Lamar Jackson leads the Ravens with perfect pass rating

BALTIMORE — Practice makes perfect — unless you're Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Despite practicing just once last week, Jackson was as sharp as ever, posting a perfect 158.3 passing percentage in Sunday's 41-10 win over the Denver Broncos. This was Jackson's fourth career game with a perfect passer rating, tied with Ben Roethlisberger and Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history, according to ESPN Research.

“I feel like it doesn't matter if it's a day or a half day (practice), he'll be ready,” Ravens running back Derrick Henry said.

Jackson did not practice Wednesday and Thursday because he was resting back and knee injuries. He returned Friday to take part in his only practice of the week.

No one could say Jackson had limited practice time Sunday as he tore apart the NFL's No. 3 defense. He completed 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns.

“I just knew what the assignment was,” Jackson said. “I definitely studied these guys. Working with (quarterbacks coach Tee Martin) and just putting in extra work just because I wasn't out there. (I just watched training and studied film on these guys – that helped quite a bit.”)

The Ravens, who had won six of their last seven games (6-3), pulled within half a game of the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) thanks to another efficient performance from Jackson. This was Jackson's sixth career game with as many touchdown passes (three) as incompletions, tied for the most by Peyton Manning and Drew Brees in NFL history.

“It's like your ideal point guard in a basketball situation — someone who sees people, sees their strengths and sees ways to make them win,” Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor said. “He is a special player and I think we all know that. He approaches the game a certain way to be the best version of himself every time he steps on the field.”

This was the first time Jackson missed practice time during the regular season this year. When asked after the game whether Jackson would get as many days of rest as he wanted going forward, Ravens coach John Harbaugh smiled.

Harbaugh said he could tell early in the game how sharp Jackson was. Jackson completed his first four passes and finished the first half with 11 of his first 12 throws, including two touchdown passes to Zay Flowers of 7 and 53 yards.

“I think I told one of the guys on the (headset) after the second or third series: ‘Lamar is a firecracker. He's on fire when he throws the ball,'” Harbaugh said.

Jackson didn't appear to be at full strength while scrambling, rushing for four yards on three carries. They were his fewest rushing attempts since December 2022, when he left a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of a game against the Broncos.

Jackson's big plays all came with his arm. He was 5 of 5 for 157 yards and a touchdown on throws that traveled at least 20 yards through the air, the most such completions in his career.

“He’s dangerous with his arm, and I think he showed that,” Henry said. “If you want to take him out while running with the ball, he goes over your head and throws it. If he has to let it go, he will. Hats off to him. It's an engine that makes. “This thing works – 'MV3'.”

With a strong supporting staff, Jackson led the Ravens to seven consecutive scoring drives, marking the third time Baltimore scored 40 or more points in five weeks. On the ground, Henry ran for 106 yards and scored two touchdowns. He became the tenth player in NFL history to reach 100 rushing touchdowns in his career. In the passing attack, Flowers became the first Ravens player since Marquise Brown in 2019 to total 100 yards receiving and two touchdown catches in the same game.

Now, halfway through the season, Jackson is once again the favorite for NFL MVP. According to ESPN BET, Jackson's odds improved to +225, moving him past Josh Allen (+360).

Flowers summed up Jackson's performance with a one-word answer: “Lamarvelous.”