Ravens' Jackson bolsters MVP case in dominant win vs. Texans

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) reacts under center against the Houston Texans in the first quarter at NRG Stadium. Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson bolsters MVP case in dominant win vs. Texans

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Dec 26, 2024 11:01 AM ET

With Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson heating up, don't expect Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen to win MVP in a landslide.

Jackson showed why he deserves to win his third MVP in Baltimore's 31-2 win over the Houston Texans (9-7) on Christmas Day.

Against Houston, Jackson broke former Atlanta Falcons star Michael Vick's record for career rushing yards (6,109 in 143 games) by a QB in NFL history.

Entering Wednesday's game, Jackson needed 86 yards to tie the record. He ran for 87 yards and one touchdown on four carries. Jackson has played in 41 fewer games than Vick, making the feat even more impressive.

The greatest rushing QB in NFL history❗ pic.twitter.com/xpK0kIgoxR
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 25, 2024

LAMAR JACKSON IS COMING TO TOWN. #NFLonNetflix #BALvsHOU on @Netflix pic.twitter.com/YwqfIlRs3m
— NFL (@NFL) December 25, 2024

Jackson also completed 10-of-15 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns and recorded a 143.9 passer rating, his fourth-highest mark this season.

As of Wednesday night, DraftKings Sportsbook gives Jackson the second-best MVP odds (+180) behind Allen (-240). Still, the Ravens star could pass the Bills QB.

Per CBS Sports, Jackson has posted a 121.6 passer rating in 16 regular-season starts. If he maintains this number, it would be the second-highest passer rating in a season in league history. New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers, a former Green Bay Packers star, registered a 122.5 passer rating in 15 regular-season starts in 2011.

Highest passer rating in a single season in NFL History

2011 Aaron Rodgers - 122.5
2024 Lamar Jackson - 121.6
2020 Aaron Rodgers - 121.5
2004 Peyton Manning - 121.1 pic.twitter.com/mVDdWFE8yO
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) December 26, 2024

Buffalo (12-3), however, has a better record than Baltimore (11-5) and upset the Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) in Week 11. If the Bills beat the New York Jets (4-11) in a home game at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, they will clinch the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

Of course, Allen's numbers are excellent. Through 15 starts, he has 3,549 passing yards, 26 touchdown passes and a solid 101.2 passer rating.

Whichever QB leads their team on a deeper playoff run may determine who captures MVP. If Jackson pilots the Ravens to a second straight AFC Championship game, the pendulum would probably swing in his favor.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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