Even the rain can’t stop Lamar Jackson from making big plays as he embarrasses San Francisco 49ers defensive back K’Waun Williams
No defense has been able to stop Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as he makes a case for the MVP award. And in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, it looks like Mother Nature won’t be able to stop him either.
On a designed run, Jackson was met at the line of scrimmage by 49ers defensive back K’Waun Williams. And a heartbeat later, Williams is the latest victim on Jackson’s, finding himself laying on the wet field alone while the Ravens quarterback continued his run.
It might not be as flashy as some of the other runs Jackson’s made this season, but to be able to make these ankle-breaking runs in weather that would make it difficult for other players to stay upright is more proof that he truly is a special player.
This isn’t the first time that Jackson has made plays in bad weather, as he was able to make some amazing plays in Seattle in Week 7 on a day where the weather wasn’t conducive to throwing the ball. And as the weather gets worse near the end of the season, his ability to make plays in any weather will come in handy.
Lamar Jackson once again does it with his legs, finding the end zone untouched after a fake handoff up the middle against the 49ers.
As the rain continues to fall at M&T Bank Stadium, quarterback Lamar Jackson led the Baltimore Ravens on a 13 play, 65-yard drive that ended with the MVP front runner running it in from a yard out to give his side the lead against the 49ers.
Though both the 49ers and Ravens haven’t been shy throwing the football, it was Jackson’s legs that really got that drive moving. It was Jackson’s fifth carry of the drive, including down to the two-yard line. After a play fake with Gus Edwards, Jackson ran to the left for the go-ahead score. At this point, Jackson has more rushing attempts than the rest of the team combined.
With the score, Jackson became the second player with 25-plus passing touchdowns and 750-plus rushing yards in a single season.
This game is more than living up to expectations as a potentially Super Bowl matchup. Both offenses are hitting on all cylinders today in the poor weather.
The 49ers offense started with a bang, but a turnover allowed Baltimore to tie it right back up.
The 49ers offense started with a bang, but a turnover allowed Baltimore to tie things at 7. The defense played well in the first drive against the Ravens’ offense, but has struggled since.
It’s tied at seven after one. Here’s what stood out in the first quarter:
Fourth-and-2? Go deep
The 49ers had a tough choice early on with a fourth-and-2 at the Ravens’ 33-yard-line. It was either attempt a 51-yard field goal or take a chance a go for it. Kyle Shanahan not only chose the latter, but drew up a deep shot. Jimmy Garoppolo connected with Deebo Samuel in double coverage for a touchdown to give the 49ers an early lead. The weather will likely change play calls on both sides and Shanahan took advantage the first try he had.
Warner is the hottest player on the 49ers defense and has been since Kwon Alexander went down four weeks ago. On a second-and-10, Lamar Jackson threw a pass toward Marquise Brown on an in route with the linebacker in coverage. Warner looked like a defensive back with his diving pass breakup to prevent the completion. The 49ers will need everything they can get from the defense and Warner’s play led to the Ravens first punt since Week 9.
49ers turnover leads to Ravens points
Mike McGlinchey picked up a blitzing Jihad Ward, but released to pick up Matthew Judon around the edge. That move from McGlinchey allowed Ward to get to Garoppolo forcing him to the ground and allowing Chuck Clark to punch the ball out. The fumble was recovered by Baltimore. Lamar Jackson cashed in two plays later to tie the game at 7-7. Even though it’s wet and sloppy, the 49ers can’t afford turnovers like that to give Jackson an even shorter field.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson connected with tight end Mark Andrews for a franchise-record 48th touchdown of the season.
The Baltimore Ravens got off to a slow start in this one but are heating up quickly. Baltimore safety Chuck Clark sacked San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, forcing a fumble which Brandon Williams recovered. Two plays later and the Ravens found the end zone on a 20-yard completion to tight end Mark Andrews.
After a three-yard run on first down by Justice Hill, Lamar Jackson looked to his most trusted weapon Mark Andrews. Andrews made the catch and backed into the end zone for his seventh touchdown grab of the season.
With that touchdown, two franchise records were set. Andrews tied for the most single-season touchdown receptions for Ravens tight ends. And the score was the 48th touchdown of the season for Baltimore, breaking the franchise’s single-season record.
