Lamar Jackson has won the same number of playoff games as NFL MVP trophies: two.
The lack of postseason wins is increasingly a problem for the Ravens' star quarterback, who looks to change the narrative when the AFC's third-seeded Baltimore hosts the No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round on Saturday night – live on Sky Sports NFL from 1 am, Sunday morning.
Jackson is 2-4 in the playoffs after throwing six interceptions and six fumbles (three of which were recovered) in the postseason. He threw for six touchdowns and rushed for three scores in his playoff career.
Lamar Jackson has won just two of six playoff games in his career so far
The 28-year-old admitted that he needs to be more relaxed. “I'm just too excited, that's all. I'm too nervous,” Jackson told reporters this week about his playoff woes.
“This is a narrative until it's gone,” Sky Sports' said Neil Reynolds, responding to Jackson's comments about the latest episode Inside The Huddle Podcast.
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson's best game of the 2024 NFL season so far.
“He's 2-4 in the playoffs, with a quarterback rating of 75.7, while his career regular-season rating is 101.9. And now he's basically admitted it's gotten to his head a little bit. I'll be watching Lamar pretty very early in this game.”
Former Buffalo Bills NFL assistant coach Phoebe Schecter added, “Those clips will be played at Steelers meetings this week, showing 'look, he's afraid.'
“He kind of did himself a disservice there, because that's going to be ammunition for the Steelers team, and he's also missing his star receiver in Zay Flowers, which is a big part of this.”
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Check out Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry's best plays during the 2024 season.
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.
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Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold discuss how Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson set the tone for their Baltimore Ravens teammates on the Inside The Huddle podcast.
“The Steelers are doing a really great job of containing Lamar,” Schecter added. “They have very disciplined guys on the defensive line, a lot of veterans.
“They understand what they have 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 backs who are able to break them down and make plays in space.”
Saturday's meeting is fifth among the teams all-time in the postseason. Pittsburgh has won three of the past four, but the Ravens won their last playoff game, 30-17 in the Wild Card round 10 years ago.
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This season, the Ravens (12-5) and Steelers (10-7) split their two regular-season meetings, with each team winning at home.
Pittsburgh took Game 1 18-16 behind six field goals by Chris Boswell on Nov. 17. In the rematch on December 21, Jackson threw three touchdown passes and Henry rushed for 162 yards in Baltimore's 34–17 victory, which was part of a four-game sweep. -game Pittsburgh losing streak to end season.
“At face value, this game is a punishment for the Steelers because they've lost four in a row, 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 won this game, but I'm not sure it's as simple as the set-up 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 from NOW.