Lamar Jackson won his second NFL MVP award last season. He has been even better this season. Much better, amazingly enough.
We’ve seen split MVPs before and that would probably be the most appropriate ending to the Jackson/Josh Allen MVP race. Allen has been tremendous for the Buffalo Bills, doing everything for an offense that won the AFC East. But Jackson can point to many stats — including a passer rating that is challenging the all-time single-season NFL record — and say he has been better than Allen and better than his own first two MVP seasons as well.
Jackson’s brilliance was on display again on Wednesday. The Ravens took a step toward winning the AFC North title as they dominated the Houston Texans 31-2. It wasn’t Jackson carrying the team on his back, which we’ve seen plenty through his career, but he didn’t do anything to hurt his MVP case. Jackson had two passing touchdowns and another one rushing. After that performance, Jackson’s passer rating is at 121.6, not far from Aaron Rodgers’ NFL single-season record of 122.5. Jackson also broke Michael Vick’s record for career rushing yards by a quarterback, and he will shatter the record considering he’s just 27.
The MVP narrative and the betting odds have been in Allen’s favor for the past few weeks. And if Allen wins, he’s deserving. It wouldn’t be quite Joel Embiid winning NBA MVP a couple years ago because voters were tired of giving it to Nikola Jokić every year. Perhaps some Jackson voter fatigue will factor in. Even though Allen has a great case, there’s no good reason to deny Jackson his third MVP. It’ll be a difficult vote.
Ravens start the blowout early
Jackson has help like he never has through his Ravens career. Derrick Henry ensures that Jackson isn’t on his own in the Baltimore offense.
Henry set the tone right away at Houston. He had 86 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter alone. Every time he touched the ball the Texans seemed to part to let him through toward the secondary. Henry has been excellent for the Ravens all season, and a big part of why they might be very dangerous in the playoffs.
The Ravens gave away two points on a safety when Henry was tackled in the end zone, but the rest of the half was controlled by them. Jackson had a drive in which he escaped the rush to hit tight end Mark Andrews for a 67-yard gain and then finished the drive with another magic trick, moving around to avoid the pass rush for what seemed like a minute before finding Isaiah Likely in the end zone for the touchdown. Jackson completed just six passes in the first half, in part because the Ravens were in no trouble and Henry was running so well, but he had 147 yards on those six passes.
The Ravens led 17-2 at halftime, the first 17-2 halftime score in NFL history according to the Netflix broadcast. Jackson said he would skip the Ravens’ halftime to watch Beyoncé perform at halftime, but he stayed in the locker room. He probably could have gone out and caught at least a couple of songs. It’s not like the Ravens had much to worry about. Especially after Jackson had a 48-yard touchdown run to start the scoring in the second half.
Jackson makes his MVP case
Jackson is the best running quarterback the NFL has ever seen and has the record to prove it. Jackson is also one game from being the fourth quarterback to post a passer rating of 120 in a season. It will be very hard to deny a player with that unfathomable combination of skills an MVP award.
Allen is a similar dual threat, of course. He has 26 touchdown passes to only six interceptions, with 514 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. He’s elevated his play despite the Bills trading his No. 1 receiver, Stefon Diggs, in the offseason.
Both quarterbacks are similar in that they can pass or run at a dominant level. For a while it seemed like one of Allen’s edges in voters’ eyes would be that he won a division title and Jackson didn’t, but the Ravens have stormed back and are the new favorite to win the AFC North. The Ravens can win the division with a win next week or a Steelers loss.
Statistically, Jackson leads Allen in rushing yards, passing yards, passer rating and passing touchdowns. Allen leads in rushing touchdowns, and some advanced stats, like EPA (expected points added) per play, prefer Allen. Jackson probably has more help. Allen’s team has the better record. It’s one of the more interesting MVP debates in a while.
The truth is, Jackson’s legacy changes some with a third MVP but a Super Bowl would do way more for it. The Ravens have taken some bad losses this season. But over the past few weeks they look more and more like a contender. Blowing out the Texans on Christmas should be a message to the rest of the AFC, and perhaps MVP voters as well.
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Lamar Jackson breaks Michael Vick's record
Lamar Jackson is now the NFL's all-time quarterback leader in rushing yards. He passed Michael Vick tonight in their blowout win in Houston.
