Winless Ravens will try to 'find their mojo' again after their first 0-2 start since 2015

BALTIMORE (AP) — The last time the Baltimore Ravens lost their first two games, they stumbled all the way to the finish.

Although the current squad seemingly has more talent than that 2015 team, it's off to an identical start.

How these Ravens end up depends on their resilience and ability to correct some obvious flaws.

Baltimore blew a 10-point lead in the final 12 minutes Sunday in a 26-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. After finishing with the best record in the NFL a year ago behind two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, the Ravens are winless and already have half as many losses as last year's team that played in the AFC title game.

Baltimore lost a close game on the road against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs last week and then inexplicably gave away a double-digit lead to a Raiders team that hasn't had a winning season since 2021.

Jackson went 21 for 34 for 247 yards and a touchdown, but he was sacked twice, threw an interception and bottled up on the ground.

“We've got to find our mojo and do what we do,” Jackson lamented. “Because that's not us at all.”

But Minshew brought the Raiders all the way back, directing three scoring drives after Henry's touchdown. It was a slap in the face to a defense that prides itself in making a late lead stand up.

“All we can do is respond," linebacker Roquan Smith said. “I know the guys in the locker room and how we feel about it. Trust me, it sucks more for us than anyone else, and I just know we’re going to put our head down and keep going and correct our mistakes — because there’s no way we should be 0-2.”

Yep, for the first time since the Ravens started 0-3 in 2015 and finished 5-11, Baltimore is 0-2 under head coach John Harbaugh.

“We’re not going to be defined by everyone that’s saying we’re not any good, (or) that the season is over after two games,” Harbaugh said. “That’s what’s going to be said, and we understand that. But no one inside is going to say that."

It's pretty hard to imagine the Ravens blowing a 10-point lead at home as heavy favorites against the Raiders, but that's exactly what happened. So, what's it going to take to get out of this funk next week in Dallas and the rest of the way?

“Put points on the board and just finish people — just finish them," Jackson said. "When we have the lead, just keep scoring and find a way to keep scoring. Just keep milking the clock, keep doing what we do: Play Ravens football.”

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Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh celebrates after the Baltimore Ravens kicked a field goal against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh motions towards the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) throws against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) runs with the ball after making an interception against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) chases after Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) tackles Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacts after a play against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills' patchwork group of receivers is getting a boost, with the team acquiring Amari Cooper in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, both teams announced on Tuesday.

Buffalo gave up a third-round pick in the 2025 draft as part of the trade that also included a swap of late-round picks. Buffalo also acquired a 2025 sixth-round draft pick and sent Cleveland a 2026 seventh-round pick in a trade, which came a day after the Bills (4-2) expanded their lead atop the AFC East with a 23-20 win over their division rival New York Jets (2-4).

The 30-year-old Cooper is in his 10th season and third in Cleveland, where he and the rest of the offense have struggled under quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Cooper has 24 catches on 53 targets for 250 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in a 21-15 loss to the New York Giants in Week 3. He’s been limited to 12 catches for 137 yards in his past three outings.

In Buffalo, he joins a Josh Allen-led offense that lacks proven receiving threat after the team traded Stefon Diggs to Houston in the offseason and lost No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis in free agency. The decision to move on from Diggs and Davis were made as part of the Bills overall bid to fix their payroll and free up salary cap space beyond this season.

Cooper is in the final year of his contract, which he restructured last summer.

Khalil Shakir, the only receiver to return on the roster, leads the team with 20 catches for 249 yards and two touchdowns. The receiver group is rounded out by mostly journeymen in Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins and Marquez Valdez-Scantling and rookie Keon Coleman.

The deal also comes hours after the Jets upgraded their offense by acquiring receiver Davante Adams in a trade with Las Vegas.

“We appreciate Amari’s hard work, professionalism and on-field contributions throughout his two-plus seasons with us,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said. "He created many memorable moments with us and was an integral part of our 2023 playoff team. We wish him the best in Buffalo as he continues his NFL career.”

The Browns’ decision to trade one of their top players could be a sign that the team has given up on a season growing worse by the week. Cleveland (1-5) dropped its fourth straight game following a 20-16 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday.

Acquired by Cleveland in a 2022 trade from the Dallas Cowboys, Cooper had been one of the team’s leaders and best players, gaining more than 1,100 yards receiving the past two seasons.

However, the past few months have been odd for the dependable veteran.

He skipped minicamp in a contract holdout before the Browns re-worked the final year of his contract. Cooper was then the subject of rampant trade rumors — mostly involving San Francisco — before the buzz quieted down in recent weeks. Cooper hasn’t been the same on the field, either, dropping several passes that have contributed to Watson’s struggles.

Cooper opened his career with the Oakland Raiders and has topped 1,000 yards receiving seven times.

AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland, Ohio, contributed to this report.

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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper looks on before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)