Lamar Jackson's 2025 season with the Baltimore Ravens hasn't been what anyone would've hoped for.
On Sunday night, though, the Ravens still have a chance to get into the playoffs. With a helpful upset pulled by Shedeur Sanders and the Browns last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers can still be leapfrogged by the Ravens in the AFC North with a Week 18 win by Baltimore over Mike Tomlin's bunch.
The Ravens played without Jackson a week ago when Tyler Huntley led them past the Packers.
This week, Jackson will be back, and he's got a purpose.
Jackson is also trying to prove the doubters wrong, again. A recent column in The Baltimore Sun criticized Jackson's work habits, including details on him staying up late to play video games and not staying awake in team meetings. The column also called for the Ravens to trade Jackson.
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On Thursday, Jackson responded, in part, to those thoughts during his weekly press conference.
"I don't really care about the criticism. It's going to be that way, especially with how the season was going and stuff like that," Jackson said. "When you're winning, there's no noise. But soon as you lose, or things don't look right, all types of noise come out of nowhere. So, it is what it is."
He also thinks it's funny that he was reported to fall asleep in meetings.
"Do you think Harbaugh would let me fall asleep in his meeting? That's crazy. I'm right in the front," Jackson said with a laugh. "I heard that I [was] playing a game at like one or two in the morning. I don't even do that during the summer, so I don't know where that comes from either."
There have always been those who have doubted Jackson. When he entered the NFL, some high-profile people even said Jackson should switch positions.
Clearly, the two-time MVP has done OK for himself. Now, he has a chance to play with a chip on his shoulder once again and try to lead the Ravens into the playoffs on Sunday night.
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