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[Baltimore Ravens]

Fan confidence in Ravens rises after preseason

Earlier this week, we polled Baltimore Ravens fans on how their confidence in the 2025 Ravens compared to earlier in the offseason. The results, brought to you by our sponsor, FanDuel Sporstbook, are in and the majority are more confident than before. In fact, only two-percent of fans had their confidence diminish since the Ravens’ offseason ended.

It’s unsurprising to see fan confidence grow with regard to Baltimore. The team added exciting talent, big names and high-caliber rookies. No major injuries were sustained to the starting roster, though tight end Isaiah Likely isn’t expected to be available at the beginning of the season. Sadly, the team did see a few players land on injured reserve as rookie cornerbacks Robert Longerbeam and Bilhal Kone will be out for the season, and outside linebacker Adisa Isaac will miss some time due to elbow surgery after dislocation.

But with a healthy roster, Lamar Jackson commanding the offense and a hearty crop of star talent remaining on the team, the Ravens appear set for another season with Super Bowl aspirations.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...an-confidence-in-ravens-rises-after-preseason

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Which UDFA will make the biggest impact for the Ravens in 2025?

Earlier this week, the Baltimore Ravens granted spots on the 53-man roster to three different undrafted free agent rookies. Reuben Lowery, Keyon Martin, and Jay Higgins IV each burst onto the scene this summer and exceeded expectations. After making a strong impression in training camp, this trio were leading defensive playmakers for the Ravens in the preseason and made a number of highlight plays.

Ultimately, their performances punched their ticket to the active roster and convinced the Ravens to keep them over some other bubble players. Now that they’re set to be on the 53-man squad for the regular season, the question begs: which of the three UDFAs will make the biggest impact for the Ravens in 2025?

The answer to this will ultimately come down to path to playing time and which player maximizes their snaps the most.

Today’s Question of the Day is:​

Which UDFA will make the biggest impact for the Ravens in 2025?

My Answer: DB Reuben Lowery

From the onset of this spring to now, Lowery has had the most linear and consistent path of the three. He began flashing early on and continued an upward trajectory. His performance in the preseason served to reinforce what he had displayed throughout rookie minicamp and training camp, where he had already begun to emerge as a possible candidate to make the team.

Higgins and Martin came on strong towards the end of the summer and made more of a late push to make the team. That’s especially true for the latter, as Martin originally joined the Ravens after a tryout back in the spring. He climbed in the depth chart in a huge way and his standout preseason showing forced the team’s hand.

In terms of which player has the best path for a starting role and/or significant defensive playing time, that answer is probably Higgins. The Ravens are deeper at both cornerback and safety than they are at inside linebacker, and Higgins could possibly push for snaps alongside Roquan Smith. However, that will only be true if Trenton Simpson again struggles in a starting role and does not progress from last season. Based on what we saw in the preseason, Simpson appears primed to improve.

Lowery, meanwhile, is set for a primary backup free safety role behind Malaki Starks. He’s also versatile enough to play cornerback as well and, as a denominator, will almost surely handle a lot of snaps on special teams. Lowery would only assume starting-caliber reps in the event of an injury to either Starks or Hamilton. However, he could be given a handful of occasional snaps in three-safety alignments alongside this pair.

Martin is almost squarely a nickel/slot defender and his path to playing time likely stems from special teams only, unless there are multiple injuries at the cornerback spot. Between his guaranteed special teams role and potential for an increasing defensive role, Lowery is the safest option to make a consistent impact in 2025.

Do you agree that Lowery will be the biggest contributor between these three? Or do you think Higgins or Martin will make a greater impact? Share your thoughts below and discuss!

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...ake-the-biggest-impact-for-the-ravens-in-2025

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

NFL Week 1 Power Rankings: Baltimore Ravens enter 2025 as consensus Top 5 team

The long offseason has ended and Week 1 has arrived. But before the Baltimore Ravens face off against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football, the pre-Week 1 Power Rankings are here.

Disclaimer: I, Kyle Phoenix, loathe power rankings before games have been played. All power rankings are superficial and Ravens fans are notably uncaring for them. Over my years of consolidating them, fans grow tiresome of them. Wherever the Ravens are ranked, fans are annoyed cause it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is when the Ravens are in the playoffs and can handle what they should have for years now.

This is me getting on my soapbox about power rankings in an area that matters: College Football.

Preseason rankings for College Football are ridiculous. No team should be ranked until the season begins. It only hurts teams before the season starts. Texas was ranked No. 1. Now they’re No. 6. Should they fall that far? Not enough? How would it differ if they were yet to be ranked? Same goes for teams like Utah, or BYU. They both made Top 25 (BYU via Coaches, Utah via AP). Maybe they’d be higher (or lower) depending upon the true outcomes of their respective games, not moving up or down because of preseason rankings based exclusively on their on-paper roster and regime.

Thank you for your time. Now, onto the Ravens’ Week 1 before-they’ve-played-a-game Power Rankings.

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NFL.com: 2

From: Eric Edholm

“The Steelers have Aaron Rodgers, and the Bengals might be due for a bounce-back season, but the Ravens remain my clear favorites in the AFC North right now. Lamar Jackson has played at an MVP level in each of the past two seasons, and the Ravens weren’t as gutted — personnel-wise or in the coaching staff — as they often are in the offseason. Continuity will help Baltimore in its quest for a third straight division title, with the biggest changes arguably coming on special teams. The Ravens have 10 offensive starters back, as well as most of their defense, which performed at a higher level by the end of the 2024 season and still might have some room for improvement. If they get to the bye (Week 7) in decent shape, it should be another strong year.”

ESPN: 1

From: Mike Clay

“This team has it all: an elite coach in John Harbaugh, perhaps the league’s best QB in two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, a terrific offensive supporting cast (led by RB Derrick Henry, WR Zay Flowers, TE Mark Andrews, OT Ronnie Stanley and C Tyler Linderbaum) and a terrific defense that returns 10 of its top 11 snap-getters from 2024 (including stars in S Kyle Hamilton, CB Marlon Humphrey, LB Roquan Smith and DT Nnamdi Madubuike). They also strengthened their secondary by signing cornerback Jaire Alexander.”

Sports Illustrated: 1

From: Conor Orr

“If I had to evaluate an offense and a defense in totality, excluding any prior narratives the team has amassed, the Ravens would be the most sensible selection for the Super Bowl. Best defense over the final six weeks of the 2024 season. Second-best offense and second-best quarterback over the same stretch. In addition to that, you look at which team still has the most to grow in terms of potential ceiling and upside. The Ravens check all the boxes.”

The Athletic: 2

From: Josh Kendall

“You know what AFC defensive coordinators weren’t thinking? The Ravens need one more offensive weapon. Too bad, says Keaton Mitchell, who averaged 7.6 yards per carry in the preseason and showed the type of burst he had in 2023, before ACL and PCL injuries. Tight end Isaiah Likely (foot injury) is starting the season on the 53-man roster, but his status is murky.”

Yahoo! Sports: 2

From: Frank Schwab

“In Week 1, the Ravens play at the Bills, and in Week 4 they’re at the Kansas City Chiefs. Those two games will be massive in ultimately determining seeding in the AFC. Baltimore also faces the Lions in Week 3. The Ravens will be under a lot of pressure in September.”

The Ringer: 4

From: Diante Lee

“You can make an argument that all three of the AFC’s top contenders should be tied in the rankings heading into Week 1. And one could make an even more compelling argument that Baltimore is the most talented of the Big Three. With two-time MVP Lamar Jackson in his prime, a still elite Derrick Henry, and the best defensive depth chart in football, all the necessary pieces are there. This offseason was about continuity and building on the foundation that Baltimore has built over the past couple of seasons. The Ravens should dominate again in the regular season, but it’ll be hard for them to leapfrog over rivals Buffalo and Kansas City until they do something convincing on the field this fall.”

