Ravens’ Lamar Jackson is one of the ‘scariest’ quarterbacks in 2022
By Kristen Wong
Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson is underrated no more and was recently included on one NFL pundit’s “scary” quarterback rankings.
2021 was by far Jackson’s worst season in the league as the Ravens finished with a losing record, placing last in the AFC North.
This upcoming season has redemption written all over it for Jackson and the Ravens, but Jackson will have to improve his performance under center to lead Baltimore to confident wins.
A host of factors contributed to Jackson’s poor form last season: an injury-ravaged offensive line, Jackson trying to do too much and scramble out of the pocket, middling wide receiver displays, and so on.
Yet one needs only think back to 2019 and 2020 to remember the kind of franchise-altering player Jackson was and still is.
NFL’s Bucky Brooks rightfully ranked Jackson as fourth on his list of the scariest quarterbacks in 2022, sending a warning to the entire league on Jackson’s inevitable return to dominance:
"“The so-called slump from the former NFL MVP in 2021 has led some observers to have amnesia when recalling Jackson’s impact as a playmaker on the perimeter. After tallying a pair of 1,000-yard seasons as a rusher, defensive coordinators are well aware of his ability to take over the game on the ground.”"
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson will become a dangerous a threat in 2022
Just a year ago, some NFL pundits were claiming that the league had “figured” Jackson out, that Jackson’s dual-threat abilities had hit the ceiling, and opposing defenses could successfully keep him at bay.
Brooks outright denies that claim and describes how Jackson can stay effective in both the passing and running game to thwart defenses:
"With the fifth-year pro displaying enough proficiency as a passer down the middle of the field to punish opponents for overplaying the run, defensive coordinators have to pick and choose when to ratchet up the pressure against a quarterback who possesses the athleticism and arm talent to counter aggressive tactics."
Jackson’s technical skills aside, much of his resurgence this year may come from a more intangible quality: his ability to win games.
Since Jackson took over as a starter in 2018, the Ravens have gone 37-12, stringing together three winning seasons in the last four years.
Last season, Jackson became the first quarterback in NFL history to reach 35 career victors before turning 25 years old, not to mention he’s already ranked seventh in all-time rushing yards among quarterbacks.
Baltimore can appreciate backup Tyler Huntley for stepping in last year, but make no mistake, Lamar Jackson is the far more accomplished starter who has victory in his DNA.
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Teams should absolutely be scared of Lamar Jackson this season, especially given the new weapons he has to work with. He and the Ravens are coming in hot in 2022.