Lamar Jackson had another efficient day in Week 9, completing 81% of his passes to take over the NFL lead in completion percentage (71.5). He also ran for 60 yards as the Ravens dismantled the Seahawks 37-3, giving him a QB-leading total of 440 rush yards this year.
So the new and improved Jackson leads all qualified QBs in both completion rate and rush yards in his first season with OC Todd Monken. Not bad.
The only QB since 1970 to do both over a full season is Steve Young in 1994, when he won MVP and Super Bowl MVP for the 49ers.
Of course, we have a long way to go this year, but for context, Jackson is also the first QB since Young in 1992 to lead the NFL in completion percentage and lead all quarterbacks in rushing yards through Week 9.
It's not quite 2019 Lamar Jackson when he practically broke the NFL by leading the league in touchdown passes (36), crushing Michael Vick's QB-record for rush yards in a season (1,206), and winning unanimous MVP.
But it is still uncharted territory for Jackson, which is saying a lot considering he is the most electrifying running QB of all time.
Usually the completion percentage title is reserved for QBs who are more or less statues. Check out the list since 1970 and you'll see what I mean.
NFL Comp Pct Leaders Since 1970
| Rush Yards | ||
|---|---|---|
2022 | Geno Smith | 366 |
2021 | Joe Burrow | 118 |
2020 | Aaron Rodgers | 149 |
2019 | Drew Brees | -4 |
2018 | Drew Brees | 22 |
2017 | Drew Brees | 12 |
2016 | Sam Bradford | 53 |
2015 | Kirk Cousins | 48 |
2014 | Tony Romo | 61 |
2013 | Philip Rivers | 72 |
2012 | Matt Ryan | 141 |
2011 | Drew Brees | 86 |
2010 | Drew Brees | -3 |
2009 | Drew Brees | 33 |
2008 | Chad Pennington | 62 |
2007 | Tom Brady | 98 |
2006 | David Carr | 195 |
2005 | Carson Palmer | 41 |
2004 | Brian Griese | 17 |
2003 | Peyton Manning | 26 |
2002 | Chad Pennington | 49 |
2001 | Kurt Warner | 60 |
2000 | Kurt Warner | 17 |
1999 | Kurt Warner | 92 |
1998 | Brett Favre | 133 |
1997 | Steve Young | 199 |
1996 | Steve Young | 310 |
1995 | Steve Young | 250 |
1994 | Steve Young | 293 |
1993 | Troy Aikman | 125 |
1992 | Steve Young | 537 |
1991 | Dave Krieg | 59 |
1990 | Jim Kelly | 63 |
1989 | Joe Montana | 227 |
1988 | Wade Wilson | 136 |
1987 | Joe Montana | 141 |
1986 | Eric Hipple | 46 |
1985 | Joe Montana | 153 |
1984 | Steve Bartkowski | 34 |
1983 | Ken Anderson | 147 |
1982 | Ken Anderson | 85 |
1981 | Joe Montana | 95 |
1980 | Joe Montana | 77 |
1979 | Dan Fouts | 49 |
1978 | Bob Griese | 10 |
1977 | Fran Tarkenton | 6 |
1976 | Ken Stabler | -2 |
1975 | Len EDawson | 7 |
1974 | Ken Anderson | 314 |
1973 | Ken Stabler | 101 |
1972 | Norm Snead | 21 |
1971 | Virgil Carter | 42 |
1970 | Sonny Jurgensen | 39 |
Jackson and this group are not in the same stratosphere. He already has 440 rushing yards this season, putting him on pace for 935 this year.
For the record ...
- In NFL history, the average season rush yard total for the league leader in completion percentage is under 100.
- More players have led the league in completion percentage and had negative rush yards (12) than had at least 250 (10).
- Only two QBs from 1999-2019 led the NFL in completion percentage and had 100-plus rush yards that season.
If you suggested Jackson would lead the NFL in completion percentage entering the year we might have thought you were crazy. He ranked 25th last season, 22nd in 2021, 27th in 2020 and ninth in 2019.
No player since 1970 has led the NFL in completion percentage after ranking 25th or worse the previous season.
Despite falling short in the playoffs in previous years, this is one case for taking the Ravens seriously, especially after they've destroyed the Lions and Seahawks in their last two home games.
Baltimore may just be for real this time with Jackson making an historic improvement in the passing game, and the Ravens' No. 1 scoring defense putting up historic numbers of its own.