(Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
Good NFL players dominate in the regular season, but great players do it in the playoffs.
That’s why, even though he’s coming off another MVP season, some people are still doubting Lamar Jackson’s greatness.
The thing with Jackson is that, unlike what happens with other players, we’ve seen him dominate everybody that comes across him in the first four months of the season.
Then, he leaves a lot to be desired in the playoffs.
With that in mind, Stephen A. Smith called him out and urged him to show up when it actually counts.
Talking on ESPN’s First Take, Smith stated that Jackson’s situation isn’t like like Josh Allen, who puts on a show vs. Patrick Mahomes but still loses in a shootout.
.@stephenasmith says Lamar Jackson “has even less of an excuse now” to not handle business in the playoffs
“It ain’t about playoff appearances anymore with Lamar Jackson. … It’s about one dude that repeatedly stands in your way. His name is Patrick Mahomes.” pic.twitter.com/igDtWUGqkq
— First Take (@FirstTake) September 2, 2024
Instead, he drops like ten points in the playoffs after steamrolling past everybody.
Smith believes that Derrick Henry’s addition only gives Jackson even less of an excuse not to get the job done.
The thing with Jackson is that, with a great talent, it’s only normal to also have to deal with great expectations.
No one doubts his ability; we’ve seen him be the best quarterback on the field over and over and against some very good teams.
Things would’ve been different if we’d seen him struggle routinely against winning teams, such as Dak Prescott or Kirk Cousins.
But if Jackson has already shown that he can do it against the best of the best, then what’s holding him back when the season is on the line?
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