The Baltimore Ravens will play their first playoff recreation of the season this coming weekend after securing a bye because of being the AFC’s most sensible seed. They completed the season 13-4, and in spite of no longer having key avid gamers like tight finish Mark Andrews or broad receiver Devin Duvernay, they trampled nearly everybody round them.
Lamar Jackson was once taking part in like a mix of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen to culminate an MVP-worthy season. The protection has been wreaking havoc on opposing offenses.
This indubitably seems like the 12 months the Ravens win it involved in the primary time since a spry Joe Flacco was once at the back of heart. However a take a better look: May the whole thing concerning the Ravens’ Tremendous Bowl possibilities get started having a look too excellent to be true?
Whilst the Ravens had an additional week to organize and get in a position, the remainder of the league was once taking part in, combating to stay their Tremendous Bowl goals afloat. There’s no one that must have extra time taking part in within the playoffs than Lamar Jackson and Odell Beckham Jr.
Jackson is 0-2 within the divisional spherical. After six seasons within the NFL, it’s beginning to appear to be he resembles Dak Prescott in relation to the postseason. To this point in his occupation within the playoffs, Jackson has 5 interceptions and has been sacked 19 instances, whilst throwing 3 landing passes. He has lacked the revel in of being within the playoffs, however to be honest, CJ Stroud of the Texans has much less revel in in relation to the matchup.
Then there may be Odell Beckham Jr. He has been within the league for 10 years and has handiest been to the playoffs 3 times for a complete of 5 video games. Whilst he may have a Tremendous Bowl ring for his time with the Rams, he didn’t play in any respect closing 12 months (because of tearing his ACL within the Rams’ Tremendous Bowl recreation). He has a 4-1 playoff document, however he must be that man the Ravens can depend on closely as a veteran presence. Will he be the man he was once at the Rams or the best way he has been the remainder of his playoff occupation?
“Everyone is aware of how the Tremendous Bowl ended for me,” Beckham stated to the workforce. “It’s been an extended two and a part years, so all of it boils all the way down to this.”
The Ravens are in a singular place the place they’ve the whole thing to lose, but in addition the chance to be nice. That is the primary time in a very long time that they’ve the whole thing in position to move all of the approach. Perhaps all that Jackson and his teammates want is an opportunity to turn out themselves.
Although they do turn out themselves, they run into both Kansas Town or Buffalo within the subsequent spherical. Two groups also are vying for his or her spot within the championship, whether or not it’s to copy as champions or to get their first Tremendous Bowl win.
There’s nonetheless so much for the Ravens to turn out, however this must be a very simple win vs. the Texans. And it can be, however the numbers counsel a buyer-beware method.