The Sporting News: 3

From: Vinnie Iyer

“The Ravens will be right there trying to take down the Chiefs and Bills again with their two-time MVP, Lamar Jackson, coming off his best overall season. The Buffalo-Baltimore matchup will set the tone early.”

CBS Sports: 5

From: Pete Prisco

“Talent, talent and more talent. Now they just have to get it done in the playoffs. They will be a deep playoff team and should push for the Super Bowl.”

USA Today: 2

From: Nate Davis

“Looking for a flaw here? They didn’t manage to get in on the Parsons sweepstakes, otherwise … The biggest issue facing Baltimore presently might be avoiding boredom in September and October − and the Ravens have been known to strike some easily avoidable early schedule potholes in past seasons.”

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...-power-rankings-baltimore-ravens-open-2025-as

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

What roles will the Ravens’ UDFAs have in 2025?

Three undrafted free agents (UDFAs) made the Baltimore Ravens’ 2025 squad. It’s an incredible feat considering just how stacked the roster was heading into the summer, where the idea of even one making it seemed a long shot.

However, Reuben Lowery, Jay Higgins IV, and Keyon Martin are here to stay. Now, we figure out what they can do to help the team.

To start, there’s a good chance that all three of these guys could be gameday scratches. A team can only dress 48 players each game, meaning five players from a 53-man roster are scratched each game and more if practice squad elevations occur. Injuries and healthy scratches will make up that list.

Rookie offensive tackle Carson Vinson will likely be a healthy scratch for the entire year as a redshirt season, and tight end Isaiah Likley could be a scratch for the first couple of weeks. Other injuries could impact the list as well, such as Jaire Alexander. Howeevr, fans should be ready to see the UDFAs miss multiple games this season.

That being said, the most immediate way that Lowery, Higgins, and Martin can get snaps is on special teams. Just like defensive coordinator Zach Orr when he first joined the Ravens as a UDFA linebacker, you earn snaps on the defensive side of the ball by dominating on special teams. We saw Martin do this in the last preseason game, stonewalling a gunner during a punt coverage.

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Reuben Lowery​

Lowery was maybe the strongest UDFA of the bunch, with his name being talked about all the way back during rookie minicamp. Many media members mentioned his name for making plays and constantly being around the ball, even getting a shoutout on the Ravens Lounge podcast. He never slowed down, taking the momentum through the summer into training camp and preseason, earning a roster spot, practically kicking last year’s 53-man roster UDFA roster Beau Brade off.

The Ravens have run a ton of three safety sets since Mike Macdonald took over in 2022. That hasn’t changed with Zach Orr as defensive coordinator. As of right now, Sanoussi Kane has the higher possibility of presuming the third safety role, being more of a box player. But Lowery is likely the top backup free safety, with Kane not having much experience as a deep roamer. Lowery will get snaps as a free safety and likely will end the season as the UDFA with most defensive snaps. Lowery also showed a ton of versatility, being praised for playing every position in the secondary during training camp. He’s a potential slot option for the Ravens down the road but another UDFA might get first shot at that.

Because of his versatility, only having four safeties on the roster, and being the top backup free safety option, expect Lowery to be active every game day and get snaps on defense.

Keyon Martin​

Martin’s path to playing time will be a little harder than Lowery’s but that’s nothing new. Martin managed to make the team despite an incredibly deep cornerback room, making the Ravens choose him over veteran Jalyn Armour-Davis. Martin’s path has already been wrought with difficulty, getting only one offer, a rookie minicamp tryout, from one team — the Baltimore Ravens. Not even signed as an initial UDFA, Martin managed to make the squad.

Martin’s path to playing time comes in a unique spot. Amongst this incredibly deep corner room, Martin might be the only pure nickel corner they have. Marlon Humphrey will be the obvious starter at the position, but will likely rotate between there and as one of the top outside corners, opposite Nate Wiggins. Kyle Hamilton plays the slot and Kane and Lowery could offer versatility there. Martin, though, who’s been noted as looking a lot like previous starter Arthur Maulet, is the only pure slot corner the team has.

His route to playing time is clear: contribute and dominate on special teams, and earn the role of top backup for that nickel role behind Humphrey. With Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie’s noted injury histories, there’s going to be games and snaps available when both top backups are sitting.

Martin might be primarily battling T.J. Tampa for playing time. He needs to prove that when a third corner is needed, him in the slot with Humphrey and Wiggins outside is a more productive unit than Humphrey in the slot with Wiggins and Tampa outside. I think there’s a very real chance that Martin in the slot, rotating with Humphrey, and with Humphrey, Wiggins, Alexander, and Awuzie all rotating outside to stay fresh could prove one of the best units in the NFL.

Jay Higgins IV​

Higgins’ has the hardest path to playing time and getting activated on game day. The chance of the Ravens dressing all five inside linebackers is small, especially with all six wide receivers looking like they need to be activated on game day. As the only UDFA in the room, Higgins unfortunately has the short stick. He may have to wait for injuries to pile up for gameday scratches to open a spot for him.

Higgins will look to follow in the footsteps of his defensive coordinator Zach Orr. He will have to dominate on special teams in order to win snaps on the field over Trenton Simpson and fellow rookie Teddye Buchanan. The one advantage Higgins has over the rest of the linebacker room is that he’s considered a pure linebacker.

Zach Orr said rookie ILB Jay Higgins should’ve been drafted. His football IQ and nose for the ball have stood out this summer.

“He’s been a linebacker basically his whole life. … There’s no reason he shouldn’t play a long time in this league.”

Higgins is on the roster bubble. pic.twitter.com/E1DKe4RSF2

— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) August 20, 2025

A lot of linebackers in the NFL, like Simpson and Buchanan, played other positions in college (quarterback, running back, safety, pass rusher) before being moved in college to more inside linebackers roles. Their coaches try to capitalize on their athleticism, turning them into chase linebackers, just running after the play to end it. This isn’t to talk down on Simpson or Buchanan, but it means they could still be learning some of the intricacies of the position still.

Higgins knows the position. Orr noted how Higgins had been an inside linebacker his whole life, knowing how to use his hands to shed blocks, diagnose run plays from linemen and pulls, understands the concepts of zone drops and spots for coverage. It’s something that comes with time and feel at the position. Higgins arguably looked like the best pure linebacker on the field for any team in the preseason.

Higgins has the highest floor and ceiling for the UDFAs this season. He may never get the opportunity because of the players in front of him. It will require injury and flashes on special teams for him to get that chance. Because of the way he plays the position, though, don’t be shocked if Higgins is a starter by the end of the season if he gets the opportunity to show off. I’m sure Orr sees a lot of himself in Higgins and could be willing to give him the opportunity.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...what-roles-will-the-ravens-udfas-have-in-2025

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens injury report: Patrick Ricard remains out; Alexander returns

The first injury report for the Baltimore Ravens of the 2025 NFL season has released. As the team ramps up to Sunday Night Football against the Buffalo Bills, the team is down two quality contributors. Fortunately, cornerback Jaire Alexander has returned.

OUT

• FB Patrick Ricard (calf)
• TE Isaiah Likely (foot)

Limited

• CB Jaire Alexander (knee)
• G Daniel Faalele (illness)

The absence of Likely is expected as he suffered a foot fracture in practice on July 29; he’s yet to return to the practice field. But the continued absence of Patrick Ricard is a curious one. When asked about Ricard and the odds of him returning after missing such a length of time, Harbaugh sidestepped from answering.

“Why don’t we just leave that for later,” Harbaugh said. “I appreciate the question.”

The Ravens did see free agent addition Jaire Alexander return on Wednesday. Harbaugh was asked if Alexander needs to ramp up or if he’s done enough in the training room that it won’t be necessary.

