OTL: Lamar Jackson – The Straw that Stirs the Hot-Take Cocktail

Lamar Jackson has won two Most Valuable Player Awards, sports a 58-19 record as a starting quarterback, was recently named the second-best player in the league by his peers and came within a score of reaching last year’s Super Bowl.

And I present to you…

Jarrett Bailey, a Steelers writer, penned this weird piece, where he went all-in on Jackson not being MVP-worthy, largely due to two playoff defeats, one of which took place four years ago.

“In his two biggest games — against the Bills in the 2020-21 divisional round and the Chiefs in the 2023-24 AFC Championship Game, Lamar threw two of the worst interceptions you’ll ever see,” wrote Bailey. “Trailing 10-3 with a chance to tie the game, he threw a pick to Taron Johnson of the Bills in the end zone and it was returned 101 yards for a touchdown. The Bills won and advanced to the AFC Championship Game. And against Kansas City this past January with a chance to make it a one-score game with just under seven minutes to play, Jackson threw a pass into triple coverage in the end zone that was intercepted by Deon Bush. And if he didn’t pick it off, multiple other Chiefs would have had a chance to do so. In both playoff games combined, Jackson went 34-of-61 for 434 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 68.5. On top of that, Jackson leads all quarterbacks in turnovers in the fourth quarter and overtime in one possession games over the last three seasons, per ESPN.”

Ooh, I bet he feels so much better now having gotten that off his chest.

Look, Jackson would be the first to tell you he needs to perform better in the playoffs. To be honest, I’d be the second person to tell you that.

Want to ding him on last year’s game against the Chiefs? Sure, go ahead. That last pick was bad. All Ravens fans thought the same exact thing. But the Bills game? Why are we even talking about a game that took place that long ago?

Let’s play.

New Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson also played in the 2020-21 playoffs — the last time he led a team to the playoffs, by the way. Want to know Mr. Clutch’s stat line in that game?

Wilson went 11-for-27 for 174 yards against division-rival Los Angeles, a team he had defeated a few weeks earlier.

Can we stop negating the totality of someone’s work because of blips? Jackson was brilliant the week before the Chiefs loss, by the way, accounting for four scores and leading his team to 24 unanswered points in the second half against Houston.

We all want to see Jackson carry his regular-season brilliance over to the playoffs on a consistent basis. Trust me — we really, really do.

To question if Jackson deserved the MVP award last year is totally fair. People are entitled to their own opinions. But 49 out of 50 voters thought he earned it, so maybe others saw things differently — without the benefit of black-and-gold-tinted glasses?

Jackson is the ultimate “hot take” quarterback” these days, with Josh Allen seemingly right behind him, as evidenced by a recent poll that listed Allen as the league’s most overrated quarterback. Personally, I don’t get it, as I’d include both of them in the top four quarterbacks in the league, along with Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow.

But Jackson does get his flowers, as well.

For a slimmer and faster Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, the game is slowing down

The Sun’s Brian Wacker wrote an interesting piece on Jackson, his new physique and where he wants to get to as a player and leader. While Jackson’s new physique has captured plenty of attention, the revelation that getting caught from behind by a linebacker in that AFC Championship game last year on his memorable reception of his own batted pass, contributed to his reasoning.

“‘I was fat,’ continues Jackson, noting his weight loss from 230 pounds two seasons ago to 210 last year to about 200 currently,” per Wacker. “‘I had to lose some weight. No way a linebacker should be able to dive and grab my legs like that.’”

Jackson thought that play could have been the difference between going to a Super Bowl and sitting around thinking about a diet plan.

“‘I want that to be a touchdown,” Jackson told The Sun when asked which play he would want back from last season,” wrote Wacker. “‘That would’ve changed the dynamic of the game if I would’ve scored.’”

Also of note:

Two Former Ravens Make Roster, Four Cut

Keep your head on a swivel

Watch WIRED now: https://t.co/wJESe1u34g pic.twitter.com/rRpGhgPD23

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 29, 2024

The Cleveland Browns, who had four quarterbacks on their roster, are now down to three.
They are releasing Tyler Huntley, the former Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl quarterback, per source. pic.twitter.com/oy1W31uc5G

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 29, 2024

Beau Brade’s father was a Redskins fan. Beau and his mom were Ravens fans.

He still has vivid memories of the Billy Cundiff miss and Super Bowl XLVII glory.

“Man, since as long as I was born I was a Ravens fan,” he said.

Now, Beau Brade IS a Raven. https://t.co/Gtb5wmzKLz

— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) August 28, 2024

Now he’s our General Manager, but when he was an aspiring scout Eric DeCosta experienced plenty of rejection…

A story of perseverance.

More WIRED: https://t.co/wJESe1tveI pic.twitter.com/fmOunn74i1

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 29, 2024

The post OTL: Lamar Jackson – The Straw that Stirs the Hot-Take Cocktail appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2024/08/29/out-to-lunch/hot-takes-lamar-jackson/