You might have noticed Lamar Jackson’s name has been moved off the marquee in the fall of 2020. In the space he occupied last year, for overall performance, you have Russell Wilson. And for a young phenom, you might take Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow or Justin Herbert.
The it factor that Jackson overflowed with in 2019—the week-to-week feeling of What could he do next?—hasn’t run empty, but it’s not as full as it was. And the work of defensive coordinators has, indeed, dialed back the excitement that’s come from the Ravens’ innovative, high-wire act of an offense.