2026 NFL predictions: Why Lamar Jackson will run wild this season
The John Harbaugh era in Baltimore ended on a sour note for two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.Despite an injury-riddled season, Jackson and the Ravens were just a field goal away from securing a fourth consecutive playoff appearance in the regular season finale.However, once everything was settled, their AFC North rival, the Steelers, ultimately clinched the division and secured a postseason spot.
After 18 hard-fought seasons at the helm, Harbaugh departed for a coaching position with the Giants.Enter Jesse Minter and Declan Doyle, who are now stepping in to lead the coaching transformation in Baltimore.Jackson, now fully healthy, has the third-best odds to win MVP (+800) entering Week 1.If he maintains his usual performance level, he could win the award for the third time, following a recurring trend: Each time Jackson has been paired with a new offensive coordinator, he has won the honors.In 2019, when Greg Roman took over, Jackson recorded 3,127 passing yards, 36 touchdown passes, 1,206 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.Four years later, under Todd Monken, the 29-year-old recorded 3,678 passing yards, 24 touchdown passes, 821 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, leading the Ravens to an AFC best 13-4 record.Baltimore’s league-leading 74.2% red zone conversion rate in 2024, however, plummeted to below 50% last season under Monken.The decline was unacceptable for a team featuring Jackson and the indomitable Derrick Henry out of the backfield.The Ravens can expect plenty of pre-snap movement and play action in Doyle’s scheme, which matches Jackson’s skill set.
At his peak, he is a walking cheat code, and in a recent interview with The Post’s Adam Schein on Mad Dog Sports, Jackson praised Doyle’s new, intricate offensive scheme. Catch up on The Post’s NFL betting previews and predictions for the 2026 season“It’s everything you need in an offense play action, dropbacks, run game it’s everything you want in an offensive syste...