Latest news with #BaltimoreRavens'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Baltimore Ravens' One Big Question: Can Lamar Jackson Finally Transcend Postseason Demons?
Baltimore Ravens' One Big Question: Can Lamar Jackson Finally Transcend Postseason Demons? originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In this offseason series, Athlon Sports' Doug Farrar asks the One Big Question for all 32 NFL teams — the primary discussion point that will measure ultimate success (or not) for every franchise. We begin our AFC North discussion with the Baltimore Ravens, who have the second-most regular-season wins (78, behind only the Kansas City Chiefs' 90) since Lamar Jackson's NFL career began in 2018. So, why has Jackson's postseason tenure been so problematic, and is that about more than just his own failures? Advertisement Lamar Jackson is a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player (2019 and 2023), he had my regular-season vote for 2024, and he is unquestionably one of the game's great players, regardless of position. Jackson is still an amazing runner — he's the only quarterback ever to run for more than 1,000 yards in two separate regular seasons (2019 and 2020), and if you count postseasons, he ran the ball 160 times for 1,035 yards last season. And as a pure quarterback, Jackson has also managed to bust most of the myths that have surrounded him since he came out of Louisville and was the 32nd player selected in the 2018 draft — a hilarious miss by most non-Baltimore Ravens teams that year — in that he's become so much more than the "future receiver" projected by Big Brains like Bill Polian. Jackson has been a great thrower from the pocket for years, despite repeated insistences to the contrary from a lot of analysts, and that continued into the 2024 season. Last season from the pocket, Jackson completed 305 of 435 passes for 3,708 yards, 1,786 air yards, 34 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 117.3 that was by far the NFL's highest among quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts from the pocket — Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles ranked second at 112.0. Basically, there isn't anything that Lamar Jackson can't do as a quarterback... with one notable exception. And yes, it's the one that Jackson and every Ravens executive, coach, player, and fan is sick of hearing: Advertisement To paraphrase Billy Beane, why doesn't Jackson's [expletive] work in the playoffs? We could go chapter and verse on the stats, but let's make it simple. Among quarterbacks who have been in the NFL every season from 2018 through 2024, only Patrick Mahomes (102.3 and 7.52) has a higher passer rating and Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt (Pro Football Reference's primary metric for quarterback efficiency) than Jackson's 102.0 and 7.26. But that's in the regular season. In the postseason from 2018 through 2024, Jackson ranks 20th in passer rating (84.6), and 18th in ANY/A (5.39) among quarterbacks with at least 100 postseason attempts. So, this is more than the mirage were were given regarding Jackson as a non-NFL quarterback. Jackson's overall postseason stats — 146 completions in 241 attempts for 1,753 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions — tell the story as much as anything, and it's not as if things have gotten much better over the years. Advertisement In last season's 28-14 wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jackson completed 16 of 21 passes for 175 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 132.0. Jackson made a handful of explosive play throws both in and out of the pocket, but for the most part, he was a drive-extender against a very good defense, and the idea was to let his own Ravens defense and Derrick Henry lead the way. Jackson was almost more valuable as a runner in that game, with 81 yards on 15 rushing attempts, as the Ravens and offensive coordinator Todd Monken read-optioned Pittsburgh's defense to death. And then, there was the divisional game against the Buffalo Bills. Back in Week 4, the Ravens rick-rolled Buffalo to the tune of a 35-10 blastoff in which Henry ran the ball 24 times for 199 yards and a touchdown, and Jackson played off that brilliantly, exploiting the Bills' messy mesh point defense for 64 yards and a touchdown of his own on six carries. Advertisement In the rematch — a 27-25 win in Buffalo's favor — Monken called a completely different game for whatever reason against a defense that played more three-linebacker sets than usual, because it had been terrible against the kinds of stuff Jackson had demolished it with in Week 4. When facing quarterback keeps, draws, scrambles, or running back runs off read-option plays coming into that game, the Bills allowed 254 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. That's 7.5 yards per carry, third-worst in the NFL, a 55.9% first-down percentage (fourth-worst in the NFL), and a +0.55 EPA per attempt (fourth-worst in the league). And yet, there were just four read-option runs in the playoff game, and Jackson didn't keep the ball on... well, any of them. The Ravens, who knew full well that their best opportunity to get to and won a Super Bowl was to combine the best of Lamar Jackson as a runner and as a passer, failed to do that when it mattered most. One could argue, following Baltimore's 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2023 AFC Championship game, that it was the second straight season in which Monken failed to realize the quarterback he had when he really needed to. In that game, Jackson was asked to throw the ball 37 times, and there were just 16 rushing attempts for the Ravens, with Jackson getting eight of them for 54 yards. Advertisement In the Bills loss, Jackson took the responsibility off the shoulders of tight end Mark Andrews, who fumbled the ball late in the fourth quarter, and dropped a two-point conversion that would have tied the game with 1:33 remaining. 