Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh announced Wednesday that rookie Lamar Jackson will start at quarterback this Sunday over Joe Flacco, who's been cleared to return after being inactive over the last four games.

Flacco missed the last four weeks with a hip injury, and Jackson filled in nicely for the Super Bowl 47 champion and MVP. The rookie won his first three starts and nearly helped Baltimore upset the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs on the road, but they fell 27-24 in overtime.

On the season, the 21-year-old Jackson has 687 passing yards and four touchdowns, along with 475 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Harbaugh is simply riding the hot hand as the Ravens try to qualify for the postseason.

Baltimore currently holds the second AFC wild card spot with a 7-6 record, tied with the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. They're also just half a game behind the 7-5-1 Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC North.

The Ravens will host the lowly Buccaneers on Sunday before visiting the surging Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16. Their regular season ends with a Week 17 home game against the Cleveland Browns, who have a minimal chance at making the playoffs.

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Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

It's widely expected that the Ravens will cut Flacco this offseason. He'll be 34 years of age, and the Ravens will want to cut his contract. With Jackson taking over the reigns, expect these final games to be Flacco's last in Baltimore.

What This Means

Flacco's stats were never great, but if he's already played his last game with the Ravens, it was sure quite a run. He and Harbaugh went 10-5 together in the postseason, leading Baltimore to the playoffs six times and reaching three AFC Championship games.

Flacco guided the Ravens to a thrilling Super Bowl 47 championship, but he never regained that quality form again. That being said, he has the legacy of being one of the all-time greatest Ravens.

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