Tag: Michael Pierce

AFC Divisional Round: Ravens’ All-Pro Marlon Humphrey is ready for war

Baltimore Ravens DB Marlon Humphrey knows the time is now and his decision lessen his internet podcast and focus is paying off.

Baltimore Ravens defensive back Marlon Humphrey has been the All-Pro player his team needed in 2024. Plagued last season by injury, and the distraction of his punchline podcast, Humphrey has shown an ability to refocus and be the staple in the defensive secondary.

Humphrey totaled six interceptions this season and ranked No. 3 in the entire NFL category. Humphrey’s 15 pass deflections also rank him in No. 9 amongst league defenders. Knowing that the Ravens have two all-pro defensive backs anchoring their secondary and a developing supporting cast to contribute to the team’s endeavors is imperative. 

Humphrey has been operating as a slot defender in defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s passing defense for most of the season. In the slot, Humphrey has excelled, taking away the immediate and easiest targets for opposing quarterbacks by playing smothering man coverage. The Ravens’ defense has resurged with Humphrey locking down and the front seven working steadily in the pass rush.

Sunday, Humphrey will need to have his best game versus Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. As the Ravens look to keep their Super Bowl aspirations alive, their defense must be the iron door that allows the offense to pull away in this game.

Top photos from Ravens 28-14 win over the Steelers in AFC Wild Card game

Top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Wild Card game

The Ravens are peaking at the right time and look like the most complete team in the AFC after a 28-14 win over the rival Steelers on Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium.

Baltimore will now wait for Sunday afternoon’s conclusion of the Buffalo Bills’ matchup against the Denver Broncos. If the Bills win, the Ravens will travel to Buffalo, while a Broncos win will see John Harbaugh’s team host the Houston Texans next week.

Here are the top photos from the win.

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Ravens advance to AFC Divisional Round with 28-14 win over Steelers

Baltimore Ravens advance to AFC Divisional Round with 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Wild Card game

The journey isn’t complete, but the Ravens avoided embarrassment and moved onto the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs with a convincing 28-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday night.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson was 16-21 passing for 175 yards, two touchdowns, and a 132.0 rating. Jackson rushed 15 times for 81 yards, while Derrick Henry carried the night, logging 186 yards on 26 rushing attempts and two touchdowns.

Baltimore’s defense held Pittsburgh to 280 yards of offense, with just 29 yards rushing on the ground. Najee Harris finished with six carries for 17 yards, and Jaylen Warren had two for six yards on the night. The Steelers had the football for just 20:27.

Baltimore will now wait for the conclusion of the Buffalo Bills matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon.

If the Bills win on Sunday, the Ravens will travel to Buffalo, while a Broncos win will see John Harbaugh’s team host the Houston Texans next week.

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Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 21-0 lead over Steelers in AFC Wild Card game

Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 21-0 lead over Steelers in AFC Wild Card game

Like a Samantha Pollino Broadway Performance, the Ravens were flawless in the first half and looked like a Super Bowl favorite, jumping out to an early 14-0 lead.

After holding Pittsburgh to a three and out, Baltimore navigated a 13-play, 95-yard drive that ate almost 8 minutes of clock to put the Ravens on the board, 7-0. The Ravens dominated offensively and ended the first half with a 21-0 lead.

Here are sights and sounds from the first half.

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Mic’d-up Ravens players had the best sideline banter after 355-pound Michael Pierce’s interception

Michael Pierce’s Ravens teammates just wanted him to keep running after his first career interception.

Ninth-year Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce had a moment he’ll remember forever in Saturday’s 35-10 win over the Cleveland Browns as Baltimore clinched an AFC North title.

The 355-pound Pierce was in the right place at the right time as he dropped back into coverage and made an impressive play to jump the route on a ball thrown by Bailey Zappe, snagging the first interception of his career.

In a mic’d-up video posted by the Ravens on Monday night, we get a firsthand look at the instant reaction from Pierce’s teammates as seemingly every player on the team came up to congratulate him.

The entire bench erupted after the play, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was also mic’d-up.

Pierce was swarmed by his teammates when he returned to the sideline.

