Forward of the 2023 NFL common season I joined my expensive pals RJ Ochoa, JP Acosta to make some season predictions on an episode of Monday Soccer Monday. Amongst our checklist of predictions was who can be the MVP on the finish of the season, and JP made his case for Lamar Jackson.
It definitely seems like he nailed that prediction. It’s across the one-hour mark within the above-linked episode if you wish to hear the receipts.
Jackson all however put each palms on the trophy together with his efficiency Sunday towards the Miami Dolphins, because the Ravens quarterback accomplished 18 of 21 passes for 321 yards and 5 touchdowns, with out throwing an interception. With the victory, the Ravens locked up the highest spot within the AFC, and assured that the highway to Tremendous Bowl LVIII goes by way of M&T Financial institution Stadium.
“He performed an ideal soccer sport when it comes to the passing sport,” head coach John Harbaugh mentioned of his quarterback.
In reality, Jackson could have secured the MVP award as a result of he was good the previous two weeks, in Baltimore’s two largest video games of the season. On Christmas night time the Ravens traveled to San Francisco to tackle the 49ers, and MVP candidate Brock Purdy. Whereas the San Francisco quarterback struggled, throwing 4 interceptions in his worst sport of the season, Jackson shined. The Baltimore sign caller hit on 23 of 35 passes for 252 yards and a pair of touchdowns towards San Francisco.
Which signifies that once you add in his efficiency towards Miami, Jackson accomplished 41 of 56 passes for 573 yards and seven touchdowns, with out a single interception. He additionally added 13 speeding makes an attempt for 80 yards, a median of 6.2 yards per try.
For many who imagine in NFL Passer Ranking, that works out to a 145.31 ranking in these two video games, towards two of the league’s finest groups.
In reality, if you wish to bolster the argument that Jackson was at his finest towards the league’s finest, take into account this. The Ravens have performed 9 video games towards groups at the moment in playoff place. In these 9 video games, Jackson accomplished 166 of 249 passes (66.7%) for two,292 yards and 19 touchdowns, with solely 4 interceptions. He additionally has 85 speeding makes an attempt for one more 506 yards, and 4 touchdowns, in these video games.
Sunday towards the Dolphins was maybe Jackson’s good closing argument. He was masterful towards Miami, punishing their protection on various downfield passing ideas to to assist the Ravens break the sport open. There was this slot fade to Odell Beckham Jr., the place Jackson navigates a little bit of strain within the pocket earlier than placing this by way of within the completely good spot for his receiver:
Gus Edwards scored from one yard out on the subsequent snap to present Baltimore a 14-10 lead, their first of the afternoon.
Moments later, Jackson linked with rookie WR Zay Flowers on this vertical route, because the quarterback takes benefit of a bust within the secondary:
The Dolphins are in zone protection, and the skin cornerback loses monitor of Flowers, and that creates an enormous alternative for the Ravens. Jackson takes benefit, connecting with the rookie vast receiver on a deep throw downfield, which Flowers finishes off for a 75-yard landing.
However whereas these performs stand out, it was Jackson’s reference to Isaiah Seemingly later within the second quarter that serves because the exclamation level. With the Ravens holding a 21-13 lead after the 2 minute warning, Baltimore saved their offense on the sphere on 4th and seven on the Dolphins’ 35-yard line.
Miami brings strain, and Jackson faces an unblocked defender off the proper edge. Jackson does simply sufficient to keep away from the sack, and is ready to get sufficient on a throw to Seemingly breaking in the direction of the proper sideline, placing that within the good spot as properly:
35-yards later, the Ravens had been in the long run zone, and Baltimore was in management.
The MVP race this season has taken various twists and turns, and till the vacation season numerous completely different candidates put forth their finest case. Christian McCaffrey and Brock Purdy made their arguments from the West Coast, and Dak Prescott put himself within the dialog with a game-winning drive towards the Seattle Seahawks, one thing that was lacking from his resume.
Two of the gamers Jackson and the Ravens confronted on Sunday — Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill — had their moments as properly. Josh Allen in current weeks has made a little bit of a cost, and there was even a second the place it regarded like a defensive participant, like Myles Garrett, may safe MVP.
However with what we now have seen from Lamar Jackson these previous two weeks, towards two of the very best groups within the league, it appears the case has been settled.
Because of Jackson’s good closing argument.