Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are two of the most electrifying quarterbacks in the NFL, but they share a common burden: the inability to reach the Super Bowl. Despite their incredible talent and regular-season success, both quarterbacks have repeatedly fallen short in the playoffs, often at the hands of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Peyton Manning, a Hall of Famer who knows a thing or two about playoff heartbreak, recently offered some words of encouragement to Allen and Jackson. He praised their resilience and their willingness to take ownership of their shortcomings, but he also acknowledged the frustration of falling short year after year.
“It’s not like Lamar and Josh are losing to bad teams,” Manning said. “They seem to be losing to the team that goes on to win the Super Bowl.”
Manning’s words ring true. Allen and Jackson have consistently faced the best of the best in the playoffs, and they’ve come up short against the ultimate champions. It’s a testament to their talent that they’ve even reached this stage, but it’s also a reminder of how difficult it is to win a Super Bowl.
The comparisons to Manning’s own career are unavoidable. He, too, faced years of frustration before finally breaking through and winning a championship. And just as Tom Brady haunted Manning’s early career, Mahomes now stands as the seemingly insurmountable obstacle for Allen and Jackson.
But Manning’s message is one of hope and perseverance. He encourages Allen and Jackson to keep working hard, to learn from their mistakes, and to never give up on their dreams of reaching the Super Bowl.
The road to a championship is long and arduous, but Allen and Jackson have the talent and the determination to get there. They just need to keep pushing, keep learning, and keep believing. One day, their time will come, and they’ll finally hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
