Jackson, an undrafted free agent out of Illinois State, first juked past Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward, then closed in as rookie returner Myles Price bounced to the inside and in his direction. Trenton Simpson arrived first, but as Price started to slip through the linebacker’s tackle he was finished off by Jackson, whose right arm dislodged the ball. Once loose, things got “crazy” at the bottom of the pile but Jackson fought for it the way he’d fought his whole life and came away with it.

Two states away and a few hundred miles to the south, Freeport High School football and wrestling coach Anthony Dedmond rejoiced.

“Nothing was given to him,” he said. “He didn’t have the easiest time growing up. A lot of times he could’ve quit or made excuses. He never did. Sometimes he’d come to wrestling practice a minute late and I’d send him home after he’d walked there. It was just about accountability and consistency.

“His want-to is second-to-none. Everything he has is because of the work he has put in.”

Baltimore has a long history of overachievers who have played outsized roles as special teams stars, from Bennie Thompson, Anthony Mitchell and Adalius Thomas to more recently Tylan Wallace. Perhaps Jackson will be next.

The third-quarter turnover on Sunday was the second in as many possessions for the Vikings, helped shift the tide in what up until then had been a tight contest and led to a touchdown six plays later for a two-score lead in the Ravens’ eventual 27-19 victory. It was also just the latest in a number of notable plays by Jackson, who over the past few months has gone from the practice squad to being a game-day elevation to being signed to the 53-man roster to perhaps being on his way to etching his name into team lore.

“We knew he was loose with the ball the whole week, so I was just trying to get my hand on that,” he said of the fumble he both caused and recovered. “At the bottom of the pile, it was crazy down there, but I’m just sitting down there holding the ball. I knew I had it. I knew I was going to come up with it.”

Those in Jackson’s orbit, past and present, weren’t surprised.

In four seasons at Illinois State, he racked up 225 tackles in 45 games (33 starts), including 14 tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks, five interceptions — two of which he returned for touchdowns — and had 13 pass breakups. His senior year, he played the second half of the season with a separated shoulder, was named an FCS All-American and in the season opener that year – a 40-0 wipeout at Iowa’s raucous Kinnick Stadium – had a season-high 11 tackles. One in particular stood out, though.

“Even with our headsets on, he made a hit on a check-down and you could hear the pads crack,” coach Brock Spack said. “That whole stadium went ‘Oooh!’ That’s what epitomizes his career here.”

It often wasn’t easy.

In his early days at Illinois State, Spack told Jackson that he needed to get his grades in order if he wanted to play football there. When he first arrived, he did so as a walk-on.

In high school, where he also wrestled, his path forward wasn’t always clear or certain. There were “tough times” off the field Dedmond said, noting a turbulent childhood that included Jackson moving around quite a bit including to Mississippi before returning to Freeport, a blue-collar town of about 23,000 a half hour west of Rockford.

Still, if there’s one thing that Jackson loves, coaches at all three levels said, it’s football.

“There was no plan B for him,” Dedmond said. “He had plan A and that was it.

“Sometimes people took his passion as being hard to deal with. But just seeing that passion grow was huge.”

So, too, have been some of the plays he has made for Baltimore.

In four games, he has made six tackles on special teams. He was called for two penalties in a win over the Miami Dolphins, but the speed, physicality and verve with which he plays has been both vital and an injection of juice into the unit.

It’s also a role Jackson has long embraced.

At Illinois State, coaches on more than one occasion wanted to move him off special teams because he was too valuable as the team’s top defender. Jackson wasn’t having it.

“He’ll do anything to get on the field,” Spack said. “Going into his senior year I remember talking to scouts and saying this guy smells and breathes of special teams. He’ll cover, block on returns, anything. He really likes it.

“You could just tell he’d be good at it, too. He’s hard to block, can run, he’s athletic. He’s hard to stop in the open field because of that.”

That was evident in Minnesota even after he recovered the fumble.

Jackson celebrated with a backflip, something he’d done the week before after a big tackle against the Dolphins the week before. This time he stuck the landing a lot better, too.

It’s no wonder then that it didn’t take long for Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who cut his teeth in the NFL as a longtime special teams coach, to see what Jackson was capable of.

“He was bringing it,” Harbaugh said. “He was showing us a lot of progress, a lot of development, improvement and all those things.

“He has some unique skills. He’s a big rangy, fast, explosive athlete who is certainly not afraid to throw it in there and mix it up, which he does at a high level. I think he’s a football player, and he proves that. [He has an] infectious personality and high energy. To see it show up on the field the way it has is a great thing to see, and he’s building a resume, but now the standard keeps going up for him.”

As Dedmond texted Jackson the other day, though, “great job, but it’s just the beginning.”

“This moment is not his best moment. It’s just the start to the best moment,” he said. “Anything’s possible.”

Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1.

You can watch it weekly, posting every Tuesday during the NFL season on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart.

Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun.

Second chances exist in life and sports.

Teams desperate for stability at kicker will at least consider signing the greatest kicker in league history. Soon enough, Tucker may emerge in a new uniform, but his nearing return to football still feels incomplete.

Tucker, who turns 36 on Nov. 26, served his suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy after more than a dozen female massage therapists accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior. When the allegations were first revealed and the league later issued its discipline, Tucker repeatedly denied all wrongdoing.

To this date, Tucker’s only semblance of an apology was his statement to Outkick in February: “It devastates me to know that anyone I have worked with would not have felt respected … to anyone who has felt otherwise, I am sorry. I maintain I did not act inappropriately at any point before, during, or after a professional bodywork treatment session, nor have I ever been told I am unwelcome at any massage therapy provider.”

