Lamar Jackson looks like old self in Ravens' new offense

INDIANAPOLIS -- It was third-and-16 in the first quarter Sunday when Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson dropped back and saw two Indianapolis Colts pass rushers quickly closing in. For many quarterbacks, it would have been a sack, the loss of 11 yards and the end of the drive. For Jackson, it was an opportunity to show he can create plays that make you question what exactly you just saw. Ducking under linebacker Arden Key and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, Jackson made an unlikely escape and scrambled 16 yards for a first down. In Baltimore's 41-23 season-opening win, Jackson proved he can be his old self in the Ravens' new offense. "It was just like, 'What just happened? How did he get it in there and get the first down?'" Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell said. "It is like, 'How many people can actually do that?' Not many -- not many. He might be one of the only ones." WELCOME TO THE LAMAR JACKSON EXPERIENCE!!!! — Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 13, 2026 Tune in on @NFLonCBS and @ParamountPlus. pic.twitter.com/5pZ53Ck3DO It was a play that had everyone shaking their heads except for Jackson himself. "I believe I did it a few times throughout my career, but [I'm] just playing football," Jackson said. "I am trying to get out of the situation. [The] offensive line [is] doing a great job at protecting me, [and] sometimes I have to have their back." In his first season with new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, Jackson has embraced changes to how he played football for most of his life. Instead of primarily working out of the pistol formation, Jackson was under center 53% of the time (34 of 64 snaps), which was the highest percentage of his nine-year NFL career. He also altered his footwork, switching to a left foot-forward stance because Doyle believed it would help the timing of the passing game. The result was a throwback game for the two-time MVP. This was Jackson's sixth game where he threw over 300 yards and ran for at least 40 yards -- but it was his first such performance since October 2024. "The best player in the league," Ravens running back Derrick Henry said. "He's been one of the best players in the league for a long time. That's never [been a] doubt in my mind. I know what Lamar's about. You all have seen it. He just keeps showing you." One of the buzzwords with Doyle all offseason has been explosiveness, which soon became a theme for the opener. On the first play called by Doyle, Jackson rolled left off play-action and connected with wide receiver Zay Flowers for 49 yards to set up Baltimore's first touchdown. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Jackson threw a 53-yard pass to wide receiver Chris Moore to set up the Ravens' fifth and final touchdown of the day. Jackson finished 17-of-25 passing (68%) for 324 yards and one touchdown. "You can see he is just comfortable back there," Ravens wide receiver Chris Moore said. "He is reading his keys. He is going through his progressions, and he is finding the open guy. We already know Lamar has an incredible playmaking ability, so that just happens naturally. But for him to be able to just have that poise in the pocket now, you can see it shine." Jackson will face an increased challenge throwing the ball downfield. Two of Baltimore's top three wide receivers -- Flowers (hamstring) and Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist) -- were injured Sunday and didn't play in the second half. If Flowers is forced to miss some games, it would be a major loss because he is Jackson's most reliable receiver. On passes where Jackson threw the ball 10 yards or longer Sunday, he was 4-of-5 for 96 yards when targeting Flowers and 2-of-5 for 70 yards when targeting others, according to ESPN Research. The Ravens' only healthy wide receivers are Rashod Bateman, the No. 2 wide receiver who didn't record a catch Sunday; Moore, who was elevated from the practice squad; LaJohntay Wester, who's primarily a punt returner; and Elijah Sarratt, a rookie fourth-round pick who was a healthy scratch. "I have all the confidence in my guys who stepped in," Jackson said. "You never know when the next guy [is] going to be up, so just dial in [and] stay locked in."