Ravens view Bills as perfect chance to prove they belong

Buffalo is one of five 3-0 teams in the NFL, while the Baltimore Ravens are hungry to prove they are still on par with teams like the Bills in the AFC.

When the teams meet on Sunday night in Baltimore, the Ravens will have at least one thing going for them: They are hosting their second annual “Darkness Falls” game, a college-style stadium blackout that has Lamar Jackson pumped.

“Hearing the ‘Flock,’ just seeing all black throughout the crowd, it’s like you can’t escape,” the quarterback said with a grin. “It’s something about it, man, I can’t really describe it. Like the dark side.”

The Ravens (1-2) didn’t need home cooking to defeat the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, though they let a 22-point lead dwindle in the fourth quarter before winning 28-25. Baltimore has been outscored 32-7 in the fourth quarter of its past two games.

Derrick Henry racked up 151 of the Ravens’ 274 rushing yards vs. the Cowboys and scored the third and fourth touchdowns of his debut season in Baltimore. Jackson ran for 87 yards and a score, and Justice Hill added 33 yards on five carries.

“They are kind of a good 1-2 punch,” coach John Harbaugh said of Henry and Hill. “They play off each other really well. They run the same plays, too, but they also run different plays at times. I just think it’s a good change of pace for the defense.”

The Ravens continue to tweak their defense, adding pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue to their practice squad earlier this week. Ngakoue has totaled 69 career sacks for six teams, including nine games for Baltimore in 2020. Baltimore’s Kyle Van Noy is tied for third in the league with four sacks.

As for the Bills, there has been little to nitpick this year.

After creaming the Jacksonville Jaguars 47-10 on Monday night, the Bills have a plus-64 scoring differential, tops in the league. Their turnover differential is plus-5 — only Green Bay’s is better — and they rank in the top 10 in total defense (286.7 yards allowed per game), passing defense (168.3) and scoring defense (16 points per game).

Josh Allen leads an offense that is scoring 37.3 points per game, another league high. He picked apart the Jaguars for four passing touchdowns before halftime on Monday night.

Allen won AFC Offensive Player of the Week, one week after running back James Cook won the honor for his three-touchdown game against the Miami Dolphins. Buffalo’s Gregory Rousseau won AFC Defensive Player of the Week for a three-sack game in Week 1.

“It’s a shame our O-line can’t win Offensive Player of the Week,” Allen quipped, “because they play their tails off. And even going back to Week 2, James was able to win that because of what our O-line’s doing.”

Damar Hamlin grabbed his first career interception in the Jacksonville blowout. It was an emotional moment for Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals less than 20 months ago.

“We keep it simple and everybody’s keeping the team first,” Hamlin said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. “Buffalo is a special place to be.”

The Bills have ruled out linebacker Terrel Bernard (pec) and cornerback Taron Johnson (forearm) for Sunday, and rookie offensive lineman Tylan Grable (groin) will be out for multiple weeks. Cornerback Kaiir Elam (neck) was limited in Wednesday’s walkthrough.

The Ravens are dealing with a banged-up offensive line. Center Tyler Linderbaum (knee), left guard Andrew Vorhees (ankle) and right tackle Patrick Mekari (neck) missed Wednesday’s practice after they played every snap of the Dallas game. Nose tackle Michael Pierce (shoulder) and cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring) also sat out Wednesday, while linebacker Roquan Smith (ankle) was limited.

The Bills have won two straight meetings with the Ravens, including a victory in the divisional round of the 2020-21 playoffs.

–Field Level Media

Former Packer Aaron Jones ready to leap for Vikings on Sunday

Aaron Jones knows exactly what he will do if he scores a touchdown at Lambeau Field, where he spent the first seven years of his career.

“I’m definitely leaping up there,” Jones said this week.

Would Packers fans embrace him in his Lambeau Leap? Boo him? Maybe both?

Jones is in his first season with the rival Minnesota Vikings (3-0), who will visit the Green Bay Packers (2-1) on Sunday afternoon in an NFC North battle.

The Packers released Jones during the offseason and the Vikings wasted little time in adding him to their roster. He has responded with 325 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in his first three games for Minnesota, which is one of five remaining teams in the NFL that have yet to lose.

