Lamar Jackson is about to give the first real answers on Baltimore’s new offense, and Sunday against the Colts should tell us plenty about how the Ravens plan to use their two-time MVP.
Declan Doyle is taking over play-calling for the first time, and he’ll do it from the press box, a detail that says a lot about how new this setup is. Jackson has spent the offseason talking up the possibilities, especially the chance for more “explosive” plays and more opportunities for receivers to get loose in favorable matchups.
"I believe we have a lot in store,” Jackson said this week. “New season, it feels like a new breath of fresh air. I feel like my guys (are) just ready to get out there and just start flying."
That confidence fits Jackson’s public tone, which rarely changes no matter the circumstances. But there’s still plenty unresolved around his long-term future, since he has not committed beyond 2026 and his contract leaves him positioned to test free agency after this season unless the Ravens can change his mind. With Jackson acting as his own agent, that possibility has only gotten more complicated.
The on-field changes, though, are the immediate story. Doyle comes from coaching trees that lean heavily under center, and the preseason already offered a glimpse of what that could mean for Baltimore.
The Ravens looked more comfortable with boots, misdirection, and first-down play action, and Jackson himself led the NFL in Expected Points Added under center last season. Todd Monken had already begun moving in that direction, and the fit makes sense for Derrick Henry as well as Jackson.
That shift should also matter against Indianapolis. Jackson has done damage on the ground against defenses coached by Lou Anarumo, going 9-1 in 10 games against him and averaging about 10 carries for 66 yards in those matchups. He has run nine times or more in six of the last seven meetings, and Anarumo’s defense in Indianapolis last year was poor against quarterback runs, posting a 31.6% success rate, 31st in the NFL.
The Colts also enter this game with questions at linebacker, which opens another lane for Jackson to stress the defense. The expectation here is that he gets loose as a runner again, and maybe with one of those signature long gains too.
There’s also a clear passing matchup to watch. Jackson has carved up Anarumo defenses when throwing to tight ends, completing 70 of 97 passes for 72%, with nine touchdowns, no interceptions and a 127.9 rating. Indianapolis was also vulnerable to tight ends last season, giving up the second-most passing yards to the position, ranking 29th in yards per attempt and allowing the fifth-most big plays.
Baltimore’s personnel adds another wrinkle. With Ja’Kobi Lane functioning more like a Joker slot tight end and rookie tight ends Josh Cuevas and Matthew Hibner closer to big slot receivers than classic tight ends, sorting out the Ravens’ groupings may be harder than the labels suggest. However it shakes out, Doyle and Jackson look likely to attack the middle of the field with slot targets.
Jackson’s numbers against Anarumo defenses through the slot back that up: 73 completions on 107 attempts, 9.5 air yards per attempt, nine touchdowns, one interception and a 116.5 rating.
Put it all together and the projection is a big day: 350 to 375 total yards, with plenty of that coming on the ground. The red zone could still decide how cleanly this all translates, especially with Baltimore trying to solve the same problem that hurt them a year ago. But with the new pieces, a potentially shaky interior offensive line, and a defense that may not have enough answers for Jackson, the bet here is on a game with points and a Ravens quarterback who ends up being the difference.
In Other News...
Lamar Jackson Looks Reborn In Ravens Offense But One Concern Looms
Lamar Jackson opened the season looking every bit like the version of himself the Ravens had been waiting for. In Baltimores Week 1 victory, he completed 17 of 25 passes for 324 yards and a touchdown while adding 40 rushing yards and another score, a strong reminder of how dangerous he can be when the offense is working around his full skill set. The offseason hire of Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator already appears to have made a difference, helping Jackson bounce back after a difficult previous season and get the ball to multiple playmakers in rhythm.
Zay Flowers was one of the biggest beneficiaries, catching five passes for 150 yards before leaving with a hamstring injury. His early exit introduced the kind of concern that can change the tone of an otherwise encouraging opener, especially for an offense that looked far more explosive with Jackson distributing the ball across the field. The Ravens got the kind of start they wanted from their quarterback, but the health of one of his top targets will now be worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Zay Flowers Exit Leaves Ravens Facing An Immediate Passing Game Concern
Zay Flowers had already given the Ravens exactly the kind of explosive start they wanted in Week 1 against Indianapolis, piling up five catches for 150 yards and a touchdown before leaving late in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. He was listed as questionable to return at halftime and was spotted on the sideline without a helmet as the second half began, a frustrating turn for a Baltimore passing game that had leaned on his big-play ability early.
For a Ravens offense that has spent much of camp trying to sharpen its aerial rhythm, losing Flowers in the middle of such a productive afternoon was an immediate concern. His availability for the rest of the game was the first question, but the larger one was how Baltimore would handle the passing attack if the injury kept him from being a full-participant going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Enter Week 1 With One Big Question Against The Colts
The Ravens open their season on the road against the Colts, and the biggest storyline is the first game of the Jesse Minter era after the club moved on from longtime coach John Harbaugh. Baltimore kept its core intact, including Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, and also added veteran help on the edge with Calais Campbell and Trey Hendrickson, giving this roster a familiar backbone even as the sideline changes around it.
Indianapolis brings its own set of questions into Week 1 after a season that started well before fading late, and the hope there is that better health from players such as Daniel Jones and DeForest Buckner can spark a rebound. For Baltimore, though, this feels like an early test of how quickly a new coaching staff can settle in, especially on the road against a team that believes it still has more upside than it showed a year ago. [Read more 🡒]