Regular Season Offensive Player Rankings: Where Did Ravens Lamar Jackson Finish?
In his first season in Todd Monken's system, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had a career-best year.
Lamar had career-highs in passing yards (3,678), and completion percentage (67.2) while leading a Ravens offense that was first in rushing yards per game (156.5), and was top five in points (28.4/g).
The Ravens had a 13-4 regular season record as Lamar led them to the No. 1 seed in the AFC and as such, former NFL quarterback David Carr has Jackson as the No. 1 offensive player in the NFL during the regular season.
"Lamar Jackson enjoyed his best season as a passer in his first year under Todd Monken, ranking in the top five in pass yards per attempt (8.0), pass TD-to-INT ratio (24:7) and passer rating (102.7)," Carr writes. "The Ravens’ passing attack thrived with Monken and Jackson in lockstep -- but the MVP favorite didn't stop serving as a threat in the run game. As he’s done in each of the last five seasons, Jackson led the Ravens in rush yards, thanks to his dynamic ability to move the chains on designed runs and scrambles. No team asked more of its quarterback than Baltimore did of Jackson, and he delivered, securing 13 regular-season wins and the AFC's No. 1 seed."
Such was Lamar's year, that he is the consensus pick for NFL MVP, and should he take home the award, it would be the second time in doing so.
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While Jackson's exploits in the regular season made for excellent reading (58-19 record), his postseason performances are what many think hold him back from becoming the star many know he can be.
After getting past the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round 34-10, the thought was that this Ravens team with Jackson was different. But the beatdown they suffered against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game raised more questions about his ability to get it done in the biggest spots.
Jackson is now 2-4 in the playoffs, has thrown for 1,324 yards, and has six touchdowns and six interceptions. But Carr's ranking luckily isn't about the postseason as Jackson was superb in the lead-up to the tournament.
It was ultimately another season that ended in sour fashion after the Ravens seemingly had everything lined up to make their first Super Bowl appearance since 2012 but wilted under the pressure.
If there is any consolation, come Week 1 next season, the Ravens will likely have a two-time MVP winner under center.
