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[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens Snap Count Analysis, Week 5: Defense labors again in blowout loss

Offense​

The Ravens played only 43 total offensive snaps in this game, and they did not make the most of them. Cooper Rush and all five starting offensive linemen played 100% of the contest. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman were the only two other players to exceed an 80% snap share, with 36 and 35 snaps each, respectively. Flowers caught five passes for 72 yards while Bateman had zero catches on three targets.

Derrick Henry dominated the running back snaps this week, a change from the previous couple of games, but had a minimal impact with 33 yards on 15 carries. In his season debut, Keaton Mitchell saw only four snaps on offense, trailing Justice Hill (13 snaps). Neither exceeded eight yards rushing and each had one reception.

Snaps at tight end were split very evenly between the team’s top trio. Mark Andrews played 25 snaps, Isaiah Likely played 23, and Charlie Kolar played 20. Unfortunately, none of them had a standout performance, with Likely and Kolar each being targeted just once. Andrews caught two passes for 22 yards but dropped another target that was intercepted.

Rounding out the skill position group in snaps were wide receivers Deandre Hopkins (11), Tylan Wallace (four), and rookie LaJohntay Wester (four). Hopkins finished second on the team in receiving, catching two passes for 46 yards with a highlight 29-yard snag in the first quarter.

Defense​

Any time your defense nearly doubles the snap count of your offense, that usually spells trouble. That happened for the Ravens in Week 5, as the defense was on the field for 70 total snaps. They had no answers for the Texans all day and allowed 40+ points for the third time this season. Houston scored on eight drives and punted once.

In the absence of Roquan Smith, Teddye Buchanan played all 70 snaps at linebacker and Trenton Simpson played a season-high 94% of snaps as the opposite starter. Malaki Starks played 100% of snaps at safety again, as did fellow rookie Reuben Lowery — who was activated and started in-place of Kyle Hamilton. Lowery bumped out Sanoussi Kane, who did not see a defensive snap for the first time this year.

T.J. Tampa led all cornerbacks in playing time with 60 snaps. Like Lowery, UDFA rookie Keyon Martin played a season-high in snaps with 49. Martin got the bulk of nickel cornerback reps with Marlon Humphrey out of the lineup. Jaire Alexander returned to the rotation for the first time since Week 1 and played 28 snaps. Nate Wiggins played 53 snaps after nursing an elbow injury during the week leading up to this game.

Up front, Travis Jones (33 snaps) and Kyle Van Noy (19 snaps) each returned from injury. Veteran John Jenkins played a whopping 76% of snaps at defensive tackle, while Tavius Robinson once again paced all edge rushers in playing time with 50 snaps. Odafe Oweh, who was questionable to play with an eye injury, saw his playing time dwindle further. Oweh played 26 snaps, trailing Mike Green by a decent margin. Green played 42 snaps.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...s-week-5-defense-labors-again-in-blowout-loss

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens HC John Harbaugh on changes after 3rd straight loss: ‘Everything is on the table’

During his Monday press conference, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh indicated that the team was considering wholesale changes after their third straight loss.

“There’s a long list, all three phases,” said Harbaugh. Based on the rest of his answers – and the team’s play thus far this season – that list seems to be all-encompassing.

When asked about the offensive line: “Everything is on the table.”

When asked about playing Tyler Huntley in Week 6 if Lamar Jackson is sidelined: “We consider everything.”

And despite saying that defensive staff changes were not the answer on Sunday, Harbaugh revealed that he spoke with former Ravens DC Dean Pees on Monday. Pees returned to Baltimore last season to help stabilize a struggling defense, and though another reunion does not appear to be on tap, the conversation alone is telling.

Harbaugh also said that the defense would lead on secondary coach Chuck Pagano (also an ex-Ravens DC) as the team implements the necessary changes. He was not directly asked about giving play-calling duties to Pagano (or another coach), but that would be worth at least a discussion.

Schematically, Harbaugh admitted that the defense, particularly linebackers Teddye Buchanan and Trenton Simpson, was giving up too much open space in their soft zone coverages. It was also one of several times that he mentioned the lack of experience showing up on the field.

“I see us playing man in the future quite a bit,” added Harbaugh, though he noted that an anemic pass rush would make man coverage less viable. He did not offer any specifics about their changes offensively, but again referenced a need to run more plays and play ahead of the sticks.

The Ravens’ focus on stability and continuity would seem to preclude any sweeping changes, but the times that Harbaugh has made such decisions, they have generally worked out. Three examples: firing offensive coordinator Cam Cameron in 2012, turning the keys over to Jackson permanently in 2018, and parting ways with Wink Martindale to bring in Mike Macdonald in 2022.

Other than relieving Orr of play-calling duties, it is unclear what move they could make. A big trade seems like an unwise investment given the present state of the season. Monken is not going anywhere.

Even smaller personnel changes seem unlikely. The Ravens don’t seem to believe that they have any guards on the roster who are better than their current starters. Maybe Huntley could play a few short-yardage snaps, but Cooper Rush is not getting benched after one start against a top-10 defense.

Harbaugh insisted that the entire team has a “massive sense of urgency,” but the rest of his comments betrayed the fact that the Ravens are not quite sure how to solve their problems. Harbaugh and several players have offered some version of “play better” in the last few weeks, but it feels like it will take more than that.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...-3rd-straight-loss-everything-is-on-the-table

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

AFC North Recap: Week 5

If it is possible to win on your bye week, the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers certainly did as they watched the three other AFC North teams bumble around to losses on Sunday.

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Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)​

Another day without starting quarterback Joe Burrow, another interception (or three) for Bengals backup signal-caller Jake Browning.

Cincinnati dropped their third straight game without Burrow at the helm, losing 37-24 to the Detroit Lions in Week 5. The team at least showed some fight, unlike a certain division rival that we will get to next, by clawing their way back from a 28-3 deficit to make the game somewhat interesting by pulling within 11 points at one point in the fourth quarter. Browning’s miserable three-interception performance was at least accompanied by three touchdowns and 251 yards on 26 completions, finally connecting with superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Chase exploded in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns, including a 64-yard score to make it a two-possession game with a little over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Browning has now thrown eight interceptions to six touchdowns since taking over for the injured Burrow in the Bengals’ Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor seemed to open the door for a potential change at the position on the horizon while still expressing belief in Browning.

“After a game like that we’re going to look at all personnel to make sure we’re doing the right thing,” Taylor said. “I won’t shy away from that because it’s a very fair question after the amount of turnovers we had. To say Jake can’t win games for us, I believe Jake can win games for us. I do. We’ll just continue to look at everything we can personnel-wise.”

During the writing of this article, the Bengals indeed made a move to potentially replace Browning.

According to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Cincinnati has acquired veteran quarterback Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns.

The #Bengals are trading for Joe Flacco, per me and @TomPelissero

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 7, 2025

The 40-year-old Super Bowl MVP has bounced around the league since his days with the Baltimore Ravens, and though he struggled this season before being benched in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel, Flacco could provide a boost to Cincinnati’s offense if he can distribute the ball to the team’s pair of star receivers more effectively than Browning.

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Baltimore Ravens (1-4)​

The season from hell continued for the Ravens in Week 5 as the Houston Texans unleashed a 44-10 thrashing upon them.

To pretend that Baltimore is not largely where they are due to an insurmountable number of injuries to key players would be naive, but there is more to the story than just that. In the past, even when fielding severely undermanned teams, head coach John Harbaugh has demonstrated the ability to prepare his guys for a fight. The optics around the Ravens at the moment suggest something else, as the team has laid over and taken their beating multiple weeks in a row now.

Veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy had an interesting comment when asked if the messages of the coaching staff were getting through to the players.

“That’s probably a question that’s above my pay grade, probably,” Van Noy said. “I think that’s a [John] Harbaugh [or] a ‘Z.O.’ [Zach Orr] question, to be honest. I think their messaging is fine, and we have to be the group to take that, go out and do the simple things right – the fundamentals. Easy, basic stuff.”

Backup quarterback Cooper Rush’s stat line, which included three interceptions, was perhaps worse than his actual performance against the Texans. Still, the offense was anemic for much of the game without Lamar Jackson under center. The unit continued to struggle to generate push in the run game to get Derrick Henry going. Henry has yet to eclipse 100 rushing yards since Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills and has been held under 50 in three out of five games this season.

Baltimore risks falling to 1-5 before their bye week as they take on the Los Angeles Rams next week. The Ravens’ only hope at this point seems to be getting Jackson back at quarterback, along with several other star players who have no clear timetable for returns. The defense, in particular, has shown zero ability to stop opposing offenses without players such as Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Roquan Smith, and Nnamdi Madubuike on the field, but the unit was struggling mightily even before the hits started piling up.

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Cleveland Browns (1-4)​

It only took until Week 5 of the season for the Browns to make a change at quarterback, replacing Flacco with Gabriel. The rookie’s first start was admirable, but Cleveland ultimately fell to 1-4 with a 21-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

With the trade of Flacco to the Bengals, the Browns’ season is now purely in the hands of a rookie quarterback, whether that remains to be Gabriel or fellow rookie fifth-rounder Shadeur Sanders at some point down the line. Gabriel completed 19 of 33 pass attempts for 190 yards and two touchdowns in his first NFL start against a stingy Vikings defense. Rookie second-round back Quinshon Judkins continues to impress as well as he crossed 100 rushing yards for the first time this season.

Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski praised Gabriel when asked about his takeaways from his first start.

“Yeah, a lot of positives,” Stefanski said. “Obviously can always be better, and certainly we as an offense have to better and score more to help this football team. But for, you know, a young player in that environment versus that defense to take care of the ball, make the plays he made, I thought was a lot of positives with plenty to clean up. And that’s what he will do. And that’s the mentality he has, certainly to be a player that continues to get better week in and week out.”

Star defensive end Myles Garrett, who was kept off the stat sheet against Minnesota, also backed the rookie quarterback after the game.

“[Gabriel] looked like he usually does,” Garrett said. “Composed, making the plays that we know he can make. He put us in position to win. We’ve got to help ourselves out.”

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/general/76406/afc-north-recap-week-5

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Week 6 odds signal doubt about Lamar Jackson, Ravens defense

The Baltimore Ravens opened Week 6 as 7.5-point underdogs in their upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, reflecting an expectation that Lamar Jackson will miss another game with a hamstring injury.

While oddsmakers may still favor the Rams given the Ravens’ struggles on defense, it is unlikely that they would be so confident against a Jackson-led team at home. But last week’s loss to the Texans has clearly shifted their perspective on Baltimore.

Last week, there was a four-point swing two-time MVP was expected to miss the game. If Jackson was trending towards playing, a similar swing would still leave the Ravens as home underdogs in Week 6.

That’s probably because of a Rams offense that leads the league in yards per play and a Ravens defense that has allowed the most points and the second-most yards this season. In the last two weeks, Los Angeles has put up 918 total yards while Baltimore has given up 809 yards, along with 81 points. Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has been near-unstoppable this season and could tear through a banged-up Ravens secondary.

The Rams defense also appears to be suited to stop a Ravens offense that struggled to move the ball without Jackson last week. They rank third in yards per carry allowed and have a strong enough pass rush to make life difficult for backup quarterback Cooper Rush, especially if left tackle Ronnie Stanley misses a second game in a row.

Here are the full betting lines for Ravens-Rams, courtesy of FanDuel:

Spread​

Ravens: +7.5 (-115)

Rams: -7.5 (-105)

Over/Under​

44.5 points (—115/-105)

Moneyline​

Ravens: +295

Rams: -370

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...gnal-doubt-about-lamar-jackson-ravens-defense

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

5 starters still out, 2 return to practice on Ravens’ first injury report of Week 6

As the Baltimore Ravens continue to be stricken by an injury crisis over the past two weeks, they received a small dose of more positive news on Wednesday. All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton (groin) and starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), who both missed last week’s game against the Houston Texans, returned to practice. Stanley also was sidelined for the majority of the team’s Week 4 contest after exiting early in the game.

While they practiced in limited fashion, Hamilton and Stanley each practicing this early in the week bodes well for their chances of suiting up this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Either of them returning to the lineup would be a significant boost for the Ravens on offense or defense. In their absences last week, the Ravens started UDFA rookie Reuben Lowery at safety and veteran Joseph Noteboom at left tackle.

Wednesday's Injury Report pic.twitter.com/fVKYqAfjxi

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 8, 2025

On the not-so-positive injury front, five injured starters remained sidelined and held out of Wednesday’s practice: QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring), LB Roquan Smith (hamstring), CB Marlon Humphrey (calf), CB Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring), and FB Pat Ricard (calf). In addition, WR Zay Flowers shoulder) and OT Roger Rosengarten (knee) were added to the injury report — although both still practiced as limited participants.

With the bye week on the horizon following Week 6, the Ravens may opt to play it safe with the return timeline for some of these players and not rush them back to action. That’s especially true for Jackson, whose availability is of utter importance for the Ravens’ hopes of a second-half turnaround this season.

Backup Cooper Rush started in-place of Jackson last week but after an underwhelming showing from the offense, the Ravens could make another change at quarterback. Head Coach John Harbaugh hinted earlier this week that the team may explore playing Tyler Huntley, who has started a number of games for the Ravens in previous years when Jackson has had to miss time.

Humphrey and Awuzie’s injuries forced the Ravens to give extended snaps to young defensive backs like Lowery and Keyon Martin last week. After the team added a pair of veteran safeties this week via trade (Alohi Gilman) and a free agent signing (Chauncey Gardner-Johnson), expect them to do more shuffling in the secondary again.

Ricard has now been sidelined for nearly two months with a nagging calf injury. Harbaugh finally provided some greater insight recently, claiming that Ricard was originally expected to be out for only a couple of weeks but suffered a setback. Now, he’s more than likely to be out again this week, with a targeted return to practice after the bye week.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...ctice-on-ravens-first-injury-report-of-week-6

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

5 Questions for Ravens-Rams: can Baltimore’s defense slow Matt Stafford?

Welcome back to another editions of 5 Questions, a weekly collaboration with other SB Nation sites to preview the Ravens’ upcoming matchups. This week, the Los Angeles Rams are coming to Baltimore, so Evan Craig of Turf Show Times is on hand to answer Baltimore Beatdown’s questions about Week 6.

Also, check out Baltimore Beatdown’s responses to Turf Show Times’ questions about the Ravens!

1. The Ravens have a struggling defense at every level. The Rams could likely attack them however they want. What specific ways do you see the Rams attacking this defense?

Just breathing and showing up on the field.

