Why the Ravens Aren’t Settling for Touchbacks

Aug 22, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Baltimore Ravens place kicker Tyler Loop (33) kicks a field goal as punter Ryan Eckley (30) holds during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Why the Ravens Aren’t Settling for Touchbacks

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Wesley Dixon | Last updated Sep 19, 2026 5:38 PM ET

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In a Thursday press conference, Anthony Levine Sr. explained Baltimore’s approach to kickoffs and why he would rather trust the coverage unit to pin opponents back than concede a touchback at the 35-yard line.

“We talk about every kick. But again, it comes down to this: it comes down to field position. We feel like we have a really good special teams unit where we can take advantage of the field position. So, if we kick the ball in the end zone, [and we’re] kicking touchbacks, then the ball goes to the 35-yard line. So, as a kickoff team, we want to stop them from getting as close to the 35-yard line as possible.”

When touchbacks came out to the 30-yard line, conceding one was already less costly. The NFL moving that spot to the 35 in 2025 only increased the value of having a coverage unit capable of pinning returners deeper and forcing longer drives.

How This Works In Practice

In Baltimore’s 41-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Tyler Loop kicked off seven times, with only one resulting in a touchback. Baltimore’s best field-position result came with 12:46 remaining in the fourth quarter. Seth McGowan fielded the ball at the six-yard line and was stopped at the 26, leaving Indianapolis nine yards farther from the end zone than it would have been following a touchback.

The coverage unit converged quickly, and because McGowan fielded the ball so deep, Baltimore had time to close space and stop him well short of the 35-yard line. The strategy did come back to bite the Ravens later in the quarter, though, when McGowan broke a 66-yard return. That volatility shows there is still risk in Levine’s approach, but Sunday also demonstrated the potential reward. If Baltimore can consistently keep returners short of the 35, the kickoff unit can help the defense by forcing opponents to travel farther for points.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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