The ‘MVP MVP’ chant for Lamar Jackson inside the M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday night said everything. Despite topping almost every list for the coveted player accolade, few continue to doubt Jackson. Dez Bryant isn’t one of them.
Bryant is a thorough part of the Jackson Bandwagon. Some might argue it’s because of the retired wide receiver’s previous allegiance to the Baltimore Ravens (13-3). While the others will simply put forward Jackson’s statistics from the Miami Dolphins (11-5) beatdown.
The 26-year-old’s team dismantled fellow MVP contenders Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill‘s Miami, dropping 56 points against them. Jackson recorded 18 completions from 21 attempts for 321 yards and touchdowns, along with a perfect passer rating of 158.3.
It was the second time in his career that he recorded five TDs in a game against Miami. The last time was back in August 2019. That’s not all; this was his fourth occasion reaching those staggering numbers.
When Bryant takes a liking to someone, he will be wholeheartedly in their corner. Right after the game wrapped up in Baltimore, he took to Twitter and wrote,
Lamar looking real Quaterbacky!
But why did he write those words? Well, it was only a continuation of his spat with FOX Sports Radio host Monse Baloñas. She stated a few days ago, “I want my quarterbacks to be quarterbacky,” while describing Jackson’s 252 yards and 2 touchdown game against the San Francisco 49ers. Not only that, she lauded his performance as a “prisoners of the moment” and not MVP-worthy.
The Todd Monken system is giving Lamar Jackson the freedom he needs
Over the past six games, Lamar Jackson has thrown 14 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. And he is doing it with precision and accuracy. The perfect passer rating is proof of it. Jackson is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the league. He has 821 rushing yards this season, scoring five touchdowns, becoming the first QB to gain more than 800 in three seasons.
I'm very confident. Having the freedom to do whatever I want to when I see things out on the field. That's the kind of game I like. We were dialing it up, being aggressive. Jackson said after the game
As for the MVP debate, all-pro wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has no doubt in his mind that his quarterback is the most deserving.
There's no debating. The way that he leads this team, the way that energy that he brings every day. He's our general, our leader. Beckham said, as per the Ravens website
The win over the Dolphins guaranteed the Ravens another AFC North title, their first since 2019. It also allowed them to be in the driving seat for the AFC #1 seed going into the playoffs. Jackson and the Ravens will wrap up the season by welcoming their rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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