NFL Week 6 live updates: Ravens top Commanders, Lions-Cowboys, scores, stats, highlights, analysis
By Jeff Zrebiec, Ben Standig and Cale Clinton
The Baltimore Ravens showed the Washington Commanders they are still the hottest team in Maryland, snuffing out a red-hot Commanders squad with a 30-23 victory Sunday.
The “Battle of the Beltway” matchup — headlined all week by comparisons between quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels — came down to Baltimore’s skill position players. Derrick Henry scored two touchdowns and Zay Flowers had nine catches for 132 yards.
Daniels was able to hold his own and keep pace with Jackson. His 269 passing yards on the afternoon is a career-best for the rookie. Daniels threw both of Washington’s touchdowns and led the team in rushing, posting 22 yards on six carries.
Washington’s biggest issue was allowing an initially struggling Ravens offense to stay in the game. The Commanders held Baltimore to three points in the first quarter, forcing an interception and a three-and out on two of Baltimore’s first three drives. Then Washington gave up two in the first half after posting just three defensive pass interference penalties all season. Both bailed out Baltimore in key situations.
One came on an incomplete third-and-10 pass that reset downs and set up a Henry touchdown. The other came away from the passing direction, deep in Baltimore’s territory, the play after Ravens offensive lineman Roger Rosengarten pushed them even deeper with a false start. Both drives resulted in Ravens touchdowns.
What worked for Ravens’ offense
The game got off to a sloppy start for the Ravens offensively. On their first possession, they drove deep into Washington territory and Jackson’s pass bounced off Mark Andrews’ hands and landed in Mike Sainristil’s lap. On their second possession, center Tyler Linderbaum’s aborted snap on third down forced Baltimore to settle for a field goal.
Otherwise, the Commanders couldn’t stop the Ravens, who scored on five straight possessions after to put Washington away. Jackson threw for 323 yards and a touchdown. Henry finished the afternoon with 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, his 20th career game with at least 100 yards and two touchdowns (fourth-most in NFL history). Andrews posted a season-best 66 yards and caught his first touchdown of 2024, tying Todd Heap for the Ravens’ all-time touchdown receptions record (41).
With 176 rushing yards on the day, Baltimore’s rushing attack has entered an elite tier. The team’s 1,233 yards are the ninth-most rushing yards through six weeks since the merger, most since the 2006 Atlanta Falcons, according to Stathead. The Ravens are also the 10th team since 2010 to post four straight games with 175 rushing yards, per Stathead. — Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens beat writer
Baltimore’s defense doesn’t ease any concerns
There were times when Daniels made it look easy marching down the field, finding wide-open receivers crossing the middle. The Ravens struggled to mount a consistent pass rush or cover on the back end. There were times when it looked like Ravens defensive backs were confused before the snap.
Washington’s defense can’t stop the ground game
Baltimore kept Washington’s defense off balance all game because the Commanders didn’t have the personnel to stop them.
It was apparent that Washington wanted to slow down Henry. Though Washington maintained its nickel packages, safety Jeremy Chinn often moved into the box. That focus — and the lack of a consistent pass rush — opened up passing lanes for Ravens wide receivers against the Commanders’ primary defensive weakness.
At the start of the offseason program, Washington’s cornerbacks were a concerning group. That remained the opening four weeks as No. 1 wide receivers scored four touchdowns. Flowers didn’t find the end zone, but he gobbled up yards and finished a perfect nine-for-nine on targets. Jackson had little issue finding other targets when needed.
Henry wasn’t dominant initially, ending the first quarter with 15 yards on six carries. At the final gun, the power-packed back posted 132 yards on 24 carries with touchdown runs of three and seven yards.
Losing two starting defensive linemen to injuries — Dorance Armstrong (rib) left in the first half, Jonathan Allen in the fourth quarter — didn’t help. Reserve defensive end Javonte Jean Baptiste limped in the postgame locker room and left wearing a walking boot. Those losses don’t change the reality that Washington needs assistance at cornerback as the trade deadline looms. — Ben Standig, Commanders beat writer
Daniels holds his own
Daniels’ side took the loss in his first direct meeting against Jackson, but the performance wasn’t about the rookie looking like one.
This wasn’t a record-setting showing for the young quarterback or Washington’s offense, a rarity through six games. Despite entering the “Battle of the Beltway” with a better record, the Commanders had yet to reach made-man territory like the proven Ravens. Baltimore then dominated in total yards (484 to 305), rush yards (176 to 52), first downs (28 to 18) and time of possession (36:08 to 23:52). Jackson has the experience and more playmakers around him. Daniels showed he doesn’t lack grit.
That’s not a revelation, but a good reminder against Washington’s toughest opponent of the young season. When Baltimore scored the first touchdown with 7:55 remaining in the second quarter, Daniels led an immediate touchdown drive capped by his scoring toss to Terry McLaurin. He countered Baltimore’s next touchdown with a chance for points, only for the Ravens to block Austin Seibert’s field goal attempt.
The same story occurred in the second half. Washington kept punching despite the absence of inactive running back Brian Robinson (knee) and a shaky showing from the offensive line. There are no moral victories in pro sports. That’s the truth. There are, however, big-picture aspects.
In his first headliner game, which his team trailed throughout, Daniels kept battling. That’s not nothing. It just wasn’t a win. — Standig
