The Baltimore Ravens were the odds-on favorites to win the Super Bowl entering the playoffs this past year, and based how they played during the regular season, it was easy to see why. They won 14 games and entered the postseason on a 12-game winning streak. They captured the AFC North division title. Quarterback Lamar Jackson won the NFL MVP award.
But then, when it came time to make their championship run, the Ravens fell flat, getting thumped by the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
Going into 2020, Jackson understands Baltimore cannot afford to make the same mistake. He said, via Complex's Load Management podcast (via Josh Alper at Pro Football Talk):
“We’re taking it one game at a time, not peeking ahead … That’s what happened in the playoffs and we end up losing to the team people had us favored over. It’s any given Sunday. You can’t underestimate no team, no opponent and that’s what we did. So I’m looking forward to this 2020 season playing the Browns first … Don’t underestimate your opponents. They [Titans] caught us by surprise. That’s all it was.”
Jackson did not put forth his best effort in the loss to the Titans, completing just 31 of his 59 passes and throwing a pair of interceptions. After that game, Jackson said that the Ravens beat themselves.
While Tennessee certainly deserves credit for beating Baltimore, taking better care of the football and being better prepared will certainly benefit the Ravens heading into next season.
Baltimore has lost its first playoff game in each of the last two years, and both defeats occurred in somewhat similar fashion as the club's offense stalled.
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