BALTIMORE – Lamar Jackson was already running a lot when he reached the end zone in the fourth quarter.
Apparently he still had some energy left, he skipped past the photographers and disappeared into the tunnel
in a celebration that seemed cathartic for the All-Pro quarterback.
Jackson threw two touchdown passes and two runs for scores
and the Baltimore Ravens pulled away in the second half to beat the Houston Texans 34-10 on Saturday and advance to the AFC Championship Game.
It was only Jackson’s second win in five playoff games, something he knew well and quote;
You know I heard her, he said and I didn’t even hear it. I can see it.
But it is what it is. I really don’t care what people say.
These guys used to just have our team and number, but this is a different team.
Jackson made more history Saturday by becoming the first quarterback since at least 1948
in the regular season or playoffs — with at least two touchdown passes, two TD passes, 100 yards and 100 passer rating in the same game and quote;
Thanks Lamar, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said He made a lot of great plays. That’s why it’s an MVP
The Ravens (14-4) dominated the second half as the teams ended the second quarter tied at 10 apiece.
Jackson said he did most of the talking during halftime Many curses he said.
Jackson A 15-yard field goal kept Baltimore’s lead alive.
Although C.J. Stroud had a solid, consistent first half for Houston, as the Texans (11-8) ultimately couldn’t convert enough promising plays into points against the Ravens’ impressive defense.
Baltimore is now hosting the AFC Championship Game for the first time since January 1971, when the Colts defeated the Oakland Raiders en route to the Super Bowl title.
The Ravens will play in this semifinal for the fifth time since arriving in Baltimore.
They will face the winner of Sunday’s game between Buffalo and Kansas City
Our fans have a chance to cheer as loud or louder than they did in this game and they were amazing
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said I thought our fans were amazing.
Man, it was deafening.andquot;Harbaughand brother Jim was at the game and returned the favor after John went to watch Jim coach the University of Michigan to a football and national championship earlier this month.
Ravens fans were haunted by what happened in the playoffs four years ago, when Baltimore went 14-2 in the regular season but lost the season opener to Tennessee.
Houston did enough to cause some anxiety, especially with Steven Sims returning punts and Jackson struggling at times with the Texans defense.
But on the first possession of the second half, Jackson drove Baltimore 55 yards in six plays and scored at midfield.
Then a 15-yard pass to Isaiah Likely made it 24-10 early in the fourth quarter.Jackson’s final touchdown came on an 8-yard run with 6:20 left in the game and the sacked quarterback kept running straight into the tunnel in that corner of the field.
Sims the return was the only TD for the Texans, whose offense never reached the end zone in 120 minutes against the Ravens this season.
Houston lost the season opener at Baltimore 25-9.Jackson rushed for 821 yards in the regular season, a big part of his second MVP award.
But he topped 100 yards on the ground just once. He raced to exactly 100 in 11 attempts on Saturday.
A 14-yard bootleg on fourth-and-1 near midfield led to Likely’s touchdown, giving the Ravens some breathing room.
Jackson also passed for 152 yards.andquot;Lamar is a dog. I’ve been a fan of his since high school Stroud said.
It’s really an honor to share the field with a player like that.
Stroud threw for 175 yards and didnand#039;t take a sack against a tough Baltimore defensive front,
but the Texans dropped to 0-5 in the divisional round of the playoffs.
They’re the only current franchise that hasn’t reached a conference championship game.
The Ravens led the NFL in sacks this season,
but Jackson was under pressure in the first half when Houston tackled him three times.
Two of those sacks came back-to-back in the final minute of the second quarter after a missed field goal gave Baltimore a clean sweep.
Penalties held the Texans back all day, going 11 for 70 yards.
After Justin Tucker opened the scoring with a 53-yard field goal for Baltimore,
Houston appeared to be looking for a score before two false starts and an intentional grounding flag was pushed.
the texans out of boundsHouston ended up going 50 yards. Kaimi Fairbairn fumbled, but the Ravens answered with a 76-yard drive.
Down 10-3, the Texans hit back on special teams. Sims, who was signed from the practice squad to the active roster earlier this week, broke free for a 67-yard touchdown..
