Ravens lobbied for triple threat Lamar's 'MVP'

TAMPA, Fla. — In making a case for a third NFL Most Valuable Player Award, Lamar Jackson is now apparently a triple threat.

In addition to throwing five touchdown passes and rushing for 52 yards Monday night, Jackson showed off his latest skill — lead blocking for Derrick Henry in the Baltimore Ravens' 41-31 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the Ravens leading by 16 points (34-18) in the fourth quarter, Jackson saw Henry change direction and ran upfield, pushing All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. out of the way to help Henry gain a 39-yard gain.

“Lamar is the ultimate competitor,” Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said. “He puts everything on the line every game. [He’s] Just really cool, and he's the best. He's the MVP.”

For the first time this season, Jackson has established himself as the betting favorite for NFL Most Valuable Player, according to ESPN BET. Jackson's odds are now +275, which puts him ahead of Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes (+475).

Jackson, 27, would become the youngest three-time NFL MVP. He previously won in 2019 and last season.

But Jackson, the only two-time MVP not to reach the Super Bowl, wasn't interested in discussing his personal accomplishments after the game.

“I'm chasing something right now,” Jackson said. “So every game is going to be the same thing for me. Every game I'm trying to win.”

Jackson once again led the Ravens (5-2) to their fifth straight win. Trailing 10-0 in the first quarter, Jackson led Baltimore on six scoring drives, resulting in 34 unanswered points. During this run, Jackson threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rashod Bateman and then connected with Andrews for a 4-yard touchdown on fourth down.

In helping the Ravens score 27 or more points for the fifth consecutive game — the longest current streak in the NFL — Jackson continues to put himself in a different category. It marked his third career game with five touchdown passes and at least 50 yards rushing. No other player in NFL history has more games.

“It's almost scary to watch him get better at this point,” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. “He's just one of a kind. If I could equate it to somebody basketball wise, he's like LeBron right there.”

While he's always been dangerous as a runner, Jackson continues to make strides in the passing game. He finished 17-of-22 for 281 yards and five touchdowns. According to ESPN Research, it was his fifth career game with as many or more touchdown passes incomplete.

Through seven games, Jackson is second in passing yards (1,810), second in touchdown passes (15) and second in yards per attempt (9.1).

“He's the best in the league,” Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubui said. “If people don't think that, they're not watching football. They're just hating.”

Jackson doesn't think he plays any differently in prime-time games, but he has raised the level of his game in front of a national television audience. He now has 20 touchdown passes and no interceptions on “Monday Night Football,” the longest streak of touchdown passes without an interception on a Monday night broadcast.

“He's going to go down in 'Monday Night Football' history for sure,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, “and he's got more to do.”