Lamar Jackson’s stellar performance Miami Gardens, Florida, returning to the field after 32 days, quarterback Lamar Jackson displayed his MVP form and raised hopes of getting the Baltimore Ravens back into the playoff race. After missing three games with a right hamstring injury, Jackson threw four touchdown passes to lead the team to a 28-13 win against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night
With the win, the Ravens – at 3-5 – have won their second game in a row after a poor 1-5 start to the season and now trail the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers by a game-and-a-half. He’s a two-time MVP for a reason,” Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said of Jackson. Whenever he’s on the field, we’re a dangerous team
A remarkable return from injury
Jackson played his first game since his injury on September 28th against the Kansas City Chiefs. In his return, he completed 18 of 23 passes for 204 yards, a 78% success rate. After experiencing a brief setback during the opening drive, Jackson quickly regained his momentum and connected with Andrews for a 20-yard touchdown pass. He then threw touchdown passes to tight end Charlie Kolar (3 yards) and wide receiver Rashod Bateman (9 yards).
“It felt great to be back on the field, playing with my teammates, and getting a win,” Jackson said after the game.
Special Performance in Hometown
This game proved to be a special homecoming for Jackson, who grew up in South Florida. He has thrown four or more touchdown passes in 13 of his career games, three of which came against the Dolphins—his best performance against any team.
Ravens running back Derrick Henry said, “Anytime you’re away from the game, you miss him. What’s even better is that he was back in his hometown, which gave him the energy to play.”
Excellent Mobility Despite Limited Practice
Jackson returned from limited practice last week and had just one full practice with the first team before this game. Aside from a 13-yard run early in the third quarter against Miami, he didn’t run much, but he demonstrated his excellent mobility to escape pressure in the pocket. Under pressure, he completed 5 of 7 passes, gaining 71 yards and three touchdown passes—the most touchdown passes thrown by any quarterback under pressure this season.
Changes in the Ravens’ Offensive
With Jackson’s return, the Ravens’ offense once again looked dangerous. In the three games he didn’t play, Baltimore averaged just 14.3 points, compared to 31.8 points in games with Jackson this season.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh praised Jackson’s performance, saying, “It’s been a long journey. I’m very proud of the way he returned to the field and played.”
New Hope in the Playoff Race
- After the worst start in the franchise’s 30-year history, the Ravens have two wins in five days and now have a golden opportunity to move forward. Baltimore’s next four opponents—the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals—are playing with a combined 9-22 record, which could prove to be a favorable time for the Ravens.
As tight end Charlie Kolar said, “Having our MVP back gives the team a new level of confidence.” Jackson’s return has not only kept the Ravens’ playoff hopes alive but also given the team new energy and direction.
An incredible return from injury
It was his first game back since the injury, with the date being September 28th, against the Kansas City Chiefs. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 204 yards, a 78% success rate. After a slow opening drive, Jackson quickly settled into form and hit Andrews for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Then he threw touchdown passes to tight end Charlie Kolar (3 yards) and wide receiver Rashod Bateman (9 yards).
“It felt great to be back on the field, playing with my teammates, and getting a win,” said Jackson following the game.
Special Performance in Hometown
This was a special homecoming performance by Jackson, who grew up in South Florida. The four or more touchdown passes he threw in a game raised his total to 13 in his career, with three of those coming against the Dolphins, the most against any opponent.
Ravens running back Derrick Henry said, “Anytime you’re away from the game, you miss him. What’s even better is that he was back in his hometown, which gave him the energy to play.”
Excellent mobility despite limited practice
Jackson returned from limited practice last week and had just one full practice with the first team before this game. Aside from a 13-yard run early in the third quarter against Miami, he didn’t run much, but he demonstrated his excellent mobility to escape pressure in the pocket. Under pressure, he completed 5 of 7 passes, gaining 71 yards and three touchdown passes—the most touchdown passes thrown by any quarterback under pressure this season.
Changes in the Ravens’ Offense
With Jackson back, the Ravens’ offense looked dangerous once more. Without him in three games this season, Baltimore averaged 14.3 points per game; with him, it’s averaged 31.8.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of Jackson: “It’s been a long journey. I’m very proud of the way he returned to the field and played.”
New Hope in the Playoff Race
After the worst start in the 30-year history of the franchise, now, with two wins in five days, the Ravens have a golden opportunity to move forward. Baltimore’s next four opponents—the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals—are playing with a combined 9-22 record, which could prove to be the opportune time for the Ravens. As tight end Charlie Kolar said, “Having our MVP back gives the team a new level of confidence.” Jackson’s return has not only kept the Ravens’ playoff hopes alive but also given the team a new energy and direction.
