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Two of the league's most exciting young quarterbacks will face off in Week 4, but neither of them is named Patrick Mahomes. And these two QBs — Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield — are going to duke it out as the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns meet for the first time this season.
There are compelling storylines surrounding this match that go beyond the divisional rivalry between the longtime foes. However, fans can expect these Jackson and Mayfield to be compared often as they try to lead their respective team to the top of the AFC North.
Here are three things Ravens fans should look out for as their Jackson goes up against not just Mayfield, but Myles Garrett and the Browns' defense.
3. Jackson will not force an interception against the Browns
With his rocket arm and wide receiver speed, Jackson is already proving to be one of the NFL's most dynamic quarterbacks. However, there's one aspect of his game that's impressed fans and pundits most this season.
Jackson is making history with his team and the league at large, with an incredible lack of turnovers in 221 pass attempts. It's already the longest active streak in NFL history, and he has a chance of extending it even further against the Browns.
He has a shot at keeping the streak alive as the Browns have an underperforming defensive unit. Only Juston Burris and T.J. Carrie have made interceptions for the Browns this season. Given the way Jackson has been playing, it seems unlikely he'll cough one up threw the air against a defense like Cleveland's.
2. Jackson will notch 100 rushing yards
We've heard Lamar Jackson express his open disdain for running. However, he wouldn't be such an effective quarterback if he isn't able to run the football after being forced out of the pocket.
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The Browns defense will surely do everything in their power to stop Jackson from doing what he wants. Given defensive coordinator Steve Wilks' glowing appraisal of Jackson, in which he compared facing the Ravens quarterback to playing Madden against prime Michael Vick, it's painfully obvious that they are taking his abilities seriously.
If his wideouts are tightly manned by the Browns' secondary, he will have no choice but to run it himself. Given his incredible running performances during the first three weeks of football, it's not outlandish to expect Jackson moving out of the pocket often.
Expecting 100 rushing yards out of him isn't outlandish, either. Jackson already managed that number against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.
1. Jackson will lead the Ravens to a narrow victory over the Browns
Jackson is the favorite to shine and lead his team against the Browns. His all-around game makes him an immensely valuable quarterback that pundits think is the ideal piece to build around.
However, everyone should know better than to write off a team led by Mayfield. He's built his entire football career on proving everybody wrong, and he's eager to shut the critics up by trading blows with Jackson on the field.
Along with Mahomes and a few other gifted young quarterbacks, they are undeniably the future of the NFL. The AFC North is going to be hectic for the next few years with these two leading the charge. However, it's Jackson who leads his team to hard-fought victory this time around.
