Lamar Jackson lifts case for MVP as Ravens dump Patriots

Lamar Jackson embedded his name into the NFL Most Valuable Player discussion as he catapulted the Ravens into the race for the AFC’s top seed.

In Sunday night’s 37-20 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots, Jackson defeated Tom Brady and a New England defense off to a memorable beginning. He ran for two touchdowns and threw for another against a defense that had permitted four hostile touchdowns in the first eight games.

During the last minutes of the game, the sellout crowd at M&T Bank Stadium serenaded Jackson with chants of “MVP.” Jackson’s colleagues later resounded the assessment.

“He played MVP-type football,” Ravens safety Earl Thomas said. “He’s separating himself.”

Jackson began the season as a since quite a while ago went for MVP, with 50-to-1 odds. Presently he is creating a buzz in becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to add up to in excess of 1,800 yards passing and 600 yards rushing in the initial eight games of a season in the Super Bowl time, as per ESPN Stats and Information.

On Sunday, he joined for 224 yards (163 yards passing and 61 yards rushing) against the only group since the 1970 merger to lead the NFL in points permitted, takeaways and sacks through Week 8.

Asked about hearing the MVP chants, Jackson stated, “We got a lot of seasons left to play, so I worry about the next game. I don’t really care about that. I appreciate it, but as I said before, I want something better than that.”

Jackson has led the Ravens to a 6-2 beginning, which puts Baltimore 1.5 games behind New England for the AFC’s No. 1 seed at the midway point of the season.

His 3-yard touchdown run – the first points permitted by the Patriots on an opening drive this season – started a 17-0 lead. At the point when the Patriots cut the lead to 24-20, Jackson hit tight end Nick Boyle for a 5-yard touchdown pass. Jackson at that point sealed Baltimore’s fourth straight triumph by rushing for a 1-yard touchdown with 3:12 left in the game.

Jackson completed 17-of-23 for 163 yards and a 107.7 passer rating. Brady, a three-time NFL MVP, was 30-of-46 for yards with one touchdown and one interception (80.4 ratings).

“That’s our MVP, and that’s the league’s MVP, no doubt about it,” tight end Mark Andrews said of Jackson. “He’s a special player. A guy like that, you can’t replace. He’s just special.”

The 22-year-old Jackson became the most youthful quarterback in the Super Bowl period to overcome a group that entered the game 8-0 or better. He is likewise the most youthful quarterback to beat a Bill Belichick-coached group since Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.

“Everyone sees it. When he has the ball in his hands, anything can happen, and that’s awesome,” tight end Nick Boyle said. “It’s awesome for our offense. It’s awesome to build around him. He makes it really fun.”

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