OWINGS MILLS, Md. — When Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson took the sphere for spring practices on Wednesday, he jumped up and down with pleasure. The reigning NFL Most Invaluable Participant then handed the ball off to new operating again Derrick Henry, exclaiming “Go, large man, go” afterward.
As a lot pleasure as there may be for the longer term, Baltimore continues to be fueled by an AFC Championship Sport loss 4 months in the past. There are 35 gamers who stay from a group that completed with the NFL’s greatest report final season (13-4) and in the end fell one sport in need of the Tremendous Bowl.
When requested how lengthy it took for him to show the web page after that 17-10 defeat to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Jan. 28, Jackson replied, “Now.”
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Jackson later added, “I imagine that simply motivated us all through complete offseason. Individuals are nonetheless speaking about it; us gamers nonetheless speak about it. It undoubtedly left a bitter style in our mouths simply being that shut. We labored so laborious in getting there and [we] did not do what we wished to do, did not fulfill our dream; [there’s] undoubtedly slightly chip on our shoulder.”
It is a acquainted style for Jackson and Baltimore: Their observe report is to dominate within the common season and hit a rut within the postseason.
Jackson has the second-best regular-season report within the NFL since 2018, going 58-19 (.753) whereas averaging 28.3 factors per sport. Within the playoffs, Jackson is 2-4 and has averaged 10.5 factors in these losses.
His largest takeaway when watching movie of the AFC Championship Sport? Lack of scoring.
“I imagine we had been driving the ball down the sphere — not how we wished to — however we drove the ball down the sphere,” Jackson mentioned. “We simply must put factors on the board. We had two expensive turnovers within the pink zone — the sport would’ve been completely different.”
One of many largest turning factors got here early within the fourth quarter, when Baltimore trailed 17-7. Ravens large receiver Zay Flowers caught a cross on the Chiefs’ 7-yard line, and it appeared like he was going to make it a one-possession sport.
However as Flowers dove ahead whereas extending the ball with each arms, Kansas Metropolis cornerback L’Jarius Sneed punched the ball out earlier than Flowers crossed the aircraft of the purpose line.
ZAY FLOWERS FUMBLE LEADS TO A TOUCHBACK 🤯😳
CHIEFS BALL.
(by way of @NFL) pic.twitter.com/QVfHHfCeQy
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 28, 2024
“Actually, I nonetheless [haven’t] gotten over it,” Flowers mentioned. “I nonetheless give it some thought, however I do know subsequent yr, we’ve got an opportunity to get again there and attempt to make it to the Tremendous Bowl, in order that’s why I am working daily and going laborious daily to get again to that second.”
Ravens coach John Harbaugh understands what it takes to rebound from a troublesome playoff loss. The final time the Ravens misplaced within the AFC Championship Sport was 2011. The following season, Baltimore gained the Tremendous Bowl.
Harbaugh mentioned he would not thoughts that his gamers proceed to speak in regards to the loss.
“I would like them speaking about all the pieces,” Harbaugh mentioned. “What we’re speaking about is confronting all the pieces that has to do with us being the perfect we will be as a soccer group and as a person participant. So, if that is a part of the confrontation, ‘Let’s go, man. Let’s speak about it, and let’s get higher, and let’s discover a technique to beat these guys.'”
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The Ravens get an opportunity straight away to beat the Chiefs. Baltimore opens the NFL season at Kansas Metropolis on Sept. 5.
Jackson would not view this as a revenge sport.
“We misplaced to them within the playoffs,” Jackson mentioned. “Simply us beating them within the common season would not actually do something; it simply helps us hold stacking up wins to hopefully make it to the playoffs if something to attempt to get in that very same place once more and hopefully achieve success. It actually would not matter who we play [in the] first sport; clearly it is the Chiefs, however I actually did not care.”
For Jackson and the Ravens, the main focus is getting again to the AFC Championship Sport and redeeming themselves.
“I imagine it hurts extra shedding earlier than the Tremendous Bowl than really being part of it, as a result of we labored so laborious [for] 17 weeks, plus the little playoff video games, and we get to a sport away and lose,” Jackson mentioned. “We did not actually put any factors on the board, and we had been simply scoring 30 factors towards loopy groups — nice defenses. Do not get me mistaken, that is a terrific protection as properly, however [we had faced] the top-ranked defenses. We simply have to complete.”