Lamar Jackson’s Tremendous Bowl wait continues as ‘drained’ Baltimore Ravens quarterback suffers merciless finish towards Buffalo Payments

The Tremendous Bowl agony goes on for Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens as they’re pressured to abdomen one other story of heartbreak that sees them exit the NFL get together early. Will their time ever come?

When Lamar Jackson is your quarterback and when Lamar Jackson is taking part in, Baltimore’s Tremendous Bowl window shall by no means be deemed closed. He’s, doubtless, about to clinch his third MVP award after one other yr of data, profession highs and league-leading numbers, however as soon as extra his and the Ravens’ marketing campaign culminates in playoff disappointment.

It was MVP vs MVP on Sunday (each deserve the award) as Jackson and Josh Allen confronted off for the proper to advance because the AFC’s champion knight tasked with slaying Patrick Mahomes and the threepeat-chasing Kansas Metropolis Chiefs dragon on behalf of the remainder of the NFL.

Two of the best quarterbacks of their technology but to style triumph who might emphasise with each other’s painful shortcomings by the hands of the Chiefs. Two franchises within the Ravens and Buffalo Payments who’ve been banging on the Tremendous Bowl door solely to be drowned out by the pink sea of Arrowhead. Each in want of a Tremendous Bowl, each determined for a Tremendous Bowl.

It could be Allen to prevail because the Payments held on for a 27-25 victory on the dying to achieve the AFC Championship Recreation, teeing up the most recent mouth-watering instalment of the trendy period’s Tom Brady vs Peyton Manning. Allen looking for his first Lombardi raise, Mahomes pursuing his fourth and third in a row.

Jackson was responsible of expensive turnovers on the evening, however did not bow out minus a reminder of his greatness as he blocked out a raucous Highmark Stadium to orchestrate a masterful eight-play 88-yard drive within the closing minutes, capped by a 24-yard landing go to Isaiah Prone to pull the Ravens inside two.

Baltimore seemed for all of the world like they had been about to attract stage on the two-point try as Mark Andrews peeled free to the proper of the tip zone, just for the tight finish to drop what, on every other day, seemed a routine catch. Cue Payments ecstasy, cue Ravens remorse.

“It’s a team effort,” Jackson mentioned post-game. “He’s been busting his body. Making plays happen on that field for us, came up short. Like I’ve been saying all season every time we’ve been in a situation like this, turnovers play a factor. Penalties play a factor.

“Tonight, the turnovers, cannot have that s***. That is why we misplaced the sport. ‘Trigger as you’ll be able to see, we’re transferring the ball splendidly. Simply maintain on to the f****** ball. Sorry for my language, this s*** annoying. Uninterested in this.”

The Ravens let it slip through their fingers, quite literally. It became something of a nightmare night for Andrews, who had also lost a fumble when linebacker Terrel Bernard punched the ball loose before recovering it himself earlier in the fourth quarter. Baltimore had already fallen short earlier in the game, Andrews’ mishap the headline-writing full stop.

“I would say the same thing to all the guys, like Mark,” mentioned Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “There is nobody that has more heart or cares [and] fights more than Mark. We wouldn’t be here without Mark Andrews. That’s what you say to him.

“So, it is like the rest, future is a choice that you just make. It is a determination on the way you deal with what is available in your life. Mark will deal with it incredible like he at all times does. He is a high-character particular person, powerful particular person and a great particular person. So, pleased with him identical to how I am pleased with all the blokes.”

Jackson’s expletives he had been aimed at himself after being intercepted by Taylor Rapp on an overthrown pass intended for Rashod Bateman in the first quarter before also losing a fumble during a sack by Damar Hamlin, from which Von Miller’s 39-yard recovery return teed up Allen’s one-yard rushing touchdown for a 14-7 lead.

It was NFL playoff football of the highest stakes at its most ruthless and most brutal yet again.

“We’re a staff,” Jackson said. “First half, I had two expensive turnovers. Me not holding the security, me simply realizing the protection, me realizing it was man. Threw an interception.

“The fumble. Just trying to make something happen. It was like a RPO play, so I couldn’t really throw the ball to [tight end Isaiah] Likely. I was trying to make something happen, tried to squeeze the ball. It slipped out of my hand. Von Miller picked it up, got some yards, I think that led to points for them.”

Jackson closed out the common season with a career-high 4,172 passing yards for 41 touchdowns to simply 4 interceptions with an NFL-best passer ranking of 119.6, whereas additionally dashing for 915 yards after eclipsing Michael Vick for many dashing yards by a quarterback in NFL historical past. He was near-flawless statistically, weaving within the acquainted episodes of mutant off-script genius and convention-shattering throws to torch best-laid defensive plans inside one of many league’s most feared two-headed offensive tandems alongside Derrick Henry.

However whether or not rightly or wrongly, acquainted questions will arrive. Jackson is now 3-5 within the playoffs and the one quarterback to have received a number of MVP awards whereas having a dropping file within the postseason. He’s additionally the one a number of MVP-winning quarterback to haven’t received a Tremendous Bowl ring. He’s, additionally, nonetheless simply 28.

Sunday at all times ran the danger of scary uneasy quarterback narratives surrounding the loser. In the long run, it got here right down to which passer and which staff surrendered fewer errors, the Payments rising victorious having received the turnover battle in a clear efficiency whereas managing simply 273 yards of offense compared to Baltimore’s 416.

Jackson responded admirably to his early turnovers when the Ravens offense might need capitulated fully, what started as a recreation in regards to the quarterbacks too working into defining variables elsewhere. Baltimore had been set again by a foiled determination to go for a two-point conversion on the finish of the third quarter – which can have eradicated the necessity to go for 2 within the closing minute had they kicked the additional level – and so too an offensive game-plan that elected handy the ball to Derrick Henry simply 16 occasions.

However when a quarterback turns the ball over twice within the greatest recreation of the yr having dedicated simply 9 turnovers all season, there’ll at all times be scrutiny within the NFL. Baltimore have now misplaced 3 times within the Divisional Spherical, twice within the Wild Card spherical and as soon as within the AFC Championship Recreation (falling 17-10 to the Chiefs final season) with Jackson on the helm.

He embraced Allen with a smile on the shut on Sunday evening, masking his personal gut-wrenching ache to applaud the worthiest of foes. He stays within the thick of a generation-defining quarterback joust for supremacy alongside Mahomes and Allen, and has continued to reply emphatically to playoff adversity. He’s so shut, and he is aware of it.

The story of this season ends right here for the Ravens. However Jackson shall be again. He’s too gifted, too pushed, too good to not.

What’s subsequent?

It is the NFL Convention Championships on Sunday January 26 – stay on Sky Sports activities NFL – with the Philadelphia Eagles first internet hosting the Washington Commanders within the NFC title recreation from 8pm, after which the Chiefs taking over the Payments from 11.30pm.

Tremendous Bowl LIX takes place on Sunday, February 9 on the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, stay on Sky Sports activities NFL.