Lamar Jackson leads the league’s leading offense, and the Baltimore Ravens have become exponentially more difficult to beat in recent weeks, thanks to one of the reigning MVP’s weapons emerging as a breakout star.
Monday night in Tampa Bay was a national coming out party for Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who torched the Buccaneers’ secondary for four catches for a career-high 121 yards and a touchdown, while averaging 30.2 yards per reception.
On an offense that already includes dynamic wide receiver Zay Flowers, who possesses the kind of breakneck speed that can take the top off a defense, and bludgeoning explosive running back Derrick Henry, Bateman’s presence as a consistent big-play contributor has the potential to stretch defenses even thinner.
“Just catch the ball,” Bateman told reporters Monday night he was telling himself on what became a 50-yard touchdown catch and run from Jackson. “Whatever I have to do, just catch the ball. I knew I was open. I thought I accelerated out of the break, so I just knew I’d catch the ball. … It was hanging for a minute, but I did; I caught it.”
Baltimore Ravens’ Rashod Bateman In The Midst of Career Year
Through the first seven games of his fourth NFL season, Bateman is on pace to obliterate his personal-best 515 receiving yards in a single season, with 21 catches for 394 yards and a career-high three touchdown receptions, already.
Beyond opposing defenses needing to pay extra attention to Bateman, the 24-year-old’s teammates aren’t surprised that he’s developing into a household name and potentially game-altering weapon on an offense that’s loaded with them.
“He’s such an elite route runner,” tight end Charlie Kolar told reporters, via the Baltimore Banner. “His ability to sink his hips and get out of his cuts for his size is super impressive. And to see him do it in games, it’s just like we’ve seen it a thousand times, so it’s super cool to see him get rewarded with a big play.”
If Bateman can keep delivering big plays like his long touchdown on Monday night, knocking off the Ravens will be exponentially more difficult.