Quick, who has more passing attempts this season, Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson?
Not only does Jackson have 22 more passes than Mahomes, he also has more than every undefeated starting quarterback through two weeks. The Ravens (0-2) are calling more passes than runs and causing some to question whether Baltimore has an identity crisis.
But after Wednesday’s practice in preparation for Dallas (1-1) on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX), Jackson put those thoughts to rest.
“I believe we’re right there,” said Jackson. “Like I said, it’s the small things we’re messing up, and it’s causing us to lose those. It’s turning into big things, because we’re losing our games, but I feel like we had one of the best days we’ve ever had in practice this season today, and it starts in practice. I believe if we just keep going on the right track, we’re going to come out victorious.”
Victorious is a place the Ravens are used to visiting this early in the season. At AT&T Stadium this week, they need to return there to avoid only their second 0-3 start under Jim Harbaugh and first in nine years.
While some have questions how Derrick Henry will complement Jackson and the league’s top rushing offense since Jackson’s first full season as starting quarterback, 2019, Harbaugh said Wednesday that establishing an identity happens over the course of a season and isn’t just limited to offense.
“Maybe you have established an identity over time as a type of football you like to play,” he said. “Your organization, what you believe in your program, that’s one identity. Other identities are the ones that are made with the new team that you’re with this year, because every team is a new team. So that’s something that every team has to fight to do, and I doubt any team would tell you that they’ve established their identity yet after two weeks, but that’s something that we need to do.
“Yes, you want to have an identity; you want to be known for something. What are you good at? What do they need to stop? What are they saying that they have to defend against you for your offense? At the same time, you don’t want them to line up and know what you’re doing every single play. Both of those values are important. I don’t think they contradict each other; I think those are things you have to find.”
Dallas seems to be searching for an identity, too. In a Week 1 win at Cleveland, the Cowboys allowed only 230 total yards and held the Browns to just 2-for-15 on third downs. One week later at home against New Orleans, Dallas gave up 432 yards and allowed the Saints to convert five of eight third-down snaps.
Neither team is expected to completely establish its individuality this week, Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said.
“I don’t think anybody at this stage in the NFL is hitting their stride,” said the seventh-year veteran, who’s back to full health. “So, for us, it’s just getting better – and we are – finetuning, tweaking and getting better within ourselves, within our system, and we’ll continue to do that and continue to be efficient, continue to be on the same page and be the best football team, be the best offense that we can be, and we will be.”