Lamar Jackson has no peer when it comes to passer rating.
After his sparkling performance in Sunday's 41-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns, Jackson became the NFL's all-time leader in career passer rating at 102.648.
He climbed percentage points ahead of Aaron Rodgers (102.6), who struggled during the Pittsburgh Steelers' loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Already the all-time leader in career rushing yards by a quarterback, Jackson continues to provide evidence that there has never been a more dynamic dual threat.
Jackson picked apart the Browns in Week 2 with four touchdown passes and no interceptions, the latest example of him throwing dimes all day.
When it comes to Jackson's passing superlatives, you can stack them like pancakes.
On Sunday, he became the seventh quarterback in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 90 or higher in 10 consecutive games, including the postseason. The other quarterbacks who've done that are all present or future Hall of Famers – Rodgers (14), Philip Rivers (13), Peyton Manning (13), Tom Brady (12), Patrick Mahomes (11), and Drew Brees (10).
Jackson isn't padding his stats by throwing checkdowns. He's attacking downfield with more success than any quarterback in the game.
According to NextGen Stats, Jackson has thrown 32 touchdown passes over 10 air yards since the start of 2024. That's 10 more than the next closest quarterback, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jackson has taken his passing game to a level that some critics doubted he would reach. It's long been accepted that Jackson is a generational athlete. But Jackson has taken up residence in the penthouse where the game's greatest passers reside.
Former Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith threw social media shade at anyone still having trouble recognizing Jackson's passing prowess.
"NOBODY should disrespect him as a passer," Smith wrote in part.
In Week 2, the Browns committed to containing Baltimore's rushing attack led by Derrick Henry, and they held him to 23 yards on 11 carries. But Jackson threw darts against Cleveland's secondary, connecting for two touchdown passes to Devontez Walker and one each to DeAndre Hopkins and Tylan Wallace.
The performance showed Jackson's growth since entering the league. He was both electric and efficient (19 of 29, 225 yards) as he extended plays, avoided mistakes, and remained poised and patient in the pocket. The Ravens often had poor field position in the first half, but Jackson kept probing, and Baltimore eventually exploded.
"It was a tough game [Sunday] against a really great defense," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "He kept pressing; he kept making the checks he needed to make.
"A couple of times, there were plays that we were in trouble, and he bailed them out. Probably three of his big plays were plays that he made something out of absolutely nothing and made a bad play into a great play with the help of his teammates. That's Lamar, that's the thing about Lamar that really just makes him on another level as a player. … It's just Lamar being Lamar."
All three of Walker's career catches have gone for touchdowns, and the second-year wide receiver knows that Jackson will deliver the ball to any target at any time.
"Lamar understands what we have in our room and throughout our offense," Walker said. "We have so many weapons everywhere, and he wants everybody around to have just as much success as he does. That's just the type of guy and quarterback he is. He makes you want to go out there and play hard for him."
Jackson's focus is on winning a Super Bowl, but he might be passing his way to a third MVP award.
What the Browns saw from Jackson in the passing game was no surprise to Cleveland Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz. It's what he saw while preparing to face the Ravens last week. It's what the entire NFL is seeing – Jackson as a prolific passer.
"He's been at the top of his game for a few years now," Schwartz said via the Browns’ website. "Doesn't turn the ball over very much, uses his legs when he has to. Probably about three years ago or so, he got significantly better versus the blitz.
"I don't think what we're seeing from him is a recent development. It's been a few years coming. Hats off to him for the improvements that he's made."
