BALTIMORE — Each week, Lamar Jackson seems to become the first quarterback in NFL history to accomplish a new feat. That’s become the benchmark of the Baltimore Ravens quarterback’s brilliance throughout his four short years in the league.
Jackson became the first quarterback to win 35 games prior to the age of 25 (which he doesn’t turn until January), surpassing Dan Marino’s mark of 34 wins prior to turning the quarter century mark in Sunday’s 34-6 statement victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He improved to 35-8 as a starting quarterback, winning 10 of his last 11 starts. Jackson is also just three wins away from tying Patrick Mahomes for the best record through 46 starts in league history and needs to win five of his next seven games to win 40 of his first 50 starts — a feat only Mahomes and Ken Stabler have accomplished in NFL history.
Those numbers are all well and good for Jackson, who certainly embraces surpassing Marino in any feat. Jackson’s ultimate goal is a prize Marino unfortunately couldn’t win, a trophy that means more than any benchmark he sets.
“We’re on the road for something else. If it happens, it happens,” Jackson said. “If we break a record, it happens. But we want something else.”
Jackson has been labeled by his detractors as a playoff choker, even though he’s the third-youngest player in NFL history to win a league MVP and a playoff game — that win coming on the road against a division champion. Jackson is still only 24 years old in the midst of his best season throwing the football, not forgetting he’s also just as dynamic running the football in becoming one of the favorites to capture the MVP award again.
“We don’t want that name. We’re good with where we’re at,” Jackson said. “We don’t need all that extra stuff coming with us. We’re fine. You know how people have been saying about us? Keep the same view – because we know what we’ve got going on over here in this organization.”
The Ravens quarterback certainly didn’t play his best in this one, which wasn’t needed given that the Ravens rushed for 187 yards — 51 off the legs of Jackson. He also threw for a touchdown in the win, his 42nd consecutive game with either a passing or rushing touchdown — the fifth-longest streak in NFL history. Jackson finished 19 of 27 (70.4%) for 167 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, his first multi-interception game since Week 2 (also a Ravens win).
“There were a couple of plays I wish I could have back. But yes, I would say this is a game where we did some great things out there,” Jackson said. ” But I wouldn’t say this is the game … If anything, last week was the game we were taking what the defense gave us. But, I wouldn’t say this was the game.”
Over the years, Jackson hasn’t relented on setting marks and breaking records — but Sunday was different. There was actually a smile on Jackson’s face knowing he passed another milestone by Marino, a rare sight for a player who demands more in his football career.
This one was special, even with a bit of sarcasm residing within head coach John Harbaugh.
“Oh, that’s the biggest one. Have people heard of that one,” Harbaugh said with a smile. “I know they say they haven’t heard about all these records, but they have heard about that one, right?… Yes, that’s the biggest one.
“Probably, that’s the one Lamar is the most proud of, and that’s the one we’re the most proud of, absolutely.”
