There are just a few teams in the NFL playoff picture with little to play for heading into Week 18. One of them is the Baltimore Ravens, already having the No. 1 seed in the AFC locked up. And despite playing the not-too-well-liked Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach John Harbaugh is looking to rest a few of his players.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson is going to be one of them, with Harbaugh announcing the MVP candidate will not play on Saturday. His regular season is now over and Jackson can begin to focus on winning the AFC and eventually, a Super Bowl. Jackson will look on from the sidelines as Tyler Huntley takes over.
“#Ravens coach John Harbaugh announces that potential MVP Lamar Jackson won’t play on Saturday vs the #Steelers, as Tyler Huntley will start and Josh Johnson is the backup,” Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network said. “Lamar Jackson’s regular season is over. On to the playoffs.”
Next time we see Jackson, it will be in a home playoff game but the opponent is far from being determined. If there is chalk in the AFC, the winner of the South division wound wind up playing Baltimore. Three teams — Jacksonville, Indianapolis, and Houston — can all still win the division heading into Week 18.
One thing is for sure, though. The lowest-seeded team remaining heading into the Divisional Round will play the Ravens. And if they can advance another game, the AFC will completely run through Baltimore.
Pittsburgh gets boost with Lamar Jackson sitting out
Baltimore may not have anything to play for but Pittsburgh certainly does. The Steelers are far from a lock to be in the playoffs this season. A few things will need to unfold in Week 18 to earn a Wild Card spot and everything begins with a win against the Ravens.
Jackson had a rough day against Pittsburgh back in Week 5, a game Baltimore wound up losing. He threw for 236 yards but did not have a touchdown and wound up throwing an interception. Not much was made on the ground either, with Jackson having 45 rushing yards on six carries.
Baltimore has been different since then though, winning 10 out of 11 games. Jackson has elevated his game to become a serious MVP candidate and as of now, he might be the favorite. They might have contained him well in October but Pittsburgh will be thankful Jackson is sitting on Saturday.
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