The Ravens didn’t just beat the Commanders on Friday night - they buried them. Baltimore rolled to a 41-3 win to finish the preseason unbeaten, and the tone was set early by a defense that kept showing up snap after snap, game after game.
That side of the ball was the loudest story all night. Baltimore’s defense was suffocating for the third straight preseason game, forcing Washington into trouble in the backfield and making life miserable at every level.
There were pass breakups in key moments, plays blown up behind the line, and Ethan Burke added another eye-catching moment when he forced a fumble. Even with Washington’s offensive line described as being in terrible shape, the Ravens’ second- and third-team defenders allowing only one touchdown across the entire preseason says plenty about how organized Coaches Minter and Weaver have this group.
The offensive side gave Baltimore something it had been looking for. After the first two games produced little from the ground game, the rushing attack finally got moving. That matters, even in a preseason setting, because it gave the Ravens a more complete final look before the roster gets trimmed down.
Joe Fagnano kept making his own case, too. He turned in another strong performance and put real pressure on Baltimore’s decision-makers if they’re seriously weighing carrying three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. At the same time, the roster squeeze is real, and the question isn’t just whether Fagnano has done enough - it’s whether the Ravens can afford to keep that many passers.
There are still plenty of unresolved battles elsewhere. Adam Randall and Rasheen Ali both played well enough to keep the running back conversation open, with both three-back and four-back possibilities still in play.
At center, there still isn’t a clear starter. And even with Jenkins and Washington sitting out this game, the roster picture remains crowded enough that trades could still be in play, with Peebles, Okoye, Benny and Olajiga all helping themselves with active performances.
There were also more pass-rush flashes from Burke, Rucker, and Isaac, which only added to the defensive depth on display.
The biggest headache, though, was Tyler Loop. He entered the night already on shaky ground and did nothing to steady himself, going 2-for-4 and missing twice more.
His issues from long range remain a problem after going 1/5 last year from 50+. At this point, the Ravens should seriously be looking at the street for another kicker.
In Other News...
Ravens Final Cuts Could Decide More Depth Than Fans Realize
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There is also the possibility Baltimore adds a veteran linebacker before the deadline, which would only add to the competition and shape the way the back end of the roster comes together. For a team that has long valued roster flexibility, this is the part of August that can matter just as much as the obvious starters, because the names finalized now often determine how well the Ravens can weather the season once injuries and attrition inevitably arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Still Have One Roster Worry Before Week 1
With their final preseason game approaching, the Ravens are getting down to the part of August where every roster spot starts to matter a little more. The next round of cuts will force some hard decisions, and Baltimore is still sorting through a few spots where depth could be useful before Week 1 arrives.
Safety, offensive line and tight end remain the main areas to watch, especially with the injury picture still shaping the conversation. A few veteran free agents, including Peppers, Hernandez and Hill, have been mentioned as possible fits if the Ravens decide they need another layer of insurance, but for now it remains one of those late-summer questions that can shift quickly once the final preseason tape is in. [Read more 🡒]
A Few Young Ravens May Already Be Losing Their Roster Spots
The Ravens final preseason game figures to be more of a formality than a true roster audition, with head coach Jesse Minter limiting player participation and the front office already having a strong sense of what the 53-man group will look like. Barring injuries, most of the real decisions appear settled, and that leaves the games fringe players fighting for slimmer chances than usual as the roster countdown moves toward its end.
For a few young Ravens, especially some recent draft picks and late-round additions, the path may already be narrowing into practice-squad territory or simple depth roles. Eric DeCostas recent linebacker draft choices have not made the kind of push that forces a tougher conversation, which is why the final spots around the bottom of the roster feel more about maintaining organizational depth than uncovering a late surprise. [Read more 🡒]