(Almost) kidding there, but I see the Rams just continuing to go pass-happy in attacking the Ravens’ defense. Matthew Stafford is averaging 29 passing attempts per game, including 98 attempts in the last two games against the Colts and 49ers. There were many legit concerns about Stafford’s health entering the season, yet he’s been off to the best start of his L.A. career since his first year in Hollywood. Passing at will primarily to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams has been the team’s most consistent offensive strategy so far this season, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

As for the ground game, that part of the offense hasn’t been as efficient … yet. Kyren Williams has had his moments and Blake Corum has also joined in on the fun on occasion. I think since the Ravens have been so bad on defense, this would be the perfect week to establish the run more consistently as the Rams inch closer to their bye. But generally, expect L.A. to pass early and often on Sunday.

2. The Ravens have been awful at keeping their quarterback protected, allowing a massive number of sacks, even when Lamar Jackson was back there trying to avoid them. Outside of Jared Verse, who else on the Rams could wreak havoc in the backfield on Sunday?

Linebacker Byron Young has been a menace for opposing quarterbacks this season, as he leads the team with 5.5 sacks through five games. He also has 10 QB hits, which is one behind Verse for the team lead. Young has excellent closing speed and can seriously chase down anyone when he has the opportunity. Other than Young, Defensive ends Kobie Turner or Braden Fiske, who amazingly hasn’t recorded a sack by the way, are two other guys to watch. There is so much young talent on this side of the ball for the Rams that it could really be anyone wreaking havoc in the backfield on a given week.

3. Conversely, is there a clear weak spot along the Rams’ offensive line that the Ravens could attack to give their anemic pass rush some life?

The offensive line has been a complicated issue for the Rams through these first few weeks, as nine different players have suited up for L.A.’s O-line so far. Continuity has been the main culprit due to injuries along the line. Steve Avila, Beaux Limmer and even stalwart Kevin Dotson have all shown signs of regression, so there is no definitive answer to this question.

However, attacking the left guard spot is the main area to go if you’re looking for pass rushing life. That area has seen the most change through these first few weeks, and now it’s looking like presumed building block Avila might have a starting role to fight back for. The inconsistency and continuity issues have been maddening for fans all season, and there’s no clear solution yet, unless there’s an overhaul this offseason.

4. We have seen Matt Stafford propel Calvin Johnson and Cooper Kupp to historic seasons and it appears that Puka Nucua is next in line. What about Stafford makes him unique in his ability to connect on such a level with his top wide receiver in any given year?

Matthew Stafford has always been the ultimate gunslinger, and that mentality has made him unafraid to take risks in the passing game, giving his top receivers the targets they need. Sometimes, that mentality has come back to bite him on a bad turnover when he tries too hard to force it, but usually it has worked wonders. Stafford simply knows how to get the most out of his top targets, and that’s how they wind up posting historic production.

In my opinion, Stafford could probably make most receivers stand out, regardless of who they are. Plus, I think it helps that wideouts like Johnson, Kupp and Nacua each share a natural nose for the ball that has made them prime targets for Stafford to throw to. He really is a wide receiver’s best friend. That is something that should factor in for Hall of Fame voters when the time comes, because all the great ones possess that gift, and Stafford’s had it his entire career.

5. Who has been the Rams’ biggest surprise and disappointment so far this season?

The biggest surprise has been linebacker Nate Landman, who has been quite the free agent pickup this offseason. Landman, in his first season with the Rams since leaving the Falcons, has 41 combined tackles (second on the team) and two forced fumbles, including one that saved L.A. in a season-opening win over the Texans. He’s in line for a big extension and has been the ideal fit at linebacker that the Rams have failed to prioritize for years.

The biggest disappointment in a way has been Kyren Williams, who signed an extension with the organization before the season. Williams was one of the reasons Los Angeles lost to the 49ers last Thursday, considering he fumbled the go-ahead touchdown at the goal line. That marked his 10th career fumble, and per The Athletic, he averages around one every four games. While his production has been fine, one of the core reasons it was a risk to extend him was due to the fumbles, and he has done very little to correct that issue. He has all the potential of being one of the NFL’s top backs, yet his troubling lack of ball security in key spots is holding him back from greatness.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...ams-can-baltimores-defense-slow-matt-stafford

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

How to make sure Baltimore Beatdown shows up in your Google search

As many of you are likely aware, Google searches are … different these days.

The good news is Google is offering a solution for folks who like to get their news from specific sources. If you want to help Baltimore Beatdown — while also streamlining all your Google searches — there is now a way.

Simply click on this link and add Baltimore Beatdown as one of your “Source preferences.” That’s all there is to it!

Back in August, the tech giant debuted a feature called “Preferred Sources.” It’s a way for Google to prominently feature the results from websites you trust, like Baltimore Beatdown:

“With the launch of Preferred Sources in the U.S. and India, you can select your favorite sources and stay up to date on the latest content from the sites you follow and subscribe to — whether that’s your favorite sports blog or a local news outlet. …

When you select your preferred sources, you’ll start to see more of their articles prominently displayed within Top Stories, when those sources have published fresh and relevant content for your search.“

As some of you might know, AI searches are hurting outlets around the world and in all spaces. We’ve worked hard at Baltimore Beatdown to build a brand you can trust and rely on for Baltimore Ravens coverage. Our goal is to serve you, the fans.

If you’re a fan of our work and want to get the best Baltimore Ravens coverage possible, this is an excellent win-win to improve your Google searches while helping Baltimore Beatdown out.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...erred-sources-baltimore-beatdown-instructions

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

AFC North Preview, Week 6: Quarterback roulette continues as Browns, Steelers face off

Baltimore Ravens (1-4) ​

The Ravens’ disastrous start to the season reached a new point last Sunday, as they were obliterated by 34 points against the Houston Texans. They allowed 44 points while scoring just 10, tying a record-high for points allowed at home under head coach John Harbaugh. Baltimore’s injury-ravaged roster put up no resistance against the Texans and were outmatched on both sides of the ball from start to finish.

While the Ravens may return a couple of players from injury this coming week, their prospects of winning aren’t any brighter. The Los Angeles Rams are coming into town and while they’re fresh off a disappointing defeat last week, the Rams have an elite group of offensive talent and one of the league’s best head coaches.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford is having one of his best career seasons, while Puka Nucua has been the top wide receiver in the NFL through five weeks. With Davante Adams and Kyren Williams also in the fold, the Ravens will be hard-pressed to slow down the Rams offense. Baltimore has now allowed 38+ points in all but one game so far.

Offensively, the Ravens are also desperate to find some consistency and rhythm without Lamar Jackson under center. Cooper Rush struggled against the Texans and the Ravens could opt to start Tyler Huntley instead, in the likely event that Jackson is once again inactive as he recovers from his hamstring ailment. Any chance of the Ravens pulling off a huge upset in Week 6 rests on them finding run game success and forcing turnovers, the latter of which their defense has not done since last calendar year.

Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)​

Fresh off their bye week, the Steelers are in the best shape of any team in the division. While not overly convincing, the Steelers are two games over .500 after back-to-back victories before Week 5. Their defense improved over the last two contests and began forcing turnovers at a much higher rate.

Pittsburgh will look to continue playing more complimentary football in a matchup against the Browns this coming Sunday, marking their first divisional game of the year. Over the past few seasons, the Browns have had some success against the Steelers, winning five of 10 matchups including a postseason victory.

While the Browns have only one win on the year, their strong defensive front and stout defense overall will give the Steelers a difficult task. An improving Pittsburgh defense in their own right should be able to hold up at home against a rookie quarterback in his second career start.

