Division Games Give 'Extra Motivation' For Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
The Baltimore Ravens have moved on from the mistake-riddled 22-19 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts, with their division game against the Cleveland Browns now firmly in their sights.
With the Ravens already 1-0 in the division after beating the Cincinnati Bengals 27-24 in Week 2, John Harbaugh's team has a chance to get a nice leg up in the AFC North.
For Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, going into enemy territory to face a division rival is just like any other game...except it really isn't.
“I go into those games like any other game,” Jackson said. “It’s different because they’re in the division, so it’s a little extra motivation, it’s like a rival. [They're] Physical games, very physical."
When asked about what to expect from the Cleveland crowd on Sunday, Jackson was rather cheeky in his response.
“I don’t pay attention to the crowd, I’m trying to win, I don’t really care,” Jackson said with a smile.
For the most part in Jackson's career, playing away from home against division rivals has served him well.
He currently has a 7-4 record, has thrown 14 touchdowns to just five interceptions while having a 103.9 rating and completing 67.7% of his passes (the best against any division away from home).
He is also 6-3 vs. the Browns in his career, throwing for 1,404 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions so for the most part, he has his way with Cleveland.
So the hostile territory of FirstEnergy Stadium won't exactly have Jackson feeling skittish.
But what might have Jackson a little concerned is the ups and downs associated with Todd Monken's offensive scheme through three games.
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After producing a good performance against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens offense regressed against the Colts.
For Jackson, the offense's missteps are simply down to the unit still learning how each other plays.
“Absolutely, it’s September,” Jackson said. “One of our guys got here a week [ago], he hasn’t been around, we just trying to figure each other out right now. We didn’t really play preseason so we just trying to figure it out. We just had one great game against Cincinnati, we play the Colts and we had little mishaps, it happens. Every game [is] not perfect, but we clean it up, Cleveland, I feel like the skies the limit like I always say.”
A lot has gone right for Baltimore through the first three weeks, and with each passing game, the offense will settle down and we will start to see Monken's scheme really start to thrive.
But in the meantime, games have to be won and the Browns present a big challenge for Baltimore, but it is one that Jackson and Co. can navigate by getting the offense humming in the face of thousands of Cleveland fans.
