Lamar Jackson is again making waves in the NFL, and the buzz surrounding his MVP case is impossible to ignore. The Baltimore Ravens’ megastar quarterback is chasing history, aiming to secure his third NFL Most Valuable Player award, with electrifying performances week in and week out.
Jackson has cemented himself as one of the most dynamic players in the league thanks to his dominant dual-threat ability. This season, he’s not just putting up MVP-caliber stats but also leading the Ravens to one of their strongest campaigns in recent years.
Let’s dive into the numbers and impact behind Jackson’s MVP bid.
Comparing Lamar Jackson’s MVP Seasons: 2019, 2023, and His 2024 Bid
Jackson’s 2019 MVP season — his first as a starter — was nothing short of legendary. He redefined the position, shattering records with over 3,100 passing yards and 36 touchdowns while rushing for a whopping 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns.
His efficiency was unmatched, leading the league in passing touchdowns and posting a 113.3 passer rating. Jackson’s exhilarating play style and ability to dismantle defenses earned him unanimous MVP honors, a feat achieved by only one other player in NFL history: Tom Brady.
Fast forward to 2023, and Jackson was back in MVP form. He showed a more refined passing game and proved to the world that he’s more than just a throwing running back. With improved accuracy and a deeper understanding of defenses, he threw for over 4,000 yards while still rushing for 800+. Adding new offensive weapons and a retooled system allowed Jackson to thrive.
In 2024, Jackson’s MVP bid combines the best of both seasons. His passing precision, rushing explosiveness, and leadership have elevated the Ravens to title contention. While his stats are impressive, it’s his ability to dominate clutch moments that sets him apart. As Jackson aims for his third MVP award, fans are witnessing the evolution of one of the NFL’s greatest talents.
While back-to-back honors aren’t common, five players have accomplished the feat: Jim Brown (1957-58), Joe Montana (1989-90), Brett Favre (1995-96), Aaron Rodgers (2020-21), and Peyton Manning (2003-04, 2008-09).
Lamar Jackson Surpasses Josh Allen in the MVP Race With Elite QB+ Metrics
Just four weeks ago, it appeared that Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was a lock for his first MVP nod since entering the NFL via the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Jackson said: Not so fast.
Jackson is the No. 1 quarterback in the league in PFN’s QB+ metric, with a grade of 99.8 (A+). PFN’s QB+ metric assigns a letter grade to every quarterback’s performance and factors in several stats, such as success rate when pressured, third-down conversion rate, pocket production, and clutch performance.
Across the season, his QB+ number is even better than his incredible 2019 MVP season. Jackson leads the league in EPA/DB (0.31), nYPA (8.5), TD/INT rate (10.3), and tied for the league total touchdowns (45). He’s also first in the NFL in performances from a clean pocket (0.51 EPA/DB) and second when pressured (-0.00).
Although Jackson’s performance at the end of the season hasn’t been as dominant as expected, he’s still a top-five quarterback over the last four weeks. And across the entire season, Jackson has three games graded as an A- or above and just two graded below a C-.