Lamar Jackson’s Post-Injury Struggles Loom Large as Ravens Fight to Stay Atop AFC North
Lamar Jackson’s 2025 campaign has turned into a tale of two very different seasons - the one before his injury, and the one after. And right now, the Ravens are trying to figure out how to turn the page on a rough stretch that’s threatening to derail what started as a promising year.
Before the injury, Jackson was firing on all cylinders. He was completing over 70% of his passes, tossing 10 touchdowns to just one interception - the kind of efficiency that puts you squarely in the MVP conversation. He looked in total command of the offense, balancing precision with playmaking in a way that few quarterbacks in the league can replicate.
Then came the injury. And while his return game against Miami looked like a statement - 78.3% completion rate and four touchdowns - that rhythm hasn’t stuck around.
Since that Dolphins game, Jackson has struggled to regain his early-season form. He’s posted four straight games completing under 58.6% of his passes, with just one touchdown across that stretch. The most recent outing against the Bengals was particularly rough: 53.1% completion rate and a Ravens offense that never quite found its footing.
Head coach John Harbaugh addressed the slump after the game, and while he didn’t sugarcoat the performance, he also kept it in perspective.
“That’s just kind of what sports is,” Harbaugh said. “You’re going to have an off day sometimes, and that’s not something you take lightly.”
He made it clear that Jackson is the last person to shrug off a down game. “Lamar doesn’t take it lightly more than anybody. You go back to work, practice, you study it, and you work together to be as precise as you can.”
But Harbaugh also emphasized the importance of forward momentum.
“You can’t live in it. You got to move on, and come out swinging the next time,” he said. “And if you watch the league, you’ll see that’s very possible.”
Ravens Still in Control of AFC North - For Now
Despite the loss to Cincinnati, the Ravens caught a break in the standings. The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Buffalo Bills, allowing Baltimore to hang onto the top spot in the AFC North. That’s a crucial lifeline.
With games still ahead against teams like the Patriots and Packers, Baltimore’s clearest path to the postseason is through the division crown - and thanks to Pittsburgh’s stumble, that path remains wide open.
But here’s the thing: the offense has to find its rhythm again. The version of the Ravens we saw early in the season - the one where Jackson was sharp, the passing game was efficient, and the offense was humming - that’s the team that can win the AFC North and make noise in January.
If they can get back to that level, Baltimore won’t just sneak into the playoffs - they’ll walk in as division champs. But time’s ticking, and the margin for error is shrinking fast.