Lamar Jackson will apologize for using profanity but never regrets his desire to win.
Jackson's competitive fire boiled over after Sunday's 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, during a postgame press conference that included some choice words and fist-pounding at the podium.
With four games left in the regular season, the Ravens (8-5) can still win the AFC North and accomplish their ultimate goal – winning the Super Bowl. However, Jackson made it clear that after the bye, he expects the Ravens to get busy.
"I'm sorry for this," Jackson said regarding his colorful language. "I'm just mad, because I feel like we should win these games, and we're not getting them done.
"We don't need to worry about the Steelers. We need to worry about us. That's the first thing; worry about what we need to clean up on this side. Clean that (expletive) up. Forget every other team. We are beating ourselves out there. There are opportunities, but we're not making them happen. We need to make those critical situations happen, and we're not doing it."
Quarterbacks Coach Tee Martin expects Jackson to channel his anger into productive results. The bye will allow Jackson to recharge mentally and physically, while stewing over the Eagles' loss will make Jackson even hungrier to return to work.
"He kind of had the feeling of, 'I hate that we have a bye week, because I want to play next week to get this off my chest,'" Martin said. "He was that way [Monday] too, so hopefully he'll get away a little bit for the body and for the mind and come back refreshed with that same energy heading into Giants week.
"By the time he got to the podium, it was that energy that you guys felt. But it never stopped – it was that way the whole game."
Jackson has been more vocal during games, at practices, and in the locker room this season, but he doesn't always display as much emotion or candor during press conferences as he did on Sunday. He even shared an anecdote that his mother, Felicia Jones, told him he should have been more aggressive attacking potential running lanes against Philadelphia.
One of Jackson's most endearing qualities to players and coaches is his authentic personality. When Jackson talks, teammates listen, because they respect him and know he speaks from the heart.
"I just think he's more comfortable being able to say things to the players," Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken said. "Tee has done a great job with him in terms of promoting that.
"The players love to play with Lamar because he's highly competitive, and he's such a good dude. He's such a good person – they love him. It's hard not to love Lamar Jackson."
Jackson can use a physical and mental break after playing for 13 straight weeks. But when he returns, he'll be holding himself accountable to play better as he leads the Ravens' offense down the stretch. Baltimore has lost two of its last three games, including its two lowest-scoring games of the season.
"I'm always going to put myself at the front line, no matter if I played good or not," Jackson said. "I played alright [against Philadelphia], but yes. I'm just ticked off, because we left things out there on that field – me and everyone. It's a team sport, and there's no 'I' in team."
Jackson promised to bring Baltimore a Super Bowl when he was drafted and has fully embraced that challenge. Being critiqued after every game by media and fans is part of the burden that comes with being a franchise quarterback.
Jackson is used to it, but his sense of urgency is understandable. It's December, and nobody wants the Ravens to go on a late-season roll more than Jackson.
"I haven't heard one person critique one of our players for not winning the Super Bowl – but they're all over his ass," Monken said. "That's just the way it comes with, so he's an extension of us.
"It's not easy for us; it's not easy for him to be that. But winning is important to him; being a great teammate is important to him; being coachable is important to him. [He's] all of the things that you want in a quarterback."
