Mike Florio rips Ravens QB Lamar Jackson for being ‘too antsy’ for Steelers fixture
NBC Sports' PFT host Mike Florio believes Lamar Jackson must deliver in the post season even though he is in line to win his third NFL MVP title.
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (Image via IMAGO)
Lamar Jackson is the favorite to win the NFL MVP once again, but that doesn’t guarantee postseason success. Despite a mid-season slump, Jackson led the Baltimore Ravens to a 12-5 finish and consecutive AFC North titles.
Even though Lamar shines in the regular season, he always seems to draw the short straw in the playoffs. Last year, the Ravens reached the AFC title game but lost to the eventual champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Ravens are overwhelming favorites against divisional rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the wild-card round. Jackson in a recent interview revealed that he is antsy about the fixture.
I’m [usually] just too excited… that’s all. [I’m] too antsy. I’m seeing things before it happens, like, ‘Oh, I have to calm myself down.’ But just being more experienced, I’ve found a way to balance it out.
Lamar Jackson said
Pro Football Talk host Mike Florio doubled down on Jackson’s comments on playing against a Steelers side that lost four in a row to finish the season.
Florio pointed out that being the favorite to win puts far more pressure than being the underdog.
When Lamar Jackson tries to talk his way out of his history, he only puts more pressure on himself. When he comes out and says, ‘I feel more nervous. I feel more antsy in the postseason, but I’m past that now.’ No, you’re not. Because when you go out there for the first drive of a game that’s win or go home, when you’re favored by 9.5 points, you will feel the pressure. Oh yes, you will.
Mike Florio said on PFT via Bobby Trosset of Ravens Vault
Mike Florio adds a sliver of bulletin board material ahead of Baltimore's postseason run:
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) January 9, 2025
"When Lamar Jackson tries to talk his way out of his history, he only puts more pressure on himself. When he comes out and says 'I feel more nervous. I feel more antsy in the postseason,… pic.twitter.com/4mj3ZOCYLo
Lamar Jackson needs to show up in the playoffs
Florio has always been critical of Jackson’s playoff performances. Even though the Ravens qualified for the postseason every year since he entered the NFL, Jackson barely made it past the divisional round once.
Lamar Jackson’s a superstar, but there are nine people in NFL history who’ve won multiple MVPs. He’s the only one who has never won a Super Bowl. I think we have to pay attention to that.
Stephen A. Smith said in a recent segment of ESPN’s First Take
.@stephenasmith believes Lamar Jackson is under MORE pressure to win a title than Josh Allen.
— First Take (@FirstTake) January 8, 2025
"Lamar Jackson's a super star, but there are nine people in NFL history who've won multiple MVPs. He's the only one who has never won a Super Bowl." pic.twitter.com/Ihzd6QD43Y
A 2-4 record in six postseason games isn’t suitable for an athlete who has been voted the best player in the NFL on multiple occasions. Last season’s AFC title game was the farthest he ever played in the postseason.
In six games, the 28-year-old completed 112 of 195 passes for 1,324 yards, six touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 75.7 passer rating. Jackson further completed 521 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
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Ishan Misra
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