This Sunday, the Ravens will find themselves in uncharted territory. Tough luck as they look to rebound against the Houston Texans with no help from their star quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP, took a big blow with a hamstring injury. This will be the first game he misses since the Cincinnati Bengals win-or-go-home wild-card loss on January 15, 2023. Off the field, his absence has taken a psychological toll on the squad. It’s resulted in a Ravens’ four-game losing streak.
Those dual talents, coupled with his leadership and ability on the field have made Jackson an incredibly valuable player to the Ravens. His running mate on offense, Mark Andrews, echoed Jackson’s irreplaceable nature, I don’t think there is anyone like Lamar. No one’s been like Lamar. His presence couldn’t be timelier. The Ravens played poorly in his absence, going a dismal 4-10 since 2018 while averaging just 16 points per game in those contests.
The Ravens are preparing for Sunday’s game against the Titans in London. They’re having a difficult time with nine players on the injury report this week. The squad is looking to prevent its second-ever 1-4 start, turning Jackson’s return into an absolute necessity. Even after the game head coach John Harbaugh would not make excuses for the impact of injuries and was generally upbeat about the squad’s fight.
“We could sit here, and you could ask me about every single guy,” – John Harbaugh
Those who have been on the inside of the organization have felt Jackson’s impact as a tremendous loss. Rashod Bateman echoed Andrews’ sentiments about Jackson’s uniqueness, further highlighting the quarterback’s pivotal role in the team’s dynamics. The last game the Ravens have won without him was way back in December of 2022. That only goes to show how important his contributions are to their success.
Given the extraordinary situation, players are rising to the occasion. Defensive stud Zach Orr, the Baltimore Ravens’ linebackers coach, praised the Lions’ effort. He challenged them to step up their game, especially in the trenches.
“But we have to take it up to a whole other level. So, we’re challenging our guys in the trenches; we need to dominate going forward,” – Zach Orr
Still, for all the stress and strains piling up, Andrews is hopeful with how much battle that’s inside this team.
“Everybody here in this organization, we’re all fighters,” – Mark Andrews
The Ravens’ journey this season underscores their resilience as they navigate injuries to key players while attempting to maintain competitiveness in the league. With Jackson out of the picture, the team has to band together. They will need their big offensive stars to step up and compensate for that absence and figure out a way to escape Houston with a victory.
Even as they head into this critical divisional matchup, Baltimore’s coaching staff is concerned with continuity in the face of adversity. The next game provides them an excellent opportunity to stop their five-game slide. It also puts their depth and determination to the test in Jackson’s absence.
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