Lamar Jackson has achieved quite a bit throughout his young NFL career, winning the league’s MVP award in 2019 and 2023 and earning a trio of Pro Bowl selections through his first six professional seasons. However, postseason success is measured by getting through elite teams with elite quarterbacks.
The Buffalo Bills have consistently had quality clubs during Jackson’s career. How has Jackson fared against Bills Mafia historically?
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Has Struggled vs. Buffalo
Jackson’s 2-2 lifetime record vs. the Bills is a bit of a misnomer. The Ravens drafted Jackson in 2008, and his first game action ironically enough came in his rookie season against the Bills. Baltimore annihilated the Bills 47-3 in Week 1, Jackson came in for some garbage time minutes in relief of starter Joe Flacco. Jackson carried the ball seven times for 49 yards and went 1 of 4 through the air for 24 yards.
Jackson was solid but hardly responsible for the victory.
Flash forward to the following season, Jackson and Allen are now the unquestioned starters for their team. This time, Jackson very much was responsible for the victory, though the box score stats weren’t the prettiest.
Which QB will win a Super Bowl first?
🔁 Josh Allen
❤️ Lamar Jackson pic.twitter.com/NPNUhIDAay— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) September 28, 2024
The Ravens escaped Orchard Park with a 24-17 road victory. Jackson tossed three touchdowns and an interception on 145 passing yards, along with notching 40 rushing yards on 11 carries. Baltimore’s defense smothered Josh Allen and Co., sacking him six times and forcing a fumble. The Ravens’ 3.6 YPC left much to be desired, but the game script allowed Baltimore to lean on its run game (33 carries vs. 25 pass attempts).
The sole postseason match between the two was a low-scoring affair in the wintery depths of Buffalo. The Ravens traveled to Orchard Park after beating the Titans in Nashville. A third-quarter Jackson pick-six (101 yards by Taron Johnson) increased the Bills’ lead to 17-3, and two plays later, Jackson would leave the game after sustaining a concussion.
Jackson had nine rushes for 34 yards, and the Ravens had another unceremonious exit from the AFC playoffs.
The last installment of the Jackson vs. Bills series takes us to 2022 — the first and only loss Jackson has had against Buffalo. Jackson and Allen both had 70+ rushing yards and sub-70 QB ratings, a night where two ferocious defenses made it hard on two exceptional QBs. The Ravens stormed out to a 20-3 lead, only to have Allen and Co. rattle off 20 consecutive points to win 23-20.
MORE: Josh Allen’s All-Time Stats and Record Against the Baltimore Ravens
Jackson posted 144 passing yards and a touchdown on 29 attempts; he was sacked twice and intercepted twice, also notching 73 yards on 11 rushes.
The two-time MVP is 2-2 vs. the Bills but has thrown at least one interception in the last three games against them and has never eclipsed 162 passing yards in a single game against McDermott’s typically staunch Bills D.
How Has Jackson Done in the Postseason?
He has made six career postseason starts, losing his first two in the Wild Card round in 2018 and the Divisional Round in 2019 before winning a Wild Card matchup with the Tennessee Titans in 2020, then losing to the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round. Last season, Jackson led the Ravens to their first AFC Championship Game since 2012, falling short at home to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, 17-10.
MORE: Simulate the Season With PFN’s Playoff Predictor
All in all, Jackson’s playoff track record is less than stellar. He has completed a combined just 57.4% of his pass attempts for 1,324 yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions, alongside rushing for 521 yards and three rushing scores across those six postseason appearances.
He’s still seeking that first Lombardi Trophy — the one gap left in his legacy.