Lamar Jackson rewrites playoff narrative as Ravens beat Titans in Wild Card Round



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In back-to-back possessions, he led a 12-game walk that culminated with a basket, then an 82-yard drive that ended with him slicing through the Titans’ defense on a 48-yard run that was as much a point d exclamation that he was. a touchdown. The sprint evened the score at the end of the second quarter and pointed out that these Ravens are different from some in the past. They’ve had so many chances to blink or wrap up this season, whether it’s three straight losses and four losses in five games halfway through the season, or the COVID-19 outbreak which served as a revolving door to their locker room, inaugurating the players and out.

The ability to overcome those things, as well as an early deficit against an opponent who fought their way through them in recent outings, was at the forefront of coach John Harbaugh’s mind afterwards. Typically, Harbaugh compares stiff arms on past teams, games or players, but on Sunday he stepped out of his comfort zone and called Jackson’s touchdown the best he’s ever seen by a quarterback, then described the game as his “best ever win”. Notice Harbaugh has 140 career wins, including 11 in the playoffs, including one in the Super Bowl.

“It made so much sense,” said Harbaugh, “to our guys and to us together. The things we’ve been through together this year and how our guys have responded, how our leaders have led and how our guys have stayed together. All the things that really matter, all the things that aren’t always counted on the dashboard, but that are counted in life, that you remember for the rest of your life. “

The Ravens took the lead they did not give up to start the second period, totaling 77 yards in 10 games. Jackson was behind the wheel, completing each of his four attempted passes while rushing for 34 yards on four carries. He gained 23 yards on a third and 2 rushes, then found his back for 9 yards on another third and 2. JK Dobbins topped the march with a 4-yard TD run for 17-10.

Tennessee could only achieve a field goal in its last six possessions (and three quarters). Normally relying on running back Derrick Henry, who won his second straight running title this season and became only the eighth in NFL history to exceed 2,000 rushing yards in one season, they didn were unable to move it forward. He finished with just 40 yards on 18 carries, which was the second lowest playoff result of his career. In his previous two games against the Ravens, he rushed for 195 and 133 yards.

“They had a plan, and they executed it,” Henry said. “All the credit goes to these guys, you know, for stopping the race. The last couple of times we were successful and they had a plan to make sure we don’t have success, and that’s what they did. “

On any other occasion, Baltimore’s defense would be history. He ended a Titans team that had scored at least 30 points in 10 games this season, reaching 40 or more on five occasions. He kept Tennessee 13 points at a season low and just 209 yards and 12 first downs.

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