Lamar Jackson focuses on playoffs after Ravens AFC North win – Blogging Sole

Lamar Jackson focuses on playoffs after Ravens AFC North win – Blogging Sole

by

  • Lamar Jackson focuses on playoffs after Ravens AFC North win – Blogging Sole

    Jamison Hensley, ESPN editorJanuary 4, 2025, 11:13 p.m. ET

    Close

      Jamison Hensley is a reporter who covers the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens starting in 2013. Jamison won Maryland’s National Sports Media Association Sports Writer of the Year award in 2018, and he is the author of a book entitled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore. Crows. He was the Ravens writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000 to 2011.

BALTIMORE — By leading the Baltimore Ravens to a 35-10 victory against the Cleveland Browns saturday, quarterback Lamar Jackson clinched its fourth AFC North title and put the finishing touches on a record-setting regular season.

But unlike many of his teammates, Jackson didn’t wear the hats and t-shirts that celebrated the Ravens’ latest division title.

“I’m very proud of my team,” Jackson said. “We fought and we did the job, but the job is lost.”

The Ravens (12-5) earned third place and will host a playoff game next weekend against the Los Angeles Chargers Or Pittsburgh Steelers. Jackson remains in the conversation to win a third NFL Most Valuable Player award, but his teammates say he’s only talking about what it will take to reach his first Super Bowl.

“I’m focused on the wild card game, I’m not going to lie to you,” Jackson said. “I’m cool with what’s happening today. I’m fine, don’t get me wrong. But I’m thinking of something else. »

By having his best statistical season, the reigning NFL MVP concluded one of the most remarkable regular seasons by a quarterback.

Jackson became the first player in NFL history to accumulate 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards in a season. He also set a league benchmark by becoming the first to throw more than 40 touchdown passes and fewer than five interceptions. Jackson finished with 41 touchdown passes and four interceptions.

“He’s just one of a kind.” There’s no one like Lamar Jackson, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s in the locker room, and he’s not happy about the last practice… he wants everything to be perfect, everything. That’s why those numbers are the way they are, because of who he is. »

Baltimore has shown its resilience this season. The Ravens had to rebound from an 0-2 start and overcome the death of offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris, who died of a heart attack 11 days before the season began.

Then, entering Week 15, Baltimore trailed Pittsburgh by two games in the AFC North race with four weeks remaining. The Ravens had a 28.8 percent chance of overtaking the Steelers for the division title, according to ESPN Analytics.

Baltimore has defied the odds by winning its last four games, outscoring its opponents 135-43.

“There are men in this locker room that will do anything to win,” the Ravens tight end said. Mark Andrews said. “Take care of us and be ready to go every week, every game. We have real pros in this locker room. It doesn’t matter the schedule, it doesn’t matter what day we play. That’s what we have, a bunch of players.

Jackson now leads the Ravens to the playoffs for the fifth time. He guided Baltimore to the AFC championship game last season, when the Ravens lost 17-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs.

But Jackson’s postseason struggles — he’s 2-4 in the postseason — will be a major storyline all week.

When asked what Jackson’s mindset would be in the playoffs, Andrews responded: “Locked in. Completely locked in.”

Leave a Comment