Tag: Ravens

Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 12 opponent: Ravens

Here are some important things to know about the Ravens ahead of the Week 12 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers are at home to face the Ravens in primetime on Monday, Nov. 25, at 5:15 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 12 bout, here are a few key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

How things are going…

The Ravens are 7-4 on the season, with their most recent game being a loss to the Steelers.

Harbowl II

Jim and John Harbaugh will meet for the second time. Harbowl I occurred in Super Bowl XLVII in 2013 when John’s Ravens beat Jim’s 49ers 34-31.

Running up the scoreboard

The Ravens have been a problem to opposing defenses this season. Baltimore is averaging the second-most points in the NFL (30.4).

Lamar is legit

One of the main reasons the Ravens’ offense is impactful is Lamar Jackson’s play. Jackson has thrown for 2,876 yards and 25 touchdowns with three interceptions. He ranks first in EPA/play and success rate. Along with being a prolific passer, Jackson is lethal with his legs. He’s carried the ball 95 times for 584 yards and two scores.

All hail King Henry

The Ravens’ acquisition of Derrick Henry this past offseason has paid dividends. The former Titan has run wild this season, leading the league in yards (1,185), rushing touchdowns (13), and 20+ yard rushing plays (13). Between Jackson and Henry, Baltimore is averaging a whopping 177.3 yards per game on the ground.

Uneven defense

The Ravens have been stout against the run, allowing just 77.5 yards per game, which ranks No. 2 in the league. However, Baltimore has been torched through the air. They’ve given up the most passes (39.5) and passing yards per game (284.5).

Look out for…

Zay Flowers. Flowers, the second-year wide receiver, has established himself as Jackson’s top target. He has the fifth-most receiving yards (727) and is nearly always bound to make a big play.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh weighs in on Justin Tucker’s struggles in 2024

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh weighed in on kicker Justin Tucker

The Baltimore Ravens lost a heartbreaker to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11 by the final score of 18-16. Baltimore couldn’t convert on a two-point conversion to tie the contest, resulting in defeat.

One of the many reasons Baltimore wasn’t about to come out on top was kicker Justin Tucker’s two massive misses on field goals. The legendary kicker has struggled all season, and head coach John Harbaugh said that Tucker needs to make his kicks and kick straight.

“‘Tuck’ [Justin Tucker] needs to make kicks. He knows that; that’s important. He makes them in practice, and he made the long one later, which was good to see – which means he’s still very capable. Kick them straight, [and] we’ll be good.”

Tucker’s struggles have been uncharacteristic, with all his kicks missing wide left. Baltimore needs Tucker to be the best version of himself, as missed kicks mean even more in postseason action.

Lamar Jackson is sick of the Ravens beating themselves

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is sick of the team beating themselves

The Baltimore Ravens suffered some ugly losses during the 2024 NFL season, resulting in many questions about the team’s actual contender status. That didn’t change in Week 11, as the team embarrassingly lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Baltimore couldn’t get out of its own way once again, gifting Pittsburgh a win in multiple different areas. After the contest, quarterback Lamar Jackson expressed his frustration with the outcome and the way it happened, talking about how the team can’t keep beating themselves up.

“Absolutely. It’s been that way ever since last year, I believe, going back to the AFC Championship game, we killed ourselves. The Chiefs game [in] the [season] opener, we killed ourselves. [The] Raiders [game], we killed ourselves, and today, it’s the same thing. We can’t be beating ourselves in these types of games. We have to find a way to fix that – it’s annoying.”

In their losses and even in some of their wins, the Ravens give the game away and become their own worst enemy. This worrying trend needs fixing, especially for a team that has such high hopes and is striving to win a Super Bowl for the third time in franchise history.

John Harbaugh on Ravens lack of discipline: ‘We have to cut down on the penalties’

John Harbaugh discussed the fact that the Baltimore Ravens need to cut down on penalties

The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers by the final score of 18-16 in Week 11. It was a tough road divisional game for Baltimore, but despite the loss, it felt like a game that the Ravens could have easily won had they been more on top of things and executed at a higher level.

In the contest, Baltimore racked up 80 total penalties through 10 weeks, the most in the NFL. They added 12 more to their total on Sunday, and after the game, head coach John Harbaugh made it clear that the number of penalties the team is committing is unacceptable.

“It’s definitely something we have to do. We have to cut down on the penalties – that is very important. We’ve done it before on offense. We haven’t had some of those in some of our big offensive games. Today that was a big problem.”

If the Ravens genuinely want to win a Super Bowl, they must be a more disciplined football team moving forward. That responsibility is on both the players and the coaches, as both have not been up to par regarding being ready for game day mostly all season long.

NFL playoff picture: What are Chargers’ chances of making postseason after win over Bengals?

The Chargers are in great position to play beyond the regular season.

The Chargers beat the Bengals on Sunday, picking up their fourth consecutive victory. They improved to 7-3, and their chances of playing beyond the regular season.

According to NFL.com, Los Angeles has a 91% chance of making the playoffs. With the Bolts’ win and the Ravens’ loss to the Steelers on Sunday, L.A. moved up to the fifth seed.

