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When it comes to quarterback play, modern NFL fans are pretty spoiled. From veterans like Tom Brady to newcomers like Justin Herbert, there’s plenty of talent under center. In Lamar Jackson, though, the Baltimore Ravens have one of the most exciting players in any position.

While Lamar Jackson has made headlines during the regular season, he hasn’t had much playoff experience during his young career. In fact, the quarterback is yet to win a postseason game during his time in the pros.

Lamar Jackson has become one of pro football’s top talents

Thanks to the way that Lamar Jackson plays, some football purists have expressed concerns about his long-term durability. Through three NFL seasons, though, the quarterback has proven himself to be one of the most dynamic players on the gridiron.

Jackson played his college football at the University of Louisville, where he made eight starts as a freshman. During his sophomore campaign, however, the quarterback took a major leap forward; he threw for 3,543 yards and 30 touchdowns, rushed for 1,571 more yards and 21 additional touchdowns, and won the Heisman Trophy.

After an impressive junior year, Jackson decided he was ready for the pros. Thanks to concerns about his ability to play quarterback at the NFL level, he slipped to the 32nd-overall spot of the 2018 draft.

Once he joined the Baltimore Ravens, though, Jackson proved to be a steal. During his rookie year, he stepped in for an injured Joe Flacco to lead his team into the playoffs; in 2019, he claimed NFL MVP honors in his first full season as a starter.

Although the quarterback’s 2020 campaign won’t earn him another MVP title, Jackson still had another strong season. If nothing else, his running ability makes him must-see TV every time he takes the field.

What is Lamar Jackson’s playoff record?

During his brief time in the NFL, Lamar Jackson has had plenty of success. Unfortunately for the Baltimore Ravens, though, that’s mostly been confined to the regular season.

While Jackson has made it to the playoffs in every season of his NFL career, the quarterback doesn’t have much to show for it. He entered the 2021 NFL playoffs with an 0-2 record in the postseason; after Wild-Card weekend, that improved to 1-2.

During the quarterback’s rookie season, the Ravens made it to the Wild-Card game, where they lost to the LA Chargers. Jackson, on an individual level, struggled; he threw for 194 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and coughed up a fumble during a potential game-winning drive.

In 2019, Jackson and his teammates earned a first-round bye before meeting the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional round. While the quarterback accounted for 508 yards of total offense, that wasn’t enough; the Ravens fell 28-12, ending their season earlier than anyone expected.

On January 10, 2021, however, Jackson got revenge on the Titans and finally earned a postseason win. Although the quarterback didn’t throw the ball with great success, he rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown en route to his first postseason win.

2020 represents a chance at redemption for the Baltimore Ravens quarterback

Heading into the 2020 postseason, Lamar Jackson is yet to win a playoff game. While the quarterback isn’t too concerned about that record, he does know that he has the perfect chance to change the narrative.

“Oh, for sure [I want to change that playoff narrative],” Jackson explained, according to Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sport. “It’s win or go home right now. I want to win regardless. I don’t really care about what people have to say. I’ve only been to the playoffs twice in my young career. Other people have been in the league forever and haven’t been in the playoffs at all. It is what it is. But, definitely trying to erase that narrative right there. That’s No. 1 in my mind.” 

The quarterback also went on to explain that he’s learned a major lesson from his two previous playoff defeats.

“Just focus. Focus on the task at hand,” Jackson continued. “When you get in there, just take your time, because things are going to happen the way they should. Don’t try to make things happen right away. Just take your time.”

While it isn’t exactly fair, playoff performances can make or break a player’s legacy; no one wants to go down in history as someone who couldn’t win the big game. Lamar Jackson, however, is capable of doing just about anything when he takes the field…that includes winning a playoff game.

Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference and Pro-Football-Reference

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Senior Writer, Programmer

Joe Kozlowski

Joe Kozlowski began his career as a sports journalist in 2013 and joined Sportscasting in 2019. He covers the NBA and soccer for Sportscasting, with specialties in legacy NBA players such as Michael Jordan and Premier League club Arsenal. Off the clock, he’s a Kansas City Chiefs fan and a hockey goalie.

Growing up loving Shaquille O’Neal and reading everything he could about the great big men throughout NBA history — likely because he was still tall enough, at least relative to his peers, to play center — he’s continued to love learning about and exploring the historical and story-based sides of the basketball archives.

As for Arsenal, Joe spent a year living in London and latched onto the local support of the club. He’s barely missed a match since, loving Arsene Wenger, enduring the Banter Era, and following along through rebuilds. The Premier League interest developed into a passionate following of the Champions League, Europe’s big five league, and international soccer as a whole when played at the highest level.

Regardless of the sport, Joe is captivated by the stories of athletes beyond the box scores and how they push the envelope — both in terms of what we think a human is capable of accomplishing and how they find new competitive tactics to win.