“We’ll see how it goes this week,” Harbaugh answered.

Ravens will face the Bills on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 8:20 p.m. ET.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...-patrick-ricard-remains-out-alexander-returns

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

AFC North Preview, Week 1: Bengals and Browns face off while Ravens, Steelers seek conference wins

The start of the 2025 NFL season is finally here after a long wait. For the AFC North, this season promises to be another one full of promise, notable storylines, and high stakes for all four teams in the division.

Week 1 will see two teams open the year with divisional matchups against each other — the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns — while the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers will each play non-divisional conference foes from the AFC East. Beginning the season with a 1-0 record and getting an early leg up in the standings can go a long way later on down the line.

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Pittsburgh Steelers​

The Steelers will travel to New York and begin their season against the Jets on the road. The biggest storyline between these two teams is the swap of quarterbacks. Last season, Justin Fields was the Steelers’ Week 1 starter while veteran Aaron Rodgers was the Jets’ starting signal-caller. Fast forward to this year and the reverse is now the case.

Rodgers is the newest starting quarterback for Steelers in what’s been a shuffling at the position for the past several years. Pittsburgh is hopeful he will bring stability and increase their offensive ceiling, maximizing what he last left in the tank at age 41. The Steelers re-tooled their skill position groups on offense while also undergoing a remake in the defensive backfield as well.

Despite being the away team in this matchup, the Steelers are favored to win by a field goal. While they’ll be working to incorporate several new pieces on both sides of the ball, the Jets too are transitioning into this season with a new quarterback and new head coach, too. Aaron Glenn’s squad is at a talent deficit at most positions compared to the Steelers but will likely try to make this a low-scoring, gritty type of game to give themselves the best chance to pull off an upset.

Much of the Steelers’ contests last season were of this affair, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see limited offensive fireworks from either team. The Steelers would love to see Rodgers and new pass-catchers D.K. Metcalf and Jonnu Smith to create some explosive plays in the passing game, with Jaylen Warren and company running the ball well against a talented Jets’ defense.

Cleveland Browns​

Following a rollercoaster offseason defined by their quarterback competition, the Browns will look to defy expectations with an upset divisional win in Week 1. The Browns are at home in this matchup but have won just one out of the previous three contests against the Bengals. After finishing with a putrid 3-14 overall record last season, the Browns have been widely predicted to again be one of the lower-win teams in the NFL.

Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco is back as the team’s starter after leading the Browns on a triumphant late-season playoff push two years ago. The Browns’ makeup has changed quite significantly since then, though, and they have a different look on both sides of the ball.

The Browns are hoping their offensive line can bounce-back this season compared to last and help keep Flacco upright, while helping lift an otherwise star power-lacking group of playmakers. Helping their case in this matchup is the Bengals lack of stout defensive talent.

If the Browns can control the ball and keep Cincinnati’s explosive offense off the field, while creating some turnovers and splash plays, they could make this game more competitive than many expect. Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, who may be tasked with shadowing Ja’Marr Chase, will be key. The Browns are underdogs by almost a full touchdown.

Cincinnati Bengals​

On the flip side of the divisional matchup for Week 1 is the Bengals, who will be the road team in the inter-Ohio showdown. The Bengals are looking to exorcise some early-season demons that have plagued them, as they’ve become notorious for getting off to slow starts in recent years. Under head coach Zac Taylor, the Bengals are just 1-5 in regular season opener games.

The stage is set for them to potentially win decisively and set the tone for a bounce-back season. On the heels of consecutive playoff absences, the Bengals are looking to capitalize on an elite offensive attack led by Joe Burrow at quarterback. While the Browns have a good defensive front and some talent in the backend, the Bengals should be able to move the ball and score with Chase, Tee Higgins, Chase Brown and company at the helm.

In contrast, the Bengals’ potential defensive struggles for this season have been well-documented. Their defense performed very poorly in 2024 and on-paper they don’t project to be too much better. The Browns don’t possess the offensive fortitude to put a scare in most opponents, so this will be a good early measuring test to see where the Bengals’ defense stands.

Divisional contests can get weird and wind up competitive regardless of talent discrepancy. If the Bengals get in their own way with careless mistakes or lack of execution, which they’ve done in Week 1 games over the past few seasons, they could find themselves in a close battle come Sunday afternoon.

Baltimore Ravens​

The Ravens are featured in what’s arguably the most anticipated game in all of Week 1. On Sunday night, they’ll travel to Buffalo to take on the Bills — the sight of their divisional round defeat at the end of the last season. Yet again, the Ravens are seeking to avenge a disappointing playoff finish and get over the hump with Lamar Jackson leading the charge.

Both the Ravens and Bills are super bowl favorites and repeat division champions. Jackson and Josh Allen, who narrowly edged out the former in MVP voting last year, are now MVP-winning quarterbacks. The Ravens have a well-rounded roster featuring returning Pro Bowlers and All-Pro talent on both sides of the ball.

The pieces are in-place for the Ravens to again be one of the league’s top teams. This will be a big early-season test against a Bills team returning much of their main core from 2024. It could also go a long way later in the year when tiebreakers come into effect for AFC standing purposes.

The Ravens are mostly healthy for this matchup minus Isaiah Likely and potentially Pat Ricard on offense. They will fortunately have the services of No. 1 wide receiver Zay Flowers, who was absent from the playoff matchup between these teams in January. Jackson and Allen will draw most of the headlines, but who controls the line of scrimmage and limits mistakes will ultimately determine the winner of the game.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...ff-while-ravens-steelers-seek-conference-wins

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens Reacts Survey Week 1

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.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/baltimore-ravens-news/75589/ravens-reacts-survey-week-1

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Two Ravens finish in the Top 10 of the NFL Top 100 2025

The NFL Top 100 has become a popular program that signifies the start of the NFL season in the last couple of years. Whether or not you put any stock into how much it means is up to you. But it is cool that the players are the graders here, something you don’t see all offseason when countless lists and rankings are made by the media, usually with no input from the ones actually on the field.

The at #7 @KingHenry_2 pic.twitter.com/WflhykKmcZ

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 2, 2025

The Ravens had two players in the top 10, starting with running back Derrick Henry in the seventh spot. Henry finished as the second-highest rated running back, behind only Saquon Barkley, who finished in the top spot of the Top 100. Henry finished with the second-most rushing yards with the highest yards per attempt of any back in the league. While he’s heading into his age-31 season, there are no signs of Henry slowing down. He signed an extension with the Ravens back in May and has shut down all discussions regarding his retirement plans.

#1 in our hearts @Lj_era8 pic.twitter.com/cLFe8jH2JW

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 2, 2025

The big news was Lamar Jackson finishing in the #2 spot on the Top 100 list as the top-ranked quarterback. Jackson finished as the first team All-Pro quarterback in 2024 and is now considered the best quarterback heading into 2025 by his peers. Lamar finished with the best TD/INT ratio, the highest passer rating, the highest QBR, the highest yards per attempt, and air yards per attempt. Jackson also led the entire league in yards per attempt rushing and had the most yards rushing amongst all quarterbacks. He was the first quarterback to ever finish with 4000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards. The accolades go on and on from a historical season in 2024 for Lamar Jackson.

.@Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is ranked No. 2 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025!@NFLFilms @Lj_era8 pic.twitter.com/rH4Q6zVVth

— NFL (@NFL) September 2, 2025

The Ravens also finished with two other players landing in the Top 100: newly extended safety Kyle Hamilton was #51, and linebacker Roquan Smith was #40. The biggest snub, in my opinion, was Marlon Humphrey, who led all cornerbacks with six interceptions while being possibly the best nickel corner, while also playing lockdown outside corner.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...-finish-in-the-top-10-of-the-nfl-top-100-2025

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

4 keys to victory against Buffalo

For the second season in a row, the Ravens will open their season on the road against the team that eliminated them in the postseason the year prior. The Ravens travel to Buffalo for a Sunday night matchup against the Bills. Similar to last year, an opening-season victory wouldn’t necessarily erase the demons from last year, but it would set them up well for this season, both for home-field advantage and the mental hurdle.

