OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After Sunday’s 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson pounded the podium twice when asked if there were more opportunities for him to run the ball.
“My momma just told me that,” Jackson said of his mother, Felicia Jones, who acts as his manager. “She just cussed me out.”
Jackson’s mother isn’t the only one heading into the bye week with a certain edge. Showing more fire than frustration, Jackson had his most animated post-game press conference of the season and dropped a handful of expletives.
Jackson was ticked off that Baltimore didn’t play its best against the best, which is what happened earlier this season against the Super Bowl-defending Kansas City Chiefs and AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. He was upset about how the NFL’s No. 1 offense came up short.
But Jackson has never seemed more anxious to right the Ravens’ wrongs.
“I’m mad,” Jackson said after slapping his fist into his hand. “I’m not going to lie to you; we’re going to get after it. I can’t wait for this bye [week] to get on. We have the Giants coming up. I’m ready to go. I’m just ready to go.”
A year after earning the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the Ravens (8-5) are expected to return to the postseason but they don’t control their fate as far as an AFC North title. Baltimore’s chances to win the division dropped to 29.8%.
With four games left to play, the Ravens are currently 1.5 games behind the Steelers (9-3).
“We don’t need to worry about the Steelers. We need to worry about us,” Jackson said. “That’s the first thing; worry about what we need to clean up on this side. Clean that s— up. Forget every other team. We are beating ourselves out there. There are opportunities, [but] we’re not making them happen. We need to make those critical situations happen, and we’re not doing it.”
The Ravens believe they’re still a dangerous team, and history shows Baltimore can make a championship run. There have been five teams who went from being 8-5 to winning the Super Bowl, including the Chiefs last season.
On Monday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh recited a Bill Parcells quote that the season starts after Thanksgiving.
“Every goal that we have is in front of us, and we have the team to do it.” Harbaugh said. “I’m proud of our guys; I feel like they’ve fought through a lot of things this year. It’s been 13 straight weeks. We’ve had a lot of tough games; we’ve had a lot of travel. We’ve gone against teams in situations where they were hot, they were at their best, they were playing good football, they were healthy, and it’s a challenge, and I think our guys handled that challenge really well. So that forges you for what’s ahead.”
Harbaugh stressed that he’s not disappointed or worried about the team. He’s excited about what lies ahead with the remaining games: at the New York Giants, home against the Steelers, at the Houston Texans and home against the Cleveland Browns.
“We can win the division, we can make it as a wild card, or we could be out [of the playoffs],” he said. “It’s up to us to determine that. I feel like, if we win the games, we’ll be in really good shape.”
In order to make that late push, Baltimore will need Jackson to be at the top of his game. Jackson ranks second in the NFL with 3,290 yards passing, throwing 29 touchdowns and three interceptions.
But Jackson hasn’t made as much of an impact with his legs this season. He’s had seven straight games without double-digit carries, the longest stretch of his seven-year career. Through Week 13, Jackson has rushed 111 times for 678 yards.
Asked, if like Jackson’s mother, he thought his quarterback had more chances to run on Sunday, Harbaugh said, “I really trust Lamar. I trust his mom, too. His mom is a good judge. She’s seen more of Lamar ball than anybody, so I’m sure she has a great handle on it. Let Lamar and his mom talk though all of that stuff. I trust Lamar to make good decisions.”
Jackson explained that he only ran eight times for 79 yards against the Eagles because he was going through his progressions to throw the ball.
“But yes, she’s right,” Jackson said. “I’m going to do my s—.”
Jackson then apologized for his language, adding, “I’m just mad, because I feel like we should win these games, and we’re not getting them done.”
