Category: Lamar Jackson

Does First Team AP All-Pro vote mean Lamar Jackson will win the NFL MVP?

Lamar Jackson had more first team AP All-Pro votes than Josh Allen setting the Ravens QB up to win back to back MVP.

The results of The Associated Press 2024 NFL All-Pro balloting, as selected by a national panel of 50 media members, are in, and Lamar Jackson (30) had more first-place votes than Josh Allen (18).

The results suggest that after Josh Allen was the presumed front-runner for weeks now, it could be and should be Jackson who walks away with the award.

According to ESPN Stats&Info, Jackson has been the 8th quarterback since the 1970 merger, earning three or more first-team All-Pro selections.   Jackson’s other first-team All-Pro selections came in 2019 and 2023.

Furthermore, according to Evan Kaplan, the last time a first-team All-Pro quarterback didn’t win the award was 2012, when Adrian Peterson was named the NFL MVP.
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Eli Manning makes strong MVP case for Lamar Jackson

The statistical numbers don’t lie, when it comes to Lamar Jackson’s NFL MVP credentials, and Eli Manning sees that. 

Eli Manning won two Super Bowl MVP awards during his playing career, so he knows exactly what it means to be the Most Valuable Player. Especially so when it matters most.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson won his second NFL MVP award last season, but despite having a historically elite season, the odds are against him repeating.

Jackson is having his best season yet, but he’s not the favorite to win the award. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is. Any Bills fan and/or Allen for MVP advocate will tell you that Allen has less supporting cast than Jackson, so he is more deserving.

There is also MVP sentiment that favors Allen simply because he has never won the award before. Beyond the Jackson versus Allen debate, Saquon Barkley is another strong contender.

The Philadelphia Eagles star had the best season by a running back in a generation, becoming just the ninth RB ever to gain 2,000 rushing yards in a season. Had he played in the season finale, his chances of breaking the single-season rushing record were in his favor.

However, the MVP award should go to the best overall player, regardless of position, supporting cast or previous MVP awards won or not won.

Manning got straight to the point.

“Lamar Jackson, especially his last five weeks, how he’s played, 41 touchdowns, four interceptions, pretty impressive what he’s done and I know he’s won them before – but that shouldn’t hurt you,” Manning said in an exclusive with RG. “If you have the best season, if you’ve played the best, he should win MVP. I think it should probably go to Lamar.”

The two-time Super Bowl winner and New York Giants Ring of Honor member is correct that past seasons should not factor into this debate. Manning is correct when he uses the concise phrase “played the best.”

Jackson is having his best season ever, and the statistics back that up. He became the first quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards and run for 800 rushing yards.

He also became the first reigning NFL MVP to throw 40 TD passes the season after winning the award.

Additionally, Lamar also posted the fourth-highest single-season passer rating in NFL history. The numbers don’t lie, and Manning sees that.

Perhaps the award voters will, too, and then bestow the honor on the most deserving candidate.

Ravens have 3 players make the NFLPA ‘All-Pro team’ voted on only by players

Baltimore Ravens had Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith, and Kyle Hamilton make the NFLPA’s All-Pro team voted on only by the players

NFL players wanted more say in the postseason award process, and on Wednesday, the NFLPA unveiled the third annual Players All-Pro Team for the 2024 season.

Baltimore has one of the NFL’s best teams and three players represented on the list with quarterback Lamar Jackson, linebacker Roquan Smith and defensive back Kyle Hamilton getting first team votes.

NOTE: PLAYERS WHO MISSED 5 OR MORE GAMES AS OF WEEK 15 WERE INELIGIBLE.

Derrick Henry was beat out by Saquon Barkley at running back, while Lamar Jackson has been the first team quarterback two of the last three years.

Ravens have four players make PFF’s All-Pro Team

Ravens have four players make PFF’s All-Pro Team

With the 2024 regular season over, PFF released its All-Pro Team for the year. Four Ravens landed on the team.

Lamar Jackson being selected as the first-team quarterback should be no surprise to anyone who has watched the two-time MVP put together his best season to date.

