Lamar Jackson: Has MVP case been strengthened as Baltimore Ravens eye playoffs?

NEW DELHI: In a dominant performance against the

Miami Dolphins

on Sunday,

Baltimore Ravens

quarterback

Lamar Jackson

delivered a five-touchdown spectacle, further solidifying his case for the NFL

Most Valuable Player

(

MVP

) award.
The Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh, remains undecided about Jackson's participation in Week 18, but the quarterback's stellar performance has left little doubt about his MVP status.

After seizing the lead in the MVP race following the Ravens' win against the San Francisco 49ers last week, Lamar Jackson has become the overwhelming favorite for the prestigious award. At BetMGM, he stands at -10000, and at DraftKings, he is listed as a -20000 favorite. The nearest contenders, Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott and San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy, trail significantly at +1800 and +2500 to +3000, respectively.

Jackson's exceptional showing against the Dolphins addressed any concerns about his passing statistics, often considered a minor flaw in his MVP resume. With five touchdown passes in the game, he elevated his season total to 24, matching the lowest total for an MVP-winning quarterback, a record set by Steve McNair of the Tennessee Titans.
As the Ravens have secured the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, the decision on Jackson's participation in the regular-season finale is yet to be determined. Expressing his desire to play, Jackson recalls the Ravens' upset in the playoff opener during his first MVP season in 2019, emphasizing the team's cautious approach this time.

Harbaugh acknowledged the importance of the upcoming decision, stating, "I'm sure I'll talk to Lamar, and I'm sure he's going to want to play. But, we're going to have to talk about that and decide what we want to do. You can only take six players out of the equation. There's going to be injuries anyway, so it's not like the preseason. You're playing your team except for whoever you end up taking out."
While the Ravens have not finalized their decision, Harbaugh emphasized the team's commitment to avoiding any complacency, especially considering their playoff upset in 2019. The memory of that season serves as a poignant reminder to approach every game with the utmost focus and determination.
(With Reuters inputs)