Lamar Jackson catches own deflected pass for 1st down vs. Chiefs in AFC Championship
In an AFC Championship game with no shortage of high-level playmaking in the first half, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson may have had the most impressive highlight. And it came on a pass he threw — and then caught.
Trailing the Kansas City Chiefs, 14-7, in the second quarter, Jackson dropped back and attempted a pass to his left. Chiefs safety Justin Reid deflected the pass skyward and as a thicket of defenders chased it down for a potential interception, so did Jackson.
And the quarterback came up with it, taking the pass to himself 13 yards for a first down.
Quarterbacks have caught their own deflected and batted passes plenty of times before, but what stood out about Jackson’s effort is that he got down the field to the line of scrimmage make the catch.
More often than not, the quarterback is lucky to eke out a gain on the play after getting the ball back in the pocket. If Jackson had just gone down where he made the catch, it already would’ve been for about no gain. Catching it running forward with a head of steam gave the dynamic quarterback a chance to rip off a first down and then some.
And on an afternoon that Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce surpassed legendary receiver Jerry Rice for postseason receptions, Jackson is now just 151 postseason catches away from matching Kelce.
In actuality, Kelce’s record is likely to stand for a while
Kelce entered the AFC Championship with 145 catches in his playoff career. He shattered Rice’s stunning record before the halftime break.
With just under seven minutes left in the second quarter, Kelce hauled in a seven-yard reception to secure history. The all-time playoff receptions record isn’t the only milestone Kelce is in the hunt for. Kelce also trails Rice by just one place in receiving yards (1,964) and playoff receiving touchdowns (19).
Rice finished his career with 2,245 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns in the playoffs. In the Chiefs’ win over the Bills, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes became the league’s career leader in playoff touchdowns (16) between a quarterback and receiver.
Tom Brady previously held the record with 15 touchdown passes thrown to tight end Rob Gronkowski. The former Patriots legend gave the Chiefs super duo a shoutout on social media after the game.
“BEASTS,” Brady tweeted. “When you one up gronk you’re doing something right.”
On3’s Nikki Chavanelle and Grant Grubbs contributed to this report.