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Lamar Jackson Breaks Chiefs Curse | Now Battle Tested Against Former Champs

Posted byBy Rhett Butler | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

Lamar Jackson made the purple legions of Baltimore Ravens fans proud last night as he defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 36-35.

Although he had a rocky start to the first half of the game, Jackson bounced back to clinch the second half for Charm City.

Jackson had been 0-3 versus Patrick Mahomes before Sunday night. The two were a draft class behind each other, with Mahomes drafted in 2017 and Jackson in 2018. But Mahomes has already captured a championship in his first three seasons in the NFL.

Pressure Cooker

The pressure on Jackson, the 2019 NFL MVP, is immense, but the world has been watching him meet the grade game by game. More impressive was that Jackson overcame adversity without all the weapons in the Baltimore Ravens’ arsenal.

Having dealt with an unprecedented number of injuries over the past month and a half, the Baltimore Ravens came in at an automatic disadvantage. Only two weeks into the regular season, and 16 Ravens players are on injured reserve.

The Ravens played without All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley. They also were missing their top two running backs. The Kansas City Chiefs were in the exact opposite position, with only three players on the reserve list. All the 53 players on the Chiefs’ active roster were healthy for the game; arguably, the Chiefs are the fittest team in the NFL.

The game looked bleak after Jackson threw two interceptions in the first quarter. He also threw a pick-six on his second pass of the game.

The defense wasn’t any better as the Ravens allowed more than 30 points. It marked the first time in Ravens history that the team allowed more than 30 points in each of their first two games of the season.

The Ravens also gave up three touchdown passes for more than 30 yards. However, play by play in the second half, redemption was drawing nearer.

September Was Never The Same

Ultimately, the Ravens made Patrick Mahomes look human in September.

Trailing by 11 points to start the fourth quarter with a score of 35-24, Jackson hand-delivered the biggest fourth-quarter comeback of his career.

He ran for two touchdowns, topped off with an end zone backflip by the QB after the game-winning 1-yard run. Baltimoreā€™s sideline erupted. It was the highlight of the night.

The result of a growing trust between the Championship coach and his young quarterback.

Then with a chance to close out the game on 4th and 2, Baltimore went for it rather than punting.

 

“I’m like, ‘hell yeah!'” said Jackson in the postgame press conference. “I said it again.”

In pistol formation, Jackson made a 2-yard gain and closed out the game. Jackson had arrived against a Super Bowl-winning team and his boogeyman, Patrick Mahomes.

The 24-year old Jackson tied Michael Vick with eleven 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback.

In addition, Jackson became the first player in NFL history to finish a game with at least 200 yards passing, 100 yards rushing, and two rushing touchdowns.

As Jackson continues to bolster his confidence in big games on the biggest stages, he proves that he is one of the best in the game.

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