The Baltimore Ravens opened up their preseason by taking on the Philadelphia Eagles. The game was a mostly lopsided affair, but one can never judge preseason games too harshly due to starters on both sides not being in the game.

That said, there was a lot to take note of in the Ravens' first live-game action of the 2026 season. 

Here is a look at the winners and losers of the Baltimore preseason opener.

Lamar Jackson and Declan Doyle

Quarterback Lamar Jackson may not have played, but he is still a big winner, along with offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. 

Doyle has a wide variety of weapons to use in his first year of leading an NFL offense. Despite being the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears, he did not call plays. 

Now, Doyle is in full control of a team that has many ways to carve up opposing offenses. 

Rookie pass catchers Elijah Sarratt and Ja'Kobi Lane combined for 104 yards and one touchdown. Tight end Matthew Hibner was also impressive, hauling in a 29-yard reception en route to 61 total yards on five receptions.

The biggest issue that the Ravens have had is having enough firepower for Jackson and the offense, but that could very well be a thing of the past with the young talent now in the building.

Head Coach Jesse Minter

It was expected that head coach Jesse Minter would be in control of a defensive movement in Baltimore, but the fact that backups and young players performed in such a manner in their first preseason game bodes well for the roster.

The second- and third-stringers, along with the roster bubble potentials, played hard, silencing the Eagles' offense through nearly all four quarters. Philadelphia's offense was finally able to get movement in yardage, but that was mostly done in garbage time.

Having an additional stronger defensive coordinator in Anthony Weaver can help turn this defense back to what it has been known for since the organization's inception in the mid 1990s.

Offensive Line

Rookie guard Vega Ioane showcased what led to him being drafted in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Ioane utilized his athleticism and strength to be disruptive at the first point of contact, but he also hustled to help finish blocks. He kept up with his blocking assignments up until the whistle blew, showing his strong commitment to his job.

Jovaughn Gwyn was the top-rated lineman on the Ravens, bringing in an overall 90.8 grade on Pro Football Focus.

Gwyn is up for the center position, but could be heavily utilized as a swing and rotational option in 2026. 

Linebacker Depth

The Ravens linebacker room continues to have some issues staying healthy. While there was good news on the front of Teddye Buchanan being removed from the PUP list, he may not be ready to take the field until the start of the regular season.

Now, inside linebacker Jay Higgins IV suffered a concussion and could be out for some time depending on how he moves through the concussion protocol. Baltimore may need to see about upgrading the unit once players get cut on Aug. 30.

Kicking Game

Tyler Loop continues to prove that the Ravens may need to explore a kicking competition. Loop missed a 49-yard field goal, but was good for 42 yards following the initial miss.

The missed 49-yarder went wide right. Back in the 2025 season, Loop missed a 44-yarder that would have sent the Ravens to the playoffs.

Whether or not Minter wants to admit it, Loop may not be the right answer at kicker. Granted, it's still preseason, but missing long shots could lead to disaster once the regular season starts.