It’s Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills Divisional Round playoff week, and the NFL world is buzzing with storylines ahead of Sunday’s Divisional Round showdown. One of the most eyebrow-raising? Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby saying, on Good Morning Football, he’d rather face Lamar Jackson than Josh Allen in crunch time.
“If I’m on defense, I might say I’d rather go against Lamar, with all respect,” Crosby said. “Josh Allen has shown over and over—even in the losses to the Chiefs in those big games in the playoffs—Josh Allen was still having career games. He just didn’t have the ball last. I feel like Josh Allen, he’s got the clutch gene for sure. He’s so dangerous running and throwing the ball.”
Coming from a four-time Pro Bowler with plenty of experience against both quarterbacks, that’s a sizzling hot take—and it sure feels like some shade thrown Lamar’s way. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that Lamar Jackson doesn’t care about outside noise.
Maxx Crosby doubles down on Ravens shade, predicts Super Bowl winner
Crosby didn’t stop with his Lamar comments. Later on his YouTube channel, he picked the Bills to beat the Ravens and make a surprise run to the Super Bowl.
“Bro, I don’t know what it is,” Crosby said. “But I just have this weird feeling that the Bills are going to do it. I think the Bills are gonna go on a run. Something about the energy they got over there, whatever they’re doing, Josh Allen’s in his bag, bro. I just feel like they’re gonna beat Baltimore.”
If Crosby’s goal was to motivate the Ravens, mission accomplished.
The thing about Lamar Jackson? He’s never cared about the noise. Whether it’s critics doubting his arm, questioning his playoff credentials, or now, Maxx Crosby favoring Josh Allen, Lamar’s focus stays locked on one thing: winning. It’s not just the negative comments he ignores—he ignores all the noise, no matter which way it sways.
“I really don’t care who’s watching,” Lamar said earlier this week. “To us players, we’re just trying to win. We really don’t care how people feel about it—we’re trying to go in there and just win.”
That’s been Lamar’s mantra all season. He’s not interested in online debates or media rankings. He’s interested in hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
Sure, Allen has more career game-winning drives than Lamar (21 to 12), and Crosby’s experience against both QBs gives his take some weight. But Lamar doesn’t need to win superficial, make-pretend contests or debates about “the clutch gene.” He just needs to keep doing what he’s done all year: lead the Ravens to wins in the most electric way possible.
Buffalo may be a trendy pick, but the Ravens have the balance and firepower to make Crosby eat his words from the couch. And while Crosby is hyping up Allen and the Bills, Lamar is letting his play do the talking.
If the Ravens emerge victorious Sunday night, don’t expect Lamar to fire back at Crosby. That’s not his style. He’ll be too busy preparing for the AFC Championship—and proving, once again, that actions speak louder than words.