‘Calm myself down’ – Lamar Jackson keen to put ‘antsy’ playoff past behind him as history haunts MVP-chasing hero
Lamar Jackson is clear where he wants his fifth playoff trip to end. Although the Ravens’ quarterback is aware of his negative postseason record and knows exactly why he has struggled in recent years. Lamar Jackson will be looking to reach his first Super Bowl Despite a great career, which has him as a frontrunner for a third regular season MVP award in six season. Jackson has struggled in the playoffs. The 28-year-old has won just two of his six games in the postseason and has only made it past the divisional round just once and has never won two playoff games in the same season. The Ravens lost at home to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game in 2023 and Jackson has admitted that his play has suffered as a result of getting too hyped up before the playoffs. “I’m just too excited, that’s all,” Jackson told reporters on Tuesday. “Too antsy, that’s all. 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.” The two-time NFL MVP has never reached the Super Bowl and has admitted that he cannot make mistakes at this level. Jackson has thrown six interceptions and lost three fumbles in his six playoff starts. “You got to try to be mistake-free,” Jackson said. “The game’s won with the turnover battle and keeping the ball in your control, moving the ball down the field, getting first downs, putting points on the ball. Jackson told reporters the reason for his playoff woesReuters “Obviously, that’s how you win those games.” Now 28 and with a wealth of experience, Jackson also told reporters that he does not think about earlier playoff losses because he was too young. Although he admitted that there is one that does come to mind often. The Ravens 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game last year. “That’s probably the only playoff game I do think about,” Jackson said when asked about the Chiefs game. “It was right there. But my mind, I’m focused now, though. It is what it is at this point.” A more settled Jackson will see his quest for a first championship begin on Saturday in the wild-card round against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We’ are just a month away from Super Bowl 59 and talkSPORT will be live from New Orleans for build-up and live coverage talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio and this weekend the NFL Playoffs get underway with 5 exclusive commentaries on talkSPORT2. On Saturday evening, we have full live commentary as the best in the NFL go head-to-head, knowing they’re just three wins away from the biggest game in all of American sports. For more details head to talkSPORT.com and join the team this Saturday evening from 9 pm for Chargers @ Texans to kick start the weekend. LIVE ON TALKSPORT2 Saturday 11th January 21:30 Los Angeles Chargers v Houston Texans 01:00 Pittsburgh Steelers v Baltimore Ravens Sunday 12th January 18:00 Denver Broncos v Buffalo Bills 01:00 Washington Commanders v Tampa Bay Buccaneers Monday 13th January 01:00 Minnesota Vikings v Los Angeles Rams And subscribe to our dedicated NFL YouTube channel ‘talkSPORT End Zone’ where will will have news, views, interviews and build up as we count down to the biggest game of the year
Lamar Jackson is clear where he wants his fifth playoff trip to end.
Although the Ravens’ quarterback is aware of his negative postseason record and knows exactly why he has struggled in recent years.
Despite a great career, which has him as a frontrunner for a third regular season MVP award in six season. Jackson has struggled in the playoffs.
The 28-year-old has won just two of his six games in the postseason and has only made it past the divisional round just once and has never won two playoff games in the same season.
The Ravens lost at home to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game in 2023 and Jackson has admitted that his play has suffered as a result of getting too hyped up before the playoffs.
“I’m just too excited, that’s all,” Jackson told reporters on Tuesday.
“Too antsy, that’s all. 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.”
The two-time NFL MVP has never reached the Super Bowl and has admitted that he cannot make mistakes at this level.
Jackson has thrown six interceptions and lost three fumbles in his six playoff starts.
“You got to try to be mistake-free,” Jackson said.
“The game’s won with the turnover battle and keeping the ball in your control, moving the ball down the field, getting first downs, putting points on the ball.
“Obviously, that’s how you win those games.”
Now 28 and with a wealth of experience, Jackson also told reporters that he does not think about earlier playoff losses because he was too young.
Although he admitted that there is one that does come to mind often.
The Ravens 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game last year.
“That’s probably the only playoff game I do think about,” Jackson said when asked about the Chiefs game.
“It was right there. But my mind, I’m focused now, though. It is what it is at this point.”
A more settled Jackson will see his quest for a first championship begin on Saturday in the wild-card round against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
We’ are just a month away from Super Bowl 59 and talkSPORT will be live from New Orleans for build-up and live coverage
talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio and this weekend the NFL Playoffs get underway with 5 exclusive commentaries on talkSPORT2.
On Saturday evening, we have full live commentary as the best in the NFL go head-to-head, knowing they’re just three wins away from the biggest game in all of American sports.
For more details head to talkSPORT.com and join the team this Saturday evening from 9 pm for Chargers @ Texans to kick start the weekend.
LIVE ON TALKSPORT2
Saturday 11th January
21:30 Los Angeles Chargers v Houston Texans
01:00 Pittsburgh Steelers v Baltimore Ravens
Sunday 12th January
18:00 Denver Broncos v Buffalo Bills
01:00 Washington Commanders v Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Monday 13th January
01:00 Minnesota Vikings v Los Angeles Rams
And subscribe to our dedicated NFL YouTube channel ‘talkSPORT End Zone’ where will will have news, views, interviews and build up as we count down to the biggest game of the year
