Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday saw their season go up in smoke. But the Ravens quarterback appeared to be in good spirits despite his team’s unceremonious exit from the NFL playoffs.
Jackson’s Ravens were upset by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC Championship Game.
Jackson put on a relatively poor performance by his standards in front of his home crowd at M&T Stadium in Baltimore, Md. The 27-year-old went 20/37 for 272 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Jackson’s lone pick came at a critical juncture in the fourth quarter, which left the MVP candidate livid at his own mistake (video here).
But a more level-headed Jackson took to X shortly after the result went final.
“I’m Proud of all my brothers we [sic] was the 8-9 Ravens but fell A game short to the Former champs hats Off to them,” Jackson wrote.
I’m Proud of all my brothers we was the 8-9 Ravens but fell A game short to the Former champs hats Off to them🙏🏾🙏🏾 #Wegonnabeback&Wayyybetter #TotherealFlocknation we thank yall
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) January 29, 2024
Lack of punctuation in his post aside, the Ravens looked like a clear-cut Super Bowl contender after finishing with the NFL’s best record. They led the league in rushing yards as their dual-threat QB Jackson appeared to take another leap as an offensive savant.
But it was Baltimore’s defense that made their 2023 group truly special. All-Pro performances from linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton helped turn the Ravens into a defensive juggernaut that was widely considered to be the best in the league. The team’s season-long defensive excellence the Ravens had fans spreading fake rumors in order to retain defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
Jackson admitted before the AFC title game that he doesn’t enjoy playing against Mahomes. But given how dominant the Chiefs star has been over the past half decade, it appears as though all roads to the Super Bowl in the AFC go through Kansas City.
