However, Kyle Goon of the Baltimore Banner doesn’t place too much emphasis on an explosive offensive game.
“The ‘statement’ the Ravens are looking for doesn’t come from a good game against an opponent. It’s about playing at this level – or at least close to it – every week,” Goon wrote. “The Ravens expect to be here. They expect to do this every week. And if we measure progress by how this team progresses, that should probably be our measure too.”
Goon wasn’t alone in this opinion, as Childs Walker of the Baltimore Sun said the same thing.
“The point is that we should just look at this as an exceptionally good week for now. We know the Ravens are good enough to outrun a strong opponent, but they have to show they can do it twice.” Walker wrote. “They are aware of it, so Jackson and his friends lack euphoria after theirs Masterpiece.”
Jackson is now firmly in the MVP discussion
The Ravens ran roughshod over the Lions, but Jackson, in particular, carved up the Lions with precision and “hammered us with his damage,” said Lions head coach Dan Campbell. He was far from the only one to compliment Jackson after the game, who deservedly garnered MVP attention.
Kevin Patra of NFL.com: “Jackson used his arms and legs to play with the Lions defense from the start. The QB could do no wrong early on, leading the Ravens on four consecutive TD drives to open the game before halftime. Jackson was it. “He is incredibly patient in the pocket and takes the time to find open receivers. This part of his game – not taking off at the first sign of trouble – makes the QB ridiculously dangerous. The Ravens made one big play after another. In the first half alone, Baltimore generated nine plays of over 20 yards, including seven Jackson completions. … If Jackson plays as perfectly as he did on Sunday, the Ravens can destroy anyone.”