At this point in the season, the best teams have usually figured themselves out while the rest of the pack has the occasional head-scratching loss. That’s the case this year with the Baltimore Ravens clearly the best team in the league, riding a dynamic offense and aggressive defense to blowout wins over quality teams and enough grit to pick up close victories when things don’t go their way.
Against the New York Jets on Thursday, Baltimore was able to completely destroy another NFL team in spite of not playing their best game. They outlasted and bullied the Jets to a 42-21 victory, with quarterback Lamar Jackson coming on strong in the second half to yet another game where he threw five passing touchdowns.
With another dominant win, nothing changed on USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings following Week 15. As has been the trend for the last few weeks, the Ravens sit in the No. 1 spot.
“They’re just one win from locking up AFC’s home field … though it’d be a bummer if Lamar Jackson doesn’t continue breaking records thru Week 17.”
Jackson entered the record books once again this week, this time breaking Michael Vick’s single-season rushing record. He’s also the only quarterback to ever run for 1,000-plus yards while throwing for 2,000-plus yards.
Though fans and analysts have been focused in on Jackson’s prowess on the ground, he’s more than proven himself as a passer this season. Jackson leads the NFL in passing touchdowns (33), has the third-best passer rating (112.8) and the best TD% (8.9%). Even more impressive is just how that TD% stacks up in history and what names Jackson finds himself sitting next to.
Lamar Jackson's (@Lj_era8) 8.9% TD% is the 19th best season by a QB ever
The only guys to hit that mark or better since 1976 are Peyton Manning (2004 – 9.9%) and Aaron Rodgers (2011 – 9.0%)
Jackson is, by definition, having a once in a generation season as a passer#RavensFlock
— MatthewStevens (@MatthewS_NFL) December 17, 2019
The Ravens are set to enter the postseason as the hottest team in the league with a legitimate chance at a 12-game winning streak. That should scare everyone in the AFC.
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