The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs faced off in the AFC Championship Game. The winner of the game would earn a trip to the Super Bowl, where they’d face either the Detroit Lions or the San Francisco 49ers
The game started as a back-and-forth showing of muscle by both teams. However, the most impressive play might have been made by the likely MVP. How is the NFL world reacting to Lamar Jackson’s pass to himself?
Lamar Jackson’s Pass to Himself
The game started with three touchdowns on four possessions. Following a game-opening punt from the Ravens, the Chiefs scored the first points of the game with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce.
The Ravens took no time to respond, though, as Jackson broke a sack and launched 30 yards for a touchdown pass to Zay Flowers.
The Chiefs responded once again, with Isiah Pacheco running it in from two yards out to give the Chiefs a 14-7 lead.
That’s when it gets interesting. In the Ravens drive following Pacheco’s touchdown, Jackson was strip-sacked by Charles Omenihu, with the Chiefs recovering the fumble.
However, the Ravens would get a fourth-down stop, giving the Ravens the ball back at their own 13-yard line.
The Ravens’ next drive would result in a punt, but Jackson would create a highlight first. On 2nd-and-5, Jackson’s pass would be tipped in the air by safety Justin Reid, then caught by himself.
After catching his own pass, Jackson ran it for 13 yards, earning the team a first down and preventing an interception.
MVP moment by Lamar Jackson 🤯#RavensFlock | #KCvsBAL
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 28, 2024
“One of the greatest plays I’ve ever seen,” said announcer Tony Romo immediately following the play. “This is intercepted 90% of the time.” Following the play, the Ravens would gain just one more yard and punt the ball back to the Chiefs.
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Jackson’s self-reception is a reminder of something that has happened to the Chiefs before. Back in the 2018 Wild Card playoff game between the Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans, then-quarterback Marcus Mariota caught his own pass and ran it six yards for a touchdown.
Marcus Mariota throws a touchdown pass to… Marcus Mariota?? #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/N6bcTrjBYT
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 6, 2018
“GREATEST PLAY WE’LL EVER SEE IN THE PLAYOFFS,” said one NFL fan on X (Formerly known as Twitter). “These the plays that you’ll only see on Madden. What was that,” said another fan.
After the play, both team’s highly touted defenses would show themselves. Both teams combined for three punts.
However, thanks to multiple personal fouls, the Chiefs drove the field and scored a field goal, giving them a 17-7 lead at halftime.
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