Lamar Jackson showing his Week 1 dominance was no fluke
Lamar Jackson’s Week 1 demolition job of the Miami Dolphins was no fluke, as he picked up where he left off with a dominant performance against the Arizona Cardinals.
As a rookie, Lamar Jackson helped pull the Baltimore Ravens into a playoff position after replacing Joe Flacco. Despite his success in an unfamiliar offense with just one notable weapon in John Brown, Jackson continued to receive skeptical remarks regarding his accuracy and overall ability to be a franchise quarterback.
In Week 1 of the 2019 season, Jackson emphatically quieted those doubters with a scintillating display against the Miami Dolphins. The former Heisman Trophy winner was historically good, hitting rookie wide receiver Marquise Brown early and often en route to 324 yards and five touchdowns on 17-of-20 passing with zero interceptions.
Of course, it was just one game. And it was one game against a Dolphins team that is most likely tanking for a better quarterback in 2020.
Jackson would need to follow that dominant Week 1 display with another excellent effort in Week 2 against a cakewalk Arizona Cardinals defense. That’s exactly what he did, completing 13 of his first 18 passes for 169 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 138.4 QB Rating.
The Ravens offense isn’t known for being stocked with elite pass-catchers, but Jackson has made the most out of breakout tight end Mark Andrews, who was leading the team in receiving, and the exciting rookie known as “Hollywood” Brown.
On top of his ruthless efficiency in the passing game, the brilliant Jackson was just as devastating on the ground, racking up 75 yards on nine carries in a game in which the running backs played only a marginal first-half role.
Baltimore’s postseason hopes once again rest on Jackson’s shoulders in an AFC North that should be more competitive now that the Cleveland Browns have made upgrades. But while Baker Mayfield’s Browns came into the 2019 season with all the hype after acquiring Odell Beckham Jr., the Ravens offense has been the most explosive unit in the division due to Jackson’s precision.
Next. This rookie QB is the hero we all need. dark
If Jackson keeps this up, it’ll only be a matter of time before he shows the NFL world that he is the best quarterback in the AFC North. With all due respect to Ben Roethlisberger, Andy Dalton, and the electrifying Mayfield, Jackson has looked like the most complete passer and the best decision-maker of the four of them thus far. And judging by what he’s done so far, it’s not even close.
Of course, Jackson will face tougher tests than Miami and Arizona, but, at this point, it would be foolish to doubt him. Everyone who criticized Jackson’s throwing ability as a draft prospect or a division-winning rookie has learned to eat their words.