The Baltimore Ravens have advanced to the AFC Championship Game after posting the best record in the regular season. Much of the team’s success is due to the performance of QB Lamar Jackson, who is currently the favorite to win the NFL MVP award.
As Jackson prepares to face the Kansas City Chiefs with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, let’s look back at how he has fared in playoff games throughout his career.
Lamar Jackson’s Playoff Record
Jackson committed to the University of Louisville out of high school. In three seasons with the Cardinals, he passed for 9,043 yards, 69 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions. He also rushed for 4,132 yards and 50 touchdowns and took home the Heisman Trophy in 2016.
Following college, the Cardinal was drafted with the 32nd overall pick by the Ravens in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Since then, he has made three Pro Bowls, been named a First-Team All-Pro twice, and won NFL Most Valuable Player once. Following this year’s regular season, he also is the betting favorite to win the MVP award again.
After his win against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Jackson’s playoff record is 2-3. Going into this season’s playoffs at 1-3, he has been tasked with silencing doubters.
The first playoff game of his career came in the 2018-19 season against the Los Angeles Chargers, who defeated Baltimore 23-17. Jackson went 14-of-29 for 194 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also rushed nine times for 54 yards and was sacked seven times.
The second playoff game of his career came in the Divisional Round of the 2019-20 season. The Tennessee Titans took down the Ravens 28-12, ending what was a 14-3 season for Baltimore. Jackson finished with a stat line of 31-of-59 for 365 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He also rushed 20 times for 143 yards.
MORE: Baltimore Ravens Depth Chart
The third came the following year in the Wild Card round. The Ravens and Jackson got revenge on the Titans, winning 20-13. The QB completed 17 of his 24 attempts for 179 yards and one interception. He also carried the ball 16 times for 136 yards and one touchdown.
In the Divisional Round of that same year, the Ravens fell to the Buffalo Bills 17-3. Jackson went 14-of-24 for 162 yards and one interception. He also rushed nine times for 34 yards.
The Ravens made the playoffs again in the 2022-23 season, but Jackson was hurt and did not play. The team ended up losing 24-17 to the Cincinnati Bengals under the lead of backup QB Tyler Huntley.
This season, Jackson led the Ravens to a win over the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round after earning a first-round bye. He improved his playoff record, as Baltimore won 34-10. Jackson went 16-of-22 for 152 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in the win.
The star QB expressed confidence heading into the playoffs and will look to earn a trip to the Super Bowl, as he faces the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
“My mindset is different. The knowledge of the game has grown in my mind, and it’s like I’m seeing different things on the field, and it’s helped me execute the passes — get the ball to my guys, let those guys work,” Jackson said.
“I’m just gonna take it up two notches from the end of the regular season. Just stay locked into what’s in front of us. Stuff like that. Don’t get complacent. Don’t think too much of the outside noise, don’t think too much of anything. Just keep focusing on what we need to focus on to get to our destination.”
Want to predict the results of the 2023 NFL postseason with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? How about looking into in-depth breakdowns of team depth charts or the NFL playoff schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with all that and more!
