Lamar Jackson: Will Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Overcome NFL Playoff Struggles Against Pittsburgh Steelers? | NFL news
Lamar Jackson has won the same number of playoff games as NFL MVP trophies: two.
The lack of postseason wins is a growing problem for the Ravens star quarterback, who looks to change the narrative when AFC No. 3 seed Baltimore hosts the No. 6 seed Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round on Saturday night – live on Sky Sports NFL from 01:00 on Sunday morning.
Jackson is 2-4 in the playoffs, throwing six interceptions and six fumbles (three recovered) in the postseason. He threw six touchdowns and rushed for three scores in his playoff career.
The 28-year-old admitted that he needs to be more relaxed. “I’m just too excited, that’s all. Too nervous,” Jackson told reporters this week about his playoff woes.
“This is a story until it’s gone,” Sky Sports’ Neil Reynolds said, reacting to Jackson’s comments on the latest episode In the Huddle podcast.
“He’s 2-4 in the playoffs, with a 75.7 quarterback rating, while his career regular-season rating is 101.9. And now he’s actually admitted it’s gotten to his head a little bit. I’ll be watching Lamar a lot very early in this match.”
Former NFL assistant coach with the Buffalo Bills, Phoebe Schecter added, “These clips will be played at Steelers meetings this week, showing ‘look, he’s scared.’
“You kind of did him a disservice there, because that’s going to be ammunition for the Steelers team, and he’s missing his star receiver in Zay Flowers, which is a big part of this.”
One player who could come to the aid of the Ravens is star running back Derrick Henry.
In his first season with the team, Henry rushed for 1,921 yards, second in the NFL, and 16 touchdowns, tied for first. He played in seven postseason games, helping the Tennessee Titans reach the 2019 AFC Championship Game before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.
How the Steelers defense holds up against Jackson and Henry could be the key to the contest.
“The Steelers are doing a really great job of containing Lamar,” Schecter added. “They have very disciplined guys on the defensive line, a big veteran presence.
“They understand what they need to do to contain him in the pocket and, if they can do that, they can limit what Derrick Henry can do to you, because they have those physical linebackers that can bring them down and make plays in space.”
Saturday’s meeting is the fifth overall in the postseason between the teams. Pittsburgh has won three of the previous four, but the Ravens won the last playoff meeting, 30-17 in the Wild Card round 10 years ago.
This season, the Ravens (12-5) and Steelers (10-7) split their two regular season meetings, with each team winning at home.
Pittsburgh won Game 1 18-16 on six field goals by Chris Boswell on Nov. 17. In the return game on December 21, Jackson threw three touchdown passes and Henry rushed for 162 yards in Baltimore’s 34–17 victory, which ended Pittsburgh’s four-game losing streak to end the season.
“That being said, this game is punishment for the Steelers for losing four straight, which is why they had to go to Baltimore,” Reynolds added. “But it’s also a team they’re very familiar with and have already beaten this season.
“Even in the game Baltimore won right before Christmas, it was 17-17 pretty late in the second half before Baltimore pulled away.
“I think Baltimore will win this game, but I’m not sure it’s as easy as the seeding and recent form would suggest.”
Watch the Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round of the NFL postseason, live on Sky Sports NFL at 1am, Sunday morning; stream with NOW.
