The Baltimore Ravens are back in the playoff picture after defeating the New York Jets in Week 12. Following Sunday’s slate, they jumped to the top of the AFC North and own a record of 6-5 entering their Thanksgiving matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Despite extending their winning streak to five games, it was far from a perfect afternoon. The defense certainly came to play, holding the opposing offense to under 20 points for a sixth straight contest. It was the offense that had significant issues.
Baltimore put it together in the second half, though. The offense found its stride in red zone opportunities, and the defense forced two turnovers to seal the game.
Here are three unsung heroes from Sunday’s scrappy win.
3 unsung heroes in Ravens’ Week 12 win
T.J. Tampa
Cornerback T.J. Tampa made the most of his opportunities, and it was the type of performance that could put him in line for more reps later in the season.
Defensively, Tampa only played two snaps, but it included an interception with five seconds remaining, the first of his NFL career. Where he truly made an impact was on special teams.
The second-year pro has been a key part of the Ravens’ special teams unit this year. In Week 12, he played 19 special teams snaps and made two tackles in punt coverage. One of which pinned the Jets inside their own 20-yard line. He helped punter Jordan Stout have a career day.
In an incredibly sloppy game, being able to flip the field on special teams was crucial, and Tampa played a significant role in doing just that.
Patrick Ricard
They call fullback Patrick Ricard, “Pancake Pat” for a reason. Ricard had the second-best offensive grade on the team in Sunday’s win, per Pro Football Focus. He registered a 78.2 PFF grade, which included heroic blocking efforts, especially in rushing scenarios.
Baltimore has had nagging issues in the red zone in 2025, especially when it comes to running the football. Those troubles persisted in the first half of their Week 12 game, but in the second half, Ricard took matters into his own hands.
On both of running back Derrick Henry’s touchdowns that day, Ricard paved the way for Henry to hit paydirt. He easily sealed Jets’ outside linebacker Jermaine Johnson II along the edge, giving Henry a clear path up the middle for his first touchdown. On the second, he handled Johnson again, planting the former Pro Bowler onto the ground, leading Henry into the end zone untouched.
Strong blocks by Roger Rosengarten, Charlie Kolar, and Patrick Ricard on Derrick Henry's two touchdown runs.
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) November 24, 2025
A by-any-means-necessary block by Kolar on the first one 😂 Rosengarten and Ricard were key on both scores. pic.twitter.com/ApCNdTNo66
Since Ricard’s return, the Ravens are undefeated. Every Baltimore fan knows the All-Pro’s importance, but at fullback, it can be tough for a player to earn his flowers, and Ricard deserves the recognition more than anybody.
Teddye Buchanan
Baltimore’s coaching staff is asking a lot from rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan this year. Fourth-round selections very rarely see heavy roles in their first NFL season in Charm City. Buchanan has quickly taken on a starting role and is running with the opportunity.
The 23-year-old still leads the Ravens in tackles with 80, and continued to be a reliable tackler on Sunday. He finished third on the team in tackles with eight, and earned a 62.6 overall grade, per PFF. He also had an 80.4 tackling grade and 74.4 run defense grade.
His struggles in pass coverage continued, but in a game where New York running back Breece Hall was the focal point of the opposing offense, Buchanan helped limit the 24-year-old on the ground.
While Baltimore is on a roll, they are entering a tough stretch with many competitive matchups lying ahead. They will need contributions from these under-the-radar contributors to continue if they want to make the playoffs.