Inside Lamar Jackson's Mind: 'I Like Being The Underdog!' Baltimore Ravens MVP Fired Up for 'Sunday Night' vs. Chargers

Inside Lamar Jackson's Mind: 'I Like Being The Underdog!' Baltimore Ravens MVP Fired Up for 'Sunday Night' vs. Chargers

It is, to be frank, a psychological trick being played on Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. And who is playing the "mind game'' with the MVP-caliber quarterback.

Lamar Jackson himself.

“I like being the underdog,'' Jackson said in an interview this week leading up to an NFL Week 12 "Sunday Night Football'' showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers. "I like being the underdog, and then we just show up and show out.''

We get it; It's the "Us Against The World'' mentality, and it's a common motivational practice for coaches - "Nobody believes in us,'' and all that junk.

And, hey, as long as Lamar's body is reacting positively to his mind? More power to him. But, speaking of "power'' ...

Clutchpoints

There is very little about this loaded Ravens team that reflects being an "underdog.'' To wit ...

*Baltimore is 8-3 and presently sits as the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

*Baltimore's wins this year include dominant successes against playoff-worthy opponents like the Seattle Seahawks, the Houston Texans and the Detroit Lions.

*Baltimore is a 3.5-point favorite in this game despite the Ravens having to make the cross-country trip to play in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, while Lamar could play on "the underdog thing'' because the sixth-year star out of Louisville entered the NFL with some foolish critics insisting he couldn't play QB and would have to move to wide receiver, that was a loooooong time - and one 2019 NFL MVP award - ago.

The Ravens are moving forward without standout tight end Mark Andews, shifted to IR this week. But otherwise? Jackson and his teammates are very much "overdogs'' in the AFC. Still, we get it ...

Ravens vs. Chargers Week 12: How to Watch, Betting Odds

"When we're getting praised, that's when I'm really mad,” Jackson said. “I'm like, 'Man, I don't wanna hear that stuff. Stop talking about us, talk about the other teams.' I like when they're going at us saying, ‘They're not the team to beat' cause people overlooking us.''

Right. Except no intelligent football watcher who actually pays attention to Lamar and the Ravens would dare "overlook'' them.