There's no doubt Lamar Jackson’s case for a second straight NFL MVP award took a hit Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While his sub-50% completion percentage definitely knocked him out of the runaway category for MVP, the good news is he's still very much in the race and now has more competition from players like Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, and others.
With six games remaining, the question now is can Jackson once again break away from the pack and reclaim his clear frontrunner status? He certainly has the ability to do so, and it all starts on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Lamar Jackson must shine against LA Chargers to reclaim MVP frontrunner status
Looking at where the Chargers’ defense stacks up statistically, a big game by Jackson would borderline make many people forget about what happened against the Steelers.
The Chargers are very much a “bend but don't break” defense. They rank 11th in total defense, 12th against the pass, and 11th against the run - all solid numbers for defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s group. The Bolts stand out in scoring defense. They are number one in the league, allowing an average of 14.5 points per game. They also have allowed the fewest touchdowns in the league with 15 and are second in red zone defense, allowing touchdowns on just 40.9% of red zone trips.
While this might suggest Jackson and the Ravens' offense could struggle to find points for a second straight week, Sunday’s game could have had a different outcome if Baltimore hadn’t hurt themselves with turnovers and penalties.
let’s cover 2 reasons why Lamar Jackson is poised to rebound quickly & excel vs the Chargers defense pic.twitter.com/vRoGNXSmQm
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) November 20, 2024
The Ravens have been too good offensively this season to think the performance against the Steelers will be the new norm. Throw in what Cincinnati did against the Chargers on Monday night and there's optimism Jackson's second straight MVP campaign can get right back on track.
After all, the mark of an MVP isn’t about playing seventeen perfect games. Everyone hits rough patches during the season. The true test is how you bounce back - and does anyone really want to bet against Jackson? If last week taught us anything, it’s that the Ravens’ biggest obstacle is themselves. Turnovers, penalties, and questionable play calls at critical moments cost Baltimore a win over Pittsburgh.
Correcting those mistakes quickly is a mark of a strong team and an MVP candidate.
Expect the Ravens to come out much stronger against the Chargers, aiming to prove the bumbling loss to the Steelers was a fluke. Beating one of the league’s hottest teams at home would go a long way toward making that case.
Oh, and John Harbaugh might have a little motivation to remain undefeated against his brother Jim as well.
That said, all signs point to a Jackson rebound on Sunday. He might not run away with the MVP race, but he’ll remind everyone he’s as worthy a candidate as anyone.