'We're a team," Jackson said. "In the first half, I had two costly turnovers. Me not holding the safety, me just knowing the coverage and knowing it was man [coverage], I threw a B.S. interception. It was 7-7 at the time. I believe they scored after that. We battled back, fumbled the snap trying to make something happen. It was like an RPO play, so I couldn't really throw the ball to [tight end Isaiah] Likely [because] the offensive line was down the field, so I tried to make something happen, tried to squeeze the ball. It slipped out of my hand, [and the Bills] picked it up, got some yards that I think led to points for them, so it's a team effort out there. "[Mark Andrews has] been busting his behind. He's been making plays out on that field for us. [We] came up short, and like I've been saying all season, every time we're in situations like this, turnovers play a factor. Penalties play a factor. Tonight, the turnovers... We can't have that [expletive]. That's why we lost the game, because as you can see, we're moving the ball wonderfully. It's just hold onto the [expletive] ball. I'm sorry for my language. I'm just tired of this.' Everybody in the organization will be tired of it until it changes, and here, it all starts with Monken. Why he has been so eager to change the plan when everybody knows what works, and nobody is still able to consistently stop it, but that needs to become a thing of the past. Advertisement Letting Lamar be Lamar, as opposed to trying to outsmart an opponent on the biggest possible stage, would be an excellent way to help the Ravens' most important player on their way to what they hope will be a Super Bowl journey in the 2025 season — and mercifully, an end to all that (legitimate) talk about Jackson's postseason legacy. (All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions unless otherwise specified). Related: Buffalo Bills' One Big Question: Can This Franchise Finally Find the Super Bowl? Related: Miami Dolphins' One Big Question: Is Tua Tagovailoa a Franchise Quarterback? Related: New York Jets' One Big Question: Can Justin Fields Become the Quarterback They Need? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
$750K gone! Lamar Jackson's bold OTA decision leads to major financial hit — is there more to the story?
Lamar Jackson has once again made headlines—not for dazzling throws or jaw-dropping runs, but for his continued absence from the Baltimore Ravens' voluntary OTAs. As of Friday, Jackson had missed five of the team's six organized team activities this offseason. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His only appearance so far came earlier in the sessions, raising eyebrows among fans and analysts who expected more from the star quarterback, especially given what's at stake financially. Lamar Jackson's OTA absence just cost him $750K Under the terms of his latest contract, Jackson was eligible to earn a $750,000 bonus for attending at least 80% of OTAs, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. By missing more than 20% of these workouts, he's effectively forfeited that bonus. That decision has sparked debate—not only because of the substantial amount of money left on the table but also due to what it suggests about Jackson's offseason priorities. Still, within the Ravens' building, there's no sense of panic. Head coach John Harbaugh made it clear that Jackson's absence isn't ringing any alarm bells. 'You measure, for any player, how they play,' Harbaugh stated. 'I'm not measuring, really, the attendance. I mean it's a voluntary camp, so I'm not measuring that... He's my guy, I love him.' It's a message that speaks volumes about the organization's trust in their franchise quarterback, even when he chooses to chart his own course during the offseason. Jackson's approach isn't unfamiliar. He skipped several OTAs last year as well—only to return and play at an MVP-caliber level throughout the regular season. That precedent seems to be part of the reason why Harbaugh remains so relaxed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'Lamar, the day he was out of here, played great. I could see he was in great shape, threw the ball great, made the right reads, knew the offense in an excellent kind of way,' the coach emphasized, showing confidence that Jackson can quickly regain form when it matters. Interestingly, general manager Eric DeCosta recently acknowledged that extension talks with Jackson have taken place, hinting that there might be more to his absence than meets the eye. Yet Harbaugh refused to speculate, choosing to focus solely on what Jackson delivers on the field. Despite the financial loss—$750,000 this year and a cumulative $1.5 million over the last two years—Jackson seems unfazed. Florio remarked, 'There's really nothing to say. He has now given up $1.5 million by failing to participate in offseason workouts. If/when there's a new deal, he should push the Ravens to dump the workout bonuses.' Whether that becomes part of Jackson's negotiation tactics remains to be seen. The Ravens are coming off a strong 2024 campaign, but once again, playoff disappointment derailed their Super Bowl hopes. With a roster packed with talent and Jackson improving year after year, expectations remain sky-high. The MVP-level quarterback knows the pressure is mounting—not just to win games but to silence critics who question his postseason legacy. Jackson is expected to report for mandatory minicamp from June 17-19. When he does, all eyes will be on him—not for what he skipped, but for how he performs. After all, that's the measure that matters most. Also Read:
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Baltimore Ravens' All-Pro running back received a special surprise from his favorite actor. The bet is on.
