Deshaun Clayborne Media

Baker Mayfield. Dak Prescott. Jalen Hurts. Brock Purdy.

This is not just a list of random NFL quarterbacks: These are some of the QBs that are comparable or better than Lamar Jackson in the playoffs.

The same Lamar Jackson that was drafted in the first round six seasons ago.

The same Lamar Jackson that won a unanimous MVP in his first full season starting.

And the same Lamar Jackson that won his latest MVP just last season.

Jackson has undeniably been one of the most electrifying players in the NFL since he came into the league in 2018. This year, he had the best passing season of his career, throwing for career-bests in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and interceptions with 4,172, 41, and four respectively.

In addition to the increase in passing production, he rushed for 915 yards and four touchdowns. His 915 rushing yards led all QBs in the NFL this season and was the most he’s had since 2020.

This elite level of play by the Baltimore Ravens’ superstar quarterback propelled his team to a 12-5 record and another AFC North division crown. These eye-popping numbers also secured him a first-team all-pro selection for the second consecutive season and the third time overall.

None of the other quarterbacks previously mentioned have even come close to what Jackson has been able to accomplish in any of their seasons. So, surely a player this great, this talented, this accomplished, and this consistent has no place on a list with above average-at-best QBs, right?

Wrong.

That same Lamar Jackson with all the talent and all the regular season accolades has nine total TDs, nine total turnovers, and a mere two playoff wins under his belt.

Let me clarify those numbers a little further: Every time Jackson scores in the playoffs, he negates it by providing the other team with an extra opportunity.

This has been the biggest stain on his career: Seemingly none of the success that he finds in the regular season has translated to the postseason, and that is why he finds himself being mentioned with quarterbacks that we generally do not put in the same tier as him.

The numbers may not necessarily paint a complete picture of his playoff track record, but his tape does. If you wanted to summarize Jackson in the playoffs with one game, look no further than the 2023 AFC Championship game.

He threw one TD in that game, but also threw an interception in the red zone and missed many easy throws and opportunities. And, despite the defense holding Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs to a very respectable 17 points, Jackson’s Ravens still lost the game because he only managed to put ten points on the board.

The Ravens consistently have both one of the best offenses and defenses in the NFL year after year, and this team has been adequately built to compete for a Super Bowl title. If their franchise QB played anything close to the way he plays in the regular season, maybe they could have already been there.

The bottom line is that Jackson is too great of a player to even be mentioned in a list with those names.

His film and resume clearly shows that he is levels above not just those four guys, but most of the QBs to ever play in the National Football League. Jackson should be exclusively in elite QB conversations who can be counted on to come through when his team needs him the most, but he needs to elevate his performance in the postseason to invalidate the current narratives surrounding him and cement his legacy once and for all.

The good news for Jackson is that this Saturday, he will have a golden opportunity to debunk not just that narrative, but another one that has also been haunting his name for a while: His performances against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Baltimore’s biggest rival has historically had Jackson’s number in their matchups. In six games against the Steelers, he has scored eight TDs and nine interceptions en route to a 2-4 record.

These numbers are almost identical to his playoff stats.

This wild-card weekend, he gets a chance to show that there is no stage too big for him and no opponent that he can’t overcome. If he doesn’t do it now, that raises the question: Will he ever get over his playoff woes?

The NFL world will find out Saturday night if he’s got what it takes to distance himself from non-elite QB talks. It’s now or never for Lamar Jackson.