The 2024 NFL season is finally upon us and the kickoff opener looks to be a classic.
The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will begin their quest for a historic three-peat when they welcome the Baltimore Ravens to Arrowhead Stadium in Thursday’s much-anticipated opener.
In many ways, the NFL is the most unpredictable league in all of sports. Having said that, most of us know what to expect from Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
The same can’t be said for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.
Despite being one of the more consistent franchises in the league, Jackson and the Ravens have routinely struggled come playoff time.
Even the most loyal Ravens fan will admit that Jackson has been a supreme disappointment in his postseason career.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith says it’s time for Jackson to change his story and overcome his struggles.
“If you don’t find yourself in that moment because you have a sorry team around you like Matthew Stafford had for 12 years, we’re able to appreciate your greatness and the depreciation of the product around you,” Smith said on First Take.
“But with Lamar Jackson, we haven’t been able to say that. We look at the Baltimore Ravens; what do we rave about? Coach John Harbaugh, their defense, their rough-rider mentality, the intestinal fortitude they have.”
Smith added that Jackson needs to start having success against Mahomes in order to improve his overall legacy as a quarterback.
“It’s about, yo, what are you going to do when you’re Lamar Jackson, and you’re going up against that dude? We can’t forget what sports is all about,” Smith said. “Your regular season, we get you. Your athleticism, we get it. Your abilities, we get it.
“But that also provokes us to ask, how come you can’t get it done when you’re going up against this brother? You do it against everybody else.”
In an effort to bolster their offense, the Ravens recently signed star running back Derrick Henry to a two-year, $16 million contract.
With this addition, Smith argues that the Ravens have run out of excuses for not defeating the Chiefs.
âNow, if you don’t take out Patrick Mahomes like you’re Josh Allen, and you lose 40 to 36 or something like that, we ain’t looking at you. You did your thing,” Smith added.
“But when you’re scoring ten after you running all over everybody all season long, now I got to look at you … And then they go out and get Derrick Henry, and that’s going to prevent them from crowding the box. That can unleash you even more.
“He has even less of an excuse now than he ever has before. It ain’t about AFC title game appearances. It ain’t about playoff appearances anymore with Lamar Jackson. Hell, it ain’t even about the Super Bowl. It’s about one dude that repeatedly stands in your way.
âHis name is Patrick Mahomes, [he’s] in the conversation as the GOAT, already considered arguably the GOAT if he wins three back-to-back-to-back. What you gonna do about it, Lamar? That’s it.â
I think I speak for all of us when I say I can’t wait for Thursday night.
What are your thoughts on Smith’s comments?
Is this the year Jackson finally breaks through and takes the Ravens to the Super Bowl???