Yet he never appealed his suspension, which the league allowed him to serve as a free agent.

Hmmm.

If Tucker truly felt like nothing inappropriate occurred, why not automatically challenge the suspension, which was issued after the NFL conducted an investigation, through the appeals process? To deny the behavior but accept the punishment without contesting it created a contradiction that has never been addressed.

Now, as Tucker becomes eligible to return, the most significant moment of his return won’t be his next contract signing or field goal attempt. It will be the first time he speaks publicly.

That could come at a podium, in a team locker room or perhaps on a Zoom screen. But it’s coming — for Tucker and whichever team decides to employ him — and what he says in that moment will determine whether he actually moves forward.

Issuing a brief, direct apology acknowledging his actions would not erase what allegedly happened a decade ago. But a real apology would finally acknowledge the pain inflicted on those affected. It would also address the confusion many Ravens fans still feel about how to view one of the franchise’s greats.

Baltimore, meanwhile, has already moved forward.

The Ravens released Tucker in May following 13 memorable seasons, labeling his release ‘a football decision.’ His performance dipped drastically as Tucker suffered from a career-worst 73.3 field goal percentage in 2024.

When the Ravens tabbed Tyler Loop as the first kicker drafted in franchise history, it signaled a new era. Loop has lived up to his draft status, making 16 of 18 field goals and 23 of 24 extra-point attempts. Following Tucker’s shadow always was a hefty task for whoever inherited the role, but Loop has looked unfazed during his rookie season.

Even Tucker’s place in NFL record books has shifted. Just last week, Jaguars kicker Cam Little’s 68-yard field goal broke Tucker’s previous NFL record of 66 yards for the longest kick in league history.

The NFL does not stop to wait for a player to reclaim what they once were. Tucker’s representation is aware. Last month, NFL Network publicized a video on social media, pushed by his camp, of Tucker recreating his most iconic kicks during a workout at his alma mater, the University of Texas. NFL Network also reported Tucker already was garnering interest from multiple teams.

Tucker wants back in.

There are too many teams dealing with missed kicks and extra-point attempts. One of them will likely reemploy one of the NFL’s greatest kickers. Whenever Tucker returns to an NFL roster, a coach and/or general manager will talk about second chances.

For Tucker, it’s about recognition and accountability.

His path back to respect, not just a roster spot, runs through his level of accountability. While he served his 10-game suspension, his actions and lack of a meaningful apology indicate he believed he never deserved the league-issued discipline.

Accountability doesn’t require a speech. In Tucker’s case, it may take only a sentence or two.

“I acknowledge the harm caused and want to put everything behind me. I am sorry.” 

His suspension is over and teams will evaluate their options.

But Tucker’s real return begins when he speaks publicly to the people who have waited far longer than 10 weeks for him to do so.

Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. 

MADRID (AP) — The initial batch of tickets for the first regular-season NFL game in Madrid were gone in a matter of hours, with nearly 700,000 people trying to get a seat to watch the Miami Dolphins play the Washington Commanders on Sunday at Real Madrid’s iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

For the first game in Ireland last month, organizers said some 600,000 digital devices were logged on to try to buy tickets for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game against the Minnesota Vikings at Dublin’s famed Croke Park.

The demand has been similarly high in other cities hosting games in recent years, and more countries have been reaching out to the NFL. An NFL official says “probably a day doesn’t go by” without a city saying they are interested in potentially hosting a game.

The host cities themselves have treated the games as their Super Bowls, with a series of promotional events and fan activities planned in the weeks ahead and high-profile artists performing at halftime. They have generated massive fan interest locally and attracted fans from nearby European countries, allowing host cities to gain financially and in visibility.

Mini Super Bowls

Gerrit Meier, managing director and head of NFL International, said organizers went into the game in Dublin last month with “a real sense of a mini Super Bowl coming to town.”

There were NFL experiences and shops brought to iconic venues, and murals and light projections were visible throughout the Irish city. Similar activities were being promoted for Spain’s inaugural game in Madrid.

Puerto Rican superstar Daddy Yankee and Argentine producer Bizarrap are set to perform at halftime in Madrid. British singer Myles Smith was the star at halftime in Dublin, while Grammy award-winning artist Karol G performed in Sao Paulo in September. Grammy-nominated Kid Laroi was the headliner for Berlin’s first regular-season game last week, while the games in London included shows by British singer Raye and British rapper Giggs.

Most games abroad ever

The three games played in London this season took the total there to 42 games since 2007, which is when the NFL officially kicked off its push to grow internationally with regular-season games abroad. The league has been aggressively expanding in recent years, and the seven games played internationally this season are the most ever for the NFL. Next year, it will go to Australia and add a game in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has reiterated that the league plans to increase the number of international games to a point where each team will get to play a game abroad every year. He said in September that the NFL also wants to play in Asia. The league may also look at possible locations for a game in Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia could possibly be in the mix as well.

“Probably a day doesn’t go by where someone on our international team doesn’t receive outreach from a city or an entity interested in working with the NFL and potentially hosting a game,” said Peter O’Reilly, the NFL vice president in charge of international affairs. ”There’s very strong interest. I think cities have seen what it’s like to host a game, and the visibility that it brings, as well as the magnet it is for people from that region, and more broadly, around the world to come in.”

Economic impact

The estimated economic impact for London since the first game was played there in 2007 has reportedly reached $2.6 billion. The first time the NFL played in Germany in 2022, the economic impact was more than $80 million for the Munich area, and Spain expects similar numbers, according to some local estimates.

Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez said it was “a great honor that a competition with the prestige of the NFL” chose Madrid as host.

