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Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer
BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens made a statement on the opening drive of Saturday’s wild-card game.
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— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 12, 2025
Jackson marched the Ravens 95 yards down the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers and capped the series with a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rashod Bateman to give Baltimore a 7-0 lead. This marked the first time in the postseason that Jackson has led Baltimore to a touchdown on an opening drive.
It was the longest touchdown drive in the playoffs for the Ravens since 2001, when they had a 99-yard drive in a wild-card game against the Miami Dolphins.
Slow starts have been a problem for Jackson and Baltimore in the postseason, where the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player is 2-4 in his career. In Jackson’s previous six playoff games, the Ravens had totaled 10 points in the first quarter.