Lamar Jackson Lifts Ravens To Playoffs And Coming Thisclose To A Career Shift

There was that play in the second quarter of Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on which Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson rolled right, then he looked all the way to the other side of the field to throw.

Jackson locked on to teammate Zay Flowers. And even though everyone on the Steelers defense saw him looking at only one guy, nobody believed Jackson would be throwing across the entire freaking field. 

But that's exactly what Jackson did. 

BALTIMORE - Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens looks on after the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2024. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Lamar Jackson Passing Exploits

The ball hit Flowers right in the hands. And although the receiver dropped the pass, the mere attempt left Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback ever to play the game and now an analyst for FOX, in awe.  

"Yeah," Brady said, "I tried that once in my career. It didn't work out so well."

What happened?

"Not good," Brady continued. "Lamar usually makes a lot of things look good. So not surprised he would try that."

This was the game that Lamar Jackson came thisclose to showing us his career shift is complete. This is the game in which Jackson almost finished convincing us that one of the most dynamic running quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL has become one of the league's best passers.

And is perhaps now a better passer than he is a runner.

BALTIMORE - Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass while pressured by T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2024. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Ravens, Jackson Clinch Playoff Berth

Jackson led the Ravens to a 34-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's only the second time the Ravens beat the Steelers in 10 meetings. And it marked the sixth time in seven seasons since Jackson arrived that the Ravens clinched a playoff berth.

"That means a lot," Jackson said. "I feel like we've been busting our behinds all season long. Had ups and downs this season. But to clinch a playoff against a great team like that, that's great. It means we're moving in the right direction." 

Jackson threw three TD passes to bring his NFL-leading total to 37 this season.

That is his career-best TD mark and, if you recall, Baltimore has two more games remaining.

So, that's a lot of success and passing prowess and impressive statisticing for Jackson. It makes one believe that the guy who had a modest 22 rushing yards on 9 carries has made the turn from dual-threat QB with a PhD in running to a pretty pure passer.

But not quite yet. He's thisclose.

Jackson ‘Mad’ About The Mistake

We want more. Why? 

Because of that fourth-quarter interception that threatened to change this game. Maybe it wasn't all Jackson's fault. Maybe he and the receiver, who stopped mid-route, weren't on the same page. And maybe it didn't matter because Russell Wilson gave the turnover right back with a Pick Six on the ensuing series.

But none of that matters. It happened.

And great passing quarterbacks don't often throw potential game-turning interceptions in the fourth quarter. 

Jackson knows this.

"I feel like I could have played better," Jackson said. "That interception really got me mad, still. When we don't turn the ball over, almost any game, we win the game. That one turnover could have been the difference, you know?

"I was mad. I was mad until the game was over. I'm still mad, I'm lying, I'm still mad."

So, yeah, thisclose.

BALTIMORE - Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens throws a pass during the first quarter as Keeanu Benton #95 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on at M&T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2024. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Jackson Thisclose To Great

This is the point in this crappy column in which we agree that thisclose is pretty darn good.

Look where Jackson finds himself this year:

His quarterback rating of 120.7 entering the game was the best in the NFL. You already read nobody has thrown more touchdowns. And his gaudy 3,583 yards before this performance was fifth in the league.

Jackson is a premier passer in the NFL, folks.

"Clutch throws, especially against man (defense)," Ravens coach John Harbaugh noted. "Tight coverage, guys running, him dotting people on the run in man coverage. I felt Lamar was fantastic. And that was not against a little bit of pressure.

"I felt our guys did a nice job up front, but Lamar was under pressure against this group that rushes the passer there's always going to be pressure. He stood in and made some throws."

That sentence matters because, you'll recall, that's not how Jackson came into the NFL in 2018. He came in as a quarterback defenses feared mostly for his running, that some teams at the 2018 combine asked to see him run drills with receivers.

He's the quarterback who struggled his first season and at other times making the right reads or getting the ball out on time.

And yet this year. This moment.

The most efficient quarterback in the NFL," Brady called him. So, yes, darn good.