Flowers’ absence presents. “I think we’re all capable of making plays,” Hill said. “Obviously Zay is a big loss, he’s a special player and hopefully he heals up and we get him back here before a little run. “But I’m ready to play.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. UP NEXT Wild-card round Steelers at Ravens Saturday, 8 p.m. TV/Stream: ABC, Prime Video Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM Line: Ravens by 9 1/2 View the full article

It all comes down to this. The Ravens begin their quest for a third Super Bowl championship this weekend when they take on the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Here’s everything you need to know before kickoff. What time is the Ravens’ game? And how can I watch? The Ravens vs. Steelers playoff game kicks off Saturday at 8 p.m. The game will be streamed live on Prime Video and Twitch and will also be broadcast locally on ABC (WMAR; Chs. 2, 7) in the Baltimore area. It’s the first time Prime — which hosts “Thursday Night Football” during the regular season — will exclusively broadcast an NFL playoff game. Last season, NBC’s live streaming service Peacock hosted the Kansas City Chiefs’ win over the Miami Dolphins in the wild-card round. Veteran play-by-play announcer Al Michaels and NFL/college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit will have the call, with Kaylee Hartung serving as the sideline reporter. Host Charissa Thompson and analysts Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andrew Whitworth and Richard Sherman will provide coverage before, during and after the game. Taylor Rooks will contribute features, with Albert Breer sharing news and notes from around the league. Coverage on Prime begins at 7:30 p.m. For those seeking an alternative to the traditional broadcast, Prime Video will stream a playoff edition of Prime Vision with Next Gen Stats. The broadcast features AI-powered innovations, on-screen graphic overlays, vantage points from TNF’s High-Sky and All-22 camera angle and in-game reports from analytics expert Sam Schwartzstein. Will the Ravens win? Baltimore is a 9 1/2-point favorite, according to most sportsbooks. The Ravens (12-5) are riding a four-game winning streak and claimed the AFC North title over the Steelers (10-7), who ended the regular season with four straight losses. Pittsburgh’s offense has been slumping of late, while the Ravens’ defense has been ascending. Baltimore has allowed roughly 10 points per game during its current streak, while the Steelers have averaged just over 14 points during their skid. Russell Wilson has struggled to rediscover his midseason form, George Pickens is feuding with fans on the sideline and Najee Harris could be playing his last game with the team that picked him in the first round. Outside of a worrisome knee injury to wide receiver Zay Flowers, everything is pointing in the Ravens’ favor. But when longtime coaches Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh face off, the games are almost always close. In 37 meetings between the two, including three playoff games, the Steelers are 21-16 (though they have won eight of the past 10). Twenty-nine of those games have been decided by one score, while 19 have been won by three points or fewer. How did the Ravens get here? After starting 0-2, Baltimore won 12 of its final 15 games to finish 12-5 and claim the No. 3 seed in the AFC. While that record is worse than last year’s 14-3 finish that claimed the conference’s top seed and first-round bye, there’s a chance that this year’s team could finally get over the hump. Ravens running back Derrick Henry nearly ran for 2,000 yards during the regular season. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Behind quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry, the Ravens’ offense has been one of the best in the league. Jackson finished a career year by becoming the first player in league history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 900 yards and the first to throw 40 or more touchdown passes and four or fewer interceptions, putting him in contention to win his third NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Henry, meanwhile, finished second in the league with 1,921 rushing yards and set a single-season franchise record with 16 rushing touchdowns at the ripe old age of 31. Along the way, the Ravens went 4-2 against the AFC North and 7-3 against teams that reached the postseason, including statement wins over the Buffalo Bills (35-10 in Week 4), Washington Commanders (30-23 in Week 6), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (41-31 in Week 7), Denver Broncos (41-10 in Week 8), Los Angeles Chargers (30-23 in Week 12) and Houston Texans (31-2 in Week 17). If the Ravens win Saturday, who will they play next? Baltimore’s most likely playoff path runs through Buffalo and Kansas City. With a Ravens win Saturday and a Bills win over the visiting Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon, Baltimore will head north for a divisional-round matchup against No. 2 seed Buffalo next weekend. In that scenario, the winner of the Texans-Chargers game will take on the Chiefs, who finished a league-best 15-2 during the regular season and earned the first-round bye. If the Ravens win and the Broncos upset the Bills, Baltimore would host the Texans-Chargers winner at M&T Bank Stadium, while