08/28/26 09:42:00
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08/28 21:40 CDT Ravens bludgeon Commanders 41-3 in preseason finale, but Tyler
Loop misses 2 more field goals
Ravens bludgeon Commanders 41-3 in preseason finale, but Tyler Loop misses 2
more field goals
By NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer
BALTIMORE (AP) --- In a preseason finale that was nearly flawless for
Baltimore, kicker Tyler Loop gave the Ravens cause for concern.
Loop missed two of his four field goal attempts Friday night, the only real
sour note for Baltimore in a dominant 41-3 win over the Washington Commanders.
Loop's rookie season ended in heartbreaking fashion when he missed a field goal
and cost the Ravens a playoff spot in their final game. He's hoping to rebound
from that, but he's had enough struggles that Baltimore may have to consider
bringing in some competition.
"You want to see makes in games, and so it's something we'll continue to look
at," coach Jesse Minter said. "We'll continue to look at what the best
situation is there. He has had a good camp overall, but again it comes down to
making the kicks in the pressure situations in the games."
Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano each threw a touchdown pass in the first half for
the Ravens. With deep backups playing for both teams, it's hard to take much
from this game, but anyone who bothered to watch saw a one-sided affair.
Baltimore finished with a 26-7 edge in first downs, with the Commanders getting
three of theirs on the very last drive. The Ravens also had a 456-177 advantage
in total yards.
"It does not matter, you guys, who is or isn't playing. What we saw tonight
simply was not good enough," Washington coach Dan Quinn said. "What makes this
even harder is knowing what the next couple days look like, and making tough
decisions."
That was a reference to Sunday, when roster cuts are due.
Loop may not have to worry about that, but his job won't seem all that secure
unless he becomes more consistent. In fairness, one of his misses Friday was
from 58 yards, but the other was from 51, a pretty routine distance these days.
He made field goals of 51 and 24 yards to finish 5 of 8 in three exhibition
games this year.
"I know the expectation is to make kicks, and it's what we got to do. I have to
carry over the ball-striking from pregame and practice, and it's got to happen
every time," he said. "We got two weeks until (the season opener at) Indy, and
we're going to be hyper-focused on that. We're headed into the season, stat
sheet's clear, and it's time to go."
Huntley played only the first offensive series Friday and completed all four of
his passes, including a 25-yard scoring strike to Chris Moore that made it 7-0.
Then Kaytron Allen fumbled on Washington's first offensive play, gifting the
Ravens a short field. Fagnano scored on a 1-yard sneak.
LaJohntay Wester made it 24-0 with 3:46 remaining in the half, reaching back
with one arm and hauling in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Fagnano, but Loop's
51-yarder at the end of the second quarter was wide left.
Jonathan Ward's 2-yard TD run made it 31-0 before an interception by Quindell
Johnson put the Commanders in field goal range for their first points of the
game.
In the fourth, Dontae McMillan broke free for a 63-yard run on his first carry
of the game, and then Austin Reed threw a 20-yard scoring pass to Cornelius
Johnson for a 41-3 lead. Baltimore won all three of its preseason games.
The Commanders (1-2) didn't have enough offensive plays to get anyone that many
touches until late in the game. Athan Kaliakmanis went 7 of 13 for 45 yards.
Sam Hartman relieved him and went 9 of 14 for 64 yards. Washington was 1 for 12
on third down.
Robert Henry Jr. had 33 yards on 10 carries and Craig Reynolds had 38 on nine.
Lawrence Cager had six catches for 34 yards.
Ward had 53 yards on seven carries for Baltimore and Rasheen Ali had 28 yards
on nine attempts. Adam Randall had 25 yards on five carries along with three
catches for 45 yards.
Up next
Commanders: Open the season at Philadelphia on Sept. 13.
Ravens: Open at Indianapolis that same day.
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