Former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant has high hopes for Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens this 2023 season, and for good reason.
The Ravens have already clinched a playoff spot in the AFC, and at 11-3, they possess the best record in the AFC and the NFL–tied with the San Francisco 49ers. Jackson and Co. have also won four in a row heading to their Week 16 showdown with the Niners, raising hopes up that this could very well be the year that they compete for a Super Bowl.
Ever since Jackson arrived in Baltimore in 2018, the team has made the playoff four times (excluding this 2023 season). However, they have yet to make it past the divisional round, and Jackson himself has only one win in the four postseason games he has played so far.Sure enough, many critics are still doubting the Ravens and if they can actually find playoff success this 2023 with Jackson leading the way. After all, they have tried numerous times and failed in all those attempts.
Dez Bryant, nonetheless, sees the Ravens’ fate changing this time around. Not only does he see Jackson and Odell Beckham Jr. playing their best football down the stretch, but he also predicts that Jackson will finally be able to make a deep playoff run thanks to the system around him.
What makes Bryant believe that? New offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who took over from Greg Roman this 2023 campaign.
“Greg Roman to Todd Monken and that’s the difference! My short stint with the Ravens I was livid how much of Just Lamar rare abilities was winning games for the Ravens,” the former Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowler said, referencing his time in Baltimore in 2020.
“He deserved to be coached with a real plan around him… Looking from the outside in you can see the difference. That’s what I’m banking on.”
Will this really be the year that Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens make it to the AFC championship, or even the Super Bowl? Sure enough, fans are hoping that Bryant is right.
Lamar Jacksons’ Leadership Standing Out for Baltimore Ravens
For what it’s worth, it’s not only the offense and game plan around Lamar Jackson that has been driving the Baltimore Ravens’ success this 2023.
As Marlon Humphrey said following their Week 15 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jackson’s leadership has really stood out and has allowed the team to elevate their play.
“It’s been really cool to see his growth to being more vocal, leadership-wise. Being first one in. Since he signed his deal, I think everyone can say you’ve seen a lot of changes he’s done to really be the leader of the team, not just the star player,” Humphrey said of Jackson.
“It almost seems like everything from getting the extra workout, being the first one in, breaking the team down with speeches, getting on guys. Shoot, he told me, ‘Hey bro, we need you to play better,’ this past week. All of these things, it’s been really encouraging.”
With Jackson’s growth as a leader plus the offense built around him as Dez Bryant described, there’s definitely reason to believe that the Ravens are on the path to success.Hopefully, they can keep the momentum going in Week 16 in their meeting with the 49ers. It’s certainly a good test for the Ravens to see if they can really go up against the other top dogs.
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