Lamar Jackson: Will Baltimore Ravens quarterback win NFL rivalry with Pittsburgh Steelers? | NFL News

Lamar Jackson has won the same number of playoff games as NFL MVP trophies: two.

The lack of postseason wins has become a growing issue for the Ravens’ star quarterback, who is looking to change the narrative when AFC No. 3 seed Baltimore hosts the No. 6 seed Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild card round on Saturday night. Live on Sky Sports NFL 1 am, Sunday morning.

Jackson has a 2-4 record in the postseason with six interceptions and six fumbles (three recovered by opponents). In his playoff career, he threw for six touchdowns and rushed for three scores.

The 28-year-old admits he needs to relax more. “I’m excited, that’s all. It’s exciting,” Jackson told reporters this week about his playoff woes.

“This is a narrative until it passes.” Sky Sports Neil Reynolds responded to Jackson’s comments on the latest episode In the Huddle podcast.

“He’s 2-4 in the playoffs, his quarterback rating is 75.7, his regular-season rating is 101.9 for his career. And now he’s basically admitting he’s in over his head a little bit. I’ll be watching Lamar closely. In this game in the near future.”

Phoebe Schecter, a former NFL assistant coach with the Buffalo Bills, added: “Those clips will be playing in Steelers meetings this week, saying, ‘Look, he’s scared.’

“He did himself a disservice there, because that would be an ammo for the Steelers team, and he also lost his star receiver in Bloom, which is a big part of it.”

One player who could come to the Ravens’ rescue is 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. In 2019, he played in seven postseason games, helping the Tennessee Titans reach the AFC Championship Game before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.

How the Steelers defense handles Jackson and Henry could be the key to the contest.

“The Steelers will do a great job with Lamar,” added Schechter.

“They understand what they have to do to keep him in the pocket, and if they can do that, they can limit what Derek Henry can do to you, because they have physical linebackers who can take them down and make plays. In space.”

Saturday’s meeting is the fifth time between the teams in the postseason. Pittsburgh has won three of its last four, but the Ravens won the most recent playoff game, 30-17, in the wild-card round 10 years ago.

This season, the Ravens (12-5) and Steelers (10-7) split their two regular season meetings with each team winning at home.

Pittsburgh won the first game 18-16 on Nov. 17 behind six goals from Chris Boswell. In the rematch on December 21, Jackson threw three touchdowns and Henry ran for 162 yards in a 34–17 victory in Baltimore, part of a four-game losing streak to end Pittsburgh’s season.

“At face value, this game is punishment for the Steelers going into Baltimore on a four game losing streak,” Reynolds added. But they are also the team they know best and have beaten this season.

“Even the game that Baltimore won before Christmas, it was 17-17 late in the second half and Baltimore didn’t score.

“I think Baltimore will win this game, but I’m not sure what their seeding and recent form would suggest.”

Watch the Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild card round of the NFL post-season, live on Sky Sports NFL from 1pm, Sunday morning. Release with NOW.