Lamar Jackson’s brilliance is difficult to fully capture. He’s arguably the most electrifying player in NFL history and undeniably one of the top three quarterbacks today—maybe even the best. Still, his legacy remains tied to his limited playoff success. Fair or not, that lack of a deep postseason run continues to overshadow everything else he’s accomplished.
Critics have long leaned on the narrative that Jackson falters in the playoffs. While his postseason performances haven’t matched his regular season dominance, using that to discredit his overall impact is unfair. Some detractors even go as far as labeling him a glorified running back or a failure in big moments. But ignoring his consistent clutch performances, especially late in games, does a disservice to what he’s actually achieved.
Since 2020, Jackson has been among the NFL’s most clutch performers. Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis notes that Jackson ranks third in expected points added (EPA) per dropback when trailing in the final five minutes—only behind Joe Burrow and Josh Allen, and ahead of legends like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. He’s led Baltimore to dramatic comebacks using both his arm and legs.
A clear example of Jackson’s late-game heroics came in the Divisional Round loss to the Bills. With under four minutes left and the Ravens down eight, Jackson orchestrated an 88-yard drive in less than two minutes, capped by a 24-yard touchdown to Isaiah Likely. He nearly forced overtime with a two-point conversion attempt. While earlier turnovers hurt, that final drive was a display of resilience, not failure.
Yes, Jackson still needs a Super Bowl to complete his resume. But discounting his repeated clutch moments—particularly in high-pressure situations—misses the mark. Labeling him as “not clutch” because of a 3-5 playoff record ignores the reality of what he continues to do when it matters most.
Lamar Jackson’s goal hasn’t changed. But it might be time for the narrative around him to finally evolve.
