WASHINGTON (AFP) — The Baltimore Ravens secured the American Football Conference top seed for the National Football League playoffs in emphatic fashion on Sunday, crushing the Miami Dolphins, 56-19, with Lamar Jackson throwing five touchdowns.
The San Francisco 49ers, meanwhile, will have the National Football Conference top seed — and the home field playoff advantage that comes with it — after winning 27-10 at Washington.
Jackson is the frontrunner to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award and he hugely boosted his chances with an outstanding display against a Miami team that had hopes of topping the conference.
The Ravens quarterback threw for 321 yards on 18 of 21 passing, averaging 15.3 yards per pass while picking apart Miami’s defense.
“I don’t know if I’ve seen a more impressive performance in a game,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of Jackson’s effort.
After the Dolphins, who are also in the playoffs, had opened the scoring with Cedric Wilson collecting an eight-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa, Jackson found Justice Hill with a 20-yard touchdown pass wide right.
The Ravens took a 14-10 lead on a Gus Edwards one-yard touchdown run and reached halftime with a 28-13 advantage after Jackson threw touchdown passes for 75 yards to Zay Flowers and 35 yards to Isaiah Likely.
Jackson found Likely again for a seven-yard score in the third quarter and although De’Von Achane’s touchdown early in the fourth gave the Miami hope, the Ravens pulled away from there.
Patrick Ricard caught a
four-yard pass from Jackson before Melvin Gordon ran in from three yards and reserve Tyler Huntley found Charlie Kolar with a 19-yard touchdown pass.
Miami can take the AFC East division title by beating Buffalo next Sunday.
The Ravens had picked off 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy four times in winning last week but he bounced back as San Francisco took a top seed at Washington.
Purdy threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-28 passing with no interceptions. He has set a club record for single season passing yards, overtaking Jeff Garcia’s mark of 4,279.
