By Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season, quarterback Lamar Jackson has been the presumptive frontrunner for the Most Valuable Player award. However, his performance against the Denver Broncos might have solidified his case, and it’s not even close.
Jackson finished the game, missing only three passing attempts (16 of 19) for 280 yards and three touchdowns. That stat line merited him a passer rating of 158.3, the fourth-perfect career rating. That mark ties him with Ben Roethlisberger for perfect-rating games, with Kurt Warner, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady tied with three.
Jackson averaged 14.7 yards per completed pass, marking his fourth game this season with at least 15 attempts and 12 yards per attempt. No other quarterback hasn’t had as many games of that nature since 2000.
Completing passing touchdowns to Zay Flowers and Patrick Ricard improved Jackson’s passing touchdowns count this season to 20, making him the record holder for the fewest games a quarterback needs to reach 20 passing touchdowns and 500 rushing yards in a season. Jackson (2019), Josh Allen (2022), and Randall Cunningham (1990) shared the previous record at 11 games.
Lamar Jackson is now tied with Ben Roethlisberger for the MOST games (4) in NFL history with a perfect passer rating of 158.3.
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) November 3, 2024
Only a select few QB have even three games with a perfect rating: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner.
Lamar was close to another one a few weeks…
While Jackson has 505 rushing yards and two touchdowns this season, he didn’t need his scrambling prowess during the Baltimore Ravens’ 41-10 win against the Broncos. The former Louisville standout finished with three carries for four yards.
More importantly, the Ravens improved to 6-3 before proceeding with back-to-back games against their AFC North rivals. Jackson will face Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10 Thursday Night Football, and the Pittsburgh Steelers a week later.
-Lance Fernandez