Jackson, Ravens hammer Jets
BALTIMORE — Forlamar Jackson, it was one for the record book.
The Baltimore Ravens quarterback passed for five touchdownsandsetthe NFL single-season rushing record for his position in a 42-21 rout of the New York Jets on Thursday night.
It was the Ravens’ 10th consecutive victory, one that clinched their second straight AFC North title.
Baltimore (12-2) took control with touchdowns on its first three possessions, and Jackson made it 28-7 in the third quarter with a 24-yard scoring pass to rookie Marquise Brown following a turnover by the Jets (5-9).
Jackson ran for 86 yards on eight carries to break Michael Vick’s single-season record for a quarterback. Jackson has 1,108 yards. Vick ran for 1,039 for
Atlanta in 2006.
“I’m thinking in the back of my mind sooner or later he’s going to have a young, second-year growing pains game,” veteran Ravens guard Marshal Yanda said of Jackson. “And the kid keeps playing winning football.”
With a victory next week in Cleveland, the Ravens will be assured the top seed in the AFC, a distinction that comes with home-field advantage leading up to the Super Bowl.
“We just have to keep it going,” Jackson said.
Added safety Earl Thomas: “The job is not over. We got a couple more goals in front of us.”
Despite his rushing record, Jackson did most of the damage with his right arm, completing 15 of 23 passes for 212 yards while increasing his league-leading total of touchdown passes to 33, tying the franchise season record set by Vinny Testaverde in 1996.
The Jets, meanwhile, didn’t look like a team that had won four of their previous five. Sam Darnold threw two touchdown passes to Jamison Crowder but the second-year quarterback (18-for-32 for 218 yards) also tossed an interception and lost a fumble.