Lamar Jackson has delivered a historic passing performance in the 2024 season, eliminating doubts about his skills as a quarterback. Last year, Jackson became the first player ever to throw at least 40 touchdown passes while limiting interceptions to fewer than five, an unprecedented feat that has changed the perception surrounding his style of play.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh emphasized Jackson’s transformation as a passer, highlighting his exceptional talent and dedication.
“He is a historically good passer,”
Harbaugh said on the This is Football show.
“And that’s really quite a statement because of the narrative that’s been surrounding him ever since the beginning. Lamar Jackson can throw the football. He can throw it every kind of way, he can make every kind of throw any kind [of] way you want. He’s as good as any passer that there’s ever been — and I think now the numbers are proving that.”
Harbaugh also praised Jackson’s relentless work ethic, comparing it to that of a 95-year-old classical pianist who still practices for hours daily to improve.
“I read a story just recently about a classical piano player, he’s 95 years old, and he’s working six to eight hours a day on playing the piano, and they ask him, ‘Why do you still work six to eight hours on the piano?’ And his comment was, ‘I feel like I’m just starting to make some progress. So, that daily, everyday working at your craft kind of thing, I think, is what Lamar does.”
Offensive Adaptations Enhance Player Performance
While Lamar Jackson’s passing has gained widespread acclaim, the Ravens are also adjusting their offensive strategy to maximize the impact of their personnel. Brown’s offensive coordinator Arthur Rodgers highlighted the flexible approach being taken with players, tailoring schemes to fit individual strengths rather than forcing a rigid system.
“I like his flexibility,” Rodgers said via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
“Arthur is not rigid in what he’s doing. He wants to tailor the scheme to the personnel that he’s got. … We’re trying to find what guys do best and implement that into the offense. I love that about Arthur, so we’re going to keep doing that.”
Similarly, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins expressed optimism for the coming season after years of contract uncertainty. Higgins welcomed the chance to focus solely on football, unburdened by distractions from contract disputes that previously dragged on and involved a franchise tag and a trade request.
“Honestly, I’m in a good space mentally now,”
Higgins said via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“Not having to think about it. Just training my mind, free mind, not having to know where you’re going to be.”
Despite having requested a trade, Higgins admitted he never truly wanted to leave Cincinnati.
“You put in the trade request, but you really don’t want to go nowhere,”
he explained.
“It’s like, ‘Are they really going to trade me?’ And if they trade me, then I have to shift my whole mindset. I’m not with this team no more, I’m with this new team. I wanted to be here, but if I was to get traded, I would have made that shift then. I didn’t want to make it too early, I would have been clocked out and I didn’t want that.”
With his mindset cleared, Higgins anticipates a breakout season, including new opportunities such as lining up in the slot to create mismatches against smaller defenders.
“That’s what they are trying to get out of me, put me in different places and different spots on the field,”
Higgins said.
“Sometimes I’m in the slot, running routes I haven’t run…[I can take advantage as] a big guy in the slot, usually having a nickel on me, a smaller guy.”
Quarterback Competition and the Importance of Ball Security
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns continue to evaluate their options for the starting quarterback role in Week 1. Head coach Kevin Stefanski described a narrowing competition, emphasizing that the player who commits the fewest errors will earn the position.
“The guys understand what it’s going to take to win football games,”
Stefanski said via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “And I don’t care what your name is, I don’t care who you’re talking about at quarterback, the big thing for this football team is not giving the ball away. We led the league in giveaways the last two seasons, and that’s a really hard way to win football games. In ’23, we were able to overcome it, taking the ball away at a great clip. We didn’t do that in ’24.
“We need to do a way better job offensively of taking care of the ball. Doesn’t mean we aren’t gonna throw interceptions. We are. Doesn’t mean we aren’t going to fumble. We are. But we have to do a much better job of making the defense earn it, so we keep our defense off the field. I’d say that’s something where all the guys know how important that is.”
Steelers Utilize Quarterback Uncertainty to Strengthen Roster
The Pittsburgh Steelers faced an unsettled quarterback situation throughout much of the offseason, which surprisingly benefitted their roster-building efforts. General manager Omar Khan noted that the lack of a high-priced quarterback allowed the team more salary flexibility to pursue trades and signings.
“When you’re not paying a quarterback [top dollar], you obviously have more flexibility. It’s good to be in a position where you can engage in conversations regarding pretty much anything that’s out there,”
Khan explained, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The Steelers ultimately signed Rodgers to a one-year contract. While Rodgers plans this to be his final season, he remains focused on the present, stating,
“We will figure things out after the season.”
Looking Ahead: The Broader Impact on the NFL
Lamar Jackson’s historic passing performance is reshaping how quarterbacks are evaluated, challenging old narratives about dual-threat players. His continued dedication and the Ravens’ adaptable offensive scheme may set new standards for quarterback development. Meanwhile, teams like the Bengals, Browns, and Steelers are navigating their own transitional dynamics, balancing player potential with strategic roster decisions.
As the NFL season progresses, Jackson’s achievements could inspire other quarterbacks to refine their passing precision while maintaining their mobility, potentially transforming offensive philosophies league-wide. At the same time, competition for starting roles and careful management of team assets underline the persistent challenges faced by NFL teams in pursuit of championship success.