It’s not often that a head coach hands out MVP praise to an opposing player right before facing them. But that’s exactly what Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans did leading up to his team’s Christmas Day matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Ryans didn’t just acknowledge Lamar Jackson’s greatness—he outright called him the MVP.
“He definitely jumps off the tape as the best player I’ve seen this year,” Ryans said. “Talk about MVP, he’s definitely the MVP in my mind.”
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans goes to war for Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) December 23, 2024
“He definitely jumps off the tape as the best player I’ve seen this year. Talk about MVP, he’s definitely the MVP in my mind” pic.twitter.com/oZyKH4sj7j
By the end of Baltimore’s 31-2 demolition of Houston, Ryans likely didn’t have a single reason to change his stance. Jackson put on yet another masterclass, leading the Ravens to their third straight win, clinching a playoff spot, and vaulting them into first place in the AFC North.
And he did it while making NFL history along the way.
Lamar Jackson leaves no doubt in MVP case against Texans
If there was ever a time to prove Ryans right, Christmas Day was it. In just over three quarters of action, Jackson shredded the Texans’ defense for 168 passing yards, two touchdown passes, and 87 rushing yards, including a breathtaking 48-yard sprint to the end zone. That run wasn’t just a highlight—it was a historic moment, as Jackson officially passed Michael Vick to become the NFL’s all-time leading rushing quarterback.
Ryans’ Texans simply had no answer for Jackson’s dual-threat dominance. The 48-yard touchdown came on a play where Jackson hit a career-best speed of 21.25 mph, leaving Houston defenders looking like they were standing still. “I was jogging,” Jackson joked after the game. “I didn’t have to do anything.”
Baltimore’s defense did its part, holding Houston to zero offensive points (just a second-quarter safety), and stifling second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud with five sacks and an interception.
But this game was all about Jackson, who continues to be the most electric player in the sport. His 9-yard ridiculous touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely capped off a 99-yard drive that all but sealed the game by halftime.
TOUCHDOWN @DaGorilla4 FROM @LJ_ERA8!!!!
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 25, 2024
TUNE IN ON NETFLIX!! pic.twitter.com/3SC1BSirOu
After the game, Ryans had to admit what everyone else saw. “This game comes down to guys making plays, and they had two exceptional playmakers on their side in Lamar and Derrick Henry,” Ryans said. “They made plays and that was the game.”
Ryans’ pregame MVP statement now feels prophetic. While the Texans fell to 9-7 and locked into the AFC’s fourth seed, Baltimore surged to 11-5 and controls its destiny in the AFC North. Jackson’s three-touchdown performance moved him closer to what could be his third MVP award, adding even more weight to Ryans’ earlier words.
There’s no debate about who stole the show in Houston. DeMeco Ryans might not want to relive this game, but at least he got to witness greatness up close—and he saw his MVP pick deliver in every possible way.