OWINGS MILLS — Quarterback Lamar Jackson is having his best season as a passer in his six-year career.
He has the Ravens on the verge of clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs for the second time in five years.
The last time the Ravens earned that top seed Jackson was named NFL MVP.
Coach John Harbaugh said there should be little doubt that he’s earning that honor again.
Jackson’s teammates agree.
“I think if anybody watched the game [or] if anybody watches football this season and watched the Baltimore Ravens, they know for a fact [that] Lamar Jackson is the MVP, hands down,” inside linebacker Roquan Smith said. “Anyone that watches football and knows football and [can] see the type of impact he has on the game – not even stat-wise, but just individually, the plays that he makes quarter in and quarter out, play in and play out – compare his film to anyone else in the league. Then, I would love to hear what anyone else has to say after that.”
In a 33-19 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, Jackson completed 23 of 35 passes with two touchdowns (105.9 rating). He added a team-high 45 rushing yards on seven attempts (6.4 average). Jackson has led the Ravens in passing and rushing 38 times during his career, trailing only Cam Newton (40) for the most games leading a team in air and ground production in NFL history.
“I thought Lamar had an MVP performance tonight,” Harbaugh said. “It takes a team to create a performance like that, but it takes a player to play at that level – to play at an MVP level – it takes a player to play that way. … Our guys did a great job of scramble drills of getting open. We had a number of plays that were extended. They were big plays for us. So, [it was] just a complete game by Lamar.”
Jackson also set a career high (3,357) in passing yards this season, besting his 2019 MVP season (3,105).
Even so, Jackson said is not interested in personal accolades. His goal is to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Baltimore.
“I’m trying to win because I want another championship if anything [and] another trophy, if that means anything,” he said.
