In the Baltimore Ravens’ season finale in Pittsburgh, Lamar Jackson looked like his two-time NFL Most Valuable Player self again, putting together his best quarter in what had been a frustrating year.
Jackson launched touchdown passes of 50 and 64 yards to Zay Flowers and even turned a near-certain sack into a magical escape. This marked the second time in NFL history that a player threw two go-ahead touchdowns of 50 yards or longer in the fourth quarter, according to ESPN Research.
It was a performance that would have carried Baltimore to an AFC North title, if not for Tyler Loop’s missed 44-yard field goal as time expired. Instead, Baltimore’s 26-24 loss to Pittsburgh led to an offseason filled with questions, starting with a difficult one: Where was this Jackson all season?
“I don’t think it’s any one thing when you look at him,” said Rich Gannon, a former NFL quarterback who is a host on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Three past NFL MVP QBs -- Gannon, along with Matt Ryan and Kurt Warner -- weighed in on the issues that impacted Jackson’s tumultuous season, from his reduced practice time to poor pass protection and a decline in rushing attempts.