After Lamar Jackson’s playoff exit with the Baltimore Ravens, a two-time Super Bowl champion isn’t holding back. The QB’s costly mistakes were the talk of the town, and this champ didn’t sugarcoat his take … at all.
It’s one thing to lose, but it’s another when those errors leave people scratching their heads – and this Super Bowl vet made sure to call out those key missteps.
Damien Woody Slams Lamar Jackson for Key Mistakes
Jackson’s dazzling plays were like fireworks in the second half, but Damien Woody wasn’t here for the pretty lights without the finish. “You can’t make those type of mistakes,” the two-time Super Bowl champ fired back — and honestly, he’s got a point.
Jackson might’ve dodged defenders like a video game character, but when it came down to the clutch, he fumbled, literally. That costly mistake handed the Buffalo Bills an easy score and killed any momentum the Ravens had.
Woody said, “Yo, he played so spectacularly in the second half, but ultimately, at the end of the day, did you make the game-winning plays? That’s all I care about. When you’re in game and you’re so closely matched, you have to make the plays that are there to be made. You can’t have the fumble — where you have one hand on the ball in those conditions and you fumble the ball away.
“It led to the Bills score points in that situation, and you lose the game. I get it. I understand Jackson is unbelievable. Some of the plays he made outside the pocket, great. But if you’re going to beat the Buffalo’s, if you’re going to beat the Kansas City’s, bro, you can’t make those type of mistakes.”
"Ultimately, at the end of the day, did you make the game-winning plays? … If you're going to beat the Buffalo's, if you're going to beat the Kansas City's, bro, you can't make those type of mistakes."
—@damienwoody on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' loss to the Bills pic.twitter.com/iAgPfS7NUw
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 20, 2025
As he broke it down, it’s all about making the game-winning plays in tight matchups. And in playoff football, those slip-ups come back to bite you.
Jackson was incredible at improvising, but in a matchup against teams like Buffalo or the Kansas City Chiefs, those “flashy moments” won’t save you. Woody didn’t mince words: You can’t afford those fumbles.
It’s a harsh reality check for Jackson who, despite his incredible talent, showed that even the best can falter in the crucial moments.
Patrick Ricard Believes Super Bowl Glory Is Inevitable for Jackson
Patrick Ricard might be about to cash in as a free agent, but he’s not ready to leave Jackson and the Ravens just yet. Why? Ricard believes Jackson’s Super Bowl moment is inevitable, and he wants to be there for it.
“I think this year, you’ve seen how he’s grown as a player, how quickly he’s making decisions, his growth of his reads, the way he throws the ball, the way he decides when to run,” Ricard told reporters. “It’s inevitable he’s going to win a Super Bowl, and I want to be a part of it. It just sucks it hasn’t happened yet. I personally feel bad for him because he deserves it, just because of how great a player he is.
“He deserves to be considered one of the best quarterbacks — he already is, but I know everyone considers championships the standard. He’ll get it one day. I always love it when people compare him to Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning was 3-5 in the playoffs in the same span of time Lamar is and he went on to win a couple.”
Ricard’s not wrong. Jackson’s been leveling up. His reads are sharper, his decision-making is faster, and his playmaking is still unreal. Ricard even pulled out the Peyton Manning comparison, pointing out how Manning was also playoff-challenged early before collecting two Super Bowl trophies.
It’s clear Ricard believes Jackson’s just getting started. “There’s still time. He’s still young. He’s definitely gonna get one at some point,” he added. Jackson’s future looks bright, and Ricard wants to be along for the ride.
