Lamar Jackson Ties Hall of Famer's Best Start Record

A year after winning the National Football League (NFL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson's 2020 season has provided another opportunity to etch his name into the record books. In leading the Ravens to victory over the Indianapolis Colts in early November 2020, Jackson tied NFL Hall of Famer and Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino for the best 30-game start to a quarterback's career with a 25-5 record.

In reacting to the win and tying the record, Jackson said it was "pretty cool" to be considered with the Hall of Famer. Still, his focus was on the season and getting the team to win "each and every game." The Ravens' win was a notable one, considering the team had trailed 10-7 at halftime, and Jackson was 0-6 as a starter when his team trailed after the first half. However, Jackson put in a flawless performance in the second half, completing all ten of his passes and running for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Tying Marino's record start was an impressive accomplishment, as the only other quarterbacks to have over 23 wins in their first 30 games were Kurt Warner and Roger Staubach, both of whom posted 24-6 records. Besides the winning record, both Jackson and Marino won the league MVP honors in their second seasons, with Jackson doing so after breaking the NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback (1,206 yards on 176 carries).

Valuable Player

Jackson's value to the team and fans, including Brandon Glickstein, was on display in the game against the Colts, mainly since the team dealt with various adversities. The week before, the Ravens had lost to division rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers, seen two starting offensive linemen go on injured reserve, practiced without multiple players on defense, and competed in the game without their top cornerback. Additionally, Jackson faced criticism for not winning big games, a sentiment that grew louder in the face of four turnovers against the Steelers and throwing for less than 100 yards in an earlier loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Regardless, Jackson rebounded in a big way by throwing for 170 yards and rushing for another 58 against the Colts, with the victory marking his first over a team with a winning record in the 2020 season. Within the Ravens, Jackson has plenty of support, including from safety Chuck Clark, who acknowledged that while Jackson has a lot of responsibility thrust upon his shoulders, the team continues to trust him.