via Getty
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens walks off the field after being defeated by the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Divisional Playoff game 28-12 at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
via Getty
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens walks off the field after being defeated by the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Divisional Playoff game 28-12 at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
“Lamar Jackson is going to become, be known, and be recognized as the greatest quarterback ever to play in the history of the NFL!” Not us making the claim. The Baltimore Ravens’ HC John Harbaugh echoed this vision on the first day of the training camp. Harbaugh’s got his QB’s back like an offensive lineman, defending his MVP star against criticisms saying he failed to punch the ticket to the SB last season. It’s sweet for the chemistry. But this retired NFL vet believes this is what Lamar NEEDS to do!
Appearing on ESPN’s Get Up on July 22nd, former Eagles’ CB Herm Edwards was hit with this question: “Can Lamar follow up his second MVP season with a first Super Bowl appearance in 2024?” Edwards fired back with the enthusiasm of a coach on game day. “Well, he needs to,” he said. But why? “When you think about his playoff record, it is, now, suddenly two and four. In the last six playoff games, four of those times, this offense didn’t score over 20 points,” he added.
If we put things into perspective, a couple of things stand out. For Harbaugh’s vision to become a reality, Lamar has a mountain to scale, not just a hill. Especially when the Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is closer to dethroning Tom Brady from the summit of the ‘greatest QBs’.
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So, where does the Ravens’ signal-caller stand in the pecking order?
Polls of the day
Poll 1 of 5
Do you think Lamar Jackson is under too much pressure for his playoff record?
Yes
No
It's part of the game
He needs to step up
Do you think Deion Sanders would be a better coach than Lincoln Riley?
Absolutely
No way
Maybe
Only time will tell
Whats your Perspective on:
Is Lamar Jackson unfairly criticized for his playoff record, or does he need to step up?
Have an interesting take?
Do you think Phil Loadholt's NFL experience will make a significant impact on Colorado's OL?
Absolutely
Maybe
Not at all
Only time will tell
Do you think Kirby Smart's Georgia will dominate the NCAA this season?
Absolutely
No way
Maybe, but it's too early to tell
Only if they stay injury-free
| Stats since 2018 | Patrick Mahomes | Lamar Jackson |
| Games | 95 | 86 |
| YDs | 28,140 | 15,887 |
| TDs | 219 | 125 |
| INTs | 62 | 62 |
| Rate | 103.7 | 98 |
While Mahomes is an outright winner in this showdown of the QBs, Lamar’s not exactly warming the bench. At 27, he’s in the history book as the youngest two-time NFL MVP, while flaunting a second-best regular-season record since 2018. Does this mean the Ravens’ coach’s vision is far-fetched?
This is where Edwards’ take comes into the picture. With the team’s offense hanging on his every move, Lamar Jackson has had a rocky road in the postseason, losing four out of six playoff games. In last season’s 17-10 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship, he completed just 54% of his passes and threw two crucial turnovers. As expected, it proved costly for the Ravens.
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 17, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) throws the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
Despite this, Edwards is putting his chips on the 27-year-old QB to read the play and up his game, especially with Coach Harbaugh’s backing. The 2024 season is shaping up to be a big one, but the playbook will be the real game-changer. “How they use him in the offensive line will be crucial,” the former Jets and Chiefs coach concluded.
However, while there are discussions about putting Lamar on the list of great QBs and short-term goals, there is an ex-NFL guard who believes he is mediocre.
Lamar Jackson pissed in the playoffs, per Mark Schlereth
In an episode of The Stinkin’ Truth Podcast, on July 1, Mark Schlereth dove into Lamar Jackson’s gameplay. “You want to talk about the definition of mediocrity in the playoff? Lamar Jackson is mediocre,” Schlereth commented. His reasoning? “I don’t know how you define pressure. But if you’re a two-time MVP and you pissed down your legs during the playoffs, I would say you’ve got some pressure.”
It’s true, his numbers weren’t stellar against the Chiefs, as we saw. Herm Edwards echoed this sentiment as well, though with more respect than suggesting he ‘pissed’ in the playoffs.
Schlereth, however, was not ready to backtrack from his stance. He argued that despite Jackson having high-caliber talent around him; he did not deliver. On he otther hand, he used Aaron Rodgers as an example. He said A-Rod outperformed with no top-tier talent at the Packers. Mark further stressed that Jackson’s playoff performance needs to match his regular-season heroics. His critique isn’t about race; it’s about holding a QB to high expectations after proving he can dominate the gridiron.
Now, Lamar must answer these questions with a new season right on the horizon. The only right way, it seems, is for him to flip the script and deliver when it counts in the postseason. And the positive? The QB has his sights set on the Super Bowl!
Will he bring the trophy home? Or will Mahomes snatch that dream away from him, again, with a 3-peat? Let us know your thoughts.
Debate
Is Lamar Jackson unfairly criticized for his playoff record, or does he need to step up?