Lamar Jackson gets real on possibility of a Ravens-Browns showdown in playoffs

The biggest storyline in the wild-card round of this season’s NFL playoffs centers on Matthew Stafford’s return to Detroit, as the Lions will host the Los Angeles Rams. The divisional round of the playoffs could feature another such storyline. If the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Cleveland Browns all win their respective wild-card round […]

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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) warms up prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest storyline in the wild-card round of this season’s NFL playoffs centers on Matthew Stafford’s return to Detroit, as the Lions will host the Los Angeles Rams. The divisional round of the playoffs could feature another such storyline.

If the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Cleveland Browns all win their respective wild-card round matchups, then Joe Flacco will meet the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC divisional round. Flacco, who signed with the Browns in November, spent his first 11 seasons in the NFL with the Ravens, and he has not faced his former team at M&T Bank Stadium.

Lamar Jackson served as Flacco’s backup in the 2018 season until he was handed the keys to the offense for the Ravens' home matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jackson did not look back from there, as he went on to start in all of Baltimore’s remaining games in the season.

Six years later, Jackson and Flacco could end up facing off in the playoffs, which the sixth-year passer would much look forward to.

"It's great to see Joe back playing," Jackson said during a press conference on Wednesday. "I always felt like he was elite just from my rookie year watching him practice, seeing him throw the ball across the field, flat-footed. I was like, 'Dang. This guy.' It's all mechanics. If we play him, hopefully he will be showing off the 'Joe elite' then. 

"It would be great to play against him."

Flacco has recorded 13 touchdown passes and a 90.2 passer rating since joining the Browns.

The Ravens and the Browns split their regular season series this year.