The Baltimore Ravens have battled to a 70-25 record with Lamar Jackson under center over the last seven seasons. Baltimore is easily one of the best regular season teams over that time period. Jackson has led the Ravens to four AFC North division titles since taking over for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco during the 2018 season.
The regular season success hasn’t transferred to the postseason. The Ravens have a 4-5 record in the playoffs over the last seven seasons.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta thought he added the kissing piece when he signed veteran running back Derrick Henry to balance out the offense. Henry delivered by rushing for over 1,900 yards and finishing first in the AFC. At one point, it seemed like the Ravens were destined to be playing in New Orleans for the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, they fell short in Buffalo against the Bills during the divisional round. This season was still a success.
“I’m very proud of the team this year. It was a successful season – I’m not going to sit up here and say it was not a successful season,” DeCosta said. “It was in just about every way of looking at it, but I’m disappointed and [head coach] John [Harbaugh] is disappointed. We’re all disappointed. Our team is disappointed. We had higher aspirations, and we didn’t achieve those aspirations and goals, but I think it was a successful season.”
Jackson will probably win his third MVP award when the winners are announced the night before the Super Bowl. It’s a reward he holds near to his heart. But nothing would be better to Jackson than winning it all.
The Bills loss hit Jackson hard because of his turnovers. But Jackson more than made up for those with a series of outstanding plays that led to points for the Ravens. He had them in position to tie the game, but things just didn’t go right when tight end Mark Andrews was unable to haul in a pass from Jackson that would have been a successful two-point conversion. That loss will linger with Jackson during the offseason.
“I want Lamar to relax a little bit and think back to what we accomplished as a team and what he accomplished individually,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “And from what I’ve seen with Lamar, he’s just grown so much – even just over the last couple of years, in terms of his game as a player, as a leader [and] as a person.”
The loss came without Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers in the lineup due to a knee injury. Flowers is the first wide receiver drafted and developed by the Ravens to make it to the Pro Bowl. Losing him undoubtedly took a toll on the offense. They won’t use it as an excuse.
Flowers, like Jackson, is a Florida native. The offseason will give them an opportunity to go back to their home state and workout in hopes of making a Super Bowl run next season. In the meantime, they’ll have to watch as the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles battle for the Lombardi trophy next week.