Many true things have been said by fellow quarterbacks of Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, but perhaps none truer than this.
Ahead of the AFC championship game on Sunday, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was asked how he felt going up against Mahomes, and he told the honest truth.
“I don’t like competing against him at all,” Jackson said on Wednesday.
“He’s a great quarterback, definitely a Hall of Famer," continued Jackson. “It’s a no-brainer, he’s definitely a Hall of Famer. I believe it’s two up-and-coming greats going toe to toe. Like a heavyweight fight."
"What is it about competing against Mahomes that you like?"
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 24, 2024
"I don't like competing against him at all." ???????? @Lj_era8 pic.twitter.com/odUZw3Jl6y
Jackson, currently touted to win his second MVP award this season, will have to go through the reigning Super Bowl champions to book a trip to Allegiant Stadium in February. Whereas the Chiefs, who have appeared in the last five consecutive AFC championship games, have been here quite often before, the Ravens haven’t gotten this far since winning it all in 2012.
In the regular season, the Ravens steamrolled winning teams, beating a whopping eight opponents above .500 by two scores or more. But everyone knows the playoffs are a different beast, particularly Jackson’s critics who claim the 2019 MVP hasn’t achieved much postseason glory in his six-year career thus far.
Jackson and Mahomes have squared off four times in the regular season; the Chiefs are 3—1 in those games. Sunday will mark the first time the two AFC heavyweights will meet in the playoffs.
Jackson said of the upcoming matchup, “We're still locked in on the prize that we're chasing. It doesn't change anything until we complete the mission.”
The AFC championship game will kickoff at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.