“This is a matter of great pride for us, for Real Madrid fans, for Madrid citizens and for Spaniards,” Pérez said when the game was announced. “We are convinced that the city and our stadium are ready to be part of one of the greatest spectacles in the world.”

More than 60 regular-season games will have been played abroad through this season, with London, Munich, Frankfurt, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Madrid, Berlin, Dublin and Toronto hosting them.

“Our historic first game in Madrid is a very exciting next step in the league’s history,” the NFL country manager for Spain, Rafa de los Santos, told The Associated Press. “Beyond playing international games, and expanding our global footprint, we want to grow our presence in key markets around the world year-round, bringing more fans globally closer to our game, our clubs and our players.”

Global momentum

O’Reilly said the league is excited about growing global momentum and the owners “continue to prioritize global growth” and work to establish a strategic foundation “across the league to become a true global sport property.”

“We’re now in a state where teams are very interested in raising their hand to play in certain markets, especially where they have global market rights, and we’re hearing from more and more countries and cities who are interested in being part of these international games’ road map,” O’Reilly said.

The league recently expanded its Global Markets Program, which awards teams international marketing rights to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the United States. Now all 32 teams participate in the program across 21 international markets — up from 25 clubs across 19 markets in 2024.

Teams benefiting

The NFL teams have jumped on the opportunity to expand their brand internationally and have been riding the current wave of interest.

“When you play a game abroad, it’s not just about the result on the field,” said Dolphins vice president of international development Felipe Formiga, who leads the organization’s brand development and growth strategy in international markets. The Dolphins will be playing their eighth regular-season game abroad, second only to the 14 played by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“For us, it’s about celebrating American football internationally, about making history by playing in this first-ever game in Spain,” he told the AP. “This movement by the NFL in recent years to motivate teams to expand internationally has presented us with great opportunities, and it has been a perfect match for the Dolphins, which already has in its DNA that aspect of being an international organization.”

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Tucker, 35, is eligible to be reinstated Tuesday after serving a 10-week suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy following several sexual misconduct allegations brought against him earlier this year. He was released by Baltimore in May, about three months after more than a dozen female massage therapists accused him of sexual misconduct at several Baltimore-area spas and wellness centers.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta called the move a “football decision” in a statement at the time and made no mention of the allegations against the former star.

In June, the NFL suspended Tucker following an investigation into the accusations. The league did not release details of the findings, but that is typical unless a player files an appeal and the case goes in front of a disciplinary officer.

Tucker has repeatedly denied the allegations, though he did not file an appeal. He has not been charged with a crime and faces no known civil lawsuits.

Although Tucker was not eligible to practice with a team until fulfilling his suspension, he was allowed to sign with one before then. The fourth-most accurate kicker in NFL history with a career field goal accuracy rate of 89.1%, Tucker spent his first 11 seasons in Baltimore, where he became one of the faces of the franchise and was a prominent figure in and around the city, along with becoming one of the best kickers in history.

He also had the worst year of his career last season, making just 73.3% of his field goal attempts and missing two extra points.

Then in January, The Baltimore Banner first reported that six massage therapists said Tucker exposed his genitals, brushed two of them with his exposed penis and left what was believed to be ejaculate on the massage table following three treatments. More than a dozen massage therapists made similar accusations, all having allegedly taken place between 2012 and 2016, and about five months later, he was suspended by the NFL.

It was reported last month by NFL Network that the five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection has been working out his alma mater, Texas, while a free agent and that he had already drawn interest from “several teams.”

Where could Tucker possibly land? Here are a few possibilities:

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are 7-2 and tied for the best record in the NFC. They are also in desperate need of a dependable kicker.

Whether Tucker fits that bill, however, remains to be seen from an organization that has steered clear of controversial players.

Still, they are potentially in the market. Joshua Karty had been L.A.’s kicker but was replaced Sunday by second-year pro Harrison Mevis, who didn’t attempt any field goals in the 42-26 win over the San Francisco 49ers but did make all six of his extra point tries.

Karty, who is still on the roster for now, had made just 66.7% of his field goal attempts this season, which was the lowest mark in the league. Two of those misses came earlier this month in a blowout win over the New Orleans Saints, and he also missed his third extra point of the season in that game, prompting the change.

Whether Mevis is the long-term solution or Karty is able to turn things around remains to be seen, but for a Super Bowl contender, having a kicker that can be counted on is critical.

Green Bay Packers

The only kicker in the league Karty has been worse than (minimum 10 field goal attempts) is veteran Brandon McManus, who has connected on just 68.8% of his field goal attempts. That included missing a 43-yarder last week in a brutal 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 2.

McManus, 34, has also missed two games with a quad injury.

Those struggles came after he made 95.2% of his field goals last season, which led to a three-year, $15.3 million contract in March. But like the Rams, the Packers are a Super Bowl contender and could be looking for a more dependable option.

They also have Lucas Harisik, who filled in for McManus and made all four field goal attempts, including a 61-yarder, in his absence.

Atlanta Falcons

The mercurial Falcons are already on their third kicker after parting ways with longtime kicker Younghoe Koo and then John Parker Romo, who took over for Koo in Week 2.

Romo lasted until only Week 9, though, after he’d made just 66.7% of his field goals and then missed an extra point in a 24-23 loss to the New England Patriots. Now, veteran Zane Gonzalez is their kicker.

Gonzalez, 30, made a 43-yarder and both extra points in Atlanta’s wild 31-25 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, but he has been average at best for the bulk of his career.

He’s made 88% of his field goals in a season only twice and hasn’t eclipsed that mark since 2021. For his career, Gonzalez has made just 80.2% of his field goals.