“Sacking quarterbacks, catching picks,” Jackson quipped.

Several players said they wanted Pierce to keep running instead of going down, with one telling him that he thought he was going to take it to the house.

“You ran out of gas after like three yards,” kicker Justin Tucker joked.

Pierce, who played in college at Tulane and Samford, is in his second stint with the Ravens after he went undrafted in 2016. He played in Baltimore from 2016-19 and returned in 2022 after a stint with the Minnesota Vikings.

He has appeared in 11 games this season with one start, totaling 19 tackles (one for loss) and two sacks. Now, he has an interception to add to the stat sheet.

355-pound Michael Pierce snagging his first career interception was thrilling

Wow!

The Baltimore Ravens only had a couple of minutes left to go in the regular season, and defensive tackle Michael Pierce made the most of it.

Pierce pulled off an outstanding move against the Cleveland Browns at home on Sunday by dropping in coverage and picking off quarterback Bailey Zappe.

Pierce, a big man at 355 lbs., then got some yardage, kneeled and celebrated with his teammates.

This was the first interception of Pierce’s career, as playing as a nose tackle on Baltimore’s defensive line doesn’t provide a lot of opportunities for picks.

This is exactly how you want to finish the regular season if you’re the Ravens. You get a 35-10 win over the Browns, you wrap up the AFC North and one of your longest-tenured players finally records an interception.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN. 

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Ravens’ 355-pound Michael Pierce makes first NFL interception

The Ravens’ 355-pound defensive tackle Michael Pierce with an interception

Michael Pierce is in his eighth season in the NFL. Seven have been with the Baltimore Ravens.

In his 99th career game, the 6-0, 355-pound defensive tackle made his first NFL interception.

The Baltimore Ravens were up 35-10 on the Cleveland Browns on Saturday when Bailey Zappe dropped to pass late in the fourth quarter.

Zappe’s throw went right into the hands of Pierce.

The defensive lineman started to return it but thought better of it and dropped to his knees despite having plenty of open field in front of him.

The Ravens erupted in celebration for their teammate who played college ball at Samford.

Former Ravens star Ray Lewis weighed in on Pierce’s decision.

Beyonce shines for Netflix on Christmas Day: Top photos from Ravens win over Texans

Top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 31-2 win over the Houston Texans on Christmas Day in front of Beyonce on Netflix

Some thought Baltimore had peaked too soon after its 24-19 loss to the Eagles, but the Ravens have been 3-0 since then, and they have had a much-needed bye week.

A team unsure about their AFC North status can win the division in Week 18 after an impressive 31-2 win over Houston on Christmas Day in front of Beyonce and a monstrous Netflix audience.

Lamar Jackson was 10-15 passing for 168 yards, two touchdowns, and a 143.9 rating.  As a rusher, Jackson carried the ball four times for 87 yards and a touchdown, moving past Michael Vick on the NFL’s all-time rushing yards list for a quarterback.

With preparation for the Browns set to begin, we’re looking at the top photos from Christmas Night.

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Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 17-2 lead over Texans on Christmas Day

Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 17-2 lead over Texans on Christmas Day

The Ravens can smell a division title. After watching the Steelers fall to the Chiefs in the earlier game, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry have Baltimore rolling through one half in Houston. With Beyonce and Post Malone in the building, the Ravens jumped out to a 17-2 lead on the back of Jackson’s arm, Henry’s strong running, and a stingy defense that improves each week. Baltimore held Houston to 125 yards of total offense in the first half, and if not for a Texans safety, it would have been on its way to blowing out the host team on Netflix. With the second half set to begin and Beyonce’s incredible performance just finished, here are sights and sounds from the first half. ****

Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 17-10 lead over the Steelers

Sights and sounds from first half as Ravens hold a 17-10 lead over the Steelers

It wasn’t a pretty start, but the Ravens again held a halftime lead over the Steelers, 17-10, with 30 minutes left to play at M&T Bank Stadium.

Baltimore had 201 yards of offense and went 2-5 on third downs in the first half. Pittsburgh has 170 yards of offense, 2-4 on third down, and one turnover in a highly intense first half.

With the second half set to begin, here are sights and sounds from the first half.

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