The Baltimore QB can’t even the score by beating Kansas City, but a win could start to shift the narrative that Mahomes has become his roadblock.
— Eight months ago in a 17-10 loss in the AFC Championship Game, Lamar Jackson was so infuriated after throwing a fourth-quarter interception in the end zone that the Baltimore Ravens quarterback ripped off his helmet and slammed it to the ground while walking to the sideline.
The reigning NFL Most Valuable Player has built a reputation for frustrating defenses with his elusiveness and unpredictability. Yet, when it comes to his clashes with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, Jackson has usually been the one left frustrated.
Heading into Thursday night’s rematch with the Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), Jackson can’t even the score by beating the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. But a victory in the season opener for Jackson could start to change the narrative that Mahomes has become his roadblock.
Jackson is 1-4 against Mahomes, which is tied for the fifth most lopsided rivalry between MVP award-winning quarterbacks who’ve played each other at least five times.
„I’m not just going to look at this game like it’s a revenge game“, Jackson said. „Anybody we’ve played, no matter if we’ve beat them or lost to them in previous years, I just want to win.“
Tom Brady vs. Matt Ryan: 8-0 (1.000)
Terry Bradshaw vs. Brian Sipe: 10-1 (.90)
Dan Marino vs. Boomer Esiason: 7-1 (.875)
Ken Stabler vs. Brian Sipe: 5-1 (.833)
Brett Favre vs. Steve Young: 4-1 (.800)
Patrick Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson: 4-1 (.800)
*for QBs who’ve started against each other five or more times
Source: ESPN Stats & Information
The success of Mahomes and Jackson has led some to think this could be the next Brady-Manning rivalry. At this stage, Mahomes vs. Jackson has been more uneven than epic.
Jackson’s four losses against Kansas City are his most against any team. Other than Mahomes, no quarterback has beaten Jackson more than twice.
„I’m sure [that] any time you lose against anyone, there’s going to be extra motivation“, Ravens middle linebacker Roquan Smith said. „I have all my faith in Lamar. He’s the leader of this team, and [we know] that he’s going to lead us exactly where we want to go, at the end of the day, and all we can do is continue to support him.“
Jackson has been one of the most successful quarterbacks in the NFL, surpassing Mahomes in February to become the youngest two-time MVP (age 27) since the merger. As a dual-threat playmaker, Jackson has led the Ravens to the best regular-season record in the league twice in his first six seasons (14-2 in 2019, 13-4 in 2023).
When competing against other top quarterbacks, Jackson has usually come out on top. He won both of his meetings against Tom Brady. He’s beaten Joe Burrow four out of five times.
But he’s struggled to outduel Mahomes. Jackson’s first loss as a starter was a 27-24 defeat in Kansas City in Week 14 of the 2018 season, when he was knocked out of the game in overtime with an ankle injury.
