The Lamar Jackson playoff narrative took another hit Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium, and Jackson appears poised to slay it once and for all.
Jackson had his best complete playoff game yet in the Ravens’ dominant 28-14 win over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round, and the Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades reflected that.
Jackson’s 92.9 grade is the best of his seven career playoff games by a wide margin. His previous high was last season’s divisional playoff win against the Houston Texans (83.9).
Jackson only attempted 21 passes, but he completed 16 for 175 and two touchdowns. Jackson finished with a +16.3% completion percentage over expected, the 5th-highest mark of his career (including playoffs), per Next Gen Stats (NGS).
His running jumpstarted the Ravens offense, as he scampered for 81 yards on 15 carries. He and Derrick Henry combined to drive Baltimore’s rushing attack that put up 299 yards.
“The X factor was Lamar’s unique talents,” Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin said. “It seems like every time we got him behind the sticks, he made up for it, or we got him in a possession down circumstance, and he extended and won those circumstances. We never really found a fluid answer all day, obviously.”
The 92.9 grade is Jackson’s second highest of this season, just a tick behind his 93 grade versus the Denver Broncos in Week 9.
“I see Lamar on a mission,” tight end Isaiah Likely said.