Lamar Jackson Can Finally Embrace Patrick Mahomes Comparisons With Open Arms
Lamar Jackson has struggled to move past the constant comparisons to Patrick Mahomes throughout his brief NFL career. Jackson holds tremendous respect toward Mahomes but aims to carve out his own legacy. However, the Baltimore Ravens star quarterback’s latest feat has finally given him a reason to embrace those comparisons to his peer.
Lamar Jackson helps guide Ravens over Titans
Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens got the matchup they desired in the wild card round of the playoffs against the Tennessee Titans.
Things didn’t start on the right foot, quickly falling in a 10-0 hole on the road. However, Jackson and the Ravens defense turned it around from that point forward. The reigning league MVP proved to be a game-changing factor with his legs behind a game-high 136 rushing yards on 16 attempts with a touchdown.
Jackson helped Baltimore tie the game at 10 before the half with an impressive 49-yard scamper. Behind a controlled offensive game plan and a stout defense limiting Derrick Henry to 40 rushing yards on 18 carries, Baltimore squeezed out the road win.
Ryan Tannehill had much difficulty making plays with his arm, passing for 165 yards with an interception. Jackson struggled to move the ball throw the air with 179 passing yards and five sacks, but he did enough with his legs to guide his team to a win.
Beyond that, Jackson captured his first career playoff win that has him finally accepting the comparisons to Patrick Mahomes in one regard.
Lamar Jackson finally has a reason to embrace Patrick Mahomes comparisons
Since taking over as the Ravens’ starting quarterback, Lamar Jackson has continued to find success at a record-breaking pace.
His latest feat with his first playoff win in his third NFL season has put him alongside Hall of Famer Dan Marino and Patrick Mahomes. According to NFL Research, Jackson has joined Marino and Mahomes as the only player to secure a regular-season MVP award and a playoff win by their age 23-campaign.
Jackson may not have had the prettiest performance against the Titans, but he did more than enough to get the job done against a formidable opponent. Since his rise to stardom, the comparisons to Mahomes remain due to the similar starts to their respective careers.
With the Chiefs’ star quarterback taking a step forward last year with a Super Bowl win, it placed significantly more expectations on Jackson’s shoulders. The 23-year-old has bucked back at times at the comparisons due to various reasons.
However, Jackson catapulting himself in the record books with his colleague in this regard shouldn’t bother him one bit.
One step closer to the ultimate goal
Since the Ravens selected Lamar Jackson with the last pick of the first round in the 2018 NFL Draft, his mindset remains crystal clear.
Jackson’s aspirations have stayed firmly on putting the team goal of winning a Super Bowl ahead of any individual feat. He has embraced the numerous honors he’s received, but his intentions with his words and actions are all geared toward competing for a Super Bowl.
His selfless approach is part of what endears him to his teammates and guides him toward his lofty goal. The remaining path in the playoffs will be daunting, with three more wins to reach the mountaintop. Regardless of the result between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, the postseason journey in the AFC will eventually go through Kansas City.
Jackson and the Ravens know the challenges that lie ahead in their quest toward the Super Bowl.
