As the rain fell on a dramatic Monday night matchup, the Kansas City Chiefs faced a setback while the Baltimore Ravens surged ahead, claiming the top spot in the AFC.
Lamar Jackson and his Ravens currently hold the number one seed in the AFC, but does this early-season success hold much significance for the quarterback as they prepare for a Week 12 showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers? According to Jackson, not really.
“It’s still a lot of season left to play. It doesn’t really mean anything right now,” Jackson stated during a Tuesday interview, as reported by the team transcript.
With an 8-3 record heading into Sunday’s game, the Ravens’ lead in the AFC and the AFC North division is far from secure. The Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, and Cleveland Browns are all closely trailing with 7-3 records as they head into the holiday week’s matchups.
While Jackson and the Ravens held the coveted No. 1 seed in 2019 with a remarkable 14-2 record, this season presents a different challenge, with a highly competitive conference and six weeks left in the regular season.
Jackson is well aware that a lot can change in the coming weeks, and injuries remain a significant concern. He has personally experienced injury setbacks, having missed a substantial number of games in the last two seasons. In fact, he tweaked his ankle during the recent win over the Cincinnati Bengals, which had it heavily wrapped on the sidelines. However, he expressed confidence in his condition, stating, “I believe I’m 100%.”
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for tight end Mark Andrews. While there’s hope that Andrews might return despite initially being sidelined with a season-ending ankle injury, such a return wouldn’t likely occur until the playoffs.
This means that Baltimore’s offense will have to navigate the near future without Andrews, a Pro Bowl tight end who Jackson believes is irreplaceable. Jackson emphasized Andrews’ leadership and contribution to the offense, but he also expressed confidence in the team’s overall capabilities, acknowledging the emergence of rookie receiver Zay Flowers and the resurgence of Odell Beckham.
As the Ravens enjoy their current top spot in the AFC, Jackson remains grounded, understanding that the true test lies ahead in the final week of the regular season, where it will be determined whether they can maintain their position.