The Ravens beginning the 12 months 0-2 with MVP Lamar Jackson is without doubt one of the surprises of the season to date. Whereas they needed to open on the highway in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, they let a win in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders slip away from them in Week 2. They allowed 13 unanswered factors within the fourth quarter, falling on a last-minute area purpose.
The Ravens have the Dallas Cowboys up subsequent, and instantly they’re wanting on the worst run of Jackson’s NFL profession. He has by no means misplaced three video games in a row, however that’s what can occur this week. The Cowboys are 1-1, beating the Browns however dropping to the Saints. Dallas is internet hosting once more after letting New Orleans put up 44 factors inside AT&T Stadium.
Lamar Jackson is 58-21 in his profession as a starter, 0-2 in 2024 after ending final season 13-3. He has among the best data in NFL historical past although he nonetheless has one other 21 begins to succeed in 100. Even with the comparatively transient resume, it’s nonetheless spectacular to have averted a three-game dropping streak to date.
Even the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger, who has one of many higher historic data, hit a three-game dropping streak in his third season although he additionally hit the again finish of a truck that offseason. He had two such streaks that 12 months, and one other in 2009, his seventh season. Jackson is in his seventh season now.
The Ravens have solely put up 43 factors in the course of the first two video games of the season although that’s nonetheless 14th leaguewide. In these two video games, Jackson is 47-of-75 for 520 yards with two touchdowns to at least one interception. He has 167 dashing yards as nicely on 21 carries although he does have one fumble.
“Let’s get 1-0”, Jackson stated through ESPN about his Ravens crew this week. “We’re beginning the season off sluggish, however I imagine guys within the locker room. We all know what we need to do after we go on the market Sunday. It’s like we arising brief, however I really feel like on the finish of the day we beating ourselves”.
That is clearly a lot better than an 0-2 crew, however the Ravens do have some considerations. They’re rebuilding their offensive line on the fly, plugging in three new starters from final season. Though he has two touchdowns, RB Derrick Henry continues to be discovering his footing on this offense. Lamar Jackson himself is the first supply of stability on offense—as a quarterback ought to be, in fact.
Defensively, as a lot as they might not need to admit it, the Ravens are adjusting to life with out Patrick Queen. Granted, Queen isn’t precisely lighting issues up to date with the Steelers, both. However they’re getting contributions, with Odafe Oweh stepping up within the early going, for instance.
Lamar Jackson was a freshman at Louisville the one time the Ravens ever began 0-3. They’ve began 0-2 4 occasions beforehand and have by no means posted a profitable document earlier than below these circumstances. They’ve a a lot larger probability of doing that this 12 months, nevertheless.
