Lamar Jackson concluded a remarkable regular season with a performance that, while not spectacular, was more than sufficient to secure two NFL records and guide the Baltimore Ravens to their second consecutive AFC North title.
In a decisive 35-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, Jackson completed 16 of 32 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 63 yards. Although his statistics may not have been eye-catching, Jackson played a crucial role in delivering the Ravens their fourth division championship in his seven seasons as a starter.
“There were certainly some plays that he made, especially on third down, escaping and making some plays down the field,” said Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. “It’s a challenge when he’s making throws from the pocket. You have to defend for the duration of the down with his ability to move.”
Throughout the season, Jackson showcased his versatility, whether maneuvering behind the line of scrimmage, sprinting downfield, or executing impressive throws on the run. His efforts have led to historic achievements, making him the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 900 yards in a single season. No quarterback had previously reached 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards in a season, but Jackson has raised the standard.
Additionally, his 12-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews in the second quarter made him the first quarterback to achieve at least 4,000 passing yards and 40 touchdown passes with four or fewer interceptions in a single season.
Jackson wrapped up the regular season with 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes, and 915 rushing yards. However, the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner emphasized that his success is a team effort.
“That’s all my teammates included in that,” Jackson stated. “It’s not just me. I do what I’m supposed to.”
He is now the third Ravens quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in a season, following Vinny Testaverde in 1996 and Joe Flacco, who set a team record with 4,317 yards in 2016. Jackson aspires to join Flacco and Trent Dilfer as the only Ravens quarterbacks to win a Super Bowl, with the playoffs set to begin next weekend as Baltimore hosts a wild-card game.
While Jackson is pleased with the team’s accomplishments thus far, he acknowledges the need to elevate their performance to achieve ultimate success and silence critics regarding his 2-4 postseason record.“We got the job done. But the job is undone,” Jackson remarked. “I’m cool with what’s going on today, but my mind is on something else.”
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