Lamar Jackson's Critics Are 'Whistling in the Graveyard,' Ravens' John Harbaugh Says

Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson is off to a stellar start to the season, silencing any doubters who said during the preseason that the league was catching up to him.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh believes that preseason chatter is meaningless, and Jackson's play this season has proved that.

"If you're looking for your headline here, I think the people who make those statements are kind of whistling in the graveyard just a little bit," Harbaugh told reporters Monday.

"It doesn't have any meaning," Harbaugh continued. "Anybody who knows X's and O's are rolling their eyes when they hear something like that."

The Ravens are 5-1 and in first place in the AFC North. Jackson is currently ninth in the NFL in passing (1,686) and seventh in rushing (392) and has 11 total touchdowns. The 2019 NFL MVP currently has a career-best 67.5 completion percentage.

Jackson, who holds the record for most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback (1,206), has continued to make history this season. In Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Chargers he set an NFL record for most wins (35) for a starting quarterback under the age of 25.

In August, a report by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said this season could be the year the NFL defenses "figure out" Jackson. Through six games that has not been the case, and Harbaugh says the Ravens are not surprised.

"We've kind of been saying that for three years now. There is no answer," Harbaugh said. "You've got to play well. You've got to execute. Whoever executes better and makes plays, really, in the end is going to win. It's less about figuring somebody out."

Baltimore will seek its sixth consecutive win on Sunday in a home game against AFC North foe Cincinnati Bengals (4-2).