The San Francisco 49ers have faced numerous tough quarterbacks this season, but linebacker Fred Warner doesn’t think any of them will be more difficult than Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson.
The 49ers will battle the Ravens on Christmas Day, and when asked about the matchup, Warner raved about Jackson.
“Lamar’s always been a heck of a playmaker,” Warner said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “The things that he can do with his legs and throwing the ball is incredible. For sure he is gonna be our toughest opponent this season.”
That’s saying something, considering San Francisco has seen quarterbacks like Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts. But Warner seems to think Jackson is in a class of his own.
“When he is running, yeah he can he hurt you with his legs, but he can also hurt you by running to then look down the field and throw an explosive pass on you,” Warner added. “Him being more aware of wanting to stay in the pocket and deliver the football to his receivers, his playmakers, so you can’t just sit there and say ‘just hold him in the pocket, don’t let him get loose.’ If you hold him in the pocket and don’t apply pressure, he’s going to hit you deep. That’s why we have to be on top of every little detail heading into this week.”
Jackson is one of the leading candidates for the NFL MVP award this season. He has thrown for 3,105 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 66.3 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 96.5. In addition, he has rushed for 741 yards and five scores while averaging 5.5 yards per carry.
Most importantly, Lamar Jackson has led the Ravens to an 11-3 record, which represents the best mark in the AFC. The only other 11-3 club in the league is Fred Warner’s 49ers.
Baltimore is riding a four-game winning streak heading into this matchup. Meanwhile, San Francisco has won six consecutive contests.
These two franchises do have some Super Bowl history, as they met in the championship game back in February 2013. The Ravens ended up winning the game.
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