Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is so far ahead of the competition in the MVP race, and defenses don’t have a hope at stopping him.
Lamar Jackson can truly do it all. In only his first full season as the Baltimore Ravens starting quarterback, which comes after he cleaned up Joe Flacco’s mess and led the team to the postseason as a rookie, he has them positioned as one of the top teams in the AFC. It would take a shocker for the Ravens to lose their grip on a playoff bye this winter.
Facing Wade Phillips’ Los Angeles Rams defense, Jackson made mincemeat out of yet another defensive coordinator’s gameplan. The former Heisman Trophy winner surgically roasted the Rams, completing all nine of his first half attempts with three touchdowns, including two to his only playmaking receiver in rookie Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
Jackson was flawless through the air and as efficient as ever on the ground. He needed a mere six first-half carries to notch 80 yards, and if it weren’t for a slip, he would have added a seventh rushing touchdown to his record.
As it stands right now, Jackson has thrown 21 touchdown passes (editor’s note: this is published midway through the third quarter) and he’s already continued his streak of three straight games with at least three touchdown passes. Remarkably, Jackson has scored touchdowns at a high rate while only throwing five interceptions, carrying a mediocre supporting cast to being an elite offense without sacrificing on turnovers.
Jackson is in a class of his own at the quarterback position. Weeks after breaking Bill Belichick’s seemingly impenetrable defense, which has embarrassed so many young quarterbacks this season, Jackson has made Phillips and his defense look like a bunch of novices.
It has been a joy to watch Jackson accurately pick apart defenses, make huge plays with his arm when needed, and weave his way through everyone en route to the end zone. He’s owned the month of November with a 145.1 QB Rating prior to this Monday Night Football demolition of the 6-4 Rams, and he is in position to post a mind-blowing third game this season with a perfect quarterback rating. At the very least, he’ll somehow increase that QB Rating to a number closer to 150.0.
The Ravens are one of the prime Super Bowl contenders around the league, and they have Jackson to thank for their return to prominence in the AFC. There literally isn’t a defense capable of stopping him right now.