Lamar Jackson Fires Back: “No Excuses” for Ravens QB?

Ravens Make Bold Move, Sparking “No Excuses” Debate for Lamar Jackson

The Baltimore Ravens have signaled their intentions for the 2026 season with a blockbuster trade for former Raiders edge rusher Max Crosby. This aggressive acquisition has ignited a fiery debate around the league, with many, including analyst Dan Orlovsky, declaring that the era of excuses for star quarterback Lamar Jackson is officially over.

Orlovsky’s Stance: “All In” for Baltimore

Speaking on ESPN’s ‘Get Up,’ Orlovsky minced no words, stating, “They are now in a first-year regime going all in in Baltimore. And I love Lamar. There ain’t no more excuses now. This is all in. you we we the coach, the the offense, you got a game record on defense. This is now Baltimore and an ownership group going, you got to go get it done, Lamar. We we can’t sit around and watch Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen find ways in the playoffs to play highlevel football.”

“This is a desperation move in an organization that’s saying we are we are on the back end of this window with this MVP quarterback and we’ve got to find a way to get it done.”

Lamar’s Response: “Never Been Excuses for Lamar”

True to form, Lamar Jackson was quick to address the growing narrative. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Jackson responded directly to Orlovsky, posting, “Dan there has never been excuses for Lamar though.” He even added a subtle, yet potent, smoking emoji, signaling his readiness to engage.

The Debate Intensifies: Orlovsky and Jackson Clash

On First Take, the discussion between Orlovsky and the panel, including Stephen A. Smith and Peter Schrager, delved deeper into the quarterback’s assertion. Orlovsky, while expressing immense respect for Jackson, stood by his initial assessment.

“I would say this, Shay. I would never um like make this about me versus Lamar. I have the most ridiculous amount of respect for Lamar Jackson,” Orlovsky stated. “I don’t think what I said is wrong. I don’t think that I’ve said this about Josh Allen as well. I I was the one last year who said, ‘Stop asking the question, does Josh Allen have enough to go get it done?’ Yes, he does. They’re that type of players. Is it fair? No, it’s not fair. But that’s just their their reality. And Lamar knows that as well.”

Stephen A. Smith’s Counterpoint: Pressure is Always On

Stephen A. Smith, however, sided more with Jackson, arguing that the pressure has always been immense on the Ravens’ star quarterback. “First of all, Dan, you know what? You you don’t have any reason to to to to be, you know, to I ain’t going to say tap dance cuz I’ll never accuse you of that. But you didn’t disrespect him. You just let him know that the pressure was going to be on him. And the and he was right. Dan Lamar Jackson is right. The pressure is always on him.”

Smith raised concerns about the Ravens’ defense, which ranked 30th against the pass last season, questioning whether Max Crosby alone could rectify those issues. “My issue with what you said, Dan, and where I side with Lamar totally against you in this regard is this. So, Max Crosby is going to vastly improve their defense to a point where we don’t have to be concerned about that defense any longer. He’s only one individual. I know how great he is. He’s a future Hall of Famer. He’s an absolute stud. But they were 30th against the past. I have concerns collectively about what Baltimore’s defense is going to be because this is not the days of Ray Lewis with Ed Reid and the rest of the crew.”

The Defense Factor and Historical Context

The panel debated whether the addition of Crosby would truly transform the Ravens’ defense. While Orlovsky expressed confidence in Crosby’s ability to impact the team, Smith remained skeptical, emphasizing the historical reliance on a strong defense for the Ravens’ success.

“The history of the Baltimore Ravens, everything has hung its hat on their defense. When they won a Super Bowl, they won it with Trent Dilfer. They won another Super Bowl, it was with Joe Flacco. It was their defense that was believed to have delivered the goods,” Smith argued.

Schrager’s Perspective: Obstacles and the “First Take Era”

Peter Schrager offered a nuanced view, acknowledging the external pressures but also highlighting the genuine obstacles facing Jackson. “He’s got a first-year play caller in Declan Doyle who’s 29 years old. He’s got a first-year head coach in Jesse Minter who has never coached an NFL game before. He just lost the best center in football and Tyler Linderbaum who is o who is sent over to the Raiders. There are actual obstacles for Lamar beyond just hey we got you know Max Crosby but no one wants to hear it and that’s the shame of it.”

Schrager also touched on the current media landscape, coining the term “First Take Era” to describe the heightened expectations placed on star quarterbacks in the social media age.

Jackson’s Statistical Dip and Future Outlook

The discussion also touched on Jackson’s performance last season, which saw a statistical dip after an injury-plagued start. His completion percentage dropped from 70% to 57%, passing yards per game from 208 to 186, and his passer rating fell from 127 to 81 in his last seven starts compared to his first six.

Despite these numbers, the overarching sentiment from many on the panel is that the time for excuses is over. With a significant defensive acquisition and a new coaching staff, the expectation is for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to finally make a deep playoff run and contend for a Super Bowl. The addition of Max Crosby signals an ‘all-in’ approach from the organization, placing the ultimate burden of success squarely on the shoulders of their MVP quarterback.

Conclusion: The Weight of Expectation

As the 2026 season approaches, all eyes will be on Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. The “no excuses” narrative, fueled by the Max Crosby trade, has set a clear benchmark. Whether Jackson can rise above the challenges and lead his team to ultimate glory remains the burning question, a question he himself acknowledges he must answer with a Super Bowl title.

Source: Lamar Jackson responded to Dan Orlovsky saying there's NO EXCUSES for the Ravens now 💬 | First Take (YouTube)