After a 20-day layoff, star quarterback Lamar Jackson is set to lead the Baltimore Ravens into the playoffs, facing the Houston Texans in the divisional round matchup on Saturday in Baltimore. The Ravens, coming off a commanding 56-19 victory over the Miami Dolphins on New Year’s Eve, aim to make a strong postseason statement.
Jackson, strategically rested during the Week 18 loss to the Steelers and a subsequent bye week, utilized the downtime to analyze the Ravens’ first encounter with the Texans, resulting in a 25-9 victory in Week 1. Reflecting on that game, Jackson noted that Houston prevented him from showcasing his running abilities, sacking him four times. The Ravens’ offense struggled, amassing only 265 yards, 18 first downs, and averaging 3.4 yards per carry on 32 rushing attempts, highlighting the challenges faced under new coordinator Todd Monken and a lack of cohesiveness, evident in 13 penalties.
Reviewing recent footage of the Texans, Jackson observed, “They are playing lights out ball right now.” Despite his anticipation, described as “antsy” on Tuesday, Jackson is focused on the upcoming challenge and not dwelling on past postseason shortcomings.
The Ravens’ last playoff appearance in 2022 saw Jackson unavailable due to a knee injury, with backup Tyler Huntley leading the team to a 24-17 defeat against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jackson’s previous playoff run in the 2020 season was lackluster, marked by a 68.1 passer rating, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions over two games—a 20-13 win against the Titans and a 17-3 loss to the Bills.
Recalling the 2019 postseason following a stellar 14-2 regular season, Jackson faced adversity against the Titans, suffering a 28-12 loss with four sacks, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. Despite these past challenges, Ravens coach John Harbaugh expressed confidence in Jackson’s preparedness for the playoffs, asserting, “Lamar’s ready to go. The guys are ready to go.” The Ravens aim to leverage Jackson’s resilience and skill as they embark on their playoff journey against the Texans.