Denver travels to face its AFC West rival Kansas City. Ravens running back Derrick Henry helped lead his team to a 35-10 win over Buffalo earlier this season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) A Ravens-Bills matchup would be particularly tasty, pitting the top MVP candidates against one another in a playoff rematch. Buffalo eliminated Baltimore, 17-3, in the divisional round Jan. 16, 2021, in a game played before just 6,772 fans because of COVID-19 restrictions in Western New York. If the Ravens get past the Bills this time, they would most likely play at Kansas City in a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s AFC championship game — a 17-10 Chiefs win in Baltimore. There’s a slim chance the Ravens could host the conference title game as well. If Kansas City loses its divisional round matchup, the winner of that game — either the Texans, Chargers or Broncos — will be seeded lower than the Ravens and travel to Baltimore. When is the Super Bowl? Should the Ravens win the AFC, they’ll face the NFC champion in Super Bowl 59 on Feb. 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The game will kick off at 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on FOX. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers won’t play in wild-card game Saturday vs. Steelers Baltimore Ravens | READERS RESPOND: Here’s how far fans think Ravens will advance in NFL postseason Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ ‘ageless wonder’ Kyle Van Noy is having a career year Baltimore Ravens | Can weatherproof RB Derrick Henry be the difference in Ravens’ playoff destiny? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers absent from practice again; RB Justice Hill returns How is the rest of the playoff field shaping up? According to Vegas Insider, the Detroit Lions are the favorites to win the Super Bowl at +250 odds, followed by the Chiefs (+350), Ravens (+600), Bills (+600) and Philadelphia Eagles (+700). The Texans and Steelers, at +1,000, are the biggest longshots. Here’s a quick look at the top contenders: Detroit Lions (15-2, No. 1 seed in NFC): Injuries – most notably to star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson – have taken their toll, but the Lions have kept winning anyway. Buoyed by wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, tight end Sam LaPorta and running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montomgery, quarterback Jared Goff has led one of the league’s most effectives offenses, while coordinator Aaron Glenn’s defense is coming off its most impressive performance yet in an NFC North-clinching win over Minnesota. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2, No. 1 seed in AFC): Kansas City is seeking to become the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowl titles. Although two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes posted pedestrian stats this season relative to his lofty standards, the Chiefs have won a record 16 straight one-score games. At this point, it’s not just luck. Buffalo Bills (13-4, No. 2 seed in AFC): Josh Allen has put together one of his best seasons, accounting for 40 touchdowns (28 passing, 12 rushing) while throwing a career-low six interceptions. After Buffalo traded Stefon Diggs and lost Gabe Davis to Jacksonville, Khalil Shakir has become the leading receiver while running back James Cook has blossomed into a star. But with a leaky defense, especially against the run, Allen will need to don his Superman cape to get the Bills into the Super Bowl. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3, No. 2 seed in NFC): The addition of running back Saquon Barkley – who became the ninth player to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards in a season – has turbo-charged an offense that also features two of the best wide receivers in the league in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. The defense has also taken a massive step forward under coordinator Vic Fangio. The only question is whether quarterback Jalen Hurts – who just returned from a concussion this week – is capable of leading his team to a title. 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

Ravens Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers will not play in Saturday’s wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, coach John Harbaugh announced Thursday. Filling the void left by Baltimore’s leading receiver will also be a collective effort. “We’ll move guys around,” Harbaugh said. “Guys will play spots based on the game plan and the ball will go where it goes based on the way it unfolds in terms of how they play us. “We’ve got a lot of weapons and Lamar [Jackson] will distribute [the ball] the way he sees fit.” Flowers suffered a sprained right knee early in the second quarter of Baltimore’s AFC North-clinching win over the Cleveland Browns last week, left the game and did not return. He also did not practice this week and was seen with a substantial brace on his knee in the locker room after being on crutches at the start of the week. According to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, the injury is significant enough that his availability for a potential divisional round playoff game next weekend could also be in question. Harbaugh said only that Flowers is “locked in” on his rehabilitation and that he would see how