Tag: Balitmore Ravens

Broncos to sign former Ravens center Sam Mustipher to a 1-year deal

The Denver Broncos are signing former Baltimore Ravens backup center Sam Mustipher to a one-year deal

The Ravens are losing another free agent, as reserve center Sam Mustipher is signing a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos.

Undrafted out of Notre Dame in 2020, Mustipher saw action in nine games and started seven for the Bears that year. Then, he spent two seasons as the team’s full-time starter at center before landing in Baltimore for the 2023 season.

Mustipher becomes the 12th Ravens unrestricted free agent to sign elsewhere since the start of NFL free agency.

Baltimore now has running backs J.K. Dobbins and Dalvin Cook, linebacker Kyle Van Noy, and defensive backs Daryl Worley and Rock Ya-Sin.

Eric DeCosta feels ‘really good’ about where Ravens defense stands entering 2024

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta says he feels ‘really good’ about where his defense stands overall

The Baltimore Ravens saw their defense dominate throughout the 2023 season. They ranked at or near the top of the league in many different defensive categories, which was a huge reason their regular season was so successful.

Baltimore made sure to bring back one of its key defensive players, defensive lineman Justin Madubuike, who signed a four-year, $98 million extension with the team before free agency opened. General manager Eric DeCosta expressed his confidence in the team’s defense with Madubuike back in the fold, especially alongside others such as inside linebacker Roquan Smith.

“I think it’s big any time you keep your best, young talent. We feel really good about those guys. We feel really good about where the defense stands overall, and we’re just on the come [up]. We’re excited to see Zach [Orr] orchestrate this whole thing. I think the thing that stands out about Justin [Madubuike] is just his ability as a three-down player. He can play the run, and he’s an exceptional pass rusher, too. He’s a guy that has gotten better every single year. He’s a great example for the younger players who can see him and see his progression from 2020 to now. That’s exciting for those guys to see, and we’re thrilled that we have him up front. We have Roquan [Smith]. We have some good, young players with Roquan at the linebacker position, and also in the secondary, we feel like we’re very strong.”

Aside from Madubuike and Smith, the Ravens’ defense has stars like Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, and more. While losing former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and other critical defensive personnel is a big blow, the team has enough to recover and have another successful season on that side of the ball.

Former Ravens offensive guard Kevin Zeitler to sign a 1-year deal with the Lions

Former Baltimore Ravens offensive guard Kevin Zeitler is signing a one-year deal with offensive guard Kevin Zeitler

Kevin Zeitler is taking his talents to Motown, as the former Ravens offensive guard is set to sign a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions.

Zeitler played over 1,000 snaps played in every year with Baltimore.

The Pro Bwol honoree is still going strong at 33 years old, earning a pass-blocking grade above 80.0 for the second consecutive season in 2023.

Zeitler improved as last season went on, and from Week 4 on to the playoffs, he logged 428 passing blocking snaps, allowing 12 pressures, 0 hits and 0 sacks.

He’ll replace Jonah Jackson, who departed Detroit for the Los Angeles Rams in free agency.

Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley receives massive fine for cheap shot on Browns CB Denzel Ward

The Baltimore LT pays big for his cheap shot

A week ago, cornerback Denzel Ward was forced to leave the game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. This was due to a cheap shot he took from Ravens’ left tackle Ronnie Stanley. While Ward was cleared of yet another concussion, he did not return with a neck injury.

The good news for Ward is that he was full go in practice this week as the Browns look to advance to 7-3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With quarterback Deshaun Watson out for the season, any boost the Browns can get this late in the year is huge.

However, not escaping the hit that put him in jeopardy, the Baltimore left tackle will now pay big time for the hit as well. The NFL has fined Stanley a massive $21,855 for the cheap shot that forced Ward out of the game.

Perhaps Stanley will think twice about lowering his helmet and getting a running start at an opposing player as a play is dwindling down to a close.

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Ravens ILB Roquan Smith reveals what made him want to stay in Baltimore

Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith talks about wanting to be in Baltimore for the long haul

The Baltimore Ravens knew what type of player they were getting when they traded for inside linebacker Roquan Smith a day before the NFL trade deadline. Smith has been the consummate professional on and off the field, making an immense impact during his short time in Baltimore.

The Ravens traded away two key draft picks to bring him in during his last year of his rookie deal, and now have him signed for the next five seasons on a $100 million deal.  By signing him to the extension, it gives the team that piece on the defense that can help win championships. Smith was asked about what made him want to stay with the Ravens for the long haul, saying that being around his teammates, the coaching staff, and others made him realize he wanted to make a positive impact and stay in Baltimore long-term.

“Honestly, when I first got here, just being around teammates, the coaching staff, everyone [and] how they made me feel so welcomed once I first got here, and it felt like home right away. When you feel like that, it’s like, ‘Man, I want to be here for the long haul and make a positive impact.'”

Smith will be one of the cornerstones of the Ravens’ defense for many years to come with his new extension. He can continue to dominate in his role and elevate his teammates, something that he’s done ever since arriving in Baltimore just a few short months ago.

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AFC playoff picture: Where things stand for Patriots after Week 15

Even after Sunday’s embarrassing loss to the Raiders, the Patriots still have a chance to make the playoffs.

It has been a rough week for the New England Patriots.

If losing a pivotal game wasn’t bad enough, the team has had to listen to fans and talking heads heckle and lambaste them relentlessly for committing one of the most embarrassing game-ending blunders in NFL history.

A clearly emotional Jakobi Meyers has said his piece on the ill-fated mistake that handed the Las Vegas Raiders a Week 15 victory.

The veteran receiver tried to heave a lateral pass to quarterback Mac Jones with the game tied at the end of the fourth quarter, and the throw was picked off by Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones, who took it in for a touchdown.

That one play might have sealed the Patriots’ fate as possible playoff contenders. However, there’s still a mathematical possibility for them to get in, but it could take some major upsets for things to fall their way.

Here’s what the AFC playoff picture looks like after Week 15.

Ravens DT Calais Campbell vs. Colts QB Philip Rivers is the key matchup of Week 9

The Baltimore Ravens will need a big game out of Calais Campbell while the Indianapolis Colts need Philip Rivers to be at his best in Week 9

The Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts both come into this week sitting at 5-2 and second place in their respective divisions. In a contest that could have serious playoff implications down the road, the star players on each side will have to bring their ‘A’ game if they hope to secure a victory. The key matchup for this week will be Ravens defensive tackle Calais Campbell vs. Colts quarterback Philip Rivers.

Both players shared a unique narrative coming into this season — the seasoned veteran looking to help take a contending team to prominence.

The Ravens acquired Campbell this offseason in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 34-year-old has recorded 4 sacks in the first 7 games as the Baltimore defense has lived up to its preseason standards allowing just 18.9 points per game.

Rivers is in his first season with the Colts after spending 16 seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, 14 of them as the full-time starter. So far for Rivers, he has 1,860 passing yards with 10 touchdowns to 6 interceptions on the season with a 97.3 passer rating. While these numbers may not jump off of the page, the savvy veteran has the Colts in a position to play their way into the postseason. Indianapolis had hoped to make a championship leap a season ago, but with the unexpected retirement of Andrew Luck, they were unable to make it back to the playoffs.

In order for the Ravens to secure a victory this Sunday, there is no doubt a focal point will be to get after Rivers and not allow him time to make easy decisions. With cornerback Marlon Humphrey out after testing positive for COVID-19 and the secondary at less than full strength, it will put more pressure on Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, and Matthew Judon to make their presence felt.

Campbell has found some success this season getting after the quarterback. In addition to leading the team in sacks, Campbell’s is tied for the top spot with five tackles for a loss and sits in second with 10 quarterback hits. On the flip side, Rivers hasn’t been pressured very often this year (14.6%) but has found plenty of success under duress throughout his career, leading the NFL in passing yards when pressured last season. Both Campbell and Rivers will need to strike a balance between being aggressive enough without committing any major errors.

These two teams currently sit in the top-two wild card spots in the AFC playoff picture. That amplifies this matchup for the current standing as well as a potential tiebreaker if necessary come January. Both Campbell and Rivers know all too well the importance of every game and building momentum toward a playoff run.

While Campbell and Rivers have had potential Hall of Fame careers up to this point, a Super Bowl ring has eluded them both. With so much at stake in this game, you can bet both teams are primed and ready to take the field this Sunday for a tightly contested contest.

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Patrick Queen is our Player of the Game in Week 5 vs. Bengals

Patrick Queen earns Player of the Game in Week 5 vs. former LSU teammate Joe Burrow and the Bengals

Baltimore Ravens rookie linebacker Patrick Queen earns his first ‘Player of the Game’ honor with his dominate performance against the division rival Cincinnati Bengals. Queen would make two game-changing fumble recoveries, one coming off a strip sack by himself, and the other returned for six points. He would add nine combined tackles to his performance as well.

This game had an added twist for Queen as the opposing quarterback was his former LSU teammate and 2020 Heisman winner Joe Burrow. Despite this being just his fifth start, Burrow came into today having thrown for at least 300 yards in each of his last three games. An outstanding performance by Queen aided by the dominant cornerback duo of Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey helped the Ravens derail any momentum the young star had going into this game.

With 9:40 left to play in the second quarter, Burrow had the Bengals inside Ravens territory looking to pull the game back within two possession. On a 3rd-and-7 on the Ravens’ 44-yard line, Queen would hit Burrow from behind in the backfield causing a fumble which Queen recovered, giving the Ravens possession and keeping the score 17-0.

Queen’s second big play would come with 8:35 left in the fourth quarter. Burrow would complete a pass to the left to receiver Mike Thomas who was then stripped by Humphrey. Queen would scoop the loose football and take it the rest of the way for a Ravens touchdown, making it a 27-0 Ravens lead. Cincinnati would barely escape the shut out with a late field goal to make the finals score 27-3 in favor of the Ravens.

The Ravens selected Queen with the 28th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and has not let down that first-round status thus far. On the heels of a nine-tackle performance against the Washington Football Team in Week 4, Queen tops it with his performance in Week 5.

Baltimore has to be pleased with the play of their rising star linebacker in the first few weeks considering there was some question about where he should have been taken leading into the draft. Queen showed the makings of a disruptor in his performance today and is certainly a major piece to this stacked Ravens defense.

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Marlon Humphrey is our Player of the Game in Week 4 vs. Football Team

Baltimore Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey earns Player of the Game for the second time this season in Week 4 against the Washington Football Team.

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey earns our “Player of the Game” honors for the second time this season in Week 4. Humphrey follows up receiving a major contract extension with a stellar performance against the Washington Football Team to prove Baltimore made a good investment in him.

It was Humphrey who made the tone-setting play for the Ravens early in the game. On Washington’s second drive of the game, Humphrey caused a fumble against running back J.D. McKissic which was recovered by teammate Marcus Peters at the Washington 34-yard-line. This play would immediately turn into points for the Ravens as quarterback Lamar Jackson found Marquise Brown for a 33-yard completion to the goal line with Mark Ingram punching it in on the very next play.

Baltimore’s secondary once again displayed dominance in this victory. While Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins’ stat line might look impressive, completing 32-of-45 passes for 314 yards, his average gain per completion was under 10 yards, showing the lack of big plays the Ravens allowed. Haskins’ stats were inflated quite a bit by dump-off passes, with 11 of his completions going to running backs for 122 of his passing yards. To put more context on that, 34% of his passes went to running backs which accounted for nearly 39% of his yards.

Humphrey finished the game with nine combined tackles, while also deflecting a pass and his forced fumble. The defensive dominance allowed Jackson and the offense to run the clock out for the majority of the final quarter. Washington would score one garbage-time touchdown on a Haskins run at the goal line to make the game look closer than it really was.

The 24-year-old Humphrey was awarded a 5-year contract extension worth $98.75 million. After making the play of the game, and proving to be an anchor of this dominant defense, he is off to a great start in proving he is worth the big contract.

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Luckily for the Jets, Joe Douglas has experience finding great value late in the first round

Jets GM Joe Douglas watched the Ravens draft late in the first round for years. He knows what to do with the Seahawks two first-round picks.

The Jets got a haul for Jamal Adams. The two first-round picks they received by trading the safety to Seattle marked only the eighth time since 2000 a team earned two first-rounders for a player. 

That’s a lot for one guy (the Jets also sent a fourth-round pick and acquired Bradley McDougald and a third-rounder), but those picks will likely be late in the first round because Seattle is a contender and Adams makes them much better. In reality, the Jets probably got two picks that will be between Nos. 20 and 32 considering the Seahawks have not drafted before the 27th pick in the previous five seasons thanks to their 67 percent winning percentage.

This severely lowers the value the Jets received in exchange for Adams. The ability to identify and draft top-tier talent that late in the first round is tough for any team or general manager and the Jets will need those picks to hit if they want to turn around their franchise.

Fortunately, if anyone can identify talent late in the first round, it’s Joe Douglas. The first team he worked for – the Ravens – drafted their first pick in at least the 20s in nine of the 15 seasons he was a scout. While Douglas can’t be credited with all of the Ravens’ late-round picks, he played a part in scouting some of the players they took in the first round and learned to scout from legendary GM Ozzie Newsome. Then, when Douglas ran the Eagles’ draft from 2016-2019, he drafted after the 20th pick twice. 

With some worry over just how valuable the picks the Jets just acquired will be, let’s take a look at some of the better late-first round selections made by Douglas’ previous two teams.  

(Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports)

QB Joe Flacco

The Jets’ current backup quarterback is also a former Douglas pick. The Ravens drafted Flacco 18th overall in 2008 despite his small-school pedigree from Delaware. Douglas is credited with finding, scouting and convincing the Ravens to draft Flacco, who went on to play 11 seasons in Baltimore and win a Super Bowl 2012.

The pick came in the middle of the first-round, but Flacco is one of only three players from that draft picked in the back-half of the round still active in the league. This pick is less about Douglas’ ability to find super-late in the round and more about his ability to find a player he likes and grab him as soon as possible.

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