Lamar Jackson addresses Patrick Mahomes matchup: 'I don't like competing against him'
The biggest game of QB Lamar Jackson's career is on deck as the Ravens prepare to host the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.
However, Jackson got brutally honest ahead of the matchup and told reporters why he isn't looking forward to battling QB Patrick Mahomes for a spot in Super Bowl LVIII.
"I don't like competing against him at all," Jackson said. "He's a great quarterback, definitely a Hall of Famer. It's a no brainer. ... But I believe it's just two up and coming greats that's going toe to toe like a heavyweight fight."
Jackson is clearly still confident in himself, but he knows it will be a challenge going up against Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champions.
"We can't overshadow what's in front of us now," Jackson added. "Those guys are the former Super Bowl champions. And to be a champion, you gotta go through a champion."
Baltimore is the favorite to win the game, but Mahomes has gotten the best of Jackson to start their careers. Jackson is 1-3 against Mahomes and only won by one point in his only victory (36-35) in 2021.
There's a reason Kansas City is heading to its sixth straight AFC title game and it's because Mahomes knows how to win the games that matter. That's something Jackson has somewhat struggled to do with a 2-3 career playoff record.
This is the first meeting between the former MVPs in the postseason, however, and Jackson isn't putting any more pressure on himself. He's looking at it just like any other game.
"Just for us to be in this situation, I wasn't putting pressure on myself," Jackson finished. "I'm going into every game the same way, same mindset. ... I don't put pressure on myself at all."
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