The Baltimore Ravens have boldly claimed the top spot in the NFL by overtaking the San Francisco 49ers after their stunning 33-19 win. This victory now elevates the Ravens to an NFL-leading 12-3 record. At the same time, while the 49ers were once considered the league’s best with their dominant performances, they now stand at 11-4.
The consistent, albeit less highlighted, victories of the Ravens have culminated in this pivotal moment. Lamar Jackson, reflecting on the win, emphasized his commitment to learning from previous seasons, particularly 2019, to guide his team to continued success.
Lamar Jackson reflects on Ravens’ victory
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Lamar Jackson remained resolutely focused on his team’s journey, despite their recent major win that catapulted them to the top of the AFC. While entering the game, fans cheered for him as the MVP. When one of the reporters asked him about his performance, he said, “We got the W. I just want to win, and that’s what happened tonight.”
MVP talk. Big win on the road. First place in the AFC.
But @Lj_Era8 is just staying locked in. pic.twitter.com/iHazVnFwfd
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 26, 2023
This victory was particularly significant as it fulfilled a wish he had expressed in an earlier interview. “They asked me in an interview a couple weeks ago, ‘What would I want for Christmas?’ My wish got granted,” he said. However, Jackson is keenly aware of the need for continuous effort, drawing lessons from the team’s past experiences. He added, “We’re just going to keep taking it a day at a time, a practice at a time and a game at a time. That’s all I’m focused on right now.”
He recalled the 2019 season, and said, “We know what it was in 2019 when we were playing against [teams] like this and winning regular season games. When the time came, we didn’t finish the season.” He already has a strategy in mind to prevent a repeat of past pitfalls. But what exactly happened in 2019?
Jackson’s record-setting 2019 performance
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As Lamar Jackson is once again a contender in the NFL MVP race, his current performance draws parallels to his 2019 season. In 2019, he was the second-ever unanimous MVP in league history. That year, Jackson’s achievements were extraordinary, setting a QB rushing record and leading the league with 36 touchdown passes.
That too, with only throwing six interceptions. Interestingly, his stats could have been even more impressive in 2019. But, he didn’t play in the final game because the Ravens had clinched the AFC’s number one seed.
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This season, Jackson’s consistency remains evident with 17 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. With that, he’s projected to rush for 899 yards. Not to mention, he had bagged 3,127 yards in 2019 whereas he already has 3,105 yards in his pocket this year. What do you think, will he be the MVP this season? Let us know below.
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