Lamar Jackson has openly stated that he’s not “childishly” fixated on breaking Aaron Rodgers’ NFL record but is more concentrated on securing wins for his team.
The Baltimore Ravens’ star quarterback is gearing up to face the Cleveland Browns this weekend with a chance to shatter a decade-plus-old record. Rodgers set the all-time NFL record for highest passer rating in a season at 122.5 with the Green Bay Packers back in 2011.
Now, over 14 years later, Jackson is on the cusp of eclipsing this record should he deliver a strong performance against the Browns. The 27-year-old quarterback boasts a current passer rating of 121.6, which is just shy of the standing record.
Yet, Jackson has expressed that while he once dreamt of record-breaking feats as a child, his primary focus is on defeating the Browns and securing the AFC North division title, showcasing his commitment to team success over personal accolades.
In anticipation of the week 18 showdown, Jackson said: “If I’m in my childhood mindset [with] breaking a record, yes. But I’m trying to win games, so it really [doesn’t] matter. If it happens, it happens. If it [doesn’t, it] probably will happen sometime down the line.”
Passer rating may not fully capture a quarterback’s complete prowess, but it serves as a benchmark for their performance within the team framework, and Jackson is no different. With an impressive 11-5 record, the dynamic quarterback is tied with Baker Mayfield for second-most touchdowns this season and has only thrown four interceptions.
His electric performances have sparked MVP chatter, with the Ravens nabbing a comfortable third-seed spot in the AFC playoff race. On the “Scoop City” podcast, NFL insider Dianna Russini gave her take on the buzz surrounding Jackson, as she said: “I am leaning Lamar. I don’t think Josh Allen did anything this weekend to make me go, ‘OK, he stole this thing.”
NFL legend Rob Gronkowski also weighed in on the MVP debate during his appearance on FOX NFL Sunday, comparing Jackson’s prowess to that of his illustrious former teammate.
Gronk said: “I’ve played with a quarterback (Tom Brady) who has won multiple MVPs, so I know what it looks like. And it looks like the guy in Baltimore – Lamar Jackson. He is the most entertaining quarterback in the league right now, he bedazzles every time he has the ball in his hands, he makes guys miss left and right, he’s just so fun to watch.”
“And on top of it, the Baltimore Ravens, their identity is to run the ball. 55 per cent run, 45 per cent pass. And Lamar Jackson still leads the league in passing yards. He is numero uno.”
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