Lamar Jackson Is Not As Good As Patrick Mahomes, But He Could Be One Day

The Baltimore Ravens are currently sitting at 6-2, and they are second in the AFC North, behind the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. Unsurprisingly, the reigning MVP, Lamar Jackson, has been a key figure in Baltimore's hot start to the season. Jackson, in just his third year, has posted a winning record of 25-5 tying him with Dan Marino for the best start by a quarterback in NFL history.

"It's pretty cool, I'm up there with a Hall of Famer," Jackson said via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. "But you still got to win each and every game. So, it's all right."

"I think that's really something. Wow," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of Jackson tying Marino's mark. "Lamar will tell you it's a team effort. I think the team will tell you that you couldn't win those games without Lamar."

Jackson's latest victory this past Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts did not come without adversity. The Ravens trailed the Colts 10-7 at the half and coming into Sunday’s game, Jackson was 0-6 when playing from behind.

However, on Sunday, that would not be the case; Jackson would complete all ten of his passes for 119 yards and add a nine-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Finishing the game with 170 yards passing on 19 passes and added 58 yards on the ground with a touchdown.

Jackson has also drawn comparison to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and reigning Super Bowl MVP, Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes won the regular season MVP back in 2018, and the following year led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory, and Ravens are hoping Jackson can do the same. If Jackson can win the Super Bowl, would he receive the same respect that everyone gives Mahomes? It's tough to say.

However, NBA analyst Brendan Haywood does not think it will happen.

“Lamar Jackson will not get the same respect as Patrick Mahomes because he is not as good as Patrick Mahomes,” said Haywood on Instagram Live Monday night.

“They can win games with Lamar being a game manager. That is how they have won games this year. If you watch the Ravens play, Lamar ain’t been ballin. Lamar is not in anybody’s MVP conversation. Lamar is not a top seven guy in the NFL, and it is because he has a bunch of games under 200 yards passing. His rushing has gone from 80 yards per game to like 58 per game; his rushing TDs are down from last season. And the thing is the NFL has film on him, and Lamar cannot throw outside. Those on time, back-shoulder throws like Patrick Mahomes. They know that this dude is trying to run the ball or play action and throw the ball in the seams to his tight-ends or Hollywood Brown, and people are covering that.”

Jackson and the Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman need to switch things up to catch these defensive coordinators off guard. And they can start this week when they play the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football.