Lamar Jackson had a relatively quiet night by his usual standards in the Baltimore Ravens’ blowout win over the Buffalo Bills, but the quarterback made it clear he’s not concerned with individual stats—especially when it comes to appeasing frustrated sports bettors.
Following the Ravens’ 35-10 victory on Sunday night, Jackson became the latest pro athlete to address disgruntled bettors who were upset that his performance didn’t help them cash in.
The Ravens entered the matchup as 2.5-point favorites against the previously undefeated Bills, despite Baltimore having a 1-2 record going into the game. The team exceeded expectations, dominating from the start and coasting to a comfortable win. Much of the spotlight was on Derrick Henry, who stole the show with 199 rushing yards, including a spectacular 87-yard touchdown run on the Ravens’ first drive.
Jackson contributed to the team’s success, throwing two touchdown passes and rushing for 54 yards. However, he fell short in the passing yardage department, only managing 156 yards through the air—far below the 234-yard average he had posted in his first three games of the season. Many sports bettors had wagered on Jackson to surpass a player prop predicting he would throw for around 200 yards, leaving them frustrated when he didn’t hit the mark.
On Monday morning, it became clear that some of these unhappy bettors had flooded Jackson’s social media with complaints. In response, the quarterback posted a pointed message, letting his followers know that individual stats and helping people win bets aren’t his priority. His focus, he emphasized, is on winning games, not padding numbers to meet prop bet expectations.
Jackson’s frustration with being targeted by bettors mirrors a growing trend in sports. As sports betting becomes more widespread, athletes are increasingly finding themselves on the receiving end of criticism from fans who wager on their performance.
Jackson’s stance echoes that of other athletes who have called out this behavior, including NBA star Draymond Green, who publicly addressed similar complaints last year.
As sports betting continues to permeate major leagues, the tension between fans’ financial stakes and athletes’ focus on team success has become increasingly apparent.
Jackson, like many others, made it clear that his main objective is winning games for his team—not meeting the expectations of sports bettors.
While bettors may be upset with his numbers, Jackson’s performance still contributed to a significant Ravens victory. And as the trend of sports betting criticism grows, athletes like Jackson are drawing a firm line between the demands of the game and the expectations of those betting on it.
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