For the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, the playoffs start in earnest on Sunday.
Whether two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson will play remains unclear. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters Monday that Jackson’s status for Sunday’s AFC North showdown against the Steelers is “to be determined.”
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“He’s coming off a very serious injury,” Harbaugh said. “He’s working at it. I saw him in here today working at it. I think we’ll know a lot more on Wednesday.”
Jackson hasn’t played since he exited in the first half of a Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots due to a back contusion. On Saturday, the Ravens beat the Green Bay Packers without Jackson behind a strong effort from backup quarterback Tyler Huntley and four touchdowns on the ground from running back Derrick Henry.
The winner of Sunday night’s Ravens-Steelers game will win the AFC North and make the playoffs. The loser’s season will be over. Baltimore’s Week 17 win over the Packers combined with Pittsburgh’s loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday set up next week’s winner-take-all showdown.
Harbaugh left no doubt on Monday that Jackson will play if he’s physically cleared.
“Our confidence in Tyler is a real big positive, a real plus,” Harbaugh said. “But it doesn’t factor into whether Lamar plays. If Lamar’s ready to go, he’s playing. That’s it. For sure.”
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The decision will ultimately be up to Baltimore’s medical staff. It adds further intrigue in Baltimore to a game that already had massive stakes.
Stakes in Baltimore beyond go playoff fate
There’s more riding on the outcome of Sunday’s game than the direct stakes of who does and does not make the playoffs.
Harbaugh has been under fire for this season’s underperformance after the Ravens started the season on the short list of Super Bowl favorites. If the Ravens lose and miss the playoffs on the heels of years of disappointment in the postseason, Harbaugh could lose his job.
Adding to the intrigue is a report from the Baltimore Sun of discord between Harbaugh and Jackson, with frustration growing in Baltimore around Jackson’s availability and practice and preparation habits. Harbaugh denied details of that report and the existence any tension between him and Jackson.
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But a scenario in which Jackson doesn’t play and the Ravens lose to the rival Steelers with a playoff berth on the line sets up the potential for offseason fireworks in Baltimore.