Lamar Jackson: Will Baltimore Ravens quarterback overcome NFL playoff struggles against Pittsburgh Steelers? | NFL News happymamay

Lamar Jackson has won the same number of playoff appearances as NFL MVP Awards: two.

The lack of postseason wins is a growing problem for the Ravens star, who looks to change the narrative when the AFC’s No. 3 seed Baltimore hosts the No. 6 seed Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round on Saturday night – Live on Sky Sports NFL From one o’clock on Sunday morning.

Jackson owns a 2-4 record in the playoffs, having thrown six interceptions and fumbled six times (three of which were recovered by the opposition) in the postseason. He has thrown six touchdowns and rushed for three scores in his playoff career.

The 28-year-old admitted he needed to be more relaxed. “I’m very excited, that’s all. I’m very nervous,” Jackson told reporters this week about his qualifying woes.

“This is a conversation until it stops.” Sky Sports Neil Reynolds said, in response to Jackson’s comments on the latest episode of The Inside the Huddle Podcast.

“He’s 2-4 in the playoffs, with an average rating of 75.7, while his regular season rating for his career is 101.9. And now he basically admitted that it’s crossed his mind a little bit. I’ll be watching Lamar quite closely early in this game.”

“These clips will be played at Steelers meetings this week that show, ‘Look, he’s scared,’” added Phoebe Scheckter, a former NFL assistant coach with the Buffalo Bills.

“He kind of did himself a disservice there, because that’s going to be an asset for the Steelers, and he’s also missing his star receiver in Zay Flowers, which is a big part of that.”

One player who could save the Ravens is star running back Derrick Henry.

In his first season with the team, Henry rushed for 1,921 yards, second in the NFL, and 16 touchdowns, tied for first. He played in seven postseason games, helping the Tennessee Titans reach the AFC Championship Game in the 2019 season before they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.

How the Steelers defense holds up against Jackson and Henry could be the key to the contest.

“The Steelers are doing a really great job containing Lamar,” Scheckter added. “They have very disciplined guys on the defensive line, a great veteran presence.

“They understand what they have to do to keep him in the pocket, and if they can do that, they can limit what Derrick Henry can do to you, because they have these physical backs that can bring them down and make plays.” In space.”

Saturday’s meeting is the fifth all-time in the postseason between the two teams. Pittsburgh has won three of the previous four, but the Ravens prevailed in their last playoff game, 30-17 in the Wild Card round 10 years ago.

This season, the Ravens (12-5) and Steelers (10-7) split their regular-season meeting, with each team winning at home.

Pittsburgh took the first game 18-16 behind six field goals from Chris Boswell on November 17. In the rematch on December 21, Jackson threw three touchdown passes and Henry rushed for 162 yards in Baltimore’s 34-17 victory, which formed part of Pittsburgh’s four-game losing streak to end the season.

“On the surface, this game is punishment for the Steelers for losing four games in a row and having to go to Baltimore,” Reynolds added. “But it’s also a team they know well and have already beaten this season.

“Even the game that Baltimore won right before Christmas, it was 17-17 very late in the second half before Baltimore pulled away.

“I think Baltimore will win this game, but I’m not sure it’s as easy as the seeding and recent form suggest.”

Watch the Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round of the NFL Postseason, live on Sky Sports NFL at 1 a.m., Sunday morning; Stream with now.