Lamar Jackson's Back, And The Ravens Could Be, Too, With An Easy Schedule Ahead

The Ravens shouldn’t fuss asking Lamar Jackson to bring backmost nan Ping-Pong tables and nan different games that were removed from nan locker room because they were acold from cleanable during Thursday night’s 28–6 victory against nan Dolphins. 

They’re not adjacent to being nan Super Bowl contender we expected them to beryllium earlier nan play and it’s not going to abruptly click conscionable because Jackson is backmost connected nan field. The two-time MVP displayed rust successful nan first half of his first crippled backmost since injuring his hamstring a period ago, operating a sluggish discourtesy that’s still dealing pinch nan issues that had Baltimore staring astatine a 1–5 grounds not that agelong ago.

The Ravens did, however, return advantage of each of Miami’s self-inflicted wounds successful a crippled that could easy person been tied astatine halftime. It was only aft nan Dolphins hit themselves that nan MVP-level Jackson appeared and it helps that Miami is simply bad. After falling to nan bottommost of nan standings pinch respective injuries and a daunting schedule, nan Ravens (3–5) are now taking a stroll done losers’ lane to get their play backmost connected track.    

Another nonaccomplishment successful nan adjacent period could importantly derail nan Ravens’ postseason hopes. But astatine nan aforesaid time, this squad is tin of winning each these must-win games, pinch upcoming roadworthy matchups against nan Vikings and Browns, and location meetings against nan Jets and Bengals. These 4 teams person a mixed grounds of 9–22. Minnesota apt won’t make nan aforesaid mistakes that Miami committed connected Thursday night, but nan Vikings were conscionable embarrassed by nan Chargers and are now turning to inexperienced backmost J.J. McCarthy.    

Jackson apt knew it wasn’t going to beryllium a speedy hole erstwhile he talked to nan team’s instrumentality head to move disconnected nan TVs and region nan games from nan locker room. Perfection was needed successful nan triumph file because this squad could nary longer spend losses. That being said, excellence is not needed erstwhile it comes to execution because each that matters correct now is for Baltimore to hit these bad teams complete nan adjacent period to get backmost into nan AFC North race. 

With each passing week, Jackson will apt return much chances arsenic a runner while he regains assurance successful his injured hamstring. He didn’t person that facet of his crippled against nan Dolphins and struggled astatine times arsenic a passer. But Jackson leaned connected what he does best—feed his tight ends, throwing 2 touchdowns to Mark Andrews, different 1 to Charlie Kolar and a lengthy 35-yard walk to Isaiah Likely. Jackson vanished 18-of-23 for 204 yards and 4 touchdowns, and ran 5 times for 14 yards.

Jackson didn’t look arsenic mobile, but relied connected his tight ends and threw 4 touchdown passes successful nan 28–6 victory. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

But nan Ravens’ playoff hopes don’t conscionable autumn connected nan shoulders of Jackson. This turnaround started past week erstwhile protect coordinator Zach Orr made nan basal adjustments coming retired of nan bye week to frustrate Caleb Williams and nan Bears during Baltimore’s first of galore must-win games. And it didn’t make overmuch consciousness that coach John Harbaugh started Cooper Rush for 2 games, but was bailed retired by Tyler Huntley’s businesslike capacity against Chicago.  

There were besides changes to nan protect unit aft a unsmooth first 2 months to nan season. Cornerback Jaire Alexander was a patient scratch connected Thursday, and newcomer information Alohi Gilman has fixed this secondary a spark since being traded by nan Chargers a fewer weeks back. 

And it surely helps having a patient Kyle Hamilton backmost connected nan field. The All-Pro information gave his squad a scare erstwhile he went down for a spot successful nan first half, but quickly returned to nan section and didn’t let Tua Tagovailoa to found a hit for practically each 4 quarters. Gilman and cornerback Marlon Humphrey each recorded a forced fumble and betterment during nan dismantling of nan Dolphins. 

The much I constitute astir this game, nan much I want to opportunity nan Ravens are each nan measurement back. That’s really awesome they were successful nan 2nd half. Even Derrick Henry (19 carries, 119 yards) picked up his play and put nan finishing touches connected Baltimore’s 2nd consecutive triumph aft its astonishing four-game losing streak. 

The much I deliberation astir it, it wouldn’t make consciousness for maine to opportunity nan Ravens are backmost because they ne'er played for illustration a Super Bowl contender astatine immoderate constituent this season, blowing a sizable lead to nan Bills successful Week 1 and falling successful back-to-back weeks to nan Lions and Chiefs. Jackson played successful each those games earlier sustaining nan hamstring wounded successful nan 2nd half successful Kansas City. 

Beating nan Dolphins is acold from a signature triumph and not nan correct clip to inquire for nan Ping-Pong tables back. It would beryllium awesome if nan execution is exceptional connected some sides of nan shot successful nan adjacent 4 weeks against each these bad teams. But we won’t cognize if nan Ravens are existent contenders until they get to their tougher December schedule, pinch games against nan Patriots and Packers. 

Right now, it’s astir stacking wins and regaining power of nan subpar AFC North, which presently has nan fast-fading Steelers (4–3) atop nan standings. The Ravens don’t person to interest astir their divisional matchups until they get done nan Vikings, Browns and Jets. What a cleanable large wind of feasible opponents aft everything seemingly went incorrect for 2 months.

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