Lamar Jackson has set a host of Ravens passing records in 2019

A look at some of the Baltimore Ravens passing records Lamar Jackson has already set in 2019.

Now entering Week 16, there can be little doubt that the MVP of the 2019 NFL season is Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson has been simply electric and has wowed fans of all teams (even those he has beaten) with his deeds as a runner. He broke Michael Vick’s single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback on Thursday night, after all.

But what may have escaped the attention of many is just how good a season as a passer Jackson has had. He leads the NFL with 33 touchdown passes, throwing his scores at a league-high rate of 8.9%. For good measure, Jackson’s 80.9 QBR is also the best among all quarterbacks (his 112.9 passer rating is ranked third).

Jackson’s deeds are also earning him a special place in annals of the Ravens passers. His 33 touchdown passes are tied for the most by a Ravens quarterback in a single season, while his 8.9% touchdown rate is an all-time team record. You have to go all the way back to the first year of the teams’ existence for the other instance of a quarterback registering 33 scores — Vinny Testaverde in 1996. Testaverde had a 7.61 yards per attempt average back then, while Jackson has a team-record 7.81 this year.

Jackson has completed 66.2% of his passes this season, with 245 of his 370 attempts finding a receiver. This is the highest completion percentage by any Ravens quarterback in a single season (minimum 200 attempts). Jackson’s interception rate of 1.62 is also the second-lowest in team history. Joe Flacco had a 1.58 rate in 2018.

Just for good measure, Jackson also owns the team records for quarterback rating (111.2) and adjusted-net-yards per attempt (8.07). The next highest on the latter list is Flacco, and he only managed 6.66 ANY/A in 2014.

For Jackson, claiming Baltimore’s first MVP award would be another proud achievement in a season replete with them. It is hard to see anyone stopping him from doing so.

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Which Jets player would you most want on the Ravens’ roster?

A look at the undisputed star of the Jets defense and a player that would be an asset were he a member of the Baltimore Ravens roster

The New York Jets come to M&T Bank today to take on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15. It’s a game that looks like a bloodbath waiting to happen on the surface but that doesn’t mean New York is devoid of talent.

When looking over the Jets’ roster, they have quite a few key players but just haven’t managed to put it all together yet. Partially due to an injury report that looks more like a league transaction list than an individual team’s game status and partially due to the team still figuring out all the parts in between their stars.

But one player stands out above the rest and is a player that would look good in purple. In fact, it’s one player that could very well end up in Baltimore next season given how the Jets were shopping him earlier this season.

New York, for reasons best known only to themselves, were entertaining trade offers for safety Jamal Adams prior to the deadline. He remained with the team, but the Ravens were among the teams interested in making a deal. If they were open to the idea during the season, it makes sense they’ll draw more offers in the offseason.

This is Adams’ third season with the Jets after they spent the sixth-overall pick on him in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was fairly quiet as a rookie but has stepped up in a big way in the last two campaigns. He has 18 passes defended in his last 28 games along with two interceptions. One of these he took all the way for a touchdown. This season he has also improved his play in pass coverage too.

In 2018, he was allowing 55% of passes sent in his direction to completed for an average of 12.3 yards per completion and 6.8 yards per target. This year, he’s allowing only 51.7% of the passes to be completed, at a 9.2 YPC and 4.8 YPT average.

Adams has also been used more to apply pressure on the quarterback this year, with 65 blitzes in 12 games compared to 69 in 16 a year ago. This usage has seen him rack up 6.5 sacks this season, the most among all safeties. Adams has become a much surer tackler too. In 2018, 9.4% of his tackle attempts were missed. This year he knocked this average down to 4.5%.

Adams is likely to be missing on Thursday night as he nurses a foot injury. It’s possible then that he has already played his last game for the Jets, especially if teams show a renewed interest in trading for him this offseason. But don’t be terribly shocked if Baltimore is among those calling New York to see if they can make a deal happen as they look to bolster their secondary further thanks to an expected large amount of cap space available.

The Ravens have got by at safety with Earl Thomas, Chuck Clark, and Anthony Levine ever since Tony Jefferson and DeShon Elliott were lost for the season in October.

Clark has shown vast improvement after a shaky rookie season in which he gave up 11 receptions for 123 yards and three touchdowns in pass coverage. But Adams offers so much versatility in both pass and rush defense that a defensive mind like coordinator Wink Martindale would probably think all his Christmases had come at once if Baltimore were to land him.

The asking price is still likely to be high, but maybe Adams’ disenchantment with the Jets could force them to accept a more palatable offer. Adams was angry that the Jets had seemingly gone behind his back in shopping him. Adams and Thomas together, in concert with Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey at cornerback, would make the Ravens’ secondary one to be rightly feared.

Ravens vs. Bills: Scouting report

The Buffalo Bills are a bit of an unknown after having the easiest schedule to date. Let’s dive into how they play on offense and defense.

Week 14 sees the high flying Baltimore Ravens travel to upstate New York to take on the Buffalo Bills. The Ravens are 10-2 and have won each of their last eight games. This has tied a franchise record for the longest win streak. The 9-3 Bills are a game behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East.

