As the NFL regular season hits its final stretch, the Baltimore Ravens are still in the thick of the playoff race. Sitting at 7-7 with three games left, they trail the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers by just one game. That sets the stage for a potentially massive Week 18 showdown-but first, they have to get there.
Up next? A primetime clash on Sunday Night Football against the 11-3 New England Patriots, one of the league’s top teams this season. It’s a must-win for Baltimore, and in games like this, it’s often the lesser-known names-the grinders, the spark plugs, the under-the-radar playmakers-who tilt the balance.
Here are three Ravens players who could step into the spotlight and etch their names into Baltimore lore with a big performance against New England.
Charlie Kolar: The Unsung Engine of the Offense
Charlie Kolar isn’t the flashiest name on the Ravens’ roster, but ask anyone in the building and they’ll tell you-this guy has been quietly doing the dirty work all season. The third-year tight end has grown into a reliable run blocker and situational pass catcher, and while he doesn’t rack up targets like Mark Andrews, he’s shown a knack for making timely plays.
With Andrews locked in for the future after a recent extension, Kolar’s future in Baltimore is still up in the air-he’s in a contract year and has three games left to make his case. This matchup could be tailor-made for him to do just that.
The Patriots have struggled to contain tight ends in 2025, giving up 86 catches, 869 yards, and six touchdowns to the position. And with linebacker Robert Spillane-New England’s leading tackler-ruled out for Sunday, there’s a real opportunity for Kolar to make an impact in both the run and pass game.
Whether it’s sealing the edge on outside zone runs or sneaking into the soft spots of the Patriots’ zone coverage, Kolar could be the kind of unsung hero who helps swing a season.
LaJohntay Wester: The Spark Waiting to Ignite
If there’s one thing that can flip a game in an instant, it’s special teams. And rookie return man LaJohntay Wester has been flirting with a game-breaking moment all year.
Drafted in the sixth round this spring, Wester came into the league with a reputation as the best return specialist in the class. He wasted no time showing why, taking a punt to the house in his preseason debut. Since then, he’s been close-really close-on a few occasions, but he’s still looking for that first regular-season return touchdown.
New England has already allowed one return score this season, and with playoff intensity in the air, this feels like the kind of game where one electric return could change everything.
Wester’s role on offense has also been growing. He’s logged five or more offensive snaps in four of the last five games, and Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken has started sprinkling him into the game plan more often. Whether it’s as a gadget player or a decoy, Wester has the kind of juice that can break a game wide open.
If he finds a seam, don’t be surprised if he becomes the name everyone’s talking about on Monday morning.
Trenton Simpson: A Shot at Redemption
Trenton Simpson’s path in Baltimore hasn’t been smooth. The third-year linebacker came into the league with high expectations, but consistency has been hard to come by. Now, with rookie Teddye Buchanan sidelined for the season with a torn ACL, Simpson has a chance to step back into a starting role-and maybe rewrite his narrative.
He’s got the tools. Simpson is an explosive athlete with sideline-to-sideline range and the versatility to impact the game in multiple ways.
He’s flashed potential as a blitzer and has the speed to hang with backs and tight ends in coverage. What he needs now is a complete game-and there might not be a better time to deliver one.
The Patriots come into Sunday night with the NFL’s seventh-best passing attack, and Baltimore’s defense will need to be sharp across the board. That means Simpson will have to be more than just a body next to Roquan Smith-he’ll need to be a playmaker.
Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr has the chess pieces to get creative, and if Simpson can bring pressure from the second level or disrupt passing lanes in coverage, he could be the X-factor the Ravens need to keep their postseason hopes alive.
The Bottom Line
Every playoff push has its defining moments-and its unlikely heroes. For the Ravens, Sunday night in Foxborough could be one of those moments.
With the season on the line, Baltimore needs more than just its stars to show up. They need the grinders, the spark plugs, and the guys who’ve been waiting for their shot.
Charlie Kolar, LaJohntay Wester, and Trenton Simpson might not be household names yet. But if they rise to the occasion against the Patriots, they just might become legends in Baltimore.