Lamar Jackson authors 'MVP performance' for Baltimore Ravens - ESPN

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — When quarterback Lamar Jackson walked onto the field for pregame warmups, he heard the chants of «MVP» coming from Baltimore Ravens fans at Levi's Stadium. After the Ravens' 33-19 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, it was Jackson's coaches and teammates declaring him «hands down» the best player in football.

«I thought Lamar had an MVP performance,» Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. «It takes a team to create a performance like that, but it takes a player to play at that level — to play at an MVP level — it takes a player to play that way. And Lamar was all over the field doing everything.»

In a battle of the teams with the best records in the league, Jackson took control of the MVP race by resoundingly out-dueling 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. Weaving around the 49ers pass-rushers all game, Jackson threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns while leading Baltimore in rushing with 45 yards. Purdy, meanwhile, threw a career-worst four interceptions.

Entering Monday night, Purdy was the betting favorite for NFL MVP and Jackson was second, according to ESPN BET. After the game, Jackson became the frontrunner for MVP (-180) with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

«He can do everything,» Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers said. «You [saw] it [Monday night]. He ran it; he threw it; he led the team. That's the MVP. You lead your team, you have the best record in the NFL, and he just comes out and continues to come out and do what he [does] game in and game out even though people [say], 'He can't do this. He can't do that,' and he comes out and proves them wrong every time.»

This season is setting up to be a repeat of Baltimore's 2019 season, when Jackson won NFL MVP and the Ravens were the AFC's No. 1