“Lamar Jackson delivered the best regular season of his career in 2024, earning an impressive 94.3 PFF grade—the sixth-best mark by a quarterback over the past decade,” PFF’s Gordon McGuinness wrote. “He paired elite playmaking with exceptional ball security, finishing with a 6.0% big-time throw rate and a position-best 1.4% turnover-worthy play rate.”

Jackson’s running mate, Derrick Henry, was chosen as the first-team running back, ahead of Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles. The now 31-year-old back defied father time and exceeded all expectations in his first season in Baltimore, finishing with the second-most rushing yards in his career and the second-most in the NFL.

“Henry topped the position with an astonishing 1,137 rushing yards after contact, marking the fourth time in his career he’s surpassed 1,000 yards after contact in a single season,” McGuinness wrote. “His physical running style was on full display as he forced a league-high 80 missed tackles on 325 carries. Henry’s performance earned him a 93.1 PFF rushing grade, the best among all running backs.”

Kyle Hamilton is the next Raven on the team, one of two safeties chosen. Through his first three seasons, Hamilton has proven to be one of the best defenders in the NFL. The versatile defensive back saved Baltimore’s defense this season by moving to the backend and replacing the struggling veteran safety Marcus Williams.

“At the three-quarter mark of the season, Hamilton was our choice in the flex spot on defense, having spent the first half of the year in the box and the slot for the Ravens,” McGuinness wrote. “In Week 11, the Ravens moved him into a deeper role, completely transforming their defensive success. He finished the regular season with an 89.4 PFF run-defense grade, an 89.0 PFF pass-rushing grade and an 87.9 PFF coverage grade.”

The final Raven to make the team was cornerback Marlon Humphrey. After a down year in 2023, Humphrey rebounded in 2024 with perhaps his best season to date as a pro. The veteran cornerback made several game-changing plays in big games for Baltimore this season, including both wins over the Cincinnati Bengals and leading the team in interceptions with six.

“In his eighth season out of Alabama, Humphrey delivered the best performance of his career, earning an 81.0 PFF grade,” McGuinness wrote. “Targeted 83 times in coverage, he allowed 51 receptions for 518 yards while recording 16 combined pass breakups and interceptions.”

The Ravens will need these four players to continue their excellent play into the postseason as they look to make a run at the Super Bowl.

 

 

Lamar Jackson posts the 4th highest single season passer rating in NFL history

While he didn’t break the NFL single season passer rating record, Lamar Jackson came extremely close.

While he didn’t break the NFL single-season passer rating record, Lamar Jackson came extremely close. He entered the regular season finale with history’s second-highest single-season passer rating.

Jackson had a great, but far from his best, game yesterday as he completed 16-32 passes for 217 yards, two touchdown passes, and no interceptions.

While he missed on a couple of throws here and there and had to deal with a drop or two, his day was still good enough to earn a stellar 92.8 passer rating.

However, it was not good enough to raise his season passer rating above the 122.5 that Aaron Rodgers achieved in 2011. That remains the record, with Rodgers also holding the second-best mark, 121.5, in 2020.

Peyton Manning’s 2004 performance is third, in which he posted a 121.1 passer rating. Jackson is next, finishing 2024 with a 119.6 passer rating.

In addition to achieving the fourth-best passing season ever, by statistical measure, he became the first player in NFL history to accrue 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards in the same season.

The reigning league MVP also accomplished something no one else has ever done- throwing for over 40 touchdown passes and fewer than five interceptions.

Lamar posted an other-worldly 41-4 TD pass-to-interception ratio this season.

“He’s just one of a kind. There’s nobody like Lamar Jackson,” Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told the media in postgame.

“He’s in the locker room, and he’s not happy about the last drive. … He wants everything to be perfect. That’s why these numbers are the way they are, because of who he is.”

In the postgame sideline interview for the television broadcast, Jackson was asked about breaking records that would make him one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game.

“It means a lot to me, those guys before me paved the way,” he responded.

Ravens clinch AFC North, No. 3 seed with a win over Browns in Week 18

Ravens clinch AFC North, No. 3 seed with a win over Browns in Week 18

Baltimore lost two of their first four games and looked like a team out of sorts following the acquisition of Derrick Henry. Still John Harbaugh stayed the course, Zach Orr improved as a defensive coordinator, and the Ravens are the AFC North champions after a convincing win over the Browns in Week 18.

