Jamison Hensley, ESPN Writer Nov 3, 2024, 6:58pm ET
CloseJamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, where he covered the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens starting in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association’s Maryland Sports Writer of the Year Award in 2018 and has authored the book, Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Baltimore Sun’s Ravens staff writer from 2000-11.
BALTIMORE — Practice makes perfect — unless you’re Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Despite practicing just once last week, Jackson was as sharp as ever, posting a perfect passer rating of 158.3 in Sunday’s 41-10 win over the Denver Broncos. It was Jackson’s fourth career game with a perfect passer rating, and he is tied with Ben Roethlisberger and Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history, according to ESPN research.
“I feel like it doesn’t matter if it’s one day or half a day [of practice]”He’ll be ready,” Ravens running back Derrick Henry said.
Editor’s Picks
1 related
Jackson did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday because he was resting a back and knee injury. He returned Friday for his only practice of the week.
No one can say Jackson had limited practice time on Sunday, when he tore apart the No. 3 defense in the NFL. He completed 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns.
“I just knew what the mission was,” Jackson said. “I’ve definitely studied these guys [quarterbacks coach Tee Martin] And I’m just doing extra work, just because I wasn’t there. [I was] Just watching practices and studying film on those guys — that helped a lot.”
Winners of six of their past seven games, the Ravens (6-3) moved within a half game of the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) with another efficient performance by Jackson. It was Jackson’s sixth career game with the most touchdown passes (three) as incomplete passes, which ties Peyton Manning and Drew Brees for the most touchdown passes in NFL history.
Lamar Jackson celebrates with his teammates after a touchdown throw against the Denver Broncos. Getty Images
“He’s like your perfect point guard in a basketball situation — someone who sees people, sees their strengths, sees ways to win for them,” Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor said. “He’s a special player, and I think we all know that. He approaches the game a certain way to be the best version of himself every time he steps on the court.”
This was the first time Jackson missed any practice time in the regular season this year. When asked after the game if Jackson would get as many days off as he wanted moving forward, Ravens coach John Harbaugh smiled.
Harbaugh said he could tell how accurate Jackson was early in the game. Jackson completed his first four passes and finished the first half by connecting on 11 of his first 12 punts, including two touchdown passes to Zay Flowers from 7 and 53 yards out.
“I think I mentioned it to one of the guys in.” [headset] After the second or third series Lamar fired one. “He’s on fire throwing the ball,” Harbaugh said.
Jackson didn’t look at his full strength when running for 4 yards on three carries. It was his least rushing attempt since December 2022, when he left a game against the Broncos in the first quarter with a season-ending knee injury.
Jackson’s big plays all came with his arm. He was 5 of 5 for 157 yards and a touchdown on throws that traveled at least 20 yards in the air, the most such completions in his career.
“He’s dangerous with his arm, and I think he showed that,” Henry said. “If you want to keep him running with the ball, [he’ll] Go over your head and throw it. If he had to manage it, he would too. Hats off to him. “It’s the engine that makes this thing work – the ‘MV3’.”
With a strong supporting cast, Jackson led the Ravens to seven straight points as Baltimore scored 40 or more points for the third time in five weeks. On the ground, Henry ran for 106 yards and scored twice, becoming the 10th player in NFL history to reach 100 rushing touchdowns in a career. In the passing attack, Flowers became the first Ravens player to total 100 yards receiving twice in the same game since Marquise Brown in 2019.
Now, midway through the season, Jackson is back as the favorite for the NFL MVP award. According to ESPN BET, Jackson’s odds have improved to +225, which moves him past Josh Allen (+360).
Flowers summed up Jackson’s performance with a one-word response: “LaMarvelous.”