It should help that the Steelers will get starting running back Jaylen Warren back from injury. However, the Steelers had struggled to run the ball effectively with Warren leading the workload through four weeks. Last week, though, backup Kenneth Gainwell rushed for 99 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns.

Cleveland Browns (0-4)​

The aforementioned Browns stand on the other side of this week’s divisional showdown, seeking their second taste of victory this season. They came up just four points short against the Minnesota Vikings last week in London, watching a fourth-quarter lead escape them and failing to score in the final frame.

All eyes were on Gabriel in his first career start. In a tough matchup against a formidable defense, Gabriel look mostly competent — completing 19-of-33 passes with two touchdowns and no turnovers. Despite his efforts and another strong performance from running back Quinshon Judkins (128 yards on 24 touches), the Browns still failed to exceed the 17-point mark. They’ve yet to score more than 17 points through five games.

Gabriel and company will look to break this streak against the Steelers. The Browns will certainly want to give Judkins another healthy diet of carries to try to alleviate pressure on their rookie quarterback in his first road start in a hostile environment. The Browns’ defense will likely give them a chance to be within striking distance late in the game. If Gabriel can play mistake-free football again and the Browns are able to run the ball, the recipe for an upset is there.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)​

The Bengals’ slide continued last week in a 13-point loss at home against the Detroit Lions. The deficit was much larger until a couple of late scores closed the gap, but Cincinnati’s comeback effort was to no avail. Since their Week 2 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Bengals have now lost three straight games and been outscored by a combined 113 to 37 points.

Backup Jake Browning struggled again in Week 5 with another three-interception performance. The Bengals had stood by Browning for three weeks but this was evidently the final straw. Earlier this week, they made a trade with the Browns to acquire veteran Joe Flacco — a rare inter-division trade for a quarterback. Flacco was immediately named the starter for this upcoming week.

Flacco hasn’t performed very well himself this season but may give the Bengals’ offense more juice. The 40-year-old former Super Bowl MVP still has a strong arm and now has a much-improved group of weapons around him in Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown, among others. His first test with the Bengals will come against the Green Bay Packers, who he just beat a few weeks ago in a 13-10 upset.

The Packers are well-rested off a bye week and hungry for a victory at home after losing and tying in back-to-back games. Their defense allowed 40 points against the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago, showing cracks that an elite group of Bengals’ pass-catchers may be able to exploit if Flacco can limit turnovers. Another big factor continues to be Cincinnati’s quest to find more success in the running game, which they have to hope the shakeup at quarterback will help with.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...oulette-continues-as-browns-steelers-face-off

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens release promising Thursday injury report

The Baltimore Ravens had several positive updates on their Thursday injury report, including returns to practice by cornerback Marlon Humphrey and fullback Patrick Ricard.

Safety Kyle Hamilton was upgraded to full participation; he is trending towards playing against the Rams on Sunday after missing last week’s game vs. the Texans.

There was some concern about the Ravens’ offensive tackle depth after left tackle Ronnie Stanley, right tackle Roger Rosengarten, and swing tackle Joe Noteboom were all limited in Wednesday’s practice. All three were upgraded to full participation on Thursday, which will be crucial against a ferocious Rams pass rush.

Here is the Ravens’ full Thursday injury report for Week 6:

Full participation

• S Kyle Hamilton (groin)
• OT Emery Jones (shoulder)
• OT Joseph Noteboom (ankle)
• OT Roger Rosengarten (knee)
• OT Ronnie Stanlye (ankle)

Limited participation

• WR Zay Flowers (shoulder)
• CB Marlon Humphrey (calf)
• FB Patrick Ricard (calf)
• WR Devontez Walker (limited)

Did not participate

• CB Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring)
• G Ben Cleveland (NIR-personal)
• QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring)
• LB Roquan Smith (hamstring)

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...vens-release-promising-thursday-injury-report

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens waive Reuben Lowery, activate 3 players from practice squad for Week 6

The Baltimore Ravens waived undrafted rookie safety Reuben Lowery ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Rams, creating a spot on the 53-man roster for nose tackle C.J. Okoye.

The Ravens also elevated quarterback Tyler Huntley and safety Keondre Jackson from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. Huntley will back up Cooper Rush while Jackson will contribute on special teams.

Okoye was elevated from the practice squad for the last two games amid the Ravens’ injury crisis along their defensive line. He could not harness his massive 6-foot-6, 370-pound frame into splash plays, but he effectively ate space in the trenches against the run. Developing young players for 2026 and beyond has quietly become an important part of the Ravens’ season, and Okoye is one who could play a bigger role in the future.

Lowery was put in a tough spot for his first career start against the Texans in Week 5. He filled in for an injured Kyle Hamilton and gave up two touchdowns in coverage, but it is difficult to malign his performance when considering the rest of the Ravens’ secondary this year.

Lowery should have a chance to stay in Baltimore on the practice squad if he goes unclaimed on waivers, which feels likely given last week’s struggles. He looked like a promising playmaker in spring and summer practices, and it is far to early to give up on a rookie safety after one start.

It is fair to wonder why the Ravens did not just use Okoye’s third practice squad elevation and keep Lowery on the active roster for special teams. Jackson can fill a role on every special teams unit, while Lowery only contributes to kick coverages and returns. The latter was on the active roster for his defensive contributions, but with Alohi Gilman now playing as the Ravens’ third safety, Jackson’s special teams presence is more valuable on game day.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...vate-3-players-from-practice-squad-for-week-6

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

4 Keys to Victory against the Los Angeles Rams

The Baltimore Ravens are in dire straits. Trapped at 1-4 and staring down into the abyss, they desperately need a win against the Rams. It’s not going to be easy with a number of players still sidelined. Let’s go over some of the Ravens’ keys to success in Week 6.

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1) ESTABLISH. THE. RUN.​

The talk all last week was how the Ravens should focus on getting Derrick Henry and the run game going with Lamar Jackson being out and the recent struggles. The Ravens did manage to get Henry to carry the ball 15 times, but it was for a measly 33 yards, one of Henry’s worst career performances ever. The Ravens’ offensive line created nothing for Henry, who was hit behind the line of scrimmage all game. Todd Monken did not look to Keaton Mitchell to generate some momentum for the run game, either.

There’s been a lot of talk recently about offensive line changes, but no matter who is blocking, the Ravens have to find a way to establishing something on the ground this week. Even if they are down by 20 by the second quarter, they should remain stubborn about running the ball. The Ravens need to throw the whole playbook at this game: counter, traps, whams, duo, and toss sweeps. Get Henry and whoever plays on the line moving forward towards the next game when Jackson hopefully returns. Twenty carries for Henry, minimum.

2) Cover Puka Nacua​

Puka Nacua is the biggest part of the Rams’ offense this season. He is on pace for 210 targets and 1999 yards this season, both NFL records if he keeps it up. The Ravens, of course, have been awful at limiting teams through the air, allowing 262.4 passing yards per game. That has created real buzz about Nacua’s potential to set a single-game receiving record.

The Rams will feed Nacua, just as they have all season, and the Ravens have to figure out a way to stop him. The problem is, no defense in the league has been able to even slow Nacua down this year – his worst game featured 10 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. At this point, schematic tweaks will probably not be enough. Zach Orr has to be willing to devote extra resources – including consistent double-coverage on key passing downs – to keep the Rams’ best player from beating him singlehandedly.

