The Baltimore Ravens edged out the Minnesota Vikings 29-27 on Sunday, moving both teams to 4-5 for the season. With this win, Baltimore has now secured three straight victories, firmly positioning themselves in the race for the AFC North title despite a shaky start to the year.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh highlighted the ongoing dominance of quarterback Lamar Jackson, who made his 100th start in Sunday’s game. Harbaugh sent a clear warning to the rest of the NFL: “I mean, 14-1 against NFC teams on the road is pretty incredible. He’s writing a story; in his mind, he’s just beginning. It’s just in the early chapters, for sure.”
Jackson, a two-time MVP and last year’s runner-up to Josh Allen, is still only 27, turning 28 this season. Although his age-28 campaign started rough—missing three games due to injury—he’s back in form. In his second game after returning, Jackson led the Ravens through a tough Minnesota defense to secure the crucial win.
The Ravens struggled while Cooper Rush was under center, managing only one win in the games Tyler Huntley started during Jackson’s absence. Now that Jackson is back, the AFC North is on high alert.
A key element in Baltimore’s recent regular-season success has been Jackson’s dominance over NFC opponents. This trend continued on Sunday. The Ravens will visit the Green Bay Packers on December 28, aiming to extend Jackson’s remarkable stretch against NFC teams.
In his career, Jackson holds an impressive 25-5 record against NFC opponents, with 52 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. However, this dominance has yet to be tested on the biggest stage, as the Ravens have not advanced to the Super Bowl during his tenure.
Despite Jackson’s injury setback, the Ravens’ playoff hopes remain very much alive. They travel to face the Cleveland Browns next week, a matchup that could bring them back to a .500 record. More importantly, Baltimore still has both matchups against their AFC North rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, remaining on the schedule.
As long as Lamar Jackson continues his high level of play, the Ravens’ season is far from over. Fans have plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks as Baltimore fights to keep their playoff aspirations alive.
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