An option-based rushing attack would never work in the NFL. Nope. Not in my dad’s league. And not in his dad’s league before that. Not a chance. That’s high school stuff. This is the big leagues.
The Ravens didn’t care about what you think wouldn’t work against the Bengals. They went out against one of the worst defenses in the league and ran all over them with the ideal personnel to work with.
They had a quarterback in Lamar Jackson who is not just explosive and quick as a runner, but who could also decide both pre-snap which option would be best based on defensive alignment and at the mesh point based on how the defense reacted.