John Harbaugh remained undefeated against his brother Jim as his Baltimore Ravens defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 30-23 on Monday.
The Ravens dominated on the ground, running for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Lamar Jackson added 177 yards passing and two scores in the air.
Chargers signal-caller Justin Herbert completed 21 of 36 passes for 218 yards, but he didn’t throw for any scores and was sacked four times.
The Harbaugh brothers were coaching against each other for the third time, and the first since Super Bowl XLVII in 2013. John, the older brother, is 3-0 in those contests.
Los Angeles raced out to a 10-0 lead in the first half Monday.
The Chargers opened the game with a nine-play, 70-yard drive capped by a five-yard touchdown run by Herbert. Baltimore gained only five yards on its first two drives, and Los Angeles added a field goal after an 11-play drive that bled into the second quarter.
The Ravens finally answered with a 10-yard touchdown run by Lamar Jackson on their third possession. They followed up their first scoring drive with an eight-play, 93-yard drive touchdown jaunt late in the second — which included a conversion on 4th-and-1 from their own 16-yard line.
Baltimore was aggressive on fourth down all game, converting all three of their attempts.
After the teams traded field goals on three straight possessions — including the first two of the second half — the Ravens began to put the game away. They went 70 yards for a touchdown on their second drive of the third quarter, which featured another fourth-down conversion.
Following a Los Angeles three-and-out, Justice Hill scored on a 51-yard run to make the score 30-16. The Chargers added a touchdown in the final minute, but by then it was too late.
Despite a slow start, Baltimore outgained Los Angeles 389 yards to 285. The Chargers couldn’t slow down the Ravens’ three-headed rushing attack of Hill, Jackson and Derrick Henry. Baltimore averaged a robust 5.7 yards per carry. Henry led the team with 140 yards on 24 carries.
The Ravens improved to 8-4 with the win, bouncing back from a two-point loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11. Baltimore will play the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13.
Los Angeles is now 7-4 after the loss. The Chargers’ next game is against the Atlanta Falcons.
Final: Ravens 30, Chargers 23
That’s all, folks.
John Harbaugh is now 3-0 against his brother Jim after tonight’s win by the Ravens.
Baltimore improves to 8-4 with the victory.
The Chargers drop to 7-4.
Touchdown, Chargers
The Chargers score after an 11-play, 63-yard drive that was aided by multiple pass interference penalties.
Los Angeles now trails 30-23, and will now need to recover an onside kick.
Ravens punt after six plays
The Ravens punted but took over three minutes off the clock on their last drive.
The Chargers have the ball, but need two touchdowns to tie the game with only 3:08 remaining in regulation.
Chargers punt despite being down two scores
The Chargers punted after only one first down. After Justin Herbert was sacked on second down, he threw incomplete on 3rd-and-18.
Los Angeles opted not to go for it on 4th-and-18, but trailing by two scores with less than seven minutes to go, that’s putting quite a bit of pressure on the defense.
Touchdown, Ravens!
Wow!
Only six plays from scrimmage after the Chargers’ three-and-out, the Ravens are leading by two touchdowns thanks to a 51-yard run by Justice Hill.
Baltimore has run for 194 yards on 29 carries so far tonight.
The Ravens lead 30-16.
Chargers go three-and-out
That’s a brutal three-and-out for the Chargers. They punted after Quentin Johnston dropped a perfect pass from Justin Herbert on third down.
Johnston was running into wide-open field on a drag route but couldn’t make the play.
The Ravens will take back possession leading 23-16.
J.K. Dobbins is officially out
The Chargers will have to come back without running back J.K. Dobbins, who has been downgraded to out.
Dobbins left in the first half with a left knee injury and hasn’t been seen on the field since. He was initially ruled questionable but is now unable to give it a go.
Touchdown, Ravens!
The Ravens go 70 yards in 14 plays to add to their lead.
The long drive featured two fourth-down conversions, and ended with an impressive catch by Mark Andrews in the back of the end zone.
Baltimore couldn’t convert a two-point attempt to go up two scores. The Ravens now lead 23-16.
End of third: Ravens 17, Chargers 16
Good game so far!
Each team added a field goal in the third quarter to keep the score within one headed to the fourth.
The Ravens will have a 4th-and-1 from the Chargers’ 25-yard line when play resumes.
Chargers add another field goal
It’s a one-point game again after another 52-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker. The Chargers moved the ball well on that drive, but stalled out after 10 plays and 36 yards.
The Ravens lead 17-16.