3) Get up early​

If the Ravens have any shot at winning, two things have to happen early. The defense needs to get a quick stop early, and the offense has to put up a touchdown. Last week, the Ravens defense started the game by allowing a 10-play, five-minute touchdown drive to the Texans. The Ravens offense followed that with a seven-plus-minute, 12-play drive, but it ended in a field goal. Not good enough.

The Ravens defense has played some of the most snaps of any unit in football. They have not been able to get off the field, and the offense has failed to sustain drives and lost the time-of-possession battle. Their interplay has been the opposite of complementary football, but they need to find some synergy on Sunday. Baltimore can’t expect Cooper Rush to chase Matthew Stafford if the Rams get a big lead early like the Texans did. Finding a stop and putting up seven early is paramount to slowing down and staying in the game.

4) Blitz all day​

The Ravens have one of the worst pass rushes in the National Football League. The injury to Nnamdi Madubuike has had massive ramifications for this defense that can’t be fixed without an injection of talent that’s not coming any time soon. Since then, the Ravens haven’t been able to generate pressure with four rushers. Odafe Oweh was not living up to expectations, but he was still the team’s second-most proven pass rusher before he was traded to the Chargers. Kyle Van Noy is now the defense’s only consistent source of pressure, as Travis Jones has been constantly double-teamed and other young pass rushers like Mike Green and Tavius Robinson have not stepped up as expected.

Having found no success with a four-man rush, Orr has to change it up. The new Ravens defense has to be one that sends extra rushers all game, every week. The Falcons currently lead the NFL in blitz rate through Week 5 at 41.1%, and the Ravens should try to obliterate that mark over the rest of the season. With two new safeties in town, Kyle Hamilton can move into the box and take on more blitzing duties. Other second-level players like Marlon Humphrey, Teddye Buchanan, and Trenton Simpson should also be sent after opposing quarterbacks in the hopes of forcing the turnovers that underdogs need to win.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...-keys-to-victory-against-the-los-angeles-rams

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens lose one safety on waivers, another from practice squad

The Ravens lost two safeties on Monday with the Colts claiming Reuben Lowery off waivers and the Broncos signing J.T. Gray from the practice squad. The first move appeared on the NFL’s daily transaction wire, while the second was reported by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

Lowery made Baltimore’s 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie after a strong showing in spring practices and a solid performance in the preseason. In the first four weeks of the regular season, he was a healthy scratch twice and played only a handful of snaps in his two appearances. Lowery started in place of an injured Kyle Hamilton in Week 5 and allowed five catches on six targets, including two touchdowns.

The Ravens acquired veterans C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Alohi Gilman last week, signaling that Lowery would probably not be in their safety plans moving forward. He is also not an all-purpose special teams contributor with his regular season action limited to kick coverages and returns. As a result, he was waived on Saturday as part of Baltimore’s Week 6 roster moves.

Baltimore may have wanted to retain Lowery on their practice squad after he impressed enough to beat out 2024 UDFA Beau Brade for a roster spot in training camp. He did not fit the team’s current needs, but the Ravens have developed plenty of unheralded, undersized defensive backs into rotational contributors. Lowery will now try to make an impression in Indianapolis where he will likely compete with fellow undrafted rookie safety Trey Washington for playing time.

Gray was a surprise cut by the Saints before the regular season and the Ravens quickly swooped in. John Harbaugh indicated that the veteran special teams ace would contribute right away, but he was not elevated from the practice squad for Weeks 1 or 2. Gray then landed on the practice squad injured reserve and did not return to practice before he was poached by the Broncos.

In Denver, Gray will reunite with head coach Sean Payton and special teams coordinator, Darren Rizzi, two of his coaches from his time in New Orleans. He will likely take on a core special teams role as soon as he is healthy.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...safety-on-waivers-another-from-practice-squad

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens vs Rams: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Baltimore Ravens fell to 1-5 on Sunday with a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Unlike their Week 5 showing against the Texans, there were actually some positives to take away from Baltimore’s performance, but as in any loss, there were still plenty of negatives. Let’s get into them!

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The Good​

Derrick Henry: One of the biggest issues with the Ravens offense in their recent losses was the lack of focus and rhythm in the running game, especially last week with a backup quarterback. On Sunday, the Ravens seemed absolutely intent on rectifying that. Henry was a focal point for much of the game, except for a goal-to-go situation before the half (more on that later) and a few pass-heavy drives in the fourth quarter. Henry had 24 carries for 122 yards, good for 5.1 yards per carry. The explosive gains weren’t there yet – his longest rush was only 12 yards – but it’s the best this run game has looked since Week 1. Hopefully the team can build off it going forward.

DeAndre Hopkins: He continues to see limited targets each week compared to his output, but it seems like he makes a spectacular catch every game. Some call it ‘vintage Hopkins’, but in reality, that version of him didn’t go anywhere. It will be great to see QB1 targeting him again soon.

Defense: It wasn’t clean. Heck, it probably wasn’t even good. But compared to how it’s been, this is the best the defense has looked all season outside of Week 2 against the Browns. They were aided heavily by missed throws, dropped passes, and Rams’ penalties, but the Ravens defense had some of the tightest coverage all season and finally managed to have some success against the run again. Matthew Stafford only passed for 181 yards, and the Rams only ran for 74 yards as a team. Even Marlon Humphrey looked better than his pre-injury form. The pass rush is still basically nonexistent despite the two sacks on the stat sheet, but so expect the Ravens may need to make some personnel and scheme changes during the bye week.

Tyler Loop: Loop passed another test on Sunday with the wind swirling at M&T Bank Stadium. He was only asked to make three kicks – a 37-yard field goal and two kickoffs – but he delivered all three times. Crucially, he drove the ball through the wind to avoid another kickoff penalty, something he struggled with early in the year.

LaJohntay Wester: Wester has been fairly consistent in his rookie season as the punt returner without dazzling the way he did in the preseason. But he was in the spotlight for the wrong reason on Sunday with a fumble on his first punt return. Luckily, it was called back due to a penalty. Wester bounced back on the re-punt with a 35-yard return that gave the Ravens their best field position of the day.

Lamar Jackson: The best part of this game came after it ended when head coach John Harbaugh confirmed that Jackson was expected after the bye week. While this has been the expectation, it was nice to hear the head coach say it out loud. The Ravens are 1-5, and their only chance of making a playoff run is with Jackson under center.

The Bad​

Cooper Rush: Rush wasn’t terrible, but he wasn’t good, either. He hit a couple of throws and missed others with a terrible interception to a tightly-covered Zay Flowers. Overall, it did not seem Rush was going through his progressions; his best plays were on quick reads. He also got the Rams to jump on two straight plays to turn a 3rd-and-8 into a first down.

Unfortunately, there’s a clear disconnect between what the offense needs at quarterback and what Rush can do. He hasn’t protected the ball well or run the offense cleanly for more than a few drives. There was a clear spark when Tyler Huntley entered the game in the fourth quarter, and while he still committed the cardinal sin of throwing the ball away on fourth down, he’s clearly a better fit for this offense. Rush had a 53.1 PFF grade compared to Huntley’s 66.2. They both finished with the same passing grade but Huntley adds the element of the run game that Rush simply can’t replicate. The Ravens should probably make Huntley the top backup and see if they can get a return on Rush elsewhere, or at least move on from him in the offseason.

The edge rushers: Injuries have played a big role in the Ravens’ struggles this season, especially along the defensive line. Now the outside linebacker room is shorthanded as well. Adisa Isaac is missing much of his second season from a preseason injury, just like his rookie year. Kyle Van Noy was sidelined for a few games, and though Odafe Oweh was not living up to expectations, trading him did thin the team’s OLB depth.

