Lamar Jackson has been catalyst for Ravens second-half run
Your 2018 Baltimore Ravens are the AFC North champions and are playoff bound for the first time since 2014, and it’s all because of Lamar Jackson.
“He’s too raw as a passer to succeed in the NFL.” “He needs to sit for at least a year in the pros.” “He might as well translate to wide receiver, because he has no future at quarterback.”
These were some of the many things said of Lamar Jackson during the pre-2018 NFL Draft process. Jackson, a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback at the University of Louisville, was undoubtedly talented as a physical specimen. The 21-year old rookie was taken with the last pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the intent to be the Baltimore Ravens future at quarterback.
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With Joe Flacco remaining the team’s starting quarterback, there seemed to be little reason for Baltimore to rush Lamar Jackson. On the surface, he was placed in exactly the situation he needed to be in: sitting behind an established starter so he can learn. What no one anticipated was that eventually this young man would usurp the starting gig from Flacco, thanks in part to a hip injury, and never looked back.
Now, Lamar “Action” Jackson has the Baltimore Ravens headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Even better, the team won their division, the AFC North, for the first time since 2012. Coincidentally, this was the last time the Ravens made, and won, the Super Bowl.
While getting to this point is entirely a team effort, it should come as a surprise to no one that the Ravens accomplished this feat with Lamar Jackson at the helm, and not Joe Flacco. Like it or not, Baltimore wouldn’t be 10-6, win the AFC North, or even be in the playoffs if Flacco remained their starting quarterback. No, this is nearly entirely because of Lamar Jackson.