Around the NFL: Lamar Jackson Wins First Career Playoff Game, Ravens Batter Titans 20-13
Quarterback Lamar Jackson and the smothering Ravens defense combined to dominate the Tennessee Titans in a 20-13 win on Sunday.
Arguably the best running quarterback in league history, Jackson torched the porous Titans defense for 136 rushing yards on the afternoon, as he earned his first career playoff win. Jackson became the second quarterback in the Super Bowl era to eclipse 100 yards and score a rushing touchdown in a playoff game, joining only former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
The former MVP made a number of highlight plays with his feet, but none were sweeter than his 48-yard touchdown scamper late in the first half.
PUT SOME RESPECT ON HIS NAME
Tune in: https://t.co/X3pPHm4VP4 pic.twitter.com/m5o2uSVpvt
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 10, 2021
Through the air, 109 of Jackson’s 179 passing yards went to wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, who came alive over the latter half of the season. Jackson completed 17 of 24 passes, but his passing performance was slightly tarnished by an interception and five sacks. Held without a passing touchdown for the first time in seven games, he will have to get back on track come next week.
As for the Baltimore defense, they did the unthinkable Sunday, holding the NFL’s rushing leader Derrick Henry to just 40 yards on 18 carries. It was Henry’s lowest rushing total since Week 13 of 2018, when he also ran for 40 yards on the New York Jets. After averaging nearly five yards a carry during the regular season, Henry was held to just 2.2 by Baltimore.
The Ravens secondary also made life difficult for Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, with cornerback Marcus Peters picking him off for a game-sealing interception in the final moments.
INTERCEPTION MP JUICE MAN @marcuspeters. ‼️‼️
📺: https://t.co/wNrNNZ9crp pic.twitter.com/E4TGJjDO7g
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 10, 2021
The Ravens will visit the Chiefs in the Divisional round if the Steelers can defeat the Browns later tonight. A Cleveland upset would send them to Kansas City and Baltimore to Buffalo next week.
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