Ravens News: Rookie QB Lamar Jackson To Start Over Healthy Joe Flacco?

The Baltimore Ravens (7-6) are very much in the playoff hunt and seem committed to the formula that got them there. Head coach John Harbaugh on Wednesday announced that rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson will start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, while Joe Flacco will remain the backup.

"Every decision is based on what makes us the strongest possible team we can be. That's what it boils down to," Harbaugh said. "That's how we feel about this decision and we're rolling."

Both quarterbacks have been dealing with injuries. Flacco has recovered from a hip injury while Jackson has been nursing an ankle injury.

Neither Flacco nor Jackson have had much success throwing the ball. Flacco has an 84.2 passer rating, while Jackson has a 79.9 rating. Jackson has thrown three touchdowns and three interceptions in his four starts.

But Jackson has led the Ravens to a 3-1 record in Flacco's absence. The lone loss came Sunday in overtime on the road against the title-contending Kansas City Chiefs.

While the 33-year-old Flacco is the far more experienced quarterback, Jackson adds a scrambling component the Ravens had been lacking. The 21-year-old has rushed for 475 yards and three touchdowns this season, which is more than Flacco has rushed for in his last seven seasons.

Jackson's gaudy rushing totals have added a new dimension to the Ravens offense in Flacco's absence. The team has rushed for 228.5 yards per game in Jackson's four starts; they only eclipsed 100 team rushing yards four times in Flacco's nine starts.

The Ravens have a more favorable schedule than the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1), who seem to have a weak grasp on AFC North. After the Bucs, the Ravens will face the Los Angeles Chargers on the road and then return home to host the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers host the New England Patriots on Sunday and then travel to New Orleans to face the Saints before ending the season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals.