Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports activities employees needed to say instantly after the Ravens’ 20-10 win over the host Los Angeles Chargers in Sunday night time’s Week 12 sport at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Brian Wacker: The Ravens protection did it once more regardless of Baltimore’s offense doing its finest to offer one other sport away.
After struggling mightily to maneuver the ball for a lot of the night time in opposition to a Chargers protection that is among the worst within the NFL, Baltimore relied on its protection to carry on to a sport the Ravens have been someway at risk of shedding till a fourth-down blitz from cornerback Arthur Maulet ended any likelihood of one other blown lead. Then rookie Zay Flowers confirmed why he’s the workforce’s finest receiver, breaking free for a 37-yard landing run to seal the victory with simply over 90 seconds remaining.
There’s no sugarcoating it: The Ravens offense was disjointed. That’s going to occur typically, but it surely appears to occur in video games the Ravens ought to win simply. It helps to have one of many NFL’s finest defenses, although, and gamers like security Kyle Hamilton, who was all around the area, and what has been a rejuvenated Jadeveon Clowney, who got here up with an important fourth-quarter strip-sack. The sport was nearer than it ought to have been, however not like the three losses by which the Ravens blew fourth-quarter leads, the protection saved the day.
Childs Walker: The Ravens once more flirted with catastrophe due to disjointed offense and a surprising 44-yard miss from kicker Justin Tucker. Give all the sport balls to their protection, which got here up with a decisive fourth-down cease and compelled 4 turnovers, together with a strip-sack by Jadeveon Clowney with the Chargers within the purple zone early within the fourth quarter. Los Angeles got here in averaging 25.9 factors per sport. Holding them to 10 was no small feat.
The Ravens moved the ball effectively within the first half however didn’t construct a considerable lead partially due to a misguided fourth-down name within the purple zone — why take Lamar Jackson out of the play with a direct snap to Gus Edwards? — and partially due to suspect cross blocking on third down. Venerable Chargers cross rusher Khalil Mack was a nightmare for left sort out Ronnie Stanley and the remainder of the offensive line. The Ravens bought their operating sport going within the third quarter however didn’t keep it up sufficient, failing to capitalize on repeated possibilities served up by the protection.
As they defend their slender lead within the AFC North, the Ravens will take a highway win in any type, however this was not a efficiency that put to mattress considerations about their ending potential.
Mike Preston: The Ravens had 10 days of relaxation and left their finest sport in Baltimore as a substitute of taking it to Los Angeles. The Chargers confirmed why they’re one of many worst groups within the NFL as a result of they’d just about no offense. The Ravens have a great protection, but it surely was powerful to inform whether or not they dominated or whether or not Los Angeles was so inept. Offensively, the Ravens weren’t in sync for a lot of the sport however have been ok to reap the benefits of some turnovers and put Justin Tucker in area purpose vary. The backside line is the Ravens received, they’ve one of the best file within the AFC and are in place to seal the No. 1 seed and home-field benefit within the playoffs heading into December. It was an unsightly win, however that’s becoming for the NFL with its emphasis on parity.
C.J. Doon: The Ravens are so laborious to determine. At instances, the offense seems to be unstoppable with Lamar Jackson and a robust group of weapons breaking off massive features by way of the air and on the bottom. Then, there are occasions when Jackson holds on to the ball too lengthy, the play-calling and personnel are questionable, and the offensive line fails to generate a lot of a push. The Ravens went simply 4-for-13 on third down and 1-for-3 on fourth down Sunday night time, which doesn’t encourage a lot confidence within the offense’s potential to carry out beneath stress. With the Chargers blitzing Jackson on practically 40% of his dropbacks, the Ravens appeared to have success solely when he bought the ball out of his fingers rapidly. As good as Jackson is scrambling and lengthening performs, it’s not a dependable method to transfer the chains.
Even this traditionally good Ravens protection is vulnerable to occasional lapses. If not for these 4 Chargers turnovers, who is aware of how this sport would have performed out? That stated, these moments of brilliance — Zay Flowers’ lengthy landing run, Keaton Mitchell’s outdoors burst, Mike Macdonald’s patented nook blitz, Jadeveon Clowney’s strip-sack — present loads of hope for a deep postseason run. Embrace the chaos. (By the best way, do you assume the Chargers remorse drafting Quentin Johnston over Flowers?)
Tim Schwartz: It wasn’t fairly, but it surely not often is. What was, although, is how this Ravens protection continues to dominate, no matter opponent. The Chargers, as inept as they may seem at instances, had scored a first-half landing in 48 straight video games getting into Sunday — the longest streak in NFL historical past. That’s over. Lamar Jackson did sufficient, spreading the ball round with out tight finish Mark Andrews, however the offense disappeared once more, and that’s bought to be some extent of emphasis in the course of the bye week. There’s an excessive amount of expertise to attain so few factors. Fortunately, the Ravens have a protection that’s undoubtedly going to be tough to beat within the postseason. And at 9-3, they’re a digital lock to be there.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com