OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Coach John Harbaugh is sidestepping the discussion about whether quarterback Lamar Jackson can capture a third NFL MVP accolade this year, focusing instead on his unwavering support.


“He’s my MVP. He’ll always be my MVP — I promise you that,” Harbaugh declared, reiterating Jackson’s importance to the team. The local media echoed this sentiment, naming Jackson the team MVP following a voting outcome that surprised no one. The central question now shifts to whether Jackson can clinch the overall NFL MVP title during the upcoming voting process. Should he succeed, he would join an elite group of players who have won the award three times.


Historically, only six athletes have managed to take home the MVP trophy three times: Peyton Manning boasts five, while Aaron Rodgers has four. Others like Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas, and Jim Brown also have three awards. Jackson’s current standing includes players such as Patrick Mahomes, Kurt Warner, Steve Young, and Joe Montana, who have each won the MVP title twice.


As of Tuesday afternoon, betting odds from BetMGM list Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen as the frontrunner for the MVP award at -300, with Jackson trailing closely at +225. If Allen secures the MVP title, he will become the first player to do so since Jackson in 2019. Jackson mentioned last week that it can be challenging to avoid conversations regarding the MVP, especially when it frequently comes up in online discussions.


“If it does happen, it happens. That’d be dope — three times,” Jackson remarked, clarifying that attaining another MVP isn’t his primary motivation. “Even the first or second one, it’s never been my goal. I always want to finish with the championship, but I’ve been falling short.”


Looking ahead, the Ravens’ immediate focus is on their upcoming game against Cleveland. They are heavily favored to win, and a victory would secure the AFC North title and a home playoff game for the franchise. Despite the team’s championship aspirations, Jackson’s individual statistics will remain a focal point. He enters the game boasting an impressive passer rating of 121.6, just shy of Rodgers’ single-season record of 122.5 set in 2011, the year he won his first MVP.


Despite Jackson’s notable stats — he leads Allen in touchdown passes, passing yards, rushing yards, and has thrown fewer interceptions — the MVP title race remains closely contested. Last season, Allen had better statistics in both passing yards and touchdowns, yet Jackson emerged as the MVP by leading the Ravens to the best record in the league. Currently, Allen and the Bills (13-3) are poised to finish ahead of the Ravens (11-5) in the playoff standings. Although Buffalo suffered a significant defeat to Baltimore earlier in the season, Allen has led his team to key victories against top competitors like Kansas City and Detroit.


Tyler Linderbaum, Jackson’s center, openly supports his teammate in the MVP discussion. “You see him every day, the things he’s able to do, and carrying it over to the game. He’s a special player,” Linderbaum stated. “He’s extremely fun to play with, just the things he’s able to do. There’s no one more deserving of that award than Lamar Jackson.”


As the MVP conversation continues to loom over the NFL, it remains likely that by the time the award is announced in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, either Jackson or Allen — or potentially both — might find themselves falling short of their aspirations once again.


In other news, local media recognized Linderbaum as this year’s “Good Guy” for his accessibility and insight. The injury report showed RB Justice Hill (concussion/illness), DT Nnamdi Madubuike (illness), G Patrick Mekari (illness), T Ronnie Stanley (illness), and CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring) did not participate in practice on Tuesday, while WR Nelson Agholor (concussion) and TE Charlie Kolar (forearm) were full participants.