Let’s talk about the four focuses for walking out 1-0 Sunday night.

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1) Stay Calm!​

This is going to be a theme all year long. This is the best roster in the NFL this season. They have unlimited talent. There are maybe one or two teams across the entire NFL that can truly outplay the Ravens and win if the Ravens are mistake-free. The goal of the 2025 season should be to gain that calm-killer mentality for the playoffs. Being able to play through chaos and play a clean four quarters every game is what this team needs to do week in and week out in order to become the Super Bowl champs they can’t.

The Ravens committed multiple turnovers and mistakes in the playoff match just a few months ago and still barely lost. If the Ravens don’t make mistakes, they could control this game from start to finish.

2) Attack the Bills’ secondary​

When the Ravens beat the Bills in Week 4 of 2024, they ran the ball down their throat. However, Buffalo was also light in their front seven due to injuries. Then the Ravens struggled to be physical at the line of scrimmage in the playoff match and couldn’t get the run game going. Now, heading into this matchup, the Ravens themselves will be without key players, with fullback Pat Ricard and tight end Isaiah Likely ruled out for the game. Both of those guys play roles in the blocking scheme, especiaslly Ricard who allows the run game to have so much diversity.

So intead, the Ravens should focus on the core of Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews through the air. Add in DeAndre Hopkins and Charlie Kolar and the Ravens should be able to take advantage of weaker Bills secondary. Their starting unit is massively injured, missing their first round rookie Maxwell Hairston and former Raven Tre White, leaving little depth behind the remaining starters of Christian Benford and Taron Johnson. Lamar Jackson and coordinator Todd Monken should have their secondary in a blender the entire game considering the prep time.

3) Shut down the run​

A lot of Josh Allen and the Bills’ success in their offense from last year came from the addition of a stabilizing run game. The Bills no longer had to only lean on Josh Allen being Superman to Stephon Diggs. Instead, James Cook, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson formed a good running back room for them, allowing them to have something else to lean on, whether it was the actual ground game or using the backs as pass catchers. While Josh Allen is still the main cog in what Buffalo does, one of the few ways to limit them is to stuff the run game and make them one dimensional.

When the Ravens won in 2024, the Bills had 81 total rushing yards. The Ravens got ahead by multiple scores quick, put the Bills in chase mode and didn’t let their run game get steam. When they lost in the playoffs, James Cook alone had 67 yards and the Bills had a near 150-yard game on the ground. The Ravens need to shut down the run game early, not let the Bills build momentum and get ahead fast, forcing Allen and the offense to chase points. That will allow the Ravens defense to shine, letting the pass rush get after Allen and the secondary be the strength.

4) Handle the pass rush​

One of the few concerns on the Ravens roster is their guard play. Just how good Andrew Vorhees could be is still a question mark, after only playing part of the season last year and winning the left guard job again this year. Daniel Faalele is the weakest part of this offensive line and offense in general, making him a target for defensive coordinators to target. Those two guys working with Tyler Linderbaum on the interior to stymie a good pass rush is just the first of many tests. The interior offensive line is going to have to prove all season long that just because they are the weakest part of the offense, doesn’t mean they are a weak part.

Keeping Lamar Jackson clean and allowing him to work with the receivers could be the biggest difference in this game. If Jackson has time to hit his targets and work his reads, the Ravens offense could dominate this game, forcing Allen and the Bills to chase against what should be one of the best defenses in the league for Baltimore.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/baltimore-ravens-news/75646/4-keys-to-victory-against-buffalo

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens vs. Bills Week 1: Game Thread

The Baltimore Ravens close out the Week 1 slate of Sunday action as they head to New York and face the Buffalo Bills.

For the Ravens, it’s a game of starting strong, playing fast and crossing off the first head-to-head tiebreaker when the season nears its end. But can they do so?

Offensively, the Ravens must execute mistake-free. No ugly interceptions or grave mistakes. Converting third downs and getting into the end zone is critical if they want to win in a hostile environment against one of the best teams in the AFC.

Defensively, the Ravens must prove the investments made across the board are paying immediate dividends. The team drafted rookie Malaki Starks in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. They signed cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie. They selected cornerback Nate Wiggins in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. These players, combined with Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton must secure the back end and give time for the pass rush to get home.

Speaking of the pass rush, it’s not all on the edge rushers of Kyle Van Noy, Odafe Oweh and rookie Mike Green to get home. A lot of praise has been heaped upon defensive tackle Travis Jones. And, the resurgence of defensive end Nnamdi Madubuike must arrive after a bit of down season in 2024.

Special teams will be a factor. The rookie kicker, Tyler Loop, will be called upon at some point in this contest and he’s shown the ability to knock through deep field goals. But when the pressure is on in the regular season and a win is on the line, can he deliver? Can Jordan Stout pin the Bills’ offense deep on unsuccessful drives?

Pre-Game/Commercial Break Content

• Keaton Mitchell, Reuben Lowery III inactive
• How to Watch/Stream/Listen to Ravens vs. Bills
• Bold Predictions
• 4 Keys to Victory

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Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/baltimore-ravens-news/75675/ravens-vs-bills-week-1-game-thread

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

The Ravens continue their collapsing ways

To many, this may feel reactionary. The Ravens lose a heartbreaker and because of it, there’s great displeasure and high emotions. But this isn’t reactionary when it’s the same problem four consecutive years.

Ravens fans are exhausted with the devastating losses because of their frequency. The team gets in their own head. The team can’t get out of their own way. They can’t close games. They, they they. Them, them them.

Yes, both teams get paid to play. Players make plays. But the art of collapsing has been a part of their DNA for multiple years. It’s not a critique; it’s a statement of fact.

Here’s the proof.

Note: These aren’t even the games where they fail to live up to expectations. These are the regular season games where they blow a commanding lead.

2022

2023

2024

2025

Ten times in four seasons they’ve failed to close out the game. Ten times they’ve had their metaphorical foot on their opponent’s neck and pulled off.

John Harbaugh’s 17 blown double digit leads in second half are most since at least 1991

— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) September 8, 2025

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...698/the-ravens-continue-their-collapsing-ways

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens Snap Count Analysis, Week 1: Flowers leads the way, defense labors through high snap total

Offense​

Unsurprisingly, the Ravens’ offensive line went the distance against the Bills with all five starters playing 100% of snaps. Quarterback Lamar Jackson did as well.

After that, the leading snap-getters were the team’s top three pass-catchers. Zay Flowers was on the field for all but five offensive snaps, en route to catching seven passes for 143 yards and a touchdown. Rashad Bateman (37 snaps) and Mark Andrews (38 snaps) each played nearly 75% of snaps but had just three combined catches.

Backup tight end Charlie Kolar played 31 snaps with no targets. Zaire Mitchell-Paden, who was activated from the practice squad, played 15 snaps as a blocker in-place of Patrick Ricard. Newcomer Deandre Hopkins saw only 18 snaps in the No. 3 wide receiver role but had a highlight one-handed touchdown catch for 29 yards.

Derrick Henry ate up just over half of snaps at running back, playing 29 total. He rushed 18 times for 169 yards with two touchdowns. Henry ceded 23 snaps to Justice Hill in hurry-up offense and passing down situations. Rasheen Ali, who usurped Keaton Mitchell (healthy scratch) for the No. 3 running back role, played one offensive snap — which was a rushing attempt he gained five yards on.

