Ravens Insider: Instant analysis from Ravens’ 30-3 win over Commanders in preseason finale

ExtremeRavens · August 23

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 30-3 win over the Washington Commanders on Saturday afternoon at Northwest Stadium in Landover.

Brian Wacker, reporter: The Ravens’ game plan was obvious from the start: Keep the clock running. Baltimore ran it on 12 of its first 14 plays and the game ended up finishing in under three hours. At this point, many of the roster decisions have been made, so it was a chance for a few players on the bubble to make one last push to make the roster. Unsurprisingly, undrafted rookie free agents Reuben Lowery and Keyon Martin continued to make plays, with Lowery saving a touchdown after a long gain by tight end Colson Yankoff and Martin providing a pick-six. Don’t be surprised if at least two undrafted rookies make Baltimore’s 53-man roster.

Mike Preston, columnist: Eventually, the NFL will shorten the preseason from three games to two. It’s inevitable, and has already been discussed by league executives. The Ravens got very little out of this game except to find some special team performers, but at least some of the backups got a chance to play because they won’t see much playing time during the regular season.

The Ravens also got to see a second strong performance by backup quarterback Cooper Rush, and kicker Tyler Loop showed he has the distance with a 61-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Now, it will be interesting to see how the first-team secondary has progressed under senior secondary coach Chuck Pagano. It’s time to start the regular season. It’s show time. Bring it on.

Josh Tolentino, columnist: The Ravens closed out their preseason with contributions from a cast of depth players, underscoring the strength of a roster that’s already largely set heading into Week 1 at Buffalo.

Rising undrafted safety Reuben Lowery led the team with seven tackles, while fellow rookie defensive back Keyon Martin provided the highlight of the afternoon with a pick-six on a pass from Washington backup quarterback Sam Hartman. Third-year linebacker Trenton Simpson, the lone projected defensive starter to suit up against the Commanders, was disruptive, helping force two takeaways that swung early momentum in Baltimore’s favor.

Even with impressive outings from Lowery, Martin and other undrafted hopefuls, coach John Harbaugh has already indicated that the 53-man roster is essentially set ahead of Tuesday’s roster cut deadline. For the fringe players, Saturday offered more of a final audition for potential practice squad spots in Baltimore or elsewhere.

The Ravens conclude the preseason unbeaten, a nice but ultimately meaningless footnote.

Ultimately, all eyes remain on two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson. After leaving practice earlier in the week with seemingly a minor injury scare (X-rays on his foot came back negative), Jackson was back on the sideline Saturday, walking without a limp or protective gear.

Sam Cohn, reporter: Finally, we can start thinking about the regular season! Meaningful football. The only thing standing in our way is Tuesday’s roster deadline and this game — which featured four forced turnovers by Baltimore’s defense — offered a bit more clarity on some of those looming choices. Undrafted free agent Reuben Lowery played early and often, and there’s a real chance the hybrid defensive back squeezes into a thin position group. Cornerback Keyon Martin, another UDFA, added a pick-six as he’s trying to break through the roster bubble. On the other hand, safety Beau Brade played sparingly and late in this one, implying a tougher route to the final 53.

Jay Higgins IV didn’t jump off the page Saturday like he did with a pair of takeaways the past two games. The inside linebacker’s path to the league more likely starts on Baltimore’s practice squad, but it’s not nothing to hear defensive coordinator Zach Orr say that the former Iowa star should have been drafted. Check back in three days.

C.J. Doon, editor: If we learned anything from this game, it’s that the Ravens’ depth should be the envy of the league.

Cooper Rush looked like the high-end backup quarterback he’s paid to be. Rasheen Ali might be the best fourth running back in the league. Reuben Lowery and Keyon Martin might have solidified their spots on the roster, and fellow undrafted rookies Jay Higgins IV and Chandler Martin are right behind them. Cornerbacks Jalyn Armour-Davis and T.J. Tampa Jr. look more than capable of filling in when called upon. Outside linebackers David Ojabo and Malik Hamm made splash plays to continue a competitive battle at pass rusher. Even an expected starter like weak-side linebacker Trenton Simpson looks ready to make a Year 3 leap.

And how about Tyler Loop? If there were any lingering doubts about the rookie kicker being ready to step into the spotlight, he put those to rest with a 52-yard bomb to end the first half and an impressive 61-yarder in the fourth quarter. The sixth-round pick has missed just two of his 11 attempts this preseason (from 46 and 50 yards) while showing off his powerful leg throughout training camp.

More than anything, the Ravens ended the preseason close to fully healthy. While it would have been nice to see some of the starters shake off some rust, the risk is almost never worth it. The roster looks as good as one can hope for entering a season with Super Bowl expectations.

Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon.

Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop celebrates after making a 61-yard field goal as guard Jared Penning (63) watches during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

1 of 16

Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop celebrates after making a 61-yard field goal as guard Jared Penning (63) watches during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Expand

View the full article

Sign In

Ravens Insider: Instant analysis from Ravens’ 30-3 win over Commanders in preseason finale

Recommended Posts

ExtremeRavens

Join the conversation

Browse

Activity