Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh’s team lost on Monday night to the Ravens, but he said after the game that he’s confident his team will show what it’s made of over the remainder of the season.
“We’ll regroup. They played better football than we did tonight, but more importantly, we know what kind of team we are and what we’re capable of. Regroup,” Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh repeatedly said he believes the Chargers can show they’re a better team than they appeared to be in their 30-23 loss.
“They were the better team tonight, across the board,” he said. “They played better football tonight, and as I said a couple times, more importantly to me, I know what we’re building, and I know what we’re capable of. Onward.”
Harbaugh was asked what was said after the game between himself and his brother, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
“I congratulated him on the victory,” Jim said. “Then, ‘I love you.’”
Jim Harbaugh hasn’t had much trouble beating many people in his long career as a college and NFL coach, but he hasn’t had any luck against his brother, John.
John ran his record to 3-0 against his brother with the Ravens’ convincing 30-23 victory over Jim’s Chargers. The Ravens improved to 8-4, and the Chargers fell to 7-4.
The Chargers entered allowing only 14.5 points per game, the lowest in the NFL, though critics questioned their opposition in the first 10 games. The quality of opponent wasn’t up for debate on Monday Night Football, and the Ravens had no problem moving the ball and getting into the end zone.
The Ravens gained 389 yards, including 212 rushing yards, and they scored on five consecutive possessions to erase a 10-0 deficit and win a game that wasn’t as close as it appeared. Baltimore went 3-for-3 on fourth down, including fourth-and-1 at its own 16 with two minutes left in the first half. Tight end Mark Andrews took a direct snap for 2 yards and a first down, and the Ravens scored a touchdown before halftime.
Lamar Jackson went 16-of-22 for 177 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 15 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. Derrick Henry rushed for 140 yards on 24 carries, and Zay Flowers caught five passes for 62 yards. Rashod Bateman caught a 40-yard touchdown, and Andrews had a 6-yard touchdown catch.
The Chargers scored on Gus Edwards’ 1-yard run with 46 seconds remaining, but Isaiah Likely recovered the onside kick to allow the Ravens to finish in victory formation.
Los Angeles, which lost running back JK Dobbins to a knee injury in the first half, gained 285 yards. Justin Herbert went 21-of-36 for 218 yards, and he ran for 29 yards and a touchdown on four carries.
Ladd McConkey caught six passes for 83 yards.
Lamar Jackson’s second touchdown pass of the night has the Ravens with a 23-16 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Ravens quarterback threw a 6-yard dart to tight end Mark Andrews with 12:32 remaining. Officials originally called it incomplete, but Andrews clearly caught it with both feet in bounds, and replay assist corrected it.
The Ravens went for 2, and Jackson’s pass intended for Zay Flowers was incomplete.
Baltimore has scored on four consecutive possessions after two punts to start the game. The Ravens’ latest drive was 14 plays and 70 yards.
Jackson is 14-of-20 for 163 yards and two touchdowns, with Flowers catching four for 57. Derrick Henry has 18 carries for 114 yards.
The Chargers have a big concern besides being behind: Running back J.K. Dobbins left with a knee injury in the first half and didn’t return. The team has ruled him out.
It wasn’t “no risk-it, no biscuit.” But it was close.
ESPN’s Lisa Salters asked Ravens coach John Harbaugh at halftime about the crucial decision to roll the dice on fourth and one from inside his own 20.
“Where were we, exactly?” Harbaugh said. “It felt like we were pretty far back. Were we at the ten?”
Salters told Harbaugh they were at the 16.
“Well, I just felt like we could make it,” Harbaugh said. “No guts no glory, right?”
They converted and eventually got the glory, with a 40-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson to receiver Rashod Bateman. It gave the Ravens plenty of momentum, which was partially squandered when the Chargers drove in position for a field goal that cut the score to 14-13 at the break.
The Ravens rolled the dice, with John Harbaugh getting aggressive in a game against his brother.
The Ravens went for it on fourth-and-1 at their own 16 with two minutes left in the first half. They got it with tight end Mark Andrews taking a direct snap for 2 yards.
Five plays later, the Ravens had the lead.
Baltimore scored back-to-back touchdowns and took a 14-13 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Ravens started slowly on offense before Derrick Henry got them going with 44 yards on three carries on a seven-play, 70-yard drive. Lamar Jackson scored on a 10-yard run to cut the Chargers’ lead to 10-7.
The Ravens then went 93 yards in only eight plays, with the fourth-down play keeping the drive alive. Rashod Bateman scored on a 40-yard reception from Jackson, who threw a touchdown in a 19th consecutive game. It came with only 24 seconds left in the half.
The Chargers, though, used every second for a 52-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker on the final play of the half. Dicker earlier had a 42-yard field goal.
Quarterback Justin Herbert ran for a 5-yard touchdown on the Chargers’ opening drive.
The Chargers have outgained the Ravens 202 to 176, with Herbert going 13-of-18 for 129 yards. JK Dobbins has six carries for 40 yards but is in the X-ray room and questionable to return with a knee injury.
Ladd McConkey has three catches for 41 yards.
Jackson has completed 5 of 9 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown, with Bateman catching the 40-yard touchdown. Zay Flowers has one reception for 22 yards and Andrews two for 18 yards.
Henry has nine carries for 66 yards.
