Facebook Pixel

    Lamar Jackson and Baltimore Ravens Blow Best (Last?) Chance To Dethrone Mahomes, Chiefs

    Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is now 2-4 in the playoffs after another January shortcoming, this time against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

    Lamar Jackson was born in the wrong era.

    Yes, the Baltimore Ravens‘ marvelous quarterback will win his second league MVP next week.

    But, really, who cares (other than Jackson and anyone with a futures ticket)?

    Patrick Mahomes is the better player. Correction: He’s the best player. In all of football. And perhaps all-time.

    We’re probably at least five more years away from having that conversation. But because Mahomes exists at this moment, there will always be a giant red-and-white roadblock in Jackson’s way.

    As a result, he might never get to where the Kansas City Chiefs are headed for the fourth time in five years: The Super Bowl.

    Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens Come Up Small in AFCCG

    The Chiefs’ excellence is now reaching Brady-era New England Patriots territory, and Mahomes is the ultimate trump card.

    It’s a testament to how great Mahomes has been that a 30-of-39 night with a 100.5 passer rating wasn’t really viewed as an exceptional performance.

    Certainly, he got the job done on Sunday, all the way through his very last throw, a 32-yard completion to Marquez Valdes-Scantling on third down that secured the Chiefs’ 17-10 victory.

    But it wasn’t one of his 10 best playoff performances ever.

    Think about that. Beating the Ravens’ elite defense to reach the Super Bowl with efficient — and at times spectacular — play will probably be a footnote in his career whenever he hangs it up.

    Jackson, meanwhile, will be reminded of his failures from Sunday until he finally wins the big one.

    The clock is ticking.

    Jackson turned 27 earlier this month, and while that isn’t old for a traditional quarterback, it’s not young for a quarterback whose athleticism makes him special. Jackson probably has another five or so prime years left.

    Meaning: While his window isn’t yet closing, it’s not going to stay open in perpetuity

    Which is why Sunday was such a missed opportunity.

    There were legitimate reasons why the Ravens were 4.5-point favorites.

    They were at home.

    They had the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense.

    The Chiefs’ offense was the worst it has been in years.

    And Baltimore had Jackson, who accounted for nearly 4,500 yards and 29 total touchdowns during the regular season.

    None of that mattered.

    Because Mahomes made the plays to win.

    And Jackson did not.

    His inexcusable interception in the end zone cost the Ravens their best chance to get back into a game they trailed by double digits nearly the entire second half.

    Jackson on 2nd-and-10 from the Chiefs’ 25-yard line forced a pass to Isaiah Likely into triple coverage. The result — a pick by Deon Bush — was basically inevitable the moment he decided to throw it.

    MORE: NFL Playoff Bracket

    It’ll be the throw that haunts Jackson — and his fans — for the next eight months. And maybe beyond.

    “His performance today was all heart,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of Jackson post-game. “He fought. He went out there and gave it everything he had. So I don’t think that’s anything I’d be disappointed in.”

    That’s the supportive thing to say. It’s also not very credible.

    Jackson completed just 20 of 37 attempts on Sunday for 272 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. He did lead the Ravens in rushing (54 yards on eight carries), but he also coughed up a fumble.

    And he’s now 2-4 all-time in the postseason, and his playoff stats are dreadful.

    He’s completed just 57.4% of his attempts for 6.8 yards per attempt and a passer rating of 75.6 in the postseason.

    That’s not nearly good enough against almost any starting NFL quarterback.

    It’s laughably inadequate against Mahomes and the defending champs.

    “Offensively, we didn’t put nothing on the board,” Jackson said. “We scored once. That’s not like us. We drove the ball down the field, that’s cool, but we’ve got to put points on the board. I feel like my team is angry. Not frustrated, but angry because we know how hard we worked to get here.”

    The journey to get back to where they were starts on Monday.

    But so long as Mahomes is in the league, Baltimore’s destination will likely remain the same.

    As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

    Related Stories