he looked next week. Not having the second-year receiver is an obvious blow to what was the NFL’s top offense this season. Flowers led the Ravens in catches (74) and yards (1,059) to go with four touchdowns and accounted for more than 25% of the team’s targets from Jackson, who has quickly developed a chemistry with the fellow South Floridian. Flowers had five catches for 100 yards in the most recent meeting between the Ravens and Steelers last month, which Baltimore won, 34-17, at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens’ next-best wide receiver is Rashod Bateman, who has 45 catches for a career-high 756 yards and nine touchdowns. But the group is thin beyond Bateman with Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace, rookie Devontez Walker and Steven Sims the only other receivers on the roster. It’s also likely that Baltimore will call up a receiver from the practice squad for Saturday’s game, though there hasn’t been a lot of production from the group outside of Flowers and Bateman. Agholor has just 14 catches for 231 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games and hasn’t played since Baltimore’s Week 15 win over the New York Giants after suffering a concussion in that game. Wallace, who has split time between special teams and receiver, has 11 catches for 193 yards and one score. Walker, a fourth-round pick out of North Carolina, has appeared in just nine games with just 57 snaps on offense, though he did have a touchdown on his lone catch this season. Still, Harbaugh insists it won’t affect the game plan. “We still got all our plays that we run,” he said. “Guys will be doing them that we feel are best suited to do different jobs in this game against the opponent we’re playing.” That could mean the Ravens will rely even more on tight ends Mark Andrews (55 catches, 673 yards, 11 TDs), who has caught a touchdown pass in each of the past six games, and Isaiah Likely (42 catches, 477 yards, 6 TDs). They can also lean on what was the league’s top rushing attack, led by Derrick Henry’s 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns. Justice Hill is also back after being out since the Ravens’ game against the Steelers last month with a concussion followed by illness. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens playoff guide: Everything you need to know before kickoff Baltimore Ravens | READERS RESPOND: Here’s how far fans think Ravens will advance in NFL postseason Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ ‘ageless wonder’ Kyle Van Noy is having a career year Baltimore Ravens | Can weatherproof RB Derrick Henry be the difference in Ravens’ playoff destiny? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers absent from practice again; RB Justice Hill returns Hill, along with potentially the speedy Keaton Mitchell, gives the Ravens another receiving threat as well. “Justice is an experienced player,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been in these games before. He’s really versatile in terms of what he can do skill set-wise. He can take some of those jobs that Zay does — he’s in the backfield, he’s out of the backfield. “It gives you a lot of options with Justice.” 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 how far they think the Ravens will advance in this year’s NFL postseason. Here are the results from our online poll: Super Bowl win — 55% (484 votes) AFC championship game loss — 17% (151 votes) Divisional round loss — 11% (100 votes) Super Bowl loss — 9% (75 votes) Wild-card round loss — 8% (69 votes) Here’s what some fans have told us (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): My head tells me that it is very difficult to get to the Super Bowl, much less win it. But my heart tells me that this Ravens team can go all the way. The heart wins! Go Ravens! — Sean Tully Super Bowl or bust … It’s our time. Vastly improved defense will keep us in the game! Let’s Go RAVENS! — Irv Anyone who thinks the Ravens will make it to the Super Bowl just is not being realistic. Let’s be real; this team is good but certainly not great right now. HOWEVER! Who cares about being realistic! SUPER BOWL CHAMPS HERE WE COME RA RA RA RAVENS — Jim Parker Depending on who they play in the AFC championship, they could get to the big game. AFC vs. Bills (Ravens lose) AFC vs. Kansas City (Ravens win). Super Bowl against the Eagles would be interesting, but I will go with the Ravens, 30-27, thanks to improved DEFENSE. — Frank Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens playoff guide: Everything you need to know before kickoff Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers won’t play in wild-card game Saturday vs. Steelers Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ ‘ageless wonder’ Kyle Van Noy is having a career year Baltimore Ravens | Can weatherproof RB Derrick Henry be the difference in Ravens’ playoff destiny? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers absent from practice again; RB Justice Hill returns Hoping for a Super Bowl win. Every 12 years — 2000, 2012, 2024. Yep, it’s time again. Go Ravens! — Harry M I’d love to see the Ravens win it all. They have the team to do it and they’re peaking at the right time. That said, it requires them to play clean throughout the playoffs and a little bit of luck. They have a great shot if they don’t get in their own way. The penalties have to be kept to a minimum, and no procedural penalties like illegal formation or man downfield. Getting off to fast starts is key, but if they don’t, they have to stick with the game plan. I feel sometimes they get too cute and abandon the run game. Even if the other team is stuffing the run early, it will eventually pay off, keep pounding the run game to set up play action. When the Ravens play well, they can beat any team in the league. — Terrance Morrison Ravens will lose to the Rookie of the Year, quarterback Jayden Daniels of the Commanders, a team Gov. Wes Moore, Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Sen. Ben Cardin unanimously agreed should be able to flee Maryland for D.C. — Robin Ficker The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll View the full article