Tucker would certainly be a significant upgrade.

New York Giants

After Graham Gano suffered a herniated disc earlier this month, the Giants elevated Koo from their practice squad beginning in Week 10 after having signed him in September following his Falcons release. In his first action Sunday against the Chicago Bears, he promptly made both field goal attempts and both extra points.

Still, New York for years has struggled to find a consistent kicker.

The Giants are also not a contender and Tucker’s story would provide ample tabloid fodder they would likely rather avoid. New York also just fired its coach on Monday, so that all but eliminates any chance it would bring Tucker in now.

But if he doesn’t sign anywhere, which is another possibility, he perhaps could end up being an affordable option at a position of need with a roster that has some young and inexpensive talent at other key spots. Not signing with anyone would also open up a host of possibilities.

One place it’s unlikely that he would return is in the AFC North.

Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop, whom Baltimore drafted in the sixth round a few weeks before releasing Tucker, has made 16 of 18 field goals. Plus, the Ravens likely wouldn’t have brought him back even if Loop had struggled.

Chris Boswell, meanwhile, has been the Pittsburgh Steelers’ kicker since 2015 and holds several franchise records and has made 17 of 20 kicks this season, so no change is happening there. Likewise, Evan McPherson has been the Cincinnati Bengals’ kicker since 2021 and has made 13 of 16 this year. He tied an NFL record for most field goals made in the postseason with 14 during the 2022-23 playoffs.

In Cleveland, Andre Szmyt beat out incumbent veteran Dustin Hopkins during training camp and has made 12 of 15 field goal attempts, including two of three from 50-59 yards.

Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1.

Bateman was seen wearing a boot in the visiting locker room after Baltimore’s 27-19 road win over the Vikings. He told ESPN’s Kimberley Martin that it happened midway through the third quarter. Bateman curled back toward the ball, jetted inside and made a diving effort toward the goal line before Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers yanked him to the turf.

Bateman told Martin he “doesn’t expect to miss too much time” and was surprised Rodgers wasn’t flagged.

Asked about the play, Harbaugh laughed, “What is a hip-drop tackle? It’s an enigma, apparently, that can’t be called during the game.” The longtime coach said he thought, “based on the definition,” Rodgers should have been flagged for a hip-drop tackle, the recently banned technique that results in a 15-yard penalty and possible fine. Harbaugh turned to a public relations spokesperson and asked, “Am I gonna get in trouble for saying that?”

Teammates pulled Bateman right to his feet and he took a few steps without any noticeable limp. He played through any pain, later catching a 2-point conversion pass — his only other reception in the win — that extended Baltimore’s fourth-quarter lead to two scores.

Bateman hasn’t had the encore to his breakout 2024 that some may have projected. The fifth-year wideout who signed a three-year extension this past summer has only 16 catches on 31 targets with two touchdowns. Bateman’s target share is less than half of Zay Flowers’, and his receiving yards rank fourth in Baltimore’s offense.

That’s after posting career marks last season: 756 yards and nine touchdowns on 72 targets.

Still, he’s a proven commodity in a you-never-know-who passing attack, and the shaky Ravens offense needs all the help they can get in this slow climb back to playoff contention. Veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins could see an uptick in targets if Bateman is to miss any time, or one of the tight ends who have gotten more involved in recent weeks.

Injury luck is a fleeting abstract in the NFL.

After maintaining a nearly spotless injury report last week, the Ravens are now without Bateman in the short term. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey is also dealing with a finger injury. He played through it, logged his first interception of the season and took to his postgame Instagram Live all with a wrap around his hand. Humphrey could opt to play through the injury, although there’s a chance it will require surgery that could sideline him for a game or two, according to Harbaugh.

Undrafted rookie Jay Higgins IV also appeared to suffer an injury on a special teams play in Sunday’s win. Higgins was seen wearing a significant brace on his right leg in the postgame locker room. Harbaugh said that Higgins’ unspecified injury would hold the linebacker out for “a few weeks.”

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com.

Here are five things we learned:

The Ravens are surging, but they’re not quite where they need to be

Take the bad with the good.

Lamar Jackson wasn’t his usual dominant self on an afternoon that cornerback Marlon Humphrey called a “smoke break” for the superstar quarterback. Derrick Henry spent most of Sunday afternoon running into a barricade. Four different reliable pass catchers dropped the football. For the third time this season, an opposing receiver eclipsed triple-digit receiving yards. In this case, it was Minnesota’s third option Jalen Nailor, who set career marks with 124 yards on five catches. Nailor’s only touchdown nearly set off an improbable fourth-quarter comeback.

And yet, the Ravens prevailed. They squashed a potential game-tying drive in the final minutes, thwarting early-season demons. Rookie kicker Tyler Loop kept them afloat with four field goals until the offense found a groove. And their defense hit the turnover trifecta, which at times this season felt like an impossible feat.

The win, Baltimore’s third in a row, confirmed this post-bye week surge could be for real. It served as a reminder, too, that there’s still plenty to clean up.

Which is why Jackson couldn’t compliment the defense without kicking himself first, “I feel like we should have helped them out a little bit more, but they got it done,” he said.

Getting it done can mask some of the Ravens’ shortcomings. A light midseason schedule (the next two weeks they’ll play teams with a combined five wins) offers a ramp to get that stuff cleaned up by December. Still, Sunday showed what’s possible: a creatively potent offense, an imposing defense and an influential special teams unit.

Safety Kyle Hamilton said he was joking coming off the field that it was one of only a handful of instances since he was drafted “where both sides played well.” And they did it in one of the league’s tougher places to play.

All week, there was talk about how loud U.S. Bank Stadium would be. It’s so cold in Minneapolis this time of year that everyone packs into the downtown dome and screams their heads off to regulate their body temperatures.

The Vikings wound up with eight false start penalties. The Ravens, who have long been plagued by such afflictions, were flagged only once. What did that say about this team in that setting?

“I think that’s what won the game for us,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I really do. I think the poise under pressure, handling the noise, one presnap penalty, no turnovers in this environment.

“And it’s the two-fold noise. It’s the noise of the crowd, which is incredible, and it’s also the noise of the defense and the noise they create with all their schemes and the way they play.”

A pre-bye week version of this team might not have handled such raucous conditions so calmly.

The simple stuff doesn’t work on third down

A throw short of the sticks. Another skipping through Isaiah Likely’s mitts. A ball thrice swatted at the line of scrimmage. Henry going nowhere. Jackson ditching the ball over the end zone.

That’s a sampling of Baltimore’s third-down snafus, all uncomplicated play calls that ended in frustration over stalled out drives. The Ravens went three-and-out six times. As offensive coordinator Todd Monken likes to argue, it’s only a “bad” play call if it doesn’t work. Talent alone failed to get them past the sticks nine times on 15 tries. Converting on third down Sunday required something a tad more unconventional. Monken showed how deep that playbook goes.

When everyone inside U.S. Bank Stadium assumed Mark Andrews lining up under center meant a tush push — the short-yardage play that has troubled the Ravens at times, and been a cheat code at others — Andrews flipped the ball to his quarterback, who snared an off-target toss with his left hand and picked up the yard and more.

Later, on third-and-1, thinking back to a growing sample size of failed Henry runs in such situations Sunday, Monken gave fullback Patrick Ricard his first carry in nearly three years. He tumbled over the imaginary yellow line with ease.

Another funky conversion helped set up a touchdown. On third-and-2 inside Minnesota’s 10-yard line, Monken called for 13-personnel, a (very) heavy formation with one running back and three tight ends. Jackson kept the ball on a sweeper to his left behind a squadron of big bodies.

Still, Jackson, who played in his 100th regular-season game, knows there’s more to be done. His mood postgame showed as much.

A strong defensive showing gives them “a lot of confidence,” he said. “But I’d have even more if we were putting points on the board like we should. Hats off to our defense, because they played a wonderful game.”

Defense is finally delivering on its takeaway promise

Marlon Humphrey is undoubtedly the most eccentric player in the Ravens’ locker room. Anything could have been going through his head. But after intercepting a J.J. McCarthy deep shot, Humphrey looked unsure of himself, as if to wonder, where did this ball come from? What do I do with it? He was perhaps assuming a yellow flag might land near his feet, negating the play.

Nope, Humphrey registered his first interception of the season (he led the Ravens with six in 2024). It was Baltimore’s second of the day, improving the team total to five on the year and at least one in a third consecutive game. Just last month, only the interception-less Jets had fewer.

The Ravens are now at least better than 10 teams in that department, delivering on a preseason promise they had previously failed to deliver on. They’ve forced seven turnovers in three games after stealing three through the first six. It’s hard to blame Humphrey for looking so out of place after the catch, the return and a little bit of celebration.

Sunday was the first time the Ravens’ defense logged two interceptions (rookie Malaki Starks secured the other) in a single game this year.

Tack on the special teams fumble and Sunday was the second time in as many games the Ravens forced three takeaways, the daily goal defensive leaders set for themselves back in August and failed to roll into September or October. They’ve come a long way since. Take it from the new guy, Dre’Mont Jones, whose only thought was, “Wow, this Ravens defense is legit.”

“We’re not satisfied with just getting one or two,” outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy said. “We need to get multiple. We need to get as many turnovers as we can get, and today was a great example of that.”

Linebacker Roquan Smith nearly made it four with an interception that officials narrowly called back. On that one, the defense celebrated in full before the review. It wasn’t until Saturday that they even started to brainstorm how to revel in their success. 

Hamilton had just watched “Coach Carter,” starring Samuel L. Jackson playing a rigid basketball coach whooping his team into shape. The idea was whoever forces the turnover would roam the goal line, hands tied behind their back, imitating the legendary actor while his teammates ran gassers in the end zone. Smith ran them anyway, looking a little unsure he was doing the right thing. A replay review showed the ball had nicked the turf, and it was called back.

“I’m glad that one just got thrown out. We’ll figure something else out,” Hamilton said. “At least we have stuff to celebrate now.”

The Ravens talked a big game about forcing turnovers. They’re finally starting to deliver, which means they’re relearning how to look like they’ve been there before.

It’s too late to buy Keondre Jackson stock

In August, there were three undrafted rookies dominating the discourse. More accurately, they captured the hearts of a fan base eager for football. None of them were named Keondre Jackson. The Ravens cut him loose on Aug. 26. They signed him to the practice squad a day later.

Jackson was a penny stock back then. Ten weeks into the season, the UDFA safety from Illinois State known for backflipping on the sideline is playing like a special teams ace. “He said he was gonna make a name for himself,” Harbaugh said, “I think he’s doing it.”

Jackson’s ascension climaxed on a third-quarter kickoff. He wasn’t first to the ball carrier. But he raced in to finish the tackle and punched the ball from Myles Price’s grasp — his first career forced fumble. Jackson blanketed the ball. “At the bottom of the pile, it was crazy down there,” he laughed. Jackson earned the right to high-step upfield in celebration for having given Baltimore the ball three steps from the red zone.

