Lamar Jackson Week 3 grades: An MVP performance by Ravens QB in Brazil

· Yahoo Sports

Rio de Janeiro hosted its first NFL game on Sunday, and calling it a success would be an understatement. Fans inside Maracanã Stadium saw an instant classic with momentum swings, big plays, and a dramatic finish. At the center of it all stood Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

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The two-time MVP delivered that level of performance. He completed 15 of 22 passes for 186 yards, two touchdowns, and a 136.7 passer rating while adding 50 rushing yards on six carries. More importantly, he helped deliver a 34-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys and engineered one of the most significant late-game drives of his career. He needed only one play to do the latter.

According to Ravens PR, Jackson has now led 12 fourth-quarter comebacks since 2019, tying Aaron Rodgers for seventh among active quarterbacks during that span. Sunday's comeback carried extra significance, however. According to ESPN Research, it was the first game-winning drive of Jackson's career to begin with less than one minute remaining in the fourth quarter.

That's pretty impressive. Let's hand out grades. There's no need to grade the Ravens' QB on a curve after this one.

Lamar Jackson's best throws

Touchdown passes are not always a quarterback's best throws. Sometimes, they carry the best result, but Jackson's scoring strike to Chris Moore belongs near the top of the list.

The play began with effective play-action, but it quickly became a test of Jackson's creativity and composure. Pressure arrived before the route fully developed, forcing him to buy extra time while keeping his eyes downfield. Rather than forcing the issue, Jackson remained patient and delivered a perfectly placed throw to Moore in the back of the end zone.

Jackson also delivered one of his best throws late in the third quarter, connecting with Rashod Bateman for a significant gain. The pass arrived on time and in stride, helping Baltimore keep building momentum during a critical stretch.

Still, Jackson's best throw of the day was his last completion. How about a 27-yard pass on a rope to Zay Flowers with seven seconds remaining? Jackson called a timeout after the completion to set up the game-winning field-goal attempt. No Ravens fan is walking around who doesn't know what happened next.

Lamar Jackson's worst throws

The most notable miss came early. Facing a third-and-4 on Baltimore's opening possession, Jackson had a wide-open Mark Andrews available beyond the sticks but sailed the throw. Instead of sustaining a promising drive, the Ravens were forced to punt after a three-and-out.

Fortunately for Baltimore, the defense limited the damage by holding the Cowboys to a field goal after Dallas quickly moved into scoring range. The miss ultimately did not prove costly, but it was one of the few throws Jackson would likely want back.

Lamar Jackson's Week 3 final report card

The box score tells only part of the story. One of Jackson's most important contributions came with his legs. Time and time again, Baltimore's offense found a spark whenever he became a factor in the running game. His mobility extended drives, created favorable situations, and forced Dallas to account for every inch of the field.

After the Cowboys scored a third-quarter touchdown and added a two-point conversion to cut Baltimore's lead to three, Jackson responded with one of his best stretches of the afternoon. He led a drive that featured three explosive plays of 20 yards or more, including completions of 21 and 31 yards. The possession deserved a better ending than Derrick Henry being stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

What happened next may have been the most encouraging development. Dallas answered by taking the lead, placing the game squarely on Jackson's shoulders. Rather than pressing, he calmly delivered. Jackson completed all four of his passes on a go-ahead drive and capped the possession with a nice touchdown throw.

That sequence reinforced what has made Jackson one of the NFL's most dangerous quarterbacks. The statistics were impressive, but his poise, creativity, and ability to elevate his play in the biggest moments ultimately separated this performance from an ordinary afternoon. It wasn't perfect, but how do we not give Jackson straight As after this game? The toss to Flowers and Tyler Loop's field goal will be the lasting images of this one, but this game, in its totality, was a Lamar Jackson masterpiece.

Report card

  • Accuracy and ball location: A+
  • Vision and field dissection: A+
  • Intangibles and off-script plays: A+
  • Decision-making: A
  • Leadership: A+
  • Overall grade: A

The NFL's first trip to Rio de Janeiro needed a star performance to match the occasion. Jackson delivered exactly that, reminding a global audience why he remains one of the league's most electrifying players and why the Ravens remain dangerous whenever No. 8 has the football in his hands.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Lamar Jackson Week 3 grades: An MVP performance by Ravens QB in Brazil

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