NFL Executives Predict Jackson Will Win MVP This Season Despite Week 1 Loss
Even though the Ravens fell to the Bills, a panel of NFL executives and scouts still believes Jackson will win his third MVP award this season.
Jackson was the top-vote getter in an ESPN survey that asked the panel to predict the winners of the major awards after the results of Week 1 were in.
"Although Allen made a compelling opening case to go back-to-back – 'he's the ultimate difference-maker,' an NFL personnel evaluator noted postgame – Jackson figures to be in the race because of a few factors: His dual-threat ability typically keeps his touchdown total high, he consistently wins games (.736 career win percentage) and he limits turnovers, averaging one interception roughly every third game since 2024," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote.
An AFC executive said of Jackson: "His supporting cast is really good, and he's improving from the pocket. Playing better in the big games in January will always be the thing with him, but I feel like that's a matter of time."
Allen, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels also received votes.
Why Punting on Fourth-and-3 Against Bills Was the Right Decision
Head Coach John Harbaugh's decision to punt on fourth-and-3 from the Ravens' 38-yard line with 1:33 remaining and Baltimore clinging to a two-point lead against the Buffalo Bills Sunday night has been a hot topic with NFL pundits.
The majority believe the Ravens should've gone for it rather than giving the ball back to Josh Allen, who got the Bills in position for Matt Prater's 32-yard field goal that gave the Bills a 41-40 win.
However, USA Today's Jarrett Bell thinks Harbaugh made the right decision.
"If you don't make it, and the field position being what it was. … I think the thing to remember is that you punt them way down the field, you flip that field, and I think your chances are better," Bell said on “Glenn Clark Radio.” "Even though I think Lamar Jackson can get three yards leaning forward most of the time, it doesn't happen all the time. It's not a guarantee."
To Bell's point, the Bills began the drive at their own 20 with 1:26 left and no timeouts after Jordan Stout's 42-yard punt. Had the Ravens gone for it on fourth down and not converted, the Bills were already in field-goal range.
Perhaps what isn't getting enough attention regarding the decision is that Jackson headed to the sideline after the third-down play. Harbaugh said he could see "something wasn't quite right" with Jackson, who said after the game that he was cramping.
"If I wasn't [cramping], everybody in here knows I would've been trying to go for a fourth-and-3," Jackson said.
“Good Morning Football’s” Kyle Brandt noted that Jackson took a huge hit from defensive tackle Ed Oliver after he released the ball on his third-down pass to DeAndre Hopkins.
"He's got that little hitch," Brandt said. "I think Harbaugh looked up at that and said, 'Of course I want to go for it on fourth-and-3 with Lamar, and I'm going to roll him out and let him be Lamar.' I don't think Lamar was Lamar in that moment. I think it was just really bad timing.
"If you call his number on the next play, maybe he doesn't have it, so [Harbaugh] goes with the old 'I'll trust my defense.' They lose by one point, it was a bad gamble. But I also think it was some bad luck for Harbaugh when he looks up and sees [Jackson walking off the field] and says, 'No, I'm going to punt it.'"
Bills Head Coach Expects a Rematch
The Ravens and Bills may not have seen the last of each other in the 2025 season.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer the day after Sunday night's thriller, Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott said that was the expectation when he shook hands with Harbaugh after the game.
"I think he understands and expects that and I do as well," McDermott said. "We have a really good friendship, really good relationship, ton of respect between the two of us. Our families are good friends. So it's hard. It's like Andy [Reid]. You play them in the regular season, you turn around, you come off the field, and whether we win or lose, you're like, Yup, there's a chance we see them again. That's just become every year in the AFC."
Quick Hits
Yesterday's Most Read: Ravens Sign Wide Receiver Cornelius Johnson to Practice Squad
- NFL.com started a weekly ranking of the best games of the season. Unsurprisingly, the Ravens-Bills thriller is No. 1 after Week 1.
