Lamar Jackson Detailed Biography: Ravens QB Throws 5 TDs in 56-19 Win Over Dolphins

Lamar Jackson entered Week 17 facing a Miami defense that had allowed the fewest passing touchdowns in the NFL. Baltimore needed a statement win to lock up the AFC North. The solution was Lamar Jackson’s most efficient passing day of his career—five touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

The Baltimore Ravens dismantled the Miami Dolphins 56-19 on Sunday, December 31, 2023, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, in front of 71,196 fans. The game was broadcast on CBS and Paramount+. Lamar Jackson completed 18 of 21 passes for 321 yards and five touchdowns while adding 35 rushing yards on six carries. Baltimore’s offense averaged 8.3 yards per play and scored touchdowns on four of five red-zone trips. The Ravens defense forced three turnovers, including two interceptions from Tua Tagovailoa, and turned those giveaways into 21 points. Miami entered the game with an 11-4 record and the NFL’s top-scoring offense, but Baltimore controlled every phase from the opening drive.

Match Overview

Ravens vs Dolphins Box Score: Core Team Stats

Lamar Jackson Passing Stats and Perfect Passer Rating

• Lamar Jackson completed 85.7 percent of his throws for 321 yards and five touchdowns with zero interceptions.
• His 15.3 yards per attempt and 158.3 passer rating marked the most efficient high-volume passing game of the 2023 NFL regular season.

Third Down Efficiency

• Baltimore converted 7 of 10 third downs while Miami converted only 4 of 11.
• Jackson moved the chains on four third-down throws, including two conversions of 15-plus yards and two third-down touchdown passes.

Turnover Differential and Field Position

• Baltimore forced three Miami turnovers and scored 21 points off those giveaways.
• The Ravens’ average starting field position was their own 42-yard line compared to Miami’s own 24, giving Lamar Jackson short fields on multiple scoring drives.

Period-by-Period Analysis

First Quarter: Ravens 14, Dolphins 3

• Baltimore took the opening drive 75 yards in six plays, capped by Isaiah Likely’s 35-yard touchdown catch on a seam route.
• A quick Miami punt set up Lamar Jackson’s 75-yard strike to Zay Flowers, who split the safeties and outran the defense.
• Miami’s only response was a 38-yard Jason Sanders field goal after Tua Tagovailoa completed three short passes.

Second Quarter: Ravens 21, Dolphins 10

• Tua Tagovailoa hit Tyreek Hill for a 20-yard touchdown on a crossing route, cutting the lead to 21-10 at one point.
• Jackson answered with a 10-play, 80-yard drive, ending with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Justice Hill on a swing route.
• A late Dolphins field goal made it 35-13 at halftime, but Miami had already missed two third-down stops and allowed two Ravens drives to reach the red zone.

Third Quarter: Ravens 14, Dolphins 0

• Roquan Smith intercepted Tagovailoa on Miami’s first series, returning it to the Dolphins’ 30-yard line.
• Jackson threw his fourth touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely from 9 yards out on a quick slant.
• Gus Edwards added a 1-yard rushing score after a 45-yard Justice Hill catch-and-run, pushing the lead to 49-13.

Fourth Quarter: Ravens 7, Dolphins 6

• Tyler Huntley replaced Jackson and led a 12-play drive, finishing with a Melvin Gordon 2-yard touchdown run.
• Miami scored a late touchdown on a 14-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle but missed the two-point attempt.
• Baltimore’s reserves controlled the clock for the final seven minutes, running the ball nine straight times.

Baltimore Ravens Player Statistics

Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson delivered a surgical performance, completing 85.7 percent of his throws and attacking all three levels of Miami’s defense. His perfect passer rating came on high-volume efficiency, not short, conservative passing.

Zay Flowers

Zay Flowers repeatedly beat Miami’s secondary on vertical routes and after the catch. His 75-yard touchdown in the first quarter set the tone and forced the Dolphins to abandon their single-high safety looks.

