By admin 
With his electric rushing ability and improvisational skills, it can be easy to forget that Lamar Jackson can take over a game with his arm alone. He reminded everyone of that Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, completing 17 of 25 passes for 324 yards and a touchdown in a dominant 41-23 win.
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Jackson finished with only 40 rushing yards, but Baltimore had little need to lean on designed quarterback runs with how efficiently he was throwing the ball. The Ravens operated most often from single-back and shotgun looks, and Jackson remained productive from both, creating explosive plays without sacrificing efficiency.
Best Of Both Worlds
Jackson completed seven explosive passes (passes of at least 15 yards), accounting for 227 yards. He paired that with a 10.9-yard average depth of target and 153 air yards, according to PFF. Baltimore was aggressive attacking downfield, but much of its passing production also came from clever play design and yards after the catch. Zay Flowers was the clearest example. He played only the first half and still finished with 150 yards and a touchdown on five catches.
His first big play came on Baltimore’s opening possession. Jackson faked a handoff to Derrick Henry, rolled left and found Flowers downfield. Flowers spun inside to evade the defensive back and reached Indianapolis’ two-yard line for a 49-yard gain.
The next explosive play showcased some of the creativity from Baltimore’s new offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle. In the second quarter, Flowers aligned in the backfield before releasing on an in-breaking route and catching Jackson’s pass short of the first-down marker. He did far more than move the chains. Flowers cut left after the catch and outran the defense for a touchdown, while Ja’Kobi Lane held off Sauce Gardner long enough to force a more difficult pursuit angle.
There were still areas where Baltimore could have helped its two-time MVP more. The Ravens allowed 19 pressures and two sacks, and that second number likely would have been higher without Jackson’s ability to escape trouble. Still, for a season opener under a new offensive coordinator, this was an impressive display of aggressive yet controlled offense.
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