Three straight wins and a victory in his 100th NFL start aren’t enough to make Lamar Jackson completely satisfied. The star quarterback has sent a clear warning to his Baltimore Ravens teammates about maintaining momentum after their 27-19 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10.
Speaking after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, November 9, Jackson told reporters, including ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, “There’s still a lot of ball left, you know? You gotta stay locked in. You can’t get complacent or nothing like that, you gotta stay locked in.” While addressing the media, Jackson’s message was really aimed at his own team— a tacit warning not to get too buoyed by their recent mini revival.
This is a timely message from the team’s key playmaker and natural leader. Jackson knows the suddenly red-hot Ravens can go much further than their current 4-5 record. If they do, it will be thanks in large part to the continued excellence of the two-time NFL MVP, who’s thriving back at the controls of their offense.
### Lamar Jackson Powering Ravens’ Revival
Even though Jackson threw for only one touchdown—a two-yarder to All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews in the fourth quarter—he underlined his value to the Ravens in multiple ways. He rushed nine times for 36 yards and, more importantly, stayed efficient against pressure from the Vikings defense.
Jackson was always going to be under siege from a Vikings defense designed and called by Brian Flores. Known as one of the most creative and blitz-happy defensive coordinators in the league, Flores lived up to his reputation by sending extra rushers after Jackson early and often.
Fortunately for the Ravens, No. 8 adapted his game brilliantly to beat the blitz. The Vikings blitzed Jackson on 58% of his dropbacks Sunday—the 5th-highest rate of his career. Jackson reacted by getting the ball out of his hands quickly, averaging only 4.1 air yards per attempt, which was his lowest average in a game with 20+ attempts in his career, according to ESPN Research cited by Hensley.
Leaning into the quick game was how Jackson found a way to win. This approach has defined his century of starts in the pros, even if Baltimore’s QB1 wasn’t fully aware of his own career milestone.
### Lamar Jackson Not Focused on History
Jackson told Hensley he didn’t “know anything about” this being his 100th start, “but it’s cool to get a win on the 100th start, that’s pretty dope.” Whether or not Jackson was as oblivious to history as he claims, he remains the player who largely determines whether the Ravens win or lose. He’s also the player who safeguards the fate of head coach John Harbaugh.
Jackson has faced pressure earlier this season, but Harbaugh knows when Jackson is healthy, anything is possible. Perhaps that’s why Harbaugh proclaimed after the win in Minnesota, “In his mind, he’s just beginning,” as reported by Hensley.
Harbaugh had better hope so, because Jackson staying upright and on form is still the best chance for the coach—who has led the team since 2008—to finally deliver another championship.
### Looking Ahead: Staying Locked In
Talk of a title remains nothing but hot air for this season’s Ravens, who first have to get firmly back into playoff contention. It’s why Jackson, the man most responsible for making that happen, is letting his teammates know they can’t rest on their laurels after rebounding from four straight losses.
Staying locked in, maintaining focus, and continuing this revival will be key for Baltimore as they aim to turn momentum into sustained success down the stretch of the season.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/baltimore-ravens/lamar-jackson-warns-john-harbaugh-vikings/
