The latest news covering the Baltimore Ravens.
The latest and greatest content covering the Baltimore Ravens.
Hope for 1-2 contenders, including 49ers, & a quick Cowboys-Giants preview
Jacob Robinson, Dianna Russini, The Athletic
Ravens (seventh): Their defense needs to stop the pass; they rank first in rushing yards allowed (101), but 32nd in passing yards allowed (567). Signing DE Yannick Ngakoue should help fill the pass-rush void left by Jadeveon Clowney. If their pass defense finds its form, as their offensive line did against Dallas, they can beat anyone.
After Buffalo on Sunday night, they have a particularly winnable six-game stretch starting against Cincinnati.
Justin Tucker’s kicking woes, Mark Andrews’ slow start and other Ravens early-season issues
Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic
Getting Andrews more involved
Against the Cowboys, Andrews was targeted just once and held without a catch for the first time since October 2022. In three games, he has just six receptions on eight targets for 65 yards. During his first three games last year, the 29-year-old tight end had 14 catches on 18 targets for 160 yards and three scores.
Andrews had a disjointed training camp/preseason. He was dealing with a leg strain that cost him some practice time. Then, he got into a scary car accident. He’s also coming off a season where he missed a ton of time with a significant leg injury. It’s possible Andrews is playing at less than 100 percent, even if he or the team won’t admit it.
However, his quiet start seems more of a result of other factors. In Week 1, the Kansas City Chiefs focused on taking Andrews away and Lamar Jackson went to fellow tight end Isaiah Likely instead. In Week 2, Andrews was reasonably involved with four catches for 51 yards. In Week 3, the team opted for a run-heavy game plan that relied more on fullback Patrick Ricard and tight end Charlie Kolar.
Ravens’ Mark Andrews says better days ahead after slow start
Jamison Hensley, ESPN
Andrews has totaled six catches for 65 yards this season, which are his fewest in the first three games of any season. A three-time Pro Bowler, Andrews was held without a catch in Sunday’s 28-25 win at Dallas, which marked the first time in 76 games that he didn’t record a reception.
“My time will come,” Andrews said after Thursday’s practice.
Andrews, 29, who has been quarterback Lamar Jackson’s favorite target, has found himself in some challenging circumstances.
In the season opener, Andrews was limited to two receptions for 14 yards because the Kansas City Chiefs often double-teamed him. In Week 2, he produced four catches for 51 yards but would’ve had more if Jackson hadn’t overthrown him when he was wide open deep.
On Sunday, Baltimore went with a run-heavy game plan, and Jackson only threw 15 passes. That led to Andrews participating in 33% of the offensive plays (21 total snaps) and receiving one targeted pass.
“You know, obviously I want the ball,” Andrews said. “I want to be able to help this team win. But it’s just knowing that your time will come and just keep going.”
NFL QB Index, Week 4: Josh Allen new No. 1; Sam Darnold, Brock Purdy enter top 10
Nick Shook, NFL.com
Lamar Jackson, No. 2
2024 stats: 3 games | 65.6 pct | 702 pass yds | 7.8 ypa | 3 pass TD | 1 INT | 254 rush yds | 1 rush TD | 1 fumble
Another week, and another performance that matched Jackson’s MO: efficient passing, effective running and a well-balanced game that led the Ravens to victory. Jackson accounted for two touchdowns, including a red zone pass in which Jackson rolled away from pressure and delivered a throw to Rashod Bateman, who freed himself up with an excellent route. Save for a fourth-quarter lull that allowed the Cowboys to fight their way back into the game, Jackson was as steady as usual — it helped that Derrick Henry had his first big game as a Raven — and his keep in a fake jet sweep to secure the win was magnificent.
Week 4 NFL picks: who wins Bills-Ravens?
Dan Parr, NFL.com
Why Dan picked the Ravens: The last time the Ravens played at home, they blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to the Raiders, a team that was shellacked by the once-lowly Panthers the next week. Baltimore nearly coughed up an even bigger fourth-quarter lead in Week 3 against the Cowboys. For a squad that tends to run the ball down the opposition’s throat, Lamar Jackson and Co. are having a lot of trouble closing out games. It would help if Justin Tucker was making his kicks. Anyhow, maybe the script starts to flip on Sunday night. The Bills have been dominant the last two weeks, but the only team that gave them any trouble this season was the Cardinals, who held a 17-3 lead late in the second quarter of what turned into a 34-28 loss at Buffalo in the opener. Jackson can put the Bills’ defense on its heels like Kyler Murray did in Week 1, and perhaps a Ravens team learning from its mistakes will finish the job at home this time.