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The Baltimore Ravens rolled over a hapless Cincinnati Bengals squad in Week 10 and quarterback Lamar Jackson put on a show. He threw for 223 yards and three touchdowns, and scrambled for an additional 65 yards and a touchdown. It’s debatable if it was his best performance of the season, and it came against a bad football team, but it was impressive nonetheless as a showcase for what he has done virtually every week this season.
It was not surprising that Jackson saw his MVP odds shoot up following the game. He moved into favorite status Monday morning, just ahead of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. It came in advance of the Seahawks Monday Night Football win over the San Francisco 49ers, which boosted Wilson back into a tie in the odds.
On Wednesday, Jackson was honored for his game with AFC Offensive Player of the Week. It marked his second straight award and third this season. He earned it in Week 9 for a big performance in the Ravens win over the New England Patriots, and in Week 1 for his five-touchdown performance against the Miami Dolphins.
Jackson gets another opportunity for a high profile performance in Week 11 as the Ravens host the Houston Texans. Lamar Jackson vs. DeShaun Watson is the matchup of the week, with both teams leading their respective divisions and looking to at least maintain pace with the Patriots for the best record in the AFC.
Even though NFL games aren’t really about QB vs. QB, that’s what generates the headlines, so this is one of the more anticipated matchups of the season. Jackson is tied with Wilson atop the DraftKings Sportsbook NFL MVP odds at +225. Watson is tied with Aaron Rodgers for the next best odds at +700. Patrick Mahomes follows at +1200 and then Christian McCaffrey is at +1400. It’s a two-player race for the time being, but Watson and Rogers have a shot at cracking this group.