Hello, Baltimore Beatdown readers!

My name is Nikhil Mehta, and it is my privilege to be the next managing editor of Baltimore Beatdown. You may know me from my stint at Beatdown during the 2024 season, my work at Russell Street Report, or my presence on the website formerly known as Twitter (@nikknowsball). I’m honored to be taking over from Kyle Barber, a close friend and mentor who has spent nearly a decade(!) building Beatdown into what it is today. I’m also excited to be working with editor Frank Platko and writers Zach Canter and Dustin Cox.

First, a little...

Cincinnati Bengals (2-0)

Sunday marked the first time the Cincinnati Bengals have started a season 2-0 since 2018. However, an injury to quarterback Joe Burrow snuffed out any potential excitement.

According to NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Burrow suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury and head coach Zac Taylor confirmed on Monday that he will undergo surgery. As a result, the Bengals will be without their star signal caller for a minimum of three months with backup quarterback Jake Browning taking over the starting job. Cincinnati has been down this road before, most recently in...

In yesterday’s 41-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns, edge rusher Kyle Van Noy was one of a few Ravens’ players to exit the game early due to injury. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the 2024 Pro Bowler may now miss multiple games with a hamstring injury but is “hoping” his absence will be short-term.

Van Noy, 34, is an important piece on the Ravens’ defense. The 12-year veteran has been the team’s most consistent pass-rusher over the past two seasons, combining for 21.5 sacks in 2023 and 2024 with 30 quarterback hits, 27 pressures, and 23 tackles for loss as...

Offense

The Ravens played three more total offensive snaps in Week 2 than in the season opener. On the final drive of the game, with the Ravens leading comfortably by 24 points, Lamar Jackson and several other starters exited the contest. Andrew Vorhees, Daniel Faalele, and Roger Rosengarten played 100% of snaps up front, while Stanley and Linderbaum were replaced late.

Mark Andrews had the highest snap count of any other offensive player. However, despite an 80% snap share (45 total), he caught only one pass on two targets. Behind him, Charlie Kolar again saw a sizeable role with...

Offense

Quarterback: B+

It was a tale of two halves for Lamar Jackson. In the first half, he and the entire offense were slowed down and struggled to get much going. Jackson himself had some uncharacteristic overthrown passes and appeared out of sync with his pass-catchers. The Browns’ pressure flustered him on multiple occasions. However, Jackson was much sharper as the game progressed. He strangely only ran the ball two times for 13 yards on the day but wound up completing 19 of 29 (65.5%) of his passes for 225 passing yards and four touchdowns. Jackson’s deep ball was...

The Ravens’ rookies got to experience the other side of what it means to be on the Baltimore team, dominating wins. Let’s check in on the rookies after their first win in their home debuts

Malaki Starks

Starks was a part of the great defensive effort that came from today’s dominant showing. He’s still not filling the stat sheet or getting his name called and that’s just fine for me. If you aren’t noticing your defensive backs, it’s probably because they are doing their jobs correctly. The splash plays will come, but for now, I’m thrilled about a...

The Ravens dominated Cleveland despite a slow first half, whooping the Browns 41-17. There was a lot to like from this game, but it wasn’t perfect. Let’s look at what was good, what was bad, and the one ugly side of this game.

The Good

Roquan Smith: Roquan Smith had what was probably his best game since 2023, finishing with a team-leading 15 tackles, more than double the next defender. He exploded in the first half with six total tackles, three tackles for loss, and a quarterback hit. He had four tackles for loss all last season. He...

The Baltimore Ravens exit their home opener with a throttling against the Cleveland Browns, 41-17. For a second straight game, they’ve scored more than 40 points. And to close out the game, the Ravens scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, denying any comeback attempt from the Browns.

MVP: WR Devontez Walker

Three times, he’s caught a ball in the NFL and all three have ended been in the end zone. Today, two receptions for 26 yards and two touchdowns. The Ravens needed a burst and they get it from Walker.

MVP: Special Teams

An excellent game from the Ravens’...

The Baltimore Ravens kick off Week 2 of the NFL season with their home opener against the Cleveland Browns, celebrating their 30th year of existence.

For the Ravens, it’s about solving whatever demons continue to haunt them in the late end of each quarter. A poor defensive showcase allowed the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 to steal a field goal at the end of the first half and for Josh Allen to go supernova in the fourth quarter to mount a comeback victory.

It’s also about the Browns being fearless to come and compete against the Ravens, as they’ve talked...

With 90 minutes remaining before kickoff, the Baltimore Ravens have announced their inactives for their Week 2 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

Inactives

• CB Jaire Alexander
• RB Keaton Mitchell
• FB Patrick Ricard (calf)
• TE Isaiah Likely (foot)
• OT Carson Vinson
• OLB David Ojabo

Alexander ended the week with no game designation, meaning him being inactive for today’s game is a healthy scratch. Last week, Alexander struggled against the Buffalo Bills late in the fourth quarter. Throughout the week, Head Coach John Harbaugh said they needed to get Alexander “right.” Before Sunday’s game, Alexander went...

After suffering a loss to the Buffalo Bills on the road to start the season, the Baltimore Ravens will be looking to rebound in their home opener against the Cleveland Browns.

The Baltimore Beatdown staff gives their bold predictions for Sunday’s AFC North showdown.

Derrick Henry runs for 150+ yards for a second straight game and finds the end zone again. Henry stiff arms Browns’ safety Grant Delpit on his way to a long touchdown run. Rookie Mike Green records his first career sack, and fellow rookie Malaki Starks intercepts Joe Flacco for a pick-six touchdown. The Ravens pull...

For the second season in a row, the Ravens’ Week 2 matchup will be their home opener as a heavy favorite after starting 0-1. The Cleveland Browns are coming into town and arguably the biggest storyline is the return of Joe Flacco to Baltimore in what will be his first start there since he was traded from the Ravens in 2019.

After a collapse of epic proportions in Buffalo, the Ravens can’t have a repeat of last year — where they lost to the Raiders in Week 2 after losing to the Chiefs and fell to 0-2. So, let’s go...