OWINGS MILLS — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has helped keep the Ravens offense humming and ranked No. 1 in the NFL.
The success starts on the ground as the Ravens have run for 545 yards in the past two games. As teams have stacked the box, Jackson has made them pay with passes downfield.
That versatility has been the key to the team’s success.
“It’s just playing chess and not checkers out there on that field,” Jackson said. “That’s basically what it is with our offense, because any given game depending on what the defense [is] giving us, [it’s like,] ‘OK they’re stopping the run, so now we just air it out, or if they’re stopping the pass – they’re going Cover 2, cover four quarters and stuff like that – we [are] running the ball. It’s hard to defend us, that’s what I believe.”
Jackson has thrown for 858 yards with five touchdowns and one interception for a 102.3 rating. He is also second on the team with 308 yards rushing with another two scores.
Baltimore enters Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals with the NFL’s No. 1 offense with 429.5 yards per game. The Ravens also have the league’s top-ranked rushing attack (220.3 yards per game).
The Ravens are averaging 26.5 points per game, the NFL’s fifth-best mark.
Jackson is poised to have another big game this week against the Bengals. He has gone 3-0 at Cincinnati, throwing for 573 yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception (130.3 rating). He also has 216 yards rushing and one touchdown on 30 carries (7.2 average).
“I just prepare like any other game,” Jackson said about the Bengals. “Just trying to have everything right from practice and film [and] out on the practice field and take everything I learned from the practice film – what I see – and take it into the game.”
The addition of running back Derrick Henry has been a huge boost for the Ravens. Last week, in a 35-10 victory over Buffalo, Henry ran for 199 yards on 24 carries with a touchdown. He also caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jackson
Henry leads the NFL with 480 yards rushing and has scored a touchdown in all four games. After a slow start, the Ravens’ rushing attack has been difficult to contain. But Jackson also has confidence in the team’s passing game, which averages 209.3 yards per game — ranked 16th in the NFL.
“I wouldn’t say that because just two weeks ago it was, ‘Oh they need to run the ball more,’ and ‘Where’s the run game?’ We just won two games with our offensive line doing a great job, and our running backs doing a great job,” Jackson said. “Now it’s like, ‘This is the best rushing attack the Ravens ever had.’ It’s just pick your poison with our offense – that’s what I believe – not just the run game [but the] passing game, too.”
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken has given Jackson more leeway to change the play at the line of scrimmage this season, Jackson declined to disclose how often he changes the play, but has taken advantage of that freedom.
“It depends on what the defense is giving me,” Jackson said. “I might check out of something; I might just change the protection one way – put it here. It depends. It’s really on the defense – I’m going off [what] the defense [shows me].”