The Baltimore Ravens are in good shape. The team is clicking on all cylinders and is playing like one of the best teams in the league. Heading into the postseason, Baltimore will need everyone to stay on the same page, but newly minted Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers will be the X-factor in the playoffs. Flowers is the best receiver on the team and poses the biggest threat to opposing defenses. No matter the defense, Flowers can find a way to get open. Careers are made in the playoffs, and Flowers has a clutch gene that will come in handy.
For the first time in franchise history, the Ravens will have a wide receiver representing them in the Pro Bowl. Zay Flowers has made franchise history and is making his mark in Baltimore. Wide Receivers such as Steve Smith Sr., Anquan Boldin, Jacoby Jones, and Torrey Smith played memorable football for the Ravens, but none could accomplish this feat. As the Ravens move toward the postseason, Flowers hopes to add even more hardware by the end of the season.
The Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowler Who Will Be the Playoff X-Factor
Sophomore Success
Zay Flowers is having another great season. The young receiver is still new to the NFL but plays like a veteran. As Baltimore heads into the playoffs, he will be the Ravens’ X-factor. Flowers has put up big numbers this season, amassing over 1.000 yards receiving and four touchdowns in only his second season. Flowers has become Lamar Jackson’s favorite target, and together they make a fantastic tandem. He can run every route on the route tree, which includes screens, short, intermediate, and long routes. Flowers’ versatility makes him one of the most important players on offense.
Lamar Jackson is well on his way to a third MVP award, and Flowers has greatly contributed to Jackson’s success this season. Jackson has formed chemistry with Flowers, especially during scramble drills. Once Jackson begins to run around the backfield, Flowers runs around and finds open space for Jackson to get rid of the ball. The relationship between Jackson and Flowers is finally budding but is only in its early stages. Once the postseason ensues, Jackson and Flowers will be able to cement a legacy together by winning in the playoffs. Jackson has other weapons including Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely, but Flowers is the most likely to wreck a defense.
Flowers’ Impact Since Being Drafted
The Baltimore Ravens selected Zay Flowers in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Coming out of Boston College, Flowers was viewed as a slot receiver with big play potential. Since entering the NFL, Flowers has proven to be much more than a slot receiver. As a Rookie, Flowers posted just under 900 receiving yards and caught five touchdowns. Flowers has shown the ability to play outside and inside, also being an effective ball carrier when called upon. Flowers is a crisp route runner with breakaway speed in the open field. In two seasons, Flowers has gained the respect of his peers and teammates. If he can continue developing at this pace, Flowers may be one of the greatest receivers in Ravens history when it’s all said and done.
Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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