The Baltimore Ravens narrowly escaped a disastrous collapse on Sunday, holding on to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 28-25 after leading by 22 points early in the fourth quarter. The victory prevented the Ravens from falling to 0-3 on the season, a record that could have severely damaged their playoff hopes.
After the game, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson spoke with Tom Rinaldi of Fox Sports in a postgame interview that has since sparked some controversy. Reflecting on the importance of the win, Jackson cracked a joke that didn’t sit well with everyone.
“We needed it bad. I believe some people was on suicide watch,” Jackson quipped, referring to how critical it was for the Ravens to avoid starting the season with three straight losses.
While the comment was clearly intended to be lighthearted, suicide is a deeply sensitive issue, and jokes about it—especially on national television—are often seen as inappropriate. Jackson’s offhand remark, despite his lack of malicious intent, rubbed some viewers the wrong way. However, Tom Rinaldi, the Fox Sports sideline reporter conducting the interview, laughed along with the comment, and many Ravens fans on social media seemed to share his reaction, appreciating Jackson’s attempt at humor in a tense moment.
Despite the controversy surrounding his comment, Jackson’s focus remains on football. Sunday’s win marked the Ravens’ first of the season after suffering back-to-back losses against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals to open the year. Avoiding a 0-3 start was critical for Baltimore, as only a handful of teams in NFL history have managed to reach the playoffs after losing their first three games.
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Jackson’s performance on the field was instrumental in securing the victory. He led the Ravens with his dynamic playmaking ability, contributing both as a passer and a runner to keep the Cowboys at bay during their late-game surge. The Ravens’ defense, while bending under pressure from Dallas in the fourth quarter, did just enough to prevent the Cowboys from completing the comeback.
Looking ahead, Jackson and the Ravens will have a tough test in Week 4 as they prepare to face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. With both teams hungry for a win, the game is shaping up to be a high-stakes matchup.
Though Jackson’s postgame comments may have drawn some criticism, it’s clear that the quarterback remains focused on the task at hand: leading his team to more victories and pushing toward a successful season.
As Baltimore moves forward, Jackson will be counted on to continue delivering big performances—on and off the field, he’ll likely be more cautious with his words in future interviews.
