Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16. The Steelers currently have a one-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North, and a win on Saturday will seal the division title for them.
The Ravens have already lost to the Steelers earlier this season, and Jackson is currently on a four-game losing streak against his team’s biggest rival. James Jones recently talked about how important the upcoming matchup is for the Ravens, especially for their two-time MVP quarterback.
James Jones Puts Lamar Jackson on Notice
During a segment on Fox Sports’ “The Facility,” Jones emphasized everything that Jackson and the Ravens will play for in Week 16.
“I mean, if the Steelers lose this game, they still control their own destiny to win the division,” Jones said. “Lamar is what we call ‘weak’ against the Steelers. He has to find a way to beat the Steelers. Lamar is in the MVP hunt. Lamar is still trying to win this division to get a home playoff game at the crib. So, to me, all the pressure is on Lamar.”
.@89JonesNTAF says Lamar Jackson has all the pressure stacked on him vs. Steelers:
"He's in the MVP hunt and trying to win the division. You have to beat good teams." pic.twitter.com/j3A4MWEmyD
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) December 19, 2024
The former Green Bay Packers wideout also mentioned that Jackson has not only lost regularly against the Steelers but also not played well.
“Lamar needs to win this game more,” Jones added. “He has to get this thing done. You do not have a really good record against the Pittsburgh Steelers. You don’t really even play well. It’s not like you’re losing and you’re balling against the Pittsburgh Steelers. … They know how to play you. Lamar has to go out here and play at a high level. They need to win this game.”
Jackson is 1-4 against Pittsburgh as an NFL starting quarterback. He has thrown for 1,065 yards, five touchdowns, and eight interceptions, with a passer rating of just 66.2 in these five games. The Ravens star’s last win against them came in 2019, but it is a good spot for him to redeem himself.
Will Jackson Miss Out on the MVP Award This Year?
Jackson is having the best season of his career, but he will probably miss out on the MVP award. Josh Allen is starting to become the runaway favorite to win the award ahead of Jackson, largely because the Ravens have already lost five games this year.
If Baltimore had a better record, Jackson could be on his way to winning back-to-back MVPs. However, he has already won two of them and now needs a Super Bowl to add to his collection.
Jackson is on a trajectory to be a future Hall of Famer, but his performances in big games are one of his biggest flaws. He has often struggled against the Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs, two teams the Ravens have to beat if they want to go to the Super Bowl.
The game against the Steelers on Saturday will tell a lot about this Ravens team. If they lose again, the public may be hesitant to back them on a deep playoff run. However, if they do win and Jackson plays like he has done for most of this year, it will give the team a good amount of confidence for the postseason.