The conditions look far from ideal for both teams, yet both have made plays in the passing game in the early stages. In spite of the heavy rain and cold weather, both teams don’t seem to be shying away from throwing the football.
Heavyweights San Francisco (10-1) and Baltimore (9-2) meet Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens boast superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson and one of the most potent offenses in the NFL, while the 49ers defense has been lights out. Baltimore leads the all-time series 4-2, including a narrow 34-31 victory in Super Bowl XLVII.
The 49ers lone loss of the season came against Seattle in an overtime thriller. This back half of their schedule doesn’t get any easier. After a 37-8 victory at home against Green Bay, they head on the road to face Baltimore and New Orleans. Jimmy Garoppolo completed 14 of 20 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and company were ecstatic to have tight end George Kittle back after missing two games with an injury. Kittle, one of the best tight ends in the NFL, gave an instant boost to the offense with six catches for 129 yards and one touchdown.
The old adage that defense wins championships may be the 49ers ticket to the Super Bowl. This unit is holding opponents to an average of 248.0 YPG and opposing quarterbacks to an average of 136.9 YPG. Ferocious. That’s how the defense played against a quality Packers team and a future HOF quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers had just 104 yards and one touchdown, one of the least productive games in his career. Fred Warner had 11 tackles and one sack, while Arik Armstead and Nick Bosa combined for eight tackles and three sacks. The defense has faced dual threat quarterbacks like Kyler Murray (twice) and Russell Wilson, but will it have an answer for Lamar Jackson? Containing him is the key to this game.
Jackson is quickly making a case for MVP honors and he displayed his highlight laden talents for all to see on Monday Night Football. Baltimore scored six touchdowns on its first six possessions as the Ravens dismantled the Rams 45-6 on the road. Jackson was 15 of 20 for 169 passing yards with five touchdowns and 95 yards rushing. This season he has a total of 3,303 yards of offense and 24 touchdowns. Mark Ingram Jr. has also been an integral part of the run game. The bruiser picked up his fourth 100+ yard rushing total in the win. Marquise Brown and Willie Snead were both on the receiving end of two touchdown passes on Sunday. This offense is ranked second in the league with an average of 433.3 YPG and is by far the best when it comes to the run. Baltimore is the only team with an average of over 200 YPG (210.5). Behind them is the 49ers (145.6 YPG).
While the offense dominated the time of possession, the defense has played well all season. This unit is currently ranked third in rushing defense (87.7) and showed that against the Rams, as their rushing game picked up a mere 22 yards on the ground. San Francisco doesn’t have any superstars on offense but have a balanced attack that will keep Baltimore on its toes.
Prediction: With the high flying attack of Lamar and company our analyst Ryan Brandenburger is taking the Ravens to cover the 5.5 points in a shootout with two of the NFL’s heavyweights. Score: Ravens 35-24
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The writers here at Ravens Wire predict another big game from Baltimore’s offense over the San Francisco 49ers defense.
The Baltimore Ravens have been blowing up teams en route to a seven-game winning streak. The offense is playing even better than earlier in the season, dismantling some of the top defenses in the league. Baltimore’s defense has been aggressive and productive in shutting down some very talented offenses. The end result has been lopsided wins over playoff-caliber teams.
Turn to Week 13 and the Ravens are taking on the San Francisco 49ers. Arguably the best team in the NFC, Baltimore has a very tough test ahead of them. But the writers here at Ravens Wire believe it’ll be another big game for Baltimore’s offense with our bold predictions.
Matthew Stevens:
Lamar Jackson throws for three-plus touchdowns and runs for 50-plus yards
Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
Jackson has gotten better in every game this season in spite of playing better defenses. Though many expect Jackson to finally face his match against the 49ers, San Francisco doesn’t have any special weapons the last 11 teams haven’t had and he’s burned through those defenses easily enough. The same thing happens this week as the 49ers think they can contain Jackson but watch him run around them and pile up more touchdowns through the air en route to another victory.
The 49ers won’t have any easy time stopping the Ravens or scoring on them, but they have a chance behind these three keys.
The Baltimore Ravens are the hottest team in the NFL. They’ve won seven in a row while outscoring opponents 172-46 in their last four contests. The 49ers may pose their toughest test yet though with a stout defense and an offense that has enough weapons to keep pace in a shootout.
