BALTIMORE _ In a battle of division leaders and Most Valuable Player candidates, quarterback Lamar Jackson passed for four touchdowns and the Ravens defense contained Deshaun Watson and an explosive Houston Texans offense, extending control of the AFC North with a comprehensive 41-7 win Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
In three-plus quarters, Jackson finished 17-for-24 for 222 yards and four touchdowns, along with nine carries for 86 yards. He outdueled Watson, one of the NFL's top passers, who was 18-for-29 for 169 yards and an interception, along with six sacks.
With the win, the Ravens (8-2) have a six-game winning streak for the first time since 2000, the season that ended with a Super Bowl championship. They also now have a three-game lead on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North ahead of a prime-time game next Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams.
Running back Gus Edwards had eight carries for 112 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He's the first player to rush for over 100 yards against the Texans defense since Week 17 of the 2017 season.
After a scoreless first quarter in which Jackson started 1-for-6 for 12 yards, the Ravens got in gear. Jackson found wide receiver Seth Roberts for a 15-yard touchdown, his first score with the Ravens, then delivered an 18-yard strike to tight end Mark Andrews.
At one point, Jackson completed 13 straight passes, the second-longest streak of his career. The streak ended in the third quarter, but not before he found running back Mark Ingram II wide-open on a 25-yard swing pass for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, the two connected again, with Ingram making a defender miss in space before scoring from 12 yards out.
The Ravens defense, even without defensive tackle Michael Pierce, was sharp throughout the afternoon. Watson was uncomfortable against a disruptive pass rush, and only a 41-yard run by running back Carlos Hyde kept the Ravens from posting a shutout. Houston (6-4) was held to 4.1 yards per play, its lowest mark of the season.
