Why Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is the best NFL player with a 22-1 record against the NFC

After the two-minute warning in Dallas, with the Baltimore Ravens needing one more first down to secure a 28-25 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, quarterback Lamar Jackson decided to work his magic.

As he lined up in the pistol formation, Jackson passed wide receiver Zay Flowers with a jet sweep to the left so convincingly that lightning-quick Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson flew past Jackson to tackle Flowers. Dallas linebackers Marist Liufau and Eric Kendricks both went too far to chase Flowers, leaving an open lane inside for Jackson to run for 10 yards and secure another win against another clueless NFC team.

“I looked the wrong way a few times,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh admitted afterward.

The fake for the first time!

Lamar Jackson seals it @Ravens Victory in Dallas.

📺: #BALvsDAL on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/TMyQhkVhz8

– NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024

If Harbaugh, who has seen all 5,457 snaps of Jackson's career, is still fooled, imagine what it's like for defenses that have never or rarely faced him. When the Ravens play at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN), Jackson brings a flair for unpredictability and an aura of dominance over the NFC that has made NFL history.

According to ESPN Research, Jackson's 22-1 (.957) record against the NFC is the best of any starting quarterback in interconference play since 1970, when the AFC and NFC were founded. Bob Griese, who was quarterback of the Miami Dolphins in the 1970s, has the second-best interconference record at 21-4 (.840).

Last year, he covered his ears when a reporter asked him about his near-flawless mark against the NFC. He wanted to avoid the curse at all costs.

But earlier this week, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player offered an explanation for why he has reigned supreme in the NFC.

“It’s probably because we see each other (every now and then), so it’s hard for us to game plan,” Jackson said.

The level of difficulty is increased for NFC teams that typically play him every four years and are unfamiliar with his dual-threat ability. Defensive coordinators spend hours filming, trying to figure out how to contain one of the few quarterbacks who poses as much of a threat on a 30-yard pass as he does on a run the same distance.

Teams use wide receivers and running backs as scout team quarterbacks to try to emulate Jackson's speed in practice. In 2019, which was Jackson's first full season as an NFL starting quarterback, the Pittsburgh Steelers flew Taryn Christion, a former South Dakota State quarterback (and current ice fisherman), 874 miles from Sioux Falls to fill Jackson's role for three to undertake training sessions.

But until a defender steps onto the field against Jackson, he doesn't truly understand the challenge of stopping him. He can beat teams in so many ways – from targeted runs to deceptive run-pass options to elusive scrambling and throws from the pocket after a play-action fake.

“It's the shock factor of his ability when he has the ball in his hands, whether he's throwing it or running it,” said former All-Pro safety Eric Weddle, who was on the Los Angeles Rams team that beat Jackson and the Ravens lost 45-5. 6 in Week 12 of the 2019 season. “He’s just so electric.”

Since entering the league in 2018, Jackson is the only quarterback to have more than 30 completions of 25 yards and 25 runs of 15 yards against the NFC. In the Week 2 win at Dallas, Jackson ran for 87 yards and a touchdown while completing 12 of 15 passes for 182 yards. In a Week 6 win against the Washington Commanders, he threw for 323 yards by keeping defenses off balance with play-action fakes and converted a third down with a 33-yard run in the third quarter.

The only NFC team that was able to defeat Jackson was the New York Giants, who had an advantage that others did not. In that 24-20 win two years ago, New York's defensive coordinator was Don “Wink” Martindale, who faced Jackson every day from 2018 to 2021, when he was the Ravens' defensive coordinator.

What is the best advice Martindale can give NFC teams about to face Jackson?

“Good luck,” he said.

IN A RAVEN In a 31-24 win over the Arizona Cardinals last season, Cardinals outside linebacker Cameron Thomas bull-rushed the Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley backwards into Jackson. It looked like it was going to be a sack before Jackson quickly got to his feet – well, technically, missed too.

When a retreating Stanley accidentally planted his left foot into Jackson's left leg, Jackson lifted him into the air and whipped a 5-yard single-leg touchdown pass to tight end Mark Andrews.

Lamar to Mark Andrews ties it up in AZ.

📺: #BALvsAZ on CBS
📱: Keep streaming #NFLPlus https://t.co/Quwvdzpx7G pic.twitter.com/MBrddBbhT9

– NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2023

Jackson seemed to have an answer whenever the Cardinals tried to make him uncomfortable.

“When we took one thing away, they did the other,” Arizona linebacker Jordan Hicks said. “When we took that thing away, they did the other thing. It’s part of the game of chess.”

One of the biggest adjustments for NFC teams is the way Jackson keeps games alive. Defenses are used to quarterbacks getting rid of the ball after they take their third or fifth step on their dropbacks. With Jackson, this can be the start of another memorable highlight.

Whether he's lifting a leg, evading a pass rusher to buy more time in the pocket, or stiffing a defensive end as he rolls toward the sideline, Jackson's passing plays are longer than most quarterbacks, putting pressure on defensive backs exercises to stay in coverage with a wide receiver or tight end. Jackson's average time before a pass against the NFC is three seconds, the longest by an AFC quarterback since Jackson's freshman season in 2018.

“It’s backyard football,” Weddle said. “In the NFL everything is so regimented and the ball comes out at this (average) time. Well, it goes out the window when you play against these guys who can extend the game.”

LAST CHRISTMAS, THAT The San Francisco 49ers had trouble getting Jackson to the ground unless they had extra help.

On Baltimore's second drive of the game, Jackson ran backwards so quickly to avoid pressure that referee Alex Moore lost his balance and fell to the ground. Jackson then tripped over Moore in the end zone and threw the ball away, resulting in an intentional grounding and a safety.

Lamar Jackson was called for intentional grounding and a safety on this play 😮#BALvsSF pic.twitter.com/zJdeGfFURu

– ESPN (@espn) December 26, 2023

At the end of the Ravens' 33:19 victory, it was the 49ers who were left wondering about their game plan. When they watched Jackson's previous games, Jackson sat in the pocket and didn't want to run away. As the San Francisco pass rush collapsed around him, he went back into running mode, finding open lanes to escape and throwing passes along the way.

“I think he's been adjusting his game on tape all year,” 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa said. “The way he was able to change the way he played was super impressive.”

Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken has called Jackson a “two-play quarterback.” If the original play call fails due to defensive pressure, Baltimore runs its scramble drill, in which Jackson moves with some improvisation and tries to find a receiver downfield.

In that game against the 49ers, Jackson was 10 of 12 for 132 yards and a touchdown when pressured. That was the most completions and second-most passing yards under pressure in a game in his seven-year career.

“He’s calm now,” Martindale said. “When he's scrambling, he still keeps his eyes on the field and makes some great throws. He’s my favorite quarterback to watch.”

It has evolved Jackson is in line for another win in 2022, when the Ravens had a 20-17 lead over the Giants with three minutes to play. Then Jackson suddenly stumbled at a time when he normally takes his stride.

On the third and fifth passes, Jackson didn't expect the shotgun snap to sail past him. After recovering the loose ball, he rolled to his right to avoid the pressure and threw a pass into double coverage on the run. Jackson's interception set up the Giants' touchdown.

Any hope of a comeback quickly faded when Jackson was taken out from behind by edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux two plays after getting the ball back. It was an uncharacteristic two turnovers in 90 seconds for Jackson, whose perfect record against the NFC ended in a 24-20 loss to the Giants.

Martindale claims the Giants “got lucky.” It was recently in Week 5 when he watched Jackson turn a fumbled snap into a stunning touchdown pass in Cincinnati.

“I think the most important thing is that you think against him,” Martindale said. “I prepared (the Giants defenders) like, ‘Look, he’s going to make plays. This guy is spectacular. Just play the next down.'”

Since then, Jackson has won 10 straight against NFC opponents. He completed 69.2% of his passes against the NFC, throwing 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.

With Jackson having another MVP-like season, the Ravens (4-2) have rattled off four straight wins and placed themselves among the top Super Bowl contenders again. Jackson remains one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks, ranking eighth in passing yards per game (254.83) and 14th in rushing yards per game (67.17) in Week 6.

Even those close to Jackson don't really know how to defeat him, making it an even more difficult task for others.

“I know it must be very difficult to play against Jackson,” Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “How do you stop him? … I think that still needs to be clarified. So I couldn’t give a valid answer, but I know there’s a lot of frustration.”