In Week 2, the Baltimore Ravens had a game that in all honesty may have been one of the hardest games to watch in years.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Ravens were ahead 35-14 and were playing strong football. In one of the best comebacks in recent memory, the Miami Dolphins came from behind with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s six touchdown passes and emerged victorious.
As a fan of the Ravens, this game disgusted me. In the beginning, it was everything you want to see. Smothering defense, explosive offense, a one-sided affair. At halftime, spirits were high — maybe too high.
Miami slowly started to fight back, but Baltimore was still ahead. And then the fourth quarter came. 28-3 — that was the score at one point in this quarter. An unbelievable comeback, a few bad offensive runs, and a few deep balls behind the secondary.
The collapse was team-wide so singling out just a few who are trending up and trending down is difficult. Here is Week 2’s stock report.
Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens (Trending Up)
Not bad for a running back!
Lamar Jackson, the Ravens franchise player, showed his dominance throughout the game. Despite the loss, his performance should not be overlooked. He continued to build his legacy and will remain a key factor in the team’s weekly performance.
Lamar Jackson is in the record books ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/E22fU6sICq
— PFF (@PFF) September 18, 2022
As his record-breaking game displayed his dynamic skills, Jackson peeled off the season’s longest passing and rushing touchdowns.
A throw to wide receiver Rashod Bateman of 75 yards and a run of his own for 79 yards were the biggest highlights, but overall, the stat line tells the story. 21 completions, 318 passing yards, and three touchdowns in the air, to go with nine carries and 119 rushing yards, and a touchdown.
He made these plays early and often, and wreaked havoc on the Dolphins’ defense. Jackson rekindled his relationship with Bateman and his No. 1 target, tight end Mark Andrews. He also was able to get preseason star Isaiah Likely involved after the rookie could not bring in a target last week.
Jackson currently holds the third-highest QBR in the NFL and seems to be a man on a mission. He’s been extremely accurate completing nearly two-thirds of his passes, efficient, averaging 10 yards per attempt, and impactful, with six touchdowns in two games.
What more does Jackson need to bring to the table?
Looking at Week 3, Jackson has a point to prove. His performance was stellar, but the team fell short. His impact will be pivotal.