With the Baltimore Ravens 2018 season hopes on the line, the team must turn to rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson to bring them to victory vs. the Bengals.
We all knew the day would eventually come for Lamar Jackson to take the reigns from Joe Flacco and become the team’s starting quarterback and face of the Baltimore Ravens franchise. Some believed it would come by mid-season, some by season’s end, and some who thought he was at least a year away, if not more. No matter what you thought before now, the time has come for the Lamar Jackson era in Charm City.
A 4-5 Ravens team coming off their bye-week but had lost three straight games, including two at home and a crucial in-division game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team’s hopes of the playoffs seem like a distant memory, and most are looking towards the future and the 2019 NFL Draft.
We do this out of necessity to keep our minds from becoming to distraught over a lost season, but perhaps Lamar Jackson could change all of this. After all, Jackson left the University of Louisville as one of College Football’s greatest players of all-time. That claim is backed up by a Heisman Trophy and a ridiculously long highlight reel.
Now’s the time for the man dubbed “Action Jackson” to step up and lead his team.
Starting a rookie quarterback is never easy, and half the time it’s not ideal. This becomes even more true when you decide to hang your season hopes on the young man. What we are asking of Lamar Jackson isn’t completely fair. However, times are hard in Baltimore and he might be there only hope for victory and change.
Jobs are on the line and fan’s patience has been stretched beyond thin. The Ravens need something now to save their staff member’s jobs, their fans consistent support, and their 2018 season. Perhaps Lamar Jackson is the man to do this.
A perfect storm:
Sunday afternoon, Jackson will lead the Baltimore Ravens to perhaps the season’s must important game of the year: a rematch against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals crushed Baltimore earlier this season and no one has forgotten about that game.
But, things have changed since then. A once rejuvenated Bengals team that started 2018 with a chip on its shoulder is quickly falling from the AFC playoff’s graces. Cincinnati’s defense is the worst in the NFL right now, giving up an ungodly 454.6 Total YPG on average. The Ravens, meanwhile, have backed themselves into a corner and now must become creative in finding a way to start winning game again. Lamar Jackson will be the catalyst of this hope.
With the 2018 season on the line and the AFC North division title still within reach, now is the time for Baltimore to right the ship and get back on the path to the post-season. This path starts Sunday vs. the Bengals and a win resets the season for the team. Behind this victory will be a rookie quarterback who will face an awful defense in his debut to the NFL. We can only hope this will make his life easier and he can earn his first career NFL win in his first ever start. Help us, Lamar Jackson, you’re our only hope.