Lamar Jackson is ‘antsy’ to take the field ahead of Baltimore’s’ first playoff game this season after riding out the bye week to figure out the Ravens’ AFC Divisional round opponents, the Houston Texans.
The 27-year-old quarterback sat out of his team’s last regular-season game – a 17-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers – to be fresh and raring to go in the postseason. He has yet to play since a 56-19 thrashing of the Miami Dolphins on December 31.
‘We had some time off to regroup, lock back in,’ Jackson said, regarding the Ravens’ preparations before Saturday’s game at M&T Bank Stadium. ‘I’m hype. Antsy.’
Jackson’s Baltimore team posted the NFL’s best record during the regular season at 13-4, but one loss would end the Ravens’ season. Jackson himself is 1-3 in the playoffs as a starter, and there’s a sense that the time is now for a breakthrough.
Excitement, nerves – maybe even a bit of boredom because of the bye. One thing that seems clear is that he’ll be unusually motivated when Baltimore hosts Houston this weekend.
