With rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson likely to make a third

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With rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson likely to make a third straight start Sunday Eric Weddle Jersey , the Baltimore Ravens' offensive linemen are gearing up for another delightful afternoon of plowing straight ahead as part of the team's suddenly formidable running game.Joe Flacco didn't practice Wednesday and is still waiting to get medical clearance following a hip injury that's kept him sidelined since Nov. 4."There's a process involved that has to do with the doctors and trainers and his rehab," coach John Harbaugh said. "He'

s progressing really well."Though Harbaugh did not rule out the possibility of Flacco playing Sunday in Atlanta, all signs point to Jackson running the offense when the Ravens (6-5) seek their season-high third straight victory.With Jackson and rookie Gus Edwards leading the way, Baltimore rushed for 267 yards in a win over Cincinnati and another 242 last week in a 34-17 rout of Oakland. The Ravens are looking more of the same against the Falcons (4-7), who own the league's 25th-ranked rushing defense."We're having a blast," rookie right tackle Orlando Brown Jr. said Wednesday.The Ravens opened the second half against the Raiders with a 13-play drive that included 12 runs, the last by Jackson for a touchdown and a 20-10 lead."As an offensive lineman, it feels great to be able to do that," guard Alex Lewis said. "It's always fun running the ball. I'm excited what's to come."Baltimore lost three in a row before Jackson took over for Flacco and started getting the ball to Edwards, who replaced Alex Collins (foot injury) as the featured back. Employing the run-pass option 鈥?a staple for Jackson at Louisville but a rarity in the NFL 鈥?the Ravens are averaging 5.30 yards per carry over the past two weeks.Jackson ran for 117 yards against the Bengals and another 71 last week. Edwards, who started the season on the practice squad, has back-to-back 100-yard games."It definitely opens up your run game, having Lamar in there compared to Joe," Lewis said. "Joe's got a cannon (for an arm) Cheap Za'Darius Smith Jersey , but Lamar has feet and makes defenders miss. It's helped us out tremendously."Hard to believe, but the Ravens have leaped back into the playoff picture with a rookie quarterback and an undrafted rookie running back operating behind a rookie right tackle.It all begins with Jackson taking the snap, then either handing the ball to Edwards or dashing off on his own. Jackson's speed and elusive qualities are almost impossible to duplicate in practice."He's got such quickness and speed, like a wide receiver or a corner has, but he's behind center," Atlanta coach Dan Quinn said. "You can simulate that with a receiver for the run plays, but it's not as authentic because he can't step back and rip the passes."Edwards spent four years at the University of Miami before transferring to Rutgers for his senior year. He signed as a free agent with Baltimore in May, was assigned to the practice squad in September and activated to the 53-man roster on Oct. 13.After much diligence and an impressive showing on the practice field, the 6-foot-1, 240-pounder is now a starter."Hard work pays off, and he has continued to do that," Harbaugh said. "Talent is part of it. But he's a great example for kids, that if you take the right approach you can achieve anything."There's no bluster to Edwards, who speaks softly and has a reputation for being very low key."Very serious minded. He's kind of all business Alex Lewis Jersey ," Harbaugh said. "It takes a real funny thing to get him to smile. You'd better be on your joke game."Lately, Edwards have given Baltimore's offensive line a reason to grin."They get pumped out there when we're running and getting positive yards," Edwards said. "They're jumping around, looking at the sideline, hoping we continue going. They love it." Joe Flacco's sore right hip means Ravens coach John Harbaugh may have to wait until Sunday before deciding who to start at quarterback in a pivotal game against the Cincinnati Bengals.Harbaugh's options are Flacco, an ailing 11-year veteran; Lamar Jackson, a rookie who's never made an NFL start; or Robert Griffin III, who's been inactive every game this season.Rather than fret, Harbaugh attempted to put a positive spin on the situation."It just makes it tougher for the Bengals to prepare for us," he said. "So, that's kind of a good thing."Actually, Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis couldn't care less. He's got his own problems, most notably a horrific defense that set a dubious Super Bowl-era record by yielding at least 500 yards in three successive games.Lewis fired defensive coordinator Teryl Austin on Monday and assumed the responsibility of running the defense with the aid of Hue Jackson , who was hired Tuesday after being dismissed as head coach of the Browns earlier this season.Asked to describe his wild week Cheap Lamar Jackson Jersey , Lewis said quite sarcastically: "Yeah, it's what you wish for."The Ravens (4-5) and Bengals (5-4) fully expected to be in a better place with seven games to go. After a 4-2 start, Baltimore has lost three straight. The Bengals have dropped four of five after opening 4-1.The importance of this game for both teams cannot be understated."Us and Baltimore at this point are where we need this win," Cincinnati receiver Tyler Boyd said. "It's a huge game to make or break a team."Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey said: "When you come off three losses, you definitely know you definitely have to win."Some other things to know about this AFC North matchup:NO GREEN?Overlooked in the Bengals' defensive collapse in a 51-14 loss to the Saints last week was how the offense struggled without receiver A.J. Green, sidelined with a toe injury.The Bengals put together a 75-yard touchdown drive on their opening possession, and the starters didn't score again. Cincinnati wound up with 284 yards. Andy Dalton was only 12 of 20 for 153 yards with four sacks and two interceptions. Green was initially ruled out for the Ravens game on Friday, but the Bengals did an about-face and held open a slight chance he'd play by listing him as doubtful.The receivers know they must do better in Baltimore."We need to make more plays on the ball," Boyd said. "When Andy puts the ball in the air, we need to fight for the ball or at least not let the opponent get the interception."COACH AND QB TANDEMSLewis has been coaching the Bengals for 16 years, and Harbaugh is in his 11th season with Baltimore.Asked to find the common thread between the two, Lewis said, "If you look around the league, the people who have been in these jobs for a long time Eric Weddle Jersey , they're fortunate to have quarterbacks that lead the franchise and win games. I guess that, to me, is the main commonality."Flacco has been Harbaugh's starting quarterback since 2008 , and they've won a Super Bowl together. Dalton has a 68-48-2 record as a starter over an eight-year run.SCENE OF THE GRABThe Bengals return to the place where they broke the Ravens' hearts and made the Buffalo Bills giddy with one big play in the final regular-season game last season.Dalton's 49-yard touchdown pass to Boyd on a fourth-and-12 play with 49 seconds left sent the Bengals to a 31-27 win that kept Baltimore out of the playoffs and gave the Bills their first postseason appearance since 1999.Bills fans donated more than $450,000 to Dalton's foundation in gratitude, and the quarterback was warmly received at a preseason game in Buffalo last August."It was one of the coolest moments of my career, with everything that happened on the play and afterward," Dalton said.JACKSON READYIf Flacco can't go, Jackson will likely get the call. The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner and former Louisville star has thus far been used periodically in running situations and is second on the team with 139 yards rushing.Jackson said it would be "awesome" to start, but has no complaints about this current role."It's been pretty cool," he said. "I'm on the field. I'd rather be out there than just sitting down."GOOD BYEThe Ravens are 8-2 following a bye under Harbaugh and an NFL-best 13-3 since 2002 after getting an extra week off.Asked how he spent the week, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs cracked up the media with this quote: "As (NBA guard) Kyle Lowry would say, 'I got a chance to decompose.' It's kind of fun just to get your mind away a little bit."AP Sports Writer Joe Kay in Cincinnati contributed to this report.