“This dude loves playing football,” special teams coordinator Chris Horton said. “You turn on that tape, and you watch him play, he’s an impactful player in our phase of the game.”

Jackson’s forced fumble was his loudest contribution this season. But he’s been a steady special teams force in recent weeks. So much so that when Baltimore waived safety Sanoussi Kane (who they signed to the practice squad days later), Jackson took his place on the 53-man roster. Credit his five tackles in three games, including a pair in wins over Miami and Chicago.

“Keondre Jackson’s been great for us since he’s been active,” Hamilton said. “Big ball of energy.”

Ravens embrace early season ‘scar tissue’

When a team endures the kind of turmoil the Ravens did earlier this season, players tend to wax lyrically about a singular focus. Everything is about the game in front of them, they say. One win to snowball the next. After three in a row, Hamilton finally, and reluctantly, admitted what no player had publicly.

The NFL’s highest-paid safety prefaced to say he doesn’t speak for the whole team. But if there is anyone who does, even just for the defense, it would be Hamilton.

“What got us — not trying to bring up the past — partially what got us to 1-5,” Hamilton said, “was the fact that we came into the season maybe thinking, ‘We’re the Baltimore Ravens. We’re gonna do this, we’re gonna do that. Teams are just gonna lay down and let us win games.’”

That sentiment should have been obvious to anyone watching Baltimore’s wretched start. For weeks, opponents waltzed into M&T Bank Stadium, putting on the kind of offensive and defensive showings not seen at the home stadium since the turn of the century. 

The Ravens looked lost. It would be a stretch to say they’ve been found, but a three-game win streak is enough to reckon with their past and acknowledge things have changed. Or as Hamilton put it, “we’re starting to hit our stride” after getting “punched in the mouth” to start the season. “We’ll have that scar tissue going forward,” he said.

Harbaugh admitted to letting his emotions bubble up after the clock wound all the way down. “I didn’t shed a tear,” he clarified. “I wouldn’t let that happen.” But he was proud to see how his team persevered.

The Ravens didn’t fold over when history counted them out. They’ve got a long way to go. They’re at least making things interesting.

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.

They won their third straight game Sunday, beating the Minnesota Vikings, 27-19, at U.S. Bank Stadium, but it’s hard to figure this team out. A team picture might be placed right near the word “enigma” in the dictionary.

They stumbled, kicked three field goals in the first half because they couldn’t run the ball inside the red zone, trailed 10-9 at the  break and then blew away the Vikings with 18 second-half points.

“Yes, there’s a lot that we could work on and be better at, but I definitely liked that we put up points,” wide receiver Rashod Bateman said. “There were a couple of drives I wish we had back, but I think we’re starting to find our groove. We just have to keep finding a way to clear out the gray area and make it more black and white all around for the guys. That just comes with practice and repetitions, so it’s definitely on the way.”

The game appeared closer than the score indicates, but the Ravens weren’t seriously threatened except for some late-game heroics by the Minnesota receivers. The Ravens kept second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy off target for most of the game and even compiled 12 quarterback hurries.

Nope, that’s not a misprint.

Combined with running back Derrick Henry, who took over the game in the second half, the Ravens shut down the Vikings’ talented group of receivers, especially Justin Jefferson, who looked like he was about to quit at various times during the game.

So, that brings me back to the starting point. What’s up with the Ravens? How can a team go 1-5 to start the season and then win three straight to climb to a 4-5 record?

The injuries to at least nine starters early in the season were a major contributing factor, but the Ravens were completely healthy Sunday and they struggled against a team that entered 4-4.

There was a belief that the Vikings had gotten better, especially after they upset the Lions in Detroit last week. They appeared to improve significantly on defense, but the Ravens had to use two interceptions and one fumble recovery on a kickoff return to pull out the victory.

Here is a suggestion for the Ravens: just keep pounding away with Henry. He rushed 20 times for 75 yards and took over the game in the second half, when he had 11 carries for 42 yards. The Ravens don’t like to talk about it, but they have misused Henry in the past two trips to the postseason.

New motto: Run, Henry, run.

“We’ve been through a lot this year,” center Tyler Linderbaum said. “It’s a lot of adversity [and] a lot of people doubting us. We’re still not where we need to be. We have a big hole we’re trying to dig ourselves out of, but we have a lot of belief in this locker room, belief in the coaching staff [and] belief in the players that we can turn this ship around.”

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Ravens took possession at their own 33 and then ran Henry on six of the next eight plays before quarterback Lamar Jackson completed the 11-play, 67-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Andrews for a 27-13 lead with just under 11 minutes left.

It’s all set up for the running game, but the Ravens just have to get back on track, which they have done in the past three games. Maybe in the postseason, if the Ravens get there, they’ll have to depend on Jackson to toss the ball around more, but not at this point.

The Ravens built this offensive line for Henry to run, which is why they have enormous guards in the 6-foot-6, 320-pound Andrew Vorhees and the 6-7, 380-pound Daniel Faalele. To be honest, they can’t pass protect. So, if the Ravens stay with the run, at least they should keep the score close.

This team still has many questions about its defense, especially the secondary. The cornerbacks were lost for most of the first half and spent time shrugging and looking at each other in complete disarray. Minnesota finished with 365 yards of total offense, even though McCarthy spent most of the game missing receivers.

Rookie safety Malaki Starks and cornerback Marlon Humphrey each had interceptions, but they were basically gifts as Jefferson stopped running on the routes and then had the audacity not to chase down either Humphrey or Starks after the pass was picked off.

Merry Christmas, Ravens.

