Ravens bludgeon Commanders 41-3 in preseason finale, but Tyler Loop misses 2 more field goals

BALTIMORE (AP) — In a preseason finale that was nearly flawless for Baltimore, kicker Tyler Loop gave the Ravens cause for concern.

Loop missed two of his four field goal attempts Friday night, the only real sour note for Baltimore in a dominant 41-3 win over the Washington Commanders. Loop's rookie season ended in heartbreaking fashion when he missed a field goal and cost the Ravens a playoff spot in their final game. He's hoping to rebound from that, but he's had enough struggles that Baltimore may have to consider bringing in some competition.

“You want to see makes in games, and so it's something we'll continue to look at,” coach Jesse Minter said. “We'll continue to look at what the best situation is there. He has had a good camp overall, but again it comes down to making the kicks in the pressure situations in the games.”

Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano each threw a touchdown pass in the first half for the Ravens. With deep backups playing for both teams, it's hard to take much from this game, but anyone who bothered to watch saw a one-sided affair. Baltimore finished with a 26-7 edge in first downs, with the Commanders getting three of theirs on the very last drive. The Ravens also had a 456-177 advantage in total yards.

“It does not matter, you guys, who is or isn't playing. What we saw tonight simply was not good enough,” Washington coach Dan Quinn said. “What makes this even harder is knowing what the next couple days look like, and making tough decisions.”

That was a reference to Sunday, when roster cuts are due.

Loop may not have to worry about that, but his job won't seem all that secure unless he becomes more consistent. In fairness, one of his misses Friday was from 58 yards, but the other was from 51, a pretty routine distance these days. He made field goals of 51 and 24 yards to finish 5 of 8 in three exhibition games this year.

“I know the expectation is to make kicks, and it's what we got to do. I have to carry over the ball-striking from pregame and practice, and it's got to happen every time,” he said. “We got two weeks until (the season opener at) Indy, and we're going to be hyper-focused on that. We're headed into the season, stat sheet's clear, and it's time to go.”

Huntley played only the first offensive series Friday and completed all four of his passes, including a 25-yard scoring strike to Chris Moore that made it 7-0.

Then Kaytron Allen fumbled on Washington's first offensive play, gifting the Ravens a short field. Fagnano scored on a 1-yard sneak.

LaJohntay Wester made it 24-0 with 3:46 remaining in the half, reaching back with one arm and hauling in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Fagnano, but Loop's 51-yarder at the end of the second quarter was wide left.

Jonathan Ward's 2-yard TD run made it 31-0 before an interception by Quindell Johnson put the Commanders in field goal range for their first points of the game.

In the fourth, Dontae McMillan broke free for a 63-yard run on his first carry of the game, and then Austin Reed threw a 20-yard scoring pass to Cornelius Johnson for a 41-3 lead. Baltimore won all three of its preseason games.

The Commanders (1-2) didn't have enough offensive plays to get anyone that many touches until late in the game. Athan Kaliakmanis went 7 of 13 for 45 yards. Sam Hartman relieved him and went 9 of 14 for 64 yards. Washington was 1 for 12 on third down.

Robert Henry Jr. had 33 yards on 10 carries and Craig Reynolds had 38 on nine. Lawrence Cager had six catches for 34 yards.

Ward had 53 yards on seven carries for Baltimore and Rasheen Ali had 28 yards on nine attempts. Adam Randall had 25 yards on five carries along with three catches for 45 yards.

Commanders: Open the season at Philadelphia on Sept. 13.

Ravens: Open at Indianapolis that same day.

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Baltimore Ravens running back Johnathan Ward (35) dives over Washington Commanders defensive back Qwuantrezz Knight Sr. (32) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens running back Dontae McMillan (36) runs for a first down against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (86) celebrates with Elijah Sarratt (13) after catching a touchdown pass against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (86) catches a pass for a touchdown as Washington Commanders' Qwuantrezz Knight Sr. (32) and Fred Davis II (38) defend during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop (33) misses a field goal attempt against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

DETROIT (AP) — Tarik Skubal shed some tears, walking on a field that used to be his home turf as the team that traded him away paid tribute to the two-time Cy Young Award winner with a video montage before the first pitch.

“Luckily enough, I was able to make it to the tunnel before more happened,” Skubal said after allowing one run over six innings to help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Detroit Tigers 2-1 on Friday night. “It’s tough. This is the place I’ve known my entire career since 2018.

"It’s special.”

Skubal was welcomed with cheers and a smattering of boos in his return to Detroit, pitching for the first time against the middling franchise that traded him to the two-time defending World Series champions.

When the visitors' lineup and Skubal were shown on the videoboard and his name was announced before the first pitch, most of the crowd at Comerica Park clapped for him while some jeered.

The Tigers showed highlights from his seven-season career with the team and posted a message at the end: Thank you, Tarik.

Skubal turned his head to the right a few times to watch the video as he walked from the bullpen beyond the left-field wall and toward the Dodgers' dugout with a white towel draped around his neck, which he used to wipe away sweat and tears.

He extended his right arm, holding his glove, toward his former teammates and used his left hand to pat his chest.

After the game, Skubal returned to the field to catch up with some of his former teammates.

Skubal did not appear to react to, or acknowledge, the fans before or during the game and didn't get a chance to do so as he exited the game because a pitching change was made after the sixth inning in a 1-all game. He struck out seven over six innings with 83 pitches, the fewest since he threw 74 in the season-opening game in March.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the plan was to limit Skubal's pitches after he threw 106 and 109 in his previous two starts.

In a crowd that had mixed emotions about Skubal’s return, a couple young fans had fitting outfits sporting white Tigers jerseys with 29 and Skubal on the back — and a blue Dodgers hat.

When the left-hander jogged to the mound to pitch for the first time as a visitor in the Motor City, booing fans were heard first followed by more cheers from fans in the stands.

His first pitch was delayed because he appeared to have trouble with his communication device.

After throwing a 96-mph fastball for a ball, Gleyber Torres hit Skubal's second pitch to center for a double and the crowd roared in unison.

Skubal settled in, striking out Hao-Yu Lee and All-Star Kevin McGonigle and getting All-Star Dillon Dingler to fly out.

“It’s weird to see him on the other side,” McGonigle said before the game.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said the team's familiarity with Skubal might not be helpful at the plate.

“If anybody knows him, it’s us,” Hinch said. “You can know everything about a pitcher, that doesn’t make it easy to hit.”

That was evident when Skubal retired 12 straight batters, including striking out the side in the third, before Eduardo Valencia led off the fifth with a double. Max Clark followed with a two-out triple in the inning to break a scoreless tie.

The 29-year-old Skubal was drafted by Detroit out of Seattle University in the ninth round of the 2018 draft and spent his entire career with the Tigers until they dealt him earlier this month.

Skubal said in July that it was his preference to finish the season with the Tigers and to compete for a World Series championship, which has eluded the franchise since 1984. The Tigers, though, thought it was wise to trade him before the deadline to acquire three minor league prospects instead of likely losing him in free agency.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws against the Detroit Tigers during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal smiles in the dugout against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal claps as he walks to the dugout before the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)