OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Lamar Jackson hasn’t seen a defense like the Patriots in his young career. This particular Patriots defense, however, also hasn’t seen a quarterback like Jackson.
When the Ravens host the Patriots on Sunday Night Football this week, it will be a new experience for everyone involved.
New England can’t even replicate Jackson’s skillset on the practice field — meaning they’ll have to wait for the real thing.
“We don’t have a guy,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “I don’t know if anybody else in the league has a guy, either. He’s a very talented player with a great skillset that’s unique. So, that will be a big challenge for us to try to do that, no question.”
The Patriots will almost assuredly present the toughest test of Jackson’s football career, as they enter the game having dominated the rest of the NFL through the first half of the season.
They rank second in the NFL in yards per game (224.4), first in points allowed per game (7.6), first in third-down percentage (16.0) and first in turnovers (25).
Their style has presented problems for offenses all year long with a multitude of disguised, aggressive coverages. But as everyone knows, they haven’t faced a quarterback like Jackson yet.
“We’ll see how good they are once we play them,” Nick Boyle said. “I don’t think they’ve seen anyone like our offense or Lamar, he’s a special player. They’re a good team, and we really need to bring our ‘A’ game.”
Jackson, at least for the time being, is trying to approach Sunday as just another game against a top-tier defense.
“They’re just fundamentally sound,” Jackson said. “Lot of veterans on the defense, they play the ball, all 11 at the ball at all times, that I’ve seen on film. That’s how they get so many turnovers it looks like.”
With those turnovers this year, the Patriots have been not only great, but historical on defense. And led by one of the best defensive minds in the history of the sport, the Ravens know Belichick and the Patriots will have something dialed up for Jackson.
“It’s going to be a two-way, he’s going to have that keep (ability) and get out in space and make guys miss, but obviously they’re going to have a plan for it,” Marshal Yanda said. “It’s up to us to execute and do our job at a high level. We know they’re going to have a certain type of plan for Lamar and our offense for sure.”
Whatever that plan is, the Ravens are hoping to be the first team this season to figure out the Patriots defense.
Should the Ravens, who rank second in yards and points per game — 434.9 and 30.6, respectively — figure out the Patriots’ defense, the praise will likely be at the feet of Jackson.
“Lamar changes every game,” Boyle said. “It doesn’t matter what game we play and who we’re playing. With Lamar at quarterback and everything he’s done this season, and everything he’s going to continue to do, he’s just real special.”
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