Lamar Jackson is now the NFL's all-time quarterback leader in rushing yards. He passed Michael Vick tonight in their blowout win in Houston. (AP/David J. Phillip)
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Final: Ravens 31, Texans 2
The Ravens are now 11-5 on the year after Wednesday's convincing win in Houston.
Ravens: 31
Lamar Jackson: 10-of-15 for 168 yards, 2 TDs
Derrick Henry: 147 yards, 1 TD on 27 carries
Lamar Jackson: 87 yards, 1 TD on 4 carries
Mark Andrews: 68 yards, 1 TD on 4 catches
Texans: 2
C.J. Stroud: 17-of-31 for 185 yards, 1 INT
Joe Mixon: 26 yards on 9 carries
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Beyonce Bowl coming to Netflix
Of course, Beyonce's performance will be available on Netflix soon.
The Texans just punted on 4th and 2 while down twenty nine points, so this game is over. Josh Johnson is in for the Ravens at QB the rest of the way.
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Lamar Jackson was just seen sprinting into the tunnel, but he jumped up to high five a fan as he did so. With the Ravens up the way that they are, his night is almost certainly over.
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End of 3: Ravens 31, Texans 2
We've got 15 minutes to go at NRG, but the Texans are completely out of this one. Lamar Jackson has 166 passing yards, 87 rushing yards and three total touchdowns so far. His MVP case is alive and well.
The Texans nearly converted on fourth down, but the Ravens get it overturned after successfully challenging the spot. So Baltimore will take over, and another solid Texans drive ends up short.
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Lamar Jackson passes Michael Vick
Lamar Jackson is up to 87 rushing yards today, and he's now officially passed Michael Vick's all time record.
Mark Andrews capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown grab, and the Ravens are up 31-2 now midway through the third quarter. It was just his second catch of the day, but he's up to 68 receiving yards.
The Texans can't get anything going, and have to punt after another three-and-out. The Ravens are on their way back out now right away with a chance to push their lead even more.
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Lamar Jackson's massive touchdown run
We're just about done here. That's a 48-yard touchdown run from Lamar Jackson on the second play of the drive, and the Ravens are suddenly up 24-2.
C.J. Stroud left the game for a play after he took a hard fall on his elbow, but he returned to close out the half. He seems fine.
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Touchdown, Ravens
And just like that, the Ravens are back in the end zone. Lamar Jackson scrambles again and safely finds Likely wide open in the end zone for another touchdown. It's 17-2 now just before halftime.
The Lamar Jackson to Mark Andrews connection is alive and well, even after a ridiculous scramble to avoid what should've been a sack. They're back on the other end of the field now after this massive gain.
The Texans just went for it on 4th and 3, and they're now in scoring position after drawing a pass interference call on a deep shot to Woods. They're in the red zone now.
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Dameon Pierce came in hot on the return, and it sent Nate Wiggins into the blue medical tent.
After a ridiculous punt pinned them inside the five, Lassiter just brought down Derrick Henry in the end zone for a safety. The Texans are finally on the board.
Well, they didn't take advantage. After a few great catches that finally got them moving, Odafe Oweh brought C.J. Stroud down deep in the backfield on third down. They'll have to punt again.
The Texans finally come up with a stop after stuffing Henry and Mitchell at the line, and they'll get the ball back after a Ravens punt. That was the first time they've been able to stop the run all day.
If they can take advantage, we'll have a game here before halftime.
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End of 1: Ravens 10, Texans 0
It’s all Ravens so far today in Houston. Derrick Henry is already up to 86 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries after the first quarter, and they’re threatening to score again here early in the second quarter.
C.J. Stroud just threw three incomplete passes, including a very bad miss to Dalton Schultz, and the Texans are punting again. Baltimore will take over again late in the first quarter, and it'll get a boost after a penalty on the kick.
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Justin Tucker FG extends Baltimore lead
There was no doubt about this one. Justin Tucker's had his struggles this season. But he just piped a 52-yard field goal down the middle to extend Baltimore's lead to 10-0.
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Sack of Stroud ends Houston drive
Houston got into Baltimore territory on its first possession. But Kyle Van Noy put a swift end to the drive. The Ravens linebacker sacked C.J. Stroud on third-and-4 from the Baltimore 48 for an 11-yard loss to end the Texans possession.
Van Noy's sack increases his career high total to 11.5. The Ravens take over possession holding a 7-0 lead with 6:12 remaining in the first quarter.
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