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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson didn't play well enough to lead his team to a victory over division rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, and the 2019 MVP knows it.
Pittsburgh pulled out a 28-24 win at M&T Bank Stadium, moving the Steelers to 7-0 on the season and placing them two games ahead of the Ravens (5-2) in the AFC North.
Jackson had two interceptions and two fumbles lost on Sunday, including one with under two minutes to go that halted the Ravens last chance to score.
He began the game with a costly turnover, t00, tossing his first career pick-six to Robert Spillane on the opening drive.
“The turnovers I feel is the reason why we lost the game,” Jackson said afterwards. “I put that on me.”
His second turnover came in the form of a red-zone fumble with the game tied at 7-7. Jackson put the onus on himself for that one, too.
“We were talking about that all week, getting the ball out quick,” Jackson said. “If that had happened, it would've been no fumble.”
On the opening drive of the second half, Jackson's pass intended for tight end Mark Andrews ended up in the hands of Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith.
“I had Pat [Ricard] in the flat,” Jackson explained. “[Highsmith] looked like he was going to defend Pat. But when I threw it out to Mark, he dropped over to Mark. He fell off and made a great play.”
As for the game-icing stop on fourth down, Jackson gave credit to All-Pro defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick for making the hit. (Fumble or not, Jackson was unlikely to make the first-down marker).
“I saw [Fitzpatrick] spying on me,” Jackson said. “He made a good stop.”
Overall, Jackson completed 13 of 28 passes for 208 yards, two touchdowns and two picks, plus three fumbles (two lost) and a 12.5 QBR. He also ran for 65 yards on 16 attempts.
He has seven turnovers in two career starts against the Steelers.
The third-year QB was out-dueled by 38-year old Ben Roethlisberger, who threw for 182 yards on 21-of-32 passing for two touchdowns and zero turnovers, good for a QBR of 80.6.
For Jackson, it marks yet another disappointing performance in a big game. Jackson is 0-2 in the playoffs in his young career and has notable losses this season to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Steelers — the top two Super Bowl contenders in the AFC.
Jackson will have a chance to redeem himself in a road matchup with the Indianapolis Colts next week and will get his next opportunity to face the vaunted Pittsburgh defense on Nov. 26 at Heinz Field.
