I’m Arthur
AFC South Reporter
BALTIMORE — This Ravens postseason run is as much about Lamar Jackson’s legacy as it is Baltimore’s aspirations for a Super Bowl.
It’s because Jackson, the one-time league MVP who’s likely to win his second this season, hasn’t found much individual or team success in the playoffs, where legends have stamped their name. It’s the blemish on his resume of greatness. Entering Saturday, he had a 1-4 record in the postseason, where he has just four total touchdowns and seven giveaways.
This season’s divisional-round game was about taking the first steps to changing the narrative. About him meeting the moment of pressure with performance.
Mission accomplished.
Receiving MVP chants in the fourth quarter, Jackson had four total touchdowns — two receiving, two rushing — to guide the Ravens to a 34-10 victory Saturday night over the Texans, punching Baltimore’s first berth to the AFC championship game in 11 years. The Ravens will also be hosting the conference title game for the first time in franchise history.
A two-time first-team All-Pro, Jackson put the Ravens on his back throughout the game and kicked into high gear as Baltimore went on a 24-0 run in the second half. Jackson completed 72.7% of his passes (16-of-22) for 152 yards and two touchdowns against zero interceptions, posting a terrific 121.8 passer rating. He also added 11 carries for 100 yards, his third career 100-yard rushing game in the playoffs.
His dominance began in the second quarter, when he accounted for more than ¾ of Baltimore’s yardage on the touchdown drive in the period — highlighted by two carries for 38 yards, a 17-yard completion to rookie receiver Zay Flowers that pushed the team into plus territory and the three-yard touchdown pass to veteran wideout Nelson Agholor, which gave Baltimore an early 10-3 lead.
In the third quarter, with the Ravens inside the red zone, Jackson responded to a near end-zone interception targeting tight end Isaiah Likely in a tight window — Texans safety Jalen Pitre got his hands on the ball — with a 15-yard touchdown scramble on the next play.
Jackson’s biggest highlight of the game came later in the period. It was a taste of vintage Jackson. On a designed run up the left side of the field, the three-time Pro Bowler had a nasty juke that left defensive end Derek Barnett tackling air to cap a 14-yard scramble. That set up his third touchdown, a 15-yard pass to Likely.
After his fourth and final touchdown, an eight-yard designed run, Jackson ran into the tunnel behind the end zone — symbolic of his readiness for next weekend’s AFC championship game against the winner of the Chiefs and Bills on Sunday.
The Ravens defense deserves its props too.
It held rookie sensation C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ explosive offense with an offensive touchdown. Baltimore erased Houston’s run game and brought consistent pressure to Stroud, even though he wasn’t sacked. The Ravens recorded 23 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats.
Ben Arthur is the AFC South reporter for FOX Sports. He previously worked for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat writer for a year and a half. He covered the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for three seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tennessee. You can follow Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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2024-01-21 00:47:11
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