The 5-5 Baltimore Ravens are aiming to make a playoff push. They are on a four-game winning streak, and the defense has started to pick it up after a slow start. However, if there's one thing that is looming over the Ravens still, it's their subpar offensive line. In fact, Lamar Jackson has already been sacked the same number of times (23) as he was last season. And he's only played in seven games. Yikes.
Through 7 games played, Lamar Jackson has been sacked 23 times this season. That was the sack total from last season.
— Morgan Adsit (@MorganAdsit) November 19, 2025
'21 Ravens worst season at protecting Jackson when sacked 38 times & only played in 12 games due to injury.
*Sometimes holding on to the fb can pad numbers.
Poor offensive line play isn't new for Ravens fans. As noted in the tweet above, most of the times Jackson was sacked occurred back in 2021, when he was sacked 38 times in just 12 games, missing the last five games of the year with an ankle injury. This season's 3.2 sacks per game slightly exceeds the 2021 season, in which Jackson was sacked 3.1 times per game.
Jackson has already missed three games (and four weeks) with a hamstring injury this year, and now, for the second straight week, he has missed practice time with an injury. Last week, it was a knee injury; this week, an ankle injury. While John Harbaugh noted that this is a similar situation to last week, it's undoubtedly a concern that Jackson isn't 100 percent, and it goes to show that the o-line is putting him in danger.
The Ravens need to protect Jackson better to avoid a disaster
You never want to say this, but the reality of this situation is that the Ravens' offensive line is putting Jackson at risk for a serious injury like in 2021. Last Sunday's game highlighted this issue as Jackson was sacked five times.
Frankly, fans have been begging Harbaugh to bench Daniel Faalele all season (and even last year). Faalele posted a dismal 46.8 PFF grade on Sunday and was responsible for several mistakes. If this, along with the Ravens' overall o-line struggles, isn't a wake-up call for Harbaugh, I don't know what is.
Needless to say, the Ravens need Jackson if they hope to make a playoff run. However, if they can't protect him this season, it could unfortunately look a lot like the 2021 campaign. It's different circumstances as the Ravens started the year 8-4 (5-1 during the first six games), before crumbling to 8-9 and missing the playoffs, after their MVP quarterback got injured.
Unless something changes, though, this season could take a similar trajectory to 2021. Even if Jackson doesn't get injured, his lack of protection could derail their playoff push or ability to win if they reach the playoffs.