Lamar Jackson's Accuracy Issues Plague the Baltimore Ravens Offense

For the Baltimore Ravens, Lamar Jackson has long been the face of their offense—a dynamic playmaker capable of turning broken plays into touchdowns with his arm or legs. But in the 2025 season, a persistent issue has emerged to hinder the team’s success: Jackson’s inconsistent accuracy, particularly on intermediate and deep passes. What was once a minor flaw has grown into a significant obstacle, leading to stalled drives, missed scoring opportunities, and frustration for a Ravens offense that entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations. Lamar Jackson's Accuracy Issues Plague the Baltimore Ravens Offense examines the statistical impact of his inaccuracy, key game moments where it proved costly, and how it has forced the Ravens to adjust their tactical approach. For Baltimore, resolving Jackson’s accuracy struggles isn’t just about improving one player—it’s about unlocking the full potential of an offense stacked with talent.

Lamar Jackson's Accuracy Issues Plague the Baltimore Ravens Offense begins with the numbers, which paint a clear picture of the problem. Through the first 10 games of the 2025 season, Jackson ranks 24th among NFL quarterbacks in completion percentage (61.8%), a drop from his career average of 64.4%. The decline is even more pronounced on passes traveling 10+ yards downfield: he’s completing just 38% of those throws, compared to the league average of 45%, and has thrown 5 interceptions on deep attempts—tied for the most in the NFL. In the Ravens’ recent loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, these struggles were on full display: Jackson missed 4 open receivers on deep routes, including a third-quarter pass to Zay Flowers that would have resulted in a touchdown if delivered on target. Instead, the pass sailed high, forcing the Ravens to settle for a field goal. “Accuracy is the foundation of any passing offense, and right now, Lamar isn’t consistently delivering the ball where it needs to be,” said former NFL quarterback and analyst Troy Aikman. “When you have playmakers like Flowers and Mark Andrews, you have to get them the ball in positions to make plays—and right now, that’s not happening.” These statistical trends aren’t just numbers—they’re tangible missed opportunities that have cost the Ravens at least two games this season.

A closer look at game film reveals the specific nature of Jackson’s accuracy issues, which often stem from mechanical inconsistencies under pressure. When facing a clean pocket, Jackson’s accuracy improves dramatically—he completes 68% of his passes when not pressured, a rate that would rank him 12th in the league. But when defenders are in his face (which happens on 28% of his dropbacks, the 8th-highest rate in the NFL), his completion percentage plummets to 52%, and he often rushes his throws or forces them into tight windows. A prime example came in the Ravens’ Week 8 win over the Cleveland Browns: with a defensive end bearing down on him, Jackson attempted a quick pass to Andrews over the middle, but the ball was off-target, leading to an interception that set up a Browns touchdown. Film breakdowns show Jackson’s feet were not set properly before the throw, and his shoulder alignment was off—mechanical flaws that can be fixed with practice but have persisted this season. “Lamar’s mobility lets him escape pressure, but when he can’t, his mechanics break down,” said Ravens former offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who worked with Jackson from 2019 to 2022. “He’s used to creating time with his legs, so when he’s forced to throw quickly, he struggles to maintain the fundamentals that make him accurate.” Lamar Jackson's Accuracy Issues Plague the Baltimore Ravens Offense notes that these mechanical inconsistencies are particularly problematic against teams with strong pass rushes—like the Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs—who can exploit Jackson’s tendency to rush throws.

Lamar Jackson's Accuracy Issues Plague the Baltimore Ravens Offense also delves into the impact on the Ravens’ receiving corps, which has struggled to build chemistry with Jackson this season. Andrews, the team’s Pro Bowl tight end, has publicly acknowledged the challenges, saying in a recent interview: “We’re still working through it. There are times when I’m open, and the ball doesn’t get there—or it’s not where I expect it. It’s not anyone’s fault; it’s just something we need to fix together.” The lack of consistency has led to frustration for younger receivers like Flowers, who has dropped 3 passes this season—double his total from 2024. Part of the issue is Jackson’s tendency to vary his throw velocity and trajectory on similar routes, making it harder for receivers to anticipate where the ball will land. For example, on a slant route, Jackson might throw a hard, low pass one play and a softer, high pass the next—forcing receivers to adjust mid-route. This inconsistency has led the Ravens to simplify their passing game, relying more on short, quick throws to running backs and tight ends instead of the deep passes that once made their offense so dangerous. For the Baltimore Ravens, this simplification limits their offensive upside: they’re averaging 6.2 yards per pass attempt this season, down from 7.1 in 2024, and have scored 4 fewer touchdowns through the air. “When you have to dumb down your offense to compensate for accuracy issues, you’re not playing to your strengths,” said NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger. “The Ravens have the talent to be a top-5 offense, but they’re being held back by their quarterback’s inability to consistently hit open receivers.”

