Quarterback Lamar Jackson is likely one of the greatest gamers in soccer, and his presence makes the Baltimore Ravens a greater soccer workforce. That’s the reason they need to be relieved and inspired by Jackson being “good to go” for his or her AFC North championship recreation in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night time.
He is not going to be one hundred pc wholesome, and he might be sporting additional padding to account for the again harm that held him out of their Week 17 win over the Green Bay Packers, however they’d nonetheless in all probability fairly have him on the sphere than backup Tyler Huntley.
There’s nonetheless one necessary factor the Ravens need to do after his return, and one large mistake they need to keep away from if they’re going to have success and win the sport.
Lamar Jackson’s return can not end in Ravens forgetting about Derrick Henry
Whereas the Ravens are higher with Jackson within the lineup than Huntley, the latter’s presence of their Week 17 recreation compelled the Ravens to lean on famous person operating again Derrick Henry.
His 36 carries within the win have been a season-high (and solely the third time he topped 24 carries), whereas he rushed for 216 and 4 touchdowns within the win. It was a giant change for the Ravens after their teaching employees was completely crushed the earlier week for not utilizing Henry extra in a Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots.
Pretty much as good as Jackson is, and as nice as he might be, the Ravens can typically turn out to be too pass-oriented in video games and take Henry out of the equation themselves.
That isn’t a recipe for fulfillment for them. Particularly in opposition to a Steelers protection that has performed extraordinarily effectively in opposition to Jackson all through his profession. In 9 regular-season begins in opposition to the Steelers, Jackson is simply 3-6 and has a few of his worst particular person numbers in opposition to any opponent, together with throwing extra interceptions (10) than touchdowns (9). He additionally has eight fumbles in these video games and managed solely a 72.8 passer ranking. Simply by comparability, his profession passer ranking is 101.9 when all opponents are taken into consideration. That may be a vital decline in opposition to the Steelers.
Add in the truth that Jackson goes to be taking part in at lower than one hundred pc and with additional padding in addition to his inconsistencies passing the soccer in latest weeks, and the Ravens can not make the sport about him. Their path to profitable is with Henry. They should lean on him once more, simply as they did in Week 17 to assist put themselves on this winner-take-all, loser-go-home recreation. In the event that they preserve it easy and run their offense by means of Henry, they’ve a terrific likelihood. In the event that they neglect about him once more, it may very well be an issue.
