The Baltimore Ravens improved to 5-2 on the season with their exciting 41-31 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. The win also means that Baltimore keeps pace with the Pittsburgh Steelers atop the AFC North.
Two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson was the brightest star of the game, completing 17 of 22 passes for 281 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also had a passer rating of 158.1 and 52 yards rushing.
Jackson’s performance gives him 15 touchdown passes on the season, tied for second in the NFL behind only Baker Mayfield, whose three touchdown throws against Baltimore gave him 18 on the season. Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers also have 15.
A major difference between Jackson and the other two aforementioned quarterback is that he has thrown just two interceptions all season. Love has eight (tied with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the most in the NFL) and Mayfield has seven.
NFL Fans and Analysts Declare Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson as the MVP Favorite
Jackson, of course, is the reigning NFL MVP following a 2023 campaign that saw him have a 67.2% completion percentage, 3,678 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 102.7 passer rating. He also had 821 rushing yards and five more touchdowns on the ground.
If the Ravens star keeps up his current pace this season, he will blow those numbers out of the water and, as many have declared on social media, should win MVP again:
Anyone telling you Lamar Jackson isn’t the current MVP favorite is either lying to you or doesn’t know football. pic.twitter.com/JYFqOery3r
— Colton Sports (@ColtonSports) October 22, 2024
There have been just six players in NFL history who have won the MVP Award at least three times. Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning holds the record with five. Current New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers won the award four times while playing for the Packers.
Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Jim Brown, and Johnny Unitas have all been named MVP three times.
The only player on this list not in the Hall of Fame is Rodgers, who is currently still playing. If Jackson wins the MVP Award again, he just might be a lock for Canton.