Lamar Jackson named AFC Offensive Player of the Week

After toppling the league’s No. 1 defense on Sunday night, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

This is the second time Jackson has earned such honor this season. The first time came after Week 1, when Jackson lit up the Dolphins defense for 324 passing yards and five touchdowns through the air. His numbers against the Patriots weren’t quite as lofty, but it was a very strong performance nonetheless.

In a primetime spot at M&T Bank Stadium, Jackson played with poise and efficiency, completing 17/23 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, he rushed for 61 yards and two touchdowns, all while posting his second-highest QBR of the season (89.0) and second-highest passer rating (107.7).

Jackson was not flustered but anything Bill Belichick threw at him. The majority of his throws were underneath and in the intermediate areas of the field, but his night was highlighted by two key deliveries on the team’s first drive of the second half: an 18-yard pass to Mark Andrews on third down and a 7-yard strike to Willie Snead IV on fourth down.

Both completions helped keep a 14-play, 81-yard drive alive that took 8:09 off the clock and resulted a touchdown pass from Jackson to Nick Boyle - which gave the Ravens a 30-20 advantage early in the fourth quarter.

Just prior to this touchdown pass, Jackson dazzled with an 11-yard scramble, somehow picking up a first down with several Patriots defenders within tackling distance.

Some of Jackson’s six incompletions were batted down at the line of scrimmage, including a pass that hit the back of his own teammate’s helmet (Ronnie Stanley). Overall, he played mistake-free football against the league’s top defense in forcing turnovers and made timely plays with his legs and arm.