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Stephen A. Smith Predicts Super Bowl Champion Without Hesitation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 8:45 PM ET

The NFL season kicks off Thursday night with the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles raising their second banner in franchise history before clashing with the Dallas Cowboys.

While many expect the Eagles, led by Jalen Hurts, to contend for another title, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has already made his bold prediction for Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco.

Smith believes the Baltimore Ravens will finally break through their postseason struggles and capture the Lombardi Trophy—delivering quarterback Lamar Jackson his first championship.

“I think Lamar Jackson is going to win a Super Bowl championship,” Smith declared. “I’ve got Baltimore winning it all. Finally getting over the hump. We’ve been waiting and waiting. But you know what? Last year, let’s remember something—it wasn’t Lamar Jackson’s fault Mark Andrews dropped that pass.”

The Ravens’ season ended in heartbreak last year with a 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round, sealed by tight end Mark Andrews dropping a potential game-tying two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. The pass hit both of his hands but slipped away, sending Baltimore home earlier than expected.

“For me, it’s whoever is in front. It’s all good,” Andrews said. “It’s an incredible opportunity for this organization, for me, this team and everything we want to do this year to start it off right. So I’m excited about that.”

MARK ANDREWS DROPPED THE GAME-TYING PASS

(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/dGHC30xxun
— ESPN (@espn) January 20, 2025

The year prior, the Ravens entered the postseason as the AFC’s top seed with home-field advantage throughout but fell in the AFC Championship Game to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs—who have dominated the conference during the Mahomes–Andy Reid era.

To this point, the only active AFC quarterback to defeat Mahomes in the playoffs is Joe Burrow, who led the Cincinnati Bengals past Kansas City in the 2021 postseason en route to the Super Bowl.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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