The Baltimore Ravens' All-Pro running back received a special surprise from his favorite actor. The bet is on. originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Derrick Henry now has all the motivation he needs for the 2025 season. Advertisement Earlier this week, the Baltimore Ravens running back appeared on the Dan Patrick Show where he finished the interview saying he was a huge fan of actor Adam Sandler, who is a friend of Patrick's. The Hall of Fame radio voice offered Henry a bet - if he could surpass 2,000 rushing yards this season, he'll shoot Sandler a message and try to get Henry a role in his next movie. Patrick has followed up with his side of the agreement. And now so has Sandler. A video posted by his show's social media account shows Patrick make the initial call to "Sand-Man", receive a video response as requested, and Henry's reaction when he saw it for the first time on the practice field. "I love ya, congrats on everything baby," Sandler said. "2,000 yards plus this year gets you not only in the movie, but we have a nice dinner together ..." Advertisement Henry said with an ear-to-ear smile: "That's my dog!" He then thanked Patrick for - potentially - helping fulfill a dream of working with his favorite actor. The Ravens star was just 79 yards short of eclipsing the momentous 2,000 mark last season - something he has already done once in his career (2,027 yards in 2020 with the Tennessee Titans). Including Henry, only nine players have ever rushed for 2,000 yards in a season. But nobody has ever done it twice. "Say no more. Remember that now. The bet is on. No pressure at all," Henry said after Patrick's first mention of the proposal. Now it's official. Advertisement Lights, camera, action. Related: NFL's Best Backfield Fuels Ravens' Offensive Ranking Related: Ravens' Zay Flowers Focused on 'Real Football' and Not Olympics This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox Sports
Adam Sandler's next film could feature Derrick Henry if he hits 2,000 yards
Adam Sandler's next movie featuring a prominent athlete could star Derrick Henry, but there's one thing that needs to happen to get the ball rolling on that film: Henry has to run for 2,000-plus yards in the 2025-26 NFL season. The Baltimore Ravens' running back has never reached that mark in his nine-year career — coming within 79 yards of it last season — but now he has extra incentive. That's because Henry has an affinity for Sandler's films. "You know, Adam Sandler is my favorite actor," Henry said on "The Dan Patrick Show" on Wednesday when the host showed him his "Happy Gilmore" hoodie. Then, the Ravens' running back doubled down, asking Patrick for a favor. "If you ever see (Sandler) again, tell him I'm a really big fan. I would really love to meet him one day." Henry displayed genuine glee when making the request, exemplifying his true adoration for Sandler. Patrick saw it, too, confirming he would fulfill that request. "I'm going to text him today," Patrick said. "And, if you get to 2,000 yards, I'll get you in a Sandler movie." That's when Henry really lit up. When he had been asked earlier about his goal of running for 2,000 yards in a single season, he hadn't expressed much motivation, but that guarantee to be in the next Sandler film changed his outlook. "Say no more," Henry said. "Bet is on!" So, there it is. If Henry can usurp 2,000 yards, he could follow in the footsteps of other superstar athletes, such as Kevin Garnett, who acted alongside Sandler in "Uncut Gems", and Anthony Edwards, who was a key supporting character in "Hustle". It may seem like a tall task, or a "Longest Yard," if you will, as Henry has yet to reach that mark and is heading into his 10th NFL season — but don't bet against him with a date on the big screen next to Sandler on the line. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens RB Derrick Henry drops bold speed claim over Lamar Jackson
The post Ravens RB Derrick Henry drops bold speed claim over Lamar Jackson appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Baltimore Ravens' offense brings serious speed to the table, as the team has one of the most prolific offenses in the league. Especially after the front office brought in Derrick Henry, who recently signed a two-year, $30 million contract extension. However, Henry dropped a bold claim about his speed when discussing teammate Lamar Jackson. Advertisement During a guest appearance on 'The Dan Patrick Show,' the 31-year-old running back claimed that he is faster than Jackson. Henry admitted that his 40-time is slow, however, he thinks his football speed is much faster. Overall, Derrick Henry believes he's faster in games than he is in training. Patrick asked the five-time Pro Bowler if he were to race Lamar Jackson, who he thinks would win. Henry quickly responded with 'Oh, I like me.' But when Patrick brought up the 40-time, Henry didn't shy away from the fact that Jackson has a faster non-official time. Regardless, the Ravens' running back likes his chances in a race when the football is in his hands. 'Some people say you have like testing speed, and then some people have football speed, and I definitely feel like that's the case for me. I feel like I'm more faster on the field.' Derrick Henry's size mixed with his speed is what's made him one of the best running backs in football throughout most of his career. He's done nothing but prove doubters wrong time and time again, as he's routinely been a Top 3 rusher for multiple years. Advertisement The former second-round pick ended his first year with the Ravens with 1,921 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 325 attempts. Only Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley had more yards and attempts. Derrick Henry is primed for another big season in Baltimore. The Ravens have a stellar offensive line, and having Lamar Jackson under center opens up opportunities for Henry to strike. After recording over 1,000 rushing yards in three consecutive seasons, it's hard to imagine Henry doesn't reach that mark yet again.
