On the heels of another postseason defeat, the Baltimore Ravens remain unshakable in their belief that star quarterback Lamar Jackson will one day lead them to the promised land of a Super Bowl championship. The faith in the 2019 and 2024 NFL MVP runs deep within the organization, despite his 3-5 career playoff record.
It’s inevitable. He’s going to win a Super Bowl, and I want to be a part of it. It just sucks that it hasn’t happened yet.
Patrick Ricard, Ravens Pro Bowl fullback
Jackson’s latest playoff exit came in a narrow 27-25 road loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The 29-year-old struggled early with a first quarter interception and second quarter fumble. But he rallied after halftime, nearly orchestrating a signature comeback before his potential game-tying 2-point pass was dropped by tight end Mark Andrews in the final minutes.
Echoes of Peyton Manning
Many see shades of Hall of Famer Peyton Manning’s early career arc in Lamar Jackson’s journey so far. Through their first seven NFL seasons, both Jackson and Manning claimed multiple MVP awards but struggled to a 3-5 postseason record. Manning, of course, went on to win two Super Bowls and cement his legacy among the all-time greats.
There’s still time. He’s still young. He’s definitely going to one at some point.
Patrick Ricard on the Lamar Jackson-Peyton Manning comparison
At age 28, Jackson is young enough to not only match Manning’s Super Bowl achievements, but potentially exceed them. The Ravens quarterback could become the youngest player in NFL history to win MVP three times, with this season’s award still to be announced.
Record-Breaking Regular Season
Lost in the disappointment of another premature playoff ouster is the fact that Lamar Jackson authored his most statistically impressive regular season to date in 2024. He became the first player ever to throw for over 40 touchdowns with fewer than 5 interceptions, finishing with 41 TDs to just 4 picks.
- 41 passing touchdowns (career high)
- 4 interceptions (career low)
But regular season accolades will provide little comfort for Jackson, who has yet to win back-to-back playoff games in his career. The sting of falling short again was evident to his teammates in the aftermath of the Bills loss.
Oh, he’s mad. He’s mad for sure. We know our team. We know what we’re supposed to do and we know the only way that we can’t do what we want to is what we did yesterday. So I already know how he’s feeling.
Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers
Unfinished Business
The Ravens understand they have unfinished business and that Lamar Jackson’s legacy is still being written. They’ve seen flashes of his greatness, both in the regular season and fleeting playoff moments. Now it’s about putting it all together for a full championship run.
I personally feel bad for him because he deserves it just because of how great of a player he is. He deserves to be considered one of the best quarterbacks. He already is, but I know everyone considers championships as the standard and he’ll get it one day.
Patrick Ricard on Lamar Jackson
The unwavering support from Ravens players and the organization make it clear – they believe a Super Bowl is not just a goal, but an inevitability for Lamar Jackson. The pressure is on for the face of the franchise to reward that faith and deliver when it matters most. Until then, the questions and doubts will linger, fueling Jackson to prove he can win the biggest games on the biggest stage.
