The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers are preparing to face off in a colossal matchup on Christmas Day, but Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is getting tired of the hype.
When asked about the possibility of this clash being a potential Super Bowl preview, Jackson brushed it off.
“The Super Bowl is in February. We’re in December right now,” Jackson said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “We’ve got to focus on Monday night. I’m not worried about what people say.”
Of course, even if Jackson does think these two teams may inevitably meet again this winter, downplaying the possibility makes sense.
The last thing Jackson wants to do is put too much pressure on his teammates (or himself) heading into this regular-season game, so Jackson is right to dismiss such talk.
Jackson is also one of the leading candidates for the NFL MVP award this season.
Through the first 14 games, Jackson has thrown for 3,105 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 66.3 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 96.5. In addition, he has rushed for 741 yards and five scores while averaging 5.5 yards per carry.
The 26-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Louisville, was selected by Baltimore with the 32nd overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. He took over as the Ravens’ starting quarterback midway through his rookie campaign and has not looked back.
Jackson is also no stranger to MVP awards, as he took home the honor in 2019 after leading the NFL with 36 touchdown passes while racking up 1,206 rushing yards, which was the single-season record for a quarterback.
One thing that has alluded Lamar Jackson, however, has been playoff success. He has won just one postseason game since entering the NFL.
The Ravens are 11-3 and have won four games in a row. They currently own the best record in the AFC. Meanwhile, the 49ers are also 11-3 and are riding a six-game winning streak. Like Baltimore, San Francisco lays claim to the best mark in its respective conference.
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