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Lamar Jackson Hopeful Saturday’s Playoff Game in Buffalo Is Not a Snowy One

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson knows that snowfall in northern New York state in January happens. He hopes it doesn’t.

Well, Jackson, who will lead the Ravens into Orchard Park, N.Y., for an AFC divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, would rather not have the powdery white stuff on the field.

“I never got to play in the snow except for my first time to see snow in Louisville,” Jackson said. “We had snowball fights but that’s totally different from playing in it. But yeah, that would definitely be my first time playing football in the snow. If it does. Hopefully, it don’t.”

Jackson is in his third season with the Ravens. He was born in Pompano Beach, Fla., which is more of a warm-weather climate location than Orchard Park.

Lamar Jackson Will Face Challenge From Weather Forecast

As much as Lamar Jackson would like to avoid the snow, weather forecasters aren’t giving him much hope.

The National Weather Service’s forecast for Saturday breaks down this way. There is a 30 percent chance of precipitation on Saturday with a high of 35 degrees. Saturday night, though, there’s a 40 percent chance of snow with temperatures near 27 degrees.

Now the Ravens have not played in a truly wild snow game since 2013. Baltimore was defending Super Bowl champions, yet entered a Week 14 game against the Minnesota Vikings at M&T Bank Stadium with a 6-6 record.

Heavy snowfall roared through Baltimore at kickoff. It continued throughout the game, leading to a wild finish at the end. The Ravens and Vikings scored 36 points in the final 2:05 of the game, with the lead changing five different times. Baltimore secured a 29-26 victory as then-starting quarterback Joe Flacco hit wide receiver Marlon Brown for a 9-yard reception with four seconds left.

Jackson Opens Up About Own Battle With COVID-19

Jackson may be the MVP for the National Football League, but even he couldn’t outrun COVID-19 which tackled him to the ground.

He warns people to take the threat of contracting or spreading the coronavirus seriously, saying “he wouldn’t wish that on anybody.”

Around Thanksgiving, Jackson began displaying symptoms of COVID-19 and was tested for the virus. Once his results came back positive, his health became the main focus.

During a press conference following the game against the Dallas Cowboys earlier this season, Jackson described the symptoms he experienced while infected with COVID-19. The experience was not a positive one for the 23-year-old football player, proving young age and good health doesn’t prevent people from catching the virus.

“I had a little flu-like symptoms. I still can’t really taste or smell, but I’m good now,” Jackson said. “That’s an effect that comes (with COVID-19). I guess my sense of taste and smell are going to come back sooner than later, but I’m good now. I wouldn’t wish that on anybody, though. It’s not good to have.”

H/T: The Baltimore Sun