Two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson has raised his game to another stratosphere in 2024.
The Baltimore Ravens have dug themselves out of an early-season hole thanks to the blistering play of the offense, led by Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. The evolution of Jackson's game has caught the eye of opponents.
"He's gone from a run-first quarterback to a pass-first quarterback that can make plays with his feet," Cleveland defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said, via the Browns' official team website. "They've pretty much opened the whole passing game up to him and he can rely on that, but he also has those legs that he can make explosive plays."
While Jackson still leads all quarterbacks in rushing, the damage he's done with his arm has defenses grasping for answers. If Jackson continues to be precise with his arm, and Henry gallops over them late in games, how are defenses to counter?
Blitzing Jackson used to be one option for defensive coordinators. The QB was below average in terms of EPA per dropback versus the blitz over the previous four seasons. However, he's seeing the field better in 2024, getting the ball out before the rush can collapse, and not relying primarily on his escape ability.
Through seven weeks, Jackson generated the seventh-best passer rating (119.9) and completion percentage (70.4 percent), and is tied for the second-highest EPA per dropback at (+0.46) against the blitz. In neither of his previous MVP seasons did Jackson complete more than 62.5 percent against the blitz.
Jackson leads all qualified QBs with a 118.0 passer rating and 455 rush yards in 2024. If he keeps that pace, he'd become the first QB to lead in both passer rating and rush yards in a season since Steve Young did so in his 1994 MVP season. Jackson is also second in pass yards per attempt (9.1) and TD-INT ratio (15-2)
"When we say there's another level, it's just like, alright, like we didn't know there was another level because he's been playing on such a great level and high level," Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah said when asked if Jackson has stepped his game up this season. "He's using his feet, he's doing miraculous plays, extending plays as all great quarterbacks do."
In recent seasons, Jackson has had some of his worst games against the Browns. In his last five starts against Cleveland, the QB has averaged 142.2 passing yards per game with a 6-to-6 TD-INT ratio, a 75.3 passer rating, and just 40 rush yards. Jackson has been held under 70 rush yards in each of his last five starts versus the Browns.
