After notching their first win in AFC North play last week, the Baltimore Ravens now have the tough task of stopping the Washington Commanders' high-powered offense.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is off to a fantastic start to his rookie season with an NFL-leading 77.1% completion rate along with 300 yards on the ground.
Normally, that caliber of QB would be the unquestioned best on the field no matter the opponent. The situation changes when Lamar Jackson is on the other sideline, and the opposing head coach knows it.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn might be a well-renowned defensive mind, but he's just like you and me (and Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase) when it comes to preparing to play the two-time MVP. Really, any defensive coordinator is.
When asked about preparing to face Jackson, Quinn admitted that sleep does not come easy the nights beforehand.
"It does a lot," Quinn said when asked how much a QB like Jackson keeps defensive coordinators up at night. "And I had this conversation yesterday with somebody. When you can extend plays that obviously changes how you go about things. So some quarterbacks need extra, you know, people for spy. Sometimes you want to have zone where there's vision to go, and it's the second play, usually that can be the most challenging. A first play may begin as a pass, then the second one begins outside the pocket.
"He has just had remarkable success with his arm and with his legs and so, yeah, he's absolutely a threat."
That's all anyone can say about Jackson. He's the definition of a threat. He's coming off an electric game against the Cincinnati Bengals in which he posted 403 total yards of offense and threw for four touchdowns.
Yes, the Bengals' defense isn't impressing anybody nowadays, but the Commanders' defense isn't that much better in comparison. Quinn's defense ranks 27th in Expected Points Added per play allowed and 26th in success rate allowed.
Interestingly enough, Quinn has only coached against Jackson once. The game was Jackson's third-ever start as a rookie in 2018 when Quinn was the Atlanta Falcons' head coach. Jackson had a modest day through the air, throwing for 125 yards on 12-21 passing, but also contributed with 75 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Baltimore defeated Atlanta, 26-16, that day.
A repeat result against Quinn would move this year's Ravens to 4-2 on the season, and it's keeping him up at night.
