Could Lamar Jackson, the leading MVP candidate, overcome his last hurdle?
NFL quarterback rankings post-Week 16…
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens sent a powerful message on Christmas by dominating the 49ers in Santa Clara, winning 33-19. Jackson’s performance included completing 23 of 35 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, along with 45 rushing yards.
With two weeks left in the season, Jackson appears to be the clear favorite for the MVP, barring a significant collapse. He has already surpassed his passing yards from his MVP season in 2019, reaching 3,357 yards, and his 66.3% completion rate is the best of his career.
Additionally, Jackson has led the Ravens to a five-game winning streak, positioning them one win or one Browns loss away from securing the AFC North title.
While Jackson is undoubtedly one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, there’s one challenge remaining: playoff success. Despite his regular-season prowess, he has only one playoff win in four attempts, dating back to the 2020 game in Tennessee with limited attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions.
However, this season presents a different Ravens team, with offensive coordinator Todd Monken unlocking a more potent passing Lamar Jackson. The AFC poses few threats to the Ravens, with the Dolphins, Bills, and Browns being potential challenges.
The possibility of the Ravens reaching and winning the Super Bowl is not far-fetched this season, given Jackson’s improved passing skills. Unlike his early seasons, he has evolved into a much better passer.
While Jackson is undoubtedly among the best quarterbacks in the regular season, his ultimate test awaits in the playoffs. The article provides a power ranking of all 32 starting quarterbacks based on their performance after 16 weeks of the season, with the previous ranking in parentheses.
In cases where a starter was injured or benched in the last week, their replacement is listed alongside the previous starter in parentheses.
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