Pundit Says This Generation's 'Big Three' QBs, Including Lamar Jackson, Will Go Down As 'Best Ever'
As the Lamar Jackson-Josh Allen MVP debate rages on, ESPN's Ben Solak looked at the two quarterbacks, as well as Patrick Mahomes, from a broader perspective.
Solak was asked by a reader how this generation's "big three" quarterbacks will compare to previous generations' top quarterbacks after their careers are over.
"Best ever," Solak wrote. "The only issue is that only one of the three can go to the Super Bowl each year because they're all in the same conference. History will perhaps look back on this era in a flawed lens because of the lack of championships, but I'm very confident that Jackson/Allen/Mahomes is a level of elite quarterback well on its way to exceeding that set by Peyton Manning/Tom Brady/Drew Brees/Aaron Rodgers."
Regarding Jackson, Solak wrote: "Jackson is the engine behind every snap of offensive success for the Ravens. He is an irreplaceable keystone in one of the league's best offenses and one of the most valuable players in all of football. Sometimes he has a ton of shiny stats, sometimes his team has a ton of wins. But we knew in 2019, in 2023 and now in 2024 that Jackson should be in the MVP conversation every season, almost independent of his statistical output. He's just that unique of a player."
Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady Laud Jackson
Two elite quarterbacks from the previous generation spoke glowingly of Jackson this week.
Rodgers and Brady both used the word "ridiculous" to describe Jackson's dominance this season.
"As someone who's won MVP back-to-back years and knows how hard that is, can we just not gloss over what Lamar's doing?" Rodgers said on ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show." "I love watching Lamar play and love to see his continual growth and how he changes the game. Obviously, he's so dynamic, but he's really become such an elite passer of the football. He's having a ridiculous year."
Brady named Jackson one of his top three stars of the week for the fourth time this season.
"He had more TD passes than incompletions [in the Ravens' win over the Giants Sunday]. That's ridiculous," Brady said. "Incredible stuff, Lamar. I can't wait to call your game against the tough Steelers defense this Saturday on Fox."
Ravens Ranked No. 1 Overall in DVOA
Seven teams have a better record than the 9-5 Ravens, but no team has a better DVOA.
The Ravens supplanted the Detroit Lions as the No. 1-ranked team in overall DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) this week. Baltimore is No. 1 in offensive DVOA, No. 13 in defensive DVOA.
"The Ravens have been floating around with one of the best offensive DVOA ratings we've ever measured for most of the season. Their defense has now improved to the point where the whole team comes out at No. 1," DVOA creator Aaron Schatz wrote.
Schatz noted that the Ravens have the best DVOA ever for a 9-5 team.
Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers Are NFL's Top Duo in Separation Percentage
Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers are the NFL's best duo at getting open this season.
Based on Pro Football Focus' separation percentage, which measures how often a receiver beats the coverage to get open rather than benefiting from a defense more focused on limiting yards after the catch or stopping them short of the first down, Bateman is No. 1 at 75.1% and Flowers is tied for sixth at 67.36%.
They were especially good in Week 15. Flowers (92.31%) and Bateman (90.91%) were ranked second and third, respectively, in separation percentage. Tight end Mark Andrews (87.5%) was tied for sixth.
Flowers and Bateman are on pace for a combined 1,906 yards this season, which would be the most by a Ravens wide receiver duo since 1997, when Derrick Alexander and Michael Jackson combined for 1,927 yards.
