Tomorrow is the day when the big dogs take center stage. Baltimore and San Francisco, as the top seeds in their conferences, basked in the luxury of a weekend spent watching other teams sweat it out on TV. But now, it's their turn to face the spotlight.
For those who clinched victory in the Wild Card weekend, the playoffs have already etched a mark of success. However, the weight of expectation now squarely rests on the top seeds. The journey has begun, and for them, anything less than a Super Bowl is deemed a failure.
No one feels this burden more intensely than Lamar Jackson.
In my mind, this season unfolds as a remarkable about-face for Jackson in Baltimore. Mere weeks before training camp, whispers of trading the young superstar QB loomed due to salary demands. Fast forward, and now they stand as arguably the best team in the NFL. It's a narrative that resonates.
Yet, Lamar carries a different story in his heart. The soon-to-be two-time MVP bears the weight of a 1-3 postseason record, haunted by chokes on the grand stage. A shocking loss to Tennessee after a stellar 14-2 season in 2019, and a lackluster 17-3 defeat in Buffalo in 2020 – conditions may have been tough, the Bills formidable, but three points for this quarterback? Simply unacceptable.
In the narrative, Lamar emerges as surprisingly aware. There comes a time in life when you're still young enough to execute the physical feats you desire, yet possess the experience and wisdom to navigate them. Lamar embodies that essence now.
It's easy to forget that this guy is only 27, a shining star in the league since the tender age of 21.
Is he the linchpin of these playoffs? I wholeheartedly say yes. Let's witness the unfolding saga of how ready Lamar is to rewrite his postseason narrative. The journey commences against the Texans tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. ET.
