Lamar Jackson delivered perhaps the best playoff performance of his career to propel the Baltimore Ravens to a 34-10 victory over the Houston Texans.
Skeptics of the 2019 MVP were beginning to line up after a first half that saw the teams deadlocked at 10 points apiece. It was a much different story in the second half as the Ravens scored touchdowns on three straight drives, all courtesy of Jackson.
Jackson ran it in from 15 yards out, hit tight end Isaiah Likely with a 15-yard TD throw, and then had another eight-yard scoring run for good measure.
Jackson finished 16-of-22 through the air for 152 yards and two touchdowns, and he finished as Baltimore's leading rusher (100 yards, two touchdowns). It was another outing that reinforced his case for a second MVP even if it didn't actually count toward his candidacy.
Ravens fans are continuing to dream big as well.
Those following the action also reflected on the contributions of first-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who has let Jackson embrace his unique style while fine-tuning Baltimore's attack.
For the Texans, Saturday brought a disappointing end to an otherwise encouraging season. C.J. Stroud concluded his rookie campaign by throwing for 175 yards on 33 attempts.
Based on how Houston is already ahead of schedule under head coach DeMeco Ryans, it's only up from here.
In the AFC title race, the stage is now set for a battle pitting Jackson against either Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen. The Buffalo Bills host the Kansas City Chiefs in the other divisional clash Sunday.
The Ravens need a half to find their footing and perhaps shake off a bit of rust after having a bye in the Wild Card Round. By the time the clock wound down in the fourth quarter, Baltimore had reminded everybody why it was the top seed in the conference.
This certainly looks like the year Jackson tastes the kind of team success to match his individual accolades.
Read 382 Comments
Download the app for comments Get the B/R app to join the conversation