Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has set a career record for passing yards this season. (Photo by ... [+]
Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson requested a trade from the Ravens in early March, a “threat” he admitted later was a negotiating ploy to kick-start negotiations that eventually led to a five-year, $260 million contract extension seven weeks later.
If the start was rocky, the end result has been money well spent.
Jackson could finish the season with another NFL MVP award (he won in 2019) after taking his passing passing game to a higher level under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken this season.
Jackson's success is the principal reason the Ravens (14-4) have the best record in the league as they prepare to play host to the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in the AFC Championship game. Baltimore will host the game for the first time since January, 1971.
The winner will advance to the Super Bowl, and Sunday’s game will give a more refined Jackson an opportunity to quiet the murmurs surrounding his inability to win a big game.
Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has spent more time in the pocket this season. (AP Photo/Matt ... [+]
Jackson was 1-3 in four playoff starts with five interceptions and three touchdown passes before accounting for four touchdowns in a 34-10 victory over Houston in the AFC Division round last Saturday.
"Man I LOVE Lamar Jackson!!!!!,” four-time NBA MVP LeBron James said in an X message during that game.
Jackson has given supporters an extra reason to believe. Former Georgia offensive coordinator Monken’s system, while still run-heavy, often uses three wide receiver sets to open the field and fully exploit Jackson’s run/pass skill set.
Jackson Has Embraced The Passing Game
Jackson had a career-high 3,678 passing yards in the regular season, 551 more than he had when he was the unanimous MVP in his first season as a starter in 2019. His 67.2 completion percentage also is a career-high, as are his yards per completion.
He also led NFL quarterbacks with 821 yards rushing this season while helping the Ravens to a lead-leading 156.5 rushing yards per game. His total is lower than in his best two rushing seasons, 1,206 yards in 2019 and 1,005 in 2020. But as former Arizona Cardinals’ coach Gene Stallings often said, a quarterback’s job is to complete the pass.
The Ravens' Lamar Jackson has a career-high 67.2 completion percentage this season. (AP Photo/Nick ... [+]
Jackson has done that. He has looked more comfortable and confident in pocket, more likely to stay an extra beat or two than quickly turn to his legs. In a 23-7 victory over Jacksonville on Dec. 17, Jackson’s average time in the pocket was 3.8 seconds, the highest in one game by a quarterback to that point this season, according to reports.
The four-touchdown performance against Houston was microcosm of his season — 3- and 15-yard touchdown passes and 15- and 8-yard scoring runs. He become the first player in NFL playoff history with at least two passing and rushing touchdowns, 100 yards both passing and rushing, and a passer rating of at least 100.0, according to NFL research.
Jackson used a play-action fake on the 3-year pass to Nelson Agholor and a fake rollout to find Isaiah Likely on the 15-yarder. His rushing scores came on a 15-yard quarterback draw and an 8-yard RPO run off the left side.
“Lamar is a dog,” Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud said after that one. “I’ve been a fan of his since high school. It’s really an honor to share the field with a player like that.”
Jackson Is Holding Teammates Accountable
Teammates told local media that they have seen a more engaged leader this season, Jackson’s sixth and his first healthy year since 2020. He is early to the training facility, does extra workouts and holds players accountable. Three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey said Jackson told him earlier this season, “Bro, we need you to play better.”
Baltimore's Lamar Jackson has become more of a leader this season, teammates say. (Photo by Cooper ... [+]
“I would say this: He's an A-plus leader right now,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s been glue for the guys, and it's been great to see.”
Jackson opened the 2023 season at plus-1600 to win the MVP this season but gained ground all season and became the odds-on (read certain) favorite to win after dazzling games in late December victories over San Francisco and Miami, when he threw seven touchdown passes and the Ravens scored 92 points. Voting is done at the conclusion of the regular season, and the line closed at minus-28000.
Jackson Favored To Win the Super Bowl MVP Award
He is listed as the favorite to win the Super Bowl MVP at plus-200 on FanDuel, at plus-220 on DraftKings and plus-225 on ESPNBet after accounting for four touchdowns in the Ravens’ victory at Houston.
The Ravens need to get there, of course, and a victory over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs would supply Jackson with ammunition to silence his critics. Mahomes, incidentally, is listed as the fourth-choice to be the Super Bowl MVP behind Purdy and McCaffrey.
“You know I heard that,” Jackson said after the Houston victory. “I don't even got to hear it. I see it. But it is what it is. I really don't care about what people say. Those guys just had our team's number in the past, but it's a different team.”
Lamar Jackson helped the Baltimore Ravens lead the NFL in rushing yards this season. (AP ... [+]