The Kansas City Chiefs face a formidable challenge in the upcoming AFC Championship game, where they’ll need to devise a strategy to contain Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Jackson’s exceptional season has positioned him as a strong contender for the MVP title, making it clear that taming his performance won’t be a walk in the park.
Bill Polian, a former NFL executive who has been critical of Jackson in the past, has proposed a way for Kansas City to limit Jackson’s impact on the game.
“Keeping him in the pocket. Making him beat you from the pocket. Now, he may well do that. Because their receivers and their passing game is good enough to do that. And their protection is good enough to do that. But if we’re playing them, I’m gonna say to the coaches: ‘You have to keep Lamar in the pocket at all costs.’”
Polian acknowledges that Jackson has shown prowess as a pocket passer this season, a facet of his game that has been increasingly effective.
For instance, in Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins, Jackson threw five touchdowns and achieved a perfect passer rating. The Dolphins tailored their gameplan to prevent Jackson from using his legs, highlighting his adaptability as a quarterback.
Lamar Jackson has faced scrutiny regarding his performance in previous playoff games, but a victory over the NFL’s premier franchise, the Chiefs, could potentially alter that narrative.
Leading the Ravens back to the Super Bowl and defeating the Chiefs in the process would undoubtedly silence many of his critics, including Bill Polian.
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