Super Bowl champ: Lamar Jackson unfairly criticized more than other top QBs

The Baltimore Ravens go as quarterback Lamar Jackson goes, which is why he gets credit for when the team is winning and he takes much of the heat when the team fails to meet expectations.

Jackson has been made the scapegoat for many of Baltimore’s shortcomings this offseason. Just last week, former Pro Bowl offensive lineman Mark Schlereth took shots at Jackson for failing to develop any Pro Bowl receivers in his time with the team.

The jab didn’t sit well with former Super Bowl champion running back LeSean McCoy, who defended the two-time MVP for being judged arguably more harshly than any other top-tier passer in the NFL.

“Lamar Jackson, he lost this year to Patrick Mahomes,” McCoy said , via the Ravens' official website. “Who else is beating Patrick Mahomes? Joe Burrow in the playoffs one time. … All I'm saying is for the way we grade Lamar Jackson — he's doing the best he can. He could be better in the playoffs. I will give him that. He could be better in the playoffs. But a guy like Josh Allen, who I love — I think Josh is better than Lamar—we don't grade Josh the same way we grade Lamar Jackson.”

Many point to Jackson’s 2-4 record in the playoffs as to why he’s held to a higher standard than others. But to McCoy’s point, other QBs like Allen (5-5), Jalen Hurts (2-3), Justin Herbert (0-1), Kirk Cousins (1-3), Dak Prescott (2-5) and Matthew Stafford (4-4) have equally underwhelming playoff results but seemingly aren’t picked apart as much as Jackson.

“I just hate — they don't keep the same type of attitude with Lamar like they do other quarterbacks, and I'm tired of them,” McCoy added.

Since his rookie year in 2018, Jackson ranks third in QB wins (62) — behind only Mahomes (73) and Allen (63) — and he’s fourth in touchdown percentage (5.9), ninth in passer rating (98) and 12th in touchdowns (125).

In that same span, he also leads the NFL in rushing yards (5,258) and rushing yards per game (61.1) by a QB, and he ranks third in rushing touchdowns by a QB (29). Jackson has also been named to three Pro Bowls, two All-Pro teams and won two league MVPs.