Defense​

The Ravens’ defense was on the field for a whopping 85 snaps and wore down late. They were forced back onto the field often late in the fourth quarter when the Ravens’ offense quickly sputtered three consecutive drives. The usual suspects played nearly the entire game, including Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey, and Kyle Hamilton. The latter two briefly missed a couple snaps due to injury before quickly returning.

Nate Wiggins and Malaki Starks each played 84/85 defensive snaps as well in the secondary. Chidobe Awuzie served as the No. 3 cornerback in the rotation, playing a healthy 67 snaps (79%). Fellow newcomer Jaire Alexander, who was nursing an injury for the past several weeks, had a smaller role with 33 total snaps in his debut.

Up front, Travis Jones dominated defensive tackle snaps (67/85) in a now full-time starting role. Nnamdi Madubuike played 59 snaps and Broderick Washington played 34. Veteran John Jenkins and rookie Aeanas Peebles played limited snaps but each reached double digits.

The biggest notable development was at inside linebacker opposite Smith. Trenton Simpson played three less snaps (29 vs. 26) than rookie Teddye Buchanan. They traded off drives and Simpson’s hold on the starting position is evidently not as strong as some perceived.

Odafe Owen surprisingly played 10 less snaps than Tavius Robinson with a 48-to-38 split. Neither made a significant impact in the box score. Oweh was third in snaps at edge rusher in total behind Kyle Van Noy as well, who crossed the 50-snap threshold. Rookie Mike Green saw 26 snaps (31%) in his first regular season game.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...he-way-defense-labors-through-high-snap-total

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

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

The Baltimore Ravens just completed one of the ugliest regular-season losses they’ve ever taken. The Ravens snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as the Buffalo Bills kicked a field goal to win as the timer ticked down to zero. Let’s talk about what happened because there’s a lot of ugly

---

The Good​

Lamar Jackson

There were mistakes up and down the entire Ravens roster. Lamar Jackson might be the only one who’s excused from that. Jackson was near perfect, going 14-19 for 209 yards, two touchdowns through the air, a 144.4 rating, and added another 70 yards and a score on the ground. He couldn’t have done much more to propel the Ravens to victory tonight, and it just wasn’t enough.

The Weapons

The Ravens were missing Flowers in the playoffs last year against the Bills. When this game was going well, it felt like the Ravens should have won last year if Flowers were healthy and there. Flowers went for 143 yards and hit pay dirt with seven catches on nine targets. He had separation all night and looked fantastic.

Derrick Henry was arguably the MVP of the night until his fumble, toting the rock for 169 yards at 9.4 yards a carry and two scores. He joined Walter Peyton on a record list tonight. DeAndre Hopkins had one of the best catches that we’ve ever seen made in a Ravens uniform.

Kyle Hamilton

The defense wasn’t great tonight, to say the least. But Kyle Hamilton was the lone star out there. He was constantly around the ball, making the plays he is known for. He blew up screens and run plays at the line of scrimmage. He broke up passes down the field. He picked off a two-point conversion attempt. He even got a piece of the game-winning field goal, but it wasn’t enough. Hamilton got paid like the highest-paid safety in the NFL and played like it tonight.

The Bad​

Missed Extra Point

Tyler Loop was really good to start his NFL career. He walked into a hostile, playoff environment in his first start and went six for six to open up, nailing field goals from 52 and 49 yards and his first four extra points. But he missed the last extra point. It shouldn’t have mattered; 40 points should have been enough to win any game. But if Loop hits his last extra point, that last field goal from Buffalo only ties the game. That might not have mattered because the Bills were in position to push for a touchdown if they wanted. But it still hurts to know the Ravens lost by one with a missed extra point on the spreadsheet.

The Pass Rush

The Ravens’ pass rush looked ineffective most of the game. It could have been by design, but it felt like the Ravens struggled to get in Josh Allen’s face, and it was frustrating to watch how much time Allen had to throw. The Ravens did eventually get a sack near the end of the game but overall it wasn’t enough. Josh Allen only took 14 sacks last year, less than one a game, so the Ravens were technically better than that. We’ll have to wait to see if the Ravens’ pass rush is something to truly worry about going forward or if it was just this specific game plan.

The Ugly​

The Defense

The Bills’ offense started hot, opening up the game with a quick touchdown drive. Then the Bills scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to finish the game and pull out the win. It wasn’t pretty between those two moments as well. The pass rush struggled to get home to Allen, the secondary struggled to cover, and the linebackers seemed ineffective for the most part. Allowing the last-second field goal to end the first half proved very costly.

For all the emphasis on improving their turnover count, the only one they could come close to was an interception on a two-point conversion, which doesn’t technically count. There were plenty of opportunities as well. But the Ravens, akin to last year, dropped their fair share of interceptions. The Ravens talked all offseason about the defense going from being a shield to the sword. They still need to work on it.

There’s too much talent on this defense for it to continue like this. The Ravens figured it out last year with less talent; they will likely figure it out again this year. They showed flashes. They forced four total punts and, after the first touchdown, had the Bills go three and out twice. They need to find their footing, and fast, with a trip to Kansas City not far behind.

Special Teams and Penalties

Much like last year, these two categories look to still be an issue. Special teams started poorly, with the opening kickoff to Buffalo getting returned to midfield. There were plenty of other mistakes as well: ruining a perfect punt by Stout that should have been down at one, almost committing a blundering punt muff, a kickoff that didn’t make it to the landing zone, and other bad kick coverages. Some of this stuff is fluky, and they did improve as the game went on. But that unit has to be better than last year, and they didn’t start strong.

The Ravens also finished with seven penalties for 51 yards. In a game this close, those things mattered. Penalties were a huge issue last year; the Ravens were one of the most penalized teams in the league. So far, it doesn’t look improved.

Blown Leads

The Ravens led 40-25 in the fourth quarter. Another fourth quarter, double-digit lead that just seemingly disappeared on them. The defense and the offense became conservative once they went up 40-25 with around 10 minutes remaining. They lost their identity. The defense went into soft coverage, allowing the Bills to put up 17 points in the last seven minutes.

The offense was the best unit tonight, but instead of sealing the game, they took their foot off the gas. After their last touchdown, they went three and out and punted. Then they had a two-play drive where Derrick Henry fumbled, which truly let the Bills back into the game. But they got the ball back with less than two minutes remaining and a two-point lead. One first down would have nearly finished the win. Instead, it was a Henry one-yard run, a cutesy Zay Flowers jet sweep that went nowhere, then a dig route to DeAndre Hopkins that was short by three yards. On fourth and three, instead of putting the ball into Lamar Jackson’s hands, the Ravens punted, giving Allen a chance to win the game against a defense that hadn’t found a stop in eight minutes.

The Ravens have lost eight games since 2021 where they had a 90% win probability at some point. John Harbaugh has 17 blown double-digit leads in the second half during his career. They can’t escape the identity at this point and it will prevent Lamar Jackson from winning a Super Bowl ring if they don’t fix it.

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

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Goodbye, Baltimore Beatdown

On June 16, 2014, my first article for Baltimore Beatdown was published; It’s a travesty.

I used a CMS from my personal blogging days, wyomingraven.blogspot.com, then copy-pasted it into Beatdown’s CMS. The formatting is terrible. And now, more than a decade later, half the embeds are gone which makes it look worse. But I cried tears of joy seeing my article and byline on Baltimore Beatdown.

Now, more than a decade later, the tears return as I say goodbye to the site I call home.

This is my final week as the Managing Editor of Baltimore Beatdown.

I was recruited long ago as a poster on the Baltimore Ravens subreddit, r/ravens. Former Managing Editor Matthew Stevens saw my submissions and offered me a tryout. I was overjoyed to join the site I was scraping content ideas from for my blogspot. A few test pieces later, I became a volunteer contributor. A year and a half later, Stevens joined USA Today for their launch of the wire sites, and at 21 years old with only a high school diploma, I was given the keys to Beatdown.

