The reigning league MVP is fed up with losing very winnable games as a result of self-inflicted wounds.
After falling in a 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, the last thing Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is worried about heading into a bye week is where the team sits in the AFC North division standings.
The two-time and reigning league MVP is more concerned about addressing the reoccurring issues that are holding his team back from being all they can be week in and week out which could cost them in the postseason.
“We don’t need to worry about the [Pittsburgh] Steelers. We need to worry about us,” Jackson said. “That’s the first thing; worry about what we need to clean up on this side. Clean that shit up. Forget every other team. We are beating ourselves out there. There are opportunities, [but] we’re not making them happen. We need to make those critical situations happen, and we’re not doing it.”
Even though he accounted for over 300 yards of offense by himself, Jackson was far from satisfied because his team came up short yet again in a game they had every opportunity to win. He shouldered some of the blame for their shortcoming against one of the elite teams, feeling like he could’ve done more with his legs in particular and his mother agreed.
“She said there were lanes I should have [taken] and ran, but I was trying to let guys develop routes,” Jackson said. “We had developing routes. I was just trying to go through my progressions, but yes, she’s right. I’m sorry for this. I’m just mad, because I feel like we should win these games, and we’re not getting them done.”
His mom/manager was so upset with him after the game that he said she cussed him out. Her anger and frustration paled in comparison to her son’s as he could hardly contain it at times during his postgame press conference.
“I’m just ticked off, because we left things out there on that field – me [and] everyone,” Jackson said. “It’s a team sport, and there’s no ‘i’ in team.”
When they’re not self-sabotaging themselves with penalties and other avoidable mistakes, the Ravens have looked unstoppable on offense and appeared to have finally turned a corner toward stability on defense.
While this respite from action feels much-needed and long overdue, Jackson shared the sentiment of many of his teammates who are chomping at the bit to get back to work after the bye. Their focus will be to stop making the same mistakes and missteps that have cost them in their five loss this season in the final four games of the regular season with back-to-back division titles on the line.
“We’re going to get after it. I’m not going to lie to you; we’re going to get after it,” Jackson said. “I can’t wait for this bye [week] to get on. We have the Giants coming up. I’m ready to go. I’m just ready to go.”
As for the offense specifically, they’ve repeatedly stubbed their own toe in recent weeks, which is a big reason why the team has gone 1-2 in their last three games heading into the bye. Whether it’s been a result of penalties, turnovers, or missed assignments, their lack of consistency has hindered them from beating some of the best teams they’ve faced over that span.
“We need to be more consistent.” pic.twitter.com/4TTmPZwVbI
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 2, 2024
“We need to be more consistent, [take it] a play at a time,” Jackson said. “There are situations in games where our first play is good, but it’s a penalty. It’s first-and-20. We still get back on track, then we start making positive things happen. We just need to get to that situation and don’t try to blame things on one play. A game is not won off one play early in the game. Probably later in the game, [it] probably is, but early in the game, we need to just fix that and move on. That’s what we need to do.”
Jackson is having the best season of his career to date with second-most passing yards (3,290) and touchdowns (29) and ranks first in passer rating (116.3) to go along with the most rushing among quarterbacks (678). The Ravens coaching staff has been impressed with how he has taken more ownership in the second year of offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s scheme which has helped him elevate his play to the highest level it has ever been in his career to date.
“Development-wise, physically, I think as a passer he’s taken leaps and bounds from where we started in the offseason last year [around] spring training camp last season and then picking up where he left off,” quarterbacks coach Tee Martin said.
As vital as Jackson’s incredible play on the field has been to the Ravens success this season, his leadership and intense focus is just as integral.
“I just think he’s more comfortable being able to say things to the players,” Monken said. “Tee has done a great job with him in terms of promoting that. The players love to play with Lamar because he’s highly competitive, and he’s such a good dude. He’s such a good person – they love him. It’s hard not to love Lamar Jackson.”