The Streak had to end sometime, right?
Washington kicker Joey Slye drilled a 49-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to lift the Commanders to a 29-28 win against the visiting Ravens at FedEx Field on Aug. 21, snapping the Ravens’ preseason winning streak at an NFL-record 24.
The Ravens had rallied for a 28-20 fourth-quarter lead on the strength of two second-half touchdown catches by undrafted rookie tight end Travis Vokolek, but then Washington scored the final nine points in a game that featured five lead changes.
The Ravens rested most starters, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, for the second straight preseason game. Presumed No. 2 quarterback Tyler Huntley also sat out with a hamstring injury. The Ravens’ other two quarterbacks, veteran starter Josh Johnson and Anthony Brown, each played a half and each threw a pair of touchdown passes.
Vokolek’s second touchdown catch from Brown gave the Ravens a 28-20 lead with 14:08 left, but Commanders third-string quarterback Jake Fromm engineered two late scoring drives. Fromm’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Jaret Patterson cut the Ravens’ lead to 28-26 with 4:08 left. Washington attempted to tie the game with a two-point conversion, but Ravens cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly stood up Alex Armah short of the goal line to preserve the Ravens’ lead.
The Commanders got the ball back with just under three minutes left and Fromm led his team on the decisive 60-yard drive over 14 plays. The Commanders were down to their final play and threw a fourth-down incompletion with 1:04 left, but Ravens reserve cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. was called for pass interference to extend the drive.
Washington played its starting offense throughout the first half, and operating against Ravens second-and third-team defense, quarterback Sam Howell went 19-for-25 for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
Howell’s 11-yard touchdown pass to his college teammate Dyami Brown with 12 seconds left in the half gave the Commanders a 17-14 lead.
Ravens rookie Zay Flowers caught a 25-yard touchdown to open the scoring, and Johnson (10-for-12, 145 yards) also threw a touchdown pass to Tylan Wallace late in the first half.
Here are five quick observations about the Ravens, who conclude the preseason schedule on Saturday at Tampa Bay:
1. Todd Monken is going to have fun with Zay Flowers.
The Ravens’ first-round pick has been one of the standouts of training camp, showing explosiveness and tenacious route-running that creates space. He has also proved elusive after the catch. Against Washington, he didn’t even need to create the space; the Commanders did that by pretty much losing track of him.
On his 26-yard touchdown catch, Flowers lined up as one of three receivers to the right and broke toward the sideline. Two Washington defenders stayed with Tylan Wallace after the snap, leaving Flowers all alone in the flat. He turned upfield, juked a couple of defenders and scored his first touchdown as a Raven.
The Ravens like Flowers’ ability to pile up yards after the catch, especially after a season in which they ranked near the bottom of the league in that category. New offensive coordinator Todd Monken isn’t showing all his cards yet, but in camp practices and in two preseason games the Ravens already have showed bunch formations and multiple wide-receiver sets that, with the depth and talent of the receiver group, are going to stress a defense.
Flowers is most dangerous because he has shown superb ability to get open in the short and intermediate areas where Lamar Jackson throws best. Monken is going to have a lot of fun devising ways to get the ball to Flowers and then watching his shiftiness take over.
2. Ar’Darius Washington continues to make a strong case for a roster spot.
With the injury to Marlon Humphrey and other Ravens cornerbacks, there is both pressure and opportunity for those lower on the depth chart to stand up and get noticed, and Ar’Darius Washington has been doing that.
He was active all night against the Commanders, making open-field tackles and breaking up a pass in the end zone late in the second quarter. Washington led the Ravens in both tackles (7) and passes defensed (3). Washington made the Ravens as an undrafted rookie out of TCU two years ago, but then he was released in the final roster cutdown last season before returning via the practice squad. He played in three games last season.
Viewed as both a nickel cornerback and safety, Washington would probably be the team’s starting nickel cornerback if the season started today. Damarion “Pepe” Williams and Arthur Maulet are also candidates for that job, but they have been sidelined much of camp, and head coach John Harbaugh likes to say that the best ability is availability. Washington is well regarded by coaches for his toughness and nose for the ball, and his roster spot is looking more and more secure.
3. Tylan Wallace has been the best of the rest at wide receiver.
The Ravens began training camp with five receivers considered locks to make the roster in Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, Zay Flowers, Devin Duvernay and Nelson Agholor.
Seven others are clamoring for a final roster spot, assuming the Ravens keep six receivers on the initial 53-man roster. Laquon Treadwell carries first-round pedigree, and Tarik Black and Sean Ryan have been trending upward over the past few weeks, but Tylan Wallace has taken a decisive step to the front of that next group.
Wallace caught a 7-yard touchdown pass against the Commanders for his second touchdown in two preseason games, and that score came one play after he drew a 35-yard pass interference penalty down the left sideline.
To be sure, when all the receivers are healthy, the No. 6 wide receiver will be primarily relegated to a special teams role, but that’s one that Wallace has embraced and excelled at during his two-year career. Although his chances on offense have been limited so far in his career, with just six catches in 26 games, this summer he has showed that he can be a factor as a receiver as well.
4. The Ravens won’t sneak Keaton Mitchell through waivers.
If the Ravens want to keep undrafted rookie running back Keaton Mitchell around, they probably need to keep him on the 53-man roster. They probably should anyway.
Mitchell has been a good local story in training camp as the son of former Ravens Super Bowl champ Anthony Mitchell, but his play on the field has been a better story. The 5-foot-8, 191-pounder has shown great quickness and added ability as a kick returner. Against Washington, he gained 31 yards on his only carry, winning the race to the edge and then turning upfield. He had a similar run against Philadelphia last week called back by a penalty, but the speed is hard to ignore.
Mitchell also had a 28-yard kickoff return but suffered a shoulder injury on the play. After the game, John Harbaugh said the injury is not serious.
Mitchell is fighting for a roster spot in a crowded backfield with J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill and Melvin Gordon. It’s worth nothing that Dobbins and Edwards are both set to hit free agency next year, so having a young player such as Mitchell in the organization would be a good long-term play.
The Ravens could try to waive Mitchell and bring him back via the practice squad, but that’s risky. While the prevailing wisdom — and market — suggests that running backs are a dime a dozen, Mitchell’s tape is out there and the quickness shows up. The bet here is that Mitchell will be snatched up if he hits the waiver wire.
5. Greg Roman is gone, but this team is still loaded with tight ends.
Former offensive coordinator Greg Roman and his tight-end-heavy offense might be gone, but the game against Washington proved the Ravens are still loaded at the position. It will be up to new coordinator Todd Monken to figure out how best to utilize them.
With Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely watching from the sideline, No. 3 tight end Charlie Kolar and undrafted rookie Travis Vokolek commanded attention. Kolar made two contested catches down the seam totaling 61 yards, and Vokolek led the Ravens with three catches for 28 yards and two touchdowns.
Kolar was drafted 11 spots before Likely last season out of Iowa State but then was sidelined by sports hernia surgery while Likely shined at training camp and seized the No. 2 job behind Andrews. Kolar returned to play in the final two games, making four catches for 49 yards in the regular-season finale against Cincinnati.
Vokolek has a tough path to the 53-man roster, as the Ravens are not likely to carry four tight ends plus fullback Patrick Ricard. Still, the undrafted, 6-foot-6, 260-pound rookie from Nebraska has impressed throughout the summer, and he earned his moment against the Commanders.
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