Lamar Jackson made history on Wednesday, breaking the NFL career rushing record for quarterbacks during the Baltimore Ravens’ commanding 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans.
Among Jackson’s highlights was a stunning 48-yard touchdown run, where he reached a career-best speed of 21.25 mph. “I was jogging,” Jackson remarked. “I didn’t have to do anything.”
This performance further solidified Jackson’s MVP candidacy as the Ravens moved closer to clinching the AFC North title. “It’s just another phenomenal performance,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “He set the all-time NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback in pro football. That kind of speaks for itself.”
Jackson completed the game with 168 passing yards, two touchdown passes, and 87 rushing yards, pushing his career total to 6,110 yards—surpassing Michael Vick’s previous record of 6,109. “Michael Vick, one of my favorite players,” Jackson said. “That’s just dope.”
With the victory, the Ravens (11-5) secured their third consecutive playoff berth. They will need to defeat the Cleveland Browns next week to win the division, following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ third straight loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jackson, the league’s MVP in both 2019 and last season, showcased his skills in a performance that rivaled the Super Bowl-caliber halftime show by Beyoncé. He played just over three quarters before giving way to backup Josh Johnson with about 10 minutes remaining.
“Just having fun,” Jackson said. “The NFL is not easy. I don’t care what nobody says. It looks easy, but it’s not.”
Jackson threw touchdown passes of 9 and 1 yards and was untouched on his 48-yard scoring run, which extended the Ravens’ lead to 24-2 in the third quarter.
Derrick Henry also had a standout performance, rushing for 147 yards and setting a Ravens franchise record with his 16th touchdown of the season on a 2-yard run in the first quarter, surpassing previous records held by Ray Rice (2011) and Mark Ingram (2019).
The Ravens dominated a Texans team struggling after the loss of dynamic receiver Tank Dell to a season-ending knee injury. “This game comes down to guys making plays, and they had two exceptional playmakers on their side in Lamar and Derrick Henry,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. “They made plays, and that was the game.”
The AFC South champions managed only a safety in the second quarter, with quarterback C.J. Stroud throwing for 185 yards but facing significant pressure, getting sacked five times and throwing an interception. Joe Mixon contributed just 26 yards rushing as the Texans (9-7) suffered their second consecutive loss.
Mixon declined to comment after the game, but Stroud took responsibility for the defeat. “Terrible on my behalf, probably one of my worst games in my whole career,” he admitted. “I just came out flat, didn’t have any energy. I didn’t lead the offense the way I should have.”
Rookie Kamari Lassiter recorded a safety by tackling Henry for a 4-yard loss early in the second quarter, narrowing the Ravens’ lead to 10-2. Following a 45-yard kickoff return by Dameon Pierce, the Texans failed to score after Mixon was stopped just short of the end zone on a fourth-and-3 attempt.
Jackson then led a 99-yard drive, showcasing his agility and finding Mark Andrews for a 67-yard gain to set up a 9-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely, making the score 17-2 at halftime—the first 17-2 halftime score in NFL history.
In the second half, Kyle Hamilton intercepted Stroud’s pass on Houston’s first drive, leading to Jackson’s touchdown run that extended the lead to 24-2. Jackson later set the rushing record on a 6-yard run, followed by another touchdown pass to Andrews, sealing the game at 31-2.
Injury updates include Ravens running back Rasheen Ali, who injured his hip in the third quarter and did not return, while Texans tight end Cade Stover returned after missing two games due to an emergency appendectomy.Looking ahead, the Ravens will host the Browns, and the Texans will visit the Titans next weekend, with game dates yet to be determined.
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