Film Breakdown of Lamar Jackson's Play for the Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson’s style of play has redefined the quarterback position for the Baltimore Ravens, blending elite athleticism with underrated passing precision to make him one of the NFL’s most dynamic offensive weapons. A frame-by-frame film breakdown of his 2025 performances—from regular-season matchups to divisional clashes like the Ravens vs Bengals Week 10 game—reveals the tactical nuances that separate him from other quarterbacks: his ability to read defenses on the fly, extend plays beyond the pocket, and deliver accurate passes under pressure. Film Breakdown of Lamar Jackson's Play for the Baltimore Ravens dives into these key elements, using specific game moments to explain how Jackson’s decisions and skills drive the Ravens’ offense and create mismatches for opposing defenses.

Film Breakdown of Lamar Jackson's Play for the Baltimore Ravens begins with his pre-snap decision-making—a skill often overshadowed by his scrambling ability but critical to the Ravens’ offensive success. Film from the Week 8 game against the Cleveland Browns shows Jackson’s mastery of adjusting plays at the line of scrimmage. On a third-and-3 play from the Browns’ 40-yard line, Jackson recognizes a “Cover 2” look from the Browns’ defense, which leaves the middle of the field vulnerable. He signals to tight end Mark Andrews to shift to the slot, then calls an audible to a “sluggo” route (slant-and-go) for Andrews. The result: Andrews beats Browns linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. over the middle for a 22-yard gain that sets up a Ravens touchdown. Film also highlights Jackson’s ability to identify blitzes pre-snap; in the Week 10 Bengals game, he correctly reads a Bengals “zone blitz” on second-and-10, quickly dumping the ball to running back J.K. Dobbins for a 10-yard gain to avoid pressure. “Lamar’s pre-snap IQ is underrated,” said Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who reviewed film with Jackson weekly. “He doesn’t just react to defenses—he manipulates them before the snap.”

Film Breakdown of Lamar Jackson's Play for the Baltimore Ravens shifts to his dual-threat execution—the balance between running and passing that keeps defenses guessing. A standout clip from the Week 6 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers illustrates this perfectly: Jackson lines up in a “shotgun” formation with two running backs, initially looking to pass. When Steelers defensive end T.J. Watt breaks through the offensive line, Jackson scrambles to his right, evading Watt with a quick juke before racing up the sideline. As Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick closes in, Jackson unexpectedly stops and throws a 35-yard pass to wide receiver Zay Flowers, who’s wide open after the defense overcommitted to the run. The play gains 35 yards and leads to a field goal. Film from the Bengals game echoes this: on the Ravens’ first touchdown drive, Jackson completes three passes for 32 yards and rushes for 20 yards, including a 5-yard spin move to avoid Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson for the touchdown. “What makes Lamar dangerous is you can’t focus on just one part of his game,” said Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo after the Week 10 game. “If you load up to stop the run, he’ll pick you apart with passes. If you drop back to cover, he’ll run for a first down.”

Film Breakdown of Lamar Jackson's Play for the Baltimore Ravens features his precision when scrambling—a skill that turns broken plays into positive gains for the Baltimore Ravens. Film from the Week 12 game against the Kansas City Chiefs shows a prime example: Jackson drops back to pass on first-and-10, but Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones collapses the pocket from the left. Jackson steps up, then spins to his right, evading Jones and linebacker Nick Bolton. Instead of rushing for a short gain, Jackson keeps his eyes downfield, spotting wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. near the sideline. He delivers a 17-yard pass to Beckham, who makes a diving catch to convert a first down. The film reveals Jackson’s unique ability to maintain passing form while on the move; his feet stay balanced, and his arm motion remains consistent, ensuring accuracy even when scrambling at 18 mph. In the Bengals game, this skill is on display again: Jackson scrambles left to avoid a Bengals blitz, then throws a 25-yard pass to Flowers while running toward the sideline—a throw that 90% of NFL quarterbacks would not attempt, let alone complete. For the Baltimore Ravens, this scrambling precision turns potential sacks into first downs, extending drives and keeping the offense on the field longer. “Lamar doesn’t just run to escape—he runs to create passing opportunities,” said Ravens quarterbacks coach James Urban. “That’s what makes him special.”

Film Breakdown of Lamar Jackson's Play for the Baltimore Ravens examines his red-zone efficiency—a key area where he elevates the Baltimore Ravens’ offense. Film from the 2025 season shows Jackson has a 72% touchdown rate when the Ravens enter the red zone (12th in the NFL among starting quarterbacks), thanks to his ability to choose between running and passing based on defensive looks. A clip from the Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions highlights this: the Ravens are first-and-goal from the Lions’ 10-yard line, and the Lions deploy a “goal-line package” with eight defenders in the box. Jackson reads the heavy run defense, fakes a handoff to Dobbins, then rolls to his right and throws a fade pass to Andrews in the corner of the end zone. Andrews beats Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs for the touchdown. Another red-zone clip from the Bengals game shows Jackson’s running ability: on third-and-goal from the 3-yard line, the Bengals stack the box, but Jackson takes a quarterback draw, diving over the line of scrimmage for the touchdown. Film analysis reveals Jackson’s red-zone decision-making is based on split-second reads; he averages just 2.1 seconds to decide whether to run or pass in the red zone, faster than the NFL average of 2.6 seconds. For the Baltimore Ravens, this efficiency turns red-zone trips into points, a critical factor in close games. “Lamar’s red-zone awareness is unmatched,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “He knows exactly what the defense is giving him, and he makes the right play almost every time.”

Film Breakdown of Lamar Jackson's Play for the Baltimore Ravens wraps up with his clutch late-game performance—moments when the Ravens need him most, and he delivers. A standout clip from the Week 7 game against the Arizona Cardinals shows Jackson leading a 90-yard game-winning drive with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter. On fourth-and-10 from the Ravens’ 10-yard line, Jackson drops back to pass, evades two Cardinals defenders, and throws a 40-yard pass to Beckham, who makes a one-handed catch. Three plays later, Jackson scrambles for 15 yards to the Cardinals’ 5-yard line, then throws a touchdown pass to Andrews with 12 seconds left to win the game. Film from the Bengals game, though the Ravens lost, still highlights Jackson’s late-game poise: with 3:10 left and the Ravens trailing 17-14, he leads a 60-yard drive, completing 4 of 5 passes for 45 yards and rushing for 15 yards to set up a game-tying field goal. The only miscue comes on the final Hail Mary pass, which is intercepted—but film shows Jackson had no open receivers, forcing him to throw deep. For the Baltimore Ravens, Jackson’s late-game performance is a testament to his mental toughness and ability to thrive under pressure. “When the game is on the line, I want Lamar Jackson with the ball in his hands,” said Ravens offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley. “He doesn’t get nervous—he gets better. That’s the mark of a great quarterback.” Film doesn’t lie: Jackson’s combination of skill, decision-making, and clutch play makes him the heart of the Ravens’ offense, and a constant threat to opposing defenses.