This will be the ninth meeting all-time between these two teams. The Ravens hold a 5-3 advantage over the Bills and have won the last two, including a 47-3 mauling in Week 1 of the 2018 season in a game that saw NFL debuts for both Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen due to the blowout.

Let’s take a closer look at Buffalo to give us a better look at what we can expect to see from them on offense and defense.

Offense

The Bills offense is based around the ground game. They rank No. 5 in rushing yards in 2019 but only 23rd in passing. In overall yardage, they rank 17th. While they can run the ball effectively, they haven’t been able to turn that into as many points with 18 teams having scored more points than them this season. The Bills have run the 13th most plays on offense in 2019. They have a pass to run ratio of 1.14. This is the sixth-lowest mark in the NFL.

They are not an offense that has consistently put up huge numbers, nor is it one prone to costly errors. 31.7% of their drives this season have ended with a score. This is the 11th lowest mark in the league. But only 9.4% of their drives have ended in a turnover. This is the ninth-lowest among all teams. Only six teams have more giveaways on offense than the Bills.

The Bills line up in 11 personnel (three wide receivers, one running back and one tight end) on 68% of their offensive plays. This rate is the 8th highest in the NFL. They lean towards the pass when lined up in this formation, doing so on 61% of their plays. The Bills average 7.3 yards per pass attempt out of 11 while also averaging 5.3 yards per rushing attempt. They have a 12:7 TD to interception ratio when passing and have taken 26 sacks.

Their secondary formation is 12, with two tight ends and a single running back joining two wideouts 10% of the time. The Bills are fairly balanced between run and pass when in 12, with a 45%-55% split. Passes out of 12 average 7.1 yards per attempt while rushing attempts average 4.5 yards on the ground.

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Bills coach Sean McDermott vs Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is key matchup in Week 14

Whether or not Bills coach Sean McDermott can concoct a plan to stop Lamar Jackson will go a long way towards deciding this week’s matchup.

If the Baltimore Ravens are to claim a ninth consecutive victory on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, it’s absolutely vital that MVP frontrunner Lamar Jackson is able to continue to weave the magic that has seen him become the talk of the NFL.

Jackson is second in the league with 25 passing touchdowns, but it has been as a runner that he’s been most effective this season. Jackson leads all quarterbacks with 139 carries and 984 rushing yards, with seven rushing touchdowns to boot. Defenses have been able to hold him under 247 passing yards in each of the Ravens last eight wins. But no defense has held him to less than 61 rushing yards since Week 4.

Stopping Jackson, or at least coming up with a plan to stop Jackson, is the major goal for Bills coach Sean McDermott (not forgetting defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier).

Since McDermott took over the Bills prior to the 2017 season, he has succeeded in slowing down the great Tom Brady whenever the Bills have taken on the New England Patriots. Brady averages 216 passing yards, 0.6 touchdowns and one interception per game in the five games he’s played against the Bills in the last three seasons. In his other 44 games against everyone else, Brady averages 285 yards 1.9 touchdowns and only 0.5 interceptions per outing.

The methods that McDermott and Frazier have employed to slow down Brady will likely be of little use as they come up with a game plan to combat Jackson. As noted, it’s not just Jackson’s arm that Buffalo will have to defend against. Jackson has opened up rushing lanes for the running backs and passing lanes because of his own rushing ability. The Bills have yet to face a truly mobile quarterback this season but they have one of their own in Josh Allen to at least provide some experience to work from.

While Allen has quietly been one of the best mobile quarterbacks not named Jackson this season, there’s still a different level between the two. Allen has rushed 93 times for 430 yards and eight touchdowns while Jackson has put up 977 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 140 carries.

If Buffalo relies on Allen as their recipe for what a dual-threat quarterback can do, they’ll severely underestimate Jackson and this Ravens’ offense. But if they’re able to discover a piece of Jackson kryptonite, then they could go a long way towards their goal of possibly stealing the AFC East from the Patriots in 2019. It’s why, like most games this season, it’s about if a defensive coordinator or head coach can limit Jackson that ends up being the biggest key of the game.

Watch: Ravens strike first with Lamar Jackson TD pass

A quick throw to Marquise “Hollywood” Brown has the Baltimore Ravens up early against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12

The Baltimore Ravens have been kings of starting fast this season, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive more often than not in the 10 games this season. So it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise they’ve done it against this week against the Los Angeles Rams.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson capped off a 55-yard drive with an easy five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marquise Brown on a quick slant.

HOLLYWOOD CAME TO PLAY IN HOLLYWOOD.

TOUCHDOWN @Primetime_jet. pic.twitter.com/nBqXldiQz7

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 26, 2019

The Ravens started out with excellent field position after De’Anthony Thomas returned a Rams punt to the 45-yard line. A few big runs from Mark Ingram and Jackson got the Ravens down into the red zone, where Brown was able to get wide open for an easy score.

The Baltimore Ravens offense has been red hot this season, in large part because of the dynamic trio of Jackson at quarterback, Ingram at running back, and Brown at wide receiver.