Green Bay has been nearly as impressive to start the season, particularly considering that it lost starting quarterback Jordan Love to a knee injury at the end of its season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Backup Malik Willis has stepped in and helped Green Bay do more than just stay competitive. The Packers beat the Indianapolis Colts 16-10 in Week 2 before following that up last week with a 30-14 road win against the Tennessee Titans.

This week, Love said his knee is feeling better and that he is moving without as many limitations. But his status remains uncertain for this week against the Vikings.

“I’m trying to push it, and I’ve been trying to get back as fast as I can no matter who the opponent was,” Love said. “But definitely, you look at this week — an NFC North opponent, 3-0 team, really good team — so definitely it would mean a lot to get back and push myself to get back for this game.”

Willis has proved to be a capable backup plan. He posted a 120.9 passer rating last week against Tennessee, against whom he completed 13 of 19 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown.

The Vikings also have benefited from a comeback story at their most important position. Sam Darnold has thrived in his first season with the team, completing 67.9 percent of his passes for 657 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions.

Darnold briefly left last week’s contest against the Houston Texans because of a knee injury but returned later in the game. He is expected to be able to play this weekend.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said he was grateful that Darnold escaped serious injury.

“I’ve been very excited about the start that Sam has gotten off to,” O’Connell said. “I’m having an absolute blast coaching him. So when I saw him go down in the moment, there was the initial feeling. … And then he comes back in the game, and I’m holding the call sheet, so I can’t clap like everybody else did.”

Both teams also have benefited from playmakers on defense to start the season.

Patrick Jones II and Jonathan Greenard lead the Vikings with four sacks apiece. Teammate Andrew Van Ginkel has three sacks to go along with a pick-six.

Green Bay is led by Devonte Wyatt with three sacks. Safety Xavier McKinney also has shined in the secondary with an NFL-best three interceptions.

This will be the 128th all-time meeting between the rivals, including playoffs. Green Bay leads the series 66-58-3.

Jones cannot wait for the next matchup.

“I’m definitely excited to go back, that’s where it all started for me,” he said. “Just a moment of gratitude, a full-circle moment.”

–Field Level Media

Kliff Kingsbury’s proteges face off as the Commanders head to Arizona

As the first-year head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, Kliff Kingsbury’s mission was to develop a rookie quarterback with a Heisman Trophy on his resume, Kyler Murray.

Five years later, in his first year as offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders, Kingsbury is doing the same with another Heisman Trophy-winning rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels.

Sunday when the Cardinals (1-2) host the Commanders (2-1), it will be a look-in at Kingsbury pupils, past and present.

So far, the Kingsbury-Daniels collaboration has been a rousing success as Daniels has shown improvement each week, culminating with a brilliant breakout performance Monday night in Cincinnati in the Commanders’ 38-33 win over the Bengals.

Daniels completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, including a stunning 27-yard game-clincher to Terry McLaurin as he was absorbing a huge hit from Cincinnati safety Geno Stone.

“Sometimes the bigger the challenge, the bigger the smile,” Washington head coach Dan Quinn said of the poise Daniels has shown.

“He is the answer,” Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen added.

In hitting on 91.3 percent of his passes, Daniels had the highest completion rate ever in a game for a rookie quarterback.

In three games, Daniels has yet to commit a turnover. He has directed 17 straight drives that either ended in a score or a kneeldown, dating back to the last drive of the season opener. Pro Bowl punter Tress Way hasn’t had to kick since Week 1.

Daniels, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft, leads the high-flying Commanders to Arizona. The team flew directly there from Cincinnati because Quinn wanted “no outside voices,” to interfere with Washington’s preparation.

“One of the most challenging things for a young team to do is not to ride the roller coaster. It’s not easy because roller coasters are fun as hell,” Quinn said. “You can’t ride the highs and lows because both can be equally dangerous.”

A danger for Washington on Sunday is the Cardinals’ aerial combo of Murray and rookie wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. Of Murray’s five touchdown passes, three have been to the former Ohio State standout.

Harrison had a touchdown catch on the opening drive in the Cardinals’ 20-13 loss at home to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. But on its next 10 possessions, Arizona produced only two field goals.

There should be more opportunities against Washington, which ranks last in the NFL in passer rating defense (127.6) and has surrendered more passing touchdowns (nine) than any team.

Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon expects the Commanders to be a tough challenge.

