Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was frustrated late in Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Ravens had squandered a 28-6 lead in the fourth quarter.
Up 28-25 with 2:44 left in the game, Jackson could be heard saying into a FOX television camera, “Stop cheating us, bro,” after the officials threw a flag.
Jackson’s comments appeared to be geared toward the officiating crew. Two weeks earlier in the season opener, Jackson was unhappy with how some calls went in the Ravens’ 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
At the time Jackson was worried about being cheated out of a win against Dallas, the Ravens were in jeopardy of falling to 0-3 on the season.
Per video posted on X by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Jackson clarified Wednesday what he meant during the Cowboys game. The 2023 NFL MVP said he wasn’t talking at the officials, but to the world.
“I wasn’t mad at the refs,” Jackson said. “The refs are going to do their job, they’re doing their job. Whatever they see, man, they’re going to call it. They only got two eyes. They can’t see everything. There’s probably holding, there’s probably all types of things happening on every play. I was like, ‘Man, stop cheating us,’ but I wasn’t talking to them. I’m just talking like out into the world. I’m playing football. I’m trying to win. That’s all.”
Lamar Jackson on his “Stop cheating us” comment that was picked up on the TV broadcast: “I wasn’t mad at the refs. … But you know I’m like, ‘Man, stop cheating us.’ But I wasn’t talking to them. I’m just talking like out of the world.” pic.twitter.com/FsVq091TmI
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) September 25, 2024
Jackson and the Ravens will face another high-stakes game in Week 4 when they
play the 3-0 Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. Jackson can only hope the world will be more favorable in Baltimore this week.