In Sunday’s AFC Championship game, everyone waited anxiously for the moment we all anticipated, when Lamar Jackson would shake every defender and add another jaw-dropping move to his ever-growing highlight reel.
Unfortunately for the Ravens and their fans, that shockingly never materialized.
During the rain-soaked AFC Championship game at M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens fell to the Kansas City Chiefs, 17-10. The game was a tale of Patrick Mahomes’ greatness, a second-half revival of Baltimore’s defense and another championship defensive strategy orchestrated by Steve Spagnuolo (ask Tom Brady about his experience against the Giants in the Super Bowl).
But it really was a tale of the confusing absence of the real Lamar Jackson.
In the first half, Mahomes was on fire as he completed 20-25 passes for 161 yards and a TD, leading the Chiefs to a 17-7 halftime lead.
20/25 (80%) for 161 yards and 1 TD at the half for Patrick Mahomes.
— First and Pen (@firstandpen) January 28, 2024
That boy good. ???? pic.twitter.com/g75j76XdoY
Lamar had a few moments, including the touchdown where he evaded a sack, scrambled and then threw deep to rookie Zay Flowers for a 30-yard TD.
In the second half, the Ravens’ defense made adjustments and stops, allowing Lamar to get on the field to put points on the board.
But it seemed like every time he garnered momentum, it came to a frustrating end with nothing to show for it.
During one drive in the 3Q, he consistently hit running backs out of the backfield for big chunks of yards. Yet it ultimately led to nothing.
That continued in the 4Q as drives stalled or ended because of turnovers; one by Flowers on the goalline and another on an interception by Lamar on a pass that he should never have thrown.
The most frustrating part of watching the game was that Lamar never channeled Lamar and used his athleticism to win games like he did all season. It was almost like he wanted to prove to the critics that he could win from the pocket when his greatest asset is that he doesn’t need to be a pocket passer to win games.
Just be Lamar Jackson. That’s what got Baltimore to a 13-4 record and the number one overall season this year.
But when it mattered most, Lamar chose not to be Lamar, and that was dumbfounding.
