Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson Wants To Put 2019 In The Past

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson understands the comparisons to the 2019 team.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is well aware of how this year's team compares to the 2019 team that lost in its first playoff game. 

“2019 is over with,” Jackson said. “We’re always talking about it. I always find myself talking about it, but it’s different. That was just my first full season [starting] in the NFL and my second year in the league, at that. But it’s a different mindset, a different group of guys. I just feel like all around, we’re different.”

Lamar Jackson is on a fast-track to his second MVP award this season.  / Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore has clinched the one seed in the AFC with a 13-3 record after dispatching the Miami Dolphins handily in Week 17. It was Jackson's last game of the regular season as he will sit in the finale for rest. He finished his year as the MVP favorite at -20000 according to FanDuel Sportsbook. 

In 2019, Jackson was the unanimous MVP and led the team to a 14-2 record and the first seed in the AFC. The Ravens faced the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round that year and lost 28-12, ending their season. Jackson finished that game with 59 passing attempts for 365 yards, two interceptions and a touchdown while also rushing for 143 yards. 

“We were 14-2. It looked like we were going to be unbeaten,” Jackson said. “I felt like all phases were just playing at the top of our game at the time. I don’t know where it was when we just hit a hump. We just couldn’t get it done that January, but I strongly feel like this year it’ll be different.”

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Baltimore will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday at 4:30 ET for the final game of the regular season, but most of its starters and key players will be sitting for rest.