Passer rating isn’t the most reliable measure of quarterback performance, even at its best—it’s an outdated formula that fails to account for opponents or game situations. However, considering that only 87 quarterbacks in NFL history have achieved the perfect passer rating of 158.3 with at least 10 attempts, and Lamar Jackson has done it four times, it’s clear he has a strong grasp on the league.
In Baltimore’s dominant 41-10 victory over the Denver Broncos, Jackson matched Ben Roethlisberger’s record for the most perfect ratings. He completed 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards, threw three touchdowns, had no interceptions, and averaged 14.7 yards per attempt. Notably, just two weeks earlier, he posted a passer rating of 158.1 in a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Receiver Zay Flowers, who caught five of his six targets for 127 yards and two touchdowns, remarked on Jackson’s performance with the word “Lamarvelous.” This was especially impressive given that Jackson faced one of the league’s toughest defenses, ranked fifth in DVOA and against the pass, and he only practiced once that week due to back and knee injuries. Together, Jackson and Flowers were slicing through one of the best secondaries in the NFL.
Lamar Jackson & Zay Flowers are dicing up one of the league’s top secondaries.
4️⃣ has four receptions, 111 yards & two touchdowns in the first half alone. #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/PiuhJQocrm
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) November 3, 2024
Jackson downplayed his performance after the game, saying, “I just knew what the assignment was. I studied those guys and worked with [quarterbacks] Coach Tee [Martin], putting in extra effort since I wasn’t practicing.” His humility was matched by enthusiasm from others in the Ravens organization.
Safety Kyle Hamilton compared Jackson to a point guard, noting, “He’s not just looking for his own shot; he’s focused on getting everyone involved. With players like [No.] 22 [Derrick Henry] running the ball and the offensive line performing well, he’s facilitating at a high level. It’s interesting because he could threaten defenses with his running if he wanted to, but he seems to prefer to stay in the pocket and distribute the ball.”
Jackson only ran three times in the game, as he’s more inclined to let Henry and others handle the ground game in Baltimore’s versatile offense. Henry praised Jackson’s arm strength, saying, “If you try to stop him from running, he can throw over your head. He’s the engine that drives this team—‘MV3.’ The offensive line protected him well, and he found open receivers. Zay Flowers was particularly dynamic with the ball; you expect him to score every time he touches it.”
With the Ravens now at 6-3, questions linger about their defense and Super Bowl prospects. However, there’s no doubt about Jackson’s significance to the team and his potential candidacy for NFL MVP for the third time in his seven-year career. If that’s not “Lamarvelous,” I don’t know what is.
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