BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens, led by a stellar performance from quarterback Lamar Jackson, clinched the AFC North title and the top seed in the AFC with a resounding 56-19 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Jackson’s display, which elicited “MVP!” chants from the fans, may have bolstered his case for the MVP award.
Jackson threw for 321 yards and five touchdowns, completing 18 of 21 passes without an interception, achieving a perfect passer rating of 158.3. This level of performance, particularly in the passing game, was lauded by coach John Harbaugh as “perfect.”
The Ravens (13-3), who have now won six straight games, showed dominance in a tough December schedule. They displayed maturity and an impressive ability to overcome adversity, especially considering Jackson missed the end of the past two seasons due to injuries.
Miami (11-5), already guaranteed a postseason spot, faces a critical game against the Buffalo Bills next weekend, with the AFC East title at stake. The Dolphins’ performance was hindered by the absence of key players Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert due to injuries. They also lost linebacker Bradley Chubb to a knee injury during the game, raising questions about his deployment with the team trailing by 30 points.
Jackson’s performance was particularly noteworthy, as he achieved more touchdown passes than incompletions, joining an elite group of quarterbacks including Tom Brady. This feat against the Dolphins mirrored his perfect passer rating against the same team in 2019.
Miami started strongly, scoring on their first drive, but the Ravens quickly took control. The Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa struggled to keep pace with Jackson, despite connecting with Cedrick Wilson Jr. for an early touchdown.
Baltimore’s defense played a crucial role, intercepting Tagovailoa twice. The Ravens’ offense, on the other hand, was virtually unstoppable, marching down the field repeatedly and scoring through various means, including a 35-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Isaiah Likely.
The Ravens’ commanding lead was never seriously threatened, as they maintained their intensity and focus throughout the game. In contrast, last season, Miami had managed a remarkable comeback against Baltimore, but there was no repeat of such heroics this time.
The game also saw several milestones and records. The Ravens rushed for over 100 yards for the 32nd consecutive game and recorded a sack for the 37th straight game. Jackson reached 800 rushing yards for the season, a first for a quarterback in NFL history.
Injuries were a concern for both teams, with Miami losing cornerback Xavien Howard and Baltimore cornerback Marlon Humphrey among others.
Looking ahead, the Dolphins face a crucial matchup against the Bills, while the Ravens will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in their final regular-season game.
