Lamar: Ravens have 'chip on our shoulder' after AFC title game loss

The Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson are using their AFC Championship Game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs as fuel to prepare for the 2024 campaign.

"I believe that just motivated us throughout (the) whole offseason," said Jackson, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "People are still talking about it; us players still talk about it. It definitely left a bitter taste in our mouths just being that close. We worked so hard in getting there, and (we) didn't do what we wanted to do, didn't fulfill our dream; (there's) definitely a little chip on our shoulder."

Jackson and the Ravens were dominant in the regular season, with the star quarterback leading the team to an NFL-best 13-4 record en route to winning his second career MVP award.

But after ranking fourth in scoring and putting up nine 30-plus point performances, the Ravens' offense sputtered at home against the eventual Super Bowl champions. Baltimore finished with just 10 points, 81 rushing yards - 54 of which Jackson racked up - and three turnovers, with two coming from the star quarterback.

"I believe it hurts more losing before the Super Bowl than actually being a part of it, because we worked so hard (for) 17 weeks, plus the little playoff games, and we get to a game away and lose," Jackson said. "We didn't really put any points on the board, and we were just scoring 30 points against crazy teams - great defenses. Don't get me wrong, that's a great defense as well, but (we had faced) the top-ranked defenses. We just have to finish."

Baltimore will be running it back with essentially the same offense, with All-Pro running back Derrick Henry the major addition, and Odell Beckham Jr. the most prominent departure.