Lamar Jackson has a simple message for those predicting a Super Bowl title for the Baltimore Ravens in 2024: produce results.
"We were just 8-9," Jackson said on "The Lounge" podcast. "We were talking about it, but we didn't produce. So why talk about it? We've got to be about it." The Ravens' disappointing season last year has left the quarterback uninterested in discussing championship projections without tangible progress.
Baltimore's 8-9 record in 2022 was a far cry from the expectations surrounding the team, which was widely viewed as one of the NFL's most talented squads. The Ravens' failure to reach the postseason has given Jackson a direct response to the offseason hype surrounding his team.
Jackson still expects Baltimore to compete for the championship, but his focus has shifted toward the daily work required to reach February rather than the destination itself. "It starts now," he said. "It starts each and every week. It doesn't just happen in February. We have to get there first."
The Ravens' struggles to execute under pressure have been a recurring theme in recent seasons. A playoff loss to Tennessee in 2019 after a 14-2 regular season record served as a harsh reminder that reputations and regular-season records cannot replace execution when the competition becomes more demanding.
"We need to work on stuff like that now, so when the season comes, playoffs come and so on, we won't ever have that situation happen," Jackson said. The quarterback is placing a premium on improvement in meetings, practice, recovery, and situational football, and he views recent training-camp practices as opportunities to correct patterns that have hurt the Ravens in the past.
The Ravens possess another roster capable of competing in the AFC, but Jackson will not judge it by names or preseason projections. His standard begins with whether Baltimore consistently handles the work directly in front of it. The Ravens' ability to execute under pressure will be a key factor in determining their success in the upcoming season.
The stage is now set for the Ravens to prove their doubters wrong. With Jackson's renewed focus on the daily work required to reach the playoffs, the team's chances of competing for the championship in 2024 have taken a significant step forward. The question now is whether the Ravens can deliver on their promise.
Source: Yahoo Sports