For Lamar Jackson, the losses are starting to pile up. The Ravens quarterback has seen his team drop three straight games after starting the season 1-0.
The latest defeat came on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, and it was a particularly frustrating one for Jackson. The Ravens had a 20-17 lead late in the fourth quarter, but they couldn’t hold on. The Bills scored a touchdown with just over two minutes remaining to win the game.
“We’re beating ourselves,” Jackson said after the game. “We’re making too many mistakes.”
Jackson’s frustration is understandable. The Ravens have made a number of uncharacteristic mistakes in their recent losses. They’ve turned the ball over, they’ve been penalized, and they’ve failed to make big plays when they need them.
In their three losses, the Ravens have committed 10 turnovers. They’ve also been penalized 34 times for 303 yards. Those numbers are simply unacceptable for a team that wants to be a Super Bowl contender.
The Ravens’ offense has been particularly disappointing. Jackson has thrown for just 568 yards and three touchdowns in his three starts. He’s also been sacked 12 times.
The Ravens’ defense has also struggled. They’ve allowed 91 points in their three losses, and they’ve failed to generate much pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
“We’re not playing as a team right now,” Jackson said. “We’re not playing with enough discipline. We’re not playing with enough passion. We’re not playing with enough heart.”
The Ravens have a lot of work to do if they want to turn things around. They need to start playing with more discipline and passion. They need to stop making mistakes. And they need to start making big plays.
Jackson believes that the Ravens can still be a Super Bowl contender. But he knows that they need to start playing better soon.
“We’re going to have to find a way to get this thing turned around,” Jackson said. “We’re going to have to find a way to start playing like a team. We’re going to have to find a way to start winning games.”
Lamar Jackson’s Frustration | Self-Inflicted Losses | Mistakes, Penalties, and Turnovers | Offensive Struggles | Defensive Deficiencies | Discipline and Passion Deficit |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sick of the Ravens beating themselves | Repeated losses due to unforced errors | High turnover rate, excessive penalties | Jackson’s low passing stats and sacks | Allowing high scores and insufficient pressure | Lack of discipline and intensity in play |
The Ravens have a talented roster, but they’re not playing like a Super Bowl contender right now. They’re making too many mistakes, and they’re not playing with enough discipline or passion.
Jackson is right to be frustrated. The Ravens need to start playing better soon, or their season is going to be over before it even gets started.