Lamar Jackson Runs Past Bengals In Record-Setting Fashion

By Joe Schiller 

In his first career start last season, Lamar Jackson rushed for 119 yards on 26 carries in a 24-21 win against the Bengals. Almost a year later, Jackson took the field on Sunday a much-improved player and ran past Cincinnati in record-setting fashion. 

Jackson became the first quarterback in the Super Bowl Era to pass for 200+ yards and rush for more than 150+ yards as the Ravens beat the Bengals 23-17 to earn their second straight win. 

"It's cool, I guess," Jackson told reporters during the postgame press conference. 

Lamar Jackson on being told that he's the first QB to throw for over 200 yards and run for over 100 yards: "It's cool, I guess."

Jackson's humility is genuine, but he wasn't kind to Bengals' defenders throughout the afternoon. Facing the 31st ranked run defense, the Ravens rushed for 269 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry. Jackson, Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill each totaled at least 30 yards or more. 

The Ravens had control over the game despite the final scoreline. Brandon Wilson returned the opening kickoff 92 yards to give the Bengals a 7-0 lead, but Baltimore's defense didn't allow an offensive touchdown until 1:28 left in the fourth quarter. A revamped defensive group featuring newly-signed linebackers Josh Bynes and L.J. Fort at inside linebacker allowed just 250 total yards. 

Cincinnati's top offensive weapons were held quiet. Running back Joe Mixon rushed for just 10 yards on eight carries and Tyler Boyd notched 10 yards on three catches. 

Jackson weaved his way past a host of Bengals' defenders on a 21-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7. Seven minutes later, Mark Ingram punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to take a 14-7 lead. 

Without Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, Mark Andrews was Jackson's top target. Andrews totaled six catches for 99 yards on eight targets, including a 39-yard catch in the first half. The next highest-targeted receiver was Willie Snead IV (5). 

The Ravens completely dominated the time of possession (39:42-20:18) and sustained an 18-play, 83-yard drive that took up 9:46 in the fourth quarter. It's been the mantra for the offense under Jackson, but Baltimore struggled to convert those opportunities into touchdowns. They settled for field goals against the Bengals, but that won't work against the elite teams in the NFL. 

With a two-game lead in the AFC North, the Ravens head on the road to face the Seahawks in one of their toughest challenges on the schedule.