BALTIMORE — — Anthony Brown threw for 256 yards and a touchdown, and the Baltimore Ravens extended their preseason-record winning streak to 23 games with a 17-15 victory over the Washington Commanders on Saturday night.
The Commanders pulled within two with 5:31 remaining when Sam Howell threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Bonnafon. A 2-point conversion pass was incomplete, helping to preserve the streak, but Baltimore defensive back Kevon Seymour injured his ankle on the play. His teammate Zakoby McClain appeared to fall on Seymour’s right leg.
It was in this preseason matchup against Washington last year that the Ravens lost running back JK Dobbins to a season-ending knee injury. This year, Baltimore defensive tackle Aaron Crawford suffered a groin problem that coach John Harbaugh said could be serious.
It was also a difficult night for Poe, the team’s mascot, who was ejected at halftime.
Neither team was taking too much of a risk: Quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Carson Wentz were among those who didn’t play.
Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley has been impressive for the Ravens this offseason, but he didn’t play much either. Instead, it was Brown who was an offensive star for Baltimore. He completed his first eight passes, including a 67-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson early in the second quarter that put the Ravens up 7-3.
Brown made 15 of 19 passes. He also scored on a 6-yard run in the third quarter that made it 17-6.
“Every play is an opportunity to do a play on film and put on a good movie,” Brown said. “I feel like we did that today.”
A pair of sophomores — linebacker Jamin Davis and defensive back Benjamin St-Juste — were the only potential starters to suit up for Washington, along with defensive end James Smith-Williams, who is part of the group he’s trying to replace. to Chase Young. the first games of the season. Davis, the team’s first-round pick in 2021, is still working to acclimate to the pro game.
Washington’s secondary had its problems, allowing not only the long touchdown reception from Robinson, who was wide open behind the defense, but also a 50-yard reception from Binjimen Victor and a 52-yard reception from Robinson.
“I’m just going out there, trying to compete, trying to make a roster spot,” said Robinson, who spent the last six seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. “So it can be here for a long time.”
Howell, a fifth-round draft pick by the Commanders, was 24 of 35 for 280 yards and a touchdown.
“Overall, I’m very appreciative of the opportunity Coach (Ron) Rivera gave me to play the entire game,” Howell said.
The Ravens haven’t lost a preseason game since Atlanta beat them 20-19 on Sept. 3, 2015. Their winning streak isn’t particularly significant, but it brings some suspense to these shallow contests.
“There is meaning to me in everything,” Harbaugh said. “The guys that were playing, I promise you it’s meaningful to those that played in the game and found a way to win.”
Washington took control at their 12-yard line with 2:16 remaining and a chance to end Baltimore’s streak. The Commanders stalled on opportunities before reaching midfield, then let the Ravens run out the clock rather than use their last two timeouts.
MISS
Washington’s Joey Slye went wide to the left on a 43-yard field goal in the first quarter, a miss that was looming in a close game. Rivera said Slye gets too excited on his first kick of the game.
“He kicked the ball too much,” Rivera said. “He gets so excited… He needs to calm down.”
UNTIL NEXT TIME
Commanders: Host Jacksonville to open the regular season on September 11.
Ravens: Opened at the New York Jets on September 11.
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Follow Noah Trister at https://twitter.com/noahtrister
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