The Baltimore Ravens may be sitting at 8-5, but their star quarterback Lamar Jackson is anything but content. Following a disappointing 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, the former NFL MVP made it crystal clear: he’s chomping at the bit to return from the team’s bye week and right the ship.
“I’m mad,” Jackson declared, punctuating his words with an emphatic slap of his hand. “I’m not going to lie to you; we’re going to get after it. I can’t wait for this bye to get on. We have the Giants coming up. I’m ready to go. I’m just ready to go.”
The source of Jackson’s ire? A Ravens offense that, despite ranking number one in the league, failed to fire on all cylinders against the league’s elite. It’s a troubling trend, as Baltimore also came up short earlier this season against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers.
Momma Knows Best
Even Jackson’s mother, Felicia Jones, couldn’t help but notice the missed opportunities, particularly when it came to her son’s signature weapon: his legs. “She just cussed me out,” Jackson admitted with a wry grin, acknowledging that he only ran the ball eight times for 79 yards against Philly.
“My momma just told me that. She’s right. I’m going to do my s—.”
– Lamar Jackson on his mother’s advice
Head coach John Harbaugh, for his part, expressed full faith in his franchise cornerstone. “I really trust Lamar. I trust his mom, too. She’s a good judge. She’s seen more Lamar ball than anybody, so I’m sure she has a great handle on it.”
Eyes on the Prize
With just four games remaining and a 1.5-game deficit behind the Steelers in the AFC North, the Ravens find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt. And while the path to the postseason is far from straightforward, Jackson remains laser-focused on the task at hand.
“We don’t need to worry about the Steelers. We need to worry about us,” he insisted. “That’s the first thing; worry about what we need to clean up on this side. Clean that s— up. Forget every other team. We are beating ourselves out there.”
Indeed, self-inflicted wounds have plagued Baltimore in recent weeks, with missed opportunities and critical errors proving costly. But Harbaugh, ever the optimist, sees a battle-tested team poised to peak at the perfect time.
“Every goal that we have is in front of us, and we have the team to do it. I’m proud of our guys; I feel like they’ve fought through a lot of things this year. That forges you for what’s ahead.”
– John Harbaugh on the Ravens’ outlook
The Road Ahead
So what exactly lies ahead for these Ravens? A Week 14 trip to New Jersey to face the New York Giants, followed by a colossal rematch with the Steelers, a visit to Houston, and a season-finale showdown with the surging Cleveland Browns. A gauntlet, to be sure, but one that Jackson and co. are more than ready to face head-on.
For Jackson, the mission is simple: elevate his game and lead his team back to the promised land. With a league-high 3,290 passing yards and 29 touchdowns against just three interceptions, the pieces are in place. Now, it’s about execution and rising to the occasion.
“We can win the division, we can make it as a wild card, or we could be out. It’s up to us to determine that.”
– John Harbaugh on the Ravens’ playoff scenarios
As the Ravens embark on their bye week – a much-needed respite after a grueling 13-week stretch – the focus remains squarely on the future. And with a rejuvenated and motivated Lamar Jackson at the helm, anything is possible. The road to redemption begins now.