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Fantasy football: Week 12 sits/starts for the Ravens

A look at the fantasy appeal of the Ravens players heading into Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams.

Monday Night Football in Week 12 sees the 8-2 Baltimore Ravens travel to Los Angeles to take on the 6-4 Rams. The Ravens are on a six-game winning streak and have won their last four games by double-digits. The reigning NFC champion Rams have won three of their last four, but find themselves in third place in the NFC West behind the 9-1 San Francisco 49ers and the 8-2 Seattle Seahawks.

Here, I’ll offer my thoughts on players to start and players to sit this week. As ever, Lamar Jackson is playing, so if you’ve got him, you’re starting him.

Start at RB2 – RB, Mark Ingram

One of these weeks I am confident that I will correctly asses the fantasy value of Mark Ingram. I mean, I recommended sitting him last week due to concerns regarding his volume and production. Ingram, true to form, carried the ball only 13 times for 48 yards, the third time in four games he’s been held below four yards per attempt. But then almost out of nowhere, he catches three passes, two of which result in touchdowns. Maddening.

The Rams have been solid and unwelcoming to running backs this season. Only one running back has amassed more than 45 yards against them since Week 8. No running back has scored a rushing touchdown against them since Week 6. Tailbacks are not exactly enjoying themselves as pass catchers against them either. Tarik Cohen had five receptions against them last week, but that was the first time since Week 8 any back has had more than four catches in a game against the Rams. They’ve not allowed a running back to top 35 receiving yards since Week 1.

In his current form, I have to acknowledge that Ingram is a touchdown-dependent fantasy asset. He is not commanding a large workload, as evidenced by the fact that he has 15 or fewer carries in each of his last five games. Nor is he an every-down player, as he has played less than 66% of the Ravens offensive snaps in all but one game in 2019. If you have no other option, then he can be plugged in as an RB2. But we can’t expect him to score two receiving touchdowns ever again.

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Scouting the Los Angeles Rams

A look at the Los Angeles Rams from a playcalling and tendency point of view ahead of Monday Night Football in Week 12

The Baltimore Ravens travel to Los Angeles to take on the Rams on Monday Night Football, as they continue their push for the postseason. This will be the seventh meeting between these two teams, but the first time that a game will be played in Los Angeles. The last time the Ravens went on to the road to face the Rams in 2011, the Rams called St. Louis home.

The Ravens own a 4-2 record against the Rams and have won each of the last three games between the two sides. Their last encounter was back in 2015 in a game the Ravens won 16-13 thanks to a Justin Tucker field goal from 47 yards out as time expired.

Let’s take a closer look at the Rams to better acquaint ourselves with what the Ravens are likely to see on Monday night.

Offense

Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The Rams offense which took the league by storm in coach Sean McVay’s first two seasons has failed to hit these heights in 2019. The Kansas City Chiefs were the only team that scored more points and had more yards than the Rams in 2018. But the Rams are a lot closer to the middle of the pack this season. They are 13th in points scored and 15th in total offense. This is largely due to their failings in the run game, as they sit 21st in rushing yards against 7th in passing.

The Rams are predominantly an 11 personnel offense (three wide receivers, one running back and one tight end), and have lined up this way on 77% of their offensive plays this season. This is the second-highest rate in the NFL. They switch to 12 personnel (one back, two wide receivers and two tight ends) 15% of the time, the 8th lowest rate. The Rams like to run the ball out of 12, doing so on 69% of the time. They average only 3.3 yards per rush attempt, however, compared with 4.1 when they are in 11. The Rams average 7.4 yards per pass attempt in either formation.

From a play-calling point of view, the Rams are balanced between pass and run. They have a pass to run ratio of 1.53 this season, which is 17th in the NFL. The Rams slightly favor passing on 1st-and-10, but not by much. Their pass to run ratio in this scenario is 51-49.

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Fantasy football: Week 11 sits/starts for the Ravens

A look at what Ravens players to start, and which to sit, for Week 11 against the Houston Texans.

Sunday sees a clash between two division leaders as the Baltimore Ravens lock horns with the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens have won their last five games at sit atop the AFC North with a 7-2 record. The Texans are on a two-game winning streak and are fresh from a bye following their rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars in London two weeks ago.

Here, I’ll offer my thoughts on players to start and players to sit this week. As ever, Lamar Jackson is playing, so if you’ve got him you’re starting him.

SIT – RB, Mark Ingram

Running backs have not enjoyed a great deal of success against the Texans in 2019. A tailback hasn’t scored more than 12.4 PPR points against them since Week 5. They’ve allowed only two running back rushing scores as well.

Ingram continues to operate as the lead back for Baltimore. But it would be inaccurate to describe him as a workhorse. He has gone four games since his last 20 opportunity game (carries + targets), and he’s been held below 50 rushing yards in four of his last five outings. He remains largely dependent on touchdowns with regards to his fantasy output and has finished higher than RB31 just once in games in which he didn’t find the endzone.

The Texans have been slightly more welcoming to running backs in the passing game, with seven running backs catching at least five passes against them this year. However, Ingram has commanded more than two targets in a game only three times this season and has exceeded 22 receiving yards just once since Week 3.

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