Ravens' Lamar Jackson, Justice Hill hook up on 20-yard TD vs. Dolphins
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Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer
BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson took another step toward his second NFL Most Valuable Player award on Sunday with his longest touchdown pass of the season.
Jackson hit a wide-open Zay Flowers for a 75-yard touchdown to put the Baltimore Ravens up 21-13 over the Miami Dolphins with 2:58 left in the second quarter.
Give Zay his Flowers 💐 75-YARD TOUCHDOWN
📺: #MIAvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/sFjqko01pD pic.twitter.com/lfN2yQKm8i— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2023
The sellout crowd at M&T Bank Stadium chanted “MVP,” but it was an outstanding play by a less-than-full-strength Flowers. After making the catch at the Miami 40-yard line, Flowers cut back to elude safety DeShon Elliott and then shook off a tackle by cornerback Eli Apple.
It tied for the second-longest touchdown pass of Jackson’s career. He had an 83-yard touchdown pass in the 2019 season opener, which also came against the Dolphins.
Jackson continued his scorching-hot first half by completing a 35-yard touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely on fourth-and-7. Likely made a one-handed grab to push Baltimore’s lead to 28-13 just before halftime. Likely also caught a 7-yard pass from Jackson on the Ravens’ first possession of the second half for his second touchdown of the game.
Jackson had a season-high five TD passes.
In the first half, Jackson had a perfect passer rating (158.3), completing 12 of 14 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns. It marked the second time in Jackson’s career that he registered 250 yards passing and three touchdowns in a half.
On the Ravens’ opening drive, Jackson hit Justice Hill on a 20-yard wheel route to tie the game. It was Jackson’s first touchdown pass to a running back since Week 8 of last season.
ISAIAH LIKELY. Incredible catch and run for the @Ravens TD!
📺: #MIAvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/sFjqko01pD pic.twitter.com/Bw7Fh2EBwX— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2023
Hill moved back into the running back rotation after undrafted rookie Keaton Mitchell suffered a season-ending knee injury two weeks ago. It was Hill’s first touchdown catch of his four-year career.
Gus Edwards put the Ravens up 14-10 with a 1-yard run after Jackson hit Odell Beckham Jr. with a 33-yard completion.
