Winners and losers from Ravens vs. Lions: Detroit's relentless pass rush goes heavy metal

BALTIMORE — If Monday night’s contest in Charm City was a Super Bowl 60 preview – then, yes, please.

The Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions put on a dramatic, high-tempo show that concluded with a 38-30 victory by the Lions that was much more tightly contested than the final score even indicates. After a Week 1 loss, the win helps re-certify Detroit and its new-look coaching staff as championship contenders. Meanwhile, the uber-talented Ravens will have to overcome a 1-2 start for the second consecutive season – though they, like the Lions, wound up with a division crown in 2024.

Who else won and lost beyond the result on the scoreboard?

WINNERS

Offense

Whether it was ball control (generally Detroit) or quick strike (generally Baltimore), neither club had much trouble moving the ball Monday. The Lions held the ball for nearly 20 minutes in the first half, their two TD drives before halftime eating up more than 16 minutes – which also had the effect of keeping QB Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense on the sideline. Baltimore, meanwhile, enjoyed a 28-yard run by Derrick Henry for one of its touchdowns, while another drive took all of four plays and 32 seconds before Jackson found Rashod Bateman on a 3-yard pass into the end zone. Which isn’t to say the Lions didn’t have explosive plays (RB David Montgomery’s 72-yard run in the third quarter) or that the Ravens couldn’t grind, their first possession after halftime spanning 11 plays, 73 yards and more than six minutes before they hit pay dirt.

Lions pass rush

Detroit bagged Jackson seven times, matching the most endured by the two-time league MVP in a single game in his eight year-career.

Mark Andrews

He entered Monday’s game with two catches on the season – and since his infamous performance in Baltimore’s playoff loss at Buffalo in January. But he showed up big Monday, catching six balls for 91 yards and two scores − one putting Baltimore ahead at the start of the third quarter on a 14-yard scoring strike from Jackson.

Metallica

The heavy metal legends, who just got their own channel on SiriusXM last month – check it out – were also showcased for the Ravens’ pregame introductions, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” ushering in Jackson and the offense. “Enter Sandman” blared throughout the building in the fourth quarter after Baltimore cut Detroit’s lead to 28-24.

Jake Bates

Following Detroit’s second touchdown, the Lions kicker made a TD-saving tackle on the ensuing kickoff – bringing back Ravens returner Rasheen Ali after a 43-yard runback.

Jake Bates’ tackle on the kickoff proved to end up saving a TD 💪

DETvsBAL on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/a4bwnRRDK4

— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2025

LOSERS

Jake Bates

He just missed on a 67-yard field-goal try to conclude the first half. Ironically, a former Ravens star drilled the record 66-yarder four years ago – a bomb that beat the Lions 19-17.

Lions’ kicker Jake Bates wasn’t far off from nailing a would-be-NFL record 67-yard FG as the first-half clock ran down. #MNF pic.twitter.com/aTJmJOqI0K

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 23, 2025

Derrick Henry

For the second time in three games, Baltimore’s monstrous Pro Bowl bell cow uncharacteristically lost a fumble that led to fourth-quarter points for the opponent. It was a fatal blow in the Week 1 come-from-ahead loss to Buffalo and a momentum killer Monday night, when Baltimore had a chance to drive for a go-ahead score. Never before in Henry’s 10-year career had he lost multiple fourth-quarter fumbles in the same season.

M&T Bank Stadium operations

The Ravens don’t get enough credit for their distinctive pregame and halftime productions. Unfortunately on Monday, the scoreboards didn’t work properly for a quarter-plus – no down and distance or score information available to fans, one who rely on such things anyway, until midway through the game.

Ravens D

It was hamstrung by the absence of injured Pro Bowl LB Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) and DL Nnamdi Madubuike (neck). Without two of their best players up front, Baltimore not only struggled to contain Detroit’s run game (224 yards), but its revamped secondary was further exposed Lions QB Jared Goff’s precision passing. Two of Detroit’s TD marches covered at least 96 yards, the Ravens simply unable to stop the bleeding.

Buffalo Bills

The undefeated AFC East leaders now enjoy what’s basically a 2½-game lead over a Baltimore team that they might well see again … but, in all likelihood, in Western New York once again.