Lamar Jackson’s legacy goes to ceaselessly be “nice participant who makes crucial errors to return up brief within the playoffs” till he alters it.
However sadly for Jackson and the Ravens, he’ll now have to attend one other 12 months earlier than he is ready change that notion following Baltimore’s 27-25 loss to the Payments on Sunday.
Regardless of a valiant effort within the fourth quarter, the Ravens’ comeback try failed and Jackson’s playoff report dropped to 3-5.
General, Jackson’s numbers from the sport look principally high-quality. He accomplished 18-of-25, threw for 254 yards, ran for 39 extra and did throw a pair of landing passes, together with one within the remaining minutes of the sport. Nonetheless, along with these constructive numbers, he additionally did what he tends to do in huge playoff video games: give up crucial turnovers.
Earlier than Jackson began taking part in like an MVP — most anticipate him to say his third profession MVP — he opened the sport making errors that got here again to hang-out Baltimore within the recreation and can doubtless keep in its thoughts all through the whole offseason.
Jackson was answerable for two of the Ravens’ three turnovers, one as an interception and the opposite as a fumble. Buffalo would capitalize and the turnovers would show to be the distinction in a detailed recreation between evenly matched groups.
Jackson said as much to the media after the sport.
“Turnovers play an element,” stated Jackson. “That is why we misplaced the sport.”
So one other division title for the Ravens and doable MVP for Jackson leads to a failing to achieve the Tremendous Bowl once more, this time failing to even get to the AFC Championship recreation.
This most up-to-date loss is simply the newest instance of why Jackson’s legacy, one that may undoubtedly result in him being enshrined within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, will at all times carry a cloud over it.
Phenomenal play in the course of the common season after which making errors within the playoffs has develop into a pattern for Jackson.
In eight profession playoff video games, Jackson has a 60.6 completion proportion, though that features finishing solely 48.3% and 52.5% of his passes in his first two playoff video games, respectively. He has 1,753 passing yards and 10 landing passes, however he additionally has thrown seven picks and misplaced 4 fumbles.
In order he now has a dropping playoff report at 3-5, Jackson has produced virtually as many total turnovers (11) as he has mixed touchdowns (13) within the postseason.
Clearly, the Ravens would not be in place to constantly be within the playoffs with out Jackson’s heroics and elite degree play. Some will even blame Mark Andrews much more than Jackson for Sunday’s loss. Andrews fumbled Baltimore’s different turnover after which dropped what would’ve been a recreation tying large open catch for 2 factors following a late landing drive.
Ought to Andrews have made that catch? Completely. Nevertheless it’s not truthful to him to take a look at solely that second after which absolve Jackson for his first half shortcomings. Take Jackson’s two turnovers away and Baltimore is not in a scenario that required heroics simply to get the sport to extra time.
Jackson’s playoff failures do not take away from his MVPs, his 4,172 passing yards and his 45 complete touchdowns from the 2024 common season or means he is not an incredible participant, however they’re a part of his legacy, prefer it or not.
