Thursday night’s slate saw the Baltimore Ravens secure a 24-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, highlighted by LaJohntay Wester’s 87-yard punt return touchdown. The game, however, was marred by injuries: Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson exited early with a dislocated finger after a blind-side sack from David Ojabo, while Ravens rookie Bilhal Kone suffered a season-ending knee injury. Despite being outgained 366-226 in total yards, Baltimore’s special teams and ground attack, led by Keaton Mitchell (68 yards) and Dernest Johnson (57 yards), proved decisive.
In Philadelphia, the Eagles led the Cincinnati Bengals 34-20 in the final quarter. Both Joe Burrow and Tanner McKee threw two touchdown passes apiece. Rookie kicker Evan McPherson converted a 51-yard field goal for Cincinnati, while Eagles rookie QB Kyle McCord saw his first preseason snaps. Philadelphia’s ShunDerrick Powell added a late rushing touchdown, sealing the game for the Eagles.
The Seattle Seahawks hosted the Las Vegas Raiders in a game notable for Pete Carroll’s return to Lumen Field, now as Raiders head coach after 14 seasons and a Super Bowl title with Seattle. Geno Smith, revitalized under Carroll in Seattle, started at quarterback for Las Vegas. Both teams featured their young talent, with the Seahawks sitting most starters and giving opportunities to rookies such as safety Nick Emmanwori and guard Grey Zabel. Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty and backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell also saw extended action. The first quarter ended scoreless, but Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao made an early impact with an interception.
The preseason continues through the weekend with key matchups including the New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans vs. Minnesota Vikings, and Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears. Fans can find the complete schedule and broadcast details on ESPN’s NFL Schedule and NFL.com.
Looking ahead, the final two weeks of the preseason and the start of the regular season will feature flexible scheduling, with select games to be played on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday nights. Exact dates, times, and network assignments for Weeks 17 and 18 will be announced after the conclusion of Week 17, per the NFL schedule.
With new faces, coaching storylines, and young talent on display, the 2025 preseason sets the stage for what promises to be a competitive NFL campaign.