Did Lamar Jackson’s win over the Bengals prove he’s better than Patrick Mahomes?

5 stats that prove Lamar Jackson has developed into the best passer in NFL

Only a few years ago, Lamar Jackson stood at the podium during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine and answered questions about why he stubbornly refused to switch positions from quarterback to running back or wide receiver.

NFL.com reported that multiple teams wanted Jackson to work out as a wide receiver to gauge his potential.

Two MVPs and seven years later, Jackson stands on the brink of potential back-to-back MVP awards and claims to be one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game. The Ravens (6-3) are in second place in the AFC North, while Jackson ranks in the top 5 for passing yards and touchdowns after Week 9.

With Week 10 of the NFL season fast approaching, we’re looking at five stars that prove Jackson’s the best passer in the league.

1. Most recent performance

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 03: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass in the first quarter of a game against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Against a Broncos defense that had led the NFL in yards per play allowed entering Week 9, Jackson was 16-for-19 passing for 280 yards and three touchdowns. His perfect passer rating (158.3) was the fourth of his NFL career, tying Ben Roethlisberger for the most in league history. Jackson is ahead of his MVP pace this year and entering GOAT status.

Jackson is leading the pack

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 03: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass in the first quarter of a game against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

In today’s NFL, total yards, Passer rating, QB rushing yards, TD rate, TD-INT ratio, EPA per drop-back, and EPA per play are just some of the analytics that gives some insight into just how well a quarterback is playing. Jackson is first in the NFL in a bunch of core value stats: total yards (2,884), yards per attempt (9.3), and passer rating (120.7), according to TruMedia. Jackson is first in touchdown rate (7.8%), touchdown-to-interception ratio (10:1), and first downs per pass attempt (44.7%). Jackson is first in expected points added per drop-back (0.35), EPA per pass attempt (0.40), and EPA per play (0.31).

Jackson has been amazingly efficient

Nov 3, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during the first half against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Through nine games, Jackson has completed 68.2% of his passes for 2,379 yards, 20 touchdowns, and two interceptions, and he’s rushed 84 times for 505 yards (most among NFL quarterbacks) and two touchdowns. Jackson is on pace for a career-high 4,494 yards passing and 954 rushing. If he can sustain his passing stats while slightly increasing his rushing stats, Jackson could become the first player in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season.

42-2

Oct 27, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) throws a pass as Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) rushes during the first half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The pundits said that Jackson couldn’t be an elite NFL passer, but all he’s done is work and grind. Through nine games, Jackson is on pace for 42 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Jackson is out of this world –More random stats

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 03: Brandon Jones #22 of the Denver Broncos pressures Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens in the second quarter of a game at M&T Bank Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

According to PFF, Jackson made two big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays, and two of his three incompletions were drops in the win over Denver. .Jackson’s 95.2 PFF grade in Week 9 would be his highest since Week 10 of his 2019 MVP season.

More from PFF: In the win over the Broncos, Jackson posted an adjusted completion rate of 94.4%, with a drop and a throwaway accounting for two of his three incompletions.

The Ravens (6-3) are in second place in the AFC North, while Jackson ranks in the top 5 for passing yards and touchdowns after Week 9.

Sunday’s win marked the fourth time in Jackson’s career that he has posted a perfect passer rating in a game. He broke a tie with the current GOAT Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, and Ben Roethlisberger for the most such outings in the Super Bowl era (minimum 15 passing attempts).

ONE MORE Stat

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 03: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on prior to a game against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

According to NFL Research, Jackson is just the fifth player in NFL history with at least 20 touchdown passes and a 120 passer rating in his first nine games of the season, joining Drew Brees (2018), Aaron Rodgers (2011 and 2014), Peyton Manning (2004 and 2013) and Tom Brady (2007). Five of those previous six seasons ended in those quarterbacks winning NFL MVP. (Brees finished second in MVP voting in 2018 to Patrick Mahomes.)