So, I begin my tour of gratitude by thanking Matthew, who gave me a shot. And thank you, Joel Thorman, who called me on January 27, 2016, promoting me to the Managing Editor role.

Because of Stevens, my career path changed. I went from wondering if I’d be bartending in Gillette, Wyoming forever to boundless opportunities, all from him responding to a reddit post. Mind you, there’s nothing wrong with bartending in my hometown. My mother was a bartender for 10+ years. Mama, I Love You so much and am so grateful. Thank you for your support. I’m so proud of you.

Looking over the past decade, there are so many talented individuals who came from Beatdown or made a quick byline stop before surging to their pursuits that I’m proud to have worked beside. Many who are still in media or football. Logan Levy, one of my first hires, is a college offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Jake Louque and Spencer Schultz are a media force with the Exit 52 Podcast; it was apparent when they became a duo that they’d outgrow Beatdown in a hurry. Kyle J. Andrews has covered sports all along the Northeast. Sage D’Amico stopped through for a little over a year to flex her editing prowess (and Kansas fandom) over everyone before heading to bigger ventures. Matt Cohen crushed it at Indiana (!) and now writes preps for The Washington Post.

Without them, Beatdown doesn’t succeed or become what it is today. Thank you for your contributions and brilliance.

Speaking of today, the current crew is some of the longest-tenured members.

Frank, I cannot thank you enough for joining Baltimore Beatdown. We’ve worked side-by-side for years, and your writing and editing were and are essential.

Zach, your fandom is what drives you to be such a great contributor. At its core, SB Nation is a community of fans who deeply care about their team. And you came to Beatdown with a voice needing to be shared. Your passion is a Ley line that connects to this fanbase in a way few others can.

Dustin, your contributions to the site over the years have kept me grounded. But more important than your work is who you’ve become. You joined Beatdown as a young adult and now you’re a husband and father! It’s incredible! I’m so happy to have been within digital distance of you.

It’s because of these individuals who are here that I depart from Baltimore Beatdown confident in the site’s future. Because of those named above (and the ones who weren’t), that Beatdown will become something more.

Baltimore Ravens fans, I love you. Baltimore Beatdown fans, I love you. It was providing you with the answers and content that drove me to getting my college degree and moving my life to Maryland. To gain credentials and being a part of the press corps. To working with some of the greatest journalists in sports. I loved it all. It’s because of you, your interaction and involvement, that it was possible.

As for what’s next? My time as a sportswriter is on hiatus, but I am excited to remain with SB Nation. I’ll be behind the scenes. And for the first time in over a decade, come Monday morning, I won’t be considering post-game coverage ideas, scraping for content and scouring social media.

Being honest, I’m a bit scared. This has been my life and love. I sacrificed everything I had until I was on the verge of destitution, virtually begging for support as I moved back to Colorado. But that fear pales to the excitement I have in joining SB Nation in a greater role as a new member of an incredible team.

Thank you,

Kyle Phoenix

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/general/75743/goodbye-baltimore-beatdown

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens vs Bills: Week 1 Rookie Report

The Ravens’ rookie class of 2o25 just finished their first regular season action, and it came in a gut-wrenching 41-40 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Now that they’re acclimated to blowing leads in heartbreaking fashion like the Ravens do, let’s take a look at their individual performances.

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Malaki Starks​

The first-round safety played essentially every defensive snap, something uncommon for any Ravens rookie to do in Week 1. This shows both what the Ravens think of him and their depth at the safety position. Starks didn’t look like a rookie, trailing only Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton in total tackles without making any egregious mistakes from the initial watch. He dropped an interception on the first drive of the game, which hurts, but was everywhere and played strong against the run. I expect a slightly above-average PFF score. The Ravens certainly have things to fix on defense, but Starks wasn’t an issue against the Bills.

Mike Green​

Green was clearly behind Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, and Tavious Robinson on the depth chart. Very similar to his preseason games, he wasn’t impressive on the stat sheet nor was he in the quarterback’s face a ton. However, there were some reps that he won quickly and cleanly in an impressive manner. Most of the Ravens’ pass rush struggled to get in Allen’s face tonight, but if it were nearly any other quarterback out there, it wouldn’t shock me if Green came away with a sack or two. Allen and the Bills’ offensive line are a hard first task to manage (they averaged taking less than a sack a game last year), so we’ll have to see if Green and the rest of the pass rush can build momentum at home next week.

There’s something poetic about the idea of Green’s first highlight play coming against Joe Flacco at home, though.

Teddye Buchanan​

I spent a lot of the preseason saying I wasn’t sure how many snaps Buchanan would get early on, with Trenton Simpson looking entrenched to start and Jay Higgins looking like a better pure linebacker in the preseason. I was quite wrong. Buchanan and Simpson rotated drives tonight as the running mate next to Roquan Smith, though neither ever played every snap when it was their turn. It’s unclear how it went, with none of the inside backers looking good tonight, including Smith. However, it looks like Buchanan is getting a chance early to steal the role.

Tyler Loop​

It was an up-and-down game for Loop. He went into a hostile playoff environment on the road and nailed the first kick of his career from 52 yards to open up the Ravens’ scoring. He would then make four extra points and another field goal from 49 yards out to add on throughout the game. But on his last opportunity of the night, he missed an extra point, leaving the Ravens at 40 points instead of 41. The Ravens would go on to lose 41-40. I won’t put the loss on that in the slightest. 40 points should be enough to win any game; the missed extra point should have just been something to work on for next week, not a defining play after making six other kicks.

Loop also got a penalty on a kickoff for not reaching the landing zone and some of his kickoffs were returned for a distance, but we can’t know if that was on him or the coverage unit.

LaJohntay Wester​

Wester had a quiet night. He only caught two kicks, fair catching one and returning the other for six. He looked confident and in command as the returner. On the first Bill’s punt of the night, you could hear Wester through the broadcast, commanding the area, telling fellow rookie Keyon Martin to clear the area where the ball was going to land. Martin wound up nearly touched the ball and giving it back to Buffalo. While not a great example of a good play, I loved the confidence and communication from him.

Aeneas Peebles​

“Fub” Peebles had a quiet night but was on the field for 10+ snaps. He seemed to be on the field for passing downs, clearly part of the pass rush plan, and was disruptive at times. He and Green were on the field for a third-down red-zone stop. He also made the stat sheet, batting the ball at the line for a pass defensed. With how much the pass rush struggled and Peebles flashed in his limited opportunities, I will be curious to see if Orr and the staff give him more playing time next week.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...formation/75720/ravens-vs-bills-rookie-report

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens vs. Bills: 7 Winners and 10 Losers

The Baltimore Ravens held a lead for nearly the entire game, but when the clock hit 0:00, players put their hands on their helmets and sunk to the field in disbelief as Buffalo Bills kicker Matt Prater knocked through the game-winning field goal. here are tonight’s winners and losers.

Winners

Lamar Jackson

It took so long for football to return and Jackson to be on the field. And the wait was worth it as Jackson aired it out against the Bills’ defense and gashed them with runs. The best play of the night for Jackson? A 3rd & 10 scramble in which he ran more than 70 yards evading defenders and an official before bolting upfield for a 19-yard gain.

Lamar Jackson traveled 75.9 yards on this 19-yard scramble.

Jackson is responsible for 4 of the 5 longest scramble runs by total distance traveled over the last two seasons.#BALvsBUF | #RavensFlockpic.twitter.com/oJZrQV3ADX

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 8, 2025

WR DeAndre Hopkins — His first target for the Ravens resulted in a 29-yard one-handed touchdown catch with a defender draped on him. Sheer wizardry.

ARE YOU KIDDING @DeAndreHopkins????

