Ravens QB Lamar Jackson laments one thing about playoff bye week

Quarterback Lamar Jackson was asked during a Tuesday news conference if he felt his Baltimore Ravens were playing their best football of the season before they clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed for the playoffs in Week 17. 

"Yeah I believe we [were] — especially against the opponents we had, playoff opponents," Jackson responded, as shared by Andrew McCarty of The Spun. "That's the thing about the bye week. I was like, 'Dang, we got a bye week.' I believe we were getting into a groove. We were just getting more and more dialed in." 

From Week 14 through Week 17, Baltimore earned noteworthy victories over the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins (all playoff teams) before Ravens head coach John Harbaugh sat starters such as Jackson for the club's regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 6. 

Harbaugh made a similar call in December 2019, and Baltimore ultimately lost its only playoff game the following month. 

"It is what it is," Jackson continued on Tuesday. "Coach Harbaugh still made us practice like we were preparing for a game so I believe we'll still be ready."

"Rust versus rest" debates arise before, during and after every postseason tournament. Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski sat starters for Week 18, and his team then suffered a 45-14 wild-card loss to the Houston Texans this past Saturday. 

Baltimore hosts Houston this coming Saturday, and Jackson said Tuesday he's "ready for whatever" the Texans throw his way. 

One positive about the Ravens having a bye is that the break gave star tight end Mark Andrews extra time to recover from the left ankle injury he endured in November. Harbaugh told reporters that Andrews "took a big step" in the right direction during Tuesday's practice. 

As of late Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Ravens as massive nine-point favorites against the Texans.