Isaiah Likely

Isaiah Likely filled the short-area and red-zone role with two touchdowns from 35 and 9 yards out. He exploited Miami’s zone coverage by finding soft spots between the linebackers and safeties.

Gus Edwards

Gus Edwards provided consistent early-down production, keeping Baltimore in favorable second- and third-down situations. His 1-yard score in the third quarter capped a long drive that drained Miami’s defense.

Miami Dolphins Player Statistics

Tua Tagovailoa

Tua Tagovailoa never found a rhythm against Baltimore’s mixed coverage looks. His two interceptions both led to Ravens touchdowns and flipped field position in a game that required Miami to keep pace with Jackson.

De’Von Achane

De’Von Achane produced explosive runs and averaged 7.6 yards per carry, but Miami could not sustain drives long enough to turn his production into points. His third-quarter long run was wasted when the Dolphins threw an interception two plays later.

Tyreek Hill

Tyreek Hill scored Miami’s first touchdown and moved the chains on early downs, but Baltimore’s two-high safety shell prevented him from creating game-breaking vertical plays. The Ravens bracketed Hill on nearly every snap.

Jaylen Waddle

Jaylen Waddle worked the short and intermediate areas but found little room after the catch. His late fourth-quarter touchdown came against Baltimore’s backup defense, long after the outcome was decided.

Statistical Leaders Summary

Why the Baltimore Ravens Won

Passing Efficiency and Explosive Plays

Baltimore’s pass game turned nearly every completion into chunk yardage. Lamar Jackson attacked the intermediate middle and deep sidelines, with three completions over 30 air yards. Miami’s secondary entered allowing 5.5 yards per attempt; Jackson nearly tripled that average while taking only one sack.

Run Game Balance

Baltimore’s 170 rushing yards kept Miami’s pass rush honest and forced the Dolphins to devote extra defenders to the box. Gus Edwards and Melvin Gordon combined for 20 carries and 82 yards, but more importantly, the Ravens’ early-down run success created play-action windows for Jackson.

Third Down and Red Zone Execution

Baltimore’s offense consistently stayed ahead of the sticks, giving Lamar Jackson manageable third downs. The Ravens converted 70 percent of their third downs and scored touchdowns on four of five red-zone trips. Miami’s offense faced an average third-down distance of 7.4 yards, which played directly into Baltimore’s pass rush and coverage.

Turnover-Free Football

The Ravens did not turn the ball over, while Miami gave it away three times. Baltimore scored 21 points off those turnovers, turning a competitive first half into a second-half blowout. Roquan Smith’s interception and a forced fumble by Patrick Queen created short fields for Jackson, who converted every short-field opportunity into a touchdown.

Why the Miami Dolphins Lost

No Pressure on Lamar Jackson

Miami’s defensive front failed to disrupt the pocket. Lamar Jackson had clean throwing lanes on 78 percent of his dropbacks. When the Dolphins blitzed, Jackson completed 7 of 8 passes for 142 yards and three touchdowns, including two deep strikes against Miami’s single-high coverage.

Turnovers in Critical Spots

Miami’s three giveaways all came in Ravens territory or near midfield, giving Baltimore short fields. Tua Tagovailoa’s first interception came on a forced throw into double coverage, and his second came when he drifted left and threw across his body. Those mistakes erased Miami’s offensive gains and turned a two-score game into a rout.

Early Down Run Defense Collapsed

The Dolphins entered the game with a top-ten run defense, but Baltimore’s offensive line consistently opened holes on early downs. The Ravens gained 3.2 yards before contact per carry, and 11 of their 30 runs gained at least five yards. That early-down success kept Baltimore out of obvious passing situations and allowed Jackson to attack play-action with maximum efficiency.

Historical Context and Advanced Insights

Season Series Breakdown

This win snapped Baltimore’s two-game losing streak to Miami and gave the Ravens their first win over the Dolphins since 2020. Jackson had previously played well against Miami but lost two shootouts. This time, Baltimore’s defense gave him a cushion, and Jackson delivered a career-best five passing touchdowns.

