ExtremeRavens Posted October 6 Posted October 6 CINCINNATI — The only thing left for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to do is to win a Super Bowl title. Anything less is all about cosmetics. If he wins another NFL Most Valuable Player Award, his third since 2019, it will cement his place as the best running quarterback in league history. If he wins a Lombardi Trophy, there will be some who say he is the best, surpassing New England’s Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, as the greatest of all time. Who cares? It’s now all about winning the title. In the past two weeks, Jackson, in his seventh season, has beaten two of the league’s most glamorous signal-callers in Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow. Burrow was exceptional Sunday, completing 30 of 39 passes for 392 yards and five touchdowns. Let’s repeat that. Burrow had five touchdown passes, but Jackson was better. After a subpar effort in the first half, according to Jackson’s standards, he finished the game completing 26 of 42 passes for 348 yards with four touchdowns and a passer rating of 119.9. It’s not the statistics that are so mind-numbing but the way Jackson took over the game. The Ravens’ defense, especially the secondary, couldn’t cover an ant with a quilt in the second half. Burrow and receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase were slicing up cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens and Nate Wiggins. At one point, the Bengals had scored on four straight drives and twice went ahead by 10 points, the last time on a 70-yard touchdown pass to Chase with 8:54 left. But Jackson wouldn’t let the Ravens surrender. As Burrow heated up, so did Jackson. He was lukewarm in the first half, completing 9 of 17 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown, but simply willed his team to win in the second. He was elusive and improvised and did his best imitations of teammate and running back Derrick Henry with some great stiff-arms. With the score tied at 7, Jackson rolled to his right and outran a defender around the corner to throw a 16-yard touchdown pass to receiver Rashod Bateman. On his touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely with 6:38 left in the third quarter, Jackson rolled right, ran through two defenders, used a Henry-like stiff-arm and threw to Likely in the back of the end zone. “It really was incredible. I went to [him], and I said, ‘I’ve never seen anybody throw anything like that in my entire life,” Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said. “That’s just the type of player he is. The play’s never dead. He’s so special, and that was a really cool one.” CINCINNATI, OHIO - OCTOBER 06: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball as Sam Hubbard #94 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs to tackle during the first quarter at Paycor Stadium on October 06, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson looks on before running a play against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is tripped off by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, left, runs a route as quarterback Lamar Jackson throws a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill (92) is blocked by Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten, center, while rushing in on quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) avoids the tackle by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) and defensive tackle B.J. Hill (92) in the first half during an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, center, runs with the ball against Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, left, and safety Jordan Battle during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)Show Caption1 of 7CINCINNATI, OHIO - OCTOBER 06: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball as Sam Hubbard #94 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs to tackle during the first quarter at Paycor Stadium on October 06, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)Expand There were countless times Sunday when Jackson made plays from nothing. It was clear that if he wasn’t in a Ravens uniform, they don’t win. “That was like [a] third MVP level,” Henry said. “It was a one-of-a-kind game, especially the [play] where he was getting sacked, got out of the pocket, kept running down, almost went out of bounds and threw that ball back to [Isaiah Likely], that’s why Lamar is … ”]the best player in the league; [he’s] the GOAT for a reason.” There have been several stories the past few weeks about how Jackson has adapted to the offense and is calling his own plays. No one knows that unless you’re an offensive assistant coach or you’re one of several quarterbacks in the meeting room. He’s not just a special talent and great athlete but a player driven to win a Super Bowl title. Sometimes, that might be getting in his way. He is 2-4 in the postseason, and that self-imposed pressure might be causing him to short-circuit in big games. It was on display in the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to Kansas City in the AFC championship game, and there was the fumble Sunday. He mishandled a snap that would have won the game for the Bengals if Evan McPherson had not missed a 53-yard field goal attempt midway through the overtime period. At least in the Kansas City game, it appeared the Ravens got caught up in trying to keep pace with the Chiefs and Jackson tried to outduel quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Few players take losing harder than Jackson, but that’s also what motivates him. He has made steps to advance in the postseason every year, but there’s always something that gets in the way. Some years, it was the Bills or the Titans. Last year, it was Mahomes and the Chiefs. Some thought Jackson could have run more against Kansas City instead of trying to win the game with his arm. Others have noticed that opposing teams take away the Ravens’ running game and force Jackson to beat them with his arm. It doesn’t really matter. Jackson is aware of the albatross he carries around. Former Miami Dolphins great Dan Marino had the same burden and never won a Super Bowl title despite playing in the NFL for 17 seasons. It’s great to win the awards and all the honors that come with them. One day, Jackson will be enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, but it’s all about winning the Lombardi Trophy. That’s all that’s left for Jackson. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. 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