Will Ravens' Lamar Jackson cap best season with third MVP? - ESPN

BALTIMORE — When Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson runs out of the tunnel or makes a big play, «MVP» chants fill M&T Bank Stadium, just like when he won the award in 2019 and 2023.

But, unlike those years, Jackson is not the overwhelming favorite to win the NFL's Most Valuable Player award heading into the final game of the regular season. In a much-debated race, he has the second-best odds behind Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, according to ESPN BET.

Saturday's finale against the Cleveland Browns (4:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) represents Jackson's last chance to show why he should receive his third MVP. Like the many times he has eluded a fast-closing defender before throwing a touchdown pass, Jackson has made a career at beating the odds.

«As far as I'm concerned, he's our MVP, [and] he's our guy,» Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. «But you know what? That's really not what we're thinking about. I haven't heard anybody talk about that. I haven't heard Lamar talk about it. We're just trying to win the next game.»

I'm not a math genius but one guy seems to be leading in all categories except QB sneaks https://t.co/ilrObZXQAc

Allen and the Bills (13-3) have locked up the No. 2 seed heading into Week 18, and with a win over the Browns (3-13), Baltimore (11-5) can win the AFC North, secure the conference's No. 3 seed and host a wild-card game. Jackson can also put the finishing touches on one of the most remarkable regular seasons ever for a quarterback, which included surpassing Michael Vick as the NFL's all-time leading rushing quarterback on Christmas Day.

Jackson's best statistical season of his seven-year career includes ranking No. 1 in the NFL in four different categories: QBR (78.0), yards per pass attempt