The Rashod Bateman “Breakout” column you’ve been waiting for

If there's one thing the world doesn't lack for, it's the “Is This The Year Rashod Bateman Breaks Out?” article. The author of this post has produced at least three of these this preseason alone, as have countless other Baltimore Ravens writers.

It's easy to scoff at how extensively this particular story aspect has been covered, but now it looks like it's finally happening. In the 41-31 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football, he had four receptions for a career-high 121 yards and 30.1 yards per reception (also a career-high).

The 121 yards is actually 8.4% of his total career receiving yards (1,440 in 41 games) entering the night.

Bateman had a touchdown, a 49-yard reception that reportedly traveled 58.3 yards through the air. He also had a 59-yarderwhich is good for Lamar Jackson's longest finish to the season so far.

That game-changing performance followed last week's outing in which he recorded a reception of 71 yards, which was a season-high at the time.

In seven weeks, he has already set a new career high with three touchdown receptions in a single season.

This former Minnesota Golden Gopher is making it right now because he embodies the “Row the Boat” philosophy that defines the culture of his college program.

His college coach, PJ Fleck, described Row the Boat as “A mantra to never give up” when he explained the full meaning of the phrase at Big Ten Media Day 2017.

This is Bateman who has persevered despite the many injuries. Bateman has yet to produce a season with the statistical production one would expect from a first-round draft pick and has drawn a lot of criticism.

But at the moment he is doing the only thing that can finally silence the critics: presenting solid numbers.