Here’s a look at the division standings entering Week 12:

1. Chiefs (9-1)

2. Chargers (7-3)

3. Broncos (6-5)

4. Raiders (2-8)

And a look at the playoff picture:

*There are (7) available Playoff spots

1. Chiefs (9-1)

2. Bills (9-2)

3. Steelers (8-2)

4. Texans (6-4)

5. Chargers (7-3)

6. Ravens (7-4)

7. Broncos (6-5)

8. Colts (5-6)

9. Dolphins (4-6)

10. Bengals (4-7)

AFC playoff matchups if the season ended today:

  • No. 2 Bills vs. No. 7 Broncos
  • No. 3 Steelers vs. No. 6 Ravens
  • No. 4 Texans vs. No. 5 Chargers

Ravens RB Derrick Henry heaps praise on RB Keaton Mitchell

Ravens running back Derrick Henry heaped praise on fellow running back Keaton Mitchell

The Baltimore Ravens were able to steal running back Keaton Mitchell away from half of the NFL in 2023 undrafted free agency. He had a phenomenal rookie season before it was cut short due to a devastating knee injury, one that would cost him half of his 2024 as well.

Mitchell is back in action, and many are excited to see what he can do in his return to the field. Fellow running back Derrick Henry was asked about Mitchell, and in response heaped praise on the second-year rusher.

“Keaton [Mitchell] is a great player. Everybody saw the dynamic and the big-play ability that he had last year. He’s worked hard to get back, so [we’re] excited to have him back. Him getting there and making big plays is another asset for us on offense. Me and Justice [Hill] are helping him any way we can.”

Henry, Mitchell and Justice Hill form one of the most formidable running back trios in the NFL. Each has a unique skillset, and all three players can play off of quarterback Lamar Jackson in a big way.

ESPN draft analyst weighs in on Ravens rookie WR Tez Walker

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller weighed in on Ravens’ rookie WR Tez Walker

The Baltimore Ravens selected wide receiver Tez Walker in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft. The former North Carolina star hasn’t had many opportunities to show off his skillset during his rookie year. Still, Baltimore liked his contested catch ability and other traits enough to spend a mid-round pick on him in April.

When weighing in on Walker on The Ryan Ripken Show, ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller praised the first-year receiver and gave his projection on where he could end up on his NFL journey. He talked about how Walker can be a solid No. 2 wideout behind Zay Flowers, diving into his skillset and what he brings.

The Ravens have plenty of other wide receiver options that they can lean on this year, leaving Walker out of the picture unless a wave of catastrophic injuries hits. With that said, the team can take their time developing Walker to ensure he pans out into a viable option in their offense moving forward.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson confident in growing connection with WR Diontae Johnson

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is confident in growing his connection with wide receiver Diontae Johnson

The Baltimore Ravens acquired wide receiver Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers in a deal to bolster their depth at the position. Baltimore didn’t have to give up much to bring in the veteran wideout, and because of that saw an opportunity to add a quality player at a low cost.

Johnson hasn’t done much in the way of production over his first two games in a Ravens uniform. However, Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson is confident in the growing connection between the two as they continue to get on the same page and work to get to know eachother.

“I feel like it’s good, actually. We were throwing passes out here today – seven-on[-seven, team [drills]. We were looking pretty good, looking pretty solid.”

Johnson will have opportunties to contribute to what hopefully will be a deep Ravens run in 2024. It takes all new players an acclamation period with their new teams, and while Johnson is going through that right now, his skillset and ability as a separator can help Baltimore’s offense in a big way.

Former Ravens S Earl Thomas shares thoughts on 2019 season with team

Former Ravens safety Earl Thomas shared his thoughts on his 2019 season with the team

The Baltimore Ravens signed safety Earl Thomas to a big-money contract before the 2019 season. While Thomas was an incredible player for the team on the field, the signing was a disaster off of it, with Thomas being cut after just one season with Baltimore.

Thomas joined Josina Anderson on “The Exhibit,” where he talked about his time with the Ravens, how it ended, and more. When bringing up the 2019 team, Thomas had a very interesting comment: While quarterback Lamar Jackson was Lamar Jackson, he let the team know that he himself was Earl Thomas.

It never felt like Thomas meshed with the Ravens off the field, and his fit inside of Baltimore’s culture always felt like it wasn’t completely there. While he helped anchor one of the best defenses in the NFL that year, the off-field baggage was too much to handle, leading to his release.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh weighs in on Steelers Patrick Queen, DeShon Elliott

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh weighed in on Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Patrick Queen and safety DeShon Elliott

The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers have seen many of their players cross sides in their rivalry. From stars to role players and everything in between, plenty have changed allegiances and tried their hand at being the enemy.

A few former Ravens players who are now current Steelers include inside linebacker Patrick Queen and safety DeShon Elliott. When asked about the duo, head coach John Harbaugh said that they’re playing at a high level in roles they’ve always been good in.

“I just think they’re defense is playing really well. They have roles for their guys [and] every piece fits in a way that they want it to fit. Those two guys, specifically, are playing at a high level [and] doing the roles that they’ve always been good at. You see ‘Pat’ [Patrick Queen] play, and you see DeShon [Elliott] play – that’s the type of stuff that they’ve always done well. They did it well here as well, so they’re playing well.”

Queen and Elliott will be looking to get the better of their former team for as long as they’re in Steelers uniforms. However, the Ravens won’t allow that to happen so easily, especially when they have to go up against a historic offense.