ESPN writer makes bold Ravens MVP claim for Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has already won two NFL MVP awards in his career, and this season, having missed three games and his team sitting at 3-5, the notion that Lamar could win his third is a far-fetched idea.

But that doesn't make it an absurd one.

After the beatdown of the Miami Dolphins that saw Lamar go 18 of 23 for 204 yards and four touchdowns, the two-time MVP winner reminded us all that when he is in the lineup, Baltimore is a different beast.

And for ESPN's Jamison Hensley, the question of whether Jackson has reentered the MVP conversation was brought up, and the response was definitive.

“Definitely, because he underscored his value this past month," Hensley wrote. "In his return from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three games, Jackson immediately had Baltimore humming again, completing 78% of his attempts (18-of-23) and throwing four touchdown passes.

"In the three games that he missed, Baltimore averaged 14.3 points. With Jackson this season, the Ravens are averaging 31.8 points.”

More: Ravens get superb grade for Dolphins win as AFC North chances skyrocket

Is Lamar really in MVP conversation?

Right now, personally, I wouldn't have him in that conversation, but that doesn't mean he can't be in the next few weeks.

Jackson is 2-3 as a starter this year, has 14 touchdowns to just one interception, is completing 72.9 percent of his passes, and has thrown for 1073 yards while having a passer rating of at least 128.6 in four of his five games.

The MVP case is heating up.

But in truth, Lamar would need to continue this trajectory for the rest of the season to be in with a shot, and plus, at the very least, the Ravens would have to secure playoff football, because when was the last time an MVP winner wasn't in the postseason?

So, Jackson has it all to do. 

Is he in the MVP conversation? Right now, I'm tapping the brakes on that.

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