Lamar Jackson’s worst throw of the season came at the worst possible time

Lamar Jackson picked the worst possible time for his worst throw of the 2023 NFL season.

Lamar Jackson may be the prohibitive favorite to win his second NFL Most Valuable Player award, but Jackson is also lucky those are voted before the postseason. Because by no standard did Jackson avoid having his worst possible game at the worst possible time in the AFC Championship contest against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jackson had sailed pass after pass over the heads of his receivers, and he certainly wasn’t helped by receiver Zay Flowers’ fumble at the Kansas City goal line at the start of the fourth quarter, but the worst throw Jackson made all season was entirely on him, and it likely sealed the Chiefs’ return trip to the Super Bowl.

Bush had just come in for injured safety Mike Edwards, and Jackson threw this ball into triple coverage in the end zone. He did this despite the fact that he had receiver Nelson Agholor open underneath, perhaps for a first down on second-and-10. Regardless, you can’t make that throw to tight end Isaiah Likely with that much trouble downfield.

Was there contact on the play by the Chiefs’ defenders? Absolutely, and pass interference absolutely could have been called. But you can never expect referees to be consistent at any time, as we have discussed ad nauseam all season long.