Lamar Jackson led the Ravens to a 35-10 victory over the Browns on Saturday, securing his fourth AFC North title and capping off a record-breaking regular season. Despite the win, Jackson was not wearing the celebratory hats and T-shirts given to his teammates.
“I’m very proud of my team,” Jackson said. “We battled and we got the job done, but the job is undone.”
The Ravens (12-5) secured the No. 3 seed and will host a playoff game next weekend against either the Los Angeles Chargers or Pittsburgh Steelers. Jackson is still a candidate for his third NFL MVP award, but his focus remains on what it will take to win his first Super Bowl.
“I’m focused on the wild-card game, I’m not going to lie to you,” Jackson said. “I’m cool with what’s going on today. I’m cool, don’t get me wrong. But my mind’s on something else.”
Jackson’s remarkable season saw him set multiple records. He became the first player in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 900 yards in a season. He also set a new record by throwing over 40 touchdown passes and fewer than five interceptions, finishing with 41 touchdown passes and just four interceptions.
“He’s just one of a kind. There’s nobody like Lamar Jackson,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh.
“He’s in the locker room, and he’s not happy about the last drive. … He wants everything to be perfect, everything. That’s why these numbers are the way they are, because of who he is.”
The Ravens showed resilience this season, overcoming an 0-2 start and the death of offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris, who passed away from a heart attack just 11 days before the season opener.
At one point in Week 15, the Ravens were two games behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North race with only four weeks left. ESPN Analytics gave them just a 28.8% chance of winning the division. However, the Ravens defied the odds, winning their final four games by a combined score of 135-43.
“There are men in this locker room that will do anything to win,” Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said. “Take care of ourselves and be ready to go every week, every game. We’ve got true pros in this locker room. No matter the schedule, no matter the day we play. That’s what we have, a bunch of ballers.”
Jackson is now leading the Ravens to the postseason for the fifth time. Last season, he took Baltimore to the AFC Championship Game, where they lost 17-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Jackson’s playoff performance, where he holds a 2-4 record, will be a major focus going forward.
Asked about Jackson’s mindset heading into the playoffs, Andrews said, “Locked in. Completely locked in.”
