Commanders' grandmas urged not to trash talk Lamar Jackson after Bengals mistake

The Baltimore Ravens 41-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 might have been decided by elite performances on the field, but the spark for Baltimore’s victory came from an unlikely source: a trash-talking Bengals fan.

During a Saturday night dinner in Cincinnati, Ravens stars Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers found themselves face-to-face with an elderly Bengals fan who wasn’t shy about predicting the game's outcome.

In a moment captured by Flowers on Instagram, the fan leaned over to Jackson and confidently declared, “We’re gonna beat your a** tomorrow!” Flowers and other Ravens players laughed it off, hyping her with some playful banter, but it was a different story for Jackson.

“It’s her fault,” he said, shaking his head, hinting that the Bengals were about to regret her bold words​.

Lamar Jackson responds to heckling Cincinnati Bengals 'Grandma' with a massive Week 5 win

For Jackson, what might have been an innocuous exchange became personal. He later told reporters the fan’s comments made him mad, and he used them as motivation heading into the high-stakes divisional matchup. “She’s gonna be the reason we end up winning,” Jackson joked after the game, adding, “Just be a fan next time. Let the guys do the talking."

It’s a prime example of how elite athletes like Lamar Jackson use even the slightest perceived slight as motivation. Whether it’s criticism from a coach, doubt from the media, or a playful taunt from a Bengals fan, players at Jackson’s level are always looking for that extra spark.

In the Ravens’ victory, Lamar Jackson delivered one of his finest performances of the season, throwing for 348 yards and four touchdowns while adding 55 rushing yards. Baltimore needed all of his heroics in what became a back-and-forth shootout. Ultimately, Jackson’s composure and ability to turn pre-game trash talk into a standout performance helped push the Ravens to victory.

Jackson’s reaction post-game was as reflective as it was amused. “I wonder how she felt after that though,” he said, laughing about how the moment went viral. He doubled down on his message: fans should let the players do the talking on the field​.

This moment highlights a key aspect of sports: the mental game is just as crucial as the physical one. For Jackson, who excels at proving doubters wrong, even a casual encounter at a restaurant became fuel for motivation. As the Ravens move forward in the season, it’s clear Jackson’s knack for finding inspiration in unexpected places remains one of his biggest strengths.

Commanders fans be weary - Lamar Jackson will pull motivation from anywhere

While the trash-talking “grandma” surely meant no harm, she might think twice before heckling Lamar Jackson the next time he’s in town. For that matter, grandmas everywhere are advised not to poke the bear. Take notice Washington Commanders fans.

Jackson is already difficult to deal with as is. He doesn't need any extra motivation.

If anything, she helped remind everyone why Jackson is one of the most dangerous players in the NFL. After all, we’ve now seen firsthand what happens when Jackson takes things personally. With the Ravens' offense firing on all cylinders, trash-talking grandmas might just want to leave the talking to the players on the field.

And if there’s one thing Commanders’ fans should take from this, it’s clear: don’t let your grandma talk trash to Lamar Jackson. You never know how it might backfire.

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