TOUCHDOWN RAVENS!!!! FIRST CATCH AS A RAVEN!!!! pic.twitter.com/GahQ5EKVqV

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 8, 2025

K Tyler Loop – The rookie kicker’s first game was in a hostile environment and his first NFL field goal was a 52-yard attempt that he nailed. He then knocked through a 49-yarder later on. He did have a pair of mistakes in a kickoff not reaching the landing zone and a missed PAT that clang the upright, but he did a great job in a tough game.

Note: The missed PAT was a potential difference maker on the scoreboard, but it’s not on him. The offense and defense should have handled business. Instead, they blundered and choked. This isn’t on Loop’s PAT.

WR Zay Flowers – What a night for Flowers, who slashed for 143 yards and a big touchdown.

C Tyler Linderbaum – Many of Henry’s runs came by way of Linderbaum landing a key block. One of which a tough reach block to edge defender which sprung Henry.

DE Nnamdi Madubuike – Blew up a few runs, including a highlight-reel shove of a lineman into James Cook, and notched a sack on Josh Allen.

P Jordan Stout – He wasn’t called on much in this one but he punted very well. A shame one of them wasn’t pinned at the 1-yard line.

Losers

Head Coach John Harbaugh – This is the eighth game the Baltimore Ravens have lost after having a 90+% win probability. The ends of these games this team crumbles and it happens every year.

The @BuffaloBills win probability was as low as 1.1% with 8:37 remaining in the fourth quarter trailing 40-25.

This was the most improbable comeback by the Bills with Josh Allen at QB, and the 13th-most improbable comeback by any team over the last decade.

Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/cn4UXnYxB3

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 8, 2025

The Ravens have now lost 8 games since the 2021 season in which they, at one point, had a win probability of at least 90%.

That's three more than the next closest team.

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) September 8, 2025

ILB Trenton Simpson – The Ravens appeared to be rotating Simpson and rookie Teddye Buchanan but it was Buchanan who got the majority of snaps in the second quarter and beyond. But worse was his mistake on the pinned punt as he slid onto the end zone line and granted the Bills better starting field position.

Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr – The Ravens got conservative and that comes down to the defensive playcaller.

RB Justice Hill – A bad fumble that kicked the Ravens into negative territory to end the first half, resulting in just a field goal.

Big-Lead Defense – The conservative approach at the end of the half and when leading by two scores in the fourth quarter was a change of their identity. They went from aggressive and challenging to soft coverage and the Bills put up 10 points against it. The Bills beat a scared defense.

Ball security – Protect the football. Two fumbles, one lost. Turnovers are the difference, again.

Special Teams – Bad kickoff protection. A near-lost possession on the punt return unit. A kickoff that didn’t end in the landing zone. A failed punt pin at the 1-yard line that turned into a touchback. Too-many-men penalty on a PAT. There is a lot to work on for the Ravens in the special teams department.

Pass Rush – Only one sack all game. Allen with far too frequent of clean pockets when he dropped back more than 45 times. Even with the mobility of Allen, the production wasn’t there.

CB Jaire Alexander – A 4th down flag that gave the Bills a touchdown. Beat back-to-back on the final drive as the Bills got into field goal territory and beyond. A horrible outing.

WR Tylan Wallace – Wasn’t in much and he commit a false start on a third down. Far from ideal.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...75684/ravens-vs-bills-7-winners-and-10-losers

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

AFC North Preview, Week 2: Ravens and Browns do battle seeking bounce back wins

The opening weekend of the regular season saw an even split in the AFC North. It was a Week 1 full of close results in the division. Two teams, the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens, each lost by one point, while the Pittsburgh Steelers won by two points and the Cincinnati Bengals won by one point.

In Week 2, the Ravens and Browns will face off in the second divisional contest of the year and the latter’s second straight AFC North opponent. Meanwhile, the Bengals will take on another conference foe and the Steelers will play host to an NFC West squad.

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Baltimore Ravens​

The Ravens grasped defeat from the jaws of victory in Week 1, blowing a 15-point lead against the Buffalo Bills late in the fourth quarter. Baltimore dominated offensively for most of the game and kept the Bills at bay before watching a 40-25 advantage evaporate in the final few minutes of play. The Ravens went three-and-out twice with a crucial lost fumble in-between, a span in which the Bills scored 16 consecutive points.

Prior to this, the Ravens put up nearly 500 total yards of offense led by dynamic performances from Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers. Unfortunately, now the Ravens will have to pivot off a crushing defeat and aim to bounce back in a now-crucial matchup against the Browns. The Ravens have a significant talent advantage in this matchup which shows in the fact that they’re favored by 10+ points.

However, divisional games can always get wacky and the Browns know the Ravens well. Their starting quarterback especially knows the Ravens well, as Joe Flacco was the team’s longtime starter for many years. This will be Flacco’s first time back in Baltimore as a member of an opposing team, so emotions will be high.

For the Ravens to have a better defensive performance in Week 2, they’ll need to limit any explosive passing plays and key in on Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku. Causing more disruption rushing the passer and forcing turnovers are areas for improvement from last week, too. Offensively, limiting the game-wrecking ability of Myles Garrett, as per usual when facing the Browns, is the main priority.

Cleveland Browns​

Like the Ravens, the Browns had a very good chance to win last week. They came up just short of an upset over the Bengals thanks to costly miscues. The Browns more than held their own overall, though, and especially played well defensively. They limited an explosive Bengals’ offense to less than 10 total net yards in the second half of the game.

Their defense will need to be up to a tall task once again against the Ravens, whose offense is similarly dynamic and potent. Cleveland has actually won four of the past seven matchups with the Ravens, including a 29-24 upset at home last season. They haven’t been as good in Baltimore, though, where they’ve won just once since 2020.

The recipe for a Browns’ upset on the road would be to force turnovers and control the clock to keep the Ravens off the field as much as possible. If the Browns can establish the run and hit a handful of chunk plays on offense, while again holding up defensively, they could manage to make this a competitive matchup.

The Browns did not run the ball well in Week 1, managing just 49 total yards on 24 carries. The Ravens have a much better run defense than the Bengals do, so they’ll face an uphill battle trying to find more rushing success in this game. It’s hard to get much worse than averaging just 2.0 yards per carry as a team, though.

Cincinatti Bengals​

The aforementioned Bengals escaped another Week 1 disaster by narrowly defeating the Browns. While a win is a win and the Bengals are certainly happy to not be starting 0-1 once again, it’s apparent from that game that they have much to work on heading into Week 2. The main priority will be getting their offense on track, in particular the passing attack, which is the engine of their team.

Burrow having just 113 passing yards and the wide receiver duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combining for five catches on nine targets is not a recipe for success. Nor is running 21 times for only 43 yards, which was Chase Brown’s stat line against the Browns. The Bengals clearly want to feature Brown as a focal point of their offense but will need to do a better job creating running lanes and balancing their run-pass attack.

They’ll face an interesting matchup in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 1-0 after beating the Carolina Panthers by 16 points last Sunday. The Bengals should be able to find more offensive success against the Jaguars than Carolina did. Jacksonville’s defense was a question mark entering the season, particularly their secondary, and the Bengals will certainly challenge their cornerbacks through the air.

The Bengals’ much-maligned defense was disruptive in Week 1 with multiple turnovers, sacks, pass deflections, and quarterback hits. Carrying that level of activity over in this next game will be key against a talented Jaguars’ offense. If the Bengals can take the ball away from Trevor Lawrence multiple times, they’ll give themselves a good chance to win.

Pittsburgh Steelers​

It was quite a debut for Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers’ new-look offense in Week 1. Rodgers was accurate through the air and delivered four touchdown passes en route to a 34-point outing. It was the type of offensive explosion in the passing game absent in Pittsburgh for awhile now that they’ve been longing for.