San Francisco may want to avoid a track meet though. Here are three keys for a 49ers victory Sunday:
1. Hit Lamar Jackson often
There are limits to how far this goes. Hitting Jackson legally is the key, but the 49ers have to hit him whenever they can. Any time he becomes a runner they have to get him on the ground. The same goes for whenever he spends any time in the pocket. Slowing Jackson down has been near impossible this season, but history shows getting mobile quarterbacks on the ground as often as possible is key. Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek preached it last week with Aaron Rodgers, and he’ll surely do it again this week.
2. Outrun the Ravens
It’s much easier said than done, but the 49ers likely win Sunday if they rush for more yards than Baltimore. That’s typically true in any game, but it’s especially true against the NFL’s top rushing attack. San Francisco’s run game has eluded them the last four games where they’ve posted only 83.5 yards per contest. If they can get up near the 200-yard mark Sunday, it means they’re moving on offense, running up time of possession, and keeping Jackson and the Ravens off the field.
3. No free possessions
If there’s ever a game for Jimmy Garoppolo to play mistake-free, it’s Sunday. Even if the 49ers defense has a plan that slows down Baltimore’s offense, giving them extra possessions won’t be helpful. Garoppolo was terrific Sunday night against the Packers. A repeat performance will be necessary to snatch a win against the Ravens. High efficiency and no turnovers from the quarterback would be the perfect complement to a revived rushing attack.
The 49ers move to the second step of their three-game stretch of teams .800 or better with a visit to Baltimore.
The 49ers visit Baltimore on Sunday for the second phase of their three-game stretch against teams with winning percentages of .800 or better. They’ll have a tough task trying to slow down the highest-scoring offense in the league, led by quarterback Lamar Jackson. San Francisco’s offense also faces a tall task against a Ravens defense that’s allowed just 11.5 points per game in their last four.
Here are the three matchups that matter most in Baltimore:
Robert Saleh vs. Lamar Jackson
Saleh will have to figure out how to do something not many teams have been able to this season: put together a game plan to slow down Jackson. Slowing him is the key to keeping Baltimore from racking up 30-plus points– something they’ve done six times this season.
If there’s any defensive coordinator that can do it, it’s Saleh. Saleh was able to put together a plan last week that held Aaron Rodgers to just 104 passing yards and his worst-ever yards per attempt. It could be game of adjustments for Saleh and the defense, but they’ll need to play their best game of the season against Jackson and company.
Richard Sherman vs. Marquise Brown
Brown has been Jackson’s second-favorite target behind Mark Andrews, but Brown is by far his most explosive. It’s not easy to beat Sherman. Speed is one way teams have tried to attack the 31-year-old. Sherman has also had a penalty issue the past couple of weeks with five penalties, including three pass interferences, against Arizona and Green Bay. Sherman can thwart Brown’s speed with physicality, but that opens him up to those flags coming out.
Fred Warner vs. Mark Ingram
Lost in Jackson’s MVP-caliber season is Mark Ingram’s importance to the Ravens’ offense. Ingram is averaging a whopping 5.2 yards per carry and has nine rushing touchdowns. The 49ers have struggled against the run game all season, allowing 100 or more yards on the ground in nine of their 11 games. Warner has been good against the run while putting together an All-Pro caliber season in the middle of the 49ers’ defense. He has a team-high 81 tackles and six tackles for loss. Not only will Warner be important against a running Jackson, but also Ingram while trying to contain the league’s best running team.
Lamar Jackson was drafted 32nd overall by the Ravens in 2018. How have other picks from that slot fared in the NFL?
The Baltimore Ravens hit it rich by drafting Lamar Jackson with the 32nd overall pick in 2018. The NFL Draft can be hit-and-miss. How have other teams done with players taken in the same slot since 1987?
1987: Gregg Rakoczy
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Gregg Rakoczy played for the Cleveland Browns from 1987-90 and then spent two seasons with New England. The center made 44 of his career 48 starts with the Browns.
The 49ers have one of the NFL’s best defenses. But there’s one obvious vulnerability — and it’s one that Lamar Jackson can easily exploit.
