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Speaking to his team recently about the rest of the season, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh framed it in the simplest of terms.
“Each and every game [is] going to be like a win-or-go-home recreation,” quarterback Lamar Jackson mentioned, relaying Harbaugh’s message. “It is the primary season ever beginning off this gradual. It is do-or-die proper now, each week.”
Don’t roll your eyes. It’d look like coach-speak. But it surely’s spot-on.
Aside from one factor. This is the fact that Harbaugh in all probability did not point out: It’s on Lamar to avoid wasting the Ravens.
Harbaugh made his win-or-go-home feedback after Week 8, when the Ravens have been 2-5. Talking with the media, the longtime Baltimore coach admitted he’s accomplished the psychological math on what number of victories he thinks he’ll must get into the postseason. He wouldn’t disclose that quantity, however take into account {that a} staff hasn’t received the AFC North with 9 wins since 1990. So let’s begin at 10, as a baseline. The Ravens are 4-5 with eight video games left. Six extra wins ought to put them in competition.
“Preserve profitable. Preserve profitable. Preserve profitable,” Jackson mentioned final week.
Regardless of the quantity, the Ravens will not get there with out the two-time NFL MVP, who missed three video games earlier this season with a hamstring damage.
Jackson didn’t observe on Wednesday attributable to a knee situation, however Harbaugh mentioned he expects him again on the sector on Thursday. It marked yet one more inauspicious week for Baltimore and its star quarterback.
Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh have a good time a landing in opposition to the Dolphins on Oct. 30, which was the QB’s first recreation again after lacking three weeks attributable to damage. (Photograph by Logan Bowles/Getty Photos)
With a grueling early schedule, the Ravens have been anticipated to have a tough begin. However at 1-5, it was rougher than all of us anticipated, and it was even worse when Jackson — the participant Harbaugh has predicted will probably be “the best quarterback of all time” — was sidelined.
Jackson nonetheless has his work lower out for him — solely 4 groups have ever reached the postseason after beginning 1-5. Past that, he’ll additionally combat the huge expectations. With Jackson again on the sector, it appears to be a forgone conclusion that the Ravens will make the playoffs. Baltimore has a 64.1% likelihood, in accordance with ESPN Analytics. The New York Occasions Playoff Simulator is much more bullish on the Ravens, giving Baltimore a 76% likelihood.
That’s regardless of the historical past of simply 1% of 1-5 groups making the playoffs. That’s regardless of Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers‘ robust play (up till final week). That’s regardless of Bengals QB Joe Burrow returning to observe, hoping to return forward of Cincinnati’s two video games in opposition to the Ravens (Nov. 27, Dec. 14).
The analytics and the bookmakers just like the Ravens. And naturally, that’s due to Lamar.
“We nonetheless really feel like we’re 1-5, as a result of we’re behind in our division. We will’t get complacent. Keep locked in,” Jackson mentioned.
It hasn’t all the time been like that for the Ravens.
“Partially what bought us to 1-5 is we got here into the season possibly considering — not going to talk for everybody however — we’re the Baltimore Ravens,” security Kyle Hamilton mentioned. “We’re going to do that. We’re going to do this. Groups are simply going to put down and allow us to win video games. And that’s not how it’s on this league. We bought punched within the mouth early. … We’ll have that scar tissue going ahead.”
In his two video games since coming again, Jackson has been sensational — and in completely alternative ways. He put a shellacking on the Miami Dolphins to the tune of 204 passing yards and 4 passing touchdowns, with a wholesome infusion of intermediate passing.
However the Ravens tightened up their offense in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings, probably the most blitz-happy groups within the league. Jackson attacked the Vikings with the short recreation, and although his passing numbers didn’t look unbelievable (176 passing yards, one landing), it was a strong efficiency to return out with a win in Minnesota.
That’s what we’ve come to count on from Jackson, a chameleon who can assault defenses in any and each method. For a very long time, it was spectacular to observe him as a twin menace. However now, his information and expertise have introduced a brand new depth to Baltimore’s offense. It’s uncommon to see a protection that fools him, which is an enormous motive why he has an absurdly low interception proportion this 12 months (.7%), similar to final 12 months (.8%). Blitzes do not section him, as a result of he is so quick to get the ball to his scorching route — or to scramble for an enormous play.
Jackson’s return is certain to gas larger manufacturing from veteran operating again Derrick Henry, whose yards per carry are down from 5.9 final season (which was downright unbelievable) to 4.8 this 12 months (which remains to be fairly dang good). Baltimore’s protection is enjoying higher, which appears to be the latest sample — a unit that comes collectively by Thanksgiving. Hamilton is enjoying the very best protection of his life, which places him squarely within the dialog because the NFL’s finest defensive participant.
Nonetheless, the 2025 Ravens aren’t a playoff staff with out Lamar. What he is about to do — what everybody expects him to do — is actually spectacular. And if he does it, it ought to put him within the MVP dialog but once more.
Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years masking the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Comply with him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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