On the flip side, defensively the Steelers were clearly a work-in-progress. Incorporating several new pieces into their secondary, the Steelers struggled to slow down Justin Fields and the Jets’ offense. They allowed 182 rushing yards and four total touchdowns. It took a 17-point fourth quarter performance and comeback effort for the Steelers to narrowly win by two points, but alas they are 1-0 nonetheless.

The Steelers will now return home to host a Seattle Seahawks team looking to shake off a slow offensive start in Week 1. The Seahawks are a defensive-first team led by former AFC North mastermind Mike Macdonald, with a solid front-seven and talented secondary. They’ll give the Steelers’ offense a formidable challenge and be a good test as to how much they success they can sustain from last week.

Sam Darnold does not pose the same athletic and rushing threat as Fields, but he can push the ball downfield. The Steelers will need to key in on wide receiver Jaxson Smith Njigba, a rising star who is the Seahawks’ clear No. 1 pass-catcher. Newcomers Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay will be put to the test covering him and veteran Cooper Kupp as well. Stopping the run will also be paramount, which the Seahawks will surely try to establish early.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...and-browns-do-battle-seeking-bounce-back-wins

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Browns players talking tough; Up to Ravens to respond

Over the past two days, Cleveland Browns players are talking tough. When Jerry Jeudy was asked what challenges the Ravens’ secondary poses on Wednesday, he replied, “No challenges.”

Question to Browns WR Jerry Jeudy: What challenges do the Ravens secondary present?

Jeudy: “No challenges.”

— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) September 10, 2025

After the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills, it’s hard to blame him. The Ravens’ secondary allowed Josh Allen to throw for 251 passing yards, a passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and a total of 395 passing yards, four total touchdowns in all.

Prior to the fourth quarter, the Ravens had clamped down on the Bills. Allen had only 143 passing yards and one touchdown. The Bills’ offense struggled to consistently sustain drives. But their meltdown results in teams and players being confident to line up and win.

On Thursday, however, Browns safety Grant Delpit brought another level of confidence. He was asked how hard it is to take down Ravens running back Derrick Henry. He swiftly replied, grinning, “Not hard.”

GD always up to make a tackle pic.twitter.com/2z3bovzr7w

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 11, 2025

Delpit does have a bit of a highlight hit on Henry from last season. On the fifth play of the game, Henry blew through a hole and shrugged off a tackle from linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah before being high-low tackled by cornerback Denzel Ward and Delpit. Delpit delivered a hard, unsuspecting hit over the top as Ward went low on Henry from the opposing side. Delpit celebrated after the hit with the “too small” celebration.

https://t.co/V0VRR9TwJS pic.twitter.com/i1KOeCZAnr

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 11, 2025

Both teams will enter 0-1 after their Week 1 loss. But the mood and mantra from both are diametrically opposed.

The Browns are surging with confidence. The Ravens are recalibrating and recovering from a pitiful loss that outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy admitted some had to take more than a day to get over.

“ Something that I’ve learned over my career is that there’s usually sometimes a 24-hour rule. Sometimes you need to take 48 hours or 24,” Van Noy said. “After emotional loss like that, I think it was OK to take 48.”

It’s often recommended to never give your opponents bulletin board material. But the Browns aren’t wavering from their confidence or keeping it private. It’s up to the Ravens to respond on Sunday.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/b...players-talking-tough-up-to-ravens-to-respond

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

AFC North Recap: Week 1

Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season is officially behind us. Only two teams in the AFC North started their season off with a win.

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)​

The Aaron Rodgers era is upon us in Pittsburgh, and with it came a thrilling 34-32 win over the New York Jets and former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields. The 41-year-old quarterback fared well against his previous team, completing 22 of 30 passes for 244 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

Several other notable players made their Pittsburgh debuts on Sunday, including wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, whom the Steelers traded a second-round draft pick for this offseason before signing him to a four-year, $132 million contract extension. Metcalf led the team with 83 receiving yards on four receptions.

The other notable debut was cornerback Jalen Ramsey, whom Pittsburgh acquired, alongside tight end Jonnu Smith, in a trade with the Miami Dolphins in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a pick swap. The now 30-year-old All-Pro cornerback made what was perhaps the play of the game when he delivered a crushing hit to wide receiver Garrett Wilson, breaking up the intended pass on fourth down to put the game away for the Steelers.

Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)​

The Bengals, in stark contrast to recent seasons, were the only other team in the division to start the year off in the win column as they outlasted the Cleveland Browns in a 17-16 victory. Cincinnati has notoriously gotten off to slow starts under head coach Zac Taylor in the past, and while the team did not perform up to their usual standards offensively, getting a divisional win to start the year is a good sign for a Bengals team hoping to rejoin the AFC playoff picture.

The usual stars were held in check for Cincinnati on Sunday, as quarterback Joe Burrow completed 14 of 23 passes for just 113 yards and a touchdown, while wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for a measly 59 receiving yards on five receptions.

After a disastrous 2024 season from the Bengals’ defense, which ultimately cost the team a playoff berth, the unit, now coached by defensive coordinator Al Golden, more than carried their weight against the Browns with two interceptions and two sacks.

“We found a way to win,” Burrow said after the game. “Like somebody said earlier, we didn’t win any of these games last year.”

Cleveland Browns (0-1)​

Quarterback Joe Flacco is back in Cleveland for the 2025 season after leading the Browns to the playoffs in 2023. The 40-year-old Flacco completed 31 of 45 passes for 290 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions on the day as Cleveland fell to Cincinnati.

The biggest takeaway for the Browns, offensively, was the emergence of two rookie playmakers, fourth-round running back Dylan Sampson and third-round tight end Harold Fannin. Sampson only rushed for 29 yards on 12 carries, but finished second on the team with 64 receiving yards on eight receptions. Fannin, meanwhile, was third with 63 receiving yards on seven receptions.

Superstar defensive end Myles Garrett was his usual game-wrecking self as he sacked Burrow twice on the day. Rookie second-round linebacker Carson Schwesinger had an impressive debut as he led the team with eight total tackles. Unfortunately, kicking woes prevented Cleveland from leaving Week 1 with a win, as new Browns kicker Andre Szmyt missed a field goal and an extra point in a game that was ultimately decided by one point.

Baltimore Ravens (0-1)​

The Ravens came out of the gate swinging against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football, taking a commanding lead and looking like the best team in the NFL. That is, until they suddenly didn’t anymore as Bills quarterback Josh Allen carved up Baltimore’s defense in a fourth-quarter comeback.

31-year-old running back Derrick Henry picked up right where he left off last season, rushing for 169 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. However, an untimely fumble by the veteran in the fourth quarter overshadowed what was an otherwise dominant day. Third-year wide receiver Zay Flowers, fresh off a Pro Bowl season, led the team with 143 receiving yards and a touchdown on seven receptions. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was nearly flawless through the air, completing 14 of 19 pass attempts for 209 yards and a pair of touchdowns while adding another score and 70 yards on the ground. Veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins reminded the world that he still has gas left in the tank with an incredible one-handed touchdown grab.

The issues for Baltimore came on the defensive side of the ball, as despite a strong start to the game, the unit was unable to stop Allen from doing whatever he wanted in the second half. The new-look secondary for the Ravens was shredded by Allen, with cornerback Jaire Alexander having a particularly rough debut in the purple and black. The unit hopes to bounce back this week in the home opener against the Browns and Flacco, whom Baltimore is extremely familiar with.

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/baltimore-ravens-scores-results/75678/afc-north-recap-week-1

 

[Baltimore Ravens]

Ravens Reacts Survey Week 2

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.

Heading into Week 2, we want to know how you’re feeling after watching the team so far this year. Every week of the season we will ask fans if they are confident the team is headed in the right direction and more of the most pressing questions facing the coming game. Let us know what you think!

Source: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/general/75738/ravens-reacts-survey-week-2