- Now Baltimore (13-1) can rest its starting quarterback and other players against Pittsburgh
- The 26-year-old Jackson won the NFL MVP Award in his second season in Baltimore
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In an impressive argument for his own MVP candidacy, Lamar Jackson finished with a perfect passer rating while helping the Baltimore Ravens clinch first place in the AFC with a 56-19 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
Jackson, 26, threw for 321 yards and five touchdowns, two of them to receiver Isaiah Likely, on Sunday as the Ravens won their sixth straight game to take home their first AFC North title since 2019, Jackson's first MVP season .
Now Baltimore (13-3) can rest its starting quarterback — and whoever else it chooses — in the regular-season finale against Pittsburgh.
Miami (11-5) is also in the postseason, but now the winner of next weekend's Dolphins-Bills game will win the AFC East. And now the Dolphins are facing a potentially significant injury. Linebacker Bradley Chubb, whose team trailed by 30 points, was forced off with a knee injury with 3:05 left.
Accompanied by the regular “MVP!” with chants from the home crowd, Jackson completed 18 of 21 passes.
Lamar Jackson celebrates after defeating the Miami Dolphins and securing the top spot in the AFC
Jackson also had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 against Miami in 2019.
He joins Tom Brady (against Detroit) as the only quarterbacks with two perfect scores against the same team on at least 20 attempts.
“He played a perfect football game as far as passing,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said.
Additionally, Jackson's performances ensured the Ravens endured a grueling December stretch that included games against the Rams, Jaguars, 49ers and Dolphins.
Jackson threw for 321 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-19 win over the Dolphins on Sunday
“I don't know if I've seen a more impressive performance in a game.” “I'm not sure I've seen a more impressive performance in a season so far,” added Harbaugh, whose team will have a first-round bye , before hosting its postseason opener.
“Of course we still have a lot to do.” “We still have a lot of work to do, but this is a mature football team.”
On defense, the Dolphins had two offensive stars in receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) and running back Raheem Mostert (knee, ankle).
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