Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens may have finally gotten a handle on their fourth-quarter woes. They seemed to fall into that trap in Week 3, but they wriggled out of it and escaped with a last-second win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Listening to Jackson’s post-game message, there was just a different vibe.
That’s our leader 🗣️ @Lj_era8 postgame: pic.twitter.com/PCKfR2hE3d
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 28, 2026
This is the start of the season.
That message feels like a change of pace from Jackson. Don’t get me wrong, he's an outstanding leader. Ask any veteran who’s played with him for multiple years—Derrick Henry, Marlon Humphrey, and Calais Campbell always praise his character. This was different, though.
Those words were desperately needed. Baltimore needed a confidence boost, as it’s clear they’ve had fourth-quarter anxiety. Conquering that adversity and hearing Jackson’s voice emerge could be the start of something new.
Lamar Jackson's voice is growing louder when the Baltimore Ravens need it most
For most of his career, Lamar Jackson has been a player who leads by example. He’s been finding his voice more and more over the last few years, but hearing the two-time MVP drop a passionate postgame message like the one this past Sunday is exactly what this team needed.
Week 3 almost made it back-to-back games where Baltimore blew a fourth-quarter lead. That’s been an issue for years beyond 2026, too. The win could signal a turning of the page, though. As with everything, it starts with Jackson.
During his press conference on Wednesday, Jackson spoke about why he thought it was important to deliver that message.
“I felt like my guys needed to know that they’re appreciated. They bust their tail,” Jackson said. “Sometimes it might not go our way, we might get penalties here and there, but at the end of the day we’re trying to win…It was meant for my guys to hear that.”
That’s the type of leader Baltimore needs. With all the self-inflicted mistakes and blown leads, it can be easy for doubt to start creeping in. Someone like Jackson, who can not only set the tone on the field but also keep his teammates’ heads on straight in the middle of the game, will be a crucial piece in building a winning team.
It’s especially important for a group searching for their identity. They’re playing under a new coaching staff led by Jesse Minter, and while a lot is staying the same, a lot is changing and needs to change.
Although the Ravens struggled against Dallas late, the energy was clearly different in the final minute. The defense locked in after a questionable pass interference penalty; the offense made the biggest play of the game with just seven seconds on the clock; and Tyler Loop was at his best when his best was needed. Things may be starting to change for the better.
And with Lamar Jackson taking this step as a leader, there’s hope the Ravens can start avoiding those “sky is falling” moments down the stretch. They have to if they want to compete for a Super Bowl.
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