Lamar Jackson is a paradox. One week, he’s making All-Pro defenders look like they’re stuck in quicksand. The next, he’s staring down a middle linebacker in January, and suddenly the magic feels… mortal. It’s the loudest conversation in sports. You can’t go ten minutes on a Sunday in January without someone bringing up his postseason record.
He’s a two-time MVP. He’s the most electric runner to ever play the quarterback position. But when the lights get bright in the playoffs, the numbers start to look a little human.
Is he "choking"? Honestly, that’s a lazy way to put it.
The reality is way more complicated than a simple win-loss record. If you actually look at the film and the context of these games, it’s not just about one guy failing. It’s about a team identity that sometimes glitches when the stakes are highest.
The Brutal Reality of the Numbers
Let's just put it out there. Lamar Jackson’s playoff performance currently sits at a 3-5 record.
That hurts. For a guy who wins at a historic clip in the regular season, seeing that sub-.500 number is jarring. In those eight starts, he’s completed about 60.6% of his passes. In the regular season, he’s usually hovering much higher.
But here is where it gets weird.
Jackson has 1,753 passing yards and 10 touchdowns through the air in the postseason. He’s also added 641 yards on the ground. That’s nearly 300 total yards per game. On paper, that sounds like a superstar. But the turnovers tell the real story. 11 turnovers in 8 games.
Seven interceptions. Six lost fumbles.
You just can't do that against Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen. It’s basically math. If you give the ball away twice against the Chiefs or the Bills, you're probably going home.
Why the Game Plan Fails Lamar
The 2023 AFC Championship game against the Chiefs is the perfect example of the "Lamar Problem." The Ravens had the best rushing attack in the league. They had Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. They were bullies.
Then the game started.
For some reason, Baltimore decided to stop being bullies. They ran the ball with their running backs only six times. Six! It was like they forgot who they were. Lamar ended up dropping back and throwing into the teeth of a Steve Spagnuolo defense that knew exactly what was coming.
When the Ravens stay balanced, Lamar is nearly impossible to stop. When they panic and put the entire world on his shoulders, he tries to do too much. That leads to the "hero ball" fumbles and the forced throws into double coverage.
The Buffalo Heartbreak and the "Same Old Narrative"
Fast forward to the January 2025 Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills. The Ravens lost 27-25.
It was a classic Lamar game. He had moments of pure brilliance, dragging the team back into it during the second half. He looked cool under fire. He was basically the only reason they had a chance to tie it on a two-point conversion at the end.
But then there was the first half.
A brutal interception to Taylor Rapp. A lost fumble that gave Buffalo a short field. Pundits like Judy Battista and Dan Graziano immediately jumped on it. They pointed out that Lamar has multiple turnovers in half of his playoff starts.
That’s a fair critique.
You can’t ignore that he’s 0-4 in the playoffs when he has to throw the ball 25 times or more. The team is 3-1 when he throws 24 or fewer. Think about that. The Ravens actually win more when Lamar Jackson does less through the air.
It’s counterintuitive for an MVP, right? But it’s the truth of how this roster is built.
Comparing the "Greats"
People love to compare Lamar to Peyton Manning.
Remember early Peyton? He couldn’t win the "big one" either. He had a reputation for wilting in the cold against the Patriots. It took him years to figure out how to manage his aggression in the postseason.
Lamar is only 29. He’s still in the middle of his prime.
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The difference is the style of play. Manning was a pocket surgeon. Lamar is a dual-threat weapon. When a pocket passer struggles, he might throw an incompletion. When a runner like Lamar gets hit, the ball can come out.
The margin for error is just smaller.
The 2025 Season Context
In the 2025 regular season, Lamar was lights out. He threw for over 20 touchdowns and ran for 6 more. He even led a massive comeback against the Packers in late December. He looked like the best player in the world.
But then the playoffs hit.
The Ravens beat the Steelers in the Wild Card round, and Lamar was great. 16-of-21 for 275 yards. No interceptions. He used Derrick Henry as a hammer and picked his spots. It was the blueprint.
Then came the Bills game, and the blueprint went out the window.
Is the Narrative Fair?
Honestly? Kind of.
You can't be a two-time MVP and expect people to ignore a 3-5 playoff record. That’s just the tax you pay for being great. But labeling him a "playoff failure" ignores the fact that he’s often the only reason the Ravens are even in those games.
Look at the offensive lines he’s played behind in some of these losses. Look at the drops. In the Chiefs loss, Zay Flowers fumbled at the goal line. That isn't on Lamar. In the Bills loss, Mark Andrews missed a catchable ball on the two-point try.
Football is a team sport, but the quarterback gets all the credit and all the blame.
Lamar Jackson is a victim of his own regular-season dominance. We expect him to be a superhero every week. When he "only" plays like a top-ten quarterback instead of an alien, people think he’s failing.
What the Ravens Must Do Next
If the Ravens want to change the story, they have to stop changing their identity in January.
- Commit to the Ground: Stop abandoning the run when you fall down by 7 points. Lamar is a weapon, but he’s at his best when the defense is terrified of the handoff.
- Protect the Ball: This is the big one. Lamar has to stop trying to extend plays that are already dead. A sack is better than a fumble.
- Draft Perimeter Help: They need a "true" X-receiver who can win 50/50 balls when the play breaks down.
The windows in the NFL close fast. Derrick Henry isn't getting any younger. The defense is elite now, but players get expensive and leave in free agency.
Lamar Jackson doesn't need to be "better" in the playoffs. He just needs to be the same guy he is in October. If he can do that, the ring is coming. If not, we’re going to be having this same conversation every January for the next five years.
It's about poise. It's about rhythm. And mostly, it's about not letting the pressure of the "narrative" change how you play the game.