Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Makes MVP Case With Five TDs and AFC No. 1 Seed in 56-19 Win Over Dolphins
The Ravens have clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC - which includes home-field advantage in the playoffs and a first-round bye - with a 56-19 sinking of the Dolphins on Sunday.
Baltimore moves to 13-3 with a chance to make it 14 wins with a victory over Pittsburgh at home in Week 18. The Ravens are betting favorites to win the Super Bowl with masterful wins over playoff teams this season, including Sunday's win over Miami and Week 16's dismantling of the NFC-leading 49ers.
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And in all of it, quarterback Lamar Jackson might have wrapped up the 2023 NFL MVP award - which would be his second.
Jackson completed 18 of 21 passes for 321 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. That's good enough for a perfect QB rating of 158.3.
The 2019 league MVP secured touchdown passes to wideout Zay Flowers, running back Justice Hill, and fullback Patrick Ricard, and completed two to tight end Isaiah Likely. Running backs Gus Edwards and Melvin Gordon secured rushing touchdowns in the game.
Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley came in late in the game in relief of Jackson and tossed a scoring pass to tight end Charlie Kolar to secure yet another lopsided win over one of the best teams in the league.
Baltimore outgained Miami 491 yards to 375 as Jackson outdueled Dolphins quarterback and fellow MVP candidate Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa completed 22 of 28 passes for 237 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the losing effort. Tagovailoa also exited the game late in the fourth quarter after injuring his left shoulder during an awkward-looking slide to avoid a hit.
With one week left in the regular season, the Ravens have all the momentum heading into the postseason, and we'll see how coach John Harbaugh addresses any rest for starters in the final game of the season.
