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Jamison Hensley, ESPN editor
OWINGS MILLS, Md. – A day after the Baltimore Ravens once again fell short of their ultimate goal, they still believe it’s only a matter of time before they celebrate a championship with quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“It’s inevitable,” Pro Bowl guard Patrick Ricard said Monday. “He’s going to win a Super Bowl and I want to be a part of it. It’s just a shame it hasn’t happened yet.”
Jackson is the only two-time NFL MVP not to win a Super Bowl, let alone reach one. Sunday’s 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills dropped his playoff record to 3-5.
Jackson struggled early Sunday, when he threw an interception in the first quarter and lost a fumble in the second quarter. After halftime, Jackson nearly had one of his best comebacks, throwing a 24-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely to cut Baltimore’s deficit to 27-25 with 1 minute, 33 seconds remaining. Then, Jackson’s would-be pass on a 2-point conversion was dropped by tight end Mark Andrews.
“Personally, I feel bad for him because he deserves it just because of being a great player,” Ricard said. “He deserves to be considered one of the best quarterbacks. He already is, but I know everyone takes championships as the standard, and he’ll get that one day.”
Ricard appreciates the comparison between Jackson and Peyton Manning. In their first seven seasons, Manning and Jackson won multiple NFL MVP awards, but were 3-5 in the playoffs. Manning ultimately won two Super Bowls.
“There is still time,” Ricard said. “He’s still young. He’s definitely going to get one at some point.”
Jackson, 28, could become the youngest person to win the MVP award three times. The award will be announced at the NFL Honors show on February 6.
He is coming off his best statistical season, becoming the first player in NFL history to throw more than 40 touchdown passes and fewer than five interceptions in a season (he finished the season with 41 touchdowns and four picks).
But Jackson failed to win consecutive playoff games during his career. And since entering the NFL in 2018, his 11 playoff turnovers lead the league over that span.
“Oh, he’s crazy. He’s crazy, that’s for sure,” Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers said. “We know our team. We know what we’re supposed to do and we know the only way we’re not going to do what we want is what we did yesterday. So I already know how he feels.”
