Lamar Jackson gives ESPN early reason
Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback, led Baltimore to a 34-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro on September 27, improving the Ravens to 2-1 after Week 3.
Jackson completed 15 of 20 passes for 186 yards and 2 touchdowns without an interception. His 27-yard completion to Zay Flowers set up Tyler Loop’s 56-yard field goal as time expired.
Lamar Jackson posts clean Brazil line
Lamar Jackson threw for 186 yards and 2 touchdowns against Dallas without an interception, completing 15 of 20 attempts during Baltimore’s closely contested Week 3 game at Maracanã Stadium in Brazil.
Brandon Aubrey tied the score with 7 seconds remaining before Jackson found Zay Flowers for 27 yards. Tyler Loop then made a 56-yard field goal to secure Baltimore’s 34-31 neutral-site victory.
Ben Solak names Jackson as contender
ESPN analyst Ben Solak named Lamar Jackson as an early Most Valuable Player candidate 2 days after Baltimore’s Brazil victory, highlighting Jackson’s performance in the Ravens’ win over Dallas and the team’s new offensive system.
Solak also said Trevor Lawrence was his MVP choice at that point, while joking that it was Week 3 and he could have multiple MVPs in his column.
Lamar Jackson manages center changes
Baltimore used 3 centers during the Dallas victory after starter Jovaughn Gwyn sustained an ankle injury, and replacement Ethan Pocic later left with a knee injury. Rookie Vega Ioane finished at center.
Head Coach Jesse Minter described both injuries as long-term. Baltimore then evaluated additional offensive linemen while preparing Ioane to continue at center before the Week 4 home game against Tennessee.
Lamar Jackson finds Matthew Hibner
Lamar Jackson connected with rookie tight end Matthew Hibner for a 2-yard touchdown with 1 minute and 30 seconds remaining, putting Baltimore ahead 31-28 before Dallas answered with a field goal.
Baltimore used a three-tight-end formation on the scoring play. Two Dallas defenders followed rookie Josh Cuevas, leaving Hibner open for Jackson’s touchdown pass that gave the Ravens the lead.
Lamar Jackson adjusts to new staff
Lamar Jackson entered the 2026 season with Jesse Minter as Baltimore’s new head coach and Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator, giving the Ravens a different leadership structure around their starting quarterback.
Todd Monken became Cleveland’s head coach in January. Baltimore hired Doyle after he spent the 2025 season as Chicago’s offensive coordinator under Head Coach Ben Johnson, who handled play calling.
Lamar Jackson praised new offense
Lamar Jackson praised Baltimore’s new offense during training camp and said he was continuing to learn Declan Doyle’s system. He said the new offense was the main difference as he entered his ninth NFL season.
Jackson entered Week 4 with 745 passing yards, 4 touchdown passes and a 113.1 passer rating through 3 games while operating Doyle’s system for the first time in regular-season competition.
Lamar Jackson starts with top QBR
Lamar Jackson recorded 745 passing yards, 4 touchdown passes, and an 82.2 QBR through Baltimore’s first 3 games. His QBR ranked fourth among NFL quarterbacks after Week 3 ended.
Those numbers came during Baltimore’s first season under Head Coach Jesse Minter and Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle, while injuries at center and receiver affected personnel across the opening 3 games.
Lamar Jackson ranks high in MVP odds
Lamar Jackson appeared third in MVP odds at several sportsbooks after Week 3, with Josh Allen and Brock Purdy listed ahead while Buffalo and San Francisco each opened the season 3-0.
The odds showed Jackson’s early market position rather than a final award forecast. Baltimore had completed 3 of 17 regular-season games after defeating Dallas, leaving 14 contests still on its schedule.
Dallas leaves time for Lamar Jackson
Dallas reached Baltimore’s 2-yard line with 23 seconds remaining but settled for Brandon Aubrey’s 23-yard field goal, tying the score 31-31 with only 7 seconds left in Sunday’s regulation play.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones later said the late sequence had no satisfying explanation. Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer accepted responsibility and said he overcoached Dak Prescott during the third-down decision near the goal line.
Fun fact: Jackson became only the second unanimous NFL MVP ever in 2019, joining Tom Brady, and he did it in his first full season as Baltimore’s starter.
Lamar Jackson plays before record audience
Baltimore’s 34-31 victory over Dallas averaged 24.9 million viewers on CBS, making the Rio de Janeiro matchup the most-watched NFL international game in history under Nielsen’s reported audience measurement.
Viewership exceeded 30 million during the closing stages. Jackson’s 27-yard completion to Zay Flowers set up Tyler Loop’s 56-yard winning field goal during the CBS broadcast that Sunday afternoon in Brazil.
Lamar Jackson next faces Tennessee
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens were scheduled to host the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium on October 4 at 1 PM ET, one week after Baltimore’s game against Dallas in Brazil.
Baltimore entered Week 4 with a 2-1 record under Head Coach Jesse Minter, while Tennessee stood at 0-3 after losses to the Jets, Eagles, and Giants during its opening schedule.
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Lamar Jackson gives Baltimore early measure
Lamar Jackson’s first 3 games under Baltimore’s new staff produced 745 passing yards, 4 touchdown passes, an 82.2 QBR, and a 2-1 team record entering the October matchup with Tennessee.
His September performance included a late scoring drive against Dallas, efficient passing in Brazil, and production through multiple lineup changes, giving Baltimore measurable early results under its new offensive leadership.
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Lamar Jackson’s early MVP case combines production, late-game execution, and adjustment to a new Ravens offense. Which part of his start stands out most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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