The Ravens have improved, especially on the back end, and the recent addition of outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones has helped. He didn’t have a tackle Sunday, but he finished with two quarterback hurries as the Ravens moved McCarthy in the pocket 12 times.

For this group, that’s impressive.

The Ravens will keep working, and hopefully they will improve. They are at least intriguing because they are on a roll, and they still have to play division-leading Pittsburgh and Cincinnati twice, as well as the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns.

But as Sunday’s game unfolded, there was the Ravens offense that could muster only three field goals in the first half and the one that scored on three of six possessions in the second half. They physically dominated both lines of scrimmage in those two final quarters and just wore down the Vikings.

Now, will the real Ravens stand up?

Minnesota might still have been in disbelief from its victory over Detroit. How else does the hometown team draw eight false start penalties? It’s even worse that Humphrey’s interception came on third-and-1 at the 50-yard line against a quarterback who can’t throw accurately.

And a lot of Ravens fans thought coach John Harbaugh was bad.

But after Sunday’s win, it’s still hard to figure out the Ravens. They have a multi-weaponed offense and a defense that can play with most teams when it wants to. They can look bad for a half, and then unstoppable for the second.

Go figure.

Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. 

“We really believe in, obviously, we have Lamar Jackson,” veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey said in the aftermath of a 27-19 victory over the Vikings. “But our defense, we’re trying to get it to where we can win games on defense and we don’t even need the offense to put up any points. … Let’s give him a ‘smoke break,’ let’s give him an ‘off day.’

“He’s bailed us out so many times. How about we do it?”

For the second straight week, the defense carried the Ravens through another uneven offensive start. Baltimore won its third consecutive game not because of its high-powered offensive playmakers, but thanks to a defensive unit that finally seems to be rediscovering its edge.

“[Defense] played great,” Jackson said. “They played the Ravens standard [of] football. I feel like we should’ve helped them more, but they got it done.”

It’s a stark contrast to the first month of the season.

Baltimore gave up an NFL-worst 177 points in its first five games, but has held its past four opponents to under 20. Coming out of the bye, the Ravens have won three in a row to improve their record to 4-5.

“We always knew we could play like this,” cornerback Nate Wiggins said. “It was just a matter of getting confident in the defense, running around and hitting people.”

The Ravens on Sunday limited the Vikings to a pedestrian 3-for-14 on third down and 2-for-5 on fourth-down attempts.

Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw more incompletions (22) than completions (20) and was intercepted twice, while four-time All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson finished with just four catches on 12 targets for 37 yards.

Game-changing interceptions by Humphrey and rookie safety Malaki Starks shifted momentum toward the visitors’ bench. Starks now has picks in back-to-back weeks, a sign of a young player accelerating into the role this defense envisioned for him when the Ravens selected him with their top pick in this year’s draft.

Meanwhile, undrafted rookie Keondre Jackson punched the ball loose on special teams and recovered his first career forced fumble, turning what would have been routine field position into an immediate scoring opportunity for Lamar and company.

“Anybody that gets turnovers, it helps their defense,” veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy said. “You look at the top defenses in the league over the course of this season, the turnovers have been huge for them. That’s something we’ve been harping on and we’re going to continue to harp on it, continue to capitalize.

“We’re not satisfied with just getting one or two; we need to get multiple. We need to get as many turnovers as we can get.”

Jackson, often throughout his storied career, has been asked to carry the Ravens on his back. Baltimore’s victory over Minnesota improved Jackson’s record against NFC teams to a jaw-dropping 25-3.

The Ravens surely will need him in future contests, but the Zach Orr-led defense aspires to provide the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player margin for slight error.

The Ravens know exactly who they have at quarterback. The defense just doesn’t want to rely on him every week.

“We got punched in the mouth early in the season, but now, I think we’re responding well,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “We’ll just have that scar tissue going forward when we just start stacking wins.”

Carrying that scar tissue will be key as the Ravens push forward.

The defense’s new-look pass rush, joined by recent acquisition Dre’Mont Jones, left sacks on the field and allowed McCarthy to escape on multiple occasions in just his fourth career game. To its credit, Baltimore recorded a season-high 12 quarterback hits against McCarthy.

A more seasoned quarterback, though, will make the Ravens pay.

Sure, winning off turnovers is electric, but it is also partially volatile. Takeaways come in streaks — or “in bunches,” as many Baltimore defenders referred to in recent days; the Ravens have six takeaways over their past two games.

Pressure, meanwhile, is a critical factor that can be replicated more frequently, but too often has been missing from Baltimore’s defense despite its recent surge. To contend into January, the Ravens must convert their uptick in quarterback hits to more impactful sacks and pressures.

If the Ravens sustain this turnover surge and clean up their rush as Jones continues to adjust to his new surroundings, the defense will really turn a corner. Baltimore’s next three games — Sunday at Cleveland, Nov. 23 vs. Jets and Nov. 27 vs. Bengals — offer a realistic path to a 7-5 record ahead of the team’s Week 14 showdown against the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 7 at M&T Bank Stadium.

“A [grind-out win], extremely important, especially [because] in our division, we play these types of [close] games a lot,” Jackson said. “Hopefully we’re not in these types of games, but we have to get used to it, get accustomed to it.”

Humphrey’s “smoke break” comment was a joke, as the defensive back chuckled right after, but his intent was palpable.

“It’s rewarding to play OK and win, that’s great,” Humphrey said. “But the key going forward is getting all three phases playing elite.”

On Jackson’s 100th start Sunday, he didn’t have to be at his best, the one pulling the Ravens out of the fire.

The defense finally returned the favor.

Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports.