To make matters worse, Tavius Robinson suffered a broken foot on Sunday, leaving the Ravens with only Van Noy, Green, and David Ojabo on the roster. Green has been disappointing considering his draft billing; the same has been true of Ojabo for years. Even Van Noy was not his usual self against the Rams. In fact, none of Baltimore’s edge rushers generated a single pressure on Sunday, an ugly stat that summarizes this group this season.

The Ravens have the time to figure out how they are going to reinforce this position during the bye week, and they will need to find answers in the long-term as well.

The Ugly​

Goal line play calling: It was the biggest blunder of the game. The defense managed to hold the Rams’ to three points the entire first half, but the Ravens had only managed a single field goal of their own. Following Wester’s bounce-back punt return, Derrick Henry ran the ball five straight times to get the Ravens to the one-yard line. Then came a cacophony of madness. Instead of allowing Henry to finish his drive, they ran their tush-push play with Mark Andrews under center two times. Both were stuffed. Then instead of just running it a third time to go a half yard into the end zone, they chose to go back to Henry on fourth down. The offensive line collapsed and Henry was stuffed for a two yard loss. This was arguably the most impactful sequence of the game. Instead of going into the half up 10-3, the Ravens stayed tied with the Rams, who got the ball coming out of halftime.

Baltimore has struggled in the red zone all year, and Monken’s play-calling has drawn a lot of criticism, especially the decision not to go to Henry. But a lack of consistency might be the bigger issue. Why can the Ravens run their tush push sometimes and not others? Why does their 250-pound running back get stuffed at the goal line? The Ravens do not have answers to these questions, and it felt like they panicked after the tush push did work. Instead, they should have picked a plan from second down and stick with it. Either run Henry three times or run the push play three times. Don’t do one twice then hope the other can save your failures on fourth down.

Fumbles: The Ravens were actually in this game for longer than expected. Despite the aforementioned goal line sequence, the defense kept the Rams to three points in the first half. Los Angeles scored on the opening possession of the second half, and rather than responding with points, Zay Flowers lost the football on the first play of the Ravens’ next drive. The Rams recovered and followed it up with a touchdown. Now down 17-3, the Ravens responded with a 13-play drive that got inside the Rams’ 30 yard line. With a chance to make it a one score game, Cooper Rush and Flowers mishandled a jet sweep handoff, fumbling it away once more. The defense perform admirably, but the offense quite literally dropped the ball.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...avens-vs-browns-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens expecting Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith back after Week 7 bye

The Ravens are 1-5, coming off their fourth straight loss, and facing a long, uphill battle just to make the playoffs.

In other words, Lamar Jackson’s return cannot come soon enough.

Fortunately for Baltimore, Jackson should be ready to play after the team’s Week 7 bye, according to John Harbaugh. Following Sunday’s loss to the Rams, he said that Jackson and linebacker Roquan Smith would both “be back” after the bye.

Jackson and Smith both suffered hamstring injuries during the Ravens’ Week 4 loss to the Chiefs. The exact nature of Jackson’s injury was never disclosed, while Smith’s was reported to be a Grade 2 strain.

The importance of Jackson’s return cannot be overstated. The Ravens offense was struggling to find a rhythm even before Jackson went down; with the two-time MVP sidelined, the unit collapsed outright. Without him, Baltimore managed just 13 points and 507 total yards while committing six turnovers and missing far too many opportunities. Backup Cooper Rush started both games and threw four interceptions on just 29 passing attempts; on Sunday, he was benched in the fourth quarter for Tyler Huntley.

Smith may not have been playing his best football to start the season, but the team is still better off with him on the field. Teddye Buchanan and Trenton Simpson have both performed admirably with solid efforts against the run, but the Ravens need Smith to get back to his All-Pro form to turn the defense around. He will likely re-take the green dot upon his return.

On Monday, Harbaugh made it clear just how much he wanted his star quarterback back on the field.

“If I was on the couch with a psychiatrist right now, if I was spilling it, I would have to say I’m leaning really hard into [Jackson’s return], really hard,” said Harbaugh. “For any kind of psychological wellbeing, spiritual wellbeing, I’m leaning hard on that happening. So, I’m very hopeful that that happens.”

The rest of Baltimore probably feels the same way.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...ar-jackson-roquan-smith-back-after-week-7-bye

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

AFC North Recap: Week 6

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1)​

The Pittsburgh Steelers returned from their Week 5 bye with a 23-9 divisional win over the Cleveland Browns. For the first time this season, the Steelers are now the betting favorites to win the AFC North following their win on Sunday.

Aaron Rodgers was efficient against the Browns, completing 21 of 30 passes for 235 yards and a pair of touchdowns while avoiding being sacked at all by Cleveland’s dangerous front. One of Rodgers’ touchdowns went to wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, who led the team with 95 receiving yards. The Rodgers-Metcalf connection has been strong for the Steelers in the duo’s first five games together.

Pittsburgh’s defense made life hard for rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel while also limiting the Browns’ rushing attack to just 65 yards on the day. The Steelers sacked Gabriel six times, with two each from cornerback Jalen Ramsey and outside linebacker Nate Herbig.

The Steelers have a quick turnaround this week as they travel to take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football, with a chance to extend their AFC North lead.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)​

The Bengals had a new, but all-too-familiar face at quarterback this week, as veteran Joe Flacco made his Cincinnati debut after being traded from the Browns. The 40-year-old quarterback led the Bengals to an attempted comeback late in the game against the Green Bay Packers but was ultimately unsuccessful, losing 27-18.

Flacco finished the game 29 of 45 for 219 yards and two touchdowns while being sacked just once. He connected with superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase 10 times for 94 yards and a touchdown while also finding Tee Higgins five times for 62 yards. Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki left the game with a pectoral injury and has since been placed on injured reserve. Star defensive end Trey Hendrickson also exited with a back injury.

Hendrickson has been a rumored trade target for teams around the NFL ahead of the trade deadline, though reports indicate that the Bengals are unwilling to move him. Cincinnati will need rookie first-rounder Shemar Stewart to step up on Thursday against Pittsburgh if Hendrickson is unable to go.

Baltimore Ravens (1-5)​

The Baltimore Ravens dropped their fourth game in a row with a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. At 1-5 now, the Ravens are no longer the favorites to win the division.

While Baltimore showed more fight this week against the Rams than they did in last week’s 44-10 loss to the Houston Texans, mistakes were once again the talking point. Quarterback Cooper Rush threw another interception — his fourth in two games as the starter — while wide receiver Zay Flowers put the ball on the ground twice, though the second one ended up as a charged fumble against Rush instead. Rush was replaced by third-string quarterback Tyler Huntley late in the game.

One positive takeaway for the Ravens was the improved showing by Zach Orr’s defense — albeit aided by a few mistakes from the Rams — as well as the reemergence of the rushing attack with Derrick Henry going for 122 yards on 24 carries. Baltimore enters a much-needed bye week now with the hope of getting several injured players back on the other side, most importantly, quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Cleveland Browns (1-5)​

The second start for Cleveland rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel did not go well, as the Browns dropped to 1-5 and 0-3 in the division with a 23-9 loss to the Steelers.

