Stephen A. Smith (left), Lamar Jackson (center) and John Harbaugh (right).ESPN / LAPRESSE

Yet again, 2024 will be a season with very high expectations for the Baltimore Ravens. That’s what happens when you have a reputation for coming out of nearly every season with a winning record. A lot of that is due to the culture John Harbaugh has established for the franchise.

Pairing Harbaugh with an electric quarterback like Lamar Jackson has proven very fruitful, but it hasn’t gotten them the playoff success they have come to expect. Last season felt like the best shot for the team to put all of their past playoff woes behind them and finally reach the Super Bowl, but they only scored 10 points in the AFC Championship game and saw the Kansas City Chiefs steal all of the glory.

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Stephen A. Smith calls out John Harbaugh for defending Lamar Jackson from criticism

Jackson has come under a lot of criticism for his playoff performance, leading to Harbaugh defending him on Sunday to the media. That didn’t seem to sit well with ESPN‘s Stephen A. Smith.

Respectfully, coach Harbaugh, what the hell are you talking about? What is this critique, this criticism of Lamar Jackson, where is it coming from? There’s only one: You haven’t been to a Super Bowl… There are 9 people that have been 2-time league MVPs – every single one of them have won a Super Bowl championship but Lamar Jackson. That is all we say, nobody questions his ability.