Quarterback

Lamar Jackson completed 17 of 29 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown and finished with a passer rating of 87.7, but he seemed out of sync with his receivers. Maybe it was because he was sacked and hurried frequently, but his game was off-kilter. It didn’t help that the Ravens dropped several passes, some of which would have resulted in first downs. But Jackson did rush nine times for 36 yards and became a complement to running back Derrick Henry in the second half. Jackson’s lone touchdown pass came with just under 11 minutes left in the game, a 2-yard strike to tight end Mark Andrews. Grade: B-

Running backs

Henry took over in the second half and finished with 75 rushing yards on 20 carries. He dominated the Vikings and wore them down in the second half as he had 11 carries for 42 yards in the last two quarters. At one point, Henry had seven carries on eight plays in the Ravens’ final scoring drive, which resulted in Jackson’s touchdown pass to Andrews. The Ravens need to remember that as Henry goes, so do the Ravens. They also gave the ball to backup Keaton Mitchell for 31 yards on four carries and caught Minnesota crashing down the line of scrimmage a couple of times. It was a nice changeup from the Ravens. Grade: B

Offensive line

The Ravens pounded the Vikings with this group in the second half, and they got some nice runs by Henry and Mitchell as Baltimore had 152 yards rushing on 36 carries. The Ravens had 321 yards of total offense. They still struggle in pass protection, though. Maybe, just maybe, this was a turning point for the running game, but the Ravens need to get better at run blocking inside the red zone, which was a weakness in the first half. Center Tyler Linderbaum has improved in recent weeks, but the Ravens failed to pick up a lot of blitzes up the gut, which doesn’t help Jackson. Grade: C+

Receivers

I ask this question every week: Did they play? Andrews had three catches for 14 yards and a touchdown, but others made minor contributions — except Zay Flowers, who had four catches for 75 yards, which is OK as long as Henry dominates. Few receivers can impact a game like Flowers, and he is just as good on the outside as well as inside. Few receivers can cut and move like Flowers, especially when running at full speed. Grade: C+

Defensive line

The Ravens had a sound strategy up front. If they couldn’t get consistent pressure in the middle, they at least got their hands up and knocked down four J.J. McCarthy passes. A lot of his looks were quick throws, but at least they got in his line of sight. Minnesota had 365 yards of total offense, rushing for 120 on 18 carries, but McCarthy did a lot of damage late in the game, rushing five times for 48 yards. The Ravens got strong games from inside players John Jenkins, Travis Jones and C.J. Okoye, who, incidentally, learned how to play the game on YouTube. His progress had been remarkable, but aside for a couple of Minnesota runs, this group has held up well without two injured starters in Nnamdi Madubuike and Broderick Washington. Grade: B+

Linebackers

Middle linebacker Roquan Smith finished with six tackles and was all over the field, including putting pressure on McCarthy. That’s a key for this team, which has had problems producing consistent pressure. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and David Ojabo weren’t major factors with no hurries on the quarterback, but the Ravens did get some consistency from outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones, acquired last week at the trade deadline. Jones finished with no tackles, but did have two hurries, and it has to be a relief for him going from one of the worst teams in Tennessee to playing for a consistent contender like the Ravens. Rookie outside linebacker Mike Green had two tackles and three hurries, but was enough of a factor to make the Vikings offensive tackles move early for false start penalties during the game. Head games are just as much a part of the game as the physical impact. Grade: B

Secondary

The Ravens have gotten better, but can still look so unorganized. In the first half, they had problems in both run and pass defense. They either shrugged or pointed at each other because the cornerbacks had no clue at times. They did give up some big chunk plays at the end of the game, but they were great plays by the Minnesota receivers. The Ravens got away with mugging the Vikings quite a bit in the game, but if the referees allow it, keep doing it. Safety Kyle Hamilton knocked down two passes at the line of scrimmage, and cornerback Nate Wiggins played a smart game, knowing when to press receiver Justin Jefferson or back off. Wiggins finished with seven tackles. Rookie safety Malaki Starks had an interception and is playing a great center field. Nickel cornerback Marlon Humphrey missed a lot of tackles in the first half, but got better in the second and finished with four. He also had an interception. In both cases, Jefferson didn’t run hard for the ball and failed to even track either Starks or Humphrey after the interception was made. Grade C+

Special teams

Rookie kicker Tyler Loop bailed the Ravens out in the first half, converting on field goals of 44, 28 and 30 yards. He also had a 22-yarder in the third quarter before a 56-yard attempt went wide left. The Ravens allowed 102 yards on two kickoff returns but did force two fumbles, which helped turn the momentum in their favor. Jordan Stout had five punts for 49.6 yards, and dropped three inside the 20, but he also shanked one at the beginning of the second quarter. But when a rookie delivers in must-win situations, it’s a good thing — and Loop was just about perfect. The Ravens also forced two fumbles on kickoff returns, one of which led to a Loop field goal in the third. Grade: A-

Coaching

The Ravens were prepared for the loud noise in the stadium and didn’t get penalized once for a delay of game. They matched up with the Vikings physically on both sides of the line of scrimmage and wore Minnesota down in the second half with a lot of Henry. I hope the Ravens remember how they won, but that has been a problem with this team in the past two postseasons. Offensively, they struggled inside the red zone, especially in the first half, because they couldn’t run the ball. It’s that simple. There is less field and not that much room to operate. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr mixed up his game plan well enough to frustrate McCarthy, or at least get pressure on him. Overall, the Ravens are 4-5 and have won three straight, which most of us expected. Because the AFC North is so weak, they will be in contention until the final game of the regular season. The subpar play at least has made the season interesting. Stay tuned. Grade: B

Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun.