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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Nate Scott

Lamar Jackson’s tape from Rams game has us asking: How do you stop him?

The Baltimore Ravens took apart the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football, winning 45-6 in a game that didn’t even feel that close, if that’s possible.

Lamar Jackson was all but unstoppable. The Ravens quarterback finished with five TDs on 15-20 passing. He only had 169 yards in the air, but it was all he needed, as he also had 8 carries for 95 yards. The threat of Jackson also opened up the running game — the Ravens finished with 285 yards on the ground from five rushers, led by Mark Ingram with 111 yards.

I’m just … I’m not sure what you’re supposed to do with Jackson right now. He can make all the throws, and if you somehow cover the Ravens receivers, he can just turn the corner on your edge rusher and pick up eight yards on the ground, always, forever and ever. He’s like a cheat code right now.

Watch his highlights from the game last night. They’re flabbergasting.

Looking at that tape, again, I’m just not sure what you’re supposed to do with him. No linebacker can keep up with him, so if you spy him, you’re still dead. Go all out blitz he’s good enough to find the open receiver. Sit deep in coverage, he’ll just hang out in the pocket until someone is open, or wait until the rush gets too far up the field and run for a first down.

My favorite moment from the highlights above is at the 3:02 mark where the camera cuts to Wade Phillips on the Rams sideline and he blinks a few times, and you can just see the hope escaping. This is a man with no answers. Just puzzled, and broken.

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