3 Reasons Why Lamar Jackson Will Be Under Scrutiny if He Fails to Reach Super Bowl This Season

Despite two MVP wins, Lamar Jackson has never played in a Super Bowl. The quarterback is on the verge of negatively impacting his legacy by continually falling short.

3 Reasons Why Lamar Jackson Will Be Under Scrutiny if He Fails to Reach Super Bowl This Season

Lamar Jackson (Image via Imago)

There have been many good players in NFL history, but a few great ones have stood out. How Lamar Jackson has played over the last few years is enough to say that the quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens is on the path to greatness.

There are two types of greatness: one where the athlete goes on to achieve all forms of individual success, and the second where the athlete’s performance results in the ultimate form of team success, i.e., winning a Super Bowl.

Jackson has achieved more than what has been expected of him. He has two NFL MVP Awards and was runner-up in the race last season. The quarterback has improved the Ravens’ offense and transformed the perception of a quarterback in the NFL. Despite all his accolades, Lamar Jackson has never made it farther than the AFC Championship in his career.

His postseason record is not the best. Lamar is 3-5 in his career when the playoffs roll around, and no matter how good of a team he is on, fate continues to disappoint him by costing him an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl.

This year will be critical for the quarterback to prove that he is capable of leading the Ravens to a Super Bowl. For the last two seasons, Jackson has had an exceptionally well-built roster. Their performance during the regular season led fans and analysts to hail the Baltimore Ravens as legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

Despite the hype, the Ravens were not able to live up to the expectations. This year, the quarterback will be expected to make his first Super Bowl, and if he fails, it is bound to impact his legacy. Here are three major reasons why Lamar Jackson will be under scrutiny if he comes up short yet again.

3. The narrative is no longer favoring Lamar Jackson

For years, Jackson has been looked at as a ‘young quarterback’ who has a sky-high ceiling. He is no longer on the rise; Jackson is in his prime, and this is the time to deliver. In a league where younger quarterbacks have taken over and proved that they can lead their teams to a Super Bowl (Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, and Joe Burrow), Jackson’s legacy is limited to his on-field accolades.

Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson (Image via IMAGO)

This will be his eighth year in the NFL, and all the experience he has garnered over the years is plenty for him to understand what it takes to lead a franchise to a Super Bowl.

After he fell short yet again, the question has moved from “How great is Lamar Jackson?” to “Can Lamar Jackson win a Super Bowl?” His legacy is on the line, and this season might be his best bet to win a ring before Baltimore’s roster changes.

2. The Ravens have given him everything he needs

Baltimore is a complete team. They have a defense that is one of the best in the league, an offensive line that can block and protect Jackson, and multiple options that the quarterback can rely upon. To have Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, and Derrick Henry is a dream situation for any quarterback in the league, but to Jackson, it is all a reality.

The quarterback has all that he needs. Last season, Jackson and Henry were enough to wreak havoc on opposing defenses. The franchise has done a phenomenal job of building an impressive roster around Lamar, however, the ball is now in his court, as he carries the sole burden of performing at an elite level.

1. MVP wins are meant to translate success into Super Bowl runs

Nobody is doubting what the quarterback is capable of. However, fans no longer want to see him just put up insane numbers during the regular season just to settle for an MVP. Jackson has two of those trophies already, but the focus is now on whether he can add the one trophy that he has never been around to his living room.

What good is an MVP-caliber season if it ends in disappointment? Jackson has been all about team success since day 1. For all that he has achieved in the league, just one AFC Championship appearance throughout his career does not sound right. He is on a dangerous path, as another upset would convince fans that he is a regular-season star who just fades once the playoffs roll around.

The entire NFL wants Lamar Jackson to succeed and break his Super Bowl drought. However, fate has been cruel to him until now. The 2025 season will be a defining point for him in his career, and it will be interesting to see how the quarterback handles all that pressure.

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