Lamar Jackson’s 4-TD day puts Ravens back in AFC title game،
BALTIMORE — In Saturday's 34-10 playoff victory over the Houston Texans, quarterback Lamar Jackson did more than lead the Baltimore Ravens with his legs and arm. The NFL MVP favorite did it with his words, including four-letter ones.
After Baltimore scored 10 points in the first half, Jackson highlighted his struggling offense with an expletive-filled speech in the locker room. The result? The Ravens produced 24 points and 234 yards after halftime, qualifying to host the first AFC championship game in its 28-year history.
“There’s something about him right now,” Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor said. “It's been in him all year, but there's definitely something in him right now and I'm with it. I'm with it.”
The Ravens will face the winner of Sunday's Bills-Chiefs game on January 28.
But Baltimore didn't look like the AFC's top seed through the first two quarters and looked like those Ravens teams that got off to a slow start with Jackson in the playoffs. The Ravens had trouble with Houston's blitzes, finishing the first half with three straight three-and-outs and totaling 23 net passing yards, their fewest in a half this season.
Jackson was furious that the Ravens' defense was dominating and their offense wasn't holding up its end of the bargain.
When asked who talked the most at halftime, Jackson replied: “Yeah. A lot of swearing.”
What exactly did he say? “It would be inappropriate if I said it here,” Jackson responded.
Some of the Ravens' offensive adjustments have focused on quicker throws and pushing the ball less downfield. Jackson then was pressured on 11 dropbacks (and was not sacked) in the second half after putting pressure on 61% of his dropbacks in the first half.
“Lamar did a great job,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “A lot of it was his thinking as well. He was focused on what we thought we needed to do in the second half.”
This is a critical playoff series for Jackson, who was 1-3 in the postseason on Saturday and had failed to score more than 20 points in any of those games. Jackson responded by scoring four touchdowns against the Texans, which matched his total in his first four playoff games combined.
Making an impact with his legs as much as his arm, Jackson completed 16 of 22 passes for 152 yards and ran for 100 yards. He became the fifth player in NFL history to record two touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns in the same playoff game.
Jackson threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Agholor in the second quarter and a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely. He also ran for scores of 15 and 8 yards.
“He’s a very competitive player,” Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley said. “He wears his heart on his sleeve and he'll say a lot of things. But I know where he's trying to go and we all know what he wants – and that's just a win.
His teammates have talked all season about how Jackson constantly mentions winning a Super Bowl. They've noticed how much more vocal Jackson has become since signing his five-year, $260 million contract in April.
Now, by winning his first home playoff game, Jackson advanced to his first AFC Championship Game and moved one win closer to reaching the Super Bowl.
“That’s why he’s so hungry,” Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen said. “You can see it in his eyes, you can see the way he speaks, the way he acts right now. He has a lot to prove and he wants to prove it.”