While Gabriel did not turn the ball over, the rookie out of Oregon struggled to connect with his targets in the passing game throughout the day, finishing 29 of 52 for 221 yards and zero touchdowns while being sacked six times. Standout second-round rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was also bottled up on the ground, rushing 12 times for just 36 yards. Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. led the team with 81 receiving yards on seven catches. Fannin could be relied upon more going forward, as fellow tight end David Njoku left the game with a knee injury.

After the game on Sunday, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin shared his opinion on Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry trading Flacco to a divisional rival.

“Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us, because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening-day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that area,” Tomlin said. “But that’s just my personal feelings.”

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/baltimore-ravens-news/76617/afc-north-recap-week-6

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens Reacts Survey Week 7

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ravens fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The Baltimore Ravens are 1-5 with their season slowly slipping away. Their offense currently ranks 28th in passing yards and ninth in rushing yards, while their defense ranks 29th against the pass and 26th against the run.

Sure, Lamar Jackson is expected to return after the their Week 7 bye, but will that be enough to turn things around in Baltimore? Should the Ravens seek to add an impact player before the trade deadline, likely on defense, or should they part ways with some expiring contracts to give them more draft capital to retool for 2026?

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/baltimore-ravens-opinion/76644/ravens-reacts-survey-week-7

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens’ updated postseason, Super Bowl odds

The Baltimore Ravens entered the 2025 season tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the best odds to win Super Bowl LX at +700.

Oh, how things have changed.

The Ravens are now +2000 to win the Super Bowl this season, tied for the 10th-best odds with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. That is somewhat impressive considering the fact that Baltimore is 1-5 and currently projected for the No. 3 pick in the 2026 draft.

Oddsmakers are clearly expecting Lamar Jackson to come back strong in Week 8 and take advantage of a weaker schedule for the rest of the season. The Ravens’ remaining schedule is the seventh-easiest based on opposing win percentage (via Tankathon) and ninth-easiest based on ESPN’s Football Power Index.

Obviously, the Ravens’ poor start to the season has greatly reduced their other futures odds:

To make the playoffs

Preseason: -590

Week 7: +110

To win the AFC North

Preseason: -155

Week 7: +170

Season wins over/under

Preseason: 10.5 (-210/+175)

Week 7: 8.5 (-110/-110)

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...664/ravens-updated-postseason-super-bowl-odds

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

AFC North Preview, Week 7: Steelers look to continue strengthening their grip

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) ​

With another victory this past Sunday out of the bye week, their third in a row, the Steelers have muti-game lead for the division lead. They have an opportunity to widen the gap even further on Thursday night by beating the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. The Steelers took care of business against the Cleveland Browns last week by 14 points, earning their first divisional win of the year.

Aaron Rodgers has strung together consecutive solid performances and has played pretty efficient football for most of the team’s first five games. That’s helped the offense score between 21-24 points in each of the past three games, which has been enough for victories thanks to strong defensive efforts. The Steelers are still looking for more success in the running game, which could come versus the Bengals this week.

After facing a newcomer at quarterback in Dillon Gabriel last week, the Steelers will take on a very familiar foe in Joe Flacco. The Steelers’ pass rush should have plenty of chances to get home against a less mobile quarterback like Flacco, but the Bengals’ offense still poses a threat thanks to their elite receiving core.

T.J. Watt has begun to look like his prime self again in recent weeks with 3.5 sacks and three pass breakups over the Steelers’ three-game winning streak. Another positive development has been D.K. Metcalf’s emergence, as the No. 1 wideout has 221 yards combined with nine catches and two touchdowns since Week 5.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)​

On the other side of this week’s divisional Thursday night showdown are the aforementioned Bengals, who are losers of four straight games. The quarterback change from Jake Browning to Flacco had a minimal impact this past week, as the team scored just 18 points in a nine-point loss to the Green Bay Packers. All 18 of their points came in the second half while trailing.

The Bengals did manage to make the game more competitive than many expected and were within one score of the Packers for a chunk of the second half, though. With some extra days now for Flacco to integrate more in the offense and acclimate to his pass-catchers, the hope is that they can find more explosive plays and consistency.

It’s a broken record to keep making the point, but the Bengals are still in desparate need of some rushing production to take pressure off the quarterback and pass-catchers. Chase Brown nor any other rusher has not exceeded 47 yards on the ground in a single game so far this season. The Bengals need to do a better job in the run blocking department starting this week against the Steelers.

A silver lining the past two weeks despite consecutive losses has been Ja’Marr Chase’s ability to remain super productive. Chase had 10 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown against the Packers, one week after 110 yards and two scores versus the Detroit Lions. Chase will need to be heroic to help out Flacco and give the Bengals a fighting chance to earn an upset against the Steelers.

Cleveland Browns (1-5)​

Like the Bengals, the Browns are also on a losing streak after dropping their third consecutive contest in Pittsburgh last week. The Browns’ offense scored a season-low nine points and have now failed to exceed 17 points in 11 straight games dating back to last year — a streak indicative of the team’s offense struggles through multiple quarterback and personnel changes.

While he managed to avoid turnovers again in his second career start, Garbiel threw 52 passes and completed just 29 of them for 221 yards. That formula is not a recipe for success. The Browns were forced into pass-happy mode because they were stifled on the ground. As a team, they ran for 65 yards on 17 carries. Quinshon Judkins received only 12 rushing attempts after exceeding the 20-carry mark the week prior.

They’ll certainly look to find greater run-pass balance this week against the Miami Dolphins, who are another struggling 1-5 team in their own right. The Browns are at home and have the defensive makeup to potentially cause issues for the Dolphins’ offense, especially if they can force Tua Tagovailoa (seven interceptions) into mistakes. Miami still has potent playmakers even without Tyreek Hill, though, so it won’t be an easy test.

If the Browns can run the ball more effectively and play mistake-free offensive football again, they should have a chance to finally break through and cross the 17-point threshold. The Dolphins have allowed 21+ points in five straight games and 27 and 29 points over the past two weeks, respectively.

Baltimore Ravens (1-5)​

The Ravens are on a bye week after losing their fourth straight game last Sunday and falling to 1-5. If the Browns win on Sunday, the Ravens would be in sole possession of the fourth place in the division.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/g...ers-look-to-continue-strengthening-their-grip

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Updated return timelines for injured Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are expecting to be significantly healthier after their Week 7 bye with Lamar Jackson and Roquan Smith both expected to return in Week 8.

The statuses of several other injured Ravens were also updated this week. Here are the latest return timelines:

OLB Tavius Robinson

Robinson suffered a broken foot on Sunday against the Rams, but John Harbaugh said on Monday that it would not end his season. Instead, it will be a six- to eight-week recovery time, “very similar” to Isaiah Likely’s injury in training camp.

Robinson will likely be placed on injured reserve before Baltimore’s next game, sidelining him until at least Week 12. He could return to practice ahead of the Ravens’ Week 13 Thanksgiving matchup against the Bengals, but the team will not rush him back on a short week.

The third-year outside linebacker entered the season with high expectations after showing clear development in 2024 and receiving plenty of praise from the coaching staff this offseason. Despite a significant increase in playing time after Kyle Van Noy’s injury, Robinson has not had a consistent impact as a pass rusher or run defender. The Ravens will still need to find a way to replace his snaps and hope he can be a part of a late-season charge for the playoffs.

OLB Adisa Isaac

Isaac suffered a dislocated elbow in the preseason that required surgery. He landed on injured reserve with a return designation before final roster cuts, guaranteeing an absence of at least four games. He was eligible to return to practice in Week 5, but will still need at least a month before returning to the field.

