Current:Home > NewsNFL MVP race turned on its head as Brock Purdy implodes, Lamar Jackson rises in Ravens' rout -Elevate Capital Network
NFL MVP race turned on its head as Brock Purdy implodes, Lamar Jackson rises in Ravens' rout
View
Date:2025-04-17 09:04:33
Brock Purdy, MVP? Not so fast.
Lamar Jackson is your new favorite to win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award.
This was some of the significant fallout from the Baltimore Ravens’ 33-19 romp at Levi’s Stadium on Christmas night. While Purdy, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback, threw four interceptions for the first time in his young career, the Ravens’ star sparkled.
“I thought Lamar had an MVP performance tonight,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters afterward. “It takes a team to create a performance like that. But…to play at an MVP level, it takes a player to play that way. And Lamar was all over the field, doing everything.”
For his part, Jackson, typically took it in stride when someone told him of Harbaugh’s assessment.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
“We got the dub,” Jackson said. “I really don’t care about the performance. I just wanted to win. That’s what happened tonight. On Christmas, that was my gift.”
And the Ravens’ gift.
Sure, we’ve seen bigger numbers. But in this case, the numbers don’t begin to do justice to Jackson’s impact on the much-anticipated showdown of the teams with the best records in each conference. The raw numbers show that he passed for 252 yards with two touchdowns. Yet your eyes told you that he must have scrambled for what, 50, 75 more yards to extend the plays that got him to 252.
It’s no news flash that Jackson led the Ravens again in rushing with 45 yards. He’s been running less in this system installed by new coordinator Todd Monken. Yet he demonstrated, again, that when he needs to, he can burn a defense in the worst way with his legs. His 30-yard scramble on a third-and-16 set up a field goal just before halftime – and was his longest run of the season.
And this wasn’t any average defense that Jackson stung. The 49ers entered the game with the NFL’s No. 2 unit in scoring average. Yet Jackson executed what Harbaugh implied was a game plan more complicated than most and (except for an early intentional grounding penalty in the end zone that resulted in a safety) never made the mistakes that played into the hands of San Francisco’s defense.
Jackson didn’t have a turnover, which underscored the poise that his team needed in a high-stakes game. And his decision-making was on point, reflected on check-down throws and escapes from the pocket alike.
It helped that Jackson’s own defense kept setting him up with great field position. In addition to the picks against Purdy, the Ravens also intercepted Sam Darnold after he came on in relief in the fourth quarter. And the Ravens, who entered the week leading the NFL with 50 sacks, collected four more.
Without question, it was a complete victory for a team that suddenly holds the NFL’s longest winning streak now at five games. And it’s an impressive resume that this version of the Ravens is building, which includes blowout victories against the Jacksonville Jaguars (23-7), Detroit Lions (38-6) and Seattle Seahawks (37-3).
With a victory on Sunday against the AFC East-leading Miami Dolphins, the Ravens (12-3) will clinch the No. 1 seed and first-round bye for the AFC playoffs.
And the MVP equation could flow, too, considering that Jackson is the best player on the team that has the NFL’s best record. If the matchup on Christmas night (the first time since 2005 that the teams with the best records in each conference met in December or later) provided a measure Jackson surely gained an edge over Purdy and San Francisco’s star running back, Christian McCaffrey.
Just don’t expect that Jackson, the unanimous MVP in 2019, will add his voice to such debates. He’s undoubtedly more concerned about pursuing the goal of winning a Super Bowl.
“We know what it was, 2019,” Jackson told reporters after Monday night’s game. “When the time came, we didn’t finish the season. So, we’re just going to keep taking it one day at a time.”
With more days like Christmas, Jackson could soon find himself with some more big gifts.
veryGood! (67)
Related
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Great-grandmother wins $5 million on lottery scratch-off after finishing breast cancer treatment
- As temperatures soar, judge tells Louisiana to help protect prisoners working in fields
- 30th annual Essence Festival of Culture kicks off in New Orleans
- Family of explorer who died in the Titan sub implosion seeks $50M-plus in wrongful death lawsuit
- Taiwan demands release of fishing vessel it says was seized by China's coast guard
- 4 major takeaways from the Supreme Court's most consequential term in years
- The dinosaurs died. And then came one of humanity's favorite fruits.
- Eva Mendes Shares Message of Gratitude to Olympics for Keeping Her and Ryan Gosling's Kids Private
- Jason Derulo Recalls Near-Death Experience After Breaking His Neck in the Gym
Ranking
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Copa América quarterfinal power rankings: How far is Brazil behind Argentina and Uruguay?
- British nurse Lucy Letby, convicted of killing 7 babies, found guilty of another attempted murder
- Soldiers use this fast, cheap solution to quickly cool down in the scorching heat. And you can, too.
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- How to protect your home from a hurricane
- California man convicted of murder in 2018 stabbing death of gay University of Pennsylvania student
- Ford recalls more than 30,000 Mustangs over potential loss of steering control
Recommendation
Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
As Hurricane Beryl tears through Caribbean, a drone sends back stunning footage
Why Takeru Kobayashi isn't at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
2024 MLB Home Run Derby: Rumors, schedule, and participants
Everything Simone Biles did at the Paris Olympics was amplified. She thrived in the spotlight
Is Hurricane Beryl going to hit Texas? The chances are increasing
FDA bans ingredient found in some citrus-flavored sodas
2-year-old found dead inside hot car in Georgia, but police say the child wasn't left there