Lamar Jackson: Ravens defense has 'no weakness'
Lamar Jackson and his Ravens may be the most intimidating team in the NFL right now. But it’s not all about the offense. In fact, the quarterback bragged that Baltimore’s defense “had no weakness.”
And he says going against the Ravens D in practice is making him a better QB. Now, he said all that with the caveat that he’s “not trying to toot our own horn.”
Rather, he said, “just from the defensive line, the linebackers, the secondary, how they’re flying around and disguising defenses — making it look like one coverage, but it’s something else. And how they time up their blitzes, it helps us out a lot, because when we’re playing other teams, they’re flying around and giving us their best shot. It’s like we’re seeing one of the best defenses every day.”
The Ravens have rolled to a 7-2 record, which is good enough for first place in the stellar AFC North. The Steelers, Browns and Bengals are each 5-3. Baltimore has won four straight, yet so has Cincinnati. The action is acid hot and it’ll stay sizzling as the Ravens finish off their schedule, which gets more difficult by the week. ESPN Analytics estimates that Baltimore’s second-half schedule is the toughest in the NFL. The team faces the Jaguars, 49ers, and Dolphins. The Rams are the only team on the back half of the schedule that owns a losing record.
The Ravens also battling teams in the AFC North for the next two games, which are five days apart. They’ll host the Browns this Sunday, then the Bengals for Thursday Night Football.
And that’s why Jackson and the rest of the offense are so appreciative of the defense. Consider that the Ravens own the best scoring defense in the NFL, allowing 13.3 points per game. They’re second in the league in total defense (behind the Browns) allowing 262.6 yards per game. The defense is eighth overall against the run, giving up 92 yards.
Individually, Geno Stone leads the NFL with six interceptions. And Justin Madubuike is the best defensive tackle in the NFL, so far, at sacking the quarterback. He’s notched 7.5 sacks, which is tied for ninth-best in the NFL. All others ahead of him are either ends or outside linebackers.
Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson probably is playing the best of any quarterback in the NFL. He’s completing a league-best 71.5 percent of his passes and sports a 100.8 passer ratings. That’s sixth-highest in the NFL. He’s still running for yardage and to extend plays. He’s totaled 440 rushing yards, which also tops the league among quarterbacks.
Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen is appreciative of Lamar Jackson’s support. He also agrees with him about the defense.
“If we all lock in and do what we’re capable of each play, lock in, communicate, play as hard as we can and have the best technique we can, there shouldn’t be anybody that should be able to stop us,” Queen told reporters. “The only people that can stop us is us.”