John Steigerwald: Lamar Jackson deserved better from Ravens teammates

Lamar Jackson can’t win the big one.

If you haven’t heard that yet, be patient, you will. After the Baltimore Ravens’ loss to the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night, Jackson is 0-2 in the NFL playoffs.

Of course, he’s one of those athletic, mobile quarterbacks, who many observers just can’t accept and, as ESPN’s Damien Woody tweeted, “Boy (people) been waiting in the weeds for this moment to jump on Lamar.”

So was it Jackson’s fault?

Partially. He threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. But, you know what, he dropped back to pass about 70 times and completed 31 of 59 for 365 yards.

Attempt to pass 70 times in a game and there’s a good chance for a turnover or two.

Jackson’s first interception was a catchable ball that bounced off the receiver’s hands.

His receivers also dropped six perfect passes in key situations.

Was it Jackson’s fault he was stopped on multiple fourth-and-1 attempts? Nope.

He had nowhere to go all. Blame the Ravens’ offensive line. Block somebody.

And you might want to get really crazy and give some credit to the Titans’ defensive line.

It also wasn’t Jackson’s fault that, after one of those fourth-and-1 failures, the Ravens defense gave up a 45-yard touchdown pass on the next play.

That would have been a good time to force a three-and-out or a field goal.

You could probably find plenty of people on the Ravens’ defense who had more to do with the loss than Jackson. They allowed Titans running back Derrick Henry to gain 190 yards on 30 carries.

Ravens running backs Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards combined for nine carries.

But an 0-2 playoff record is an 0-2 playoff record, and Jackson is going to have that hanging over his head until he “wins” a playoff game.

Ryan Tannehill is 2-0 in the postseason. He completed seven passes for 88 yards for the Titans in his “win” over the Ravens. This came after he “won” last week by shredding the New England Patriots defense with eight completions for 72 yards.

There have been a lot of pretty good quarterbacks who couldn’t win the big one until they did.

Drew Brees won his first one in his sixth year.

So did Jim Kelly.

So did Peyton Manning after losing his first three.

Steve McNair won his first in Year 5.

Aaron Rodgers had to wait until his sixth year and third as a starter to win one after going 0-3.

John Elway won his first one in his fourth year after going 0-2, just like Jackson.

Phil Simms? Sixth year.

Dan Fouts didn’t win one until his eighth season. Neither did Randall Cunningham.

There are Hall of Fame quarterbacks in that mix of guys who couldn’t win the big one.

Jackson didn’t get his first win Saturday night, but no playoff-losing quarterback has ever been asked to do what Jackson did against the Titans.

He threw 59 passes and ran the ball 20 times.

It was inevitable that, as Woody said, people were going to come out of the weeds and say Jackson’s “loss” is more proof a team can’t win a Super Bowl with a running quarterback.

The only thing Jackson proved Saturday night was he can’t do everything himself. No team in history asked its quarterback to do more than the Ravens asked of Jackson against the Titans.

He deserved better from his offensive line, his receivers, his defense and his coaches.