The Baltimore Ravens are rewriting offensive record books in 2024 thanks to the electrifying play of quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. This dynamic duo has propelled the Ravens to dizzying offensive heights, seemingly unstoppable as they shred defenses week after week. Could Jackson be sprinting toward another MVP award while Henry shatters rushing records? Let’s dive into the Ravens’ offensive dominance.
Lamar Jackson: The Ultimate Dual Threat
At the heart of Baltimore’s offensive explosion is Lamar Jackson, the human highlight reel at quarterback. Jackson’s unique blend of pinpoint passing and video game-like running ability has proven nearly impossible for defenses to contain. Through seven games, he’s on pace to become the first player in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season. His brilliant improvisation and game-breaking plays have elevated the entire Ravens offense.
“He’s a magician out there,” said one NFL defensive coordinator who faced Jackson this season. “You can scheme all you want, but he’ll make two guys miss and turn a busted play into a 30-yard gain. And if you focus too much on him as a runner, he’ll drop a dime 50 yards downfield. He’s a defensive nightmare.”
Jackson currently ranks 5th in the NFL in passing yards (1,810) and 11th in rushing yards (455) while accounting for 18 total touchdowns. He’s the runaway favorite to capture his third MVP award. But Jackson isn’t a one-man show in Baltimore…
Derrick Henry: A Rushing Force of Nature
While Jackson dazzles, Derrick Henry bulldozes. The hulking running back is authoring a season for the ages, punishing would-be tacklers and racking up eye-popping yardage totals. Henry’s bruising running style and breakaway speed have proven the perfect complement to Jackson’s improvisational artistry.
Averaging a whopping 124.7 rushing yards per game, Henry is on pace to run for 2,120 yards over a 17-game season. That would surpass Eric Dickerson’s longstanding record of 2,105 rushing yards set in 1984. Henry is also within striking distance of his own record of 2,027 rushing yards, which he posted during a spectacular 2020 campaign.
“Henry is just a creature out there,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “His refusal to go down, the way he wills our offense forward, it’s remarkable. He and Lamar are simply unstoppable together. I’m just glad they’re on our side.”
An Offense Shattering Records
Put Jackson and Henry together in offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s creative system, and you get a unit steamrolling its way into the record books.
- The Ravens lead the NFL in total offense, averaging a staggering 461.4 yards per game.
- Their 210.9 rushing yards per game pace the league and put them on track for 3,586 rushing yards over a full season, which would shatter the 2019 Ravens’ record of 3,296 rushing yards.
- At their current pace, Baltimore would generate 7,844 total yards of offense, topping the 2011 Saints’ all-time record of 7,474 yards.
The scary part for opponents? The Ravens feel they’ve only scratched the surface of their potential. “I think we can play better,” said left tackle Ronnie Stanley. “We can score even more. We can execute better.”
Can Anyone Stop Them?
As the Ravens continue to light up scoreboards, the question becomes: can any defense find an answer? Opponents have tried stacking the box to corral Henry, only to watch Jackson shred single coverage on deep shots. They’ve tried keeping safeties back to guard against the pass, only to be gashed by Henry on the ground. Drop extra men into coverage, and Jackson will simply make them miss as a runner.
It’s a pick-your-poison proposition facing this Baltimore attack. And with a revamped offensive line providing sterling protection and impressive receivers making plays downfield, the Ravens have achieved the elusive offensive balance that allows them to exploit any defensive alignment.
“Our mindset is just to go score every time we get the ball,” said Jackson. “We don’t pay attention to stats or records. Those will take care of themselves. We just stay focused on executing each play, each drive, and let the results speak for themselves.”
The way the Ravens are rolling on offense, those results may end up speaking volumes in the history books. With Jackson and Henry at the controls, and a creative system perfectly tailored to their talents, Baltimore is mounting an offensive assault the likes of which the NFL has never seen.
The question is no longer whether the Ravens will break records, but rather, just how many. And with each passing week, as Jackson and Henry continue to pile up the highlights and the yards, it becomes clearer and clearer that we are witnessing something truly special in Baltimore: an offense for the ages, a unit that won’t just rewrite the record books, but one that may just end up redefining offensive football as we know it.