NFL Quarterback Passer Rating: Why 158.3 Is Max

The NFL passer rating formula has a maximum value of 158.3. Lamar Jackson reached that number against Miami because his completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdown rate, and interception rate all exceeded the formula’s upper thresholds. Jackson’s 85.7 percent completion rate, 15.3 yards per attempt, and 23.8 percent touchdown rate each produced a perfect component score. The formula does not reward volume; it rewards efficiency. Jackson’s five touchdowns came on only 21 attempts, making the performance even more impressive than a high-volume 400-yard game.

The advanced metrics reveal how far apart the two quarterbacks were on a per-play basis. Jackson added 0.68 expected points on every dropback, while Tua Tagovailoa subtracted 0.24 expected points per dropback. Jackson’s completion percentage over expectation of plus-12.3 percent meant he was hitting throws that the average quarterback would miss at a high rate. His play-action passing was especially devastating: 8 of 9 for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Miami’s play-action game produced just 52 yards on eight attempts, a direct result of Baltimore’s early-down run defense and disciplined safety play.

The relationship between rushing success and play-action efficiency is central to this game. Baltimore averaged 5.7 yards per carry on early downs, forcing Miami’s safeties to step toward the line. When Jackson faked a handoff, the Dolphins’ second-level defenders were out of position, creating wide-open passing windows over the middle and down the seams. Miami’s defense could not play both phases honestly, and Jackson punished every hesitation.

Game Implications and Key Lessons

What This Means for the Baltimore Ravens

• Baltimore clinched the AFC North and the AFC’s top seed, securing home-field advantage and a first-round bye.
• Lamar Jackson’s five-touchdown day strengthened his MVP case and silenced critics focused on his playoff record.
• The defense showed its ceiling with three takeaways against one of the NFL’s fastest offenses.

What This Means for the Miami Dolphins

• Miami’s playoff seeding tightened, and the team lost control of its path to the AFC’s top seed.
• The defense’s inability to generate pressure or stops on third down raised red flags for a potential playoff run.
• Tua Tagovailoa’s two interceptions against pressure-heavy looks exposed an issue against top defenses.

Key Lessons

• A perfect passer rating usually comes from explosive passing, not just safe completions.
• Third-down defense is a leading indicator of blowout wins.
• Turnover margin can turn a competitive matchup into a runaway.
• Play-action passing works best when the run game forces safeties downhill.
• Pass protection and quick decisions neutralize elite pass rushers.
• Individual rushing volume matters less than yards per carry and early-down success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Ravens vs Dolphins game?

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Miami Dolphins 56-19 on December 31, 2023, at M&T Bank Stadium.

What were Lamar Jackson’s stats against the Dolphins?

Lamar Jackson completed 18 of 21 passes for 321 yards, threw 5 touchdowns, rushed for 35 yards, and posted a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

Did Lamar Jackson record a perfect passer rating?

Yes. His 158.3 passer rating against Miami was the maximum possible mark and one of the most efficient high-volume passing games of the 2023 NFL season.

How many passing touchdowns did Lamar Jackson have?

Lamar Jackson threw five passing touchdowns, tying the most in a single game of his career at that point.

Who caught Lamar Jackson’s touchdown passes?

Isaiah Likely caught two touchdowns. Zay Flowers caught two touchdowns, and Justice Hill caught one touchdown pass.

What was the final score and where was the game played?

The final score was 56-19 in favor of Baltimore. The game was played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, with an attendance of 71,196.

Conclusion

Baltimore’s 56-19 win over Miami was a complete performance built on efficiency, balance, and turnover-free football. Lamar Jackson produced a perfect passer rating on high-value throws, while the Ravens’ defense forced three giveaways and flipped field position. Miami’s offense moved the ball in spurts but could not overcome poor third-down defense and costly turnovers. The result was a statement win that secured Baltimore’s place atop the AFC and reinforced Jackson’s status as one of the NFL’s most efficient playmakers.