In case Baltimore Ravens fans haven’t noticed, Lamar Jackson is a different player this 2023 season. Just hear it from cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who has nothing but high praises for his teammate.
Jackson had another MVP-caliber performance on Sunday, as the Ravens destroyed the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-7. While the Baltimore signal-caller threw one interception, that doesn’t diminish the fact that he’s the reason why they dominated all night long.
The 26-year-old showed why he’s among the best dual-threat QB in the league today, throwing for 171 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for a game-high 97 yards on 12 carries. He was simply unstoppable, and the Jaguars simply had no answer for him.After the game, however, Lamar Jackson’s teammate, Marlon Humphrey, highlighted one key aspect of the QB that many fans might be overlooking: his leadership.
As someone who works with Jackson on a daily basis, Humphrey has seen how the former Louisville standout has become a better and more vocal leader. That growth has certainly been impactful for the Ravens, who are 11-3 on the season and leading the whole AFC.
“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, via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
Humphrey detailed how Jackson has been that guiding light and role model for the Baltimore Ravens, sharing that ever since the QB signed his massive extension with the team, he has been doing more.“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,” Humphrey furthered.
It’s definitely awesome to see Jackson become the kind of leader that the Ravens need. As the team hopes to make it to the Super Bowl, that could very well be the difference-maker for the franchise.
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens Bid for Top Spot in AFC
Lamar Jackson’s leadership will be tested, however, as they enter a crucial juncture on the Baltimore Ravens’ season.
After their win over the Jaguars, the Ravens improved to 11-3, which is the best record in the AFC so far. Now, they will need to protect that lead as they look to get an automatic bye in the playoffs and head directly to the divisional round.
It won’t be easy for the Ravens, though. They will play one of the hottest NFL teams right now in the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16. The Niners, led by two MVP-caliber players in Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey, are on a six-game winning streak and also possess an 11-3 record like Baltimore.
After that, the Ravens fight the Miami Dolphins in a showdown that could have massive seeding implications depending on what happens in the previous week.
The next couple of weeks will be a massive challenge, but it is also a litmus test to see how Jackson and his Ravens perform against the other top dogs.
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