The Baltimore Ravens are 2-0 in the preseason after grinding out a 13-3 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, and the formula looked familiar. The defense kept delivering, the offense started slowly, and Baltimore still found enough late to finish the job.
If you were looking for a clean offensive showcase, this wasn’t it. But the Ravens did come away with another hard-earned victory, and the defense once again set the tone.
The clearest difference from last week was how the defense got there. Against Minnesota, it was less about overwhelming the Vikings and more about tightening the screws at the right moments.
The unit allowed some splash plays and let the chains move at times, but the pass rush showed up when it mattered and the tackling in space kept Minnesota from turning those gains into something bigger. Baltimore’s sack total climbed from one against the Philadelphia Eagles to five in this game, and the Ravens also forced their first two turnovers, with Ethan Burke forcing a fumble and Silas Walters picking off a pass.
On the other side, the offense is still searching. Even with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, and others sitting this one out, the early returns were rough.
Baltimore managed 13 points, threw for 184 yards, and ran for 58. That’s not the kind of production that inspires much confidence, even in August.
Joe Fagnano continued to make a case for himself, though. When the pocket broke down, he kept the play alive with poise and mobility, and in the second half he started stacking together better throws.
His best came on a 3rd-and-11 strike to Devontez Walker for 27 yards, a throw that helped set up a touchdown drive. At this point, he looks like he’s at least putting himself in position for a practice squad spot.
There were some tough lessons for the offensive line, too. Vega Ioane got a dose of Brian Flores’ pressure-heavy style and gave up two pressures on the opening drive.
But he wasn’t alone. The entire front had trouble sorting out Minnesota’s blitzes, especially early, and Tyler Huntley spent a lot of the first quarter under siege.
For a group that already feels like a major question heading toward 2026, this didn’t offer many comforting answers.
There were still a few individual performances worth filing away. Mike Green got his first sack of the preseason and nearly had another, only to be denied by a quick J.J.
McCarthy throw just before he arrived. He flashed as a pass rusher and also made an impact against the run, including a strong play on a Dominic DeLuca tackle for loss.
Broderick Washington also stood out after entering the day with pressure on him. He was active all over the field, disrupted the run game, got interior pressure, and helped spring Ethan Burke on a stunt that nearly produced a sack.
Special teams was a mixed bag. The coverage unit had some rough moments, including a fair catch interference penalty from Keondre Jackson, a missed tackle by T.J.
Tampa, and too much space allowed on the edge. There were cleanup issues with pursuit and finishing, even if the group settled in later.
The kicking game, though, did its part. Tyler Loop opened with another 49-yard try, and this time he drilled it.
He finished 2-for-2, which was a welcome answer with questions swirling around him. Ryan Eckley also made a strong impression with his leg, hammering punts of 59, 59, 60, 54, and 60 yards after a first kick that had too much hang time and not enough distance.
Keondre Jackson kept popping up all over the place. He brought a different gear to the field, and it showed on a second-quarter kickoff tackle, a drive-ending sack on the next Minnesota possession, and in coverage when he closed downhill fast to limit yards after the catch. He finished with 8 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 tackles for a loss.
Adam Randall did not play, which stood out since he was not on the injury report and had taken part in joint practices in Minnesota earlier in the week. In his place, Jonathan Wade, Elijah Tau-Tolliver, and Dontae McMillan handled the carries.
At receiver, the day was mostly quiet, but LaJohntay Wester may have given himself a little momentum. He looked dangerous as a punt returner with his burst and quickness, and as a pass catcher he drew seven targets, hauled in five balls for 24 yards, and scored a touchdown. The 4.8 yards per catch won’t jump off the page, but his value in space is obvious.
In Other News...
LaJohntay Wester Just Made The Ravens Return Role More Complicated
LaJohntay Wester keeps making a case for himself in a crowded Ravens receiver room, and the latest reminder came in preseason against Minnesota. The former Colorado standout caught an eight-yard touchdown pass and finished with five receptions for 24 yards and the score, giving Baltimore another glimpse of the playmaking ability that could matter when the roster gets trimmed down.
The celebration told its own story, too, with offensive lineman Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan among the first to greet him, a familiar scene for two former Buffaloes trying to carve out NFL roles in Baltimore. Christian-Lichtenhan is still working toward a roster spot in his second season, while Westers performance only adds another wrinkle to the Ravens return conversation as the team evaluates who can help once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Suddenly Have A Real QB3 Decision To Make
Joe Fagnano has turned the Ravens preseason into a legitimate audition, and not just for some end-of-roster footnote. The undrafted rookie has handled a heavy workload over the past two weeks, completing 37 of 48 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns while getting plenty of chances to show he belongs behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley.
What makes this interesting for Baltimore is how quickly the quarterback picture has gone from routine to worth watching. The Ravens have clearly invested real snaps in Fagnano, and he has responded by making a strong case for either a roster spot or at least a place on the practice squad. With the top two jobs spoken for, the only question now is whether his preseason play has been enough to separate him from the rest of the competition. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Offensive Line Still Looks Like A Serious Week 1 Concern
The Ravens offensive line has given them plenty to think about after a preseason outing against Minnesota that turned messy fast against Brian Flores pressure looks. Baltimore is still bringing back important pieces like Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten, but the overall picture along the front remains unsettled, especially with younger and less proven options being asked to hold up in meaningful snaps.
Vega Ioane and John Simpson are part of that mix, and the concern around Ethan Pocic only adds to the uncertainty after his Achilles injury. For a team with bigger goals than simply surviving September, the lines shaky showing was a reminder that the most important work in front of Lamar Jackson may still be unfinished with the regular season approaching. [Read more 🡒]