Lamar Jackson vented his frustrations after the Baltimore Ravens lost on Sunday night on the road to the Buffalo Bills, putting them out of the NFL playoffs.
The Ravens were left chasing an 11-point deficit in the second half at Orchard Park, and two-time NFL MVP Jackson looked like he would pull off another epic comeback. A Jackson-led offense scored nine unanswered points in the third quarter, leaving Baltimore needing two or more to tie or win.
The Bills scored six points in the fourth quarter to extend their lead to eight, but an Isaiah Likely touchdown with a minute and a half to go set up a nail-biting finish. The Ravens elected to go for a two-point conversion to tie the game, and tight end Mark Andrews was picked out by Jackson, but the veteran dropped the ball.
After the game, Jackson animatedly responded to the Ravens’ coming up short again and harshly criticized himself after two first-half turnovers. “Every time we in situations like this, turnovers play a factor. Penalties play a factor,” Jackson told reporters.
“Tonight, the turnovers, we can’t have that —- and that’s why we lost the game. As you can see, we’re moving the ball wonderfully; it’s [just] hold onto the ——- ball. I’m sorry for my language, but this —- annoying. I’m tired of this —-.”
Jackson, the frontrunner to be crowned the NFL MVP for a third time, has a 1-5 record in the divisional round and conference championship. It’s a postseason slump the quarterback knows he needs to overcome. “I’ve got to get over this,” Jackson added. “We’re right there. I’m tired of being right there. We need to punch our ticket.”
Lamar Jackson gave an expletive assessment of the Ravens’ loss to the Bills ( Image: Getty)
The Ravens lost in the AFC Championship game last season to the Kansas City Chiefs, the eventual Super Bowl winners. Defeating the Bills would’ve set up a rematch against the Chiefs, who have shown vulnerabilities this season despite picking up the No. 1 seed.
Over in the NFC, the Detroit Lions were stunned by the Washington Commanders and their rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, and the Philadelphia Eagles squeaked by the Los Angeles Rams. The 2024 season presented Baltimore and Jackson with a prime opportunity to end their Super Bowl drought.
Following his 2018 first-round drafting, Jackson confidently declared that the Ravens would win a Super Bowl with him in charge of their offense. Luckily for Jackson and Baltimore, the quarterback has time on his side, being just 28, and he appears to get even better each season.