ExtremeRavens Posted 6 hours ago Posted 6 hours ago Lamar Jackson is an All-Pro again. The Ravens quarterback beat out Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen with 30 first-place votes to Allen’s 18 to make The Associated Press All-Pro first team for the second straight year and third overall. Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (7) and current New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (4) are the only quarterbacks to earn more nominations in the Super Bowl era. Jackson, who was also an All-Pro in 2019 and 2023 when he was also named NFL Most Valuable Player both years, was one of six Baltimore players selected. Joining him are fullback Patrick Ricard (first time), middle linebacker Roquan Smith (third time) and slot cornerback Marlon Humphrey (second time). Two other Ravens made the second-team: running back Derrick Henry and safety Kyle Hamilton. Though Henry received two first-place votes, he was beaten out by NFL rushing leader and Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley. Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph and Green Bay Packers standout Xavier McKinney — who rank first and second in the league in interceptions, respectively — were the top two safeties chosen over Hamilton. Among the Ravens, Jackson’s historic season stood out the most. He became the first player to pass for more than 4,000 yards and run for more than 900 yards in the same season. His 41 touchdown passes were second-most behind only the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow while throwing just four interceptions, and his passer rating of 119.6 was also tops in the league and fourth-best in history. Jackson, who led the league in passing yards per attempt and whose 915 rushing yards were tops among quarterbacks, also led the Ravens to a 12-5 record, the AFC North title and the No. 3 seed in the conference. Henry, meanwhile, was second in the NFL in rushing with 1,921 yards in his age 30 season and his 5.9 yards per carry were the highest of his nine-year career. Ricard was the one often helping clear the way for the majority of those yards along with helping pave the way for the league’s top rushing attack. Henry’s 16 rushing touchdowns also tied for most in the league and were a single-season franchise record. He was also first or second in runs of over 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards and his 87-yard touchdown in a Week 4 blowout of the Buffalo Bills was the second-longest run among backs this season. Humphrey, who had a bounce back eighth season after an injury-plagued 2023, had the third-most most interceptions in the league with a career-high six this season. He nabbed 26 first-place votes at the slot position and joins a defensive backfield that includes Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II and Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. Smith, who is the emotional leader of a Ravens defense that over the past two months of the regular season was one of the best in the NFL, had the second-most tackles (154) in the league and was one of only three players with at least 150 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Hamilton, meanwhile, has been the lynchpin in the secondary for a defense that allowed a league-low 261.7 yards per game and just 15.4 points per game since Week 11, which is 10.1 points fewer than they averaged surrendering over the first 10 weeks. Not coincidentally, that is when Baltimore started deploying the the third-year former first-round pick at deep safety more often. A national panel of 50 media members casts ballots for the honors. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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