ExtremeRavens Posted September 18 Posted September 18 Sometime in the days that followed the Ravens’ haunting 26-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, Lamar Jackson walked into an offensive team meeting looking to reinject life as if he were jump-starting a car battery. Part of the seventh-year quarterback’s maturation this offseason centered around becoming a more vocal leader. Isaiah Likely said Jackson has been the most vocal he’s seen him since he was drafted in 2022. Fellow tight end Mark Andrews said he’s noticed it, too. The 0-2 Ravens need their leader now more than ever. Jackson’s message in that meeting room, according to Likely, was simple: “What we’re putting on film, on the field, just hasn’t been us. We’ve been beating ourselves and harping on the little things. Play our brand of football and let’s see if they can beat us if we’re not beating ourselves.” It has been the biggest stumbling block for the winless Ravens. “We’re right there,” Jackson said. “It’s small things we’re messing up turning into big things.” They’ve been penalized 18 times in two weeks, third most in the NFL behind the Cleveland Browns (24) and Pittsburgh Steelers (19), according to NFLPenalties.com. Their 173 yards in penalties are the second most in football, trailing only the Denver Broncos. That’s how the Raiders completed their comeback, with a game-tying touchdown immediately after a drive-resuscitating penalty. Kyle Van Noy sacked Gardner Minshew II to force a third-and-goal from the Ravens’ 17-yard line. Then Brandon Stephens was flagged for pass interference, and Las Vegas scored a play later. Ravens coach John Harbaugh shared his thoughts postgame: “We had them at [third]-and-forever, and then we got a pass interference call in the end zone. That’s what I thought.” “We’re not losing the game, we’re beating ourselves. Once we [stop] doing that, we’ll be all right,” wide receiver Zay Flowers said. He pinned it on flags and turnovers because “that’s how you beat yourself.” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson prepares to throw a pass during practice Wednesday in Owings Mills. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) It hasn’t been all bad. Baltimore has only committed two turnovers — once in each game — which is among the fewest in the NFL. It’s been more about the frequency of drives that have stalled. That includes a quartet of three-and-outs against Las Vegas. To get back to form, Baltimore needs its leader. Jackson leaned into the microphone, still in his jersey and cleats, freshly perspiring, and said confidently that Wednesday was the team’s best practice all season. Flowers saw an improved communication Wednesday and “people just being truthful with each other.” Likely doubled down that the energy kicked up a notch. “Really just talking to your teammates, making sure everybody’s on the same page,” he said. “I feel like that’s what we’ve been missing. We’re missing the juice.” Andrews felt Jackson’s evaluation of Wednesday’s performance was spot on. He added, “I think guys were really disciplined today, focused, on point, and that’s the type of guys we have — a bunch of fighters, a bunch of resilient men that are willing to fight for this team [and] for each other.” When Harbaugh addressed the team over the past two days, he talked about long-term understanding of the team’s goals as well as the short-term focus. The latter is the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday and will soon be the Buffalo Bills in primetime, then the Cincinnati Bengals the following week — a frequently discussed gantlet of a schedule. “I think that we’re all in this same boat together,” Andrews said. “0-2, kinda in that hole. I think no one’s flinching. We’re all looking to focus and get better and rally around him.” Him, meaning Jackson. He was vocal in meetings this week and drove their best practice of the season. Winning a game comes next. “We’re not moping around,” Jackson said. “Like, even though we lost — like I said, we’re starting the season off slow — our guys [are] not doubting each other [saying] like, ‘Oh man, is this the reason we’re losing?’ or this or that. We have to go out there and get it.” View the full article Quote
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