Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson might quickly turn out to be a three-time regular-season Most Precious Participant Award winner however has routinely obtained criticism as a result of he holds a 2-4 playoff document and has but to information the franchise to a Tremendous Bowl look.
Forward of the upcoming wild-card playoff recreation between the 12-5 Ravens and 10-7 Pittsburgh Steelers held at Baltimore’s M&T Financial institution Stadium on Saturday night time, Jackson provided an attention-grabbing concept concerning his postseason struggles.
“I’d simply be too excited,” Jackson acknowledged whereas talking with reporters on Tuesday, as shared by Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “That is all. Too antsy. I am seeing issues earlier than it occurred, like, ‘Oh, I bought to calm myself down.’ However simply being extra skilled, I’ve discovered a solution to steadiness it out.”
Jackson might have simply accomplished the perfect common season of what is changing into a Corridor of Fame profession. Per the StatMuse website, he completed Week 18 tied with Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals for the league lead in mixed dashing and passing touchdowns (45) and ranked second with a mixed 5,087 passing and dashing yards. In keeping with ESPN, Jackson led the NFL with a 77.5 adjusted QBR for the marketing campaign.
This previous summer season, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports activities Illustrated mentioned that “quarterbacks who run lots pay the value within the playoffs.” Breer additionally steered that the punishment a quarterback reminiscent of Jackson endures throughout a grueling season “might have an effect on accuracy at a time within the calendar when the margin for error is the smallest.”
Jackson, who led the league amongst quarterbacks with 915 dashing yards this season, tossed a total of six interceptions and misplaced three of six fumbles throughout the primary six playoff begins of his profession.
On Tuesday, Jackson touched upon the significance of taking part in “mistake-free” soccer throughout postseason tournaments. In the meantime, Corridor of Fame defensive again and Ravens radio analyst Rod Woodson lately told Hensley that Jackson has “pushed” and tried too arduous “to make performs” throughout playoff video games.
“And usually in any sport, whenever you’re making an attempt to make performs, they do not usually come. You allow them to come to you,” Woodson added.
As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Ravens second among the many betting favorites at +290 odds to symbolize the AFC in Tremendous Bowl LIX.
Honest or not, takes about Jackson failing to win on the most important of phases will proceed to hover over his legacy no less than till he performs in a significant February recreation.