The Baltimore Ravens moved to 2-0 in preseason action. They defeated the Minnesota Vikings 13-3 on Saturday, once again showcasing a punishing defense that isn’t to be messed with.
The offense had a slow start once again. Just like their win last week, though, the unit found a way to put points on the board later in the contest. You want more there, but a win is a win.
Here are 12 instant reactions from Baltimore’s hard-fought victory.
Instant takeaways from Baltimore Ravens’ well-earned win against the Minnesota Vikings
1. The defense played well again. This time around, though, it was more of a bend-don’t-break effort. The Vikings made some splash plays and kept the chains moving against Jesse Minter and Anthony Weaver’s defense. However, a timely pass rush and open-field tackling kept the opposing offense from moving much further down the field. The unit’s sack total jumped from one sack versus the Philadelphia Eagles to five sacks in this matchup with Minnesota, and they also forced their first two turnovers with a forced fumble by Ethan Burke and an interception by Silas Walters.
2. The offense is still trying to pick up the slack. Obviously, you can’t put too much weight into their performance with the likes of Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, and others on the bench. Still, pretty much every facet of the offensive operations was lackluster in the early-going. They put 13 points on the board, threw for 184 yards, and ran for 58 yards. That’s not going to cut it.
3. Joe Fagnano is becoming a fun story. When the pocket collapsed time and time again, he demonstrated poise and escapability to keep plays alive. In the second half, he took off. The UConn product made a bunch of impressive throws, his best being when he threaded the needle to Devontez Walker for a 27-yard gain on 3rd and 11. That drive resulted in a touchdown. At this point, he’s close to guaranteeing himself a spot on the practice squad at minimum.
4. You could say Vega Ioane got his welcome-to-the-NFL moment thanks to Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. The rookie first-round guard endured some growing pains, allowing two pressures on the opening drive. Regardless, we know what Ioane is capable of. Having that test against one of the most aggressive defensive minds in football should do wonders for his development.
5. Ioane wasn’t the only offensive lineman who had difficulties picking up Flores’ relentless blitzes. The offensive line as a whole struggled, especially in the first quarter. It felt like there wasn’t a play that went by where Tyler Huntley wasn’t running for his life. Baltimore’s biggest question mark for 2026 didn’t offer many encouraging signs.
6. Mike Green is starting to turn up. He notched his first sack of the preseason, and almost got a second if it weren’t for an excellent throw by J.J. McCarthy milliseconds before he hit the ground. His speed and bend tortured Minnesota’s offensive line, but it was fun to watch him as a run defender, too. He had a standout play on a Dominic DeLuca tackle for loss. He absorbed contact, held his ground, and set a firm edge to force Minnesota running back Demond Claiborne into DeLuca’s grasp.​
7. One player under a lot of pressure entering Saturday was Broderick Washington. He came to play. The veteran defensive lineman was everywhere, wrecking the run game, applying some pressure from the interior, and racing to the ball in pursuit. He also helped create a massive opening for undrafted rookie pass rusher Ethan Burke on a stunt, who was inches away from a sack. He was a key cog in the defense’s success in the opening stretch.
8. Special teams coverage left some to be desired. They’re a swarming group, but they have to finish more consistently. Keondre Jackson had a fair catch interference penalty, T.J. Tampa missed a tackle, and the unit allowed Minnesota to clear too much room out along the edge. They bounced back later on, but whether it was missed tackles or over-pursuit, there were simple mistakes that Anthony Levine will want to clean up.
9. On the bright side, the kicking unit did its job. Tyler Loop opened his day with a 49-yard attempt once again, and this time…he knocked it straight through the uprights. With questions about his ability mounting, Loop answered the call with a 2-for-2 outing. Ryan Eckley, on the other hand, has a cannon strapped to his leg. He put a bit too much hang time and not enough leg into his first kick, but followed that up with several booming punts: 59 yards, 59 yards, 60 yards, 54 yards, 60 yards. That’s big from the rookie punter.
10. Keondre Jackson is an Energizer Bunny. It really looks like he plays at a different speed than everybody else. It showed with a lightning-quick tackle on a kickoff in the second quarter, and once again glimmered on a drive-ending sack on the ensuing Minnesota drive. In coverage, he limited yards after the catch by firing downhill in the blink of an eye. He finished the day with 8 tackles (CHECK THIS), 1 sack, and 2 tackles for a loss.
11. Adam Randall didn’t play. Instead, running backs Jonathan Wade, Elijah Tau-Tolliver, and Dontae McMillan were toting the rock. Randall wasn’t listed on the injury report and participated in the joint practices in Minnesota this past week. It was weird not to see him out there, as preseason feels like a huge chance to craft his game as a running back.
12. While it was a whatever kind of day for the wide receiver group, LaJohntay Wester may have made strides to be a sporadic option through the air this year. He showcased his electric ability in the open field as a punt returner—his speed, burst, jitteriness, and competitive nature are tough to match. As a receiver, though, he saw seven targets and caught five for 24 yards and a touchdown. The yards per catch isn't great at 4.8 yards, but he’s dynamic in open space, and if Declan Doyle wants explosive plays, Wester might have an opening to make his name heard as a wideout.
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