Lamar Jackson leads Ravens rout with perfect passer rating

BALTIMORE — Practice makes perfect — except if you’re Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Despite practicing just once this past week, Jackson was sharp as he has ever been, recording a perfect 158.3 passer rating in Sunday’s 41-10 rout of the Denver Broncos. This marked Jackson’s fourth career game with a perfect passer rating, which 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’s going to be ready,” Ravens running back Derrick Henry said.

Jackson did not practice Wednesday and Thursday because he was resting back and knee injuries. He returned Friday to participate in his only practice of the week.

No one could tell Jackson had limited practice time Sunday, when he ripped the NFL’s No. 3 defense. He completed 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns.

“I just knew what the assignment was,” Jackson said. “I definitely studied those guys. Getting with [quarterbacks coach Tee Martin] and just putting in extra work, just because I wasn’t out there. [I was] just watching practice and studying film on those guys — that pretty much helped.”

Winners of six of their past seven games, the Ravens (6-3) moved within a half game of the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) on another efficient performance by Jackson. This was Jackson’s sixth career game with as many touchdown passes (three) as incompletions, which matches Peyton Manning and Drew Brees for the most in NFL history.

“It’s like your ideal point guard in a basketball situation — somebody that sees people, sees their strengths, sees ways to get them won,” 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 him every time he steps on the field.”

This was the first time Jackson had missed any practice time in the regular season this year. When asked after the game if Jackson would get as many rest days as he wanted going forward, Ravens coach John Harbaugh smiled.

Harbaugh said he could tell how sharp 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 throws, including two touchdown passes to Zay Flowers of 7 and 53 yards.

“I believe I mentioned it to one of the guys on the [headset] after the second or third series, ‘Lamar is one fire. He’s on fire throwing the ball,'” Harbaugh said.

Jackson didn’t seem at full strength when scrambling, running for 4 yards on three carries. It was his fewest rushing attempts since December 2022, when he left a game against the Broncos in the first quarter with what became 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, which are 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 take away him running the ball, [he’ll] go over your head and throw it. If he has to run it, he’ll do that as well. Hats off to him. He’s an engine that makes this thing go — ‘MV3.'”

With a strong supporting cast, Jackson led the Ravens to seven straight scoring drives as Baltimore put up 40 or more points for the third time in five weeks. On the ground, Henry ran for 106 yards and scored two touchdowns, becoming the 10th player in NFL history to reach 100 career rushing touchdowns. In the passing attack, Flowers became the first Ravens player to total 100 yards receiving and two touchdown catches in the same game since Marquise Brown in 2019.

Now, midway through the season, Jackson is back to being the favorite for NFL MVP. According to ESPN BET, Jackson’s odds improved to +225, which moves him past Josh Allen (+360).

Flowers summed up Jackson’s performance with a one-word response: “Lamarvelous.”