Lamar Jackson was quite obviously frustrated in the post-game locker room. That’s the reality,” Jackson told reporters shortly after the Ravens’ 27-22 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. The loss in hindsight became a pivotal turning point on the year as the team’s upward trajectory of frustration with Jackson and more started to build. Despite showing signs of his former self by scoring a touchdown for the first time since November 9, Jackson’s performance left much to be desired, raising concerns about the Ravens’ playoff aspirations.
In a game that so many declared a “must win,” Jackson proved his nimbleness in a big way. He extended drives by picking up big third downs with electric scrambles. He even managed to underthrow an open DeAndre Hopkins in the back of the end zone on one passing attempt. Jackson’s performance demonstrated an unequivocal failure. He finished under 60% for the fifth game in a row, a career-low streak. His passer rating in each of the last three years has been under 75. Unfortunately, that drop off has resulted in a 10-12 record for the Cowboys when he played to that level.
The Ravens’ success has historically depended on Jackson’s ability to perform at a higher caliber. His passer rating eclipsing 75 has resulted in a stunning 65-12 record for the Ravens. This underscores how much he needs to get back to his old self and the Bengals need to make a playoff run. With just a few seconds remaining in regulation, Jackson was fully aware of the history being made. Rather than throw a prayer to the back of the end zone, he was tackled by virtue of that pressure.
After reflecting on his team’s predicament, Jackson couldn’t hide his anger. “I feel like each and every week there’s no room for error,” he stated, acknowledging the mounting pressure both he and the team face as they approach the final stretch of the season. Following their conversation, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh emphasized that despite the challenges ahead, there is still hope for improvement.
“I’m not a hopeless person, so we don’t run out of options,” – John Harbaugh
Harbaugh encouraged his players to remain determined. You just have to keep working and keep developing and keep coming back and keep fighting,” he said. Just like the real world, we don’t throw up our hands and say we’re out of options. We don’t do that. So, there’s your answer, a hell no.
Unfortunately for Jackson, the offensive lineman’s troubles came at an inopportune time. This is typically when the Ravens start to hit their stride as they prepare for the playoffs. Just four matches left in the season. Both Jackson and Harbaugh are acutely aware they’ll need to focus their collective endeavors if they want to prosper in the playoffs. Jackson’s recent offensive outburst raises questions about his training routine. He could skip a practice every seven days while he comes to figure out how best to balance his workload.
And even with the odds stacked against them, players such as running back Derrick Henry remained adamant that they would fix things. “You gotta protect your home court,” Henry said after the game. So we absolutely have to do better at home. While he admitted that the loss was a bitter one, he stressed the importance of keeping the confidence level high.
“That doesn’t mean we give up or [shouldn’t] still play with confidence [or] believe in each other, and go out there and do what we need to do to give ourselves a chance. But yes, it definitely stings, for sure.” – Henry
Jackson’s acceptance of his own public battle has been raw and honest. He acknowledged the pressure that’s bearing down on him, but he is determined to look ahead to the solutions we need going forward. In so many words, he was telling me to stay focused,” Jackson remembered of his conversation with Harbaugh.
That should worry anyone as the Ravens move forward. They have to address their recent offensive ineptitude and get Jackson back to playing amongst the league’s elite. The playoff picture remains unclear, but one thing is evident: improved play from Jackson is essential for Baltimore’s hopes of extending their season.
Leave a Reply