MVP of the week: Lamar Jackson

In what is being called the game of the year, the Ravens defeated the Browns on Monday Night Football. Justin Tucker kicked the game-winning field goal from 55 yards out after much back and forth from both teams. While Tucker was the hero at the end, it was QB Lamar Jackson who put the team on his back and put on a show for the world to see.

The reigning MVP was truly magnificent against Cleveland, earning him AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Jackson finished the game with 163 passing yards and one touchdown on 17 attempts to go with 124 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

The Browns scored on their opening possession, but Jackson led the offense down the field to respond with a touchdown of his own, running it in from the five-yard line. Jackson’s next touchdown came before the end of the first half. With the game tied at 14 and only a minute left in the second quarter, Jackson led an impressive scoring drive to take the lead. The biggest play came on 3rd & 10 when Jackson escaped pressure and found TE Mark Andrews for a 39-yard gain. Jackson then ran for a 17-yard touchdown on the next play.

While ahead 34-28, Jackson had to leave the game due to cramps, leaving Trace McSorley at QB for Baltimore. After punting on McSorley’s first drive, Cleveland scored to take the lead, 35-34. The Ravens had the ball with just over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but things quickly took a turn for the worse when McSorley went down with a knee injury on third down, making it 4th & 5 with just under two minutes left. When all hope seemed lost, Jackson reemerged from the locker room and sprinted onto the field. With the game on the line, Jackson scrambled out of the pocket and hit a wide-open Marquise Brown for a 44-yard touchdown to take the lead in dramatic fashion.

The game was not over, however, as the Browns responded with another touchdown to tie the game at 42 with just over a minute left in regulation. Jackson did not flinch, though, as he orchestrated a masterful drive through the air to set up Tucker for the game-winning field goal. Jackson’s poise and leadership were on full display on Monday night, reminding the world why he was only the second-ever unanimous MVP.