Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh stated a couple of weeks ago that he wasn't concerned with Lamar Jackson's level of play.
Well, he might be now.
In Lamar's last four games, he hasn't had a completion percentage over 58.6, has one touchdown, and six turnovers, with three of them coming in the Thanksgiving loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
That was Jackson's worst game of the year, as he completed just 53.1 percent of his passes, and the Ravens slumped to 6-6, but luckily, they are still tied for first in the division.
But for ESPN's Jamison Hensley, Lamar has to pick up his form quickly, as No. 8 is Baltimore's x-factor down the stretch.
"The Ravens need Jackson to return to form if they have any hope of making the postseason," Hensley wrote. "Since 2018, he has the best regular-season record in December and January at 22-4, throwing 53 touchdowns and eight interceptions. In order for him to reach that level again, he has to break out of a career-worst slump.
"The Ravens don't necessarily need MVP Lamar, but they can't overcome another meltdown like his Thanksgiving performance."
More: Ravens' John Harbaugh has interesting reaction to Lamar Jackson's accuracy issues
Do Ravens have a Lamar issue?
Issue might be too strong a word, but there's no denying Lamar is in a slump.
His past four weeks haven't been good, but the Ravens had been winning, but with the loss to the Bengals, in which, as Hensley stated, was a "meltdown," Jackson needs to find his form, and fast.
But it won't be easy with a tough remaining schedule with the Pittsburgh Steelers (twice), the Bengals, New England Patriots, and Green Bay Packers coming up.
If the Ravens are to make the playoffs, Lamar can't be playing like he is now.
That form line has to trend upwards.
If it does, the Ravens' "x-factor" will be the reason Baltimore is playoff-bound in 2025.
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