1 week Ago By Jalyn Smoot, Yardbarker
The NFL was established over 100 years ago in September 1920. Since its inception, only six players have won the NFL MVP award three times. This season, Ravens star Lamar Jackson could become the seventh member of the elusive, highly talented club.
Coming off a stellar 2023 season, the reigning NFL MVP Jackson is enjoying another fruitful, All-Pro-caliber season in Baltimore. Through 10 games this season, the dual-threat quarterback has already amassed 3207 total yards and leads the NFL in total touchdowns (26). Jackson also leads all quarterbacks in yards per play, rushing yards , passer rating and quarterback rating , while being just three yards shy of the passing yard lead .
Impressively, the Ravens star is outpacing his MVP numbers from a season ago. Here is a look at his stat comparison through ten games last season: A post shared by Bleacher Report (@bleacherreport) “..
.He’s [playing] at a high, high, high level,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said after Jackson’s five touchdown performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "Monday Night Football." “I'm proud of him, I'm happy for him, he's a great leader and he's a great player, a great player.
” Jackson is not just putting up video game numbers in vain, either. The Pro Bowl quarterback is also fulfilling the most important role of the job — winning — as Baltimore is on the hunt for yet another AFC North title. So far, the Ravens are 7-3 with marquee wins over the Bills, Bengals (twice), and Commanders.
Powered by the superb play of Jackson, and his new backfield mate Derrick Henry, the Ravens once again look poised for a deep playoff run. “He’s the ultimate competitor,” Harbaugh continued. “I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a better competitor than Lamar Jackson.
And I’ve seen some competitors, lots of great competitors. He is in that level with the greatest I’ve ever seen. Maybe even the greatest.
He’s just amazing.” As Harbaugh laid out, what Jackson is accomplishing is nothing short of spectacular. His dual-threat skillset and improved passing ability have the Ravens offense firing on all cylinders.
The Jackson-led Ravens offense isn’t just good, they are historically good. Baltimore averages 7.1 yards per play, on pace to be the highest mark in a season in NFL history.
Furthermore, Jackson’s passer rating of 123.2 is on pace to be the highest mark of any quarterback in a season in NFL history. "They have a historically great quarterback, a historically great running back, and when you combine the proficiency of their pass game and their run game, what it spits out is one of the great offenses in NFL history," ESPN’s Paul Hembekides said .
Given his immense personal and team success this season, Jackson is considered the clear frontrunner to capture the NFL MVP award this year. After beating the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night, 35-34, Jackson saw his odds of winning MVP move to a new high mark at +110, according to BetMGM . Should the Ravens star win MVP honors, he would become the seventh player to win the award three times , joining Hall of Famers Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Jim Brown, Brett Favre and Johnny Unitas.
Jackson would also be just the second player to win a Heisman award and three NFL MVP awards, putting him in rare air alongside Aaron Rodgers. “The vision that we have together is that Lamar Jackson is going to become and be known and be recognized as the greatest quarterback ever to play in the history of the National Football League,” Harbaugh told reporters this summer . So far, Harbaugh’s plan to cement Jackson as an all-time great is going without a hitch.
There’s still a lot of season left, but should Jackson continue his torrid pace, the Ravens star may need to make room in his trophy room for a third MVP award..
