Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium.
Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
The Baltimore Ravens closed the 2026 preseason with another convincing performance, defeating the Washington Commanders 41-3 Friday night at M&T Bank Stadium. The win completed a 3-0 preseason for first-year head coach Jesse Minter, with Baltimore outscoring its three opponents 78-13.
The Ravens opened the preseason by beating the Philadelphia Eagles 24-7 before earning a 13-3 road victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Baltimore then produced its largest offensive output of the exhibition schedule against Washington, while its defense allowed only one touchdown throughout the entire preseason.
Friday's numbers painted a clear picture of the gulf between the Ravens and Commanders. Baltimore generated 456 total yards compared with Washington's 177, collected 26 first downs to seven and controlled possession for 33:45. The Commanders converted only one of 12 third-down opportunities and never reached the red zone.
The Ravens also maintained their defensive dominance despite resting several players, including rookies Vega Ioane and Ja'Kobi Lane. Baltimore held Washington without a touchdown, recorded three sacks, six quarterback hits and two pass deflections, while also forcing multiple fumbles and recovering one.
Undrafted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano again led the Ravens' quarterbacks in passing, throwing for 162 yards and a touchdown. Baltimore's quarterbacks combined for 261 passing yards, compared with 102 for Washington.
Defensively, the Ravens were outstanding against the Vikings as well, finishing with five sacks and forcing two turnovers. Those outings gave Minter a statistically impressive start, as his first preseason concluded with Baltimore securing the 13th perfect exhibition record in franchise history over 31 seasons.
The Ravens must now reduce their roster to 53 players by 6 p.m. on Aug. 30. Several defensive roster decisions remain, while the starting center position is still unsettled. Baltimore opens the regular season against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 13.