So, we’re past the point where anybody is assuming Lamar Jackson is anything but a pure quarterback, right? Yeah, we thought so. Jackson’s bravura performance against the Rams on Monday Night Football — he completed 15 of 20 passes for 169 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions against Wade Phillips’ helpless defense — put the league on notice (as if the league wasn’t already on notice) that Jackson can beat you just as easily with his passing as he can with his rushing abilities. Through the 2019 season, Jackson has taken great strides as a quarterback, improving his ability to throw with anticipation and accuracy into tight windows, and to work through his progressions to find the ideal target.
“It was impressive,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said after his team’s 45-6 debacle. “When you sit there and watch, and you feel the operation up close and personal — you just see how sharp they are with their execution, what a dynamic playmaker he is, what a great job they do of creating conflict before the snap, changing your fits. And then on third down, they were really impressive. Just his ability to find some completions and make some plays with his legs — there’s a reason why people are talking about him as an MVP. It felt like it tonight.”
(Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports)
This Sunday, another NFC West defense has Jackson to deal with. The 49ers will travel to M&T Bank Stadium to try and shut Jackson down — or, at least, slow him down. On its face, San Francisco’s defense would seem to have a decent chance. The unit led by defensive coordinator Robert Saleh ranks second in the NFL in Football Outsiders’ opponent-adjusted defensive metrics, behind only the Patriots. They rank second against the pass, and 16th against the run. San Francisco’s defensive front and linebacker corps is a quick-moving group in which everyone loves to get to the quarterback — especially rookie edge-rusher Nick Bosa, who has nine sacks, nine quarterback hits, and 36 quarterback hurries on the season, per Pro Football Focus’ metrics. The 49ers are also coming off a 37-8 Sunday night demolition of the Packers in which Aaron Rodgers and his crew couldn’t get out of first gear at all.
However, the same things that make this pass rush so formidable make the same defense vulnerable to the run — especially to specific run concepts. San Francisco ranks 13th in FO’s Defensive Adjusted Line Yards metric, and they’re not good at all against runs in the open field, ranking 25th in yards earned against runs 5-10 yards past the line of scrimmage, and 30th in yards earned beyond that.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked this week of Jackson’s success as a runner this season — he has 124 carries for 874 yards, a league-leading 7.1 yards per carry average, and six touchdowns on the ground — was the result of the NFL not yet catching up with Baltimore’s multi-faceted run game.
Shanahan had a ready answer for that.
“I don’t think it necessarily is catching up,” he said. “Just like I didn’t think the defense ever caught up with the zone-read either. It’s not a trick play. It puts guys in a bind. It makes teams play 11-on-11 football. You’ve got to decide whether you want to play 11-on-11 or if you want to keep things the same and play 10-on-11. Most people, usually the quarterback makes you pay if you play 10-on-11 when you have these type of quarterbacks. You do have to change some stuff up and then what else does that open up and how good are you at that? Eventually, you can take stuff away. Then you’ve got to balance it out and see what holes that opened up because they take it away. I Think it will be that way until the end of time. I mean, no one catches up with this stuff. It’s not a gimmick play, it’s a very sound way to run an offense and they are doing it at a very high level right now.”
So, the 49ers are aware of the problem. Even if they are able to limit him as a quarterback with their coverages, they will have to be on alert against his running abilities — and this is a specific vulnerability of Saleh’s defense. Designed quarterback runs, especially to the outside, have absolutely gashed the 49ers. In Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals and rookie quarterback Kyler Murray this season, Murray attempted seven designed runs, six of which were to the outside. On those plays, Murray averaged 9.3 yards per play and had a 22-yard touchdown run.
The 49ers’ inability to contain Murray was obvious, and disconcerting with Jackson on the docket. The touchdown run is a graphic example.
There was also this 21-yard run, which mirrors some of Baltimore’s misdirection concepts. Teams are using San Francisco’s speed and aggressiveness against it in the run game, and it’s working.
It also worked for Seattle’s Russell Wilson the week before on this 18-yard scramble.
“We brought a five-man pressure and they blocked us up with seven and it created a lane for Russell to run through that C-gap,” Saleh said a few days later, when asked if the Wilson play represented a gap integrity issue. “The coverage we were playing on the back end caught us a little bit deeper than we wanted, and it gave him an exit lane.
“I wasn’t expecting the tight end to stay in. It was a good call by them.”
It’s a common problem, though Saleh said last week that it isn’t an overarching concern, and that Jackson brings different things to the run game.
