Throughout his NFL career, Lamar Jackson has dazzled fans and racked up regular season wins, yet the Pittsburgh Steelers have consistently proven to be a stumbling block.
Despite Jackson’s impressive 17-5 record against AFC North teams, his track record against Pittsburgh sticks out like a sore thumb.
Jackson is just 1-3 against the Steelers and has thrown seven interceptions compared to just four touchdowns – the only team against which he’s thrown more picks than touchdowns.
As Jackson prepares to face Pittsburgh again in a crucial division showdown, he’s stumped as to why they’ve been his Achilles heel.
“I don’t know what it is, man,” he said. “Last year, we [were] supposed to [beat] them, but things just didn’t go our way. The football gods weren’t on our side. But it’s a whole other year, it’s a new year, [and] I’m looking forward to the game.”
Jackson’s lone victory over the Steelers came in 2019, a game in which he struggled, managing just 161 passing yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.
Since then, he’s dropped three straight to Pittsburgh, including last year’s 17-10 loss, where he threw for 236 yards and one interception.
The two teams clashed again in January, but Jackson didn’t play as the Ravens had already clinched a playoff berth.
Despite his struggles against the Steelers, Jackson insists he doesn’t see them any differently than other opponents.
“I hate every team in the league when I’m going against them,” he said. “I don’t have [any] heart for a team when I’m going against them.
“I’m trying to win because they don’t have a heart for me, when they’re going against me. Probably, after the game, it’s all love, but on that field, no.”
Jackson even recalled some old grudges from his youth football days, adding humor to his reflection.
“Fort Lauderdale Vikings. I hated ’em. I still hate ’em,” he said. “All I can think about is the games we lost against ’em. I don’t want my child to play for Fort Lauderdale.”
Jackson, who’s currently playing at an MVP level, heads into Sunday’s game with momentum. He’s coming off a stellar performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he threw for 290 yards and four touchdowns.
Now, he’s hoping to shake off the Steeler Curse and finally break through in the rivalry.
Having said that, regardless of what happens on Sunday, Jackson knows that he will be judged by how he performs in the playoffs where he has struggled mightily to this point.
Interestingly, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith revealed that members of Jackson’s camp seem to be focused more on Lamar winning another MVP award rather than a Super Bowl.
“Damn it. The Superbowl. You got to get Superbowl,” Smith said. “I mean, enough’s enough with the damn MVPs and you know, his team texting me and stuff, ‘You got this wrong. Dan Orlovsky is right. Stephen A. is Lamar all day, every day.’ Get to the damn Superbowl.
“But they, his camp I’m talking about, don’t need to be chirping about him being an MVP, and I love him, and I love them all. But you don’t need to be chirping about him being an MVP when you can’t beat the damn Pittsburgh Steelers, considering what they’ve had at their disposal over the last few years.”
What are your thoughts on Jackson’s struggles against the Steelers?
In the bigger picture, is this the year Jackson finally breaks through and has success in the postseason? … Or do you think he’ll struggle once again when January rolls around???