It's been clear that Lamar Jackson has been playing his best football this season. Now he has another stat to prove it.
Jackson set the new single-season franchise record for touchdown passes with his 37th of the season, breaking his own record from his 2019 MVP season.
Jackson broke the record with a 7-yard strike to tight end Mark Andrews in the third quarter. It was his third passing touchdown in the Ravens' 34-17 win over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I thought Lamar was fantastic, and that's no little bit of pressure [from the Steelers]," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "Our guys did a good job up front, but Lamar ... He's under pressure. This group rushes the passer always. They're going to give you pressure. He stood in there and made some throws. He always does."
The Steelers blitzed on 68% of Jackson's drop-backs, per TruMedia. That is a wildly high amount, and the highest rate the Ravens have seen this season.
"I believe we just stayed [true] to what we've been preaching all week – just one play at a time no matter what in the game, just move onto the next play," Jackson said. "And things happen throughout the game where it was like we could start having that little setback, but we didn't let anything bother us – penalties, the little turnover here and there, and if we got stopped. We kept our minds focused on when we got another opportunity."
Jackson is at or near the top of the NFL in nearly every passing statistic this season, proving without a shadow of doubt that he is an elite passer, as well as runner.
Jackson was happy to beat the Steelers, who had come out with a win in four of their previous five meetings, but he wasn't thrilled with his performance overall. Jackson was 15-of-23 for 207 yards, but his fourth quarter interception hung with him after the game.
"I feel like I could have played better," Jackson said. "That interception really got me mad. [If] we don't turn the ball over [in] almost any game, we win the game. That one turnover could have been the difference, but shoutout to 'Marlo' [Marlon Humphrey] and the defense because those guys [played] lights out all game."
While it's no surprise that Jackson's record-breaking touchdown pass went to the Ravens' all-time leader in total touchdowns, it is surprising that it was Andrews' first career touchdown against the Steelers. Jackson couldn't believe it, and Andrews didn't know it either.
There was a lot of chatter before Saturday's game about Jackson's 1-4 record against the Steelers. After a three-touchdown day, that talk is quieted.
"Play after play, fighting for yards, fighting for first downs. He did it time and time again," Andrews said. "He's Houdini. He's Lamar. He's special and he did it again today against them."
