Ralph Vacchiano
NFL reporter
BALTIMORE – Lamar Jackson had simply thrown three extra landing passes, giving him a career-high 37 for the season. His Baltimore Ravens had simply overwhelmed the Pittsburgh Steelers for under the second time in 10 video games. And, to prime it off, they clinched a playoff spot and tied for the highest of the AFC North.
But he wasn’t within the temper to rejoice. At all.
“I’m simply offended,” Jackson mentioned after the Ravens’ 34-17 win over the Steelers. “I used to be offended till the tip of the match.
“I’m mendacity. I’m nonetheless offended.”
His anger was all as a consequence of one throw: an interception on the Steelers’ 8-yard line early within the fourth quarter, simply when he had an opportunity to place the sport away. But that was actually only one unhealthy second in an in any other case stellar efficiency which may have even put Jackson — the league’s reigning MVP — again into the 2024 NFL MVP dialog.
He accomplished 15 of 23 passes for 207 yards, throwing three landing passes along with that interception. He additionally ran 9 instances for 22 yards. And he made so many pictures in massive moments that FOX Sports analyst Tom Brady named him his LFG Player of the Game.
Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game: Ravens’ Lamar Jackson | Week 16 DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
“Clutch throws,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh mentioned. “Especially towards man, tight protection. He simply peppered individuals on the run with man protection. I assumed Lamar was simply incredible.”
It really was one twist after one other for Jackson. Some have been straightforward, like his game-opening 9-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely’s wide-open end. But he additionally confirmed his pinpoint accuracy a 14-yard touchdown pass within the nook of the tip zone for Rashod Bateman within the second quarter. And he break up the protection with a dart behind the tip zone to tight finish Mark Andrews within the third.
Tom Brady breaks up Lamar Jackson’s landing move to Mark Andrews to provide Ravens lead towards Steelers | NFL Highlights
His finest shot, although, was his final. Backed up at their very own 13-yard line as they tried to expire the clock, the Ravens (10-5) confronted a third-and-5 with eight minutes left. But together with his pockets collapsing on him, Jackson stepped in and threw a perfect pass down the sphere to a well-covered Zay Flowers, 49 yards away.
That shot helped the Ravens wind up the clock so the Steelers (10-5) could not mount a miracle comeback. But that shot was additionally emblematic of those Harbaugh mentioned he noticed Jackson make all recreation towards one of many hardest defenses within the league.
“This got here with a bit little bit of stress,” he mentioned. “He’s beneath stress towards this group. He hung in there and made some pictures, man. He at all times does.”
Jackson was so good, particularly when it mattered, that he overshadowed two different sturdy contenders for the LFG award. Ravens working again Derrick Henry, at instances, appeared to be making his technique to what would have been his second LFG award of the season, which might have made him the primary to win it twice. He ran 24 instances for 162 yards — his third-highest whole of the season and one which included six carries of at the least 10 yards.
And then there was cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who saved Jackson and the Ravens after the quarterback’s premature interception within the fourth quarter. Two performs later, Humphrey stepped in entrance of Steelers tight finish MyCole Pruitt and picked off a move from Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (22 of 33, 217 yards, two touchdowns, one interception). He returned it 37 yards for a pick-six touchdown this gave the Ravens an insurmountable 31-17 lead with 1:15 remaining.
That earned him a recreation ball from Harbaugh, who was truly introduced to his child, born earlier within the week.
“It was an enormous momentum shift,” Henry mentioned. “But it is complementary soccer. And the protection protects us.”
“It was large,” Harbaugh mentioned. “For Marlon to do that, it actually means lots.”
It all meant lots to a Ravens crew that hasn’t had a lot luck towards the Steelers in recent times. They have been 1-8 of their final 9 video games towards them, together with a tricky 18-16 loss at Pittsburgh final month. Jackson had been significantly horrible towards his AFC North rivals. Against them he had a profession document of 1-4 with eight interceptions, three misplaced fumbles and solely 5 landing passes.
But this win modified every thing, though Jackson insisted, “I really feel like I might have performed higher.” This was as a result of he was nonetheless worrying concerning the one mistake he had made.
“That interception actually drove me loopy,” he mentioned. “If you do not flip the ball over, in nearly each recreation, you are going to win the sport. That turnover might have been the distinction.”
But that wasn’t the case, and now there’s just about no distinction between the Steelers and Ravens as they go down the stretch of the common season. They’re first within the AFC North with two video games to go, and the Ravens (with video games remaining towards the Texans and Browns) have an enormous schedule benefit over the Steelers (who need to face the Chiefs and Bengals).
The Ravens clinched a playoff spot with this win, however this might be the sport that finally ends up successful them the division as effectively.
“It means lots,” Jackson mentioned. “We’ve been letting off steam all season. We’ve had our ups and downs, however going through an ideal crew like that’s incredible. It means we’re shifting in the proper path.”
They definitely are. They have now received three of their final 4 as they head into the postseason. So they’re getting sizzling.
And their MVP-caliber quarterback is heating up, too, even when he is not as comfortable about it as he most likely ought to be.
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He spent the earlier six years masking the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York and, earlier than that, 16 years masking the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
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