Ebony Bird
FanSided

Handing out 5 Ravens game balls for the 2018 regular season

By Richard Bradshaw

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 30: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 30: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 30: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 30: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Lamar Jackson:

How can you not give Lamar Jackson a game ball for the 2018 season? The 21-year old rookie was the catalyst for the turn around Baltimore had over the last ~half of their season. Jackson elevated an under-performing 4-5 Ravens squad and made them into a 10-6 division champion team who scares every team in the NFL.

Baltimore is now back in the post-season and is considered by many to be the most dangerous team in this year’s playoffs. The praise for this unit belongs to many players and coaches, but none more so than the Ravens 2018 first round pick Lamar Jackson. After all, it was Jackson who heightened the team’s run game that would power this offense into one of the most electric units in the league.

The Ravens ended the season as the league’s second best rushing offense, and first in the AFC. The combination of Jackson and running backs Gus Edwards and Kenneth Dixon has been too much for opposing teams to handle and it led the team to wins every week. The play-calling shift to a run-heavy offense by Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg deserves praise, but it takes a leader to make the change work; that leader, of course, being Lamar Jackson.

Jackson simply uplifted the Baltimore Ravens squad and made them into a contender. The young man was very nearly a perfect 7-0 in his seven starts, but nonetheless was the primary reason for Baltimore’s comeback to relevance. Jackson has earned our last game ball for 2018, and is our recipient of our Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Next. Lamar Jackson has been catalyst for Ravens second-half run. dark

2018 has been an absolute magical season, but it isn’t over yet. Thanks to the determination of this team, and the play of the aforementioned five players in particular, the Baltimore Ravens get to play some January football and could make a run all the way to the Super Bowl. Anything is possible, and Baltimore controls its own destiny moving forward. Until then, here’s to a successful 2018 season and to these young men who made the most of it!

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