Ravens pick Jackson over Flacco to start vs. Bucs

Baltimore Ravens rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson will be under center for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coach John Harbaugh announced Wednesday. The decision relegates a now-healthy Joe Flacco to the role of a backup. The 33-year-old Flacco, who led the Ravens to the Super Bowl XLVII title, has been nursing a hip injury for the past four weeks. "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." The Ravens (7-6) are a half-game behind the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1), who have lost three in a row. Jackson won his first three starts before dropping his first decision, a 27-24 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. The former Heisman Trophy recipient has rushed for 336 yards during the four-start stretch, although he has completed just 59 of 101 passes for 687 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. "I didn't really have a reaction to when he was telling me," Jackson said of being named a starter. "I just know I have to focus on everything a lot more to better myself." Flacco admitted that he wasn't surprised by Harbaugh's decision. "My overall thought about is obviously disappointed that I can't be part of this team in the same capacity I have been for a long time," Flacco said. "You always have to be ready and stay sharp and be ready to get the call at any point." Flacco last played on Nov. 4 when he suffered a hip injury in a 23-16 loss to the Steelers. He initially sustained the injury when Pittsburgh defensive end Stephon Tuitt drove him to the ground on the sixth play of the game. Tuitt was penalized for being offsides and on the next play Cameron Heyward hit Flacco, who stayed in the game and completed 23 of 37 passes for 206 yards. Flacco has completed 232 of 379 passes for 2,465 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions in nine games this season. He has thrown for 38,245 yards with 212 touchdowns and 136 interceptions in 163 career contests since being selected by Baltimore with the 18th overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft.