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Baltimore Ravens 41–3 Washington Commanders: Ravens cap undefeated preseason with dominant rout at M&T Bank Stadium
Baltimore Ravens routed Washington Commanders 41-3 in NFL preseason Week 3 finale. Joe Fagnano led the Ravens with 162 passing yards and 2 total touchdowns as Baltimore finished preseason 3-0.
The Baltimore Ravens finished their 2026 preseason undefeated with a commanding 41–3 victory over the Washington Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium on 28 August 2026. The 38-point margin matched the largest in any Ravens preseason game since 2014.
Joe Fagnano threw for 162 yards and a touchdown while also scoring on a 1-yard sneak, and Tyler Huntley completed all four of his passes including a 25-yard scoring strike to Chris Moore on the opening drive. Baltimore outgained Washington 456–177 in total yards and held a 26–7 edge in first downs.
How It Unfolded
The Ravens struck first when Huntley found Chris Moore on a 25-yard touchdown pass at 10:16 of the first quarter. The play was initially ruled incomplete but was overturned after head coach Jesse Minter challenged the call. Tyler Loop added the extra point for a 7–0 lead.
On Washington's first offensive snap, running back Kaytron Allen fumbled after outside linebacker Ethan Burke punched the ball loose. Defensive lineman C.J. Okoye recovered, setting up a short field. Fagnano capped the 30-yard drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak at 5:56, making it 14–0.
Loop connected from 51 yards early in the second quarter to extend the lead to 17–0. Fagnano then delivered the highlight of the half — a 10-yard touchdown pass to LaJohntay Wester, who made a one-handed grab in the back of the end zone at 3:46 to push the score to 24–0.
Jonathan Ward's 2-yard touchdown run at 9:41 of the third quarter made it 31–0. Washington finally got on the board when Drew Stevens hit a 39-yard field goal at 5:59, but Loop answered with a 24-yard kick at 3:20 for a 34–3 lead.
Dontae McMillan broke free for a 63-yard run early in the fourth quarter, and backup quarterback Austin Reed found Cornelius Johnson for a 20-yard touchdown pass at 12:55 to complete the scoring at 41–3.
The Turning Point
The game effectively ended on its first play from scrimmage. Ethan Burke's forced fumble on Kaytron Allen gave the Ravens the ball at Washington's 30-yard line, turning what could have been a defensive stand into a seven-play touchdown drive. Washington never recovered, managing just one first down and 60 total yards in the first half.
Key Performers
Player of the Match: Joe Fagnano (BAL) — The undrafted rookie from UConn completed 19 of 27 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers, adding a 1-yard rushing score. He finished the preseason completing 74.7% of his passes (56 of 75) for 489 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Chris Moore (BAL) — Three catches for a game-high 54 yards, including the opening touchdown. Moore moved within three receptions of tying Jeremy Butler for first place on the Ravens' all-time preseason receptions list.
Kaimon Rucker (BAL) — The outside linebacker had a team-high four tackles, including two tackles for loss and one sack. Rucker was a standout throughout the preseason among the Ravens' reserve pass rushers.
Ethan Burke (BAL) — Forced the game's first turnover on Washington's opening snap, setting the tone for a dominant defensive performance. Baltimore's defense limited Washington to 1-of-12 on third down.
Tyler Loop (BAL) — An up-and-down night: Loop made field goals of 51 and 24 yards but missed from 58 and 51 yards. He finished the preseason 5-of-8 on field goals, and head coach Jesse Minter acknowledged after the game that the team will "continue to look at" the kicking situation.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
The 456–177 yardage disparity tells the story of a game that was never competitive. Baltimore's 195 rushing yards at 6.5 yards per carry overwhelmed a Washington defense that had 41 players resting. The Ravens' 26 first downs to Washington's seven — with three of Washington's coming on their final drive — reflect a complete imbalance of possessions. Baltimore converted 4-of-12 on third down, but that modest rate was more than enough given Washington went 1-of-12. The Commanders' 1-12 third-down mark was their worst of the preseason.
What It Means
The Ravens finished preseason 3–0 for the first time since 2021. Roster cuts are due Sunday 30 August, and several Ravens made strong final cases — notably Fagnano, Burke and McMillan. The Ravens open the regular season at the Indianapolis Colts on 13 September. The Commanders (1–2 in preseason) open at the Philadelphia Eagles on the same day. Washington's quarterback battle between Athan Kaliakmanis (7/13, 45 yards) and Sam Hartman (9/14, 64 yards) remains unresolved.
Verdict
A preseason blowout that told us more about roster depth than regular-season prospects. Fagnano and the reserve defence made compelling cases for roster spots, but the lingering concern over Tyler Loop's consistency — following his costly miss against the Steelers in Week 18 last season — clouds an otherwise flawless exhibition campaign.