Lamar Jackson is a paradox. In the regular season, he plays like he's controlled by a teenager with a video game cheat code, spinning out of tackles and dropping 40-yard dimes while barely breaking a sweat. He has two MVP trophies on his mantle to prove it. But mention Lamar Jackson playoff games at a sports bar and you’ll instantly ignite a heated debate that has no middle ground.
One side calls him a choker. The other says he’s been let down by his supporting cast and coaching.
The reality? It’s complicated.
As of January 2026, Lamar’s postseason record stands at 3-5. That’s not what you’d expect from a guy who owns the highest regular-season winning percentage among active starters not named Patrick Mahomes. He has thrown for 1,753 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions in those eight games. On the ground, he’s predictably electric with 641 rushing yards, but the fumbles—6 lost in total—have been the hidden daggers in several of those losses.
Why the Narrative Around Lamar Jackson Playoff Games is Often Wrong
Most fans look at a 3-5 record and assume the quarterback just "isn't a winner" when the lights get bright. That’s lazy. If you actually watch the tape of the 2024 Wild Card win against the Steelers, you saw a different Lamar. He was efficient. He didn't force things. He let the game come to him, finishing 16-of-21 for 275 yards and two touchdowns.
The problem is that for every 2024 Steelers game, there’s a 2019 Titans game.
That 2019 loss is still the one that haunts Baltimore. The Ravens were the #1 seed, favorites to win it all, and Jackson put up a massive 508 yards of total offense. Sounds great, right? Except he also turned the ball over three times. When you’re down by two scores and you abandon the run—the very thing that made you the best team in the league—you're asking for trouble.
The Rushing Paradox
Jackson is currently the all-time leader in postseason rushing yards by a quarterback. He’s essentially a walking first down. However, the data shows a weird trend: the Ravens are 3-1 in playoff games where Lamar attempts 24 or fewer passes.
When he’s asked to throw 25+ times? They are 0-4.
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This isn't necessarily because Lamar can't throw. It’s because when the Ravens are throwing that much, it usually means they are trailing, the defense knows the pass is coming, and the offensive rhythm is completely broken. Honestly, it’s a coaching failure as much as a player failure. In the 2023 AFC Championship loss to the Chiefs, the Ravens gave their running backs the ball just six times. Six.
You don't win in January by forgetting who you are.
Breaking Down the Key Moments
If we’re being real, Jackson's playoff career has been a series of growing pains.
- 2018 vs. Chargers: He was the youngest QB to ever start a playoff game. He looked lost for three quarters before nearly pulling off a miracle comeback. We can give him a pass here.
- 2019 vs. Titans: The "big" letdown. 500 yards of offense but zero composure in the red zone.
- 2020 vs. Titans/Bills: He finally got the monkey off his back with a win in Tennessee, punctuated by that iconic 48-yard touchdown run. But then came the Buffalo game—the "Pick-6" game in the wind—where he left with a concussion.
- 2023 vs. Texans/Chiefs: A dominant win over Houston followed by a frustrating, pass-heavy collapse against Kansas City.
- 2024 vs. Steelers/Divisional: A solid Wild Card victory where he showed more maturity, followed by a season that ultimately ended in the Divisional round under a new offensive scheme.
The 2025 season was a bit of a "lost year" for Lamar due to a nagging hamstring injury that slowed him down mid-season. Even then, he managed to complete over 70% of his passes when he was on the field. The discrepancy between his regular season "God Mode" and his postseason "Human Mode" is shrinking, but it’s still there.
The Todd Monken Factor
Ever since Todd Monken took over as offensive coordinator, the "Lamar Jackson playoff games" conversation has shifted. Under Greg Roman, the offense was revolutionary but predictable. It was a sledgehammer. Monken tried to turn it into a scalpel.
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We’ve seen Lamar's passer rating improve, and his ability to read coverages from the pocket has never been better. But in the playoffs, teams like the Chiefs and Bills still play a "mush rush"—they don't try to sack him as much as they try to keep him in a cage. They force him to make 10-yard throws into tight windows for four quarters straight.
It’s a test of patience. Sometimes Lamar passes it. Sometimes he gets bored and tries to make the 80-yard play that isn't there.
What the Stats Don't Tell You
Numbers like a 60.6% completion rate in the playoffs don't account for the drops. In that 2023 game against KC, Zay Flowers fumbled at the goal line. That wasn't on Lamar. In the 2019 game, his receivers had seven drops.
Football is a team sport, but the QB gets all the credit and all the blame. That's just how it works.
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Actionable Insights for the Future
If the Ravens want to flip the script on Lamar’s playoff legacy, three things have to happen:
- Balance is Non-Negotiable: They cannot abandon the run just because they are down by 7 points.
- Ball Security: Lamar has to stop the "hero ball" fumbles. 6 lost fumbles in 8 games is a recipe for an early vacation.
- The "Checkdown" Mentality: Taking the 4-yard gain on 1st down rather than looking for the highlight reel play.
Lamar is now a veteran. He’s no longer the "young kid" just happy to be there. With the 2026 season on the horizon and a roster that remains competitive, the window is still wide open. But the clock is ticking.
The next step for any serious analyst is to look at the Success Rate per dropback rather than just total yards. Total yards in a loss are often just "empty calories" accumulated during garbage time. To truly understand Lamar’s evolution, watch his 3rd-and-short conversion rates in the 2024 postseason compared to 2019. That’s where the real story of his growth is hidden.
Focus on how the Ravens utilize heavy personnel (12 and 21 sets) in the first quarter of their next playoff appearance. If they come out in empty backfield sets early, they haven't learned their lesson. If they run the ball 15 times in the first half, expect a deep run.