Joe Burrow was coming back after a nine-week absence, but it was Lamar Jackson who looked rusty on Thanksgiving night in Baltimore.
Despite facing the NFL's statistically worst defense, Jackson had one of his toughest games in the Ravens' 32-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving at M&T Bank Stadium.
Jackson fumbled twice, was intercepted once, and missed several open throws. It was the first time in four years that he's turned the ball over three times.
After the game, Jackson was at a loss for how to explain his night.
"I just have to play consistently," Jackson said. "I can't have turnovers, especially in any game – not just this game, but in any game – I can't have turnovers."
Jackson's woes weren't the Ravens' only offensive blunders. They had five turnovers overall – the first time that's happened since 2013. Isaiah Likely fumbled on the goal line. Zay Flowers fumbled and had a touchdown called back on offensive pass interference.
But Jackson is a two-time MVP who has also played some of his best games against the Bengals and on the primetime stage at M&T Bank Stadium.
His fumbles both had some bad luck. One came out as his arm was hit from behind as he tried to escape a sack. The other just fell out of his hand as he tried to pull back a throw that he was second-guessing. His interception came off a batted ball at the line of scrimmage with a defender right in his face.
"Weird fumbles," Jackson said. "But, we have to hold onto the ball. I'm not even talking about – I'm talking about myself. [I have to] hold onto the ball [and] make throws. I feel like I missed throws. That was … I don't miss those. It has to be consistent."
Jackson's erratic accuracy Thursday night was probably the biggest surprise. He completed 17 of 32 passes for 246 yards but missed several wide-open throws. He threw no touchdowns for a third straight game, which is the first time that's happened in his career.
Jackson has been dealing with knee, ankle, and toe injuries the past three weeks, but he once again said they aren't the cause of his problems.
"No, I just have to be more consistent," Jackson said. "I have to make those throws. I don't miss them in practice, so I shouldn't be missing them in the game."
Jackson said there isn't something different about his mechanics. The Ravens didn't feel like the Bengals gave them fits with any scheme changes. Cincinnati had success with some Cover-0 blitzes, but the Ravens have seen those before and handled them.
Jackson, nor Head Coach John Harbaugh, nor other Ravens players had an instant or in-depth explanation for what's ailing the offense. But they have belief in Jackson and the unit to turn things around down the final stretch.
"[He's] a two-time MVP for a reason," safety Kyle Hamilton said of Jackson. "Even LeBron [James] has an off night."
"He's our guy, and I have full trust in him," tight end Mark Andrews added. "Football is a way of life. Sometimes bad things happen. We learn to rebound, grow, learn. Not long ago, we were 1-5. We're 6-6. We're going to be all right. We just have to keep fighting, keep clawing, keep being humble, being thankful, and I'm certainly thankful for him."
While the Ravens offense moved the ball efficiently at times – and had essentially two touchdowns wiped off the board with the Likely fumble and Flowers pass interference – this had the potential to be a "get-right" game for Baltimore's offense.
Instead, the Ravens exited after getting more questions about just how frustrating it is that the offense hasn't performed up to expectations.
"I can't describe that," Jackson said. "The level of frustration [is that] I'm ticked off. It's not even frustrating, I'm just mad because – like I said – we can't have that. And the turnovers are a big part of winning [and] losing games. Turning the ball over [and] giving them an extra possession – this is the outcome."
What's it going to turn it around?
"Just be me," Jackson said. "Just be Lamar."
