The Baltimore Ravens very well could be turning to Robert Griffin III at quarterback on Sunday. If this happens, he should be given free reign.
The Baltimore Ravens have an important divisional game coming this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Baltimore is 4-5 and in third place in the AFC North, one game behind the Bengals. With Joe Flacco likely out, the Ravens will need to turn to either Lamar Jackson or Robert Griffin III.
The decision should be obvious regarding who they decide to go with: Robert Griffin III. So far, Jackson is the only Ravens player to throw a pass not named Joe Flacco to throw a pass this season. He’s 7-for-12 for 87 yards and a touchdown. While those are solid numbers, he’s being used sparingly and in odd situations for the most part. So his numbers shouldn’t be looked into too much.
This isn’t meant to be a slight on Jackson — he’s going to be a fantastic quarterback in the NFL at some point. The Ravens shouldn’t mess with his development by giving him a random game in the middle of his rookie season after basically sitting him for the first nine games, though. Especially considering Flacco’s only expected to miss one week.
Not wanting to throw Jackson into the fire for one game isn’t the lone argument though. The Ravens are still in the playoff picture. A win against the Bengals puts them at 5-5 and tied for second place in the division. With them still in the hunt, it would be wise to give a quarterback with experience the ball.
Robert Griffin III is that man. He’s started 40 NFL games and led a team to the playoffs. RGIII is used to the pressures of big games and there should be no need to worry about things like if he can keep his composure in big moments as he’s done so before.
Now, with that being said, this should be a true start. Griffin III shouldn’t have a short leash, at the first sign of trouble they shouldn’t turn to Jackson. Even at his worst, he will limit turnovers and give his team a chance to win.
The Baltimore Ravens are still in the playoff picture, but they’re definitely in a must-win situation this week. Going with the veteran quarterback who’s proven himself in the past isn’t just the right move; it’s the only move.