The accuracy issues have also forced the Ravens to rely more heavily on their running game, which, while strong, has become predictable for opposing defenses. Running back Gus Edwards is having a solid season (890 yards, 7 touchdowns), but defenses have started stacking the box—putting 8 or 9 players near the line of scrimmage—to stop the run, knowing Jackson is unlikely to exploit the resulting open receivers downfield. In the Bengals loss, the Bengals used this strategy repeatedly: they stacked the box on 40% of Ravens snaps, forcing Jackson to throw into coverage. The result? Jackson completed just 5 of 12 passes against stacked boxes, with 1 interception. “When defenses know you can’t beat them deep, they can load up to stop the run—and that’s exactly what’s happening to the Ravens,” said Aikman. “Lamar’s accuracy issues have taken away the Ravens’ biggest weapon: the threat of the deep pass. Without that, their offense becomes one-dimensional.” For the Baltimore Ravens, this overreliance on the run has led to more third-and-long situations (they rank 21st in the league in third-down conversion rate at 38.5%) and has increased the workload on Edwards and fellow running back Justice Hill, raising concerns about fatigue later in the season. The Ravens’ coaching staff has tried to adjust, adding more screen passes and designed runs for Jackson, but these are band-aids rather than long-term solutions.

In recent weeks, the Ravens have invested heavily in fixing Jackson’s accuracy issues, bringing in private quarterbacks coach Tom House—who has worked with NFL stars like Tom Brady and Drew Brees—to help refine his mechanics. The team has also added extra practice time focused on timing routes, with Jackson working one-on-one with receivers to improve their chemistry. Early signs of progress were visible in the Ravens’ Week 10 win over the Arizona Cardinals: Jackson completed 67% of his passes, including 2 deep touchdowns to Flowers, and had no interceptions. “We’ve been putting in the work, and it’s starting to show,” Jackson said after the game. “Tom [House] has helped me fix some things with my footwork and release, and practicing with the receivers every day has made a difference. We’re not where we need to be yet, but we’re moving in the right direction.” For the Baltimore Ravens, this progress is critical as they head into the final stretch of the season. With a tough remaining schedule that includes games against the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, the Ravens need Jackson to be at his best to compete for a Super Bowl. “If Lamar can fix his accuracy issues, this team can still win it all,” said Baldinger. “They have the defense, the running game, and the playmakers—they just need their quarterback to deliver the ball consistently.”

Lamar Jackson's Accuracy Issues Plague the Baltimore Ravens Offense concludes with the understanding that Jackson’s struggles are not a sign of decline but a correctable flaw. At 27, Jackson is still in his prime, and his ability to adapt and improve has been a hallmark of his career. The Ravens’ investment in coaching and practice time shows their commitment to helping him succeed, and the recent win over the Cardinals suggests that progress is possible. For Baltimore, the stakes couldn’t be higher: a return to form for Jackson would unlock an offense capable of competing with the NFL’s best, while continued struggles could lead to another early playoff exit. “Lamar Jackson is the Ravens’ franchise quarterback, and they’re not going anywhere without him,” said Roman. “Fixing his accuracy isn’t just about improving one part of the offense—it’s about saving the season.” As the Ravens head into the final month of the regular season, all eyes will be on Jackson’s accuracy. If he can consistently deliver the ball to open receivers, the Ravens could still fulfill their Super Bowl aspirations. If not, his accuracy issues will continue to plague the offense—and the team’s championship hopes will fade. In the end, the Ravens’ success in 2025 will hinge on one thing: Lamar Jackson’s ability to hit his targets.