“Monday night, they played extremely well,” Gannon said. “They’re 2-1 for a reason. Big-time test coming in here.”

The Cardinals will not have to deal with Washington running back Austin Ekeler, who suffered a concussion on Monday night and has been ruled out, Quinn said on Wednesday. Defensive end Clelin Ferrell (knee) also will be out.

Other Commanders who did not practice on Wednesday include guard Sam Cosmi (Achilles).

Gannon reported on Wednesday that defensive lineman Justin Jones (triceps) will miss the season. Replacing him on the roster will be veteran Naquan Jones, who was with the Cardinals in the preseason before joining the practice roster of the Miami Dolphins.

Missing practice on Wednesday were tight end Trey McBride (concussion) and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (knee). Players who were limited were safety Budda Baker (quad), offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum (hamstring), linebacker Dennis Gardeck (finger), defensive tackle Dante Stills (shoulder) and Harrison (quad).

– Field Level Media

Struggling on defense, 49ers meet offense-challenged Patriots

The New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers will each be looking to end a two-game losing streak when they meet Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif.

After opening the season with a 16-10 victory at Cincinnati, New England (1-2) dropped a 23-20 decision to Seattle at home in Week 2 before losing to the New York Jets 24-3 on the road in Week 3.

The 49ers (1-2) began their season with a 32-19 home victory against the Jets, but they have since suffered losses at Minnesota (23-17) and at the Los Angeles Rams (27-24).

In addition to missing running back Christian McCaffrey, who is on injured reserve with Achilles tendinitis, the 49ers were without wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf) and tight end George Kittle (hamstring) against the Rams. Kittle was limited at practice on Wednesday, but Samuel did not take part in the workout. Offensive tackle Trent Williams (illness) also didn’t practice Wednesday.

The Patriots are averaging 13.0 points per game (31st) and their offense ranks 32nd in yards per game (246.3). New England’s biggest issue has come in the passing game, which is averaging 102.0 yards per contest (32nd). Quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been operating behind an offensive line that has been plagued by injuries through the season’s first three weeks, and that may be the case again Sunday as offensive linemen Michael Jordan (ankle) and Vederian Lowe (knee) did not practice Wednesday.

“Obviously (the 49ers’) record is not reflective of the team that they are, and can be going forward because they’re dealing with injuries as well,” New England coach Jerod Mayo said. “What I will say is the challenge for us is just in the front — offensive line and defensive line. I don’t want to sound repetitive, but they are a do-what-they-do type of team. We know what they’re going to do (and) the fans know what they’re going to do, but you still have to stop it.”

Earlier this week, Mayo said Brissett will remain the team’s starting quarterback and rookie first-round pick Drake Maye will be No. 2 on the depth chart. Maye played in the final minutes of New England’s loss to the Jets. Mayo also said the team is not interested in signing a veteran quarterback at this time.

New England’s Rhamondre Stevenson (4.3 ypc) and Antonio Gibson (6.2 ypc) are both averaging more than 4.0 yards per carry, but Stevenson has fumbled the ball three times in three games.

Despite the injuries to some of their offensive stars, the 49ers are averaging 24.3 points per game (tied with Seattle for ninth) and rank third in yards per game (407.3) and second in passing yards per game (267.7). Wide receiver Jauan Jennings had 11 receptions for 175 yards and three touchdowns against the Rams.

The 49ers’ defense has been leaky, however. San Francisco is 30th among NFL teams in both yards allowed per play (6.1) and third-down conversion percentage (52.9 percent). The 49ers can no longer rely on defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who suffered a torn right triceps during last Sunday’s loss to the Rams and will miss the remainder of the season.

“I think all three levels (of the defense) have had an issue at times,” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I think we’ve played good at times, too. … We’ve had some new guys in there. We’ve had moments where we’ve been strong, but we’re not playing up to how we usually do and we have to make sure to get back to playing that way.

“Every time you have injuries, everyone knows it makes it tougher, but people have injuries throughout the league. You have to be able to overcome those.”

Sunday’s game will be the first meeting between the teams since 2020, when the 49ers earned a 33-6 road victory.

“We’ll see what this team is made of going forward,” Mayo said. “We have a long trip out west and gotta be ready to play against a good solid football team.”

–Field Level Media