Tag: Nate Wiggins

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.

Ravens rookie CB Nate Wiggins must excel in man coverage vs. Bills

Baltimore Ravens rookie Nate Wiggins was drafted No. 30 overall for moments just like this. Wiggins must play big versus the Buffalo Bills.

Baltimore Ravens rookie defensive back Nate Wiggins must hold his own versus the shifty Buffalo Bills wide receivers in the AFC Divisional Round. Bills wide receivers Amari Cooper, Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakur, and Mack Hollins pose serious threats in the opponent’s pass attack.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen has enough intelligence and throwing accuracy to thread the needle, so Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr will not be able to sit in soft zone coverage. Instead, Orr may ask Wiggins, teammate defensive back Marlon Humphrey, and Brandon Stephens to buckle up and play man coverage while he schemes up advantages in the pass rush.

Wiggins tallied 13 pass deflections during the season, ranking No. 13 in the NFL. Avoiding penalties will be very important, but Wiggins will need to be physical and handsy with the Bills bunch if the Ravens are going to stop the Bills passing attack.

Wiggins was selected No. 30 overall in the 2024 NFL draft to be effective for the pass defense. Humphrey needed a journeyman to help him and safety Kyle Hamilton sow up the problems on the back end. It’s time for Wiggins to make it happen when it matters most.

Roquan Smith & Ravens’ Zach Orr can build off the defensive encore

Baltimore Ravens DC Zach Orr continues to thrive with LB Roquan Smith orchestrating plays that has the team defense fully optimized.

Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr and linebacker Roquan Smith have fully amalgamated after 18 weeks of NFL football. The Ravens led the entire NFL in opponent rush yards allowed per game this season, and their dominance over the Pittsburgh Steelers offense in the AFC Wild Card round was yet another indication of performance.

Orr and Smith just aren’t allowing anybody to pummel the Ravens up front when it comes to defending the run. Orr likes to stuff opponents on first and second downs, force them into passing situations, and then unleash his pass rush that has rendered 54 sacks this season. The 54 sacks helped the team rank No. 2 in the NFL in sacks this season.

Last night, the Steelers had 29 rushing yards through 11 carries. With the Ravens’ offense firing on all cylinders, Orr can continue the onslaught, forcing opponents into one-dimensional play-calling and frustration.

In hindsight, Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson did finish the game, having completed 20 of his 29 pass attempts, including two impressive touchdown passes. However, Orr is doing his best to accommodate the flaws in the defense’s back end by ensuring he coaches his team to give up minimal yards and points.

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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Ravens LB Roquan Smith made NFL History by reaching 1,000 career tackles

At age 27, Baltimore Ravens LB Roquan Smith has entered his prime of and wants to end the season with the glory of winning Super Bowl LIX.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith recently became the youngest player in NFL History to reach 1,000 tackles. In 2024, 81 times opponents were clobbered by Smith on the gridiron, and he finished the regular season ranked No. 11 in solo tackles.

At age 27, Smith has entered the prime of his NFL career and wants just as severely as his teammates to make a run for Super Bowl LIX. Smith totaled 12.5 stuffs this season and will be looking to stuff Pittsburgh Steelers running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in the AFC Wild Card.

There’s a reason the Ravens rank No. 1 in opponent rush yards per game, and it’s heavily because Smith can diagnose runs before they even get to the line of scrimmage. Insightfulness, tenacity, and determination led Smith to perform at extremely high levels. His impact on the defensive side of the ball continues to excite defensive coordinator Zach Orr whenever he’s on the field.

Nate Wiggins & Marlon Humphrey must excel in Ravens Playoff run

Baltimore Ravens rookie DB Nate Wiggins is becoming the exact compliment all-pro Marlon Humphrey needed. Now, It’s time for the AFC playoffs

Baltimore Ravens defensive backs Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey better hit the weight room hard this upcoming week at practice. The toughest wide receivers to cover in the entire NFL await them. 

Of course, the Ravens are expected to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers this upcoming Wild Card weekend, but that’s not where the most prominent and boldest enemies await. The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills both have household names as wide receivers, including De’Andre Hopkins, Amari Cooper, Keon Coleman, and tight-ends Dalton Kincaid, plus all-pro Travis Kelce. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr has to have his thinking cap on to scheme up the correct man and zone coverages versus each opponent in the post-season because Steelers Russell Wilson, Chiefs Patrick Mahomes, and Bills Josh Allen all can move in the pocket.

Furthermore, for the Ravens to make a difference versus the pass, they may want to use bracket techniques and press coverage to rush opponents in the passing game. Wiggins and Humphrey are both handsy defenders, so jamming wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and forcing opposing quarterbacks to throw into tight windows and toward the sideline.

Fans saw Wiggins grab an epic interception inside a flat zone scheme Orr drew up versus the Cleveland Browns last weekend. Hopefully, Humphrey and his journeyman Wiggins can make more miracles in the upcoming playoffs.

Zach Orr just keeps upping the score, Ravens clinch AFC North

Over the last three games, the Baltimore Ravens defense are allowing opponents just 11 points per game. DC Zach Orr deserves his credit.

Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr is catching stride at the perfect time of year. Over the last three games, Orr’s defense has allowed opponents an average of 9.7 points per game, bringing punishing play on defense and flocking the way the Ravens have throughout franchise history.


Orr’s mike linebacker Roquan Smith featured seven assisted tackles in the 35-10 win over the Cleveland Browns. The defensive unit has designated leaders at all three levels to help ensure the agenda of making the opposing offensive miserable. The Ravens continue to lead the entire NFL in rushing yards and opponent rushing yards allowed per game. Certainly, a universal understanding of the front seven should go as a credit to both the offensive and defensive line coaches for the Ravens, who make it all happen in the trenches.


Ultimately, while Orr builds momentum with his unit heading into the season’s biggest stage, Ravens fans can only stand in awe. From here on out, it’ll be win or go home for the Ravens, and hopefully, they have what it takes to make a push to the Super Bowl.

Steelers fans react to Ravens taking AFC North divisional title

Steelers fans respond as the Baltimore Ravens clinch the AFC North title, overtaking Pittsburgh after a late-season collapse.

Although fans of the Black and Gold were prepared for the Baltimore Ravens to defeat the Cleveland Browns—and ultimately claim the AFC North crown—it didn’t make the outcome any easier to accept.

From the Pittsburgh Steelers holding a two-game lead in the AFC North to losing three straight games in Weeks 15–17, disappointment hangs heavy in the Steel City. The three-game losing streak—including a loss to the Ravens—allowed Baltimore to overtake the Steelers in the divisional title race.

Heading into Week 18, the Steelers’ only hope of finishing atop the AFC North rested on the Bailey Zappe-led Cleveland Browns pulling off an upset against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

However, reality quickly set in as Zappe threw a pick-six to Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins early in the contest.

The Browns fought back to close the gap but ultimately fell to the Ravens, 35–10—spelling disaster for the Steelers’ divisional title hopes.

Here are some of the most passionate Steelers fan reactions to the Week 18 contest between the Browns and Ravens.

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