Star quarterback Lamar Jackson received his second Most Helpful Participant Award winner in February however continues to face questions concerning his capacity to information his Baltimore Ravens the place they wish to go coming off their loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on this yr’s AFC Championship Sport.
Jackson delivered fairly a message to critics throughout a latest dialog with Adam Schein of SiriusXM’s Mad Canine Sports activities Radio, as shared by Andrew Battifarano of the New York Publish.
“I’m motivating myself as a result of I do know what I wish to do on the finish of the day,” Jackson informed Schein. “These guys have their time. I actually don’t care what the criticism is, what the critics say as a result of, on the finish of the day, I simply got here off an damage the yr earlier than and we made it all the best way to the AFC [Championship Game] within the new system. It’s nothing to be down on myself, my teammates or something like that as a result of we made it far.”
The 2023 Ravens entered the playoffs because the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a document of 13-4, and Baltimore then thrashed the Houston Texans 34-10 within the divisional spherical. Nevertheless, the eventual Tremendous Bowl champion Chiefs marched into Baltimore’s M&T Financial institution Stadium and earned a 17-10 victory within the convention title conflict that dropped Jackson’s profession playoff document to 2-4.
That was Jackson’s first journey to an AFC championship.
Former New England Patriots extensive receiver and present Fox NFL analyst Julian Edelman just lately generated some headlines when he mentioned that Jackson has “been on a milk carton” and gone “lacking” when the Ravens have wanted him most. Jackson indicated throughout his chat with Schein that he wants no further bulletin board materials after Baltimore scored solely 10 factors in opposition to Kansas Metropolis this previous January.
“We criticize ourselves greater than anybody else,” Jackson added. “What individuals say on the surface, that’s simply their take — they usually can imagine what they wish to imagine.”
As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Ravens second among the many betting favorites behind the Chiefs (+300) at +550 odds to characterize the AFC in Tremendous Bowl LIX. Jackson and Co. will look to make a press release when Baltimore opens the upcoming season at Kansas Metropolis on Thursday, Sept. 5.
