Lamar Jackson claps back at critics over AFC title game flop: ‘Really don’t care’

Lamar Jackson is not concerned with any of his detractors.

The star Ravens quarterback joined Adam Schein on Mad Dog Sports Radio on Tuesday, getting asked point blank if he hears his critics and if it motivates him.

Jackson, the two-time NFL MVP, has yet to reach a Super Bowl, notably losing at home in the AFC title game to the Chiefs last year.

“I’m motivating myself because I know what I want to do at the end of the day,” Jackson said. “Those guys have their time. I really don’t care what the criticism is, what the critics say because, at the end of the day, I just came off an injury the year before and we made it all the way to the AFC [Championship Game] in the new system. It’s nothing to be down on myself, my teammates or anything like that because we made it far.”

The question and answer come days after former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, while on Fox NFL preseason coverage, said Jackson has gone missing during the postseason.

“I’ve learned my lesson. I will never bet against the Chiefs again,” Edelman said on the telecast. “It’s not up to the Chiefs. We all know who the Chiefs are… we need to see Lamar Jackson, who’s been on a milk carton in the playoffs — he’s missing.”

The two-time All-Pro was not at his best against Kansas City in January, completing 20 of 37 passes for 272 yards with a touchdown and critical interception with under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Ravens down by 10 points.

He was also sacked four times in the season-ending loss.

Jackson added that he and his Ravens teammates are their own biggest critics.

“We criticize ourselves more than anyone else,” he said. “What people say on the outside, that’s just their take — and they can believe what they want to believe.”

The Ravens will get a chance at a measure of redemption in Week 1 when they kick off the season on “Thursday Night Football” against the Chiefs.