The Baltimore Ravens came into Sunday night clinging to playoff hopes, but walked away with a gut-punch loss that may have lasting implications - both for their postseason chances and for the health of their franchise quarterback. A 28-24 defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots dropped Baltimore to 7-8, and while the Patriots punched their own playoff ticket, the bigger story in Baltimore was Lamar Jackson’s early exit with a back injury.
Jackson left the game in the second quarter after taking a knee to the lower back from Patriots safety Craig Woodson on a designed run. The hit sent Jackson to the ground, and he didn’t return. After the game, the frustration was written all over his face - and in his words.
“It’s BS, bro,” Jackson said. “I can’t control that.
I’m on the ground. I gave myself up.
I got kneed in the back. ... I’m getting injured, and then we’re fighting for a chance to make the playoffs.
I can’t finish the game with my guys. It’s BS.”
Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed Monday that Jackson suffered a back contusion - a painful bruise - and is considered day-to-day. Harbaugh emphasized that while it’s not a structural injury, the pain is very real.
“Painful, certainly,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been classified as day-to-day on that, nothing beyond the contusion. But I don’t want to minimize the severity and pain level of that, because it’s legit.”
Jackson was visibly struggling to walk after the game, even after receiving treatment and a Toradol shot in an attempt to return. And his absence was felt immediately on the field.
Before the injury, Jackson had completed 7 of 10 passes for 101 yards. The Ravens were starting to find a rhythm, and had just tied the game at 10-10 with a field goal late in the first half.
Tyler Huntley stepped in and played admirably, going 9-for-10 for 65 yards, but Baltimore’s offense couldn’t hold off a Patriots comeback. The Ravens led 24-13 early in the fourth quarter, only to give up two late touchdowns in the final nine minutes.
For Jackson, the injury came just as he felt the game was tilting in Baltimore’s favor.
“My legs felt great. I just got kneed in the back in the red zone,” Jackson said.
“I just couldn’t finish the game. I was trying.
I got a Toradol shot and stuff like that, but it still didn’t get better. Pain.
It hurts.”
Baltimore now faces a must-win situation heading into next weekend’s matchup with the Green Bay Packers. Jackson is hopeful he’ll be able to suit up, but even if he does, the Ravens are far from the offensive powerhouse we’ve seen in past seasons.
Over the last eight games, Jackson has accounted for just nine total touchdowns while turning the ball over seven times. His rushing production - a hallmark of his game - has dipped to just 21.8 yards per contest during that stretch, as he’s battled through a series of nagging injuries.
This season also marks the first time Jackson has lost six games as a starter. Until Sunday, he’d been a perfect 16-0 in games played in Week 15 or later.
The Ravens’ postseason path is now narrow. According to SportsLine projections, Baltimore has just a 5.8% chance to win the AFC North, with the 9-6 Pittsburgh Steelers holding a commanding 94.2% probability to take the division crown.
As the Ravens prepare for the Packers, all eyes will be on Jackson’s status. But even if he’s under center, Baltimore will need more than just his presence - they’ll need the MVP-caliber version of Lamar to show up, pain and all, if they want to keep their playoff dreams alive.