Image Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

“You Simply Can’t Trust When the Chips Are Down” – NFL Analyst Rips into Lamar Jackson’s Big‑Game Struggles, Makes James Harden Comparison

Image Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Baltimore Ravens have stumbled to a 1-3 record, falling into third place in the AFC North after four weeks of the NFL season. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, once among the frontrunners for MVP odds entering Week 4, is now facing sharp criticism following a disappointing showing against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

On FS1’s First Things First, analyst Nick Wright drew a comparison between Lamar Jackson and NBA star James Harden. Wright argued that despite their talent and accolades, both players struggle to deliver when the stakes are highest. He described Jackson as “an all-time legendary First Ballot Hall of Fame MVP performer that you simply can’t trust when the chips are down.”

Nick Wright highlighted Jackson’s turnovers in critical matchups. Over his last 30 games, Lamar Jackson has committed turnovers only three times, but each came against top AFC contenders. Twice against the Kansas City Chiefs and once against the Buffalo Bills. Those mistakes proved costly, with two of the games ending Baltimore’s postseason runs.

The optics surrounding Lamar Jackson’s body language over the last week look bleak. Not sure we’ve seen this kind of demeanor since the end of Greg Roman’s tenure in Baltimore.

Begs the question: what’s happening internally? pic.twitter.com/RLskZTgmzv
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) September 29, 2025

Lamar Jackson’s Poor Run In Crucial Games

In the 2023 AFC Championship Game, Lamar Jackson threw an interception and lost a fumble against the Chiefs. The following year, in the Divisional Round, he repeated the same mistakes against the Bills. Most recently, in what felt like a must-win early-season contest, Jackson again turned the ball over twice before leaving in the third quarter with an apparent injury.

Despite his two MVP awards, Jackson’s playoff record stands at 3-5, and he has yet to reach the Super Bowl. His regular-season numbers this year remain strong with 869 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and just one interception, along with 166 rushing yards and a rushing score. Still, the Ravens’ slow start has overshadowed those statistics.

Baltimore Ravens now trails the Pittsburgh Steelers by two games in the division. The schedule offers little relief, with a Week 5 matchup against the Houston Texans followed by a Week 6 clash with the Los Angeles Rams before a much-needed bye week.

Jackson’s availability for Week 5 remains uncertain. If he cannot play, backup quarterback Cooper Rush is expected to step in. Rush completed 9 of 13 passes for 52 yards against Kansas City. His role could become pivotal if Lamar Jackson’s injury lingers, adding another concern for a Ravens team already under pressure to salvage its season.