Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback who leads the NFL in passer rating and touchdown passes, looks the same as he did during his award winning season.
Ravens coaches and teammates don't agree. Jackson is playing better this year.
The man is showing more patience. The ball is being delivered with more accuracy. With more authority, he is commanding the offense.
Three years ago, Harbaugh called Jackson and the Baltimore offense a revolution. The Ravens are once again the most electric attack in the league because of Jackson.
Campbell said that it was a front row seat.
• Best QB combos in NFL draft history
• Your guide to all the Chargers injuries
• How Chiefs have kept Mahomes happy
• Browns offense thriving with QB Brissett
• Why Lamar's playing better than MVP year
Jackson played behind one of the best offensive lines, and he handed the ball off to a Pro Bowl running back. It doesn't matter that Jackson has had his blindside protected by three different left tackles and Baltimore's running backs have struggled.
Jackson is ahead of his pace in nearly every major statistical category thanks to his production for the league's top scoring offense. Jackson is fifth in the league in rushing with 243 yards and first in rushing average with 9.35.
Jackson's odds to win the league's most prestigious award went from eighth-best in February to 7-to-1 in March, tied for third-best with Hurts.
Harbaugh said that he was determined to play his own game. His approach is to win football.
Jackson has a fifth-year option with no guaranteed money after this season. The lack of a contract extension was thought to distract him.
Jackson has responded in a way that could change the quarterback market and the record books. He is the first player to deliver back-to-back games with three touchdown passes and 100 yards rushing.
More than 30 of the other 31 teams have at least one touchdown from him.
Jackson said, "I just want to win." I just have to do what I do and play football.
Jackson used to bolt the pocket if no one was open or if he felt pressure. He is hitting his targets through the smallest of windows.
His 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Andrews, who leapt over the safety, had a 13% completion probability. That is the lowest completion in Jackson's career and the lowest touchdown pass in the league.
Jackson found Duvernay in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Duvernay had less than a yard of separation.
"He's one of a kind." There isn't anyone who can do what he can for a team.
When throwing into tight windows, Jackson has thrown three touchdown passes and no turnovers. He had no touchdown and four interceptions when passing with less than one yard of separation a year ago.
Jackson said that he was just getting them the ball. I think my guys will make that play. Give them time. We don't talk about anything else.
Jackson gained over 10 pounds of lean muscle and bulked up to over 200 pounds. Jackson's engine is bigger, that's why Greg Roman thinks he could be faster.
Jackson has been able to reverse a troubling trend. Jackson has averaged 5.8 yards per carry over the last two seasons, a decline from the 6.9 yards per carry he averaged in the previous two seasons.
Five of Jackson's runs went for 20-plus yards. He has been more active this year, but he has been more cautious. Jackson has racked up three runs of 20 or more yards on 26 carries, breaking free for gains of 78, 38 and 20 yards.
Jackson said that he was going to be good and that he was showing it.
Jackson ran past the Dolphins for a long touchdown two weeks ago. His previous longest distance was 50 yards.
Jackson was among the 15 fastest times of any ball carrier in the first two weeks of the season.
"What the guy does day in and day out, I don't think anyone can duplicate it in the league," Humphrey said.
The league has figured out Jackson in each of the last two summers.
Jackson had a bad season last year after he struggled against the Dolphins. In Week 10 in Miami, the Ravens were held to 10 points, their lowest point total ever. Jackson had six turnovers and 13 sacks in his last three games of the year.
The game seems to have slowed down for Jackson this year.
"I think it's a natural next step in terms of finding his rhythm during the week, what he's looking at, how he studies defenses, how he breaks defenses down." The evolution of studying the game that quarterbacks go through is what it is.
He's 25 years old. Is it possible that he understands what he's going up against and what he's dealing with out there? That is the result of the process and the work that he is putting in. It's amazing.
Everything you need this week:
• Full schedule » | Standings »
• Depth charts for every team »
• Transactions » | Injuries »
• Football Power Index rankings »
More NFL coverage »
Jackson excelled under pressure in the win over New England. He scored four times against the New England team. He has six touchdown against the defense, which is more than he had all of last season.
Jackson is running the show well. The clock is being managed by him.
Harbaugh was asked if Jackson got enough credit for commanding the huddle.
He is trying to answer that question for four years. Whenever we have a press conference, I answer it here. Every week, I say the same thing. I don't know what to say to people who doubt that at the moment. I don't believe we can help them.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
