Dec 11

Dec 11 Taking flight in Baltimore

12 DEC 2019

Jets @ Ravens

595 days has passed by since the 2018 draft, 596 possibly by the time you are reading this. On April 26, 2018 the New York Jets waited until half past 8 PM ET until it was time for their selection in the 2018 NFL draft. Their New York City rivals (Giants) had just nabbed Penn State’s Saquon Barkley putting 10 minutes on the clock for the Jets. With talent all across the board & infinite options, the Jets were without a doubt, set to draft a signal-caller. The question was who? Wyoming’ Josh Allen? USC’ Sam Darnold or his so-cal rival, UCLA’ Josh Rosen? Maybe Louisville’ Lamar Jackson at the #3 pick? Nope. The answer for New York at #3 was USC’s Sam Darnold.

It was not too long till the Jets’ AFC East rivals nabbed Wyoming’ Josh Allen (6th overall, Buffalo Bills) & the Cardinals drafted UCLA’ Josh Rosen at 10th overall. No quarterback was taken until the final pick of the night. The Baltimore Ravens made a draft day trade with the defending champs at the time (Philadelphia Eagles) & nabbed the 2016 Heisman Trophy at 32nd overall.

It was Lamar Jackson. Fast forward a season later, the MVP frontrunner keeps proving the doubters wrong while exceeding expectations to those who believed in his natural talent. Thursday night marks the beginning of week 15 & the second installation in Lamar’s revenge tour. Last week Lamar won a one-possession ball game against his draft classmate, Bills’ Josh Allen. This week he takes on yet another QB from his draft class… Jets’ Sam Darnold. It’s just a matter of days till the 22-year-old gets a hack at the #1 pick, Baker Mayfield next week. Here’s what the NFL’s 100th season has in store for the Thursday Night finale.

A formidable matchup?

This game certainly seems like an easy game pick at first glance. However, like any other game, the more you break it down, the more Achilles heal you will find in both teams. This week, the Ravens weakness could actually be their strength… the rushing attack.

Ravens OFF. vs. Jets DEF.

stats via espn.com/nfl/stats/team

Baltimore sits atop the league, averaging 200.9 rush YPG, the most since 1976. However, on the other side of the ball resides the #2 ranked defense against the rush. The Jets defense is allowing a mere 78.8 rush YPG! Not that the Ravens should be concerned however, they have played in two consecutive one-possession games against defenses that have yet to pose a threat like the Jets have defensively. So hypothetically, let’s say the Jets find a way to thwart Lamar Jackson & the Ravens flock? Simple. Lamar Jackson is a quarterback, NOT a running back. His job is to execute the game plan with his arm but when he can make magic happen with those legs, his aerial attack goes slightly unnoticed.

Although the Jets posses the 2nd best rush defense in the league, their bottom half ranked secondary is not exactly the best matchup against a QB who has a 109.2 passer rating… With a Raven offense primed to best a depleted Jet defense, I don’t see the Ravens slowing down at home this week. Besides, I wouldn’t expect a Jet offense that is averaging the second fewest YPG this season to do damage against a top-10 ranked defensive unit.

It’s simple. Sam Darnold has been the Jet that never got cleared for takeoff & Lamar Jackson si the Raven that took flight. Ravens clinch the AFC North on Thursday night!