A 1-5 start was far from what anyone anticipated from the Baltimore Ravens. The cream of the crop in the AFC North, they had consistently been among the thick of things in the conference. However, an abysmal defense had paved the way for their worst start in the Lamar Jackson era.
Things finally seemed to get back on track when they beat the Chicago Bears, despite their superstar quarterback not being available for the game. However, as it turns out, it might have been something he did that ultimately inspired the squad to change the tune of the season.
Lamar Jackson Leads the Baltimore Ravens Off the Field
After their brutal start, the hope was that the Ravens could get things right during the bye week and come out with a vengeance in the second half of the year. However, after the controversy surrounding Jackson’s status, that confidence took a major hit.
Essentially guaranteed to play against the Bears, Baltimore received a shocker when it was confirmed that he wouldn’t be ready to go, and Tyler Huntley would be handling quarterback duties for the game.
Ultimately, it was no problem for the Ravens, as they took care of things easily in a 30-16 victory. As the defense seemed to get back on track, superstar cornerback Marlon Humphrey gave credit to the two-time MVPÂ for turning things around.
In the week leading up to the game, reports of all kinds of leisurely activities being thrown out of the locker room had continued to make the rounds. Things like video game slots, ping pong tables, and others had been tossed out.
At first, it seemed like a decision from the coaching staff, before it was confirmed that the senior players on the roster made the change. However, Humphrey confirmed that it was the leader of the team, Jackson, who made the choice for the locker room.
As he recalled, Jackson had a simple message: “Man, we’re having too much fun over here. Get this stuff out of here,” leading to the rest of the team acquiescing to his request.
It remains to be seen how the move affects the team’s morale and synergy in the coming weeks, especially as the dual-threat superstar appears poised to make his return in Week 9. But for the time being, the results are undeniable.
After ranking dead last on PFSN’s Defense Impact for the season as a whole, the Ravens have held two prolific offenses, in the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago, to 17 or fewer points in consecutive weeks.
It might not be the end of the world, but it marks a clear shift in where the team was defensively before the distractions were eliminated from the locker room.
