Stephen A. Smith Drops Josh Allen as Parick Mahomes & Chiefs’ Biggest Threat for Ravens’ Lamar Jackson & Derrick Henry

Everyone has one question on their mind: who will take down Patrick ‘Magic’ Mahomes this season? The quarterback has been dominating the league for the last two seasons, but many worthy teams are gearing up to take the throne from the Kansas City Chiefs.

The top candidates considered fierce competitors for Mahomes are Cincinnati Bengals’s Joe Burrow, with a 3-1 record against the Chiefs QB, and Buffalo Bills’s Josh Allen, who has a tied number of wins. However, Stephen A. Smith has his odds pinned on someone else: Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson.

Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry’s duo are Smith’s favorite

NFL writer Kimberley Martin and former Patriots guard Damien Woody discussed the next AFC threat to Mahomes with Smith on ESPN’s First Take. Woody chose the Bengals, calling Burrow “the real deal,” whereas Martin picked the Bills, calling Allen “somebody that can knock out Patrick Mahomes.”

When it came to Smith, the analyst had his mind set firmly on the Ravens.

He skipped the Bengals because of the uncertain contract situation of Tee Higgins and bypassed the Bills since they “lost Stefon Diggs.” Smith revealed that the reason behind his choice of Baltimore was the arrival of Derrick Henry. “I’m gonna roll with the Baltimore Ravens,” said the analyst. “I mean, Lamar Jackson has Derek Henry to give the ball to. I’m sorry, I can’t ignore that; I cannot ignore that, oh no.”

Furthermore, Smith quoted head coach John Harbaugh, one of the best-ranked offenses, as the “Roughrider defense” in the league, along with Jackson, as to what makes the Ravens a Super Bowl hopeful this year. Henry’s entry into the squad had the Ravens Nation hyped up, and now his OTA’s speed drills are blowing everyone’s minds online.

Derrick Henry’s stellar speed drill in the OTAs

The former Titans RB joined Baltimore with a two-year deal worth $16 million, adding a formidable threat for opposing defenses in the backfield. It’s not just the fans who are excited for Henry but also the franchise quarterback. “I just get the ball and [say], ‘Go, big guy, go. I’m cheering like the fans, said Jackson via PFT. 

Now that OTAs are underway, video clips of players showcasing their skills on the field are going viral every day. One particular clip of Henry performing a speed drill is the internet’s latest obsession, and fans just can’t get enough! The running back could be seen running uphill in a straight vertical passing route with the caption reading, “No human this big should be able to move this fast.”

Lamar Jackson finally gets rock-solid support in the backfield with Derrick Henry this season. If everything goes well, do you think the Ravens will be able to make it to the Super Bowl? Do let us know in the comments!