BALTIMORE — The Ravens are one of the NFL’s highest-scoring teams partly because of their prowess in the end zone.
Baltimore has scored touchdowns on 75 percent of its trips to the red zone, tied for second with the Cleveland Browns and behind the New Orleans Saints (76.47 percent).
The addition of running back Derrick Henry has been a huge boost, but quarterback Lamar Jackson has also thrown touchdown passes to six players.
“Being good in the red zone usually does start with running the ball,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “You have to block people and protect, but it goes next to scheme for sure, because it’s kind of a different kind of scheme game, because things happen so much faster.
“And thirdly, it ends up being about extended plays, which we’ve been good at as well. So, in all three of those areas, our offense is doing a really nice job. We have to try to keep it going.”
Commanders will focus on Henry: The Washington Commanders will likely stack the line of scrimmage to prevent Henry from making big runs and letting the Ravens settle into their offense.
The Bengals did that last week, and Jackson made critical plays in the passing game, throwing for 348 yards with four touchdowns. Washington has allowed 5.1 yards per carry, the second most in the NFL.
Henry expects a tough, physical game.
“I think they have a disruptive front [and] experienced linebackers who’ve been playing well [and] who do a great job,” Henry said. “They’re playing well in the back end, too, so I think they have a solid all-around group. When you have momentum on a team, and you’re playing complementary football, that’s kind of hard to stop, and I feel like they’ve been doing that very well. [Their] offense is playing well, and [their] defense is picking up for them, and back and forth. They’ve been doing a great job.”
Ravens-Commanders: fun, regional rivalry: The Ravens and Commanders players downplayed the rivalry between the franchises. Despite being separated by 40 miles, Baltimore and Washington have met only seven times during the regular season with the Ravens holding a 4-3 advantage. The teams have met 15 times in the preseason — with the Ravens holding an 11-4 edge. Washington did end the Ravens’ 24-game preseason winning streak in 2023.
“I’m sure everybody is excited in the region, in the DMV. It’s cool; it’s fun,” Harbaugh said. “That’s what it’s about. Sports is to have fun for the fans. We take it as life and death, and to us on a given day, it kind of feels like it is. But, in the end, it’s a great distraction; it’s a great thing to have fun with. I hope people have a great time around the Ravens and the Commanders and everybody else in the league. I hope they enjoy it. I hope it’s something that gets their minds in a different place sometimes, and they can enjoy it. To whatever extent that is, that’s great.
“For us, it’s a rivalry, because it’s our next game. We do respect this team. They’re very good, they’re playing at a high level, and they’re [a] tough, physical outfit. We’re looking forward to the challenge of that, and we’ll be ready for it.”
Heisman connections: There will be four former Heisman Trophy winners in the lineup at M&T Bank Stadium. For the Ravens, Jackson won the award in 2016 and Henry took home the trophy in 2015. The Commanders also have a pair of Heisman Trophy winners — Jayden Daniels in 2023 and backup quarterback Marcus Mariota in 2014.
