The Ravens’ protection did it once more.
Just 11 miles separate SoFi Stadium from Hollywood, and Baltimore’s recreation in opposition to the Chargers on Sunday night time was a thriller. It was additionally a well-known script, with the protection enjoying a starring function.
Baltimore pressured 4 turnovers, together with one early within the fourth quarter, and held on for a 20-10 victory that was nearer and extra nerve-wracking than the ultimate rating indicated.
Midway by the ultimate interval and with the Ravens clinging to a three-point lead, outdoors linebacker Jadeveon Clowney strip-sacked quarterback Chargers Justin Herbert deep in Baltimore territory and recovered the fumble to stamp out one comeback try. Then blitzing cornerback Arthur Maulet hurried Herbert right into a fourth-down incompletion with 2:23 remaining.
Ravens rookie large receiver Zay Flowers adopted by dousing the flames for good, breaking free for a 37-yard scamper with 1:44 remaining to place the sport out of attain.
At 9-3 on the season, the Ravens will enter their bye week because the No. 1 seed within the AFC and with a 1 1/2 recreation lead over the Browns within the AFC North after Cleveland misplaced to the Broncos earlier within the day.
The Ravens held Herbert to simply 217 yards passing and one landing whereas permitting solely 86 yards dashing to Los Angeles.
The Chargers got here into the sport having scored no less than one landing within the first half in 48 straight video games, the longest streak in NFL historical past — and one which got here to an finish in opposition to Baltimore. After giving up only a discipline objective by the primary two quarters, the Ravens’ 67 first-half factors allowed are the fewest within the NFL, and the fewest allowed by Baltimore in its first 12 video games of a season since 2000.
Still, for the primary half-hour, it was the Ravens’ offense that seemingly couldn’t get out of its personal means and appeared extra prefer it was in Week 1 as a substitute of Week 12, working disjointedly regardless of going through a go protection that ranks as one of many worst within the NFL.
Baltimore outgained the Chargers, 160-107, within the first half, and dominated time of possession, 17:40 to 12:20. But quarterback Lamar Jackson was 12-for-18 for simply 115 yards and had 5 carries for 25 yards.
He was additionally sacked twice and managed only one landing go, to Flowers within the second quarter from 3 yards out.
The Ravens had been held scoreless within the opening quarter for simply the second time this season.
But their protection was even harder on Herbert, who was held to 79 passing yards within the first half, 12 dashing yards and was sacked as soon as.
Still, this one got here all the way down to the wire.
With the Ravens main by 10 within the fourth quarter, Herbert hit tight finish Gerald Everett for a 3-yard landing to chop the deficit to a discipline objective. Baltimore responded by chewing up greater than 5 minutes of clock on its subsequent possession, however Justin Tucker missed a 44-yard discipline objective large left, conserving the Chargers inside attain.
But not like of their different three losses, the Ravens didn’t blow this one.
This story shall be up to date.
Week 14
Rams at Ravens
Sunday, Dec. 10, 1 p.m.
TV: Fox
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com