Lamar Jackson’s Road to Playoff Success: A New Era for the Ravens
Earlier this season, Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks coach Tee Martin shared a pivotal moment from last year’s AFC Championship Game with Lamar Jackson and the team. The clip showed Patrick Mahomes rallying his Kansas City Chiefs with one word repeated: composure.
“Composure, composure, composure,” Mahomes shouted in the huddle. “I want y’all to finish, but I want composure.”
Martin’s takeaway for Jackson? Championship teams succeed not only through talent but by staying emotionally and mentally prepared to handle high-stakes moments.
For Jackson, a player with an NFL MVP title under his belt, playoff success has been elusive. Despite making history as the first quarterback to exceed 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards in a single season, Jackson carries the unwanted distinction of being the only multi-MVP winner who hasn’t reached, let alone won, a Super Bowl.
As Baltimore gears up to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card round, Jackson’s performance will be scrutinized. Can he lead the Ravens to the Super Bowl by relying on his upgraded supporting cast and applying lessons from past playoff struggles?
Addressing Jackson’s Playoff Struggles
Since entering the league in 2018, Jackson has dominated the regular season, boasting a .745 win percentage (70-24). However, his postseason record tells a different story: a 2-4 record with as many turnovers (9) as touchdowns. For Jackson and the Ravens, the playoffs have highlighted uncharacteristic errors, from interceptions to fumbles, that undermine his regular-season brilliance.
“I’d just be too excited,” Jackson admitted, reflecting on past playoff games. “Too antsy. I was seeing things before they happened, and I had to learn how to calm down. Now, I’ve found a way to balance it out.”
Baltimore has sought to reduce the burden on Jackson by bolstering his offensive arsenal. Recent drafts brought Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and rookie tackle Roger Rosengarten to fortify the offensive line. Wide receiver Zay Flowers, Jackson’s first Pro Bowl target, has added versatility to the passing game, while free-agent acquisition Derrick Henry brings a powerful presence in the backfield.
“Lamar doesn’t have to be Superman anymore,” said Hall of Famer and Ravens radio analyst Rod Woodson. “He just needs to play his game.”
Learning from the Past to Build the Future
One playoff game lingers in Jackson’s mind: last year’s AFC Championship loss to the Chiefs. A risky fourth-quarter interception marred an otherwise solid drive, symbolizing Jackson’s tendency to press too hard in critical moments.
“In the postseason, trying to make plays instead of letting them come to you often backfires,” Woodson noted.
Jackson’s turnover rate illustrates this challenge. While he averages one turnover every 82 snaps during the regular season, that number jumps to one every 45 snaps in the playoffs.
Baltimore’s coaching staff and teammates emphasize keeping Jackson loose and focused. “When he’s at his best, he’s playing free and having fun,” said Linderbaum. “Our job is to help him get into that mindset.”
The Road Ahead: Can Jackson Finally Deliver?
Saturday’s matchup against the Steelers is a defining moment for Jackson. Historically, Pittsburgh’s defense has posed significant challenges, forcing more interceptions (9) than touchdowns (8) from him. Yet Jackson’s recent success against the Steelers—three touchdowns in a dominant Week 17 win—offers hope.
Teammates and coaches see a new level of maturity in Jackson this season. “His mind is on another level,” Martin observed. “He’s more advanced in what he sees and anticipates.”
This growth has translated into fewer mistakes. Jackson’s 2024 regular season featured 41 touchdown passes to just four interceptions, a career-best ratio. His focus, resilience, and leadership have impressed everyone from backup quarterback Josh Johnson to Ravens GM Eric DeCosta, who called Jackson’s urgency this season “palpable.”
As Jackson turns 28, the parallels to legendary quarterbacks are striking. Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers all needed years to reach their first Super Bowl. For Jackson, the goal is clear: a championship.
“I said it when I was drafted: They’re going to get a Super Bowl out of me,” Jackson reaffirmed. “This is the highest level of the game, and I want to go out a champion.”
