Before Sunday’s game, the former MVP, who is always dangerous when he runs, had completed a career-high 68.3% of his passes.
When Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was reminded this week of his last encounter with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, it didn’t take four years to lessen his frustration.
“You intend to discuss that?” He spoke solemnly. Yes, I do recall it.
Jackson handled a 45-6 victory over the Rams in 2019 with amazing ease. Only 15 passes were completed by him, but five of those were for touchdowns. His passing total was only 169 yards. He only made eight runs, but during those runs, he gained 95 yards.
Rams head coach Sean McVay stated, “That was not a fond memory for the Rams in 2019, but when you look at it, he did his thing.”
Jackson’s undisputed MVP campaign that year silenced the doubters who thought he would be a better wide receiver coming out of Louisville the previous year.
When Jackson faced the Rams last season, he was playing in a different system. Jackson is currently in his sixth season. He moves more slowly and takes his time moving through the progressions. Jackson has completed a career-high 68.3% of his passes thanks to the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s deeper playbook of passing concepts.
“He can make you pay with his legs. He can make you pay with his arms. He can make you pay with his mind,” McVay said. “And so you’re seeing all of that stuff show up and that’s what makes him one of the best and one of the most difficult to defend without a doubt.”
Even after leading back J.K. Dobbins tore his Achilles in the season opener, the Ravens have the best rushing offense in the league, averaging 158.6 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry. However, they further complicate all of that.
With 141 carries for 590 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, veteran Gus Edwards has led the way and established himself as one of the NFL’s most reliable options at the goal line. Jackson still has 574 yards (5.1 per carry) and is a major factor in the ground game. And with his ability to break long runs, dynamic rookie Keaton Mitchell has delivered a late-season punch.
“Got to be stout. You need to be gap stout [and] sound and at times when you got to rush the passer, not get out of your gap or leave an edge where he can roll out or step up and make plays happen,” Donald said. “So it’s a challenge, but it’s a part of the game and we got to find ways to do it.”
There will be unique obstacles for the Rams’ offense to overcome. The Ravens have one of the best defenses in the NFL and are healthier going into this game than Cleveland was, much like the Browns were a week ago.
In addition to the formidable player on the other side, the Rams will have to contend with rain and strong winds in Baltimore. While the Rams were getting ready for the weather, McVay was irritated to see that Thousand Oaks’ typical winds had subsided. Nevertheless, the Rams did practice with a wet football during practice.
“You can’t simulate those conditions here, you have to go see what the conditions are and then go play accordingly in my opinion,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “You just kind of got to go play each play as its own and you can’t expect for it to be perfect every single time, but you do get a good grip on it every once in a while and try to put it in a good spot. And if not, then figure out a way to get around it.”
In anticipation of their encounter with the Ravens on Sunday, the Rams activated veteran kicker Mason Crosby from the practice squad on Saturday. After kicker Lucas Havrisik missed his third field goal in four games, the Rams signed Crosby this week.
RAMS (6-6) at RAVENS (9-3)
When: 10 a.m. Sunday
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Md.
TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 226, 381