“[Isaac] is not finished for the year,” said Harbaugh this week. “They’re talking about maybe mid-November or late November for Isaac, possibly.”

Unlike Robinson, Isaac cannot be expected to take on a significant role when he returns. The 2024 third-round pick already missed most of his rookie year and will have missed at least half of his second season by the time he is back on the field. The Ravens will be hoping that Isaac can quickly rise to the challenge, especially if he returns before Robinson, and even more so if the team does not made any significant additions to their pass rush before the trade deadline.

FB Patrick Ricard

Ricard’s calf injury has been somewhat of a mystery this year, though Harbaugh has shed some light on the situation in recent weeks. The Ravens were originally expecting a two- to three-week absence before the veteran fullback suffered a setback, delaying him for a few more weeks. He returned to practice last week, but was still ruled out for the game against the Rams. On Monday, Harbaugh indicated that Ricard had recovered from the injury but is still working to get into game-ready condition.

“It’s just a matter of him being comfortable with his level of strength and his ability to perform,” said Harbaugh. “It’s him being able to get out there and push himself through practice and feel like it’s going to stay healthy, feel like he can move and run, change direction and power into people. It’s really up to him.”

That last comment suggests that Ricard has been fully cleared to return to the field, but is still dealing with pain, discomfort, or some other kind of limitation. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic said on the Ravens Collective podcast that he would be surprised if Ricard did not return after the bye, noting that he would be a major addition to a Ravens run game that has been inconsistent without their 300-pound fullback.

CB Chidobe Awuzie

Awuzie is also expected to be back after the bye after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury. He returned to practice last Friday and appeared to be further along than Roquan Smith earlier in the week, per Zrebiec. Smith is slated to play in Week 8, so the same should be true of Awuzie.

The veteran cornerback was quietly off to an excellent start to the year, allowing only 5.9 yards per target as the Ravens’ No. 2 outside cornerback opposite Nate Wiggins. Getting Awuzie back in the mix will be another factor in Baltimore’s defense bouncing back in the second half of the season.

OT Emery Jones Jr.

Jones underwent shoulder surgery in March that sidelined him for all of the Ravens’ spring and summer practices. He began the regular season on the physically unable to perform list and made his practice debut as soon as he was eligible in Week 5.

The third-round pick was a full participant in practice last week and should be activated from the PUP list next week, but he is unlikely to have a game day role anytime soon. Jones only has a few weeks of practice under his belt, not just as a Raven, but as an NFL player.

“It’s hard for a rookie to miss all of training camp, the beginning of the season to come in in-season and truly get grounded in what we’re doing,” said offensive line coach George Warhop on Tuesday. For example, Jones did not participate in pass protection drills in his first two weeks of practice, signaling that he has a ways to go before being ready to make his pro debut.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...8/updated-return-timelines-for-injured-ravens

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens vs. Rams: Week 6 Rookie Report

The Ravens’ rookies played the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in what might have been their second-best defensive performance of the season. The two rookies on special teams probably had the best days of the entire class.

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Malaki Starks​

Starks has taken a lot of heat this season, and rightfully so: the first-round pick hasn’t lived up to expectations. It was another tough day for Starks, with a 43.1 PFF grade. His run, tackling and pass rush grades were all 60.0 or above, but his coverage grade was 43.1.

However, it’s hard to put all of the blame for the team’s defensive woes on him. First, remember that Kyle Hamilton also struggled as a rookie, especially early on, contributing heavily to the blown game against Miami in Baltimore in 2022. Second, he’s a rookie safety playing 100% of snaps with a lot of responsibilities on a bad defense. Right now, the biggest goal for him is to limit devastating mistakes and hope for flashes the rest of the season. Then ideally, an offseason of training and some changes in the organization can prepare him for a big sophomore year.

Mike Green​

Similar to Starks, Green’s rookie season is a disappointment considering the talent that was advertised. Green actually had one of his best days according to PFF, with a 65.0 grade. While he performed well in the other grading categories, the frustrating part is that his pass rush grade was a 55.5, as part of a poor showing by a group of edge rushers that failed to record a single pressure in the game.

Green is firmly entrenched as a high snap count player, with Odafe Oweh being traded away, Tavius Robinson going down with an injury, and Adisa Isaac still weeks away from a return. With only three healthy players, the outside linebacker room is going to get reinforcements during the bye week. Even so, Green’s role and snap count will likely not change much. Similar to Starks, the hope is that Green can show flashes as his rookie season goes on and then an offseason of adding NFL-level strength will boost him into year two.

Teddye Buchanan​

With Roquan Smith still out, Buchanan took 100% of the snaps again like last week. While he once again struggled to process as the top inside backer for the team (a 48.2 run grade and a 62.4 coverage grade), he had a great day showing off his athleticism as a run-and-tackle player (an 81.8 tacking grade and 73.3 pass rush grade). He finished with a team-leading nine tackles along with two pressures, including his first career sack. Smith is expected to return after the bye week, allowing Buchanan to reduce his responsibilities and focus on what he can do to help the team now. Though the team has praised Trenton Simpson’s play since Smith went down, he is more likely to take more snaps as a SAM outside linebacker, further entrenching Buchanan’s role as the ILB2.

Tyler Loop​

It was a pretty uneventful day for Tyler Loop. He hit his only kick on the Ravens’ first drive, good from 37 yards. He didn’t have another kick attempt the rest of the day and was clean on his kickoff attempts once again, no small feat against the wind. With the bye week coming, it wouldn’t shock me if the special teams staff and Loop work on more different types of kickoffs. They will have to weigh the risk of more illegal kickoff penalties in the future against the field position benefits. Some more creative kicks are definitely a possibility coming out of the bye.

LaJohntay Wester​

Wester had his worst moment of the season, fumbling a punt return right before the end of the second quarter and seemingly ending the Ravens’ chance to break out of a 3-3 tie before halftime. Fortunately, the play was called back due to a penalty on the Rams, giving Wester a second try. He didn’t disappoint. The rookie wideout confidently fielded the punt along the sideline, quickly got north and south and showed some wiggle for a 35-yard return. It set the Ravens up for their best opportunity of the day (that they promptly wasted).

Aeneas Peebles​

Peebles was shockingly a healthy scratch against the Rams. With no defensive line call-ups, this left the roster with just four defensive linemen, none of whom were true 3-techs. Predictably, after purposely shorting the unit, Brent Urban went down for a little while, further knocking the group down to just three bodies. Urban did manage to return, luckily, but I don’t predict seeing Peebles being a healthy scratch again soon. The Ravens clearly don’t trust him as a run defender, but bodies and depth are required. Plus, Peebles does bring a certain pass-rush juice and element that the other rostered linemen don’t have, even Travis Jones.

UDFAs:​

With the returns of Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey and the addition of Alohi Gilman, the UDFA roles have plummeted. After Keyon Martin and Reuben Lowery struggled mightily against Houston, the Ravens sought change and found it. Keyon Martin’s role was deleted, playing just one snap with Humphrey’s return to the slot and Hamilton’s role change down into the box. Lowery himself was waived off the roster and then claimed by the Indianapolis Colts, ending his career in Baltimore for now. However, it’s worth remembering that Geno Stone was claimed by the Texans in 2020 before returning to Baltimore and eventually breaking out in 2023. Meanwhile, Jay Higgins never saw the field during the two weeks Roquan Smith has been out and will remain relegated to special teams duties with the veteran expected to return in Week 8.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/baltimore-ravens-news/76614/ravens-vs-rams-week-6-rookie-report