"The only people who can stop us are ourselves"
The defense is a bulwark, the attack dangerous in the running and passing game. And their kicker is considered the gold standard. The Baltimore Ravens have everything they need to become champions. And they have the MVP candidate of the first half of the season in Lamar Jackson.
It could have turned out very differently. Or could it have? Who knows for sure. In hindsight, it doesn't really matter. Because Lamar Jackson has got the mega-contract he longed for with the Baltimore Ravens. Five years, 260 million dollars, 185 million of which is guaranteed. So, all's well in Baltimore.
And perhaps he was never really serious about eight months ago anyway, when the quarterback star wrote on his Twitter channel on March 27 that he had asked the club for a transfer on March 2 because, in his opinion, the Ravens were not prepared to pay him according to his value. Jackson, of course, knows just as well as the club that such muscle-flexing is simply part of the gigantic NFL business.
Highest-paid player in NFL history
When both sides came to an agreement on April 27, both felt like winners. Baltimore can continue to look forward to a playmaker who is one of the most exciting entertainers in the NFL entertainment industry. And Jackson has been the highest-paid pro in league history since signing, with an average annual salary of 52 million dollars. "Let's go, baby," he then told the world via video from a car. He couldn't wait to get started, Jackson said.
With him, the projected number of Ravens victories in the new season would immediately increase "from 7.2 to 10", calculated Stephen Oh, data analyst for "CBS Sports". After nine of 17 games, this figure will very probably have to be revised upwards. Baltimore has already won seven games, the best record (7:2) in the AFC together with the champions Kansas City Chiefs.
Many reasons for success, one main reason: Lamar Jackson
There are many reasons for this, but the main reason is clear: Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. The 26-year-old has always been regarded as an outstanding runner. As someone who loves to carry the ball forward himself and is not afraid to be stopped hard at times. He has already gained 440 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns this season.
But now he also has an excellent passing game. Jackson has never thrown as well as he does now. 71.5 percent of his throws land in the ready-to-catch hands of his receivers. No quarterback in the league has a better passing percentage. The playmaker can therefore cause opponents major problems with his arm and his legs.
New offensive coordinator gets the passing game going
According to the online portal "The Athletic", Jackson is "well on his way to his second MVP award." He received his first in his second season, 2019. The playmaker is benefiting from new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. The 57-year-old, who won the prestigious college championship with Georgia in 2021 and 2022, was brought to Baltimore to improve the passing game.
In the past five years under Monken's predecessor Greg Roman, the Ravens were always regarded as a team with an excellent running game. However, they were hardly able to set any offensive accents through the air, which in turn made their attacks too predictable. That is now a thing of the past.
Of course, it helps that wide receiver Zay Flowers immediately became the hoped-for reinforcement. Nobody in the team was sought and found by Lamar Jackson as often as the rookie, who the Ravens drafted 22nd overall in the spring. They also brought in two experienced pass receivers in Nelson Agholor and Odell Beckham Jr. Todd Monken has managed to improve the passing game without weakening the running game. The average of 160.3 rushing yards per game is the NFL best. Alongside Jackson, this is mainly down to running back Gus Edwards.
Showpiece defense
But as good as the offense is, the showpiece of the Ravens' philosophy has always been the defense. Some of the club's defensive lines are still considered legendary today - and the current defense is well on its way to becoming so. In the nine games so far, it has only allowed a touchdown on 8.7 percent of attacks. On average, the opponents only get into the Ravens end zone on their eleventh offensive play. The last time Baltimore's defense of the 2000 championship team had such a value.
Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald's pros allow an average of just 4.1 yards per play and 13.8 points per game. In addition, opposing quarterbacks have been brought down 35 times - all league bests. "I don't think our defense has any weaknesses," Lamar Jackson said midweek. He might as well have said water was wet.
A defense that has no weaknesses naturally has a positive effect on the offense. Because the offense knows that it can rely on its defense and therefore plays with more freedom. They naturally want to score on every play, but in the Ravens' case they don't have to.
In addition to defense and offense, Baltimore also has strong special teams. Kicker Justin Tucker, for example, the only remaining player from the 2013 championship team, is still the gold standard at his position and as reliable as he was ten years ago in the 34-31 Super Bowl victory against the San Francisco 49ers. Back then, he contributed ten points to the triumph with two converted field goals and four extra points.
Complete team without weak points
Offense, defense, special teams - these Ravens 2023 are a complete team. So far at least, they don't have a weak link. Their victories have sometimes been demonstrations, dismantlings, humiliations. 25:9 against Houston. 28:3 in Cleveland. 38:6 against Detroit, 37:3 against Seattle. The points difference after nine games is 115, 35 points more than the second-placed Buffalo Bills.
It is true that only a little more than half of the preliminary round has been completed. And no one has yet become Super Bowl champion in mid-November. But these Baltimore Ravens currently have everything a team needs to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy in mid-February. And that's why linebacker Patrick Queen says confidently: "The only people who can stop us are ourselves."
The Baltimore Ravens, with their strong defense, impressive attacking game, and reliable kicker, have all the necessary tools to clinch the NFL title. With Lamar Jackson leading the charge, the team's offense has shown improvements in both the running and passing game, making them a formidable force in the league.
Following his recent contract extension, Lamar Jackson, now the highest-paid player in NFL history with an average annual salary of 52 million dollars, is eager to lead the Ravens towards more victories and potentially a second MVP award.
Source: www.ntv.de
