Lamar Jackson Gives NFL Another Reminder in Week 1

There were few concerns regarding the Ravens’ play as they exited MetLife Stadium, but the greatest among them was the struggle to get the run game going. Press Box’s Bo Smolka believes the Ravens are still missing the running back tandem of J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards.

“The Ravens expect the running game to be the centerpiece of this offense, but just as was the case last season, the absence of J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards looked glaring once again, especially early,” Smolka wrote.

Strangely, NFL.com’s Eric Edholm believes part of the run-game woes were due to … Jackson?

“Jackson was the Ravens’ leading rusher at halftime — with 4 yards on one carry. The team accumulated only 8 first-half rushing yards, the fewest in the Jackson era,” Edholm wrote. “He rarely left the pocket early, limiting Jackson’s scrambling possibilities…Baltimore has ranked third, first, first and second in the NFL in rushing yards since drafting Jackson, and he’s clearly been a big part of that.”