Shocking MVP stat highlights Lamar Jackson's struggles in playoffs
Lamar Jackson earned his second AP Most Valuable Player award following another dominant season — though another accolade continues to evade the Ravens quarterback.
At just 27 years old, Jackson is the youngest quarterback in the history of the NFL to win two MVP awards. The star signal-caller joins Jets' Aaron Rodgers (four) and Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes (two) as the only active players to have earned multiple MVPs.
Jackson has cemented himself as one of the top quarterbacks currently playing in the NFL. His struggles in the postseason, however, cast doubt on where he might finish on the all-time QB list.
According to FOX Sports, Jackson is the only quarterback to win multiple MVP awards and not make it to the Super Bowl.
After consistently putting up jaw-dropping numbers in the regular season, Jackson has crashed back down to earth in the playoffs. His career postseason passer rating (75.7), completion percentage (57.4) and yards per pass attempt (6.8) are all significantly lower than his regular-season rating (98.0), completion percentage (64.5) and average per attempt (7.5).
In six playoff starts, Jackson is 2-4 and has thrown as many touchdowns (six) as interceptions — a stark contrast to the 125:45 touchdown to interception ratio he boasts in the regular season.
Many expected 2024 to be the year that Jackson would finally make it to the Super Bowl. The 13-4 Ravens entered the postseason as heavy favorites with the No. 1 seed and arguably their most talented roster in years. Yet Baltimore fell to the Kansas City Chiefs, 17-10, in the AFC Championship Game, in large part due to their struggles on offense.
Though Jackson continued to excel on the ground with 154 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the divisional and championship rounds, he didn't find as much success in the passing game. Among all quarterbacks this postseason, Jackson ranks 12th in completion percentage (61.0) and passing yards per game (212), as well as ninth in passer rating (92.8).
Jackson's trophy case has quickly become cluttered with the two MVP awards and the Heisman Trophy that he won at Louisville. But so long as there's an open spot for the Vince Lombardi Trophy, his ranking as one of the all-time greats is in question.
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