Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has made it clear that he stands firmly by Lamar Jackson in the ongoing MVP discussion, stating, “He’s my MVP. He’ll always be my MVP — I promise you that.” Harbaugh emphasized Jackson’s importance to the team, asserting, “As far as I’m concerned, he’s our MVP, he’s our guy.”
Local media echoed Harbaugh’s sentiments, officially naming Jackson the team’s MVP in a voting announcement on Tuesday. However, the more pressing question is whether Jackson can secure a third NFL MVP award when the Associated Press conducts its balloting. Achieving this feat would place him among an elite group of players; only six athletes have won the MVP award three times, including legends like Peyton Manning (five), Aaron Rodgers (four), Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas, and Jim Brown. Jackson currently shares the two-MVP distinction with Patrick Mahomes, Kurt Warner, Steve Young, and Joe Montana.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is the frontrunner for the MVP award at -300 odds, while Jackson trails closely at +225. If Allen secures the award, he would become the first first-time MVP since Jackson in 2019. Jackson acknowledged the ongoing MVP chatter, admitting that it’s hard to ignore due to online discussions. “If it does happen, it happens. That’d be dope — three times,” he said. “That’s never been my goal though. I always want to finish with the championship, but I’ve been falling short.”
This weekend, the Ravens have more immediate concerns as they prepare for a crucial matchup against the Cleveland Browns. A victory on Saturday would clinch the AFC North title and secure a home playoff game for Baltimore. Meanwhile, Jackson’s individual accomplishments will also be closely monitored. He enters the game boasting an impressive passer rating of 121.6, just shy of the league record of 122.5 set by Rodgers in 2011, the year he won his first MVP.
Despite leading Allen in touchdown passes, passing yards, and rushing yards, Jackson faces an uphill battle for the MVP award this season. Last year, although Allen outperformed Jackson in total yards and touchdowns, Jackson claimed the MVP title by leading the Ravens to the best regular-season record. This season, it is Allen and the Bills (13-3) who are positioned ahead of the Ravens (11-5) in postseason seeding. Although the Bills suffered a significant loss to the Ravens earlier in the season, Allen has guided the team to key victories against formidable opponents like Kansas City and Detroit, both of whom could contend for No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences.
Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum expressed his unwavering support for Jackson, stating, “You see him every day, the things he’s able to do, and carrying it over to the game. He’s a special player. There’s no one more deserving of that award than Lamar Jackson.”
NOTES: Local media also recognized Linderbaum as this year’s “Good Guy” for his accessibility and insights. Several players, including RB Justice Hill (concussion/illness), DT Nnamdi Madubuike (illness), G Patrick Mekari (illness), T Ronnie Stanley (illness), and CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring), missed practice on Tuesday. WR Nelson Agholor (concussion) and TE Charlie Kolar (forearm) were full participants.
As the MVP debate continues to capture the attention of NFL fans, it remains to be seen whether Jackson, Allen, or perhaps both will ultimately fall short of their individual goals by the time the award is presented just before the Super Bowl.
Related topics
- Can You Wear a Rugby Shirt with Shorts
- Can You Play Rugby with No Experience
- Can You Knock the Ball out of Hand in Rugby
