Analysis: In a game in which he threw five touchdown passes, Lamar Jackson's lead block spoke volumes

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Lamar Jackson saw Derrick Henry backpedaling and instinctively sprinted past him to clear a running path.

The two-time NFL MVP didn't hesitate to become a lead blocker.

Jackson tackled All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. before Henry was eventually pushed out of bounds on a 39-yard gain. In a game where the Baltimore Ravens quarterback threw five touchdown passes for the fifth time in his career and produced several more highlight plays, this game said the most about him.

“It's unbelievable that someone is a quarterback of his caliber who is so unselfish and blocks his teammate downfield,” Henry said. “This is the type of guy who can play a hell of a game and not even know his stats. All he knows is the guys he threw to and the guys who shot. The guy is just amazing. I said in an interview a few weeks ago; I think he’s definitely the GOAT.”

Jackson has seven fewer Super Bowl rings than Tom Brady, but his leadership, selflessness and competitive spirit are on par with the greatest.

“He’s just the ultimate competitor. There’s no doubt about it,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “I don’t know if I’ve seen a better competitor than Lamar Jackson, and I’ve seen some competitors — some great competitors — but he’s (at) the level of the greatest competitors I’ve ever seen. Maybe the greatest. We'll see. It’s just incredible.”

The Ravens were leading the Buccaneers by 16 points with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter in a 41-31 win Monday night when Jackson decided to help Henry gain more yards rather than get out of his way.

“I'm just trying to get him in the end zone, so it's like, 'I got you,'” Jackson said.

The Ravens (5-2) have come a long way since an 0-2 start. They won't settle for anything less than a Super Bowl after posting the NFL's best record last year and losing the AFC championship game to Kansas City.

“I'm looking for something right now, so every single game will be the same for me,” Jackson said. “I will be the same person. I try to win every game.”

Henry was an excellent addition for Baltimore, helping the Ravens to an NFL-high 210.9 yards per game. He leads the league with 873 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns – eight rushing yards and two receiving yards.

It's not old-fashioned smash football, but running backs are having more success this season.

NFL teams are averaging a combined average of 246 rushing yards per game, the most in seven weeks since 1990. The average of 4.53 rushing yards per attempt this season is the highest in seven weeks since 1970.

But the teams are no longer running. They simply run more efficiently. Average attempts per game increased by less than one carry compared to last season (27.2 from 26.8), while average rushing yards per team increased from 112.7 to 123.

Still, running backs make much less money than receivers.

Henry signed a two-year, $16 million contract with Baltimore in free agency. There are 37 wide receivers who make more money per year than Henry. No one has more touchdowns than Henry's 10 (eight rushing, two receiving). No one has more yards than Henry's 935 (873 rushing, 62 receiving).

Forget that the 49ers became the fourth team to win a Super Bowl a year after losing, and the first since the Patriots in 2018. San Francisco doesn't even have a chance of even making the playoffs at this point.

The 49ers have been decimated by injuries this season, creating inconsistency that has left them at 3-4. They are just one game behind Seattle (4-3) in the NFC West and have already beaten the Seahawks. But San Francisco doesn't appear to be a team capable of competing for a championship.

Christian McCaffrey remains out. Brandon Aiyuk is out for the season. Deebo Samuel's status is uncertain for this week, as is the status of fellow receiver Jauan Jennings.

Lacking several playmakers, Brock Purdy clearly tried to do too much, throwing three picks in a loss to Kansas City in a Super Bowl rematch.

The 49ers have a tough schedule ahead of them over the next six weeks. They face Dallas (3-3) on “Sunday Night Football.” The Cowboys have their own problems but escape with a bye. San Francisco will then play five games against teams that currently have a winning record.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl