Jackson joins elite club with perfect passer rating
Lamar Jackson shows the press how he planned out his skillful moves for his 47-yard touchdown run against the Bengals. (0:46)
CINCINNATI — On the day Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson delivered the longest touchdown run of his career, he joined elite company with his arm, as well.
In Sunday’s 49-13 rout of the winless Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson became the second player in NFL history to produce a perfect passer rating (158.3) in multiple games in a single season. The only other player to do so was Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who had two in 2007.
“I’m a quarterback at the end of the day,” Jackson said. “I want to prove that each and every day I go out and practice. I treat it like it’s a game. If I miss a pass at practice, I’m ticked off.”
Jackson, who began the season with a perfect rating in Miami, became the sixth player in NFL history with perfect passer ratings in multiple career games, reaching that feat in his 16th NFL start. This came during a season that started with Jackson facing questions as to whether he could be an effective NFL passer.
“I mean, jeez, you go out there and he’s whipping the ball and putting it in awesome spots,” Ravens tight end Nick Boyle said. “You saw his awesome passes today. That’s something he can do that people don’t think he can do or didn’t think he could do. That’s what makes him so dangerous. He could do everything.”
In going against the NFL’s worst run defense, Jackson and the Ravens surprisingly attacked the Bengals through the air. Before being pulled after three quarters, Jackson was 15-of-17 passing for 223 yards and three touchdowns. His only incompletions were a spike to stop the clock late in the second quarter and a pass to tight end Mark Andrews in the end zone that was nearly caught.
But Jackson’s best highlight came with his feet. Midway through the third quarter, Jackson scored on a thrilling, 47-yard dash that displayed his jaw-dropping speed and athleticism. After getting to the open field, Jackson sidestepped Bengals safety Jessie Bates III and then spun around linebacker Nick Vigil to get to the end zone.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh remarked, “I said to the offensive coaches on the [head]phones, ‘They’ll be watching that run for decades and decades. That’s one that everyone in the country is going to see by tomorrow afternoon.'”
Lamar Jackson shows the press how he planned out his skillful moves for his 47-yard touchdown run against the Bengals.
It was the longest run by a quarterback since Cam Newton’s 62-yarder on Dec. 10, 2017. It was also the longest touchdown run by any Ravens player since Ray Rice’s 51-yarder in 2012.
Asked if that was the best run of his career, Jackson said, “I don’t know. I don’t know. It don’t matter. We scored. Move on.”
Jackson became the first quarterback in NFL history to finish a game with a perfect passer rating (minimum 15 attempts), at least 50 yards rushing and one touchdown run, according to the Elias Sports Bureau data.
“He’s one of the most exciting players I’ve ever seen,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “(He’s) dynamic. I’m interested to see what teams do down the road here to stop him, because he certainly is hitting on all cylinders right now.”
Thanks to Jackson, the Ravens (7-2) won for the fifth straight time, closing to within one game of the New England Patriots (8-1) and the top seed in the AFC.
In the third quarter, chants of “MVP” filled Paul Brown Stadium.
“He has my vote, definitely,” Bengals safety Shawn Williams said. “He’s definitely the best we’ve faced this year. Hats off to them and what they are doing over there.”