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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Ravens announce three roster moves ahead of game vs. Steelers in Week 16

Ravens waived Diontae Johnson, activated Desmond King and Anthony Miller from the Practice Squad for tomorrow’s game vs. Steelers in Week 16

After two weeks of uncertainty about his future, the Ravens waived wide receiver Diontae Johnson a day before facing his former team, the Steelers.

Johnson and the Ravens initially agreed to excuse him from team activities this week.   Johnson was suspended for last week’s victory over the New York Giants for conduct detrimental to the team. Johnson’s suspension stemmed from refusing to enter Baltimore’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

In other moves,  Baltimore elevated cornerback Desmond King and wide receiver Anthony Miller from the practice squad for Saturday’s game.

King had a 22-yard punt return against the Giants in Week 15.  Miller will provide depth with wide receivers Nelson Agholor (concussion) out and Rashod Bateman (foot) questionable.

The 28-year-old Johnson was acquired in a trade with the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29.

Baltimore sent Carolina a fifth-round pick in 2025, while the Ravens received Johnson and Carolina’s sixth-round pick.

Johnson played 39 snaps in four games with the Ravens and caught one pass for six yards. He had 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games with the Panthers. Johnson spent his first five seasons with Pittsburgh, where he caught 391 passes for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns.

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Nelson Agholor injury updates: Latest news on Ravens WR

Nelson Agholor will miss the Baltimore Ravens Week 16 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a concussion

Baltimore will be without wide receiver Nelson Agholor for Saturday’s critical AFC North matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The veteran pass catcher is in the concussion protocol and wasn’t cleared for action following the Friday morning practice at the Under Armour Performance Center.

Baltimore could be thin at the wide receiver position, as Rashod Bateman (foot) is questionable after not practicing Thursday. Diontae Johnson is out after being excused from the team activities this week after being suspended for Week 15.

If Bateman can’t play, the Ravens will focus on the running game. Tylan Wallace and Devontez Walker will play wide receiver opposite Zay Flowers. The Baltimore passing game will still be efficient, with Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely at tight end.

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Ravens fall to 7-4 as offense sputters in 18-16 loss to Steelers in Week 11

Ravens fall to 7-4 as offense sputters in 18-16 loss to Steelers in Week 11

Lamar Jackson will have to wait a few weeks to get that much-needed win over the Steelers after the Ravens sputtered in neutral for most of the afternoon in an 18-16 loss to Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium.

The NFL’s No. 1 ranked quarterback in QBR, Jackson was 16-33 passing for 207 yards (6.3 avg), one touchdown, one interception, and a 66.1 rating, the lowest of this season.

Jackson had four carries for 46 yards, while Derrick Henry was held to 65 yards (5.0 avg) on 13 carries and one rushing touchdown, tying the single-season franchise record for touchdowns.

Zach Orr’s maligned defense held Pittsburgh to 4-16 on third downs and 303 total yards, but Pittsburgh held the football for 36:22, compared to Baltimore’s 23:38.

The Steelers held the Ravens ‘ top-ranked offense to 329 yards and just 124 yards rushing. Justin Tucker’s two missed field goals will further magnify the two-point loss. On the day, Tucker was 1-3 on field goal attempts, while Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was a perfect 6-6, including a 57-yard field goal.

Baltimore will quickly regroup before a massive Monday night matchup against Jim Harbaugh and the 6-3 Los Angeles Chargers.

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Top photos from the Ravens 35-34 win over the Bengals on Thursday Night Football

Top photos from the Ravens 35-34 win over the Bengals on Thursday Night Football

Underused pass catcher Tylan Wallace had three catches for 115 yards (38.3 avg) and one touchdown, including an 84-yard catch and run that resulted in Lamar Jackson’s longest touchdown pass of his career, as Baltimore held on for a 35-34 win at home on Thursday night. Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase almost spoiled the Purple Rising party, as the former LSU star logged 11 catches on 17 targets for 264 yards (26.4 average) and three touchdowns, with a long of 70 yards for a touchdown.

In another near-perfect performance, Jackson was 25-33 passing for 290 yards (8.8 avg), four touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 141.4 rating. His AFC North rival, Joe Burrow, did his part for the Bengals, hanging in the pocket as he went 34-56 passing for 428 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

The Ravens defense allowed 470 yards, as Cincinnati was 8-16 on third downs.   Baltimore was sloppy on the night, with 11 penalties for 81 yards.

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Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman expected to remain the top two wide receivers for the Ravens after trade for Diontae Johnson

Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman expected to remain the top two wide receivers for the Ravens after trade for Diontae Johnson

With the recent trade for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson, speculation has arisen regarding potential changes to the usage of the Baltimore Ravens’ current top two wide receivers, Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.

According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, the pair of homegrown first-rounders are expected to remain as the team’s top two options at the wide receiver position with the arrival of Johnson.

I’m told Diontae Johnson’s trade acquisition does not reflect a change in view of Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman as the team’s current WR1 and WR2, per source,Anderson wrote. “While, I’m told Johnson was brought to Baltimore for his speed, separation and punt returning abilities—especially with Deonte Harty’s (knee) listing on IR, it’s been reinforced to Flowers and Bateman, even going back to last year when the team added additional weapons at wideout, that the organization not only believes in the aforementioned duo but also has very high confidence in them.

Flowers has taken another step in his second season, becoming quarterback Lamar Jackson’s favorite target in the passing game with 17 more catches than the next player. Flowers’ 527 receiving yards also lead the team and is currently the 12th most in the NFL.

While Bateman is coming off a game he would rather forget against the Cleveland Browns, in which he dropped two crucial passes, his play has been a marked improvement this season. Bateman’s 422 receiving yards are second on the team and 20th in the NFL.

As Anderson later points out, Johnson will most likely eat into veteran wide receiver Nelson Agholor’s playing time.

 

John Harbaugh expresses confidence in Ravens’ WRs amid Davante Adams trade rumors

John Harbaugh expresses confidence in Ravens’ wide receivers amid Davante Adams trade rumors

Whenever a notable wide receiver becomes available in free agency or via trade, fans of the Baltimore Ravens inevitably become fascinated with the idea of pairing them with MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. Davante Adams is the latest example after the six-time Pro Bowler requested a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was asked how he felt about the team’s current group of wide receivers amid speculation that Baltimore could be a team to pursue Adams.

“You know how we feel about our guys,” Harbaugh said. “I really can’t comment on anybody else’s players. We talked about Davante Adams a couple of weeks ago [when we played the Raiders], and I didn’t want to talk anything about him after the game – we had seen enough at that point. We love our guys.”

Adams was instrumental in the Raiders Week 2 upset win over the Ravens as he caught nine passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. The superstar receiver would undoubtedly help take Baltimore’s already explosive offensive to another level, but considering his current salary, the needed draft capital to give up, and the fact that the Ravens are a run-heavy team, the move for the soon-to-be 32-year-old receiver seems unlikely to occur for Baltimore.

The Ravens appear content to roll with Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor as the team’s top trio of wide receivers, with tight ends Isaiah Likely, Mark Andrews, and Charlie Kolar also featuring heavily in the passing attack.

Ravens vs. Bengals: Top photos from Baltimore’s 41-38 win in overtime at Paycor Stadium

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 41-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime at Paycor Stadium in Week 5

Lamar Jackson and company rallied from a late fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime with a 56-yard field goal from Justin Tucker. In overtime, the Bengals recovered a Jackson fumble but could not win it after Evan McPherson missed a 56-yard field goal of his win.

At one point in the fourth quarter, Joe Burrow was 27-for-34 for 353 yards and five touchdown passes, while former college teammate Ja’Marr Chase had nine catches for 174 yards and two scores.

Burrow finished 30-39 passing for 392 yards, five touchdowns, and one costly interception. His MVP counterpart, Lamar Jackson, was 26-42 passing for 348 yards and four touchdowns. Jackson also had 12 carries for 56 yards on the day.

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Joe Burrow dominates early, but Ravens rally for a 41-38 win over Bengals in overtime

Joe Burrow dominates early, but Ravens rally for a 41-38 win over Bengals in overtime

After a week of pundits and experts questioning Joe Burrow’s demise, the former LSU star put the NFL back on notice with a dominant, five-touchdown performance against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium.

Still, it wasn’t enough, as Lamar Jackson and company rallied from a late fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime with a 56-yard field goal from Justin Tucker. In overtime, the Bengals recovered a Lamar Jackosn fumble but were unable to win it after Evan McPherson missed a 56-yard field goal of his win.

Baltimore used a big Derrick Henry run to get into field goal position, and Justin Tucker’s 24 field goals gave the Ravens their third straight win.

At one point in the fourth quarter, Burrow was 27-for-34 for 353 yards and five touchdown passes, while former college teammate Ja’Marr Chase had nine catches for 174 yards and two scores against a Ravens secondary full of first-round picks and high-paid defenders.

Burrow finished 30-39 passing for 392 yards, five touchdowns, and one costly interception. His MVP counterpart, Lamar Jackson, was 26-42 passing for 348 yards and four touchdowns. Jackson also had 12 carries for 56 yards on the day.

After a slow start, Derrick Henry finished things with a bang, rushing for 91 yards on 15 carries, with one rushing touchdown.

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Ravens vs. Packers: Top photos from preseason finale at Lambeau Field

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field

It’s only the preseason, but the Ravens will head towards the 53-man roster cutdown date with a sour taste after a 30-7 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field on Saturday afternoon. Josh Johnson was 5-7 for 71 yards and one passing touchdown, while Michael Pratt led Green Bay in passing, going 8-12 for 80 yards and one touchdown. The Packers were dominant on the ground, amassing 193 rushing yards, as Ellis Merriweather led all ball carriers with 16 yards for 74 yards. The Packers held the ball for nearly ten minutes longer than the Ravens and out-gained Baltimore by 326 yards to 177 for John Harbaugh’s bunch. With Baltimore now turning its attention toward the Chiefs, here’s an instant analysis of the loss. ***