Lamar Jackson and Baltimore maintain the highest seed within the AFC. While the Ravens wish to hold that spot and make the playoffs for the fifth time in six years, additionally they wish to make sure that Jackson is underneath heart in January.
He hasn’t been capable of say that for the previous two seasons.
Not solely do the 8-3 Ravens start a tricky late-season run Sunday evening on the Los Angeles Chargers, however Jackson enters part of the schedule when he has been injured the final two years.
It was Week 12 final season when Jackson suffered a knee damage towards Denver. Two years in the past, the dynamic quarterback was sidelined in Week 13 when he injured an ankle towards Cleveland.
Jackson appeared to tweak an ankle throughout Baltimore’s 34-20 victory over Cincinnati on Nov. 16, however earlier this week, he stated he’s 100% and able to go.
When it involves remaining wholesome this season, Jackson is attempting to maintain issues easy — simply don’t get hit.
“I’ll say I don’t slide, but I get down. I get under hits; I’ll say that but that’s it I guess,” he stated. “That’s all I know – don’t get hit.”
Jackson is fifth within the league in completion proportion (69.5%) and sixth in passer score (100.1). With Jackson and Gus Edwards, the Ravens even have the NFL’s top-ranked dashing assault, averaging 155.1 yards per sport. Edwards is second amongst AFC working backs with 10 touchdowns on the bottom.
Even although Baltimore finishes the season with street video games towards Jacksonville and San Francisco adopted by house dates towards Miami and Pittsburgh, it needs to be rested for the stretch run.
The Ravens have their bye subsequent week earlier than internet hosting the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 10.
“It’s good. It’s where you want to be at this point, but it doesn’t mean anything until after the last game in terms of playoff seeding,” coach John Harbaugh stated. “We control a certain amount of our destiny. I don’t know what the tiebreakers would say, but to some degree, we do. We just have to keep winning.”
The Ravens are dealing with a reeling 4-6 Chargers squad coming off three-point losses to Detroit and Green Bay. They have the league’s second-worst protection and are ranked final towards the go.
“I don’t think that structurally there needs to be a change. We’re working through adjustments with personnel,” coach Brandon Staley stated in regards to the protection. “Just getting the right combination of players out there that will execute consistently.”
STEPPING UP
Odell Beckham Jr. caught 4 passes for 116 yards in Baltimore’s victory over Cincinnati final week, a welcome signal for the Ravens after shedding tight finish Mark Andrews to an ankle damage.
“I believe my chemistry with all the receivers is coming along well the longer the season’s been going,” Jackson stated. “We just have to keep locking in in practice and keep building more because playoffs (are) rolling around, (and) the end of the season is rolling around. We just have to keep stepping in the right direction.”
Andrews has at the least shared the group lead in receptions for 4 straight seasons, however that’s not the case in 2023. Rookie Zay Flowers has 53 catches for 588 yards.
BREAKING OUT
Justin Madubuike has a team-high 9½ sacks for Baltimore, however third-year linebacker Odafe Oweh has come on recently. He has a sack in three straight video games and 4 of 5 since coming back from ankle issues.
“Even though he’s not as healthy as he was, he’s still able to go out there and make plays at a high level,” linebacker Patrick Queen stated. “So imagine when that ankle does get healthy. I’m really proud of him.”
RECEIVING CHALLENGES
Chargers receiver Keenan Allen leads the league with 83 receptions and is fourth in receiving yards (1,011) regardless of groups double-covering him, and Mike Williams sidelined by a season-ending knee damage after three video games.
Justin Herbert will depend closely on Allen once more or test right down to working again Austin Ekeler as the opposite receivers battle. First-round choose Quentin Johnston had a vital drop on the Chargers’ last possession final weekend at Green Bay that might have put them in field-goal vary and given them an opportunity to ship the sport into additional time.
The Chargers had 4 drops towards the Packers, occurring in vital conditions. Two had been on third down, and the others had been within the pink zone.
“We haven’t done what we would like to do out there. It’s tough for us, but the only thing we can focus on now is the next one. We’re not going to let these past ones affect our next performance,” Herbert stated. “We know that we have the right guys out there, we have the right scheme. It’s just about executing, and we can do that.”
KEEP AN EYE ON ….
Chargers security Derwin James, who is predicted to play extra at cornerback and be matched up towards slot receivers.
James is second on the group with 67 tackles but additionally has acquired 4 pointless roughness penalties.
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AP Sports Writer Noah Trister in Baltimore contributed.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
