Loop kicks 61-yard field goal as Ravens finish preseason undefeated with 30-3 win over Commanders

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Tyler Loop's final dress rehearsal is over. Baltimore's new kicker looks ready.

Loop made all three of his field goal attempts — including one from 61 yards — as the Ravens completed an unbeaten preseason with a 30-3 rout of the Washington Commanders on Saturday. Baltimore drafted Loop in the sixth round this year, and he's the man the Ravens have chosen to replace five-time All-Pro Justin Tucker.

Loop bore a bit of a resemblance to his predecessor when he connected from beyond midfield in the fourth quarter for the game's only second-half points.

“We wanted to get him a long field goal,” coach John Harbaugh said. “We were going to try back there at 63, I think it was, before we hit the screen pass. We got the screen pass, then we went backwards again."

Loop's career long in college at Arizona was 62 yards.

The Ravens cut Tucker following reports that he was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by massage therapists. Tucker maintained he did not act inappropriately while receiving professional treatment. The league suspended him for the first 10 weeks of the season.

Loop went 9 of 11 on field goals during preseason, including 5 of 6 from at least 50 yards. He also made kicks of 46 and 52 on Saturday.

“The thing that's going through my head when I go out there is like, I just want to hit every ball the same,” Loop said. “Get out there, and I just want to go through my process, hit my ball.”

It was Washington that snapped Baltimore's record streak of 24 preseason wins two years ago. That was the start of four losses in five exhibition games for the Ravens, but then they went 3-0 this year.

None of that means all that much. Star quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels weren't playing Saturday, and the Commanders didn't play backup Marcus Mariota either. Sam Hartman threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in the second quarter for Washington.

Receiver Terry McLaurin, currently in a contract dispute with the Commanders, was at the game but did not play.

Keyon Martin, who contributed a safety in the Ravens' previous preseason game against Dallas, picked off a pass and ran it back 26 yards for a touchdown to give Baltimore a 24-3 lead over the Commanders.

Washington, which is trading running back Brian Robinson to San Francisco, gave Chris Rodriguez a few carries early. He gained 34 yards on five attempts.

“We knew this was going to be a competitive group like all the way back to the very beginning,” coach Dan Quinn said. “We certainly wish B-Rob the best at San Francisco with the style and fit and all that, so all that was a factor. But also the room here, too.”

Cooper Rush completed all five of his passes for Baltimore, and Rasheen Ali opened the scoring with a 9-yard run. D'Ernest Johnson made it 14-0 with a 1-yard run in the second quarter.

Thomas Graham gave Baltimore's defense a fourth takeaway when he intercepted Josh Johnson in the end zone with 6:53 to play in the game.

Tight end Colson Yankoff caught a 52-yard pass for Washington, and the Commanders did prevent any long Baltimore drives after Rush left the game. The Washington defense also limited the Ravens to two field goals on their three drives that began in plus territory.

A couple of Baltimore receivers — Dayton Wade and Xavier Guillory — injured shoulders.

The Commanders and Ravens both open the season on Sept. 7. Washington hosts the New York Giants and Baltimore is at Buffalo.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin (38) celebrates after intercepting a pass and running it back for a touchdown during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson (14) scrambles as Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Malik Hamm (59) defends during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Devin Leary, right, throws under pressure from Washington Commanders defensive end Andre Jones Jr. (50) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. celebrates after intercepting a pass during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop celebrates after making a 61-yard field goal as guard Jared Penning (63) watches during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Clayton Kershaw isn't done pitching just yet, agreeing Thursday to join the U.S. team for this year's World Baseball Classic.

The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner wanted to pitch for the Americans in the 2023 tournament but was prevented because of insurance issues. He had a $20 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the time.

“I was too broken for the insurance to cover my arm and everything,” Kershaw said on MLB Network, “so now that it doesn't matter I get to go and be a part of this group.”

A left-hander who turns 38 two days after the March 17 championship game, Kershaw announced last September that he was retiring at the end of the season, his 18th in a stellar career for the Dodgers. He won his third World Series title and finished 223-96 with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.

“I just want to be the insurance policy,” Kershaw said. “If anybody needs a breather or if they need me to pitch back-to-back-to-back or if they don’t need me to pitch at all, I’m just there to be there. I just want to be a part of this group.”

Later Thursday, new Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman announced he will join the U.S. team.

When Kershaw received a call from U.S. manager Mark DeRosa, he thought he was being invited as a coach.

“I didn't have a whole lot of interest in picking up a baseball again," Kershaw said. “I started throwing 10, 12 days ago and it doesn’t feel terrible, so I think I’ll be OK.”

Kershaw joins a U.S. pitching staff that includes right-handers David Bednar, Clay Holmes, Griffin Jax, Nolan McLean, Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb along with left-handers Tarik Skubal and Gabe Speier.

The American roster also includes catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith; infielders Ernie Clement, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang and Bobby Witt Jr.; outfielders Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge; and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.

The U.S., which lost the 2023 championship game to Japan, opens March 6 against Brazil at Houston, part of a group that also includes Britain, Italy and Mexico.

Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to end Japan's 3-2 win in the 2023 championship. Kershaw doesn't anticipate facing Ohtani, his teammate for the Dodgers' World Series titles in 2024 and 2025.

“I think something will have gone terribly wrong if I have to pitch against team Japan in the finals or something. I think we got plenty of guys to get that guy out and not me,” Kershaw said. “But if that happens, I'll be nervous. I'll be nervous at this point.”

AP baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw celebrates the end of the top of the 12th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)