Lamar Jackson became the first player to amass 4,000 yards passing and 800 yards rushing in the same regular season. Derrick Henry became the third player in NFL history to amass 15 rushing touchdowns in a season, and 1,800 yards rushing in multiple seasons.

According to Next Gen Stats, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are the first pair of teammates to have 40 touchdown passes and 15 rushing touchdowns in the same season.

Baltimore will now start preparation for what should be an entertaining and storyline filled AFC Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Is Justice Hill playing today? Ravens inactives for game vs. Browns in Week 18

Justice Hill is among Seven Baltimore Ravens inactives for Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 18

The Baltimore Ravens are just moments from a Week 18 contest against the Cleveland Browns, and running back Justice Hill is among seven players listed as inactive.

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Hill is still in the concussion protocol and will miss his second straight game, along with Nelson Agholor and Marcus Williams, who is again a healthy scratch.

Agholor will miss his third straight game.

WATCH: Lamar Jackson’s reaction to breaking all-time QB rushing record

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is no stranger to breaking records since he entered the NFL in 2018. Jackson has been widely regarded as the best-ever runner at the quarterback position for some time now, but that was cemented on …

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is no stranger to breaking records since he entered the NFL in 2018. Jackson has been widely regarded as the best-ever runner at the quarterback position for some time now, but that was cemented on Christmas Day when Jackson passed Michael Vick for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history.

Jackson’s reaction to breaking the record was captured on the newest episode of “Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North.”

Jackson’s unmatched ability as a quarterback runner has been held against him throughout his career, dating back to his time at Louisville. Suggestions that he should switch to wide receiver littered the pre-draft process for the Heisman-winning quarterback. Jackson has since proven that not only is he the best runner the position has ever seen, but he is also one of the best passers.

Jackson’s 121.6 passer rating for the 2024 season is the highest this year and the second highest of all time, behind only Aaron Rodgers’ 122.5 passer rating in 2011 with the Green Bay Packers. Jackson has the chance to claim the top spot against the Cleveland Browns this Saturday in the final game of the regular season.

Jackson could be in line to win his third MVP award as well, though he is currently behind Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in betting odds.

Ravens media votes Lamar Jackson team MVP; Tyler Linderbaum “Media Good Guy”

Ravens media votes Lamar Jackson team MVP; Tyler Linderbaum “Media Good Guy”

The end of the NFL season brings many things, including awards for various players’ efforts over the year. While the wait to see who will be crowned league MVP continues, local media has chosen quarterback Lamar Jackson as the Ravens MVP for the 2024 season.

This is Jackson’s fourth time receiving the award through his seven seasons in the NFL — the most of any player in the prize’s history. Jackson is also in the thick of it for the league MVP, sitting behind Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen as the runner-up betting favorite to take home the award for the third time in his career.

“That means a lot,” Jackson said. “I owe this to my teammates and you guys. I appreciate y’all a lot.”

Jackson’s 121.6 passer rating for the season is the second-best in NFL history, only behind Aaron Rodgers’ 122.5 passer rating with the Green Bay Packers in 2011. With one game left, Jackson currently has 3,955 passing yards, a 67.9 completion percentage, and 39 passing touchdowns with just four interceptions. Jackson also has 852 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

The “Media Good Guy” award went to third-year center Tyler Linderbaum.

Linderbaum has been one of the NFL’s best centers since entering the league as a first-round pick for the Ravens in 2022.

 

Ravens TE Charlie Kolar jabs Josh Allen, Bills fans while defending QB Lamar Jackson

Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar roasted Josh Allen and Buffalo Bills fans while defending Lamar Jackson

The Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills both have quarterbacks in the MVP race. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen had incredible seasons in 2024, but only one can win the award unless a co-MVP involves both signal callers.

Allen has seen his Bills teammates defend him for MVP, while Jackson’s Ravens teammates have done the same. That happened again on Sunday night when Baltimore tight end Charlie Kolar took to Twitter to defend his quarterback and jab at Allen.

Kolar also expressed that he believes Jackson is the MVP, saying he didn’t realize that Bills fans were so “hateful.”

It remains to be seen who wins MVP between Jackson and Allen. However, both are deserving, with the battle coming down to the very end.