HOUSTON — In an impressive display of skill and athleticism, Lamar Jackson set a new NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback during the Baltimore Ravens’ commanding 31-2 win over the Houston Texans on Wednesday.
One of the standout moments of the match occurred when Jackson sprinted 48 yards for a touchdown, reaching a remarkable peak speed of 21.25 mph. Reflecting on the play, Jackson humbly remarked, “I was jogging. I didn’t have to do anything.” This dominant performance solidified his MVP candidacy as the Ravens drew closer to clinching the AFC North title.
Coach John Harbaugh praised Jackson, stating, “It’s just another phenomenal performance. He set the all-time NFL record for rushing yards (for a quarterback) in pro football. That kind of speaks for itself. It’s just kind of what he does every week.” Jackson had an impressive outing, throwing for 168 yards with two touchdown passes and running for 87 yards, elevating his career rushing total to 6,110 yards, surpassing Michael Vick’s previous record of 6,109 yards.
Reflecting on his achievement, Jackson expressed admiration for Vick, stating, “Michael Vick, one of my favorite players. That’s just dope.” With this victory, the Ravens secured their third consecutive playoff berth and will need to defeat the Cleveland Browns in their next game to secure the division title over the Pittsburgh Steelers, who fell to Kansas City, marking their third consecutive loss.
Jackson, who previously won the MVP title in both 2019 and 2020, showcased his skills alongside a captivating halftime show featuring Beyoncé, contributing to Baltimore’s third win in a row. He exited the game with just over ten minutes left as the outcome was well-decided, handing the reins to Josh Johnson. “Just having fun,” Jackson said. “The NFL is not easy. I don’t care what nobody says. It looks easy, but it’s not.”
In addition to his remarkable rushing performance, Jackson threw touchdown passes of 9 and 1 yards, with the 48-yard touchdown run occurring without a single defender touching him, increasing the score to 24-2 in the third quarter. Another highlight of the game was Derrick Henry, who rushed for 147 yards and established a new Ravens season record with his 16th touchdown, a 2-yard rush in the first quarter. He beat the previous records set by Ray Rice (2011) and Mark Ingram (2019).
The Ravens dominated the Texans, who are grappling with the loss of standout receiver Tank Dell due to a season-ending knee injury sustained earlier in the week. Houston coach DeMeco Ryans remarked on the game, “This game comes down to guys making plays and they had two exceptional playmakers on their side in Lamar and Derrick Henry. They made plays and that was the game.”
The Texans, champions of the AFC South, struggled offensively, managing only a safety for their points in the second quarter. Quarterback C.J. Stroud amassed 185 passing yards but faced difficulties, being sacked five times and throwing an interception. Joe Mixon only managed 26 rushing yards, and following the game, Mixon chose not to address the media, while Stroud took responsibility for the team’s performance. “Terrible on my behalf, probably one of my worst games in my whole career,” he admitted. “Just came out flat, didn’t have any energy. I didn’t lead the offense the way I should have.”
Rookie Kamari Lassiter made a key defensive play, tackling Henry for a 4-yard loss that resulted in a safety, bringing the Texans to a score of 10-2. Subsequently, Dameon Pierce returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards to the Ravens’ 43, yet the Texans came up short when Mixon was stopped just shy of the goal line following a fourth-down conversion attempt.
Jackson then engineered a 99-yard drive to further extend the lead, connecting with Mark Andrews for a significant 67-yard gain that placed the Ravens in scoring territory. Isaiah Likely soon caught a 9-yard touchdown pass, marking the first-ever 17-2 halftime score in NFL history.
The Ravens’ defense shone bright as Kyle Hamilton intercepted a pass from Stroud on the second half’s opening drive. Shortly thereafter, Jackson’s lengthy touchdown run pushed the score to 24-2. He later formalized the rushing record with a 6-yard run in the following drive and capped it off with another TD pass to Andrews, asserting a solid lead of 31-2.
In injury news, Ravens running back Rasheen Ali exited the game with a hip injury and did not return, while Texans tight end Cade Stover made his return after missing two games due to an emergency appendectomy.
As the schedule progresses, the Ravens will host the Browns, while the Texans will travel to face the Titans next weekend, with specific game dates yet to be announced.
