NFL QB Rankings: Ravens Lamar Jackson's 'High Points Landed in The Stratosphere'
The Baltimore Ravens season didn't end the way they wanted, as they were bundled out of the postseason by the Kansas City Chiefs. But one bright spot was how Lamar Jackson played in Todd Monken's new system.
Jackson had the most pass attempts in his career (457), set career-highs in completion percentage (67.2) and passing yards (3,678), and had his best QBR (total quarterback rating (64.7) since 2020. The Ravens had a 13-3 record with Jackson under center as they were the best regular season team and it wasn't close.
Now, with the season done and dusted, NFL.com's Nick Shook has ranked all starting quarterbacks (66) after their efforts this year, with Lamar landing on top at No. 1.
"Look, I’m not going to bury Jackson because of one bad outing in his team’s most important game of the season," Shook wrote. "Offensive coordinator Todd Monken did Jackson precisely zero favors with how he called that AFC title game against an elite Chiefs defense and forced Jackson to try to play hero ball when he never should have been asked to do so. And let’s not forget how Jackson played in the Divisional Round, almost single-handedly tucking the Texans into their offseason beds with his arm and legs in a scintillating playoff performance none of us will forget for some time.
"Jackson’s season wasn’t perfect; in fact, it really wasn’t all that consistent. But the high points landed in the stratosphere, and the timing with which they occurred couldn’t have been more beneficial to his MVP case. The voters agreed, awarding Jackson the top honor for the second time in his career. The only downside to this was the fashion in which he and his team exited the postseason."
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Shook is right, the timing of Lamar's elite performances likely handed him the MVP award over the likes of Dak Prescott, Brock Purdy, and Josh Allen.
The Ravens would dismantle the San Francisco 49ers 33-19 in Week 16 (Lamar threw for 252 yards, two touchdowns, 45 yards rushing on seven attempts, and had a QBR of 84.7).
Jackson then followed that up with a perfect performance against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 as he threw for 321 yards and five touchdowns with just three incompletions (18/21) in the 56-19 demolition as he had a perfect passer rating (158.3).
Given the caliber of opponents he faced, those two performances likely made Jackson's MVP case impossible to bet against.
Jackson's playoff performance against the Houston Texans was the best of his career as he completed 16/22 for 152 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries as he had his second-highest QBR or the season when it mattered most (94.0).
So Jackson's case for the MVP was as strong as anyone's and while the playoff loss to the Chiefs took some of the shine off what was otherwise a superb season, Lamar was the best quarterback in 2023 and rightfully takes his spot at the top of the mountain.
