Ravens’ Playoff Fate Rest on Lamar’s Shoulders: Jackson Seeks Redemption Against Steelers
Lamar Jackson has won the same number of playoff games as NFL MVP trophies: two.
The dearth of postseason victories have been an issue and the Ravens star quarterback looks to change the narrative when third-seeded Baltimore hosts the sixth-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC wild-card round on Saturday night.
Jackson owns a 2-4 record in the playoffs, having thrown six interceptions while fumbling six times (losing three) in the postseason. He has thrown for six touchdowns and rushed for three in his playoff career.
In other words, production needs to increase and miscues need to decrease.
And the 28-year-old needs to be more relaxed.
“I’m just too excited — that’s all. Too antsy, that’s all,” Jackson said of his playoff troubles. “I’m seeing things before it happens like, ‘Oh, I have to calm myself down.’ But just being more experienced, I’ve found a way to balance it out.”
One person who could come to the rescue is star running back Derrick Henry.
In his first season with the Ravens, Henry rushed for 1,921 yards, second in the NFL, and 16 touchdowns, tied for first. He has played in seven postseason games, and he helped Tennessee reach the AFC Championship Game in the 2019 season before the Titans lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
“We’ve got to be different this time,” Henry said. “I think you all know that and we all feel that. We all know what we’re capable of. Let’s go get it.”
This will be the fifth postseason meeting between the teams. Pittsburgh won three of the previous four, but the Ravens prevailed in the most recent playoff matchup, 30-17 in the wild-card round on Jan. 3, 2015.
This season, the Ravens (12-5) and Steelers (10-7) split their two regular-season meetings, with each team winning at home.
Pittsburgh enters the Saturday clash on a four-game losing streak. The Steelers missed multiple chances to clinch the AFC North before eventually being overtaken by Baltimore, which won its last four contests.
“For us, it’s not about being in the tournament. It’s not about pouting over the last month,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “It’s about this week for us, we’re playing someone that we’re highly familiar with. They’re also highly familiar with us. … And so there’s a lot of work ahead of us in preparation for performance.”
The Steelers lost 19-17 to the visiting Cincinnati Bengals last week, and the refrain from Pittsburgh players is consistent: Turn the page.