Walking off the field at M&T Bank Stadium after a late December win, Chuck Smith told Kyle Van Noy he had a present for him. Van Noy was already in the shower by the time Smith got inside, so he hung it up in the outside linebacker’s locker and slipped upstairs to see his family. While most of Van Noy’s teammates had lingered, still wearing parts of their uniform with tape on their feet and fingers after finally besting the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, Van Noy was quick to throw on his gift. Reporters and TV cameras swarmed the 33-year-old after a career night: 1 1/2 sacks in a convincing win that inducted him into an exclusive club. With his right hand, Van Noy slid his overcoat back. His youthful smile looked down at his new “Double Digit Sack Club” hoodie, courtesy of his pass rush coach. “A lot of people wrote me off last year,” Van Noy said, “and I believe I’m playing at a Pro Bowl level.” The Pro Bowl alternate finished the regular season with 12 1/2 sacks, fourth most in the NFL. The “ageless wonder,” as Roquan Smith calls him, reaching a career high in Year 11 as the sixth-oldest outside linebacker in the NFL is beyond what Baltimore could have hoped this season. It didn’t quite get off to the start anyone had in mind. In the third quarter of the Ravens’ season opener in Kansas City, a dogpile toppled Van Noy and fractured his orbital socket in two places. His former teammate, Tom Brady, a legendary quarterback-turned-broadcaster, said during the Steelers game that he “basically played with a broken face.” Van Noy was back for Baltimore’s Week 2 home opener and sacked Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew twice. Then came two more in Dallas. He was up to six in four games after twice pulling down Bills quarterback Josh Allen on “Sunday Night Football.” Van Noy was playing like he had something to prove. The man who plays every season that way, constantly carrying a chip on his shoulder, he said, had a little extra juice coming into his second year (first full season) in Baltimore. “People were talking about somebody else [not] coming back and not so much me,” Van Noy told The Baltimore Sun. “That just gets added to my shoulder to just go out there and prove each and every time I’m on the football field, I’m one of the best.” Van Noy didn’t say his name explicitly but insinuated that he felt slighted by the way Jadeveon Clowney’s 9 1/2 sacks leaving in free agency dominated offseason discourse. There wasn’t much thought given to Van Noy building on his nine sacks in 14 games. History said it probably wouldn’t happen. Only three players age 33 or older have managed 12-plus in a single season since 2000. The most recent was J.J. Watt in 2022. Add Van Noy to the list. He has the hoodie to prove it. Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, right, strips the ball from Bills quarterback Josh Allen in a Ravens victory earlier this season. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) “He comes upstairs as soon as I’m leaving,” Chuck Smith said, “he has a jacket on and he had the shirt on. Man, I went crazy. … There’s thousands of NFL players that wanna be a double-digit sack man. He’ll carry that the rest of his life. And I understand how bad he wanted to do it. Being told that he can’t do this certain skill when you know you can all those years.” Chuck Smith started a new tradition that night. Double-digit sack guys get the all-black hoodies. He’ll have to retroactively get one for Nnamdi Madubuike’s breakout 13-sack 2023 season. Odafe Oweh got his after Week 18. He looked at it fondly postgame and said he’s either framing it or never taking it off. Those guys keep Van Noy feeling young. But ask Chuck Smith, age has nothing to do with it. “Age has to do with the way the body matures,” he said. “There are certain guys who don’t have to have a lot of skill when they’re big bruisers. But when you think of guys who get a lot of sacks — the guy in Cleveland [Myles Garrett], the guy in Pittsburgh [T.J. Watt] — they got skill.” Being in the right situation helps too. Van Noy’s previous stops haven’t empowered him to rush the quarterback the way Baltimore’s staff does. Compared to his time in Los Angeles or with New England, the Ravens give him much more freedom to be a designated pass rusher. To put hands on the quarterback. To use his wealth of knowledge in new ways. It’s permeated to the rest of the pass rush group. He’s the old head helping mentor a room of youngsters. Earlier this season outside linebacker Tavius Robinson noticed Van Noy studying a single sheet of paper. “What is that?” a 26-year-old Robinson asked. Van Noy made a habit of consolidating an entire week’s worth of notes into a single-page Friday study guide. So Robinson started following his lead. “That’s definitely helped me a lot. It’s allowed me to play faster,” he said, having finished the regular season above expectations with a career-high 3 1/2 sacks. “I’m excited to squeeze as much information as I can while he’s here.” Oweh can relate. The first few seasons of his career, he’d experiment with best practices to take care of his body. Oweh leaned on the team’s strength staff during the season then tried his own workouts with individual trainers in the offseason. The trial and error approach — sometimes lifting just to lift — left him injury prone and performing below capacity. Then he started to mimic Van Noy. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Can weatherproof RB Derrick Henry be the difference in Ravens’ playoff destiny? Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers absent from practice again; RB Justice Hill returns Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Will the defense dominate Russell Wilson? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Who will Saturday’s frigid cold favor as Ravens face Steelers in playoffs? Baltimore Ravens | Increased security planned for Ravens-Steelers playoff game Van Noy doesn’t lift as much during the season but, as Oweh said, he’s methodically tailoring every movement to pass rushing. It’s helped elongate his success. “You should lift in a way that pertains to your position,” Oweh said. That means more dips and bends rather than rigid force. The 26-year-old Oweh just wrapped a career year, joining Van Noy in the double-digit club by corralling Browns quarterback Bailey Zappe in the regular-season finale. Oweh stood up and flashed all 10 fingers. Then he shrugged and smiled with a sense of relief for a mark he’d been chasing relentlessly. He probably owes Van Noy a thank you note. “Kyle, he’s like a football guru,” Madubuike said. “He knows so much about the game. He knows so much about secondary and all [this] stuff. Me and ‘Dafe’ are like, ‘Huh, how’d you know that?’ Or like, ‘How’d you pick up on that?’ He’s just so knowledgeable about the game of football.” Van Noy found the fountain of youth and it led to a career year as a high-impact player for one of the best pass rushes in the NFL. But his success and his approach have left an indelible mark on the rest of the group. “I think he’s been a great example for, not only those guys in the outside linebacker room,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said, “but for our whole defense and for our whole team, that no matter how long you’ve been playing, no matter what people say, if you do things the right way, it’s going [to] work out for you.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Les Miles had a saying back when Todd Monken worked as his receivers coach at LSU. “There’s nothing like being able to turn around and comfortably hand the ball off to the running back,” Miles would tell his staff. It wasn’t Monken’s favorite sentiment, given that he was in charge of the Tigers’ passing game. But thinking back almost two decades from his current vantage as Ravens offensive coordinator, he acknowledged: “There’s something to that.” The peace of mind from those handoffs is that much greater when the running back taking the ball is Derrick Henry. As the Ravens prepare to begin another postseason on a chilly Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, thoughts of past disappointments — particularly last year’s AFC championship game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs — are never far off. Monken, with the most productive ground attack in the sport, infamously called just 16 running plays in that 17-10 defeat. Why should traumatized fans believe the story might turn out differently this time around? That answer starts with the ageless, 6-foot-2, 247-pound speeding bullet who now wears purple and black. The Ravens have paired several very good backs with Lamar Jackson to terrific, record-setting effect. But to put it plainly, none of those guys were Derrick Henry — a first-ballot Hall of Fame lock who’s playing as well as he ever has at age 31. Henry just finished averaging a career-high 5.9 yards per carry. He forced more missed tackles, gained more yards after contact and reeled off more runs of 20-plus yards than any back in the league, per Pro Football Focus. Those digits only begin to capture his significance going into a rivalry game against a punishing defense that would love nothing more than to crush the Ravens’ Super Bowl hopes. When tensions rise and temperatures plummet, Miles’ words to his old LSU staff ring most true. Ravens teammates figure no one on the other side is going to look forward to tackling Henry. “I don’t believe anybody likes hitting in the cold,” Jackson said. “Not even the defenders like hitting in the cold, I believe, especially with a 250-pound, all-muscle running back running downhill at you. I wouldn’t want to do it. But it’s great for us.” The Steelers received a taste of Derrick Henry four days before Christmas when he plowed through the heart of their proud defense for 162 yards on 24 carries. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky recently went so far as to say the Steelers would rather see Jackson, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, with the ball than Henry. Throughout his career, Henry has grown more efficient as the season grinds on, averaging nearly a yard more per carry in December than in September. The 2019 Ravens were on the wrong end of his playoff masterpiece, as Henry ran for 195 yards to spur the Tennessee Titans to a stunning upset of the AFC’s No. 1 seed. He picked up 139 of those in the second half, acting as a one-man rally killer. Is it true that defenders want no part of a human locomotive like him when it’s 26 degrees, the National Weather Service’s forecast low for Saturday night? “It’s getting cold now, so things are going to hurt a little bit more,” Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike said. “Thank God I’m not on the other side. He’s going to do his thing, and guys better be ready.” Henry offers a weatherproof solution to the problems presented by postseason football. “I think physicality travels,” Monken said. “There’s no question you can’t control wind, rain, snow, whatever it happens to be. You’re going to need to convert in short-yardage situations when the games are really close. … That’s why we’ve been really good in the red zone — that physicality [with] Derrick and then Lamar as the playmaker.” The Steelers received a taste four days before Christmas when Henry plowed through the heart of their proud defense for 162 yards on 24 carries. He followed up with 147 in Houston and 138 in the AFC North clincher against Cleveland, tripling down on his reputation as an end-of-year menace. “I’m very excited that Derrick is on my team, and he’s bruising other guys throughout the AFC right now,” linebacker Roquan Smith said. “He’s a big man, and once he gets going, it’s going to be a long night for a lot of people.” A skeptic might counter that the Ravens’ run game is no more statistically potent than it was in 2019, when they set a single-season record for rushing yards, or 2020, when they again led the league in yards per game and yards per attempt and closed the regular season with a 404-yard bludgeoning of the Cincinnati Bengals. In neither case were the Ravens ultimately able to dictate the flow in elimination games. Their running backs at the end of those seasons were Mark Ingram II, Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. Talented as they were, Jackson bore a heavy burden as the team’s offensive commander and primary ball carrier. Can one “King Henry” be the difference in unlocking Jackson’s path to the Super Bowl? That was the hope when general manager Eric DeCosta signed him to a two-year, $16 million deal in the offseason. DeCosta actually wanted him at the trade deadline last season, figuring Henry might be the final jewel on a team that was already headed for the AFC’s top playoff seed. The signing has more than paid off, with Henry and Jackson amplifying one another’s talents at the heart of the most efficient offense in Ravens history. That said, another great regular season wasn’t the aim. Now’s the time for Henry to pay true dividends. Ravens coach John Harbaugh did not mince words on the subject. Asked Monday if Henry brings a different element that his teams have not had in recent years, Harbaugh answered “yes” and did not elaborate. “It’s great to have a great back,” he said later in his news conference. Derrick’s “obviously running really hard and really physical and downhill. Our guys are blocking well, and there’s other elements to the offense that allows that. If you look at his career, he’s definitely not getting first contact as early as he has often time in his career — that’s been great. All those things have come together well, and it’s going to be a big part of our approach in the playoffs.” With No. 22 in the game, it’s difficult to imagine the Ravens turning away from their ground attack to the degree they did in their AFC championship loss, though Henry’s role diminished at times when they played from behind early this season. Related Articles Baltimore Ravens | Ravens’ ‘ageless wonder’ Kyle Van Noy is having a career year Baltimore Ravens | Ravens WR Zay Flowers absent from practice again; RB Justice Hill returns Baltimore Ravens | Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Will the defense dominate Russell Wilson? | COMMENTARY Baltimore Ravens | Who will Saturday’s frigid cold favor as Ravens face Steelers in playoffs? Baltimore Ravens | Increased security planned for Ravens-Steelers playoff game The man himself is least likely to say he’ll be the one to set this version of the Ravens apart. Henry isn’t one for sweeping narratives or grand proclamations. “I’m not going to get into all of that,” he said Tuesday. “I just wanted to come here to make an impact and be an adding piece to this offense, to this team, to help them get to where they want to go, and this week is a first step.” Leave it to Monken to put a colorful spin on what what his former boss, Miles, said all those years ago. “It’s kind of a smoke break for your quarterback,” he said of having a back like Henry. “There’s not much processing. You can just turn around and hand the ball off, and there’s not a lot of reading it, throwing it, protection. I can hand the ball off, and that’s big. That’s really big.” Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article