“This year has not been eye-popping vintage Mahomes,” Mike Florio declared on NFL on NBC’s Pro Football Talk today. Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson just orchestrated what might be “the top highlight of his career” in a jaw-dropping overtime victory against the Bengals.

The Baltimore Ravens quarterback put on a show for the ages in their 41-38 overtime thriller. Jackson went nuclear with 348 passing yards and four touchdowns, adding 55 yards on the ground. The highlight reel peaked when he turned a dropped snap into magic—stiff-arming Sam Hubbard while going out of bounds, then somehow finding Isaiah Likely in the endzone for a 6-yard touchdown.

“Lamar is crazy talented… he is a special special talent,” Chris Simms gushed on PFT. The numbers back up the praise. Jackson connected with Zay Flowers seven times for 111 yards, proving he’s more than just a scrambling threat. When the run game stalled, Jackson’s arm kept the chains moving.

The victory wasn’t just about Jackson’s heroics. Marlon Humphrey snagged a clutch interception off Joe Burrow late in the fourth quarter. Justin Tucker nailed a pressure-packed 56-yarder to force overtime. Then Derrick Henry burst through for a 51-yard run, setting up Tucker’s game-winning field goal. 

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh didn’t mince words after their recent demolition of the Bills: “Best weapon in football right there,” he said as Jackson walked into the press room. With three straight wins including victories over Buffalo and Cincinnati, Baltimore’s making noise in a supposedly Chiefs-dominated AFC. Speaking of Kansas City…

Chiefs’ Offensive struggles open the door for Ravens’ rise

While Jackson lights up scoreboards, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have morphed into something unexpected – a defensive team. “I don’t think it’s going to be eye-popping vintage Mahomes this year,” Simms noted, pointing to Kansas City’s grinding style.

The stats tell the story. Mahomes admitted his struggles against the Chargers: “Obviously, the corner made a good play. I was trying to fire it to Travis (Kelce) on his body. I overthrew him a little bit and turned the ball over.” That’s a far cry from the usual Kansas City fireworks.

Florio didn’t hold back in his quarterback rankings: “Maybe it’s Mahomes Lamar Allen, maybe it’s Lamar Mahomes Allen.” The mere suggestion of Jackson leapfrogging Mahomes would’ve seemed outlandish last season. Not anymore.

The Ravens aren’t just winning – they’re bullying opponents with a perfect blend of Jackson’s electricity and Henry’s thunder. As Baltimore steamrolls through the AFC, that Week 17 showdown with Kansas City looms larger by the day. The AFC throne might just be up for grabs.