The Ravens enter their home opener with a chance to keep the Week 1 momentum rolling, but Roquan Smith may end up being one of the biggest keys to how it all plays out.
Baltimore’s defense drew a Saints offense that hasn’t been dominant on paper, but has flashed real bite since Tyler Shough took over. New Orleans finished the 2025 season with the 10th-fewest yards per game, yet the Shough-led unit showed last week against the Detroit Lions that it can still stress a defense. The Saints piled up 469 total yards and scored 30 points before falling in overtime.
That makes this a tricky assignment for the Ravens, especially in the areas Shough likes most. As a rookie, he consistently worked the middle of the field, and that’s where he looked most comfortable in Detroit, too. After a slow start, he settled in and finished 35-for-56 for 410 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.
Smith will be central to handling that part of the field. Baltimore’s opening-drive defense against the Indianapolis Colts last week was vulnerable over the middle, so the veteran linebacker will need to keep the group organized and prevent Shough from getting into a groove between the hashes.
Smith arrives in this matchup coming off a huge Week 1 performance. After an underwhelming 2025 campaign, he answered with 11 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 1 interception, and a 91.4 Pro Football Focus grade in Baltimore’s season-opening win.
He’ll have more to sort through Sunday, and it won’t just be Shough. The Saints also bring three skill players who can complicate things for the Ravens: running back Travis Etienne and tight ends Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant.
New Orleans signed Etienne to a four-year, $48 million contract in free agency, and the idea is to make him a centerpiece. He managed only 9 carries for 46 yards in Week 1, but he also showed value as a receiver with seven catches. Over his five-year career, Etienne has 175 receptions for 1,370 yards, so Baltimore may lean on Smith to help limit what he does in space.
The tight ends are another issue. Johnson and Fant combined for 7 receptions, 87 yards, and 2 touchdowns in Detroit, and their athleticism makes them more difficult to manage than the usual tight end duo. Their route-running gives them ways to uncover, and Marlon Humphrey addressed those traits on Thursday.
With Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, and Jaylinn Hawkins also involved, Smith figures to be a major part of the Ravens’ plan for those matchups.
Baltimore does not need Smith to carry the whole night. But if the Ravens want their best chance to control the game, they’ll need him making life hard for Shough and closing off the middle of the field.
In Other News...
Ravens Fans Are Already Debating One Wild New Stadium Food Item
M&T Bank Stadium rolled out a fresh batch of concessions for the Ravens home opener, and the menu alone is already giving fans plenty to talk about. The biggest head-turner is a barbecue sundae built with brisket, baked beans and macaroni, a layered game-day novelty that sits alongside new spots like The Talon patio and Franks RedHot Backstage sports bar as the stadium keeps trying to make the food scene feel as much a part of the experience as the football.
There are broader changes mixed in too, from a switch in poultry suppliers to Perdue Farms to the addition of familiar names and local flavor through vendors like Little Caesars and Factoria Maria Pupuseria. Stadium officials also laid out pricing and descriptions for a range of updated items, including hot dogs and the Dueling Dog, but the barbecue sundae is the one most likely to spark the debate that every NFL venue secretly wants - whether this is a must-try crowd-pleaser or a bridge too far. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Loop Bought The Ravens Time But Not Real Kicker Security
Tyler Loop gave the Ravens exactly what they needed in Week 1, handling every extra point and field goal attempt and even showing range from distance. That kind of clean debut bought the team some breathing room, and it quickly made the practice-squad kicker picture look a lot less crowded when Baltimore moved on from Jake Moody.
Still, the move did not amount to a long-term declaration of trust. Loops first game was encouraging, but the Ravens know one sharp outing is not the same thing as established reliability, especially at a position where inconsistency can swing games fast. Moody could always come back into the conversation if Loops form slips, which is why Baltimores kicker situation feels more settled than secure. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Suddenly Face A Big Availability Problem On Offense
The Ravens' offense was already trying to find its early-season rhythm, and Thursday's injury report did not make life easier. Zay Flowers sat out practice with a hamstring issue, joining Ronnie Stanley and John Simpson among the notable absences as Baltimore dealt with several missing starters at once. With a new coaching staff in place, the team has been taking a cautious approach to health this time of year, which makes every missed practice a little more meaningful.
Flowers is considered day-to-day, but the outlook for this week does not sound especially encouraging, and that leaves Baltimore waiting to see how much of its passing game it can count on. Nnamdi Madubuike is still limited as he works back from neck surgery, adding another layer to an availability picture that already has the Ravens monitoring key spots across the roster. For a team trying to settle in offensively, the next few practices should say a lot about how much of the plan can actually be put on the field. [Read more 🡒]